With a smooth motion, the white cross above her head began to rise higher, spinning rapidly until it formed a blinding circle of holy light. "Divine Retribution," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with determination.
In an instant, the cross glowed even brighter, radiating a holy aura that enveloped Laras. Her attributes surged drastically, and at the same time, the aura began to exert a crippling effect on the Tier-3 monkey before her. The once-strong muscles of the beast now felt weakened, as if something was draining the life force from his body. Slowly, the monkey's power began to wane.
"Damn it... What's happening to me?" he cried out in panic, his terrified voice echoing. His body felt like it was burning from the inside out. He looked around, his eyes catching the sacred light radiating from Laras' cross, which only deepened his fear.
Without a second thought, the monkey made a decision. He had to flee.
His legs were already bent, ready to leap away from this deadly situation. After just one encounter with Laras, he knew his strength was no match for hers. The pressure of the holy aura, combined with the sharp strikes and energy that continued to sap his strength, made this battle feel impossible to win.
But Laras, standing firmly on her vortex plate, wasn't going to let her enemy escape so easily. With quick reflexes, she activated the vortex plate's teleportation. In an instant, she appeared right beside the fleeing Tier-3 monkey.
In the perfect position, Laras swung her golden sword with precision, aiming for the monkey's abdomen.
A sharp sound rang out as her slash pierced the beast's tough hide. But strangely, as her sword struck, a sudden white mist emerged, enveloping the entire area around them. Within seconds, Laras' visibility was drastically reduced, the thick fog obscuring her view.
Laras swung her hand forward, trying to clear the mist that obscured her view. However, before she could fully dispel it, she felt something strong gripping both of her hands.
"What?!" Laras was shocked. "When?"
As she turned, her gaze fell upon a cluster of hands tightly gripping her. In front of her, dozens of monkeys appeared, all looking identical to the enemy she had just fought. They surrounded her from every direction, satisfied smirks etched on each of their faces.
"Hahahaha..." one of them laughed, its voice full of satisfaction.
"Why? Surprised? Confused?" one of the monkeys taunted as it spun a silver sword in its hand. "You newcomers... just frogs trapped in a well. You have no idea how vast the outside world is."
"Hurry up and finish her!" another monkey commanded. "Lord Crok is waiting for us."
Laras furrowed her brows. Something was off. "They're talking to each other," she thought. "This isn't an illusion or just some cloning technique."
Her eyes gleamed sharply. In front of her, dozens of Tier-3 monkeys stood firm, each holding a different weapon. A dozen enemies with equal strength? This situation was far from what she had anticipated. Such a scenario could easily turn into a disaster.
The two monkeys in front of her now gripped Laras' hands tightly, preventing her from launching another attack. The other monkeys around her quickly activated their weapons, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
"Finish this woman off!" one of them shouted, giving the order.
The battle aura intensified, and within seconds, Laras knew she was on the brink of great danger. Yet, despite being surrounded, the confident glint never left her eyes.
Laras smiled faintly, her gaze piercing toward her enemies. "Alright then... let's see who survives," she whispered softly, preparing her final move.
Alliance Island - America
In one of the major cities of the American Alliance, thick smoke billowed into the sky, marking the destruction wrought by a brutal attack from foreign creatures. Towering buildings that once stood tall now lay in ruins, torn apart by the destructive power from beyond. Magical explosions echoed from all directions, deafening and spreading inevitable devastation.
Automated defense towers continued firing energy, trying to repel the invading cultivators. However, the power of the attackers was too overwhelming. The city's defenses were faltering, and the soldiers of the American Alliance fought desperately while civilians ran for shelter, trapped in the chaos.
Amidst the rubble and thick smoke, an old man stood, his white robe fluttering in the winds of battle. His face was lined with age, but his eyes still burned with extraordinary power. His white hair shone in stark contrast to the darkness enveloping his body. In his hands, a thick black book lay open, its pages flipping rapidly as if alive.
Ancient symbols glowed from the book, summoning dark powers that seeped into the air.
The old man was Haikal Emanuel.
Without hesitation, he had come to assist the American Alliance, even though they were not close allies. As their greatest rival after the Lein Alliance, America had always stood at the frontlines of defense. Now, Old Man Haikal was here, bringing destruction to the invaders who underestimated his strength.
Old Man Haikal raised his hand, and from the air, dark shadows began to gather. In a deep voice, he muttered, "You are cruel... Join this darkness," before thrusting his hand forward.
In an instant, a vortex of dark energy emerged, sucking the foreign invaders into a deadly void. Their bodies were pulled in by Old Man Haikal's power, trapped in the vortex with no hope of return.
"Stay away from that vortex! He's a Tier-3 warrior!" one of the foreign cultivators shouted in panic, his body trembling as he tried to escape the pull of the darkness.
"Call Elder Nixian! Quickly!" another cried out, his voice filled with fear.
But their warnings came too late. The foreign invaders caught in the range of Old Man Haikal's power could only scream in terror as their bodies disintegrated, unraveled, and vanished into the shadows that consumed everything without mercy.
"Burn them all," Old Man Haikal whispered to his book. Instantly, black flames ignited around him, quickly spreading across the city's ruins. The wave of black fire surged to every corner, consuming everything it touched. The buildings that were already damaged became engulfed in the dark flames, and the enemies trapped within were burned to ashes without mercy.
"No! Please!" Horrific screams echoed amidst the blaze as the remaining enemies thrashed, desperately seeking escape.
"I want to go back! Where's the portal? Where is it?!"