Desperate cries filled the air. Seeing their comrades burnt alive, the invaders' morale crumbled. Many of them began to surrender, retreating, running desperately to find a way out. But the black flames of Old Man Haikal relentlessly hunted them down, showing no compassion.
In a corner of the city, the soldiers of the American Alliance, who had witnessed the horrifying scene, stood frozen. They had heard rumors about the mighty old man from the Lein Alliance, but seeing him in action with their own eyes was a completely different experience.
"Damn... that old man... he's a monster," one of the soldiers whispered with a choked voice, his eyes still fixed on Old Man Haikal as he calmly slaughtered the enemies.
"He saved us...," another soldier murmured, his gaze filled with admiration. With all the advanced technology possessed by the American Alliance, they still struggled against the foreign cultivators. But the old man, with his dark powers, had slaughtered them as if it were nothing.
The black flames continued to blaze, licking every corner of the remaining city, leaving behind nothing but destruction and rubble. Old Man Haikal Emanuel, calmly, closed his book slowly. Without another word, he walked away from the battlefield, ready to assist the next city.
In the bright empty void, the sun rose toward noon, shining upon a large island about 250,000 square meters in size. Like many islands, this one was teeming with life, with city walls 20 meters high and numerous defense towers standing firm at every corner.
Unfortunately, the island's beautiful and sturdy appearance was from a few hours ago, before the inter-racial war event concluded. Now, the island was engulfed in chaos almost everywhere—large cities, small towns, and remote areas, all embroiled in relentless battles.
"Hey... stop chasing him, finish off this area first!" yelled a captain as he kept slashing at a man with a white halo behind his back. His movements didn't stop or weaken, even as he issued the command.
The soldiers who heard the captain stopped chasing the fleeing foreign enemies. Their gaze scanned the surroundings—one, two, more than ten duels were taking place. Just watching it made their hearts weary and filled them with dread.
Just a few hours ago, he had been with his family celebrating his son's 4th birthday. Now, the city was enveloped in emergency sirens. All soldiers were ordered to report to the military headquarters to form teams.
Along the way, he had seen many strange beings with white halos and wings on their backs. He saw some rogue Hunters trying to fight them off, attempting to block the foreign invaders.
As an official military soldier, he had to obey every command from his superiors. Even though he wasn't from the lower ranks, his role in the military was significant, and his presence was highly required at the headquarters.
But here he was now—in the midst of a sudden and terrifying battle.
Suddenly, Galen felt a sharp slash approaching at high speed. His reflexes immediately kicked in, ducking quickly as he activated his escape skill, trying to distance himself as far as possible from the attack.
"Galen, watch out!!!" a soldier's loud voice came from behind him, warning him of the threat that had nearly hit him.
Sure enough, in the sky above him, a middle-aged man with wide-spread white wings hovered gracefully. With a sharp gaze, the man adjusted his posture after his failed strike at Galen.
The winged man's gaze surveyed the battlefield around him, his face—previously showing indifference—now creased slightly with anger. "Useless, they can't even handle a city without a Holy Disciple (Tier-3)," the man said angrily, glaring at the Faithwarden soldiers around him.
Galen, who had narrowly avoided the winged man's slash, stood and fixed his posture. His eyes locked onto his airborne opponent. His face showed deep shock.
He saw a middle-aged man with white wings floating in the air, commanding the battlefield with a powerful holy aura radiating from his body. His wings, as white as swan feathers, flapped gently, though his body remained unmoved.
The man's loose, slightly open white clothing made him look like a war god descended from the heavens. The aura around him was so strong that the air felt heavier and hotter, as if it were being pressed down by an invisible force.
"Tier-3?" Galen muttered in disbelief. He swallowed hard, realizing just how powerful this winged man was. His entire body trembled—not only from fear but also from the knowledge of how difficult it would be to face an opponent of this level.
On the ground, the other human soldiers began to grasp the situation they were in. The duels that had been raging around them now seemed insignificant compared to the threat looming above. Even the captain, who had been swinging his sword tirelessly, now appeared cautious. He stepped closer to Galen, his eyes never leaving the winged man who had once again focused his attention on them.
Back in the sky, without warning, the winged man raised his long sword. A bright white glow radiated from the blade, emitting a holy aura that filled the air within a three-meter radius. The holy energy vibrated like a small storm, causing everyone who felt it to recoil in fear.
"Go now, Galen! Get help... your talent is still needed by the alliance," the captain's voice was firm but full of urgency.
He didn't wait for a reply; he stepped forward, ready to face the winged man who was far stronger than they were. He knew they were all only Tier-2, including himself. Fighting against a Tier-3 enemy would only end in death if they persisted.
Galen nodded resolutely, without objection. In his heart, he knew their best option was to minimize casualties. Facing an enemy of this caliber without reinforcements from stronger individuals would only bring destruction.
He quickly turned and ran towards the headquarters, hoping the alliance leader had already finished his own battle against another Tier-3 enemy.
"For the Harmony Circle alliance!"