Crunch. Crunch. Crunch…
The robot's core shattered, and with it, a surge of wild, uncontrollable energy burst out from deep within.
But Ethan didn't stick around to absorb that power. Instead, he immediately gave the order for everyone to fall back and evacuate Skygate Castle.
No one understood why.
They had just taken down the enemy's strongest fighter—shouldn't this be the perfect time to seize the entire castle?
So why the sudden retreat?
Still, Ethan's orders were absolute. No one dared question him. One by one, they pulled out. And just as the last of them cleared the castle grounds—
A massive explosion erupted from the heart of Skygate Castle, shaking the earth and tearing through the sky.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE…
In an instant, the entire Skygate Castle was obliterated—gone, like it had never existed.
Everyone stared, wide-eyed and pale-faced. If Ethan hadn't gotten them out when he did, they'd all be dead right now.
Ethan let out a long breath, relief washing over him.
Once the explosion at the core finally died down, he led the group back in, slowly, carefully—this time to absorb the residual energy left behind.
Right after he'd destroyed the robot's Primordial Core, the system had triggered an emergency alert. It had sensed something catastrophic coming. Ethan didn't hesitate—he ordered a full retreat on the spot.
Thank God they moved fast.
If they'd waited even a few seconds longer, none of them would've made it out alive.
Now, with the danger passed, the Emerald Castle forces re-entered the ruins of Skygate Castle. The energy lingering in the air was thick, almost tangible—raw power left behind by the explosion. They didn't hold back, soaking it up greedily, knowing it could boost their strength by leaps and bounds.
It didn't take long before Elira's level shot up to mid-17 Tier.
The others weren't far behind, their power steadily climbing.
But just as they were getting into the rhythm of absorbing energy—
Two other Castles showed up.
They must've sensed the energy spike from miles away. The explosion had sent waves of power rippling across the land, and these two factions had clearly benefited from it too.
From one of the groups, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward. He raised a heavy staff in one hand, his expression cold and arrogant.
"You outsiders think you can just waltz in and claim this power for yourselves?" he sneered. "I'll give you one chance—get the hell out now. Or I'll tear every last one of you to pieces."
The moment the words left his mouth, the Emerald Castle crew stood up as one.
Their energy flared like a tidal wave.
They weren't the kind to back down.
And with Ethan leading them—someone who never hesitated to throw the first punch—their tempers had grown just as fierce.
These guys wanted a fight?
They were about to get one.
Ethan turned, his gaze icy as it swept over the broad-shouldered man, then shifted to the forces from the two neighboring Castles.
There were over thirty heroes above Tier 17 among them—about the same number as Emerald Castle's elite. But the quality? That was a different story. Some of them looked like they'd brute-forced their way to that level using unstable or unknown power sources. Their energy signatures were erratic, unrefined.
"To me, you're nothing but a bunch of worms crawling out of the Umbral Abyss," Ethan said coldly. "We came here to take this place—and now I'm giving you a chance to live. Surrender to me."
He smirked. "Maybe I'll let you keep your lives. If not… heh. Go ahead. Try me."
The two Castles' forces stared at him, stunned. They hadn't expected Ethan to be this arrogant—this bold.
But one of their leaders didn't hesitate. With a sharp gesture, he rallied his troops and charged.
Ethan's lips curled into a cold smile. He raised his hand and gave a small wave.
In an instant, the Emerald Castle army surged forward like a tidal wave.
They were all under the influence of the Bloodlust Aura now, and their combat power had skyrocketed. The killing intent radiating off them was so intense, it made the air feel like it could slice skin.
The moment the two sides collided—
The battlefield exploded with chaos. The sheer force of the clash tore rifts into the surrounding space, like reality itself was being shredded.
The fight went nuclear from the first second. No one held back.
Ethan didn't join the battle. Instead, he took Feylora and headed straight for the heart of Skygate Castle. The moment they reached the center, the energy there surged toward them, flooding into their bodies like a tidal wave.
Their bodies swelled with power, reaching their limits.
Ethan stopped absorbing and activated a summoning skill. A swarm of suicide goblins appeared at his command, and he sent them charging into the fray, their bodies glowing with unstable energy, ready to explode on impact.
But just then, something caught his attention.
From deep underground, a strange, pulsing energy was rising—something ancient and powerful. Intrigued, Ethan's body flickered like lightning as he dove straight down.
He tunneled nearly 9,000 feet beneath the surface before plunging into a glowing, lava-like red liquid.
The energy here was insanely pure.
Just a small taste of it sent a jolt through his entire body, sharpening his senses and flooding him with strength.
This stuff was the real deal.
"Hell yeah," Ethan muttered, eyes gleaming. If he could get the entire Emerald Castle crew down here, they could level up in no time.
But before he could act on that thought, something stirred nearby.
A massive Flame Drake emerged from the glowing liquid, spiraling toward him. Ethan's eyes widened. The energy radiating off this thing was off the charts—pure fire essence, dense and volatile.
If it touched him, even he might be incinerated.
He instinctively backed off several steps, frowning.
But Feylora didn't hesitate.
She shot forward, hovering in midair. A powerful suction force burst from her body, and to Ethan's shock, she began draining the Flame Drake's energy directly. Googlᴇ search 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱
The creature didn't even resist. It just floated there, docile, as Feylora siphoned its power. Within moments, its body turned translucent, then vanished completely.
Ethan blinked, stunned. That was… way too easy.
But before he could celebrate, the surrounding liquid began to churn.
More Flame Drakes burst from the depths, roaring as they shot into the air.
Ethan didn't waste time. Mimicking Feylora, he grabbed one of the drakes and started absorbing its energy.