Christopher, Advika, and Sylvia were led to the top of the wall, where the panorama of the brutal battle stretched before them.
"Master Christopher."
The two guards, recognizing him, rushed forward, their expressions a mix of relief and awe.
"Do you two know him?" One of the soldiers asked, his voice laced with curiosity, as the two guards nodded.
"He is Master Christopher, the one everyone in the city is searching for," the guard said, his tone reverent.
"Yes, sir. He is the eldest son of the Valhalla family... We have sent out a message that we found him, and the Valhalla forces are on route," the second added, his eyes wide.
The two soldiers were dumbfounded, their gazes shifting between Christopher and the two sisters.
"Mr. Christopher, sorry for the mix-up... When the vice commander returns, we’ll inform him."
"Now that you know who you’re dealing with, can we go!" Sylvia asked with a frown, arms folded tightly.
"Yes, of course... The vice commander will understand, you’re free to leave," the man answered with a forced, flattering smile.
’What the hell! The Valhalla family is one of the three pillars of Cordelia... Even the commander himself would show them deference... Let alone the vice commander,’ he thought, his mind reeling.
"I’m not going anywhere."
Both Advika and Sylvia were stunned, along with the soldiers.
"That beast is still alive... Leaving will only endanger everyone here."
’Oh? He’s playing the hero... But the eldest son of the Valhalla family is known to avoid dangerous beasts... But still, we must protect him,’ the man thought, his brow furrowed.
He said aloud, "Mr. Christopher is very kind, but your safety is paramount."
Christopher sighed, a hint of weariness in his eyes. "You men are equipped to handle Legendary-stage beasts and anything below, but beyond that of a legendary-stage will breach this wall. The lives of the civilians depend on me staying here."
The four soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, finally relenting. "If that is your wish, Master Christopher. We will accept, however, we’ll also maintain a close guard on you."
Christopher sighed again, his gaze drifting to the chaos before them. ’They are treating me like a fragile glass... The Valhalla’s influence is truly suffocating. And I still can’t fathom Adonis’s fear of the border.’
The earth-shaking explosion drew their attention to the unfolding catastrophe.
"It’s impossible! How did it survive the second barrage?"
Phillip was stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the crimson-furred wolf. He glanced at his exhausted beasts.
’Damn it! My beasts’ life forces are nearly depleted... Unleashing those ultimate attacks twice was a desperate gamble, but I thought it would neutralize the beast!’ He thought, his teeth grinding.
"Vice Commander, we must withdraw, this Beast is too powerful!" A soldier urged, his voice trembling.
The wolf unleashed a thunderous roar, the shockwave of sound that shattered the air, throwing beasts, armored vehicles, and soldiers alike to the ground.
Christopher pulled Sylvia down, shielding her with his body. Advika and the four soldiers followed suit, their faces pale.
The sound wave slammed into the wall, shattering the heavy weaponry mounted along its length.
After a tense silence, Christopher rose, his voice sharp as he addressed the still-crouching soldiers.
"Send word to the vice commander! Order a full retreat, immediately!"
The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, then scrambled to retrieve their communicators.
Christopher watched them, his frustration mounting, and then, with a burst of speed, he leaped off the hundred-foot wall.
"Chris!" Advika cried, her voice filled with alarm.
"Christopher!" Sylvia echoed, her eyes wide with fear.
"Master Christopher!" the soldiers exclaimed in unison, their voices laced with horror.
They watched, mouths agape, as Christopher soared towards the raging battle.
"He... He can fly?! What level is he?!" a soldier stammered.
"My master is a Legendary-level tamer," Advika said, her voice filled with pride.
"That’s impossible. Only Master-level or Supreme-level tamers can achieve flight. A Legendary-level tamer shouldn’t be able to." The second soldier argued, his brow furrowed.
The sisters exchanged confused glances.
"Who told you this?" the first soldier asked.
They pointed towards Christopher, now rapidly closing the distance to the wolf.
"Hmm... Sir, I recall something," a guard said, his eyes thoughtful.
The soldiers and sisters turned to him.
"What is it?" the first soldier asked.
"I’ve heard that a tamer can achieve flight if they have refined their life force to an exceptional degree... It’s exceedingly rare for lower-level tamers to reach that point, which is why we seldom see flying tamers."
"So, you’re suggesting Master Christopher has mastered his life force to such an extent?"
"It’s the only plausible explanation," the guard said.
"I hate to concede, but he might be right... I don’t know the origin of that theory, but it seems to hold true," the second soldier said, his voice laced with reluctant admiration.
Phillip dove aside as the colossal wolf ripped an armored vehicle apart.
"This! How can a beast evolve at such an accelerated rate?! From a Legendary stage to a Mythical one!"
He landed heavily, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He spotted a soldier in another armored vehicle.
DA!! DA! DA! DA!! DA!! DA!!
The air crackled with the staccato rhythm of the vehicle’s rapid-fire gun.
"DIE, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!"
He roared, as the vehicle unleashed a torrent of bullets at the wolf.
The fearsome crimson wolf slammed its paws into the ground, propelling itself towards the armored vehicle.
"Get out of there!" Phillip yelled, his voice laced with dread.
"I can handle this---"
The soldier froze, his eyes locked on the monstrous beast. Before he could react, the wolf crushed him and the armored vehicle into the earth.
Phillip roared, his purple life force surging around him, a tangible aura of rage.
"You will pay for that!"
He added, his energy intensifying, rippling through the air like a storm.
...The massive wolf turned its head towards the human, its jaws widening.
Phillip muttered, moment next; his eyes widened in stark terror.