Stronghold Leader Seth turned his attention toward Orion for orders.
"We don't want our first encounter with the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City to end in a bloodbath, so handle them as you wish, but do not kill them," Orion responded calmly.
Previously, he would have had no issue with the deaths of the gods' chosen because it meant they could secure more Devourer's bracelets. However, with the discovery of the Vylkr alloy mine, they could make their own and no longer needed to harvest Devourer's bracelets.
Also, Lakul's reaction made it clear that the gods' chosens were notable individuals. There was no need to mindlessly kill potential future pawns, thereby reducing their newly assimilated manpower. All he wanted was to send a clear message.
Stronghold Leader Seth nodded in understanding. He focused his attention forward and deactivated his gift. He saw no reason to use it to deal with them.
However, his gaze caused the gods' chosen to flinch in fear.
"ENOUGH!!" yelled a sudden voice from Queen Eleanora's position.
The air was torn apart, and a heavy gust of wind stirred up their surroundings.
Sensing the sudden disturbance, Stronghold Leader Seth's perception slowed the world around him as he turned his attention towards one of the gods' chosen advancing on him. His senses were astronomically heightened as a warrior with three Vylkr containers within his brain. Even without this enhancement, his transformation from a first-rank warrior to a four-star warrior made him more capable of swiftly handling the situation.
However, he also wanted to make a statement.
Stronghold Leader Seth wasn't surprised when he saw the woman's eyes widen as their gazes met. He stretched out his hand and caught her Gearweaver with his palm. "BANG!!" The impact of their clash resonated in the air, sending a torrent of wild gales around them.
Stronghold Leader Seth didn't budge from his position.
Freya felt her hand vibrate and go numb, but she wasn't willing to back down. She immediately increased her Vylkr energy output into the Gearweaver, causing its gears to shift and surge until strands of Vylkr energy burst out, enveloping its entire body with dense Vylkr energy.
Freya gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fierce determination, resolved to save her lieutenant and spare him a public shameful display. However, before she could make another move, a fiery palm struck her abdomen, sending her flying backwards with far greater speed than she had used to advance.
"CAPTAIN!!" The 1st Unit of the Vanguard Team of the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City screamed in unison, their expressions filled with disbelief and shock.
In their eyes, they saw their captain vanish from her position and reappear before the fiery red-masked man, her Gearweaver, aimed at him. However, he flickered forward, his actions a blur to their eyes, and caught her Gearweaver with his bare palm, effortlessly halting its descent.
In that instant, she flew backwards with astonishing speed; the armour around her abdomen burned away to reveal her seared stomach. She was knocked unconscious. In her place, the fiery red mask man still stood unwavering in his position.
"ATTACK!" resonated a loud voice.
The 1st Unit surged forward in unison, fists raised, ready to incapacitate him.
Stronghold Leader Seth vanished from his position, his movements faster than the 1st Unit. They all had to stop their advance, looking around in confusion and fear, unable to track his movements.
At that moment, some felt the urge to flee, but they stood their ground and launched several attacks in their surroundings, hoping to land a hit on their enemy by mistake. However, it was futile.
Before they knew what was transpiring, they felt a sharp burning sensation searing through every fibre of their being.
Screams of anguish and pain resonated in the air as the 90 members of the 1st Unit began to collapse on the ground one by one, feeling a searing palm print etching itself, burning through the armour on their backs, chests, and arms.
Within a few seconds, all members of the gods' chosens were unconscious, lying on the ground. Meanwhile, Stronghold Leader Seth stood before a frightened Azarok, his eyes staring at him in shock and disbelief.
"So strong!" one of the gods' chosens behind Lakul couldn't help but utter. He immediately sealed his lips and shrunk back, understanding his voice's loudness.
However, despite not having the courage to speak out loudly, everyone present agreed with his words.
The Vanguard Team of a Runaway City wasn't just any Team; they represented a significant part of their main combat prowess in deterring or confronting enemies.
As the 1st Unit was at the forefront of the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City's main combat prowess, such a sight was impactful. It only proved how powerless they were before the mysterious individuals.
Stronghold Leader Seth raised his hand and activated his gift, swiftly changing his arm into a blade forged from molten lava. He struck it down against Azarok's shoulders, severing his arm.
Azarok's eyes widened before a gut-wrenching roar tore out of his lips, "ARRGHHHH!!" He used his other hand to clasp his severed arm.
The scent of burnt orc flesh pervaded the air.
After he was done, Stronghold Leader Seth turned around and calmly returned to his position.
Although Eleanora was shaken from seeing one of her best gods' chosens lose a limb, thereby limiting his capabilities, she couldn't help but sigh in relief, knowing that he had spared the arm holding his Devourer's bracelet; otherwise, Azarok would have been truly dead.
Noticing Freya rising from her unconsciousness, as though being stirred awake by Azarok's screams of anguish, Eleanora quickly ordered the gods' chosen to hold her down and prevent her from doing anything rash.
As expected, Freya attempted to rush forward towards Stronghold Leader Seth with her Gearweaver aimed at him. However, she was quickly held down and subdued by the gods' chosens.
"Great Warrior, I am very sorry for giving you another shameful impression of the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City. Our gods' chosens are incredibly dependent on each other and would rescue one of their own if the other is in danger. So please, I ask you to forgive them for their reckless behaviour," Eleanora said, emphasising the camaraderie among the gods' chosens.