"Alright, thanks then, Randy."
Steve felt a warmth in his heart as he hung up the communication.
Steve's Home.
Steve's original body, which had been sitting cross-legged on the bedroom bed in seclusion, slowly opened its eyes.
A hint of fatigue flashed through those originally deep eyes, but it was mostly replaced by a sense of relief.
As his consciousness fully returned, the feeling of being in control of everything returned to his body.
"Phew..."
Steve exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, got up, pushed open the door, and walked into the living room.
In the living room, the TV was playing a lively variety show.
His father, Stephen, was wearing reading glasses and reading a newspaper; his mother, Nicole, was knitting a sweater nearby; and his younger sister, Stefanie, was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, eating potato chips while laughing silly at the TV.
Hearing the door open, the three of them turned their heads in unison.
"Oh, you're awake?"
Stefanie stuffed a potato chip into her mouth and spoke indistinctly.
"Brother, you've been asleep for quite a long time."
"Steve, are you hungry? Should I heat up some food for you?"
Nicole put down the sweater in her hands and was about to get up.
"I'm not hungry, mom. You stay seated."
Steve waved his hand, walked over to the sofa, and sat down with a slightly awkward smile on his face.
"Um, dad, mom, Stefanie, I have something to tell you."
Seeing Steve's hesitant expression, all three of them stopped what they were doing.
"Brother, what's up? Why are you being so mysterious?"
Stefanie blinked her big eyes, her face full of curiosity for gossip.
"Could it be that you've found me a sister-in-law?"
Stephen and Nicole also perked up their ears.
Steve scratched his head and gave a dry cough.
"No, cough, actually... Stefanie, you're going to have a younger sister. I wonder how you feel about that?"
"What?"
As soon as these words came out, it was like a sudden clap of thunder.
The bag of chips in Stefanie's hand dropped to the floor. She turned her head, her eyes instantly widening like copper bells as her gaze darted back and forth between Stephen and Nicole.
"Mom, Dad, you guys... when did you..."
"What?"
Nicole jumped up from the sofa, the knitting needles in her hand almost poking Stephen in the face, her eyebrows arched in anger.
"Well, Stephen, how come I didn't know you were going to have another daughter? Are you out there..."
"Oh, I'm being framed, honey!"
Stephen was so scared he dropped his newspaper, breaking into a cold sweat from anxiety.
"Steve, you brat, don't talk nonsense! When did I ever have another child out there? You're going to be the death of your father!"
"Stop, stop, stop."
Seeing the household descend into chaos, Steve didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he waved his hands.
"Where are your minds going? She's not Dad's, and she's not Mom's."
"Then that means..."
The three of them looked at Steve simultaneously, their gazes becoming even more strange.
"She's not mine either!!!"
Steve quickly cut off their wild imaginations, took a deep breath, and his expression became serious.
"I brought her back from another world."
"Another world?"
The three of them were stunned.
Next, Steve didn't hide anything further. Given the current situation, that world would eventually be disclosed and merge with this one, and his family would have to know sooner or later.
Using the most concise language possible, he gave a general account of his experiences during this period, as well as Alex's background and what she had gone through.
Of course, to avoid worrying his parents too much, he glossed over the thrilling battle processes.
After hearing Steve's narration, the living room fell into a long silence.
"Zombies, anomalies, werewolves, vampires..."
Stefanie's mouth hung open, feeling as though her worldview was being ground into the dirt.
"Brother, no wonder you were so strong before. It turns out you've been saving the world? That is way too cool. I'm sooo jealous!"
Stephen and Nicole, however, felt more heartache and pity.
"This child has suffered too much."
Nicole wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and sighed.
"Only nine years old, both parents gone, and plotted against by such wicked people. It's truly a sin."
"Alright."
Stephen slapped his thigh and said generously.
"Since you've brought her back, we'll raise her. It's perfect; this girl Stefanie is always acting crazy, so having a well-behaved little sister around will be good. It'll save you two from being bored when you're older."
"Dad..."
Steve's mouth twitched slightly as he reminded him in a low voice.
"She's not an ordinary child. She has inherited the power of a peak SS-rank Anomaly. If we're not careful, she really could destroy the world."
"..."
The living room went quiet again for three seconds.
Then, Nicole slapped Steve on the back.
"She's still a child. Since you brought her back, you're responsible for teaching her well."
Steve gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Half an hour later.
Steve led the three curious family members through layers of military restricted zones to the Portal hall at the core of the base.
"It's so big!"
As soon as they entered, Stefanie let out a cry of surprise.
A massive purple light gate, large enough to accommodate a tank, stood in the center of the hall, emitting a mysterious glow.
Countless automated robotic arms were busy moving through it. Crates labeled as minerals and potions were being continuously transported out, while batches of advanced modern weapons were being sent in.
This scene was filled with a shocking sense of sci-fi meeting fantasy.
"This is the portal? This looks like Stargate! Where's Thor?!"
Stephen's hands were trembling slightly as he looked at the miraculous sight.
"So the country has already been doing such great things."
Steve and the other three stood before the massive portal and waited quietly.
Before long, ripples appeared on the originally calm purple light screen, and two figures stepped out from within.
It was Steve's fifth rank zombie clone, holding a little girl's hand.
When Alex first stepped into this world, her small hand tightly gripped the zombie's cold fingers, her heart full of anxiety.
In that MC transit station, all she had seen were square-headed monsters and swarms of zombies. She had once thought that Brother Steve's world was entirely made of such strange beings and wondered if she, a human, would be out of place.
It wasn't until she looked up and saw the busy human soldiers in the hall, and the four kind-looking normal people standing before her, that her heart finally settled.
"Phew..."
She let out a soft breath.
The zombie clone led her to Steve's original body, then let go of her hand, preparing to turn and leave.
"Brother Steve."
Alex instinctively and hurriedly grabbed the zombie's hem, her eyes full of dependence.
To her, this green monster who had been holding her and protecting her was the reliance she was most familiar with.
Seeing this, Steve smiled gently.
The original Steve standing in front of her and the zombie clone she was holding actually spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping.
"Alex, don't be afraid. Go on, that's also me."
The two voices were perfectly synchronized, as if coming from the same soul.
Alex was stunned. Her big eyes darted back and forth between the two Steves, finally settling on the big brother wearing casual clothes.
"Are you... Brother Steve?"
She asked tentatively.
"Mhm."
Steve's true body squatted down, looking her in the eye and pointing at his own head.
"This is what I actually look like. That big guy is also controlled by my soul, just like how you control a character in a game."
"Oh..."
Alex nodded as if she understood, yet she still seemed a bit confused; however, that familiar feeling was unmistakable.
"You must be the Alex my brother mentioned."
At that moment, Stefanie, who had been unable to contain her curiosity, leaned in and looked excitedly at the little girl who was as delicate as a porcelain doll.
"I'm Stefanie. You can call me sis or Stefanie."
"Hello, sister Stefanie."
Alex greeted her obediently.
"Oh my, what a beautiful child."
Nicole also stepped forward, taking Alex's hand with eyes full of motherly love.
"I'm Nicole, and this is your Stephen. This will be your home from now on, so don't be a stranger."
"Hello, uncle. Hello, auntie."
Alex responded politely. Feeling the warmth from Nicole's palm, her originally cold little hands gradually began to warm up.
"Are you hungry? Are you tired? I will go and make you something delicious."
"Look how thin your little face is. We'll have to nourish you well from now on."
Faced with the warm concern of the two elders, Alex was initially at a loss. But soon, she showed a shy smile amidst this long-lost family warmth, answering each of the elders' greetings.
The group returned home to a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
"Let's call it a day; everyone is tired."
Steve checked the time.
"Tomorrow, I'll take Alex to the Base Laboratory for a comprehensive ability test and handle her identity registration while we're at it."
"Alright, I'll go get a room ready for Alex first."
Nicole got up briskly and pulled Alex toward the second bedroom.
"Alex, come see what kind of bedsheets you like..."
Taking advantage of her mother leading Alex away, Stefanie grabbed Steve's arm and leaned in to whisper mysteriously.
"Bro, that move where you controlled the zombie was so cool! Didn't you say before that you could put your soul into other bodies and travel to other worlds? Let me try too! I want to see another world. Please!"
Steve looked at his sister's puppy dog face and thought for a moment. It just so happened that he needed to test some things.
"Alright alright."
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Steve.
Alex had now inherited the Peak SS-level power of the Twin Magic Mirror, and the core of the Twin Magic Mirror's ability was duplication and twinning.
If this ability could also transcend physical limitations and act upon the zombie Legion, just like his soul control... wouldn't that mean... Steve suddenly turned his head to look at Alex, who had just stepped out of the room and was looking over timidly.
"Brother, what's wrong?"
Alex felt a bit unnerved by Steve's somewhat intense gaze and asked in a low voice.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Steve composed himself and showed a gentle smile.
"I just want to test your abilities, Alex. Do you know how to use them?"
Alex nodded and said seriously.
"I know. There are many memories in my head. I know how to control those energies and that thing called the Ghost Domain."
"That's great."
A sharp light flashed in Steve's eyes.
"Then let's do a little test."
Zombie World, a certain wasteland.
Buzz!
The space rippled, and three fifth rank zombies that had been standing still suddenly snapped their heads up, the red light in their eyes instantly becoming lively.
"Holy crap, Bro!!"
The zombie on the far left looked down at its arm and jumped up in excitement.
"This feeling is awesome! I feel invincible right now."
Boom!
The zombie controlled by Stefanie threw a backhand punch at a nearby small hilltop.
Accompanied by a loud crash, rocks flew everywhere, and the ten-meter-high hill was actually blown apart.
"Hahaha, I'm Superman!"
Stefanie, controlling the zombie, ran wildly across the wasteland, leaving clouds of dust in her wake.
Steve shook his head helplessly, ignoring the crazy girl, and turned his gaze to the slightly thin zombie in the middle.
"Alex, how does it feel? Are you used to it?"
"Mhm, it's a bit strange, but I can move."
Alex's voice came from inside the zombie, her tone very calm.
"Good. Now, try your Ghost Domain."
Steve pointed to the open space ahead.
"See if you can manifest it using this body."
"Okay."
Alex closed her eyes and began to mobilize the massive power deep within her soul.
Buzz!
After only two seconds, a visible black ripple centered on the zombie suddenly spread in all directions, covering an area of several hundred meters.
Although the range was much smaller compared to the terrifying area the Twin Magic Mirror had covered across the entire Western Suburbs of the Imperial Capital, this was, after all, an attempt across bodies and worlds.
"It really did get weaker..."
Steve carefully sensed the strength of the Ghost Domain.
"Is it because this fifth rank zombie's body has limited capacity and can't handle the full power of an SS-rank soul? No matter, as long as the mechanics are still there."
"Alex, try using the Ghost Domain to duplicate my current body."
Steve pointed to the zombie he was controlling.
"Mhm."
With a thought from Alex, the black mist within the Ghost Domain surged instantly, converging toward Steve's location.
Gurgle... The black mist twisted and reorganized. After just a few seconds, a black zombie figure slowly emerged from the void.
Its appearance, aura, and even the pressure of a Tier 5 Powerhouse were identical to the zombie Steve was controlling.
"It actually works."
Steve was ecstatic.
"Alex, can you control it?"
"I can."
Under Alex's mental control, the duplicated shadow zombie began to run and jump on the wasteland, eventually throwing a punch.
All sorts of techniques could be used.
Seeing this, Steve immediately grew excited.
"This Twin Magic Mirror's ability is simply an insane-level strategic god-tier skill."
"Though limited by the strength of the body, it might not be able to duplicate existences that are too heaven-defying."
Looking at the duplicate, a wild image had already surfaced in Steve's mind.
On a future battlefield, facing thousands of enemy troops, his side would have an army of a million fifth rank zombies pressing forward.
Then, with a wave of Alex's small hand, the Ghost Domain would expand.
Swish!
A million-strong army would instantly become two million.
Moreover, this extra million would be a Mirror Legion that consumed no resources.
"This isn't just a ghost power; this is practically a cheat code for an Infinite Troop Spawning Style."
"This is true invincibility."
Watching the zombie controlled by Stefanie still tirelessly demolishing hilltops in the distance, Steve turned his attention back to Alex.
"Alex's training priority is absolutely the highest of all at the moment."
Steve calculated silently in his heart, his eyes growing increasingly fervent.
If Alex could become even stronger, strong enough to replicate Tier 6 or even Tier 7 existences... just thinking about that scene made one's scalp tingle.
Imagine Alex controlling the Abyssal Condenser as it descended onto the battlefield in the future.
"At that time, she would possess the dual domains of the Abyss Ghost Domain and the Twin Dread Domain."
"Then Alex activates the Twin Dread Domain and directly replicates an Abyssal Condenser."
"Two abyssal monsters with peak Tier 6 combat power, plus the already despair-inducing Abyssal Gaze."
The more Steve thought about it, the more excited he became; this was practically a deterrent on the level of a strategic nuclear weapon.
However, excitement aside, a practical problem lay before him.
"How should I train Alex?"
Previously, cultivating zombies or other creatures was simple: either feed them weird cores or crystals.
But this little girl currently has a human body, yet her body is fused with the power and soul fragments of an SS-grade weirdness; the situation is too unique.
"Alex."
Steve asked.
"Do you know how to improve your strength? Or do you need to eat anything special?"
Alex tilted her head and tried searching through those chaotic memories, eventually shaking her head blankly.
"I don't know. It doesn't seem to be mentioned in those memories. She only thought about devouring me and never considered how to make me stronger."
"Is that so?"
Steve nodded thoughtfully, not feeling too disappointed.
"It's fine. If you don't know, you don't know. We'll figure it out slowly; we'll find a way eventually. Anyway, with massive resources backing us, I can pile them up to raise your level even if I have to force it."
After the test ended, the three of them exited the zombie Possession state.
Stefanie went back to her room to sleep, still wanting more, while Steve and Alex remained energetic due to their strength.
"Since we're not sleepy, let's go take a look at the Western Fantasy World."
Steve took Alex, and their consciousnesses once again crossed the void, descending into the Western Fantasy World.
Western Fantasy World, Brettwald City.
Inside the dim hall of the ancient castle, candlelight flickered, illuminating the ferocious wolf-head totems on the walls.
"Lord Falric, something is wrong!"
A blood-covered Werewolf scout stumbled into the hall, his voice carrying unmistakable terror.
"The Duchy of Lumburg has completely fallen!"
"What?"
The Tier 5 Werewolf Lord, Falric, who was resting with his eyes closed on a high-backed chair, suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"How is that possible? Wasn't everything fine before? How could it suddenly fall completely?"
He grabbed the scout by the collar and roared.
"Is it because those untouchables couldn't gather enough Moonlight Stones for this month and deliberately fabricated lies to deceive me?"
"No, my Lord, it's true."
The scout shook his head frantically, his eyes full of fear.
"The Duchy of Lumburg has really fallen. Just last night, all resisting forces were wiped out in an instant. No news came out, as if it were directly erased by an invisible giant hand."
"Seeing that the Moonlight Stones hadn't been delivered for a long time, we sent people to urge them. However, the first group didn't return, and neither did the second. It wasn't until we finally sent a few Tier 5 Powerhouses to take a look from a distance that we discovered all the cities were flying someone else's flags."
Hearing this, Falric's body went limp, and he slumped back into his chair.
"Cleared out in an instant, and even Tier 5 Powerhouses could only watch from afar."
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"What faction is the opponent? Church of Light? Or those vampires? Or is it The Dark Church trying to annex us?"
"My Lord, it's none of them."
The scout swallowed hard and said tremulously.
"According to the kinsmen who escaped, it's a group of winged monsters. They call themselves the Holy Order, and..."
"And what?"
"And their strength is very formidable. Those leading monsters are all Tier 5 existences, and their numbers are terrifyingly large."
"Winged monsters?"
Falric's brow furrowed.
"Aren't those just vampires? No, although those vampire also have wings, how could they possibly produce so many Tier 5 existences all at once? Even that Prince couldn't afford such a grand gesture."
"And that Holy Order—where did this faction come from? I've never heard of it before."
Falric felt a surge of irritation in his heart.
Originally, he had been counting on this batch of top-quality Moonlight Stones from the Duchy of Lumburg to help him break through his bottleneck and ascend to the coveted Tier 6.
Now, it's all gone to waste—the eggs are smashed, and even the hen that laid them has been taken away.
"Anything else?"
Falric asked in a low voice.
"That's all."
The scout hesitated for a moment before saying.
"However, many kinsmen from the Duchy of Lumburg have escaped and are requesting asylum outside the city. Their strength is mostly around Tier 3 or 4. Should we..."
"Let them into the city."
Falric waved his hand.
"After all, they are our kin, and we need manpower right now. Incorporate them into the ranks to bolster the city's defenses."
"This Holy Order can wipe out a duchy in an instant; their strength is definitely not something a single city like ours can face. I must immediately go to the higher-ups and request a Tier 6 lord to go and investigate with me."
"Yes."
Wolf Camp Garrison.
After the scout withdrew, he arrived at a temporary camp in the north of the city.
Several hundred refugee werewolves who had just been allowed into the city were gathered here.
The werewolf officer in charge of receiving them scanned his kinsmen, feeling that something was off.
Although these werewolves' auras were indeed Tier 3 or 4 and they looked like werewolves, why did their physiques seem a bit sturdier than ordinary werewolves?
Moreover, their posture was a bit too upright, unlike the cowering behavior of typical refugees.
"Perhaps the environment in Lumburg is better..."
The officer didn't think much of it; after all, there were many werewolf tribes, and it was normal for there to be slight differences in appearance.
"Listen up."
The officer shouted loudly.
"Since you've entered Brettwald, you must follow the rules here. Next, I will assign you numbers, then you will each go to your barracks to rest and be ready for battle at any time."
"Yes."
Several hundred werewolves answered in unison. Although their voices sounded lazy, there was an inexplicable sense of order.
"Hmm, quite obedient."
The officer nodded in satisfaction and quickly finished the assignments.
"You ten go to Team 1, you go to Team 2... Dismissed."
As the officer left, the group of werewolves dispersed and headed toward their respective barracks.
Although they appeared lazy and casual on the surface, they were communicating frantically in their minds.
[That stupid wolf officer probably didn't notice, right?]
[He definitely didn't. Our disguise, aside from having slightly larger muscles and shinier fur, looks exactly the same as them.]
[Exactly, we are high-grade goods who have undergone the baptism of that altar.]
[Alright, stop the chatter.]
A steady mental transmission interrupted the wolves' banter.
[Remember the mission: lie low and figure out the high-level structure of this werewolf tribe, especially the details of those sixth or even seventh-tier old monsters.]
[We stay here quietly and wait for the Chief's orders.]
[Yes!]
This group of seemingly destitute refugee werewolves were precisely the undercover werewolves Randy had traind using the altar... On the other side, Yonvik.
Ever since the satyr incident broke out, most of the werewolf guards in the city had fled, and the entire city seemed like a ghost town with the pause button pressed.
At this time, a well-equipped werewolf unit slowly approached the outskirts of Yonvik.
Leading them was the werewolf Dante, and beside him was Thomas, a Fifth-Tier Warlock in black robes holding a pitch-black staff.
"Stop."
Thomas suddenly stopped in his tracks. His sinister eyes, which were always half-squinted, suddenly widened as he stared heavily at Yonvik ahead.
Seeing him stop, Dante's heart tightened, and he hurriedly stepped forward to ask.
"My Lord, what's wrong? Did you discover something?"
"A very heavy evil aura..."
Thomas's voice was hoarse and low.
"In this Yonvik, there dwells an extremely intense evil aura. Even from this far away, that scent makes me feel excited."
"Evil aura?"
Hearing this, Dante subconsciously pulled his neck back.
"That must be what that damned satyr left behind, right? Although we werewolves aren't exactly creatures of light, we would never touch such a nauseating aura."
"Everyone, be careful."
Thomas ignored Dante's complaints; instead, his expression became increasingly solemn.
"The thing on the other side is likely a top-tier evil entity, more troublesome than I previously anticipated."
When Dante heard this, his heart skipped a beat.
To get an evaluation of a 'top-tier evil entity' from the mouth of a Fifth-Tier Black Warlock was absolutely no joke.
He originally thought Thomas would be able to easily deal with the opponent, but now it seemed they might lose their lives.
"My Lord, then what should we do?"
Dante was starting to panic.
"How about we retreat first?"
"Retreat?"
Thomas gave a cold laugh, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.
"Since we've come, there's no reason to return empty-handed. An evil entity of this level is an excellent material for refining top-tier magic potions."
"Wait while I make some preparations."
After saying that, Thomas spoke no more and turned to walk towards several positions around the city.
Every few steps, he would thrust his staff into the ground and mutter incantations.
As he chanted, the free dark elements in the surrounding air began to stir frantically. Wisps of black gas, visible to the naked eye, gathered towards the black staff in his hand as if summoned.
When the final incantation was finished, Thomas abruptly raised his staff and pointed it fiercely toward Yonvik.
"Rise."
Boom!
The thick, inseparable mass of black gas at the tip of the staff instantly exploded, turning into a massive dark cloud that spread rapidly, directly shrouding the sky above Yonvik in a gloomy, oppressive darkness.
"This..."
Following behind, Dante couldn't help but feel a sense of awe watching this scene.
Is this the power of a Fifth-Tier Black Warlock? Changing the weather with a simple gesture is indeed much more eerie than werewolves like them who only know how to fight hand-to-hand.
After completing the spell, Thomas slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and turned back to the group.
"Let's go. I have suppressed the city with the Dark Canopy. Tell your men to be careful; that evil thing is quite sinister."
"Yes."
Dante immediately turned and roared at the werewolf unit behind him.
"Brothers, did you hear the Lord's words? Stay on high alert. If anyone falls behind, don't blame others for not saving you."
"Awoo!"
The werewolves growled lowly and gripped their weapons tightly.
Then, Thomas nodded and took the lead, stepping cautiously toward the open gates of Yonvik.
Inside Yonvik, on a certain empty street.
The monster wearing a gentleman's tailcoat and sporting that iconic goat head was strolling elegantly through the dead streets.
Suddenly, he stopped and looked up at the pitch-black clouds that had suddenly pressed down overhead.
"Heh."
The satyr let out a contemptuous chuckle.
"Trying to suppress me with such low-grade dark magic? Truly interesting."
"Not even as evil as I am. Where did this clown come from?"
He slightly closed his eyes, and his powerful perception instantly spread out, tracing back to the source of those magical fluctuations.
In the next second, his figure vanished from the spot like a ghost.
On the northern wall of Yonvik.
By now, the satyr was standing at the edge of the towering city wall, looking down from above at the slowly approaching werewolf unit outside the city.
His gaze skipped over the strong werewolves and fell directly on the warlock in black robes holding the black staff at the very front.
"Oh? A human playing with black magic?"
A hint of amusement flashed in the satyr's cloudy yellow vertical pupils.
"It seems this is the reinforcement they found."
He just stood there quietly, releasing his malice without any concealment.
Outside the city.
Thomas, who was marching, suddenly stiffened.
A cold gaze that seemed to come from the abyss instantly pierced through layers of space and locked directly onto him.
That feeling was like being stared down by a cold poisonous snake; even his soul was trembling.
"There."
Thomas snapped his head up and looked in the direction the gaze was coming from.
There, on the mottled city wall of Yonvik, a monster wearing a well-fitted tailcoat but possessing a hideous goat head stood with its hands behind its back, quietly making eye contact with him.
Buzz!
The moment their eyes met, Thomas felt a sharp pain in his mind, as if a needle had been driven fiercely into his Sea of Consciousness.
"Ugh."
Thomas let out a muffled groan and had to reach out to cover his forehead, his face instantly turning pale.
"A Mental Shock? To be able to launch an attack directly through sight?"
"Break!"
He shouted low, waving his staff fiercely. An invisible mental barrier instantly expanded, isolating that stinging, cold gaze.
"My Lord, are you alright?"
Dante, seeing this from the side, almost jumped in fright.
He was truly panicked.
They hadn't even entered the city or truly met the opponent face-to-face, yet their greatest reliance, the Fifth-Tier Black Warlock, was already clutching his head in pain?
If they entered the city, wouldn't they just be delivering themselves as food?
"My Lord, how about we..."
Dante was already having second thoughts.
"Shut up."
Thomas lowered his hand, a flash of annoyance in his eyes.
Although that moment just now was a bit embarrassing, it didn't cause him any substantive harm; instead, it piqued his competitiveness.
"It's nothing, just a despicable little trick of spiritual shock."
Thomas snorted coldly, trying to forcibly save face.
"Is that one standing on the city wall the satyr you mentioned?"
He raised his staff and pointed directly toward the city wall.
Hearing this, Dante immediately looked in the direction the staff was pointing.
With one look, he also gasped.
That was the first time he had seen the rumored satyr.
The monster stood on the dark city wall, its tailcoat fluttering in the wind. That giant goat head looked exceptionally eerie and terrifying against the backdrop of the dark sky.
Especially those yellow eyes; even from such a distance, they made his heart palpitate.
At this moment, it seemed to have noticed their gaze.
The corners of the satyr's mouth on the wall curled up slightly, revealing an elegant, highly mocking smile.
In the next second, its figure vanished from the city wall like a phantom, as if it had never been there.
"Va... vanished?"
Dante rubbed his eyes, his voice trembling slightly.
"My Lord, are we still going in? This thing is too sinister."
"Enter."
The wariness in Thomas's eyes was replaced by a touch of fanaticism.
"Interesting. It's been a long time since I've seen such a special evil spirit with such powerful Spiritual Power."
"Enter the city."
Thomas waved his staff and strode forward.
"I want to see whether his evil arts are more formidable or if my Black Magic is superior."
"This... alright then."
Dante had no choice but to brace himself and call out to his subordinates.
"Everyone keep up, don't fall behind."
With various thoughts in their minds, the group stepped one by one into Yonvik, which was already shrouded in the shadow of death.
The wide-open city gates waited silently for them to arrive.
Standing at the city gate, Dante looked at this once-prosperous city that belonged to him. Now it was dilapidated, and the streets were empty.
"Damned satyr."
Dante gritted his teeth, his heart filled with humiliation and anger.
This was originally his territory, his home, yet it had been turned upside down by that monster, forcing him to flee like a stray dog.
Although he had returned now, the deathly silence hitting him in the face made him afraid to even breathe loudly.
"Go."
Thomas coldly spat out a single word and took the first step across the city gate.
Buzz!
The moment he stepped into the city, an invisible but thick evil aura instantly swept across Thomas's body.
He frowned slightly and looked at Dante and the other Werewolves beside him, finding that although they looked nervous, they hadn't noticed this special spiritual fluctuation.
"Can only those with strong Spiritual Power perceive it?"
Thomas thought to himself, his alertness increasing a few notches.
On the city streets.
Dante led his people, searching cautiously.
Most of the doors and windows of the houses on both sides were tightly shut, as if the people inside were all avoiding some terrifying plague.
Bang!
Dante walked up to a house that hadn't completely collapsed and kicked the door open.
In the dim room, two Werewolves huddled in a corner trembled all over at the loud noise. They snapped their heads up, eyes full of terror.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me."
They shrank back frantically, their voices sharp and shrill.
Seeing this scene, Dante felt a surge of rage.
This was the Werewolf Tribe, warriors once known for their bravery, yet now they had been reduced to this state.
"It's alright, I'm back."
Dante took a deep breath and shouted loudly, trying to wake their reason.
Hearing the familiar voice, the two Werewolves blanked for a moment, then stared intently at Dante.
"City Lord?"
One of the Werewolves murmured, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.
But in the next second, that light instantly shattered, replaced by an even deeper despair and madness.
"No, this isn't real. This must be the satyr's illusion."
That Werewolf suddenly clutched his head and began to scream.
"The satyr wants to kill me. No, this is all fake. You are fake. You're the satyr in disguise, you want to kill me!"
"Impossible, it's all fake."
The other Werewolf also went mad, starting to speak incoherently.
"Yes, this is all the satyr's conspiracy. He's trying to trick us into going out."
"Shut up!"
Dante's heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. He rushed forward and roared.
"It's me! Look closely, I am your City Lord, Dante!"
"No! It's all fake, everything is fake. This world is also fake!"
The two Werewolves' minds were already on the verge of collapse. Faced with Dante's approach, they didn't feel safe; instead, they became more convinced that this was some kind of torture method by that demon.
"As long as I die, as long as I die, I can escape from his world."
Puchi! Puchi!
Without any warning, the two Werewolves suddenly raised their arms and plunged them into their own hearts without hesitation.
Blood gushed out, staining Dante's feet red.
"..."
Dante froze in place, his outstretched hand stopping in mid-air, unable to grasp the life that was slipping away.
He could have stopped it.
With his Rank Five strength, stopping the suicide of two Rank Four Werewolves would have been easy.
But seeing the look of relief on their faces before they died, along with that deep fear of this world, he had hesitated.
"Pure fear..."
Standing outside the door, Thomas watched this scene, his eyes flickering.
"No illusions were used, nor was there any mind control. Merely by relying on a name and the shadows of the past, he scared them directly into suicide. Just how much despair has this satyr brought to this city?"
Looking at the two corpses, Dante clenched his fists tightly.
"My people have actually been reduced to the point of being scared into suicide."
He turned abruptly and stroded out the door, his gaze becoming incredibly fierce.
The Werewolf reinforcement unit outside saw this, and their originally high morale instantly plummeted.
Although they were here as reinforcements, this terrifying sense of oppression—where the enemy's presence was felt before he was even seen—made their spines tingle.
Dante ignored everyone's reaction. He walked straight to another house that seemed to have signs of life and kicked the door open.
Then, like picking up a chick, he dragged out a young Werewolf who was hiding under the bed.
"Tell me."
Dante's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the Werewolf.
"During the time I was gone, how many Werewolves did the satyr kill? Why has everyone become like this?"
The young Werewolf was terrified by Dante's aura. Only after seeing clearly that the newcomer was indeed the City Lord did he say with a sob,
"He... he hasn't killed anyone."
"What?"
Dante was stunned.
"After you left, City Lord, that satyr didn't kill any more Werewolves."
"Didn't kill anyone?"
Dante became even angrier.
"Then what is he doing? Is he just strolling around the city? Then who drove everyone to this state?"
"No, it's not..."
The young werewolf shook his head desperately, deep fear reflected in his eyes.
"He captures people everywhere and takes them into that world of his, making us play games."
"Play games?"
Dante's brow furrowed.
"Yes, but regardless of whether we win or lose the game, he doesn't kill anymore. He really hasn't killed a single person."
"We don't know why, but..."
The young werewolf swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
"There's something wrong with that game. After many brothers came out of it, they were like different people. They started to suspect each other, and some even fought over nonsense, eventually killing one another."
"We don't know what to do. Whenever we close our eyes, we dream of that game. No one dares to sleep, and no one dares to trust anyone else."
Hearing this, Dante released his grip, letting the werewolf collapse onto the ground.
"What a clever tactic."
Dante gritted his teeth.
"Truly a clever tactic. Without lifting a finger, he uses fear and suspicion to make us kill each other. Does he want to treat us like playthings?"
To kill the heart.
This was ten thousand times more cruel than killing them outright.
Stepping out of the house, Dante looked at the deathly silent city, feeling as if that goat head was hidden in every shadow around him.
"Where is he..."
Dante suddenly turned to look at Thomas, who had remained silent.
"My lord, can you see his location? That beast must be hiding somewhere in the city, watching us."
"I'll try."
Thomas nodded and raised the black staff in his hand.
Rumble!
The previously stagnant dark clouds in the sky suddenly began to churn violently.
With a low shout from Thomas, waves of black mist descended from the clouds, beginning a carpet search of every inch of land, attempting to find the source of that massive evil energy.
At the top of a tower somewhere in the city.
The satyr stood with his hands behind his back, watching the black mist descending and scurrying about. A mocking curve formed at the corner of his mouth.
"Looking for me?"
An invisible ripple instantly spread out with him as the center.
Ghost Domain activated.
In the next second, the satyr's figure vanished directly into a dim, distorted alternate space.
The black mist swept over the tower like headless flies, passing through where the satyr had stood, but touching nothing, as if it had always been empty.
The searching black mist eventually returned empty-handed, slowly dissipating into the air.
Thomas withdrew his staff, his brow furrowed and his expression grim.
"How is it, my lord? Did you find him?"
Dante asked hurriedly from the side, his eyes full of hope.
"No."
Thomas shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of frustration and doubt.
"My senses clearly tell me he's still in this city, even right near us, but my carpet search couldn't find his specific location. It's as if he doesn't exist."
"This..."
Dante's heart sank. If even a Fifth-Tier Black Warlock couldn't find the guy, how were they supposed to fight this battle?
Just as the two were about to discuss a countermeasure.
Boom!!!
A sudden change occurred!
From the direction of the south city gate in the distance, a brilliant golden light suddenly erupted, so bright it was impossible to look at directly.
The light was like a sharp sword, instantly piercing the heavens and striking hard against the thick dark canopy above Yonvik.
Sizzle!
The dark clouds that had enveloped the entire city were like snow meeting a blazing sun, rapidly dissipating under the golden light.
In just a few seconds, the long-lost sunlight once again bathed the deathly silent city, but the sacred and domineering aura made the werewolves feel suppressed.
"This is..."
Dante raised his hand to block the blinding light, his pupils shrinking.
"Angelic Holy Light? Has the Church of Light attacked?"
"Damn it!"
Beside him, Thomas was so furious he nearly snapped his staff.
He had traveled thousands of miles, and before he could even see the face of the target satyr, the Church of Light—his greatest nemesis—had arrived at the doorstep?
This was simply the worst luck possible.
"This won't do."
Dante's face instantly became distorted.
"We must hold this city. If Yonvik is lost, Lord Lucas will surely skin me alive when I return."
Thinking of Lucas's brutal methods, the fear in Dante's heart even surpassed his wariness of the angels.
"Brothers, follow me to the south city wall immediately!"
Dante turned and roared at the thousands of werewolves behind him.
"Also, split half the men to go into the city and bring out every werewolf still breathing. Whether they've gone mad or not, if they're going to die, they'll die on the battlefield for me!"
"Yes!"
Instantly, the werewolf force split into two.
One part rushed into every corner of the city to conscript anyone they could find, while the majority followed Dante, sprinting toward the south city gate.
Outside the south city wall, high in the sky.
By now, the area outside the city had turned into a sea of gold.
An army of over a thousand angels, wearing silver-white armor and bearing pure white wings, was lined up neatly in the air.
Each of them possessed a perfect face that made others feel ashamed of their own appearance, and their bodies radiated a holy glow.
At the very front of the formation floated five high-ranking angels with four wings.
Leading them were two female angels, whose looks were outstanding to the extreme.
Mikaela on the left had delicate features and a hint of innocence in her eyes.
She looked down at the city emitting a decaying aura and turned to the more mature and steady angel beside her.
"Sister, there's something strange in this city. Such an evil aura—I've never felt anything like it. It's not a demon from the Nether, nor does it seem like those black warlock."
"Indeed."
The one called sister, Muriel, nodded, the holy sword in her hand vibrating slightly.
"This aura is filthier and more nauseating than a warlock's magic. The dark canopy I just shattered with one strike was likely the work of a Fifth-Tier Black Warlock, but what's hidden in this city might be even more troublesome."
"Then what should we do?"
Mikaela was somewhat worried.
"Do we attack now?"
Muriel's gaze swept across the empty streets as she analyzed calmly.
"The Detection Spell shows that there are currently only werewolves in the city; no signs of humans or other races. Our actions won't harm the innocent."
"In that case, there's no need to hold back."
A cold glint flashed in Muriel's eyes.
"Purify this place directly. After clearing out this city of sin, we must immediately head to support other battlefields."
"Alright."
Micaela nodded.
As the order was given, the five leading Four-winged Angels flapped their wings and soared into the sky together.
Buzz!
Five golden Angelic Holy Swords appeared out of thin air in their hands, holy flames burning fiercely on the blades, dyeing half the sky gold.
On the south city wall.
Dante arrived at the wall panting, and at a glance, he saw the despair-inducing angelic lineup.