It was dusk.
The clouds on the horizon were burning like fire.
On the ground were hundreds, even thousands, of Demon Beast corpses; the several-day-long beast tide had ended.
Ender, flying on his shield in the air, lowered his head and looked at the people in the defense zone below, thinking, "It's finally over."
Compared to the surrounding defense zones, his zone had very few casualties, with only a few people dying in the beast tide. This was a result of his continuous efforts to save people.
These few people all died on the first day of the beast tide, as that day had the most Demon Beasts and the most intense fighting.
"After several days of fierce fighting, it's now time for the harvest."
Looking at the Demon Beast corpses in front of the first defense line, Ender murmured softly to himself.
Those Demon Beast corpses were good Materials for weaker tribes, especially Apprentice-level ninth-rank Demon Beast corpses, which were hard to obtain normally and could only be acquired in large quantities after a beast tide.
"Twelve! Thirteen!"
Ender called his two younger brothers to return to the Family; they did not plan to participate in the upcoming Materials distribution.
"Their performance in this beast tide was good. After completing their first beast tide trial, they are considered adults and are qualified to receive their own names."
On the way back, Ender looked at his two tired younger brothers, feeling very relieved.
These two younger brothers, as Martial Artists, were at a normal level in the Family, possessing Apprentice-level sixth-rank physical qualities.
There was no precedent in the Royce Family for someone like Ender, who could suppress Planetary Level Demon Beasts even at the Apprentice-level, making him a special case.
Especially after acquiring the Sky Piercing Sword, he killed two Planetary Level Demon Beasts during the beast tide, a feat even a Planetary Level Martial Artist might not achieve.
Upon returning to the Family, his two younger brothers first underwent physical examinations, then were taken home by their parents. After washing up, they would take Purple Orange Fruit and fall into a deep sleep to restore their physical condition and heal any potential hidden injuries.
"Eleven! Well done!" Gabriel came up to Ender and praised him, "Twelve and Thirteen are just physically tired, not injured."
"I think Eleven protected Twelve and Thirteen too well!" Derrick walked over, "Such a first beast tide trial might not be a good thing for Twelve and Thirteen."
"How is this not a good thing?" Grandfather Hollu also arrived, "I believe Eleven did nothing wrong.
"Not every young one has Little One and Eleven's talent and strength. Old Seven, your thinking is too extreme."
Hollu looked at Derrick, sighing inwardly, "Old Seven's personality is too stubborn, and perhaps that's why it affected Eleven…"
Derrick heard this, shook his head slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Watching his father's retreating back, Ender also felt that his father's educational methods were problematic.
For example, making him a Scout at the Apprentice-level. It was said that his father had even taken his eldest brother to the grasslands to fight carnivorous Demon Beasts.
"Eleven, your father most admires your Second Uncle." Hollu patted Ender's shoulder, "He believes that only by letting you witness the cruelty of the grasslands can you become true powerhouses, and only then can you change the current situation of Kuka Planet in the future."
"Change the current situation of Kuka Planet?" Ender was puzzled.
"Yes, change the current situation of Kuka Planet." Hollu said wistfully, "This is what Second Uncle wanted to do."
Ender didn't understand, "Second Uncle wants to change the current situation of Kuka Planet? Why?"
"Alright, don't think so much. Go back and take a good bath." Hollu slapped Ender on the back, laughing and teasing, "I can already smell you; you stink!"
"Huh?"
Chased away with a slap, Ender raised his hand and sniffed; there was indeed a slight smell.
...
After washing up at home, a somewhat hungry Ender went to the Family dining tent. He had barely eaten a few bites when he heard Grandfather's voice.
"All adult members of the Family, meeting!"
Swallowing the food in his mouth, he walked towards the Family's main tent.
Currently, all adults in the Family, including Twelve and Thirteen, who had just completed their first beast tide trial and should have been in a deep sleep, were also present.
As soon as he entered the spacious main tent, Ender noticed that the atmosphere was off.
The three people at the end of the main tent were all somber, their expressions revealing sadness.
"I'll show everyone a video." Grandfather Ron Royce gestured to his eldest son, Hollu.
Hollu took a few steps forward and projected from his wrist communicator.
A light screen appeared, and with it, a handsome face stained with blood!
"Big Brother!"
Looking at that very familiar face, Ender's heart tightened, and he had a bad premonition!
"I am Eric Ron Royce. If this video is found, please pass it on to my Family."
As Eric in the video spoke, the hearts of everyone watching the video tightened!
The screen trembled, and only a portion of blood-stained clothes appeared on the light screen. This was Eric placing the communicator recording the video at a distance.
As Eric moved aside, a woman lying on the ground appeared in the light screen, covered by a pink blanket.
She had a delicate and beautiful face, pale and bloodless, with only a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth marring her beauty.
She lay there quietly, like a sleeping beauty, making one unwilling to wake her.
"Dahlia!"
Looking at the beautiful woman lying quietly on the ground, Dahlia's name came to Ender's mind.
"Why did Dahlia become like this?"
From what he had seen so far, Dahlia was likely...
Eric re-entered the light screen. He carefully picked up Dahlia, who was lying on the ground, and held her in his arms.
"The Joint Training Camp was attacked by a group of Demon Beasts led by several Stellar Rank Demon Beasts! The leader was a Stellar Rank Demon Beast with a Domain!"
Eric in the light screen said, his voice full of Death Energy.
Ender was greatly shocked, "Several Stellar Rank Demon Beasts! And one with a Domain! How is this possible!"
The Joint Training Camp was located in the core of the grasslands, which was the activity range for mid-to-high-level Planetary Level Demon Beasts. Demon Beasts newly entering the Planetary Level generally operated in the inner perimeter.
Every so often, the Joint Training Camp would launch trial missions, allowing the trainees Cultivating in the Joint Training Camp to hunt Planetary Level Demon Beasts in teams!
With such regular hunting, even if Stellar Rank Demon Beasts were born, there would be at most one or two.
How could there be several Stellar Rank Demon Beasts, one of which had even comprehended a Domain!
Eric's voice came again, "Dahlia is dead, just like her other companions, she died in the Demon Beast attack.
"Many instructors fled, leaving only a few fighting the Stellar Rank Demon Beasts. They won't last much longer..."
Bang!
Before he could finish speaking, a huge explosion sound came from the light screen.
Eric turned his head to look, then continued speaking towards the light screen, "There was a time when I deeply hated Father!
"I hated him for not fleeing when faced with a Universe Level, insisting on staying, even though there was clearly no hope..."
He lowered his head, gently stroking the hair of his lover in his arms, his voice bitter yet relieved, "Now! I understand."
Roar!
A Demon Beast roar sounded.
Eric ignored it, his words full of apology, "Sorry, Grandfather! Father!
"And all Family members! I have failed your expectations."
He carefully lowered his lover from his arms, as if afraid that a slightly larger movement would wake her.
Clang!
Eric stood up, reached out from outside the frame to pull out a greatsword, and turned to rest it on his shoulder.
With the greatsword on his shoulder, his back to everyone, revealing only half of his blood-stained face, he said, "I'm going to do something! Something worth risking my life for!"
He gave Dahlia one last gentle look, and a fiery red light began from his upper body, rapidly spreading like burning flames until it covered his entire body!
Boom!
Like a burst of flame, the fiery red light spread outwards from Eric, instantly engulfing the entire room!
In the fiery red light, the air distorted, and all objects were baked by the high temperature, with wisps of smoke rising.
Before the fiery red light consumed the room, Eric's final words reached everyone's ears!
"Eleven! The future of the Family is entrusted to you!"