The stratagem enacted laid low both the ancient necromancer and her undead charge while also testing the mettle of the red pig. As Bronze-tiered contenders, the pig fleetingly ensnared its foe within its jaws yet could not render the killing blow forthwith. Within that sanguine maw, the revenant frenetically battled for release. "Desperate times call for desperate measures—flight is now the superior tactic," determined the red pig as it unanticipatedly absconded.
The crone's countenance morphed into a visage marred with dire consternation as she digested the emergence of this daunting adversary, reproaching her own previous indiscretions. "Chase!" With commanding fervor, she urged her remaining zombie into action and pursued the pig with swiftness. The consideration of forsaking the obedient undead was unconscionable; for these Bronze-class guardians bore the fruit of her tireless endeavors, a treasure incomparable to the modest Black Iron minions—akin to the contrasting vastness between the cosmos and the firmament.
Meanwhile, within the sacrosanct Sanctuary of Divine Flight, Sebastian explored the temple's newly minted faculties in the wake of handling the gruesome magma leviathans. "Astounding! The reach of projection now encompasses three hundred li," he mused with resounding glee. Such augmented surveillance held the promise of an omnipotent grasp on prevailing affairs. Projecting his vigilance to the bailiwick of the vampires, he beheld an operation unfurling in seamless harmony.
There, Vampires No.1 and No.2 had rallied a legion over a thousand beasts strong, a procession whose thunderous roars sent shudders through the glades and kept the lesser wildlings at bay, while even the most formidable Black Iron Nine-Star beasts chose circumvention over confrontation. Only those of the Bronze persuasion might brandish the temerity to engage.
Sebastian's gaze lingered but a brief spell before journeying onward. Soon after, attention was captivated by a fellowship as they traversed the northward plains, stationed a mere hundred li from the Sanctuary of Divine Flight. Within their midst: five elves, archers amongst them with longbows at the ready; the elfin warriors clutching their colossal axes; and a solitary mage, distinguished by the dark, verdant gems ensconced upon the mage's staff.
This enclave of elves bore moderate might, the mage alone bearing the rank of a Nine-Star Black Iron, the others wavered between the Seventh and Eighth Star echelons of the same
What left Ethan spellbound wasn't the prodigious power vested within the elves, but the otherworldly beauty of one enchanting elven sorceress. Her complexion, as delicate and lustrous as a sun-ripened peach, was rightfully coupled with her svelte grace and eyes as hypnotic as sapphires, such that even the clichéd idiom 'beauty that could eclipse the moon and put flowers in a bashful retreat' would serve as a modest compliment to her allure.
"Could our venture deep into the heart of the Alps be a treacherous path fraught with danger, Alice?" aired an archer, his voice carrying a distinct note of trepidation.
Alice, the ethereal elven mage, responded with a mirthful twinkle in her mesmerizing sapphire eyes, "The entire kaleidoscope of tribes stands on the cusp of a ferocious offensive. We must gird ourselves for the tempest, Teet. You of all people must comprehend that if we falter in strength, we'll merely serve as mere cannon fodder for their wrath!"
The winds of apprehension gently whispered, "The peace of Avalon, it seems, has been shattered. Vampires have risen, leaving numerous magical beasts victim to their malevolence," Teet - a strapping lad in the springtime of his twenties, harbored such fears, and they were far from unjustified. A face-off with a mighty vampire might seal their fate, leaving them devoid of escape routes.
"Teet, it appears your courage is eroding. Our divine elven arrows aren't mere decorative trinkets! Moreover, we boast the guidance of the High Priest from the Arcane Warrior Academy. Vampires will simply translate into prey within our sight. It's only through a bounty of merits can we ascend the hierarchy and transcend to loftier echelons!"
"Is there someone audacious enough to plot a hunt against my formidable vampire army? Intriguing," Ethan idled away, his voice laced with anticipatory pleasure as his fingertips graced his chin thoughtfully.
The vampire army was indeed a force to be reckoned with, presenting an insurmountable hurdle for the current ensemble. The mere strength of thousands of magical beasts could decimate them effortlessly, let alone the daunting figures of the two Black Iron Nine-Star vampires and quartet of imposing Lava Giants.
But presently, Ethan had his hands full; he had to brace himself for the impending onslaught by the myriad tribes. From his treasury of past experiences, he knew all too well - not every adversary amongst the invading tribes is mighty, yet there remains the likelihood of the presence of entities vastly superior to his current standing. So, before this all-out tribal offensive materializes, he resolved to upgrade all vampires to a desirably brawny Bronze level.
Upon perusal of his merit panel, the discovery of a paltry score of forty-two caused a crease of consternation to mar Ethan's forehead. The magical beasts within a sprawling hundred-mile radius had largely been tamed, with the remaining having sought refuge in the more remote reaches of Avalon.
Indeed, the commotion wrought by the vampires was considerable, prompting the magical beasts to take flight—a typical response. However, this scenario has significantly hindered the rate at which Ethan's merits increase, a situation he found far from gratifying. Suddenly, the system emitted an alarm. [System anomaly detected, kindly inspect promptly!] Ethan found himself perplexed. What's happening? He knew the system featured an alarm function, but it required pre-setting.
Could it be? Ethan accessed the operating interface, curiosity furrowing his brows. It's the red pig! It has returned, bringing along two compatriots this time. "They are now less than forty miles away from the temple," Ethan discerned the situation almost instantly. His experiences with this red pig remained vividly etched in his memory.
"Never would I have expected this red pig to be brimming with such vitality. Despite being fatally bombarded by the cannon, it surprisingly sprung back to life!" Ethan's countenance adopted a grim aspect. Although the cannon packed a punch, it had its limits. It couldn't possibly concurrently target two individuals, especially considering there were three adversaries, with the other two appearing far from simple.
However, he quickly recognized the duo trailing behind, one being a quintessential undead, while the other was a phantom of a zombie. "Are they linked to Edson and have they joined forces with the red pig?"
That was his initial assumption. He quickly realized, though, that the ties binding these groups likely didn't align with his assumptions. The elderly woman continuously hurled curses at the red pig.
Even though the red pig effortlessly dodged each spell, the innocent trees in the path of these curses were not as fortunate, succumbing to ashes. They were adversaries, no doubt about it! Despite this, the formidable prowess of the elderly woman sent jitters down Ethan's spine. Her curses were leaps and bounds more potent than Edson had ever been.
The strength of this undead sorceress was certainly not confined to the Black Iron Nine-Star level. She had seemingly ascended to the Bronze realm. The zombie beside her also seemed to radiate an aura far mightier than their previous encounter.
"Trouble!" For the first time, Ethan started to sense the thorny situation. But why did the red pig lure them here? To make him use his cannon against the undead chasing it? Ethan surmised the entire play in a whiff—a slight smirk curled at the corner of his lips—in his mind, a clever scheme was taking form.
[35 miles away! [33 miles! [30 miles! [29][27… As the distanceclosed in—27 miles... down to 20 miles away from the temple, Ethan made his move. "Temple, target the undead sorceress!" Ethan's gaze turned icy. He had no intention of sparing the red pig or the undead sorceress; he decided to face them both with resolve.