Ten minutes stretched into an eternity as the Bone Forging experts and the King-ranked Demonic Beasts locked horns in a brutal ballet of violence. Elder Gu Tong, his weathered face etched with exertion, moved with surprising agility for his age. With a final, earth-shattering blow imbued with his very essence, he landed a critical strike on his monstrous opponent. The Demonic Beast let out a deafening shriek, its gargantuan form crumpling to the ground in a heap of dust and gore.
A wave of relief washed over the defenders, but their elation was short-lived. Commander Xi Tang, his movements noticeably sluggish, was locked in a desperate struggle with the remaining King-ranked beast. Each parry of his flaming blades seemed to take a toll on his stamina.
Elder Gu Tong, without a moment's hesitation, surged forward. His arrival was a much-needed lifeline for the beleaguered Commander. Together, they launched a coordinated assault, their attacks flowing seamlessly as their years of experience fighting side-by-side came into play. The tide began to turn.With a final, synchronized strike, they delivered a devastating blow that sent the Demonic Beast reeling.
A collective roar erupted from the city walls – a surge of renewed hope and a tribute to the unmatched prowess of their defenders. The monstrous beast, its formidable aura now flickering, let out a final, defiant roar before collapsing lifelessly at their feet.
Elder Gu Tong and Commander Xi Tang, their bodies battered and bruised, shared a weary nod. They had prevailed, but the victory tasted like ash in their mouths. Just as they started to retreat towards the safety of the city walls, a suffocating pressure slammed into them, pinning them to the spot. Their eyes widened in horror as a tremor, far more violent than anything they'd experienced before, ripped through the earth.The surrounding Demonic Beasts, mere moments ago a relentless tide of fury, now whimpered and cowered. A primal fear, etched deep within their savage instincts, radiated from them.
Then, it appeared.A monstrous silver-furred ape, easily ten meters tall, emerged from the trembling forest. Its muscles bulged with unimaginable power, and its eyes, burning embers set within a skull the size of a siege boulder, glinted with malevolent intelligence. The earth groaned under its immense weight, and the very air crackled with a raw, untamed energy.
"A Silver Moon Ape!" A terrified cry pierced the tense silence. "A Stage Three Demonic Beast! It can easily overpower Late Bone Forging Experts!"