Boom—!!!
A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky, unleashed by the might of the Level 11 Missile Tower.
The ground in a radius of several miles around the corrupted zone fractured with a deafening roar, forming an enormous sinkhole.
Within the flames and smoke, the figure of the monstrous entity became indistinct.
But Lucian did not relent.
Calmly commanding his forces, he ensured the continuous bombardment of the area, maintaining a barrage of overwhelming firepower.
With an abundant supply of Void Crystals and a steady influx of resources during the battle, he no longer had to worry about running out of ammunition.
Bang! Bang! Bang—!
The relentless shelling battered the monstrous mass of flesh and sinew dozens of times. Yet, the creature's body regenerated despite the intense heat, impacts, and magical assaults, frustrating Lucian to no end.
Soon, the Qin Warriors launched their own ranged sword aura attacks.
Simultaneously, the ladies of the Bright Moon Palace began unleashing their spells.
As the distance between the creature and the territory narrowed, soldiers intensified their concentrated strikes.
Combat heroes even joined the fray with direct assaults.
"Wind Moon Mirror!"
Qin Keqing marked the target with her unique ability.
Lin Daiyu, with her blade drawn, stepped into the chaos, her Nine Absolutes Blade glowing brilliantly.
Qin Keqing followed with a blast of Six Ding Heavenly Thunder, while frost-filled breaths emanated from the warriors as they pressed the assault.
With an unrelenting onslaught, the monstrous mass of flesh, now only a few hundred meters from the territory, had shrunk to a fraction of its original size.
It looked pitiful—a grotesque remnant of what it once was—but its cruel, twisted face still carried a chilling, malevolent grin.
Thwack!
A single bolt from a ballista pierced through its decayed form, pinning it to the ground and reducing its body to a mangled heap of flesh.
"It's dead!"
Jia Yingchun cheered excitedly, her beautiful eyes brimming with relief and joy.
The sheer terror of this abomination's endurance, surviving so much damage, had been truly absurd.
"Young master," Qin Keqing exhaled deeply, visibly relaxing.
Lin Daiyu, however, furrowed her brows, her vigilant gaze fixed on the heap of flesh.
"Master, I suggest we strike again. We should only rest assured once its kill chest appears."
Her tone was serious, her intent to "whip the corpse" palpable.
Though Lin Daiyu bore no personal vendetta against the monster, her caution stemmed from experience.
As Lucian's first summoned hero, she had confronted and slain countless enemies, each more cunning than the last.
Lucian chuckled.
"To have visitors from afar is a rare pleasure, don't you agree?"
"???"
The three women exchanged confused glances, unsure of what Lucian meant.
Without another word, Lucian raised his hand, revealing five small flags.
These were the fully repaired [Five Elements Transformation Formation Flags], which he could now wield as the master of the array.
"Since you're here, don't even think about leaving."
His expression turned cold as he flung the flags into the air.
The five flags soared, transforming into massive banners suspended high in the air.
A moment later, a resounding hum reverberated across the land.
Above the territory, a grand formation appeared, resembling an overturned bowl that enveloped everything within its radius.
Suddenly, a massive, distorted phantom emerged from the battlefield, its presence chilling and ominous.
Lucian sneered.
"I've done my homework on dealing with the Cthulhu lineage."
"Your tricks? I've been ready for them."
This grotesque creature, having concealed itself during the battle, had crept closer, intending to exploit a moment of vulnerability to strike at the heart of the territory.
But its approach had brought it to the brink of defeat, mere steps from glory yet separated by an insurmountable chasm.
"Activate!"
Lucian's voice was low and firm.
Boom—!
The formation roared to life.
The Five Elements Slaughter Array spun into action, drawing upon the Void Crystals stored within the Micro cosmic World.
All entities caught within its bounds were trapped, unable to escape its grasp.
Five Elements Inferno Slaughter Array!
Flames surged, burning away life and soul alike.
Five Elements Metal—Gengjin Slaughter Array!
The sharp, pure energy of Gengjin severed all it touched.
Five Elements Water—Weak Water Slaughter Array!
Three thousand illusions of weak water descended, freezing body and spirit.
Five Elements Wood—Life and Death Reversal Array!
Life and death reversed as decay spread across nine layers.
Five Elements Earth—Jade Mountain Array!
A shadow of the Jade Mountain loomed, carrying divine might that crushed all resistance.
Boom!
Within moments, the phantom of the twisted monstrosity was utterly annihilated, its wails fading into silence.
A second ghostly figure—a hidden boss—was also obliterated by the array.
This second foe had been the one that fled earlier, seeking to capitalize on the chaos brought by the Cthulhu lineage's minions.
But the Five Elements Formation made short work of it.
"What an insidious creature."
"Its stealth was near-perfect!"
"This is the power of the Cthulhu lineage. Dealing with them is far more challenging than fighting ghosts."
The three women exchanged solemn looks, their respect for the monster tempered by the grim knowledge of its capabilities.
This was no mere battle of flesh and spirit—it was a war against reality-bending forces, twisting perceptions and exploiting even the faintest of weaknesses.
If not for Lucian's timely activation of the array, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
A few seconds later, two kill chests appeared where the bosses had fallen.
Lucian exhaled deeply, deactivating the formation.
Even this brief activation had consumed over 17,000 Void Crystals, depleting the vast resources of the Five Elements Transformation Formation.
While its defensive and counterattack capabilities were unparalleled, its cost was equally staggering.
"With no more threats for now, let's take a break."
Lucian instructed the soldiers to replenish the defensive towers and survey the surroundings.
The women, though exhausted, quickly found places to sit and recover.
Jia Yingchun, who wasn't as fatigued, took it upon herself to inspect the kill chests.
With a triumphant smile, she stood before Lucian, opening the chests one by one.
"Obtained: 2,300 Void Crystals, 4,000 Void Essence Stones, Banshee Head x1, Potion [Banshee's Liquor], Territory Building [Cage]."
"Obtained: 15,000 Void Crystals, 15,000 Void Essence Stones, Special Barracks [Undead Protector], Equipment [Bone Flute]."