As Herman approached Sufon to warn him, he suddenly sensed another presence. Before he could react, a large barrier materialized, blocking any potential attack. Looking into the distance, Herman spotted the grandmaster of the tiger clan descending from the sky, his presence radiating authority.
"What do you think you're doing to Sufon?" the grandmaster asked, his voice calm but commanding. As he landed, his piercing gaze examined Herman, taking note of the swirling elements still lingering in the air. "It's impressive that you can wield such powerful abilities. We'll have to prepare for someone like you—"
Herman interrupted, already anticipating the accusation. "If you think I'm going to betray you, you're wrong."
The grandmaster let out a laugh, cold and dismissive. "That's exactly what the humans before you said. Gabriel and Albert made the same promises and look where that got us. Unlike Regar, I don't trust your kind." He turned his attention to Sufon, who stood frozen in place, unable to move. The sight of the usually proud general looking helpless amused the grandmaster, but he quickly addressed Herman again.
"Release Sufon now."
Herman hesitated, his mind racing. He didn't know how to undo the Frostwave Cyclone—the powerful ability he had activated in self-defense. His silence was all the grandmaster needed to confirm his suspicions.
"Why are you quiet? Don't tell me you can't control your own power," the grandmaster said mockingly. Herman nodded sheepishly, causing the elder to laugh even harder.
"I've never seen a Protector so unaware of their abilities. You're different from the others, I'll give you that, but that doesn't mean you're trustworthy." The grandmaster's tone grew serious again as he glanced at Sufon, who remained frozen in place. "Learn how to release him."
Sufon's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can't be serious! Release me now!" he shouted, his frustration evident. The grandmaster ignored him and focused on Herman, waiting.
With no other option, Herman called upon the system. A familiar screen appeared in front of him, its robotic voice echoing in his mind.
System Analysis Complete.
Subject: Sufon
Status: Encased in Frostwave Cyclone.
Recommended Action: Initiate 'Release' command to deactivate Frostwave Cyclone.
Proceed with deactivation?
[Yes] [No]
Herman selected "Yes," and the system began the deactivation process. The icy restraints surrounding Sufon gradually melted away.
Frostwave Cyclone Deactivation in Progress...
10%... 50%... 100%...
Deactivation Complete.
Sufon stumbled forward, free at last, but his glare toward Herman burned with resentment. Despite his rage, he remained silent, knowing the grandmaster was watching closely.
The grandmaster observed the scene with an unreadable expression. "Control your powers, human. Next time, there may be no one to save you from the consequences of your actions." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. Turning away, he gestured for Sufon to follow. Reluctantly, the tiger general obeyed, but not without shooting Herman one last scornful look.
As they disappeared into the distance, Herman stood alone, his thoughts heavy. He realized the challenges ahead weren't just about proving his strength—he had to prove his character and earn trust in a world that had every reason to doubt him.
******
As Herman returned to the Tower, he noticed a commotion and hurried to investigate. He encountered numerous armored individuals wielding weapons, mounted on black, winged horses, and accompanied by chained dragons. A system alert appeared before him, identifying the intruders as hunters and displaying their power levels.
System Alert:
Entity: Hunter
Quantity: 10,000
Average Experience Points (EXP): 100,000
Highest EXP: 500,000
The beasts gathered, their eyes filled with anger, facing the hunters who had trespassed into their territory. The system analyzed the situation and provided Herman with a selection of attributes to choose from.
System:
Analysis Complete.Beasts' combined EXP is significantly lower than that of the hunters.
Probability of beasts' victory: 0.02%
Immediate action is required to prevent casualties.
Attribute Selection:
Please select an attribute to address the current threat:
Inferno Blaze
Unleashes a massive firestorm, incinerating all enemies within a 500-meter radius.
Thunderstorm Wrath
Summons a devastating thunderstorm, striking all enemies with lightning.
Earthquake Fury
Causes a powerful earthquake, swallowing enemies into the ground.
Tsunami Wave
Generates a colossal wave, washing away all adversaries.
Hurricane Tempest
Creates a violent hurricane, obliterating enemy forces.
Shadow Annihilation
Envelops enemies in darkness, eradicating their existence.
Divine Judgment
Calls upon celestial forces to smite all foes.
Meteor Shower
Summons a barrage of meteors, crushing enemies.
Frostwave Cyclone
Unleashes a freezing cyclone, immobilizing and damaging enemies.
Celestial Spear Barrage
Deploys 9,999 spears from the sky, targeting and eliminating enemies.
Select an attribute to proceed.
Herman chose the Celestial Spear Barrage. The system acknowledged his selection and prepared to execute the skill.
System:
Attribute Selected: Celestial Spear Barrage
Initiating skill execution...
Targeting 9,999 enemies for elimination.
One enemy will be spared as per user request.
A dark aura spread across the ground, and a massive circle appeared in the sky, filled with countless spears. The hunters, initially mocking Herman, began to panic. Some attempted to flee, while others tried to use the beasts as shields, only to be thwarted by a protective barrier.
System:
Celestial Spear Barrage will commence in 3 seconds...
3... 2... 1...
Executing.
The spears descended with lethal precision, striking down 9,999 hunters. The commander stood in shock as the cries of his troops were replaced by silence, the ground soaked in blood. Herman approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You should have listened..."
The commander, now terrified, fled through a portal. Herman turned to face the beasts, hoping for gratitude, but was met with fear. His display of power had saved them, yet it also deepened their mistrust.