Chapter 1854. Satan’s Arrival
The four heavenly beasts took action the second they appeared. The black tortoise unleashed a large flood of water. The white tiger let out streams of metallic blades that sliced everything apart. The vermillion bird released a torrent of scorching fire. The azure dragon brought forth an endless number of wooden spears that pierced through everything.
The attacks of the four hit a large area and dealt large damage multiple times. Many demons perished by the combination attack, but it was not over. As the four heavenly beasts started to turn illusory, another beast appeared. It came out of the center circle that connected the four sections.
Out of this small circle, a yellow dragon emerged. It opened its mouth wide, and a blinding light blanketed everything. The demons received massive soul damage from getting touched by the light.
The three commanders had been using all their available defensive spells and skills ever since the combination attack started. From their mana sense, they knew that the attack from this yellow dragon was not yet over. Its light was in the process of getting focused, and they were the target.
Without hesitation, Maliarki grabbed Ririth, who was next to him. He shoved her to the front while casting a spell that conjured multiple layers of gravity walls. Ririth was sandwiched between these walls and couldn't move.
"No…!" She screamed.
Xarod didn't have time to pity her. He hurriedly took cover behind Maliarki's gravity walls.
The focused light from the yellow dragon arrived then. It seared through Maliarki's walls like it was burnt paper. Ririth, who was in between the walls, shrieked as the light burned through her.
Maliarki continued to cast one defensive spell after another. Ririth's body was slowing the advance of the light but she didn't stop it. Maliarki even forcefully pushed Xarod in front of him. Xarod didn't dare to resist. All he could do was activate all his defensive skills and hope for the best.
When the light subsided. Many demons had perished. Their bodies were burned to ashes. Ririth still had a quarter of her body due to her eternal-grade durability, but she was mangled beyond recognition. Her remains fell lifelessly to the ground far below.
Xarod had less than one-fifth of HP left and was missing an arm. Maliarki was the only demon commander whose body was still intact, but his HP was less than half.
The two watched their opponents with alarm as the circle image disappeared. The four guild guardians were visible again. As they did, Maliarki's worrisome eyes turned into relief before it became savage.
The mana he sensed from the four guild guardians had severely decreased. He also used his Inspect just now. All four were mythical grades. Those four had lost their eternal-grade power.
"Attack…!!" Maliarki ordered.
Despite the intensity of the combined attack, some demons survived, mostly high-level demons. Even if these demons were low on HP, they could still fight.
Hearing their commander's order, the demons charged at the four guild guardians. Tip sent the order for the four to retreat. They were too far away behind the enemy line. It was too dangerous to leave them there when they had lost their eternal-grade powers. He wanted them to retreat so the defenders could support them.
The demons didn't intend to let the four do that. They had suffered so many casualties because of the four. They wouldn't be satisfied if they didn't cut these four to pieces.
The one in trouble was Gumeru. Once they were back to mythical grade, Gumeru's Dual-world Domain was back to static mode. Once they swam out of the water sphere, the dragon turtle fell.
Penny and Czar caught Gumeru. Gumeru was so heavy that it took both of them to keep him afloat. If they let Gumeru fall, he would be swarmed by the demons on the ground. They were still behind the enemy lines. Gumeru would most likely not survive.
While carrying a load, their flight speed decelerated. The demons soon caught up to them. Ladohn engaged these demons and covered the other three guardians while they retreated. Penny unleashed her lava breath, and Czar produced wind blades to keep the demons at bay, but the demons surrounding them were driven by rage. They didn't care about their safety. They just wanted to tear the four apart. Maliarki and Xarod were also chasing. They were prepared to land the killing blows.
A thick silver beam suddenly pierced down from the sky. This silver beam slammed into Xarod. He was unable to resist the beam's force. He continued to get pushed while his HP rapidly decreased. His HP fell to zero before he hit the ground.
Maliarki was taken aback by the ambush. He stopped advancing.
A thundering roar was heard from the sky. A huge silver dragon dove through the clouds. Its diving speed was so fast it was as if a silver spear. It stopped abruptly before the four guild guardians. It then opened its wings, which caused massive turbulence to strike the demons surrounding the four guardians. The demons lost control and tumbled in the air.
The dragon then threw multiple silver-colored energy balls at the demons. The energy balls exploded upon contact and discouraged the demons from advancing.
"That's Eoranth!" Tip exclaimed.
Eoranth's appearance blocked the demons from Penny and the others. Tip hurriedly sent command to have the four retreated to the defensive line.
Eoranth arrived only now because he had just left the ancient graveyard not long ago. Broidrireg's lifeforce turned out to be more enduring than expected. He had laid weakly in his prepared graveyard for quite some time but didn't pass away. Eoranth and the others waited solemnly until finally, Broidrieg breathed his last about a week ago. After spending another day performing the burial rite, only then did Eoranth and the others fly to the front line.
They decided to split and go to the different defensive fronts in the different countries. Eoranth came to the one in Hydrurond guarded by the Themisphere army. The Themisphere soldiers who saw their country guardian had their morale increase.
Maliarki was speechless. Eoranth was a level 98 eternal true dragon. There was no way he could survive. He looked at the situation. His army had been greatly reduced. Their number was still enough to fight the defenders but with Eoranth's arrival, that number would soon decrease even more.
"Kill that dragon!" Maliarki commanded.
The demons carried out the command even when they knew it was an absurd order. As for Maliarki, he turned around and fled after he gave the command. The command was simply to let his subordinates halt Eoranth while he escaped.
He looked back as he escaped. Both his demon army and the defenders were very far already. He should be safe. When he had that thought, he felt extreme pressure from where he was flying. He turned and found himself before a colossal being. Behind this colossal being was a massive army of demons.
"What is my commander doing flying away from where he was supposed to go?" Satan asked. "Also, where is your army?"
"I… My–my Lord… There has been a slight setback…," Maliarki stammered.
Beside Satan was a floating meatball with a large eye in the middle. It looked like a beholder without tentacles. This eyeball demon said to Satan, "My Lord, I see the vanguard army is still battling the upperworld defenders. The defenders seemed to be winning."
"Winning…?" Satan frowned. "Are you sure there is nothing wrong with your eye?"
"My lord, please don't joke like that. You know this eye is the only thing I am proud of," the eyeball demon replied.
Satan returned his attention to Maliarki, who had now turned as pale as a demon could be.
"Maliarki. I have some questions. Why is the upperworld army not yet vanquished? Why is your advance slower than the corrupted mana's advance? Why are you not with your army? And why are you still alive?"
"My… My Lord… You see… I… The enemies…"
"You seem to have difficulty answering. There is no need to worry. The reason is because my questions are rhetorical."
A huge giant hand made of fire materialized behind Maliarki as soon as Satan finished speaking. Maliarki wasn't given the chance to act when this flaming hand grabbed him. He was so small compared to the flaming hand that he was completely engulfed by the flames.
Maliarki was visible inside the flames. His mouth opened and closed as if trying to say something, but no voice was heard.
"Hm… Can you make out what he is saying?" Satan asked the eyeball demon beside him.
"Despite my incredible eyesight, I can't read lips, My Lord," The eyebal demon answered.
"Let's make that your assignment after we conquer this upperworld," Satan said.
"As you wish, My Lord."
Maliarki didn't last long inside the flames. His HP was not in a good condition to begin with. He turned into a pile of burned ashes after his HP was zero.
"Let's go greet these defenders who give my vanguard army a difficult time," Satan said. He gave a signal for his army to resume their march.