Explosions erupted one after another around Shyvana, leaving craters in the ground.
The shockwaves lifted the remaining tents into the air, rolling toward Shyvana's body like crashing waves.
Yet, every blast was absorbed by her massive wings, shielding her like an impenetrable fortress.
This is what true security feels like.
Not a single scorch mark marred her dragon scales—the fire and concussive force meant nothing against her overwhelming defense.
"This... this can't be happening—!"
The bombing squad, once confident in their so-called omnipotent explosives, now stood frozen in shock.
Their attacks had done nothing.
They were not frontline warriors, just soldiers handpicked by Ares for their accuracy in bombing runs. But now, as Shyvana's enormous, piercing gaze locked onto them, their legs nearly gave out beneath them.
Terror crept into their bones.
At the entrance of the camp, Gnar had already eliminated the cavalry.
With a single, powerful sweep of his massive paw, he tore into the earth, scooping up a chunk of soil before hurling it toward the clustered enemy soldiers in the distance.
The sight of the incoming boulder sent ripples of panic through the troops.
Even the well-trained warriors couldn't help but falter.
A few officers hastily drew their magic swords, slashing at the rock midair in a desperate attempt to shatter it.
They had no choice—if the boulder wasn't stopped, their defenses would collapse completely.
Just as the stone crashed down, Gnar's gigantic form finally reached its time limit.
In an instant, the monstrous figure shrank back into his small, seemingly harmless form.
But his job was already done.
Not only had he annihilated the cavalry, but he had also forced the enemy to burn through their supply of magic swords—an unexpected yet valuable advantage.
Meanwhile, within the camp, the Sol familia had pinpointed the Ares familia's supply depot.
According to the intel Renata had provided, most of the supplies she sold to Ares were stockpiled here.
Some had likely been moved elsewhere or seized for immediate use, but this haul was more than enough.
Now, there was only one thing left to do.
"I've confirmed the supplies—no need to hold back anymore. You can go all out!"
Riveria's voice crackled through the communicator, issuing the final command.
As long as the supply storage itself remained intact, everything else in the camp could be destroyed at will.
Per their agreement with Renata, their goal was to drive the Ares familia into retreat, not annihilate them completely.
After all, they were still valuable customers for the future.
With Riveria's green light, the Sol familia warriors fought with renewed ferocity.
No longer needing to hold back or avoid specific targets, their strikes became swift and decisive.
A first-class adventurer fighting without restraint was a terrifying force—especially when there was no one of equal strength to stop them.
And this time, an overwhelming number of first-class adventurers had descended upon the camp.
At the heart of the battlefield, Ares himself could no longer remain still.
When Shyvana had first stormed the camp, his officers had insisted—practically dragging him—to the rear for safety.
Now, messengers arrived at his tent every few minutes, each one bringing worse news than the last.
The eastern camp had fallen.
The western front had suffered massive losses and was in desperate need of reinforcements.
But shifting troops to plug one hole only left another vulnerable.
And the soldiers stationed in the rear—primarily responsible for logistics—were the weakest in combat.
Ares clenched his fists.
He was running out of options.
Expecting the logistics troops to turn the tide of battle was simply unrealistic.
And when the news arrived—that the materials stockpiled in the central army had fallen entirely into enemy hands—Ares slumped into his seat, utterly drained.
That was it.
This news meant everything was over.
Without those supplies, he had no idea how to continue the fight.
"Ares-sama, I suggest we retreat immediately, reorganize our forces, and establish a new defensive line," Marius said, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.
There was no time for complaints or despair.
Their elite troops were still being baptized by the Sol familia in the heart of the battlefield. If they didn't withdraw soon, their casualties would spiral beyond control.
Every second that passed meant more losses. They had to act now.
Ares remained silent for a long moment. Then, with a weak wave of his hand, he muttered, "...I'll leave it to you."
Marius was all too familiar with this state of his god. Every time they suffered a defeat, Ares would sink into temporary despair.
But this time, it seemed even worse.
There was no time to console him. The battlefield demanded his attention.
Marius hurried out of the tent, immediately dispatching scouts to relay the retreat orders.
The urgency of the situation was clear to everyone. The scouts wasted no time, mounting their horses and galloping off without hesitation.
As Marius watched them disappear into the distance, he turned back toward the tent, preparing to strategize their next move.
But something made him pause.
Perhaps it was the lingering image of Shyvana's earlier attack from the sky, but for some reason, he felt compelled to look up.
And then, he saw them.
Dark silhouettes.
Several black figures had appeared in the dim sky at some unknown moment, gliding silently toward the ground.
The black dots rapidly grew larger in his vision.
There was no doubt—they were heading straight for the camp.
"ENEMY ATTACK—!!"
Marius's voice ripped through the air, raw and desperate, loud enough to threaten his vocal cords.
The sound carried far, piercing through the night.
Even Xayah, who had been preparing to launch a surprise attack under cover of darkness, heard it loud and clear from a distance.
So much for stealth.
"Ugh, we got spotted. Must be because your feathers are too bright, Rakan."
"Oh, my bad," Rakan said, offering a sheepish smile.
"It's fine. I happen to like how beautiful you are."
"Aww, thanks, baby~!"