Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop!!
Outside the valley came the sound of galloping hooves. The strange noises from within had already alarmed the patrolling knight scouts nearby. They rode into the valley to investigate, but the moment they entered the mouth of the gorge, their eyes contracted sharply, pupils dilating as shock swept across their faces.
"Zerg!!"
"It's a Demon Abyss! A Demon Abyss has opened in this valley! These Zerg are from the Eternal Night Demon Abyss! Quickly, hurry back and report to Lord Baron! A Demon Abyss has appeared in our Rose Territory—if it can't be contained, the entire domain will be reduced to ruins!"
The scouts instantly understood. Judging from the sheer number and aura of the emerging Zerg, this was almost certainly a small-scale Demon Abyss. The creatures carried no aura higher than the fourth tier.
Fourth tier meant the Dharma Phase realm.What was terrifying was not the individual strength of these creatures, but the endless waves of them—the dreaded swarm tactics of the insect race.
Roar!!
From deep within the valley came an eerie roar. The shadow spiders that had been still moments ago suddenly boiled into motion, unleashing shrieks as they surged madly outward. Wherever they swept past, the earth quaked and roared. Their speed was astonishing—like living shadows. The steeds beneath the knights, though powerful and noble, could not hope to outrun them.
"They're too fast! We won't make it out! Send the signal, notify the Lord through the Star Network! Turn around—we'll charge!"
The knight captain gripped his lance tightly, his eyes filled with unyielding determination. The aura he gave off was one of fearless resolve—he knew full well that escape was impossible. Death stood before them; the chance of survival was less than one in ten. But if they were to die, they would die charging forward, not fleeing in disgrace.
"Rose Knights, charge!!"
Ten knights wheeled their steeds around, lances lowered, and with a defiant roar they galloped straight into the oncoming tide of shadow spiders.
Rumble!!
The horses thundered forward, battle-qi flaring around their riders. Their strength was not high—only the captain had reached the fifth tier, while the others were around the third. Individually, they matched the spiders, but against this countless swarm, the difference was heaven and earth.
Yet in that moment of charge, their spirits united as one, the momentum they created was like an army of thousands crashing forward. It was the fearless courage of knights—better to die charging than to live fleeing.
They slammed into the swarm. Battle-qi shone, blood splattered, spiders were skewered, knights impaled, horses torn to shreds.
Boom, boom, boom!!
And in their final moments, the knights ignited themselves, their battle-qi exploding violently. Dazzling lights erupted, tearing countless spiders to pieces in blasts of carnage.
In mere moments, ten explosions thundered, leaving only a battlefield of shattered corpses and mangled remains. But even that was fleeting—within seconds, new waves of shadow spiders surged in, devouring flesh and bone until nothing was left. The sacrifice of ten knights meant nothing to the endless swarm.
The tide of spiders spread in all directions, consuming all life within reach, surging closer and closer to the Rose Territory.
Within the domain, alarm bells were already ringing.Knights rushed onto the walls, hauling up siege weapons. Civilians stared with terror in their eyes.
"The swarm—it's really the swarm! We're finished! How could a Demon Abyss open here in the Rose Territory? There must be millions already! And more are coming! Can our walls even hold them?"
"Don't be afraid! Our walls are high, strengthened by the sorcery of the wizards! With their barrier enchantments, we can survive this! This is our homeland—it won't fall to a pack of bugs!"
War erupted in an instant.
The swarm hurled itself against the walls, while the defenders unleashed everything they had—bows, crossbows, and even crystal cannons that blasted into the tide. The battle was one of annihilation—either the swarm perished, or the city fell.
Meanwhile, on the Star Network, chaos exploded.
Messages and reports poured in, filled with panic and dread.
"Disaster is here! In the Desert Realm, three Demon Abyss have opened! The Eternal Night fiends are flooding out in endless waves! Three cities have already fallen—no survivors, not one! It's too horrible!"
"My realm is under attack too! Thankfully, the court has already mobilized the army to suppress the swarms. They're gathering top experts to seal the Abyss—we can't allow these portals to keep spewing out demons!"
"It's terrifying! A horde of skeletal war-lizards appeared here. Their vitality is insane! Fortunately, they're only under fourth tier. As long as the Abyss are sealed quickly, the damage will be contained."
"The Emerald Realm has Abyss activity too. The Druid Elder himself has gone to suppress it. He's seventh tier—surely he can suppress this calamity."
"Beware the calamity! Eternal Night Demon Abyss are opening everywhere! The wilderness is swarming with Eternal Night fiends. They're killing and destroying wantonly—we must seal the Abyss at the root!"
"Ha! The Zerg aren't scary—we found the best solution: throw them in a pot of oil and eat them! Delicious and tender meat, highly recommended!"
The Star Network was a storm of panic, horror, and bizarre banter. But one thing was clear—the calamity had begun, sweeping across the Eternal World.
The devastation was immense.Some realms reacted swiftly, deploying powerful forces to contain outbreaks. Others were overwhelmed, cities falling, blood soaking the land.
And in Great Yi?The scene was entirely different.
On the Star Network, Great Yi's citizens brimmed with smug joy—statements that left outsiders both envious and resentful.
"In the Vast Sea Realm, a small Demon Abyss appeared, but it was suppressed immediately. I saw it myself—Zerg crawling out, only to be captured alive by our soldiers! Some locked in cages for display, others butchered and sold to merchants. The chefs at the Culinary Hall say Zerg flesh is a top-grade ingredient! I'm already heading to the tavern to order a plate."
"In the Dead Sea Realm, skeletal war-lizards appeared, but they've been captured! Rumor has it the military wants to form a War-Lizard Cavalry Corps. If they make good mounts, I want one as a pet!"
"In the Bohai Realm, shadow spiders appeared. Their legs make excellent spears! Smiths are buying them up for forging weapons. Bounty hunters are flocking to the Abyss already!"
"Jackpot! In the Caribbean Realm, Vajra fiends appeared—bodies like living iron! But once slain, their corpses are pure refined steel, top-tier forging material. Entire bodies turned into treasure! Worth mountains of Eternal Coins!"
Within Great Yi, there was no panic at all.Instead, the people were ecstatic, treating the appearance of Demon Abyss as though it were a festival.
To them, a small Demon Abyss wasn't a calamity.
It was simply a platter of meat and vegetables served at their table.