"You also know about the Great Beast Tide?!"
Smith was slightly taken aback when he heard Xu Yue mention that phrase.
The Great Beast Tide Crisis was like a sword hanging over the heads of the two southeastern districts.
The original purpose behind the alliance of the two southeastern academies was to prepare for the Great Beast Tide, which was predicted to arrive a year later.
But it had only been a little over four months—
How could the beast tide have arrived this early?!
Xu Yue nodded solemnly.
"The Great Beast Tide is a catastrophe that sweeps across the entire Holy Empire. Don't you know that?" she asked, a little puzzled, and then continued,
"I had previously predicted that the tide would reach Tai'an City in about six months, but I never imagined it would arrive over two months earlier."
Her face turned serious.
Although the city had started preparing early, the sudden acceleration of the beast tide caught everyone off guard.
The worst part was—early or not—Xu Yue couldn't see any future where Tai'an City could withstand this disaster.
Unless Smith was willing to step in.
"Master Smith, please… as long as you're willing to help us get through this… I—I can do anything for you."
Smith: "…"
"Can you please stop offering yourself as a reward?" he said flatly, a bit exasperated. "Although it's tempting, I'm not that kind of guy."
Yes, Xu Yue was beautiful, and yes, it was hard to stay indifferent when she said things like that.
But did she always have to go straight to the beauty trap?
It was as if she thought seduction was the only way to appeal to him.
Smith shook his head.
"You said this beast tide affects the entire Holy Empire. So if we stop it here, does that mean the threat is gone elsewhere?" he asked.
Based on the earlier predictions from Huaihai City, the tide wouldn't arrive until a year later. It had only been a little more than four months.
If the tide was only just now reaching Tai'an City, then Huaihai City might still have a month or two left.
But either way, this beast tide had definitely come six months ahead of schedule.
The problem was—Huaihai City didn't know that yet.
Xu Yue shook her head.
"No… this is only a small portion of the full Great Beast Tide. Even if we wipe out these monsters, we'll only be protecting Tai'an City. It won't stop the tide from reaching other cities."
Her words extinguished the brief hope that had flickered in Smith's chest.
So it wasn't going to be that easy.
But regardless, Smith had a duty to fulfill.
"Didn't you once predict I wouldn't help you?"
"Ah? Well… in the future I saw, you really didn't help us," Xu Yue admitted sadly. "Because of that, Tai'an City was destroyed…"
She looked down, helpless. She had no idea how to convince him.
Smith smirked. "What I'm saying is—your prediction was wrong."
Leaving behind a cryptic statement that made Xu Yue blink in confusion, Smith turned and walked toward the high city wall.
At that moment, the Thunder Bull King was still unleashing a relentless barrage of lightning from afar.
Thunder and lightning struck the barrier again and again.
The Thunder Bull King, a fifth-level high-tier demon king, possessed terrifying strength.
Tai'an City's protective barrier was powered by Kong Changxing and more than a dozen other elite warriors. It was strong enough to withstand the Thunder Bull King's attacks—for now.
But the cost was steep.
All of their energy was focused on maintaining the barrier. That meant fewer people could actually fight the beast tide directly.
Even worse, several of the wall's charged cannons had been destroyed, giving the monsters a chance to close the distance.
A group of third-tier Iron Beetles, known for their solid defense, led the charge. They deployed their "Iron Wall Shield Formation" and pushed forward, taking the brunt of the cannon fire and leading the monstrous army toward the city.
In the skies, the aerial beast tide—facing far less resistance due to a lack of effective anti-air weapons—was closing in rapidly.
Though someone had taken over the anti-air artillery after Kong Changxing stepped away, the air defense line was already crumbling.
Tai'an City was on the verge of being overrun.
---
Smith finally reached Kong Changxing at the frontline.
"City Lord Kong, looks like your defenses are about to fall."
"Mr. Smith?!"
Kong Changxing turned in surprise. He had assumed Smith had fled long ago.
"The beast tide is nearly at your doorstep," Smith said calmly. "Got any plans?"
Kong Changxing was stunned.
Was he implying he wanted to help?
Had Xu Yue convinced him?
Suppressing a rush of hope, Kong composed himself and answered, "We have no real backup plan. As long as our weapons work, we'll fight to the death. It is our duty to defend Tai'an City."
"Good answer." Smith nodded, his eyes scanning the battlefield before locking on to the Thunder Bull King.
"I'll handle that beast. Can you take care of the rest?"
Kong's eyes widened slightly. Was he serious?
Then he saw Smith's expression.
He was absolutely serious.
"If you can distract the Thunder Bull King, then yes. We can deal with the rest of the beast tide."
"Great."
With that, Smith climbed to the top of the city wall, then leapt into the air—and out of the city.
Everyone watched in shock as he plunged into the battlefield alone.
Was he insane?
Even if he was strong, wasn't charging into that ocean of monsters just suicide?
Xu Yue reached the wall just in time to see him vanish below. Her heart clenched.
"He'll be fine… he'll be fine…"
---
Down on the battlefield, Smith took a deep breath.
He activated Sage Mode—and began forming hand seals rapidly.
"Wood Release: Advent of the World of Trees!"
BOOM!
Massive trees erupted from the ground, like dragons surging from the depths. They twisted and stretched forward, crushing monsters and tearing a massive hole in the beast tide.
A clear path opened for Smith—straight toward the Thunder Bull King.
Without hesitation, Smith charged forward.
---
On the city wall, jaws dropped.
"Is that… Wood Style?!"
Everyone was stunned as they watched a literal forest explode from the earth and push back the beast tide.
"He used that to open a path by himself?"
Wasn't Wood-style supposed to be one of the weakest elemental types?
This was… monstrous.
"Cover Smith!" Kong Changxing yelled.
He saw beasts trying to flank the forest from both sides to stop Smith.
Without hesitation, he ordered the cannons to focus fire, blasting the monsters away and clearing Smith's path.
---
Meanwhile, the Thunder Bull King finally noticed the human charging straight toward it.
It recognized him.
"You again? Ungrateful pest!"
Purple lightning surged from its jaws, forming into a massive orb of electricity, which it fired toward Smith with a roar.
In response, Smith slammed a palm against the earth.
"Uchiha Flame Formation!"
A massive barrier of searing red chakra erupted in front of him.
The orb of lightning smashed into it—
BOOM!
Explosions roared across the battlefield.
The sky lit up, thunder echoed for miles, and waves of monsters were blown back by the shockwave.
---
Inside Tai'an City, Xu Yue clutched the edge of the wall.
The city defenders stared in awe.
One man. One forest. One wall of fire.
And all of it was enough to halt the tide—for now.
Smith stood firm.
The Thunder Bull King growled, realizing this battle wouldn't be as simple as crushing another weak human.
This man was different.
He was strong.
He was terrifying.
He was—the last hope of Tai'an City.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)