Averardo Vault.
"Zani, how is the transfer plan progressing?"
"Boss, forty percent of Ragunna's residents have already boarded the first batch of trains. The remaining people are hurrying to the station to gather."
"Part-time Department Poet, how's it going on your side?"
"Sis, me and everyone from the Troupe of Fools, along with the Sentinel, have already arrived at the Riccioli Islands. The Sentinel is truly amazing. The teleportation portals helped save a lot of travel. We even have Cetus the Tidebreaker escorting us."
"That's good. Oh right—when working, address people by their titles."
Cutting off the Order's dedicated communication channel, Carlotta stood at the edge of the Vault, watching the continuous stream of people continuously gathering over, and let out a breath of relief.
With the teleportation portals and spatial barriers set up in advance by the Sentinel, the transfer work of Ragunna's populace was progressing extremely smoothly.
It was estimated that in at most one hour, the vast majority of people could be brought to the Vault.
Tall Chestnut had entrusted the people of Ragunna to them for protection. This way, they had finally not failed his expectations.
The only thing they needed to guard against was the countless Tacet Discords surging along the transfer route.
"Miss Carlotta, we have already cleared out the storage area according to your instructions. It can accommodate everyone being transferred over."
A Montelli member walked up close:
"Additionally, we made a count of the number of people who were sent to the Vault and remain unconscious. Currently there are a total of two hundred thirty-three people."
"So many?" Carlotta furrowed her brows and thought briefly:
"After the populace transfer work is completed, move them indoors. One reason is to protect them from being accidentally stepped on by others. The second is so that Tall Chestnut won't see them. Otherwise it will definitely affect his mood."
"Understood."
The Montelli member withdrew.
A sound of breaking wind rang out from high above. Avidius rode a griffin and led a team of gladiators to land steadily at the edge of the Averardo Vault.
Flipping down from the griffin, Avidius looked around at the environment. His gaze stopped on Carlotta:
"Hello. I am Avidius. Entrusted by the Ephor, I have come to support Ragunna. May I ask if you know who the person in charge is on this side?"
"That would be me." Carlotta pointed at herself.
"Ah?"
Seeing this, Avidius could not help being surprised.
He had thought that no matter what, Ragunna's side would at least have a mature, tall person in charge of affairs. He had not expected it to be such a "tall person."
"Alright. May I ask if there is any place on this side that needs help? Please assign us to the most dangerous place."
"Allow me to thank the Ephor of Septimont on behalf of the people of Ragunna for the kind intention. However, Ragunna's side is progressing very smoothly. Everyone is working together with one heart, and there is also the Sentinel holding the fort."
Looking at Carlotta's composed expression, Avidius once again looked around at the surrounding situation and whispered with the gladiator squad behind him.
"There's a Sentinel holding the fort here. Looks like there's truly no need to worry."
"Then let's head back. The Boundary Anchor Stones of the Hunting Grounds are still short on manpower."
"Hold on."
Carlotta joined the conversation, operated the terminal, and called over a huge mechanical Echo:
"Thank you for your kind intentions. If the situation on your side is urgent, I hope this Sentry Construct can lend you a hand."
...
Sanguis Hunting Grounds.
Unlike Ragunna's effortless ease, the Tacet Discords on this side were almost endless. Looking out, they were like a continuous sea.
It seemed the Threnodian regarded this place as a key point and intentionally concentrated large batches of Tacet Discords here. Even the Dark Tide clouds appeared especially dense in this place.
With one sword she shattered several Dark Tide creations. Augusta's breathing gradually became heavier as she raised her voice to encourage the surrounding gladiators:
"Warriors of Septimont, hold the Boundary Anchor Points to the death!"
"Understood!"
After responding, the gladiators one after another let out various cries for reinforcements:
"North side, requesting support."
"Northeast direction, a large tide of Tacet Discords is pressing over."
"The defensive strength in the southwest is the weakest. They've transferred over."
"This is bad."
Tightly gripping the heavy sword in her hand, Augusta fell into a difficult dilemma.
The positions where the Tacet Discord tides were pressing in were too deep. The most troublesome Overlord-class Tacet Discords had already arrived near the Anchoring Boundary Stones.
If she urged the Resonance power within her body to unleash a long-range area attack, she would definitely destroy the nearby Anchoring Boundary Stones. Yet if she chose to rush over to support, she would also not make it in time to rescue the people in the other directions.
A thought spontaneously arose from the bottom of Augusta's heart.
"If only we had more manpower."
"Celestial Court Radiance!"
Surging white light was like an extended meat-grinder blade. Merely sweeping back and forth a few times, more than half of the icy Tacet Discords on the battlefield successively transformed into warm Echoes.
"It's Hero Noah."
"Holy crap, that move just now was way too cool."
"Look at what appeared at his side just now. Isn't that a dragon from Huanglong?"
With Noah's addition, the pressure on the battlefield dropped sharply. All the gladiators seemed to receive encouragement, and their spirits rose.
"Teacher, over here, over here!"
Lupa waved toward Noah from afar. White light flashed, and the latter immediately rushed to Lupa's side. Raising his hand and lowering the blade, he easily cleared the nearby Tacet Discords.
Very quickly, the Tacet Discords at the other several strongholds were also completely cleared.
"Fortunately, I wasn't late."
While tossing out the terminal to absorb Echoes, Noah brought Iuno and hurried toward Augusta's direction.
"You guy, still as monstrously strong as ever."
Seeing Noah's figure, Augusta let out a long breath:
"However, having you appear is truly wonderful. Everyone has already been fighting hard here for a long time. At last we have a moment to catch our breath."
"You've worked hard."
After offering a word of comfort, Noah looked around at the surroundings.
The high peak nearby was called Three Heroes' Crest. This place had originally been the final destination of the entire highland's river flow.
Now, however, it was irrigated by Dark Tide so dense it was bottomless. Countless Tacet Discords continuously swam upstream against the current from within the Dark Tide.
Even after he cleared a round of Tacet Discords, the second wave of Tacet Discords still fearlessly charged over without fear of death. High in the firmament there were even more countless winged-dragon Tacet Discords howling.
Wrong… one person was missing!
"Where's Galbrena? Why haven't I seen her?"
"Her? When a hole appeared in the center of the Dark Tide, she jumped down. She said something about Leviathan being inside the Heaven, and that as long as she went in, the Dark Tide creations would be attracted by her firepower."
Mentioning Galbrena, Augusta could not help looking worried:
"Setting aside the fact that after she jumped down she did not successfully attract the firepower, just speaking of her behavior of directly jumping into the Dark Tide is far too crazy."
Noah seized the key point of the topic and hurriedly asked:
"Wait a moment. Leviathan is inside the Dark Tide, and Galbrena really said that?"
"Yeah."
The moment the words left her mouth, Augusta seemed to realize something. Both eyes suddenly widened:
"You're not also thinking of…"
"Yes."
He had been troubled about not being able to find Leviathan. He had not expected that It was truly hiding here.
The Mirror Heaven of the Decree-defiling Mirror of Nightmare had already shattered. Leviathan only had this other not-yet-fully-perfected Touring Heaven inside the Dark Tide left.
He had to take advantage of the time before It completely digested the harvested consciousness, or even before It finished reshaping a new body, to eliminate It. This was the best opportunity.
Noah stretched out a hand and formed a seal. Piercing Celestial Court Radiance shot out and ruthlessly eliminated another batch of Tacet Discords.
"In a moment I will pass through this entrance and enter the Dark Tide. These Dark Tide creations should all radicalize and return to defend. At that time you all will have it easier."
Galbrena going down had not been able to attract the firepower because Leviathan did not necessarily take her seriously. But if he went down, it would be different.
"Hey!" Iuno beside him called out anxiously: "You want to jump into the Dark Tide? Are you crazy?!"
"I'm very clear-headed."
Noah's train of thought was extremely clear.
If he did not know Leviathan's hiding place, that would be one thing. But since he knew, he absolutely could not sit by and watch Leviathan continue to hide.
Once Leviathan reshaped its body, the entirety of Rinascita might not be able to withstand another strike from the Touring Heaven.
All disasters must be eliminated in the bud.
However, before entering the Dark Tide, he first had to make complete preparations, such as borrowing some medicine that resisted the mutterings from Cantarella.
The moment this thought occurred to him, Noah was about to take his leave when he suddenly heard a radio wave sound from the side.
Augusta connected the communication. An anxious voice immediately came out from within the communication.
"Lord Ephor, this is bad. An Overlord-class Dark Tide creation has appeared on Septimont City's side. The eldest son of the Motley Family is currently using a Kerasaur Echo to tangle with it. Please quickly send a strong fighter back to support."
"What?!"
Iuno widened her eyes.
Clearly, when they had just not yet left Septimont City, Septimont City still only had a small number of Dark Tide creations.
"Don't worry."
Switch—Shorekeeper. A beam of white light unfolded beneath Noah's feet:
"I'll go and come right back."