I focused on the Soul Vessel resting in my palm, its surface shimmering with the captured essence of fallen monsters. "It's time," I whispered. "Before the hunt begins, I need every ounce of lethality I can wring out of these stars."
I had stockpiled a significant amount of Spirit Essence. With a thought, I drew out seven Commander-level Spirit Essences, their emerald glow illuminating the room. I guided them into my Fire Nebula. One by one, my fire stars absorbed the flickering orbs, shedding their dull crimson hue for a vibrant, aggressive scarlet.
They didn't just grow; they hardened, and finally settling at the peak of Level 6 Basic Tier.
I didn't stop there. I turned my attention to my Ice Element. The remaining essences flowed into my spiritual world like a freezing river. I watched as the seven ice stars crystallized, their power surging until they, too, reached the limit of Level 6. The raw destructive power of my Basic spells was now theoretically capable of wounding even most of the peak warrior-level beasts.
By the time I stood up, the frost and heat in the room were battling for dominance. It was time to move. I met up with Brother Li Zhu, and we boarded the maglev train toward the coastal titan: Shanghai.
The atmosphere at the Shanghai Hunter Base was thick with the scent of ozone and tension. As we pushed open the heavy doors of the War Room, the sheer magical pressure nearly took my breath away. My brothers were already there, flanked by five mages who became city's most renowned Peak High-Level Mages.
Our forces had swelled to a terrifying degree. We weren't just a squad; we were an army.
600 Intermediate Mages stood ready for the vanguard.
35 Dual-Element High-Level Mages provided the tactical backbone.
20 Single-Element High-Level Mages acted as specialized heavy artillery.
7 Peak High-Level Mages served as the elite hunters.
And at the apex sat my three brothers, whose Super Level auras felt like dormant volcanoes.
"Yuzi, Zhu, you're just in time," Eldest Brother Li Shen said, his voice dropping an octave as he gestured to the holographic map of the monster's territory. "Sit. The final plan for the Monarch Hunt begins now."
As they settled in, Brother Jun gestured toward the map. "Alright, listen. Since reaching the Mid-level Monarch rank, that demon has been aggressively expanding westward from the north. The eastern flank is currently held by its two primary subordinates: the Nine-Tailed Phantom Fox and the Storm-Crested Jade Serpent."
Li Shen narrowed his eyes, studying the terrain.
"Then the East is our entry point," Brother Wei interjected, his voice grim. "We need to eliminate that Fox immediately. If we let its illusions take hold, it'll be a nightmare to recover. At the same time, someone must stay behind to guard Yuzi; he's too vulnerable if things go south."
Brother Li Shen stood, his presence commanding the room. He began issuing orders with cold precision.
"Li Han, Li Zhu, and Lin Yao—you three will hunt the Fox. Zhao Feng, Mu Bing, and Xiao Yan—the Serpent is your responsibility. Wei, Jun, and I will remain in reserve; we don't draw our blades unless the situation demands it."
With the plan etched into their minds, the air in the camp shifted. The planning was over. The mages began to mobilize, the rhythmic clatter of armor and the hum of gathering mana signaling the start of the hunt.
...
The dense canopy of the ancient forest began to thin as the mountain pass opened up. A heavy, metallic scent hung in the stagnant air—the unmistakable musk of a demon territory.
"Halt," Li Shen signaled, his hand raised.
Behind him, the rhythmic march of over a hundred mages came to a synchronized stop. It was an imposing sight: forty-five High-level mages formed the inner circle, their robes shimmering with protective enchantments, while a hundred Mid-level mages fanned out into a tactical crescent formation. In the center, Yuzi remained flanked by his guardians, his eyes scanning the jagged ridgeline.
"They know we're here," Li Zhu muttered, his fingers tracing a faint glow in the air. "The wind has stopped moving. The forest is holding its breath."
Suddenly, a piercing shriek ripped through the silence. From the crags above and the shadows of the valley below, eyes began to ignite—hundreds of them, glowing with a predatory hunger.
The Swarm Unleashed
"Servant-level scouts! Behind them, the Warriors!" a scout yelled.
The ground began to vibrate as a tide of low-level demons surged forward, a carpet of claws and teeth. They were the "fodder"—sent to exhaust the mages' mana before the real monsters appeared.
"Vanguard, Star Orbits! Construct!" Yuzi roared.
The valley lit up with the blinding brilliance of a hundred Mid-level Star Atlases.
"Fiery Fist: Ground Break!"
"Ice Lock: Bone Chill!"
Columns of flame erupted from the earth, tossing Servant-level demons into the air like charred leaves, while chains of frost snaked through the ranks of the Warrior-level beasts, shattering them into frozen shards. The hundred Mid-level mages worked like a well-oiled machine, creating a wall of elemental destruction that the swarm couldn't penetrate.
Above the chaos, several Commander-level shadows began to stir, their massive frames leaping from the cliffs to crush the human line.
"Ignore the small fry," Li Zhu commanded his elite team, his voice cold and steady despite the carnage. He didn't even look at the Commander-level beast lunging toward him; a High-level mage from the protective circle intercepted it with a massive Giant's Ax. "Keep your mana peaked. The Phantom Fox is waiting for us to blink. We don't strike until she shows her face."
The smoke from the Fiery Fists hung thick over the valley, smelling of scorched earth and demon blood. Hundreds of Servant and Warrior carcasses littered the ground, but the air suddenly grew unnaturally cold. The chaotic screeches of the swarm died out, replaced by a haunting, melodic hum that seemed to vibrate inside the mages' skulls.
A thick, silver mist began to roll out from the eastern treeline, swallowing the moonlight.
"Eyes up! Don't look directly into the fog!" Li Zhu shouted, his voice cutting through the growing lethargy of the Mid-level mages.
Through the shifting silver haze, a shape began to manifest. It didn't run or pounce; it glided. The Nine-Tailed Phantom Fox stepped into the clearing, its fur white as bone and glowing with an eerie, translucent light. Its nine tails fanned out behind it like ghostly silk ribbons, each one twitching with its own malevolent consciousness.
As it tilted its head, its eyes—vibrant violet pools—locked onto the human formation.
"High-level mages, Mental Protection! Now!" Li Han roared, sensing the Fox beginning to weave its Illusion Domain.
The Fox opened its maw, and a wave of psychic energy rippled outward, turning the air into a shimmering kaleidoscope. Several Mid-level mages gasped, their Star Atlases crumbling as they began to see visions of their own teammates as demons.
"Li Zhu! Lin Yao! Target confirmed!" Li Shen's voice boomed from the rear, steady and grounding. "Execute!"
The three elites didn't hesitate. They ignored the surrounding Warrior-level demons entirely, leaping over the defensive line in a blur of speed.
To Be Continue...
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