On the other battlefields, the Sundance Team successfully conquered the second level, albeit with 10 casualties and 30 wounded. The challenge intensified when, just 3 minutes into the battle, the creatures in the Alpha Beast Realm nearly ascended to the Great Beast Realm. Despite their numerical advantage, they couldn't clear the level as swiftly as Rasoul's team, taking over 50 minutes. The majority of those who perished were Rogue Cultivators, opting to go solo instead of maintaining formation with their team members.
The Rainy and Porter Team also completed the level in under 30 minutes, yet they incurred casualties and injuries. However, they skillfully rallied their team in a timely manner. Owing to their substantial numbers, they could engage a single beast with three or four members just 20 minutes into the battle.
Teams from other regions of the kingdom also performed admirably. The highest casualty count was 7, but there were numerous wounded.
As usual, they left the wounded behind in the recently cleared level and advanced to the next stage with those still fit for combat. After a 5-hour rest, they began entering the subsequent level one by one. The prevailing sense among them was that victory in claiming the legacy was within reach. Without any hesitation, they ventured into the final level. Little did they know, they had unwittingly walked into a meticulously crafted trap set by the Deity.
Nino, a fervent warrior, found delight in the agony of others on the battlefield. Long before earning acknowledgment from the God of War and ascending to Deityhood, he unleashed chaos on battlefields, ruthlessly cutting down his foes. His mere presence on the battlefield crushed the morale of enemy soldiers, causing many generals to flee whenever he appeared.
****
Rasoul and his team sat at the entrance to the next level, casually munching on spirit fruits as if they were candy. They were well aware that the upcoming level wouldn't be a walk in the park. Understanding that their chances of victory hinged on the duration of the battle, they wanted to ensure they were in optimal condition before diving in.
Ten minutes after the other teams had entered, Rasoul and his team strolled through the door, ready for their final trial. As soon as they arrived, Rasoul utilized the Radar to scan the entire area. Sensing no presence of beasts, Rasoul promptly deployed his Skeletons to strategically place items on the battlefield.
Five minutes into their arrival, the ground began to shake—a clear indication that the monster tide was imminent. Right on cue, the system chimed, prompting Rasoul to check the quest details. However, what he saw sent a shiver down his spine.
[Third Quest: Kill the 5,000 Alpha Beast]
[Rewards:]
>>1,000,000 Fire Points
>>1000 Attribute points
>>Two empty Scroll
>>Hidden Reward
[Fourth Quest: Kill the 5 Great Beasts]
[Rewards:]
>>10,000,000 Fire Points
>>10,000 Attribute points
>>Ten empty Scroll
>>Hidden Reward
[Fourth Quest: Kill The Saint Realm Guardian]
>>50,000,000 Fire Points
>>50,000 Attribute points
>>Ability Upgrade Pass
>>One Teleportation Scroll
>>Ten empty Scroll
>>2 Hidden Rewards
Upon reading the quest description, Rasoul recognized that challenges awaited them, and easy victories were out of the question. Understanding the need for swift and decisive action to emerge triumphant, he knew dealing with the Alpha beast required a strategic approach. Fortunately, he had secured a special type of bomb capable of handling half of them.
Anticipating the approaching hoards, Rasoul promptly issued his orders, "Lara, Sabrat, transform into your beast forms and unleash your full strength. Five Great Beasts will be joining the party along with the Alpha Beasts."
Sabrat immediately transformed into his beast form, a colossal creature with a combination of tiger, lion, human, and cheetah features. Standing at 7 meters tall, with four legs each 3 meters in length, and razor-sharp claws, it exuded an elegant yet terrifying aura. Dark flames emitted from two large horns on its forehead, a third eye radiated golden fire, and its primary eyes displayed distinctively colored flames. The sinuous tail bore serrated edges, trailing scorching flames, while 2-meter-wide black wings spread with a black aura emanating from them.
"I will never get used to this sight," Rasoul remarked as he observed Sabrat's transformation. The beast form was undeniably intimidating.
Lara, too, transformed into her majestic Beast form. A 6-meter white Tiger emerged, its eyes glowing with a golden light. Splendid golden wings extended from her back, and her four legs were adorned with intricate gold patterns. A crown emitting a golden glow rested atop her head, surrounded by a hint of crackling lightning. Nine gems, each radiating distinct energies, adorned the crown, while her tail extended to a length of one meter.
"Magnificent," Rasoul remarked as he observed Lara's transformation. Her Beast form was undeniably a majestic sight.
"Utilize your strength and go all out. I will handle half of the beasts. Once the Great Beasts appear, we'll go all out to swiftly end the battle and prevent them from rising to the Saint Realm. Go and wreak havoc," Rasoul commanded. Lara and Sabrat dashed toward the beasts, joined by the other three Assassins as they all moved to the left side, leaving the right side for Rasoul to deploy his ice bomb.
********
[The Frostfall Bomb]
>>Upon impact, a blinding burst of cold energy blankets the area, freezing everything in its radius. Enemies caught in the initial blast are instantly encased in ice.
>>The frozen enemies shatter into thousands of ice shards, creating a mesmerizing display as the shards scatter in all directions. The shards embed themselves in nearby surfaces, leaving a frozen, treacherous terrain.
*****
Rasoul invested 10,000,000 Fire points in this bomb. Retrieving the bomb from his inventory, Rasoul swiftly harnessed his full agility, executing an instantaneous dash. In less than 5 seconds, he positioned himself at the center of the horde, understanding that deploying the bomb there would yield maximum effectiveness.
With precision, he hurled the bomb and dashed away, utilizing his agility once again. Three seconds after Rasoul's throw, a burst of chilling cold energy erupted, freezing everything in its path. The shockwave tossed Rasoul aside, and 10 seconds later, over 4000 beasts were frozen in place, presenting a magnificent sight. The frozen monsters began shattering, leaving the ground completely frozen.
With 4000 plus beasts shattered and Lara and Sabrat carrying out their own massacre, it didn't take long for them to eliminate all the Alpha Beasts. However, the challenge was far from over. Soon, five distinct Great Beasts emerged, their presence exuding dominance. Standing at a formidable 5-meter tall, they stared down at Rasoul and his companions. Rasoul immediately scanned them.
[Name: Umbrathrall Harpyx]
[Realm: Great Beast]
[Bloodline: Nocturnal Shadowing]
[Attack Pattern: The Umbrathrall Harpyx descends silently, enveloping its prey in a shroud of darkness. It unleashes a barrage of razor-sharp feather projectiles before swooping in with talons extended, exploiting the confusion caused by its dark aura.]
[Name: Infernoscorch Drakon]
[Realm: Great Beast]
[Bloodline: Pyroclastic Scourge]
[Attack Pattern: The Infernoscorch Drakon descends from the skies, breathing torrents of scorching flames that engulf its prey, then lashes out with tail swipes, leaving behind trails of smoldering devastation.]
[Name: Venomshade Basilisk]
[Realm: Great Beast]
[Bloodline: Toxic Serpentisk]
[Attack Pattern: The Venomshade Basilisk strikes with lightning speed, delivering a venomous bite that injects a paralyzing toxin. It then coils around its immobilized prey, constricting with immense strength while administering a final, venom-laden strike.]
[Name: Thunderclaw Behemoth]
[Realm: Great Beast]
[Bloodline: Stormborn Thunderclaw]
[Attack Pattern: The Thunderclaw Behemoth charges with electrifying speed, delivering stunning blows with its charged claws. It unleashes thunderous shockwaves, disorienting and incapacitating nearby foes, before finishing with a devastating ground-shaking stomp.]
[Name: Shroudfang Wraithwolf]
[Realm: Creat Beast]
[Bloodline: Shadowbound Nightstalker]
[Attack Pattern: The Shroudfang Wraithwolf stalks its prey, striking with phantom-like swiftness. It materializes briefly to deliver ethereal bites that drain the life force of its victims, vanishing into the shadows before retaliation can occur.]
'Mind's eye is not helpful at all; it should at least show me their strength levels and maybe a weakness to exploit,' Rasoul thought inwardly.
The system replied, "[You can always pay me 100,000,000 Fire Points to upgrade it to tier 3]."
'Dream on,' Rasoul retorted.
'[You will soon enough].'
'Whatever,' Rasoul concluded their banter and then turned toward his teammates.
He knew what they were about to face wasn't a joking matter. He was confident that the ycould defeat the beasts, even if they outnumbered him. He wasn't planning on letting the three assassins fight separately, so he planned to pair them with one beast while he took on two, and Sabrat also deals with one, leaving one beast for Lara.
If they managed to take down the beasts quickly, that would be great, as any further delay would only increase the strength of the creatures. He didn't know how dangerous it could get, but with his system, he knew that in critical moments, they could make a run for it.
******
Casualties began mounting across the other battlefields as the beasts overwhelmed their members in sheer numbers. Initially manageable, the situation took a nosedive when the five Great Beasts entered the fray. Rasoul's team, fortunate with their bomb, managed to cut the efforts required in half by neutralizing the Alpha Beasts.
On the Sundance Team's battlefield, the fairies and the seven family heirs engaged in a 3 vs 1 match-up against the Great Beast, while the remaining members grappled with over 3000 Alpha Beasts. The casualties kept rising, and their only hope lay in the fairies and heirs swiftly defeating the Great Beast—an aspiration that seemed like wishful thinking.
Rainy and Porter's team faced similar challenges, with heirs from both kingdoms teaming up against the Great Beast while the rest tackled the Alpha Beasts.
The other teams were faring poorly; their numbers dwindled rapidly. Panic spread as heirs and semi-Saints struggled to hold back the Great Beasts. Unnoticed by all, as the battle raged on, the strength of the beasts continued to rise. If they failed to clear the Great Beast and Alpha Beasts in time, a dangerous escalation awaited, pushing the difficulty level to Calamity.
*****
"Alright, guys, this is it. It's either we go all out or we go home," Rasoul declared as he unsheathed his swords.