The Association adepts hid within the war tower, relying on its solid defenses and the numerous voodoo beasts to protect them. It was only then that they could calmly attack every mutated beast that entered their range of attack.
However, even ants could bring an elephant down with sufficient numbers!
If the mutated beasts became too numerous, even the war towers could not remain absolutely secure. That was especially the case with the disaster creatures that remained in hiding amongst the mutated beasts.
From a distance, Greem could see the remnants and ruins of several war towers close to the entrance of Inkdeep Valley. Only the base of the towers remained. These ruins lay in desolation, like burned-out candles. There were countless holes on the walls, and the insides of the towers were a mess. Greem could even faintly make out the bloodstains and skeletons left sprawled on the ground.
He could estimate the Adept Association’s approximate losses just from the number of war towers that had been razed.
Either way, it was a horrible, unacceptable, and massive number!
Given their power, the Adept’s Association would never have been forced into such a corner if their only enemies were the mutated beasts.
A thousand powerful creatures occupied the center of the battlefield, their bodies shrouded by a strange light. These creatures occasionally formed squads to assault the already sieged war towers.
Most of these creatures were Third and Fourth Grade disaster creatures. Though they did not have the fearsome Scourge Aura of the Scourge Lords, they could still draw on the disaster powers to enhance their offensive and defensive might.
Consequently, any war tower they set their sights on would often become a sacrifice of the battle. It didn’t matter that the forcefields were incredibly sturdy, their magical attacks devastatingly powerful, or that they were protected by legions of voodoo beasts. There was no stopping the assault of the disaster creatures.
Sickly-green corrosive poison splattered the forcefields of the war towers. In less than thirty seconds, the forcefields would turn as thin as a sheet of paper. The packs of disaster creatures would then close in on the towers and tackle the walls with their bodies. They would use their sharp claws to dig out an entrance into the building.
Once a hole appeared, the disaster creatures would make their way in.
A short moment later, the war tower would be filled with the agonized cries of the adepts before their deaths. A series of magical explosions would often be heard as well.
However, against the resilient and magic-resistant enemies with fearsome disaster abilities, the frail human adepts were no match.
War tower after war tower was taken down. The adepts within that did not escape were all killed. The losses incurred were so tremendous it was hard to keep count!
The enemy’s shocking numbers made every Central adept who witnessed it turn dizzy. Their faces were pale.
Individuals at Greem’s level hardly concerned themselves with low-grade magical creatures, mutated beasts, and disaster creatures anymore. Instead, Greem simply narrowed his eyes and assessed the few particularly strong and eye-catching minor Scourge Lords.
Fundamentally, they did not yet deserve the title of Scourge Lord. These individuals were only subordinates or assistants of actual Scourge Lords.
There were no fixed physical characteristics to their bodies. The only thing that separated them from ordinary planar creatures was their undeniable chaos aura.
This aura was so incompatible with the planar laws that every disaster creature was shrouded in a dense purple-black mist. This mist wasn’t actually mist, but rather distortions caused by the clash of two conflicting principle auras.
The closer it was to Inkdeep Valley, the more obvious the disaster aura and the more damaged the World of Adepts’ planar laws. As the World of Adepts’ laws continued to be pushed back, the planar suppression applied to these disaster creatures gradually weakened.
The magic surge would last for a hundred years.
If these disaster creatures were allowed to adapt to the planar laws here, they could charge out of Inkdeep Valley. When that happened, untold slaughter and calamity would befall the natives of the World of Adepts!
Given this, it was only a matter of time until the other major organizations reinforced the Adept’s Association.
After all, everyone was still on the same side. If the disaster creatures were allowed to plant their roots here, it would spell tremendous trouble for everyone.
Fortunately, the only ones that had set their sights on the World of Adepts this time were a bunch of inferior Scourge Lords rather than the World of Disasters’ overlords. Otherwise, the Adept’s Association would already be calling for help from space, begging the Great Adepts to send clones or subordinates to help defend.
The mastermind behind this attack was a Sixth Grade Scourge Lord known as Dilmas. Dilmas was a hundred-meter-tall three-headed hound. Each of his heads could control a unique elementium attribute, making him a truly fearsome opponent.
The Minor Scourge Lord Illhoof that Greem ran into in the Arcane Empire was, in fact, a Fourth Grade mutated clone of Dilmas.
This time, Dilmas was actually trying to profit from the fact that the World of Adepts was beset by a magic surge. Naturally, such an action deserved vicious retaliation.
At the very least, the disaster creatures could not be allowed to corrode and modify Inkdeep Valley, such that they would turn it into a beachhead for invasion by the World of Disasters. Should an actual Scourge Lord break into the World of Adepts, banishing them would require a price far, far heavier than what was needed to drive out this invasion.
It was important to note that the fall of most planar worlds wasn’t caused by natural calamities. It was caused by the invasion of evil civilizations like the disaster creatures or the Abyss. The adepts typically invaded only in hopes of stealing resources and population. They rarely inflicted catastrophic damage upon the victim planeworld.
Only an evil species like the disaster creatures, the abyssal creatures, or the starbeasts would destroy a planar world’s origin and foundations for no good reason. Alternatively, they would corrupt the world’s planar origin and turn all its natives into obedient slaves.
That was why the appearance of disaster creatures or starbeasts in a planar world often spelled doom for that world!
However, it was exceedingly difficult for a Sixth Grade creature like Dilmas to break into the World of Adepts. The tremendous chaos energy and aura in his body would trigger the most severe backlash possible from the World of Adepts’ laws.
Until he actually invaded, he would send his numerous subordinates and endless mutated beasts to slowly corrupt and distort the planar laws near the spatial rift. It was the most commonly used tactic of the Scourge Lords!
If an invaded world did not have sufficient power to repel the mutated beasts’ invasion and their subordinates, they would be doomed. Once a hole of sufficient size eroded into the plane’s barrier, the Scourge Lord themselves would descend.
To fight against a Sixth Grade as a Fourth Grade was impossible, even with the advantage of being on one’s homeworld. They would crumble beneath that kind of overwhelming power and become lambs to the slaughter.
If that did happen, even an ultra-powerhouse like Khesuna would no longer be safe. Meanwhile, powerful adepts like Greem, who had grasped principle powers but had yet to advance to Fifth Grade, were delicacies in Dilmas’ eyes.
Thus, helping the Adept’s Association was helping themselves.
In these times, the calm, rational minds of the adepts would allow them to make the wisest decision!
Chapter 1404 - Assignments of Battle
“What’s the extent down there inside Inkdeep Valley?” Greem asked solemnly.
His question was vague, but all the adepts present clearly understood what he meant.
Adept Geraldine, who had led him here, replied solemnly, “Advanced Fourth Grade.”
The numerous Fourth Grade Central adepts around him couldn’t help but break out into a clamor upon hearing this.
The upper limit of power that the invading disasters could unleash near Inkdeep Valley was advanced Fourth Grade. Even though that was still a minor grade away from the actual upper limit of power in the World of Adepts, the powerful Physique of the disaster creatures and their horrifying combat style already made them a match for peak Fourth Grade ultra-powerhouses.
Indeed, the suicidal attacks of the mutated beasts over the past few months had managed to weaken the strength of the planar barrier around Inkdeep Valley. Once the planar laws were no longer able to suppress the disaster creatures, the adepts would lose all of their home field advantages in the war.
That was an exceedingly horrifying thought!
“How much time do we have left?” Khesuna, who stood high on the corpse dragon’s back, asked coldly.
“Forty days at best. When that happens, the planar consciousness’s suppression of the disaster creatures will all but vanish. When that happens……” Geraldine did not finish his sentence, but all the adepts present were veterans of planar invasions. They could naturally imagine the horrible consequences.
“Where’s Domhnall? He summoned us here. Shouldn’t he at least show his face?” A group of Silver Union adepts in silver robes flew over from a distance and asked Geraldine in a stern tone.
Before Geraldine could reply, the space around him started to wrinkle and distort like paper. It trembled slightly, as the ripples slowly turned into a wave when Domhnall appeared out of thin air with his staff in his hand.
“Welcome, esteemed Lady Khesuna, Vice-Senate Head Melone…Lord Greem…we welcome your arrival!” Domhnall apologized to everyone upon appearing. His gaze landed on Greem’s giant body, and he was fazed for a second, causing him to pause in the middle of his greeting.
Meanwhile, the way he referred to the leaders of the three forces with equal respect betrayed the fact that something was wrong. The Vice-Senate Head of the Silver Union couldn’t help but start looking Greem up and down.
Honestly, Greem’s current condition was beyond unusual. His energy aura was profound and complicated, such that even Melone couldn’t determine his specific grade level.
However, everyone had gathered here for the disaster creatures, not for some amicable teatime.
Melone was the first to bring the issue back to attention. He asked in a stern voice, “Domhnall, what’s the matter with your Adept’s Association? You have so much power. How did you let the disaster creatures establish a foothold in Inkdeep Valley and let things cascade to where it’s at?”
An awkward expression appeared on Domhnall’s elderly face. He let out a sigh, “That is because none of us expected Dilmas was in such a hurry to enter the World of Adepts. He brought forth his actual person and currently resides in the spatial rift at the very bottom of the valley.”
“What? Are you sure it’s Dilmas’ real body?” It was the first time everyone had heard of this. They couldn’t help but be surprised.
Dilmas was a Sixth Grade monstrosity, a fearsome Scourge Lord infamous throughout the multiverse. If he were personally residing in the spatial rift, he would be able to inflict devastating damage to all the adepts who tried to seal or purify the disaster aura near the valley, even if his actual body couldn’t pass through.
“It’s been confirmed!” Domhnall’s smile was unusually bitter.
Everyone could see that the Adept’s Association must have paid a heavy price to verify this information.
“Then the Association’s intentions are…?” Melone continued to ask.
“As everyone can see, there are over a thousand high-grade disaster creatures gathered around the entrance to Inkdeep Valley. They range from Second Grade to Fourth Grade. However, what is giving us the most trouble are the twenty-one Fourth Grade creatures.
“If all we hope to do is defend the towers, the Association has more than enough power to spare. We can definitely keep the disaster creatures contained within Inkdeep Valley. However, driving them out and purifying the disaster aura in Inkdeep Valley is no longer possible with the Association’s power alone.
“However, if we don’t find a way to banish these disaster creatures and thoroughly purify Inkdeep Valley, the planar laws will not be able to regain control. Once the planar law chains are completely severed, Sixth Grade Dilmas will be able to enter.”
Having said that, Domhnall lifted his head and looked at everyone. He then sighed, “All the major organizations must be incredibly busy as well during this magic-surge period. If it weren’t for our lack of options, I would never have been able to lower myself to ask you all for help. You all know the full extent of the situation now. You are free to decide if you are willing to help us!”
Everyone’s face was dark and brooding.
It couldn’t be helped. They might all be Fourth Grade adepts, but the number of Fourth Grade enemies on the other side of the battlefield was not inferior to them. There was no guarantee of safety in battle. A slight misstep, and they would permanently and truly be dead.
That was why even Fourth Grade adepts like themselves were nervous and anxious about stepping onto a planar battlefield like this one.
“We have no problems on our side!” The first to express their position was actually Khesuna. As one of the only two ultra-powerhouses in the Northern Witches, she naturally possessed great sway among the witches.
After Khesuna had expressed her stance, the other Fourth Grade witches behind her simply stood in silence. It was obvious that they would abide by her decision.
“We of the Silver Union have no problems with the situation either! Since we’re here, naturally, we are prepared to fight against these disaster creatures,” Vice-Senate Head Melone of the Silver Union also spoke up. The seven Silver Union adepts behind him of various heights and races also looked calm and composed. It seemed like they couldn’t care less about their deaths.
In contrast, the Central adepts that Greem led were somewhat reluctant.
“Dilmas must not be allowed to enter the World of Adepts!” While the Central adepts frowned and hesitated, Greem’s deep and crisp voice rang in everyone’s ears.
“For the sake of this, we of the Central Lands are willing to fight as well! However,” Greem leaned forward slightly with his gigantic body and stared at Domhnall, “As we have never truly worked together before, and because our combat styles are different, we of the Central Lands will only fight with our own. We refuse any attempts to break up our ranks and reassign teams!”
Upon hearing this, the seven Central adepts finally looked slightly more relieved.
After all, Greem was now more powerful than even ultra-powerhouses. Having someone as strong as him by their side was always better than being enrolled into the Association’s forces and being used as cannon fodder.
“Agreed! We of the Northern Witches also request to be treated as a singular unit.”
“Us as well. We will not accept orders to the individuals from the Association!”
It was not the perfect scenario he had envisioned, but the three major organizations’ requests were well within the scope of reason.
Thus, Domhnall readily agreed after a quick moment of thought.
Led by Domhnall and Geraldine, the adepts continued to travel forward and soon came near the adept tower. The other adepts followed Domhnall into the building to rest, while Greem could only remain outside due to his gigantic size. He stood silently and adjusted his condition.
The Adept’s Association might have recalled all their Fourth Grade adepts and ultra-powerhouses in the battle up till now. However, the shocking number of disaster creatures kept them from gaining an advantage.
For the past month, the Association could only remain on the defensive, relying on the war towers and adept towers to exhaust the enemy’s forces.
This defensive strategy might have worked against any other enemy. However, it was hardly effect
ive against the disaster creatures, who easily corrupted entire planar worlds to fill their ranks. They were backed by several planes’ worth of military force. Such a battle of attrition hardly concerned them.
In fact, many famous major planes in the multiverse had been forcefully destroyed and torn apart by the disaster creatures through this insoluble swarming strategy.
To break this deadlock, the Adept’s Association had no choice but to take on a more aggressive and active strategy!
It required the Adept’s Association to leave the protection of the adept towers to fight and kill the disaster creatures.
After all, the mutated beasts might be innumerable, but the high-grade disaster creatures were certainly limited. Once their numbers had been shaved down, the Adept’s Association would be able to organize a hit squad to seal off the spatial rift at the bottom of Inkdeep Valley.
Though the battle up until now had not gone well, it was the only strategy that the Adept’s Association could come up with!
The reinforcements from the three major organizations undoubtedly attracted the attention of the disaster creatures as well.
In particular, Greem’s thousand-meter-tall body was an incredibly conspicuous sight.
There were no weaklings amongst those who could increase their size to a thousand meters!
Though ordinary people could also grow larger through various means, doing so would only be courting death when fighting against an opponent of the same level.
Without sufficient power to protect the body, without adequate energy to sustain the functions of the body…it would only work if you were just trying to intimidate the opponent. But stepping onto the battlefield with such a body? That was unimaginable!
In all honesty, Greem’s appearance truly horrified the disaster creatures.
The Fourth Grade monstrosities gathered together and silently discussed their plan against the human adepts.
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