Li De was unaware of Isha's actions. At this moment, he was watching Grote in the valley, whose rage had driven him to relentlessly hunt down Emi, his gaze growing colder.
Although Emi had reached Level 15 half a year ago and his strength had multiplied compared to Level 14, the gap between him and Grote—who had honed his skills on the battlefield and stepped into Level 15 more than twenty years ago was enormous.
Especially after Grote activated his bloodline power, within these twenty minutes, he was nearly invincible.
Li De had hoped to stall until Grote's bloodline activation ended, but now, if he didn't act, Emi would not survive the hunt.
In another three to five minutes, the Blasphemer might fall.
Emi's potential had yet to be fully excavated. If he died here, even if they won this battle, it would be a meaningless victory.
"Have the Cyclopes hold Grote down. Dispatch some Vampires to clear out the Northern Warriors in the valley. The rest, prepare to cast spells."
Using the cover of night, Li De descended into the valley and immediately took control of the battlefield.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The command was transmitted across the battlefield at once.
The Cyclopes who were still fighting the Northern Warriors simultaneously abandoned their current opponents and turned toward the rampaging Grote in the forest.
The Northern Warriors were powerless to stop the Cyclopes, leaving the Vampires to seamlessly take over the combat against them.
But agile Vampires were nothing like the slow Cyclopes. With several times their number overwhelming them, the stubborn resistance of the Northern Warriors was soon extinguished.
Before absolute strength, all resistance was futile.
Under the protection of two Cyclopes, Kosso had already regained some of his fighting strength.
From chest to abdomen, a massive wound ran across Kosso's body, inflicted by Grote. However, thanks to his Ancient Giant bloodline, the Cyclops Lord's constitution was far beyond what ordinary beings could imagine.
"Seize him!"
Kosso roared in fury, lifting his broken spiked club and charging at Grote first.
Being disarmed and heavily wounded by a small human was an enormous humiliation for Kosso.
He swore he would smash that human's skull with his club!
Though a Vampire, Emi's powers were greatly enhanced by the night, and as a Shadow High Priest, his strength in the shadows grew even further.
Yet even so, he was still suppressed by Grote, who had activated his bloodline and whose strength was now monstrous.
The Northern Warriors, the greatest among the Three Great Warrior Tribes of Glory—their fighting power was terrifying.
Boom, boom~
Two Explosive Fireballs, charged for several seconds, burst forth with brilliant light in the night sky.
The Tier 3 spells, cast the moment Emi emerged from the shadows, shot at Grote at blinding speed.
Grote's piercing eyes gleamed more sharply than a hawk's.
Wielding his silver-bright greatsword, he swung it through the darkness, its blade faintly aglow.
He showed no fear.
When the sword collided with the Explosive Fireballs, instead of the expected magical eruption, the greatsword sliced the fireballs cleanly in half.
Both spells dissipated into raw mana.
Extreme Will—exclusive to Transcendent beings. The ability of a warrior who had pushed their will to the limit to channel mana into their weapon, granting them terrifying elemental destructive power.
Destroying spell structures was one of the hallmarks of Extreme Will—the foundation for Transcendent warriors to stand against mages.
The seemingly ordinary greatsword now outshone any enchanted weapon.
Grote's legs burst with strength, his muscles compressed like a spring to the limit.
Boom!
He charged at Emi at triple speed.
Warrior Skill: Charge.
Before Emi could react, Grote appeared behind him, his glowing greatsword swinging down like the Creator cleaving apart chaos.
At that moment, Emi even smelled the scent of death.
As a gleam of triumph flashed across Grote's face.
Boom! A massive spiked club smashed into him.
Caught off guard, Grote was sent flying dozens of blades away by the giant weapon that weighed more than ten times his own body.
Yet even midair, gritting his teeth against the agony, Grote roared furiously and threw his greatsword like a javelin straight at Emi.
The two-palm-wide greatsword struck Emi squarely in the back.
Splurt.
Emi's body, not particularly tall to begin with, was hurled several blades away, slamming into a burning tree, blood spurting from his mouth.
Seven ribs were broken instantly; his body felt like it was falling apart from the searing pain.
If Emi had still been human, he would have already died.
The brutal strength of a Northern Warrior!
Boom~
The earth trembled as Kosso's half-spiked club struck Grote again, slamming him into the ground, leaving a bloody trail more than twenty blades long before he crashed against a tree, gouging a deep scar into the earth.
Even so, Grote did not fall.
Roaring, he shoved aside the colossal spiked club, heavier than ten men, and stood up once more. His injuries visibly healed at a shocking speed.
Li De, observing from afar, drew a deep breath.
This Northern Warrior was terrifying beyond belief.
Despite falling into a trap from the start, facing Vampires and Cyclopes alike, Grote hadn't truly fallen behind.
He had slain Whispering Bats in the sky, forced their scatter, leapt from the heavens to sever Kosso's massive spiked club, severely wounded Kosso, activated his bloodline, hunted down Emi alone, and nearly killed him.
Words like "powerful" could no longer describe this Level 16 Northern Warrior. He truly lived up to the glory of being part of the number one tribe among the Three Great Warrior Tribes of Glory.
Had only the Vampires or only the Cyclopes come today, it's possible they couldn't have even defeated him.
Li De drew another deep breath and made a firm decision.
"Kosso, restrict Grote's movements. Fireball spells, suppress him!"
He was going all-in. They had paid too high a price already. No matter what, they had to achieve victory today.
If Grote escaped, Emi's existence would be exposed, forcing the abandonment of the Crimson Mage Tower.
A consequence Li De absolutely could not accept.
Whatever the cost, Grote must stay here.
Alive or dead!!
Li De's command was absolute to all present—Vampires or Cyclopes alike. His authority made everyone willingly follow his orders.
He was the king here—the only king.