Cloud Peak's air force grew significantly after integrating the Thousand Beast Manor, bolstering reconnaissance, transport, and combat units. Facing an onslaught of flying parasites, the air force engaged in fierce aerial combat. While the Sky Rider Department fought effectively, the Undead Dragonfish sacrificed itself in a desperate attack, defeating an enemy top-tier life form and damaging the cocoon around Cloud Peak's command center.
A completely unobstructed passage suddenly materialized before their eyes.
Charge!
This thought consumed everyone.
The entirety of Cloud Peak's air force, not yet engaged by the enemy, surged forward towards the strange substance. Simultaneously, numerous sky riders and flying life forms equipped with long-range abilities unleashed their full power upon the protective, shield-like barrier.
The flying parasites moved to intercept, relentlessly using their own bodies, even sacrificing their lives, to impede the Cloud Peak warriors. They were already at a significant disadvantage, and this chaotic engagement, facing the desperate charge of Cloud Peak's air force, resulted in soaring casualties. The scene eerily mirrored the moment the green-skinned monsters breached the human defense line to charge at Xia Lei, and humans desperately intercepted them.
The passage the Undead Dragonfish fought so hard to secure had transformed into a brutal slaughterhouse, a meat grinder. Creatures plummeted from the sky, crashing onto the ground battlefield, and even if they survived the fall, they were swiftly finished off by the enemy.
At this critical juncture, the sky and ground battlefields became interconnected by the falling lives from both warring factions!
The red-haired sphere beside Red Hair suddenly ruptured. Three top-tier life forms emerged, one immediately hurtling towards the gray substance, while another engaged Red Hair, aiming to buy precious time for its companion.
If a top-tier life form had been present to guard the isolation space created by the green-skinned monsters, the outcome would have been drastically different. Holding out merely a moment longer could have significantly boosted the success rate of their allies' surprise assault within.
Both sides were acutely aware that the key to victory now rested on this very point. If the parasites could annihilate Cloud Peak's command center before this 'eggshell' shattered, they would prevail. Conversely, if the humans could rescue their commander before she perished, the humans would claim victory.
Visible wounds marred Red Hair's body.
Much like herself, the Undead Dragonfish, and the other Cloud Peak life forms on the battlefield, it wasn't that they lacked alternative combat strategies; rather, the dire circumstances compelled them to seek a swift resolution. Thus, beyond fighting with all their might, there was no other recourse.
Seeking a quick, decisive battle invariably came with a steep price.
Otherwise, given Red Hair's current formidable abilities and the Undead Dragonfish's coordinated assault, even four or five of the flying top-tier parasites, limited to using their bodies as weapons, would have been manageable.
But now, they were forced to resort to injury-for-injury tactics in a desperate bid for an earlier kill.
Spotting a top-tier parasite attempting to intercept Cloud Peak's advancing forces, Red Hair's long spear launched like a bolt of lightning. Instantly, her hair transformed into thorny vines, ensnaring herself and her nearby foe, and they crashed together. Subsequently, immense quantities of magma erupted from these thorny vines, engulfing both her and her opponent in flames.
Countless drops of magma rained down, turning the ground below into a fiery inferno. Not only parasites but also Cloud Peak fighters were caught in the deluge. However, at this moment, Red Hair could afford to focus on nothing else.
Fortunately, mirroring the Undead Dragonfish's direct approach of fighting to the death, Red Hair employed a similar tactic, incinerating her already injured opponent into ashes. Yet, this near-suicidal combat method rendered her incapable of maintaining flight. She plummeted from the sky, a figure covered in wounds. Her once floor-length hair was now reduced to her waist.
As she fell, Red Hair's gaze tracked the spear she had hurled. It was being casually swatted aside by the top-tier monster; its claw precisely struck the spear's shaft. Red Hair clenched her outstretched hand, and the spear abruptly detonated, transforming into a torrent of magma that surged over the level-nine life form's body. Its flesh and blood were rapidly corroded and consumed by this magma, which Red Hair had cultivated for an unknown duration.
Red Hair and the Undead Dragonfish, at the cost of their own well-being, carved a path towards that 'eggshell' for the other Cloud Peak life forms in the shortest possible time.
……………………………………
Inside the mysterious 'eggshell,' Yangos reached a critical decision.
It was not a decision born of a desire to escape or surrender, but rather a calculated judgment made after meticulously assessing the unfolding situation.
Even Xia Lei had entrusted the ultimate decision-making power to Yangos.
The formidable dragon was fully aware of its current weakened state. Despite utilizing an ability to enter a dormant state and partially heal its injuries, it remained far from its original, unblemished condition.
Yangos knew it could not possibly contend with the hundreds of thousands of green-skinned monsters arrayed against them.
It had to breach this confinement first to alleviate Xia Lei's mounting crisis.
"Observe the 'Old Dragon's' technique."
Despite the outcome, Yangos's mouth did not relent. It drew its belly in, then unleashed a dragon's breath toward the area before Xia Lei. Vast expanses of searing flame gas obliterated the charging green-skinned monsters nearby, reducing them to nothing and clearing the space in front of Xia Lei.
Following this, the malevolent dragon ascended into the sky, swiftly reaching the vicinity of the eggshell, and expelled dragon's breath once more.
The scorching and potent flames impacted the eggshell, causing it to vibrate, yet it remained intact.
Yangos did not hesitate, unleashing a third torrent of dragon's breath.
However, in contrast to the preceding two, the duration and scope of this dragon's breath were considerably diminished.
The eggshell vibrated anew, but still did not crack.
The green-skinned monsters below became frenzied. Unable to halt Yangos, their only recourse was to eliminate Xia Lei. If they could slay this woman, the shattering of the eggshell would be irrelevant!
"Old Dragon... Grandpa, I've exhausted my strength." Yangos panted heavily. The recovered strength was only sufficient for three breaths of dragon's fire. No, in truth, it was only enough for two. The third breath was achieved by the evil dragon desperately depleting its own life essence, and still, the eggshell refused to break.
The evil dragon cast its gaze downward. The green-skinned monsters were perilously close to Xia Lei; in mere seconds, they would reach her.
"Damn it, I haven't even found a wife yet!"
With those words, Yangos lowered its head, beat its wings with ferocity, and utilizing its dragon horns and body, summoned its final reserves of strength to collide with the eggshell.
The unmistakable sound of cracking echoed across the entire battlefield!
