Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 494 Fan Club

X-019 was the first to arrive.

Its mechanical limbs struck the water wall, but the force was dispersed. The impact was absorbed and redirected, launching it back. Elyndra's spatial manipulation wavered for a split second as the barrier disrupted her line of effect.

Everything had transpired in under three seconds.

Alice received her God's approval to unleash the Divine Retribution skill.

A subtle tremor ran through the heavens.

Then, the sky tore open.

A torrent of holy fire descended, cleaving through the air with immense power. The assault radiated an otherworldly purity, instilling a sense of judgment in anyone who beheld it. The potency of Divine Retribution was directly proportional to the sins of its targets.

And the Florathi team had amassed a considerable amount by slaying countless monsters on their climb to their current level.

All of it became sustenance for the attack. The beam intensified its brilliance as it plummeted.

It wasn't quite on the same scale as the attack that struck the Crimson Sky Wyrm, but it was close.

If it connected directly, the devastation would be absolute.

Zahard, the leader of the Florathi team, made his move.

His hand drew back as multiple abilities were activated simultaneously, power layering upon power. He then hurled his spear.

The weapon expanded in mid-air, its shape elongating as a blood-red aura enveloped it. Faint tendrils of crimson lightning crackled along its surface, writhing like living entities.

The spear met the descending beam.

The weapon expanded in mid-air, its shape elongating as a blood-red aura enveloped it. Faint tendrils of crimson lightning crackled along its surface, writhing like living entities.

The spear met the descending beam.

For a moment, all motion ceased.

Then—

A blinding detonation erupted.

Light consumed the combat zone, followed instantaneously by the shockwave. The concussive force pulverized nearby stone pillars, reducing them to rubble. The ground fractured beneath the immense pressure, and the very air seemed to distort outwards.

Some of the stone surfaces closest to the impact point began to liquefy.

Concurrently, Emily's voice rang out. This was their opportunity.

"Stoneward!"

The Abyssal Mammoth bellowed and charged forward.

Its colossal form carved through the dust and light, each stride sending seismic jolts through the earth. The Florathi team's vision was obscured by the lingering glare of the explosion, but they could sense its approach.

That sensation alone was sufficient.

Two members of their squad advanced without hesitation. Both were designated tanks, their roles evident in their defensive stances.

They invoked their most potent defensive skills in unison.

Stoneward collided with them.

The impact was tremendous, driving both tanks backward despite their readiness. The ground beneath them fractured further, yet they maintained their position.

Behind the chaos, Emily moved with swiftness.

She swiftly returned the Slime to her Soul Space without a moment's delay. Then, she issued another command.

The atmosphere shifted palpably.

The Crimson Sky Wyrm materialized.

Its immense silhouette took form above them, wings unfurling wide as it emitted a deep, resonant cry. The sheer pressure of its presence alone transformed the battlefield.

At the exact same instant, draconic wings sprouted from Alice's back.

She seized Emily and Averon without uttering a word and ascended, lifting them into the sky. Though her vision remained partially impaired, she didn't rely solely on sight. Her focus was fixed on the overwhelming mana signature above.

The Catastrophe.

She brought Emily and Averon onto its back.

The Crimson Sky Wyrm ascended rapidly, dominating the heavens within seconds. Emily recalled Stoneward into her Soul Space.

Their movements were executed with remarkable speed, as if every action had been meticulously pre-arranged.

By the time the explosion began to subside and visibility returned, they were already in full retreat.

The Florathi were left in stunned disbelief, witnessing Emily, Averon, and Alice making their escape, abandoning half of their comrades.

Elyndra, one of the Apex Overlords of the Florathi team, reacted instantly. Her hand moved once more, reaching out towards the fabric of space itself, attempting to seize and pull, to halt their flight.

However, she was denied the opportunity.

Eleanor was already present.

She appeared before Elyndra without prior warning, her sword drawn. Elyndra was forced to abandon her initial maneuver and immediately redirect her focus, contorting her body to evade the incoming blade.

The remaining Florathi team members also reacted.

Their objective was to pursue the Crimson Sky Wyrm, which was now carrying Emily, Alice, and Averon.

But Sera activated her skill.

A low hum resonated across the battlefield.

Energy emanated from her, tracing intricate patterns across the ground. Lines of light materialized beneath her feet, expanding outwards within a defined radius.

Then, a significant change occurred.

The Florathi team sensed it immediately.

They retained their ability to move, but only in her direction.

The instant they attempted to retreat or disengage from the affected zone, their bodies became completely immobilized.

It felt as though they were compelled, commanded to engage her in combat.

No other action was permissible. Only combat against her was allowed.

Zahard's brow furrowed slightly.

His eyes drifted towards Beila, observing the gems still unharmed behind the imposing figure. Not a single one had been broken.

This fact pointed to a single conclusion.

The ability Sera had employed was not a detrimental effect.

'What a peculiar skill,' Zahard mused internally. He was occupied with his own recovery, having just withstood Alice's Divine Retribution, which prevented him from pursuing Emily.

Yet, he felt the immovable pressure of his current position; another step back was simply not an option.

"So, all of that was merely a stratagem to carve out an escape route for those three? What is your ultimate objective? With only three of them, they will inevitably encounter trouble soon. They'll be vanquished by the very first monster they face," X-019 taunted.

"Are you quite certain of that? Based on my observations, they are more than capable of defending themselves. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they could even handle a Mini Boss," Avery responded with a faint smile.

Zahard's eyes narrowed marginally.

The realization struck him instantly.

'They are buying time.'

Up to this moment, the opposing team had engaged in combat with silent determination, their focus solely on execution. Now, however, they were engaging in conversation, an act that clearly signaled their true intentions.

'They divided their forces because they wish to avoid expending precious time fighting us here. That girl… Emily. She commands a multitude of Overlord summons. Even with a reduced number, she can still advance through the dungeon,' he reasoned.

He adjusted his stance subtly, still feeling the residual effects of blocking Alice's powerful strike.

"And what about the three of you? Do you genuinely believe you can hold off all six of us alone?" Zahard inquired, his voice even yet loaded with subtle inquiry.

While Zahard, X-019, and Elyndra were all classified as Apex Overlords, Zahard's strength far surpassed that of the other two.

Combined with another High Overlord from their contingent, he could contend with Avery for a considerable duration.

The remainder of his team would then proceed to overwhelm Eleanor and Sera. Following that, they could regroup and confront Avery before commencing the pursuit of the others.

This plan was so straightforward in its conception and execution that Zahard found himself perplexed by the confidence radiating from Avery's team, which prompted their decision to split their forces.

"An Adept challenging Mini Bosses? Even if she possesses the ability to tame monsters, there must be a limit. Her summons likely drain her energy to maintain, or perhaps they operate under a time constraint. I find it improbable that she can sustain them long enough to triumph over a Mini Boss. Unless, of course, you are implying she possesses a lineage akin to a Netherborn," Zahard insinuated with a slight, mocking chuckle.

…

Livestream.

[IronClad_77]: What on earth did I just witness? That engagement lasted less than thirty seconds.

[ManaJunkie]: Are you serious? That single beam could obliterate an entire Sector!

[SilentSpectator]: The Florathi managed to block it. They actually blocked that attack.

[ManaJunkie]: Well, obviously. They are considered the most probable victors of this competition.

The chat feed scrolled with astonishing rapidity, the messages appearing faster than they could be processed.

Everyone had anticipated formidable teams.

But this display—

This was an overwhelming display of power.

[SkyBreaker]: Is this the true capability of top-tier Awakeners?

[NoobHunter]: Mom, I'm heading to the wilderness today! I need to gain levels!

[ArcaneEyes]: You'll be dead within five minutes, kid. Sit down and be sensible.

A palpable sense of excitement commingled with sheer disbelief permeated the air. Spectators envisioned themselves participating in such titanic clashes, fighting with that same level of intensity.

It was an utterly exhilarating sensation.

[Watcher_09]: Hold on, why is Emily retreating?

[RuneThinker]: Indeed… with a team of only three, that seems perilously risky.

[ShadowFox]: Do you doubt that Goddess Emily can handle the situation?

[ShadowFox]: Hmph, have you all conveniently forgotten Goddess Emily's Lord Quest? She can overcome any obstacle with ease!

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember1112]: Precisely. She operates on a different level.

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember0847]: Goddess Emily is incapable of defeat!

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember2151]: +1

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMemberi7891]: +1

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember…]

[GoddessEmily….]

[Goddess….]

[…]

[BoldSoul]: Goddess Emily is absolutely magnificent. I could see myself marrying her.

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember0001]: Pardon me?

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember2294]: Blasphemy! Perform three kowtows and render yourself a eunuch, junior! Failing that, do not hold this senior responsible for annihilation of your entire lineage!

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember7710]: Understand your place!

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember1818]: We shall not permit any individual to tarnish our pure and innocent Goddess, not even in thought!

[BoldSoul]: Wait, my intention was not—

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember0001]: No, your words conveyed precisely what you meant.

An overwhelming number of users with the chat identifier "GoddessEmilyFanClubMember" emerged, their purpose to berate or reprimand BoldSoul.

[JealousMage]: I am far more envious of that scoundrel Isaac. He has the privilege of holding Goddess Emily's hand daily.

[LogicUser]: Holding hands? Are you jesting, little brother? They reside in the same dwelling. Do you truly believe their interactions are limited to mere hand-holding?

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember4452]: Exercise caution with your pronouncements, neighbor above.

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember9033]: Goddess Emily embodies purity. Do not utter a single word that could cast aspersions upon her!