Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill Chapter 535:No Way Out

Just as Ethan was on the verge of entering the portal, an unanticipated strike from behind rocked him to his very core. His body reeled forward, and a searing pain erupted across his back as the force of the attack obliterated the space around him.

"Damn it—!"

Before he could regain his footing, the portal wavered erratically and then vanished.

The passage through dimensions dissolved into pandemonium, and the unstable energy surged outward, threatening to annihilate everything. For a fleeting moment, Ethan felt his form being wrenched in opposing directions, as if the fabric of reality itself intended to tear him asunder.

But his reflexes were swift.

He channeled his mana to stabilize himself and exerted his full strength, pushing forward. In the subsequent instant, he broke free from the portal's collapse and reappeared in the open air, gasping for breath.

The battlefield behind him had ceased to exist.

What remained was a scene of utter devastation.

The ground was saturated in crimson, with shattered weapons and corpses strewn about, while the atmosphere reeked of death. The swift chaos that had transpired had completely inverted the situation.

For the last six months, humanity had been on an offensive, achieving victory after victory, their progress seeming unstoppable.

But now, a single loss had obliterated all of it. It had plummeted them from their zenith and plunged them into utter despair.

Ethan paused for a moment, then turned as the remnants of the portals flickered open one by one, disgorging the survivors.

Han and Hale emerged shortly thereafter, both appearing utterly spent, their armor rent and their faces ashen.

As they regained their composure, a nearby officer cried out in alarm.

"Where is Sir Aaron?!"

The question hung heavy in the air.

Ethan's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing it.

"I don't know… perhaps he managed to escape," he responded after a brief hesitation.

Silence ensued.

An uneasy quiet settled over the group.

Han slowly sank to the ground, his body clearly depleted, and he exhaled a weary breath before turning his gaze to Marvrick.

An uncomfortable silence spread among them.

Han slowly sat down on the ground, his body clearly drained, and he let out a tired breath before looking at Marvrick.

"I never knew you commanded such a formidable individual," Han remarked, his voice low yet genuine. "Without his intervention, we might not have survived."

Hale offered a slight nod.

"Indeed… thank you."

Marvrick remained silent, instead directing a glance toward Ethan.

Ethan gave a slight shake of his head and spoke with a steady demeanor.

"We can thank each other once we've made it back… we still have a journey ahead."

His words served to jolt the others back to the present reality.

The soldiers who had survived looked utterly defeated and exhausted, many bearing wounds, their spirits at an all-time low.

Ethan surveyed the surroundings quickly, then made a decisive resolution.

"We move out now," he declared.

No objections were raised. Remaining here was not an option.

With the meager remnants of the army, they commenced their trek back towards their own territory. Though their pace was measured, the weariness and apprehension were palpable with every step.

However, fate offered them no respite.

After some time, as they neared what should have been their established defensive perimeter, Ethan's expression shifted dramatically.

He subtly raised his hand, signaling a halt to the advancing column, his gaze locked intently on the distant horizon.

Something was gravely amiss.

In place of the anticipated human forces securing their return path, an entirely alien presence permeated the vista, and the very air felt palpably heavier. Ethan narrowed his eyes, focusing with intense scrutiny.

"That is not one of ours," he stated quietly.

The distant dust gradually subsided, revealing a scene that caused everyone's hearts to plummet.

An army of Orcs stood arrayed before them.

They were positioned in a dense, intimidating formation, their colossal frames, crude armor, and formidable weaponry forming an seemingly impenetrable barrier. Some bore massive axes slung across their shoulders, while others wielded spiked clubs still bearing traces of old blood. Their piercing eyes were fixed upon the approaching humans, radiating a chillingly lethal intent.

The earth beneath them was already fractured and scarred, suggesting they had lain in wait for an extended period, precisely anticipating this moment.

Han's face drained of color as he surveyed the enemy horde.

"They anticipated our return…" he murmured slowly.

Hale clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.

"This was a trap… we walked right into it," he added grimly.

Before anyone could fully process the dire situation, the deep blare of a horn reverberated from behind them. The sound carried a terrifying weight that caused every body to stiffen involuntarily.

Ethan snapped his head around, his eyes instantly darkening with dread.

More forces were emerging from their rear.

The demons had arrived.

Their forms surged forward like a relentless tide, their chaotic and violent auras blanketing the battlefield, effectively sealing off any possibility of retreat.

The stark realization dawned instantly.

"A pincer attack," Ethan uttered, his tone plunging into icy depths.

They were undeniably trapped.

The Orc army formed an impenetrable barrier in front, while the demon host pressed in from behind, leaving absolutely no breathing room.

A wave of panic began to ripple through the remaining soldiers.

"Sir.. what do we do?!" one soldier cried out, his voice laced with undisguised fear.

"We're surrounded!" another exclaimed, his hand gripping his weapon with a noticeable tremor.

As fear permeated the ranks, the formation started to fracture, with some soldiers instinctively recoiling.

Then, the Orc army made its move.

A deafening roar erupted from their ranks, resonating throughout the entire field.

"Slaughter them!" a commanding Orc leader bellowed, his voice dripping with savage exhilaration.

In the subsequent moment, they charged.

The very ground quaked beneath their heavy, pounding steps, their colossal forms advancing like a destructive tsunami. Their formidable weapons were raised high, and the instant they collided with the human defense, the initial, brutal clash occurred.

BOOOOM!

The impact was devastatingly fierce.

Shields splintered and disintegrated under the sheer force, and soldiers were flung backward as if devoid of all weight. The Orcs showed no restraint, their assaults characterized by wild, unbridled ferocity and overwhelming physical power.

One particularly monstrous Orc seized a soldier, slamming him into the earth with such prodigious force that the ground itself cracked. Another swung its massive axe, cleaving through armor and flesh simultaneously, sending crimson blood spraying high into the air.

The battlefield plunged into utter pandemonium in a mere instant.

From the rear, the demons also surged forward, their attacks equally merciless and vicious. Corrupting dark spells flared, and razor-sharp claws shredded through defenses as they relentlessly closed in on the beleaguered humans.

Pained cries and urgent commands mingled indistinguishably, accompanied by the incessant clang of steel on steel that filled the air.

Caught between these two crushing forces, the soldiers found themselves overwhelmed by the dual pressure, descending into utter disarray.

Han gritted his teeth, striking down a lunging Orc, but the violent recoil sent a tremor through his arm.

"This is madness..." he breathed out.

Hale moved to his side, intercepting a powerful blow, but the sheer force drove his feet deep into the ground.

"We can't break through like this," Hale stated, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Amidst the swirling chaos, Ethan stepped resolutely forward.

His gaze intensified, and his imposing presence flared, cutting through the surrounding panic like a searing blade.

"Hold the line," he commanded, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable firmness that reached all within earshot.

His words instilled a measure of steadiness in several soldiers, prompting them to tighten their grips on their weapons.

Even in this dire predicament, any room for hesitation was entirely nonexistent.

Ethan's eyes fixed on the charging Orcs ahead, then flickered briefly to the advancing demons behind.

There was no escape.

Only the path forward, or inevitable death.