The Glorious Evolution Chapter 428: Loose Screw.

Meanwhile, Nurah, Arthur, Shia, and the other Daywalkers quickly launched their scheme right after witnessing their captain butchering the Nightcrawlers firsthand.

"He's seriously creeping me out..."

Tyrese whispered to himself, as if gazing upon a stranger instead of Levi... this sensation lingered even after nearly two weeks of training side by side for the occasion.

All the Daywalkers shared Tyrese's unease... not even Levi's nearest companions had anticipated such a transformation in him. Though it stung a bit that Levi hadn't fully trusted them enough to reveal his abilities, they realized now wasn't the moment for such thoughts.

"Let's move! We can't miss the jump window."

Nurah barked firmly from the rope's edge... no more waiting. Arthur hoisted Shia and Nurah onto his shoulders in a flash. The women gripped hard, hunching down, resembling a red bird and a black one perched there.

Next, he gave them a determined nod... confirming their readiness, Arthur leaped from the rope's brink by his own volition!

His jump came at the rope's highest point, creating vast separation from the Winged Horn.

"The Raiders are attempting it!! But from this spot?!"

Gamemaster Envy hurriedly shifted the broadcast to the plummeting Arthur and the girls... the spectacle shocked and confused the audience. Everyone understood they had barely three seconds before the abyss dragged them into its depths.

Jumping from such an extreme height would squander those vital seconds just on descending.

Arthur and the girls grasped this fact better than most.

Without pause, Arthur extended his body fully while yelling, "FIRE!!"

A brilliant, powerful ray burst from the core vermillion gem... spectators gaped as the ray accelerated Arthur and the girls toward the abyss, achieving terminal velocity in under a second!

Like a rocket, they plunged swiftly into the abyss; Shia's sticky blood coated Arthur's back, keeping the shield firmly in place.

Soon enough, just hundreds of meters remained between them and the Winged Horns. Arthur promptly deactivated the vermillion ray.

Catching the signal, Shia retracted the sticky blood, releasing Arthur's shield. He then positioned it before his abdomen and unleashed another ray, drastically reducing their velocity as they entered the Winged Horn's flight zone.

Aware time was critically short, Shia leaped toward the Winged Horn, connecting herself to Arthur via a lengthy sticky tentacle!

The Nightcrawlers stared blankly as Shia drew nearer and nearer to the tiny Winged Horn, stretching her arm out fully to seize it.

Normally, they would've obstructed with projectiles or similar... yet, with their leader slain and allies dropping next, their thoughts remained fixated on the chaos within the Toxic Kingdom.

Lacking prompt commands, Shia grabbed the Winged Horn mid-air, ignoring it entirely along with the map-spanning announcement on the display.

She quickly withdrew the blood tentacle, propelling her back toward Arthur. Nurah's arm was outstretched to grab her... but just as Shia reached for it, a fierce grasp clamped onto her. It yanked her unwillingly into the abyss!

"Shiaaa!!!"

Arthur bellowed, pushing the vermillion beam to its max, struggling to counter the force tugging at him and Nurah too.

"Arghh!!"

Shia cried out in agony, torment tearing through her upon slamming into the vermillion beam's side. The blood tentacle still bound her to Arthur, holding off the abyss... though she knew it couldn't endure.

The vermillion glow scorched it mercilessly, her body feeling the intense burn with each moment.

Pain dulled her mind, slowing her thoughts, but insight pierced the fog. Waiting for the tentacle to burn off naturally might doom Arthur and Nurah.

Tyrese's endless punches had powered Arthur's vermillion beam, yet its energy wasn't endless.

When it faded, they'd plummet as one.

'It's me or all of us...'

A subtle, wry smile formed on Shia's lips. The decision, she understood, was starkly obvious.

Her eyes shut, breath steadying, she calmly severed the sticky tentacle with her own hand... the cut unleashed sharp pain, which she embraced. This sacrifice stemmed not from hopelessness... but from love, determination, and faith intertwined.

She trusted her comrades would mirror her choice... and that conviction let her embrace the act with peace.

Instant confirmation followed.

Shia's eyes widened in shock as she felt Nurah's gentle hand clasping hers inside the scorching vermillion beam! The fierce heat seared them both, yet Nurah clung on tightly, refusing to release.

"You're not going out as a hero!" Nurah snapped through gritted teeth, enduring the vermillion beam's agony. "We're in this for the long haul, like it or not!"

Time itself seemed to halt for an instant... the beam's blistering heat, the abyss's far-off thunder, her heart's frantic, unsteady beat... all fused into one overpowering surge.

A grateful, relieved smile bloomed on Shia's face... she understood her choice was spot-on, since their friendship's true warmth could never be counterfeit.

Despite the torment, she released a trembling laugh. "You guys... really won't let me be dramatic, huh?"

"Nope,"

Nurah's words reverberated in her thoughts, and soon Shia was enveloped by her flowing, shadowy hair... Arthur rushed in alongside them, instantly shutting off the vermillion beam the second boundless darkness filled his vision.

Moments later, Shia, Arthur, and Nurah materialized on the Raiders' side before the Giant... Jasmine, Mira, and their comrades quickly encircled them, while allowing space for the party's healers to mend their wounds swiftly.

"You guys have lost your damn minds!" Mira burst out. "Damn Heliodorians! Nuts, I tell you, nuts!"

Their allies mirrored her astonishment, never anticipating they'd execute such a wild scheme... naturally, only Levi possessed the deranged, ruthless genius to invent it.

Still, he hadn't coerced them into it. There was no necessity, for his younger brother and the girls embraced the idea at once... particularly after discovering he'd battle Fang and the Nightcrawlers by himself.

They were determined to bear their share, no matter the suicidal nature of the task.

Fortune smiled as the Giant's colossal shadow blanketed the whole area ahead of the abyss, providing Nurah a straightforward escape route in case of failure.

Nevertheless, they understood the fight raged on.

"The Raiders have pulled it off, but can they ascend the rope in time?! The clock is ticking!"

Once basic healing was administered, Nurah gripped her scorched arm and harnessed her shadowy hair to warp them atop the rope in a flash... they appeared beside Rakai, who'd constructed a towering wall at the rope's remote end to cast a shadow tailored for her.

Each person played their role; the entire operation was meticulously plotted and precise... absent that, Levi would never have permitted his brother or allies to face such danger.

Not until they regained the rope's platform did Arthur and the girls crumple to the ground, utterly exhausted in spirit and mind from the harrowing experience.

No conversation occurred... Arthur and the girls simply offered fist bumps to one another, sprawled out with subtle grins.

"You guys... seriously have a loose screw," Rakai grumbled, swiping sweat from his brow. "You and your captain."