The Untamed Awakened disappeared from the battlefield. The Forest Elves released several barrages of arrows and retreated deep into the Untamed Jungle as well. Frederik moved along with them whereas Hiraku's colossal body vanished into thin air.
The Holy Knights, Blessed Squires, and thousands of melee fighters retreated and merged with the Untamed Jungle, leaving the High Beast Horde to fend for themselves.
A sudden change in their tactic was required to turn the tides against the Heart of the Blazing Lion army.
Now that the armies of the Heart of the Blazing Lion split up to conquer the Untamed Jungle's middle area, Michael and his people could move forward with the next plan.
Everyone retreated suddenly, while Stinger used his unique racial ability to push Hiraku, Frederik, and the Untamed Awakened in the right direction.
Only a few minutes passed since the forces retreated when they congregated and attacked once again.
This time, however, they didn't split up to face the forces of the three Commanders. Instead, their target was only one of the three armies.
The frontline army, as Michael labeled them for being the only army that continued to push straight ahead into the Untamed Jungle, had to be eliminated,
Sun Demos and his Blood Oath Demon Monkey underlings waited until the frontline army pushed deeper into the middle area before they leaped onto them from the towering trees.
The remaining monsters of the High Beast Horde were struggling against the frontline army, but they distracted the enemy forces very well.
The distraction was more than enough for Sun Demos and the Demon Monkey Unit to cause considerable damage. They used their superior physical strength and axes to kill more than a hundred Lionhearts in the initial dive and continued to attack valiantly. After a fierce battle that lasted merely 30 seconds, Sun Demos disappeared into the thicket with his subordinates.
The Blood Oath Demon Monkeys climbed the towering trees once again and lurked in the shadows of the Untamed Jungle waiting patiently for the next opportunity to arise.
Contrary to the outer rings of the Untamed Jungle, the middle area's environment was much denser and richer in energy. The humongous trees that towered above everyone couldn't be destroyed that easily anymore, and even the thicket was far more resilient than before.
The pure energy that permeated the middle area had tempered the flora and fauna of the Untamed Jungle for tens of years. Ordinary flames wouldn't be enough to burn them down anymore.
Of course, the flames of High Lionhearts were far from ordinary. They didn't manage to turn the towering trees into ash the moment their blazing flames reached them, but the trees were not fully resistant to flames either.
Distracted by the remaining forces of the High Beast Horde and Sun Demos' surprise attack, the frontline army's Commander expected more attacks to follow up soon. That was exactly what happened. The Untamed Awakened emerged in the back of the frontline army with Hiraku leading them. His colossal figure merged perfectly into the surrounding environment. He emerged in front of the Untamed Awakened and issued an ear-deafening roar.
The Forest Elves had circled the frontline army and were hiding high up in the trees and thousands of Elementals moved into position as well. Instead of continuing to partner up with the Forest Elves and the other forces, the Elementals decided to make a move as well.
Splitting up their armies might have been a great tactic against other enemies, forcing them to split their armies to reduce the potential damage to their lands, but that was not important to Michael.
The Untamed Jungle's middle area could burn for all he cared for. As long as he could hide his settlement and territory while eliminating one of the Heart of the Blazing Lion's armies, Michael would be fine.
At first, Michael made it look like he cared about the actions of the three armies. He made it seem like it mattered whether the Untamed Jungle was invaded or not. Only now, after several hours had passed, did Michael stop paying attention to the other armies.
He focused his forces solely on one of the remaining forces with the intention to bulldoze them.
The High Beast Horde might be obliterated, which would be a feisty blow to Michael's plan, but he could do the same with the other army as well!
There was no need to hesitate anymore. Everyone had to go all out with their Soultraits and use their last bits of mental power to obliterate, at least, one of the three armies.
Michael observed his subordinates for a moment before he vanished from his spot. He appeared near a group of burly High Lionhearts and a huge deer. The deer was also known as Crysalis Deer due to its huge crystal antlers.
It was three meters tall and had highly elemental resistance fur covering its entire body. The crystal antlers were special because of their exceptional energy conductivity. They were highly durable, and possessed great elemental resistance. It was also said that the Crysalis Deer could absorb elemental spells into its antlers.
Michael witnessed the Crysalis Deer block and absorb the blazing flames that had been thrown at it. The High Lionhearts, probably the bulkiest Lionhearts Michael had seen until now, flipped from throwing flames at the Crysalis Deer to unsheathing their mighty broadswords. They brandished their weapons, circled the Crysalis Deer, and advocated ahead.
Meanwhile, the strongest of the High Lionhearts managed the blood that oozed out of minor wounds covering his body. The energy in the surroundings was sucked into the droplets of blood swirling around the High Lionheart, whose expression was a mixture of satisfaction and wrath.
He was satisfied with the Crysalis Deer's state. It was a High Beast with enough strength to pose a threat to him, the Commander of the frontline army. The Lionheart Commander had to combine his strength with the Pryar Guardians to weaken the Crysalis Deer and push it closer to death's door.
The wrath in his face didn't stem from the High Beast in front of him. The turn of events within the last minute or two was the source of the Lionheart Commander's wrath. He realized what was happening, but he was still too busy with the Crysalis Deer to obliterate his ignorant enemies.
The Crysalis Deer kicked one of the Pryar Guardians before he could swing his broadsword down to cut the High Beast. The kick possessed tremendous force and hurled the burly High Lionheart through the air. He crashed hard into the ground and demanded a moment to regain his senses.
However, when he looked up, the burly High Lionheart didn't see any treetops. Instead, he saw a human with vibrant eyes stare down at him.
Michael stared at the High Lionheart for a moment before he unleashed Heavenly Beast Physique. He manifested Aethyr in the form of Tigerfang, coated the blade in six layers of Enhancement, a layer of compressed Extraction, and Reinforced Sword Qi before he plunged it deep into the Pryar Guardians' throat.
Michael's position and momentum were at a great advantage. He was not slower than the High Lionheart either due to Heavenly Beast Physique and his naturally superior physical strength, reaction speed, and power.
A loud squishy noise resounded through Michael's ear but he didn't pay much attention to it. He twisted Aethyr Tigerfang in the High Lionheart's throat and ripped the blade out of the writhing body right after.
'Their body is a lot more resilient than the other High Lionhearts.' Michael noted when his eyes landed on the other Pryar Guardians. Most Lionhearts focused on their natural Fire Affinity. They trained their affinity and attuned their bodies to elevate their fire affinity's control to the next level.
However, the Pryar Guardians were a little bit different. They used their racial affinity to refine their physical strength and temper their bodies. Their fire affinity control was not exceptional, but their bodies were in great shape.
'No matter how great your physique is. If you cannot block my blade from piercing you…you'll die.'
The Lionheart Commander noticed Michael and how fast he'd killed a Pryar Guardian. The Pryar Guardian might have been stunned by the Crysalis Deer's kick and lying on the ground, but that didn't mean it should have been easy to kill him.
The Commander's gaze trailed across the battlefield and he noticed with a grim expression that his subordinates were slaughtered like livestock. Not many could deal with the High Lionhearts, but they were held back temporarily by a group of Awakened.
Mekhaz, Lokai, and a few more Late Tier-3 Awakened gave their utmost to stall the High Lionhearts. Michael made sure to convince them that stalling time wasn't a dirty trick. It was not dishonorable, and they wouldn't lose face in their ancestor's eyes. Convincing the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs hadn't been easy, but Michael made sure that they comprehended that they couldn't gain anymore honor and glory if they died shortly after gaining new and powerful Soultraits.
Michael's plan worked out decently, however, the biggest asset in today's battle was certainly Hiraku. Hiraku stalled most High Lionhearts, blocking their paths from aiding their allies as they were slaughtered mercilessly.
'Hiraku can take care of them for a while.' Michael thought, understanding how much stronger Hiraku had grown through the various effects, techniques, and powers that had been used to boost his strength.
That meant he could give a helping hand to the Crysalis Deer as well. The Crysalis Deer was necessary to beat the shit out of the Heart of the Blazing Lion armies!
