They were weak, but they were organized.
They had brains, but their opponents were so strong their only real strategy was running.
Running, running, running.
For the past several months, that's all they did.
And this was the final stretch.
The plan was still to run.
However, this time, there was a Supreme involved.
VOOOOOM!
The second Rose's hand touched the ground, mana swirled wildly in the atmosphere and created a field that encased the entire camp.
At that exact moment, everyone moved.
Long Chen, Su Ren, Ruyue, and Elena led the charge while Aishia and the rest of the leaders took the back line.
Meanwhile, the regular members stayed in the middle and determined the speed of the group.
None would get left behind.
Except Rose and Ximen Wuhen, who stayed behind on purpose.
Ximen Wuhen stood up with the rest and instantly cast every buff she'd been preparing on Rose, bringing her past her peak condition into an enhanced state of existence.
Afterward, she directed her mana at herself and did the same.
Rose's goal now was simple.
Using her illusions as a medium, she created a formation around the camp.
It spread and formed into a complex pattern within a second, far faster than an ordinary formation master could do the same, and whirred to life.
This was as much as they could do unhindered.
"Hahaha, so you truly decided to appear."
Hans' voice resounded through the camp.
He left his tent slowly, roughly 50 meters ahead of them, with a smile on his face.
"I expected nothing less."
Everyone's eyes went solemn.
It became clear that sending everyone away was precisely a move to bait them out, but it was too late to be flustered by this.
"It is time for you to die."
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Was he going easy on them?
No, he was just toying with them.
Yet, even his definition of playing was sending them into a death trap.
The gargantuan explosion that rang out enveloped most of the camp and destroyed all housing except for the ones inhabited by Supremes and the Lord.
Chaotic mana waves flew wildly in every direction, knocking the rushing Judgement Order geniuses in every direction.
"Maintain formation! Keep going!" Su Ren yelled, brandishing his blade.
"Absolute Slash!"
Shiiiing!
His muscles bulged and veins surfaced on his skin as he slashed vertically with all his power.
Greyish mana arced from his sword and cut through the mana before him, opening a path.
"Long Chen, Aishia, take the sides!"
"Xue siblings, Flamesworth, keep the backline! Nobody is allowed to retreat!"
"Sister-in-laws, we'll support you! Don't let him touch the leader!"
Su Ren rapidly distributed orders which were followed without hesitation.
Elena and Ruyue fell back and created several layers of defense around Rose, while the rest did their best to resist the explosion.
"Kuak…!"
"Agh!"
"Dammit! My arm!"
It was impossible to avoid injuries.
No matter how hard they tried, even this toying attack from a Supreme was insane.
Limbs flew threw the air before being crushed into meatpaste by the raging mana, cuts and gashes dug into everyone's bodies, and the more unlucky ones…
"AARGH!"
The first to die was a man named Peter. A justice-following man just like the rest of the group, he died unjustly fighting for his cause.
He was directly decapitated by a rogue mana flash, his life leaving him before he even realized what was happening.
Peter was the first.
That single rogue wave took five others after him.
"DAMMIT!"
Long Chen let out a furious roar.
The power of a dragon boiled to life in his bloodline and boomed into the atmosphere with his cry, dispersing a large portion of mana.
In the back, Xue Yue used ice to create massive blockades that shielded the group, and Xue Fang used similar icy mana to counter the wild mana. Together, they were able to fight with great efficiency which allowed them to perfectly hold the backline.
As for Atticus who joined them, his power was just as chaotic as the explosion. Lightning arced through the air and created a web that acted as a shield dome above the heads of the group, preventing any accidents like the first.
Aishia also didn't stand still. Spear in hand, she was a true Valkyrie in action, using brute force to break away the attacking energy.
"Haha, how nice. Looks like I can play for a while."
Those harrowing words reminded them.
Hans just looked at them to cause this scene.
Watching them struggle, this was his exact purpose in giving them something they could handle.
It was humiliating and discouraging. It made several people want to give up right then and there.
But they refused!
That very arrogance, the condescending gaze of someone who viewed themselves as superior; exploiting that attitude was exactly how they got this far!
If they gave up now, what was the point of everything else?!
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
It started with one person.
A man named Greg. He was almost an unnoticeable presence amongst the greatness of his peers, but he managed to last until now regardless.
He said it to keep himself sane.
He said it to keep himself from running.
And the rest followed for the exact same reasons.
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
The cries spread through the group until it became a chant.
BANG!
A targeted explosion wiped out ten at once. They had no chance of resisting.
The group moved forward regardless. Step by step, second by second, they moved.
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
"Death will not claim me until I deem her worthy!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three more deathly bursts of mana. The first was blocked by Su Ren and then dispersed by Long Chen and Aishia.
The second bypassed them directly and struck the backline. The Xue Siblings and Atticus were able to divert most of its energy, but that strike claimed another two lives.
The third…
The third didn't attack the group at all.
It went over them and directly at Rose.
"Is she the one you wish to protect so fiercely? Then I shall kill her first."
Their blazing determination in the face of absolute power was annoying. Hans wanted to do something about it, but showing his emotions against these ants would only demean him.
So, he would just make them feel hopelessness before they died.
Now that they'd shown such spirit, he couldn't let them go without breaking it.
How else could he call himself a follower of the Inhuman Emperor?
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Ruyue and Elena gritted their teeth and faced the explosion head-on.
It was a bit different for them.
They were already in the process of escaping the bounds of reality.
Plus, the two of them realized something as they spent more time together.
Elena was absolute Yang and Ruyue was absolute Yin.
When they attacked in tandem…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
…they were truly a force to be reckoned with.
