Spiritfruit Valley lived up to its name. The valley was lush and overgrown, brimming with spiritual energy. Exotic flowers and rare herbs grew in abundance throughout the area. Scattered among them stood several low trees heavy with clusters of crimson fruit that pulsed with dense spiritual energy.
They were Vermilion Spiritfruit, a rare treasure capable of quickly restoring depleted spiritual energy and even slightly strengthening one’s cultivation. The sight of the spiritfruit lifted everyone’s spirits.
“That’s great,” someone said. “With these spiritfruit, we can heal our injuries and restore our spiritual energy.”
However, Dustin remained cautious. His eyes moved slowly across the valley, and he felt something was wrong. The valley was unusually quiet. There were no birds calling, no insects buzzing, and even the wind seemed absent.
He lowered his voice and warned them, ” Stay alert. There could be danger.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the ground began to shake violently. A deep rumble rolled out from the depths of the valley, like the thunder of a thousand hooves. Moments later, the group saw what caused it, and the sight made their scalps prickle with dread.
Countless demonic beasts poured out of the valley. Among the horde were Ironback Wolves, Blazing-Maned Lions, One-Horned Giant Pythons, and Winged Night Fiends.
The sheer variety and overwhelming numbers made it clear that this was no scattered attack but a full-scale beast tide emerging from the depths of the valley.
“Damn it! It’s a beast tide,” Adam shouted, his face draining of color.
“Everyone, fall back! Now,” Grace barked. But it was already too late. The beast tide was moving far too fast, and within moments, the first wave crashed straight into their position. The group was forced into battle as a savage fight erupted across the valley.
Grace’s sword flashed in snow-bright arcs as she cut down the charging beasts, but their numbers were overwhelming. For every creature she struck down, several more surged forward to take its place.
Adam’s formation had barely trapped a handful of the stronger creatures before the next wave smashed straight through it.
The Sovereign Aegis guards locked themselves into a defensive formation and held their ground, but the casualty count began climbing at an alarming rate.
“Protect Your Royal Highness and Mr. Rhys!” someone roared over the chaos. Scarlet planted herself firmly in front of Dustin and refused to yield even a single step. Her Wildfire Spear swept through the air in blazing arcs, the weapon’s movements weaving a rolling cloud of fire that shredded every beast that tried to reach him.
Even so, the strain was evident. Several wounds had already opened across her body, and blood had soaked through her robes.
“Don’t worry about me. Go help them,” he urged from behind her.
“No!” she said firmly without turning around. “I told you already. No one is going to hurt you.”
At that moment, a mid-stage Adept realm Blazing-Maned Lion spotted the gap created during the exchange and lunged straight toward Dustin.
Scarlet threw her spear out with everything she had left. The strike pierced through the lion’s body and stopped it from charging, but the exertion threw her off balance. She staggered and fell to the ground.
Just then, another beast seized the opportunity. An Ironback Wolf sprang forward, its jaws opening wide as it lunged straight for her throat.
“Scarlet!” Dustin shouted, his eyes blazing with alarm. Just as the wolf’s fangs were about to clamp around her neck, a streak of sword light tore through the air and cleaved the beast in half.
Adam rushed in immediately afterward, grabbing his sister and pulling her to her feet before placing himself between her and the charging beasts.
“Adam…” Scarlet said weakly as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Don’t talk. Fall back!” he shouted as he swung his longsword in rapid succession, forcing several beasts back. As more beasts surged forward, the group could no longer hold the line.
Grace watches as more of her subordinates fall one after another under the relentless assault. A wave of despair rose in her chest as the thought forced its way into her mind.
Were they going to die here?
At that critical moment, Dustin noticed something unusual. The beasts attacked with wild ferocity, yet none of them dared approach the rock wall along the left side of the valley. The surface of that cliff was covered with strange patterns that emitted a faint, flickering glow.
“Grace! Order everyone to move toward the rock wall on the left!” he shouted.
