Boom! The ground before them rumbled. A huge crack split open, and hot lava spurted out. Next, three giant creatures climbed out of the fissure. They were the Lava Giant Apes, formed from black rock and lava, reaching a height of fifteen feet. They were at the Top Level Heavenly Immortal Realm Level Seven. The worst part was that hundreds of Fire Bats stood on each of the giant apes’ shoulders.
The Fire Bats were small but had sharp fangs and wings with flames on the edges. They flew at high speed and could spit a type of spiritual fire that corroded a cultivator’s celestial light shield and magical items.
“Bloody hell! Three Lava Giant Apes and an entire cloud of Fire Bats! Why are they moving together? The intel never said a word about this!” Lyndon shouted, horror bleaching the color from his face.
“We’re finished. The three of us can’t handle them. Signal for help now!” Ethan barked, his two hammers trembling in his white-knuckled grip.
Jared narrowed his eyes, studying the three Lava Giant Apes. He caught the unnatural crimson flicker in each ape’s eyes and the sluggish, puppet-like drag in their movements. Someone’s controlling these creatures…
A thousand feet behind, the Earthfire Pavilion convoy saw the scene too.
“Three Lava Giant Apes and a swarm of Fire Bats…” Ferdinand muttered, his voice low and grim. “That makes no sense. The two species never hunt together.”
“Jared and the others are in danger! Send support, now!” Lindsay cried, urgency tightening her words. She lunged forward, signaling several disciples to follow.
“Hold it!” Elliot quickly stopped her, one hand upraised. “Lindsay, don’t be reckless! We know nothing about what’s ahead. Rushing in could be suicide!”
“But Jared…” she began, frustration sharpening each syllable.
“They are just hired escorts,” Elliot interrupted, his tone iced in disdain. “Since they accepted the task, they should take the risk. Our disciples’ lives are more valuable than theirs.” Then, he turned to Ferdinand and said, “Elder Flameheart, I suggest we stop moving forward. If Jared’s group can defeat the beasts, that would be great. If they fail, they can buy us time to search for another route.”
Elliot’s words sounded dutiful, yet he was planning to let Jared’s group become bait so the Earthfire Pavilion could remain safe.
Lindsay stared at him, aghast. “Elliot, how could you say that? They’re our companions!”
“Companions?” Elliot echoed, a cold smile curving across his lips. He let out a dismissive laugh. “Lindsay, you’re naive. They joined us because we promised to pay. The moment real danger bites, they’ll be the first to bolt. Why do you take them seriously?” He swept a cold look across the other escorts. “Tell me, am I wrong?”
Silence answered him. One by one, the other escorts lowered their eyes; they were here for money and would not risk their lives.
Ferdinand stroked his crimson beard. “Elliot’s right. Our aim is to harvest Flame Spirit Herbs. Jared’s group accepted the task. They should know the risk. We watch for now.”
Lindsay stomped her boot, sparks of frustration flashing in her eyes. Yet Ferdinand’s word was final. The Earthfire Pavilion disciples held their ground, but not one stepped forward to help.
Meanwhile, Jared heard the conversation clearly. His face remained calm. Beside him, Lyndon’s cheeks drained of color while Ethan’s jaw clenched.
“Damn it! We’re just their pawns. I shouldn’t have taken this task!” Ethan spat.
Lyndon offered a crooked smile. “Too late for regrets. Mr. Chance, do we fight or run?”
Jared studied the looming apes and the cloud of shrieking bats. His voice rang steady. “Both of you fall back and stay alive. I will handle them.”
Jared stepped forward, and gray-tinged chaotic celestial energy swirled in his body. Faced with approaching carnage, he shed the last trace of restraint. The first Lava Giant Ape barreled in, a boulder-sized fist hammering toward him. Jared did not dodge. He met the strike head-on, his own hand closing into a hammer of flesh and power.
Boom!
Cracks spider-webbed up the ape’s arm, and the entire limb burst apart in a shower of molten gravel. In a blur, Jared appeared above the staggering ape, his heel descending with crushing finality. The giant ape’s skull shattered, and its body toppled, cooling into a mound of dark stone.
It all happened in seconds. The two other giant apes and the swarm of Fire Bats hung in stunned suspension. Then, a furious bellow tore from one of the remaining apes. Both charged at once while the Fire Bats swooped down, spitting balls of corrosive fire.
Jared pressed his palms together, fingers weaving through a rapid series of sigils. “Chaotic Domain! Open!”
With Jared at the center, the space within a radius of thirty kilometers suddenly distorted. A gray, hazy mist spread out, enveloping the area. All the corrosive fireballs that entered this region abruptly slowed down, then silently dissipated. The Fire Bats, upon entering the mist, seemed to lose all sense of direction before plummeting one by one.
Jared had combined his chaotic celestial energy with a rudimentary comprehension of space and time to form the prototype of the Chaotic Domain. Though it was far from perfect, it was more than sufficient for these beasts.
The two Lava Giant Apes barreled into the gray mist, but their movements slowed to an agonizing crawl, every swing of an arm fighting against the swampy drag of warped time. Jared appeared beside one of the giant apes and unleashed his gray sword energy.
