Jinzhou Is Vast, but We Have No Way Back!

Norfall Gorge was a vital chokepoint, the most critical position of all.

It was the only main route to the Norfall Barrens. Its narrow valley and sheer cliffs made it easy to defend and hard to attack. The main force of the Midnight Rangers' Breaking Formation Battalion was stationed there, guarding Jinzhou's lifeline.

And the Norfall Barrens were where the Faceless Inferno Lord was located. With the War Threnodian's reawakening, Jinzhou's defenders had set up layer upon layer of defenses and stood ready for battle. Throughout the standoff, the atmosphere was unbearably oppressive.

Then the Faceless Inferno Lord began to move.

It had no stable human form. It was a towering colossus forged from countless rusted weapons, shattered armor, scorched black rock, and a tangled mass of pitch-black Tacet Discord mist.

At the center of the colossus hung a murky, dark crimson false moon, the core where its consciousness resided.

Countless threads of blood-red light spread outward from the false moon, binding together layers upon layers of broken swords, spears, and shattered armaments. Amid the churning black mist, ruined weapons floated slowly, locking together and reassembling as its body constantly shifted and sprouted blades.

A thick, spherical Tacet Discord barrier also enveloped its massive body, and the attacks of ordinary Resonators could barely shake it.

Watching the colossus approach, even the battle-hardened Midnight Rangers could not help but feel a shadow fall over their hearts.

This thing had taken far too many lives. Now that Jinzhou's strongest fighters were absent, trouble was all but inevitable.

"Everyone, hold the line! You must not let this thing take a single step across the gorge!"

As the commander-in-chief on the front lines, Jiyan bore immense pressure.

The Faceless Inferno Lord had reawakened too suddenly, leaving them little time to muster their forces and their defenses far too thin. But at this moment, he was the heart of the army, and he could not be the first to waver.

Boom!

General Jiyan planted his dragon spear in the ground and stood against the wind. A chilling gust swept through, lifting his long emerald hair and making him look all the more spirited.

"Warriors, Jinzhou may be vast, but we have no way back, for behind us lie the lights of countless homes!"

"There is no need to fear or hesitate. I will lead the charge and carve a path forward for you!"

"We swear to follow General Jiyan unto death! We will never retreat, and our bodies shall return wrapped in horsehide!"

United as one, their fighting spirit boiled over!

There was nothing to fear. Their ancestors had fought and killed here, their parents had stood by each other here, and now it was their turn to spill their blood.

In the blink of an eye, the colossus drew closer and closer, surrounded by a thick, impregnable barrier. A single glance was enough to leave them breathless.

"Boring cannons! Fire!"

The cannons fired a dense barrage through the air, pounding the barrier. In moments, the bombardment tore a gap through it.

Yet no one relaxed, because they knew the battle had only just begun.

Sure enough, once the barrier was gone, the true horror of the War Threnodian revealed itself.

In an instant, killing intent shrouded the entire Norfall Barrens. Visions emerged of countless armies slaughtering one another, spilling blood across heaven and earth, while broken swords and blades carpeted the ground beneath their feet.

The War Threnodian was nourished by war, growing stronger wherever war existed.

In the blink of an eye, countless Tacet Discords came swarming from every direction. Each was bizarre and terrifying, far beyond what ordinary people could withstand.

"On my command, Breaking Formation Battalion, attack!"

The Breaking Formation Battalion was an army composed entirely of Resonators. Its formidable fighting strength was enough to resist the Tacet Discords.

At that moment, they poured out in full force, charging into the battlefield the Threnodian had created and fighting a bloody battle.

Under normal circumstances, a battle like this could not be sustained. As long as fighting continued, the Faceless Inferno Lord would grow stronger and stronger, and fallen warriors would also be corrupted, becoming new Tacet Discords.

But now they had no room to retreat. If the Faceless Inferno Lord broke into Jinzhou's heartland, hundreds of millions of lives would suffer!

"Roar!!"

A verdant dragon roared as it charged into the battlefield. Jiyan had made his move, crushing hordes of Tacet Discords into fragments wherever he went. Even Overlord Class Tacet Discords could not withstand a single blow, torn to pieces the moment they faced him.

"The General is mighty!"

For a time, the army's spirits soared. They even managed to push the battle line back briefly and gain the upper hand.

But just then...

"Woo..."

The wind howled like a war horn, mournful and heavy, making everyone's heart tremble.

A more powerful Tacet Discord had appeared!

Crownless!

It flapped its blood-red wings and swept its spear lightly through the air, setting off an endless spray of blood and screams!

Fear spread!

Legend had it that this was the Threnodian's blade, and that it had carved out Norfall Gorge with a single punch!

"Fear not. Leave this one to me!"

Jiyan charged forward and met it head-on, refusing to yield an inch as he held it back.

But there was more than one Crownless. In moments, a second appeared, then a third, then a fourth... They joined the battle together and shattered the defensive line in an instant. Ordinary Resonators were like paper before them.

"How is this possible? The Faceless Inferno Lord really is stronger than last time. What happened?"

The hand holding Jiyan's spear trembled. There was nothing he could do; the gap between them was simply too great.

Just then, a vast, divine dragon silhouette appeared in the sky. The spectral form of Sentinel Jué looked down upon the battlefield and unleashed a blast of dragon breath.

In an instant, the Tacet Discords on the battlefield were swept away, and every Crownless was slain in a flash!

The crowd cheered and bowed in worship. Given a moment to catch their breath, they thought the tide had turned.

Only Jiyan looked grave. He knew the Sentinel had suffered grievous injuries and could not possibly face the Faceless Inferno Lord alone. That last strike had likely been made with great difficulty and could not be sustained.

Sure enough, the Sentinel's spectral form slowly dissipated under the erosion of the Threnodian's aura, while the Tacet Discords surged forth again like an endless tide!

And something even worse happened.

Crackle!

Dark lightning lashed at the sky like a whip. Four Crownless flew in from afar, guarding an even more powerful Tacet Discord at their center!

Impermanence Heron!

Calamity Class. In single combat, it was even stronger than Jiyan!

"We can't hold them back. I'm afraid all that's left is to..."

Facing a desperate situation, Jiyan still pointed his spear at the sky and took a fighting stance.

The frequency around his body flickered wildly. He was choosing to overclock, to make his death a barrier and become the final defense!

"Hey, you with the spear! It hasn't come to that yet. Come back me up!"

Other Shore Flowers drifted down as a figure in deep crimson descended, walking through the air.

"You, from the Fractsidus!"

"Call me whatever you want. I'm going in!"

Without another word, Phrolova brandished the Other Shore Flower. Hecate appeared behind her and charged straight at Impermanence Heron!