After absorbing the last trace of Divine Essence, Qin Chuan rose to his feet. The ruins of the Golden Tent seemed insignificant beneath him.
At almost the same moment, everyone fighting for their lives along the Magic City Stronghold's defensive line sensed a change.
The oppressive Divine Might weighing on their hearts vanished without warning.
It had not weakened. Three distinct pressures had simply evaporated.
It was as though three giant pillars holding up the sky had been pulled away at once. The Beastfolk army's momentum collapsed.
The wave of Beastfolk hammering at the energy shield faltered for an instant.
The red-eyed Werewolf warriors, who had known nothing but slaughter, stopped in confusion. They looked toward their camp and let out puzzled growls.
The hulking bull-headed monsters froze with their battleaxes raised. The fervor on their faces gave way to an instinctive, animal fear.
Their connection to their faith had been severed.
Their gods were gone.
That rupture in their souls was more devastating than any defeat on the battlefield.
The vast Beastfolk army descended into unprecedented confusion and unrest.
"What's going on?"
Season Star's Destroyer Mecha stopped pouring out fire. Its enormous electronic eye swept the battlefield, tracking the visible disorder in the Beastfolk ranks.
"They've stopped attacking?"
Night Cherry Tangle appeared on the mecha's shoulder, Beastfolk blood still dripping from his Judgment Shadow Blade.
He had felt that oppressive force disappear just as suddenly.
On the other side of the battlefield.
Tiga Lingyu and Song Ling had just joined forces to clear a wide area with frost, readying themselves for an even fiercer assault.
But the expected assault never came.
"That's the guild leader's presence..."
Song Ling murmured to herself. Behind the Beastfolk army, she had sensed that familiar shadowy presence flash and fade. In its place, three