The change in the surrounding environment came extremely suddenly, with virtually no warning at all.
Just a second ago, they had been moving through increasingly dense fragments of buildings. Yet after rounding a corner, the magnificent domes faintly visible among the treetops, the shattered eaves embedded in the cliff walls, the intermittent stretches of exquisite paving stones on the ground... all of it vanished.
In their place was an exceptionally open clearing at the very depths of Twin Canyon, roughly the size of two basketball courts.
The ground was a brownish-gray mix of soil and gravel, its fine gritty texture palpable beneath their feet. The towering, cramped cliff faces on either side widened slightly outward, allowing more sunlight to shine in while making the entire place seem even more empty and spacious.
In truth, Xia Nan did not need to remind everyone to stay alert.
The moment the six of them rounded the corner, the violent wind suddenly rushing through the canyon and the overwhelmingly thick stench of corpses had already put these immensely experienced Veteran Professionals on guard.
Their formation abruptly tightened, firmly protecting Hain, the Spellcaster at its core.
Pairs of solemn, tense eyes stared at the clearing ahead.
The first and most conspicuous sight was the vast number of Shahua Merman corpses scattered across the entire area.
Fluorescent blue blood had soaked great swathes of earth, and the ground strewn with blue-green scales looked like a fish market after the vendors had packed up.
None had been spared.
Chunks of flesh, severed limbs, twisted armor, and snapped harpoon weapons...
It was as though a storm made of blades had swept through the place. The gruesome, bloody scene was enough to make an ordinary person faint.
Even members of the battle-hardened Oath of Vengeance Squad instinctively frowned in