Captive

The battlements of Star Luo City were shrouded in smoke, and the White Tiger banner of the Dai Family Royal Clan collapsed with a roar amidst the artillery fire. Solomon, his tall frame having grown considerably, donned white Holy Son vestments, clutching a contract book. The phantoms of the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods flickered in the clouds above.

He sat enthroned atop a Winged Unicorn, the aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast permeating the entire area! Furthermore, Solomon had already reached the fifth ring, and this was even with him intentionally suppressing his power. Reaching the fifth ring meant he could contract five Soul Beast Pokemon.

Besides the Hundred-Thousand-Year Winged Unicorn, the other four were the Hundred-Thousand-Year Golden Dragon Beast, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blazing War Tiger, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Crystal Mammoth, and the Jade Swan Bi Ji!

At this moment, the formidable beasts had gathered, and Title Douluo had emerged!

The Star Luo Empire had reached its final moments!

"Your Majesty!" Ghost Douluo knelt on one knee, holding the Star Luo Emperor's crown. "Dai Tianfeng self-immolated in the imperial palace, but we discovered this in a secret passage." He gestured, and two Temple Knights brought forward a golden-haired youth. "It's the Star Luo Crown Prince, Dai Weisi."

Ye Su observed the blood-soaked youth through Solomon's eyes. The genius who was supposed to shine brightly in the Spirit Master Competition in the original story now had an unnaturally twisted left arm, yet he still defiantly held his head high.

"Interesting," Solomon chuckled lightly, tilting the youth's chin. "Where is your brother, Dai Mubai?"

"Hmph!" Dai Weisi suddenly lunged, but the pressure emanating from the Demon God Pillar forced him to his knees. "Lackeys of you False Gods! Madmen trying to overturn the continent! You'll all face retribution sooner or later!"

Solomon sneered, "Retribution? My Lord will not let us face retribution."

Just then, Boom—!

A blinding golden light erupted from the west of the city, and nine spirit rings rose like the sun from the dust.

Dugu Yan's shocked cry echoed from afar: "It's the Clear Sky Sect! Tang Hao is leading the Seventh Elder to raid the Medical Camp!"

Had the Clear Sky Sect finally lost their patience?

Ye Su's main body straightened slightly in the Crystal Heaven. He saw a figure cloaked in rough cloth slipping out of the city amidst the refugees. Those heterochromatic eyes were unmistakably those of the fleeing Dai Mubai.

"System," Ye Su suddenly removed the shielding. "Dai Mubai is a main character. Can I really not kill him now?"

[The Host finally remembers! The Host absolutely must not make a move on the main characters of the original story. Even though the plot has already gone so off the rails... just don't kill anyone. It's fine if they die after the plot is over.]

The System had completely given up. From its initial frantic state, it had become like this. Come to think of it, it was a bit pathetic.

"Solomon," Ye Su simultaneously gave instructions to his clone. "Dai Mubai has escaped. You decide what to do."

Originally, according to the timeline of the original story, Dai Mubai should have been living it up in Suotuo City by now. He hadn't expected him to still be in the Star Luo Empire.

But on second thought, it made sense. The capital was about to fall; how could he possibly have escaped?

Hearing his main body's words, a flicker of amusement crossed Solomon's eyes. He gently raised a hand, signaling Ghost Douluo to stand down.

The Winged Unicorn spread its pure white wings, stirring up a gust of wind that dispersed the smoke and dust from the city walls.

In the distance, Title Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall had already engaged in fierce combat, various spirit skills exploding in the air with brilliant light.

"Interesting, truly interesting," Solomon caressed the contract book, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He looked at Dai Weisi, who was pinned to the ground, and said softly, "Your brother is quite clever, knowing to escape during the chaos. But this is all in vain." He turned his gaze towards the west of the city. "Now is not the time for him to escape."

Before he finished speaking, Baal, one of the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods, suddenly appeared. The colossal Minotaur phantom covered half the sky.

Baal let out a deafening roar, and a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking precisely along Dai Mubai's escape route. The youth was forced to stop, looking up at the sky in terror.

"All troops, receive my order!" Solomon's voice, amplified by spirit power, resonated across the entire battlefield. "Star Luo City has fallen! Those who surrender will not be killed! Those who resist—"

He paused, a hint of cruelty flashing in his eyes. "Will be annihilated!"

"For my Lord!"

Following his command, the Spirit Hall army erupted in thunderous shouts.

Thousands of spirit masters unleashed their spirit skills simultaneously, their colorful lights illuminating the entire Star Luo City as if it were daytime. On the ground, hundreds of tamed Soul Beasts roared and charged towards the remaining Star Luo defenders.

An eighty-thousand-year Iron Armored Rhinoceros directly smashed through half a section of the city wall. Amidst the flying debris, the screams of the defenders were incessant.

As the lightning shattered the road ahead of Dai Mubai, the youth's heterochromatic eyes reflected the terrifying sight of the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods churning in the clouds.

He stumbled back two steps, only to be pressed into the ruins by a giant claw covered in black scales. Solomon's mocking face appeared in the shadow of the Demon God's manifestation.

"Little tiger of Star Luo," the contract book rustled in the wind. Solomon's usually gentle and serene face held only a soft smile. "Your father detonated the imperial palace with his Martial Soul True Body before he died, which bought you time to escape. What a loving father he was."

Dai Mubai suddenly lunged, his third spirit ring lighting up with White Tiger Vajra Transformation, but he was instantly impaled through the shoulder blade by a chain.

The youth coughed up blood and roared, "You madmen! The Spirit Hall clearly promised not to interfere with imperial succession! Aren't you afraid of retribution for openly invading other countries like this?"

"No, let me correct you," Solomon said cheerfully. "This is now the Spirit Empire, and we are purging the remnants."

"My Spirit Hall enacted the 'Soul Beast Protection Law' years ago, and your Star Luo Empire refused to comply, which is undoubtedly defying the gods. We are merely purging the remnants."

"As for retribution?" Solomon's smile deepened as he spoke. "You truly are like your brother, both fond of using that word."

His manifestation gradually dissipated, replaced by Spirit Hall enforcers who rushed to apprehend Dai Mubai.

The 'Soul Beast Protection Law' was an important decree enacted a few years prior. It was also the law promulgated to encourage the continuation of the Soul Beast Pokemon mechanism after their establishment.

It was for this very reason that the Jade Swan was willing to sign a contract with Solomon.

The Jade Swan, Bi Ji herself, was an absolute pacifist. Unlike most of the formidable beasts in the Star Dou Forest, she had always advocated for peaceful coexistence between humans and Soul Beasts.

However, the relationship between human spirit masters and Soul Beasts had been too complex previously, making peaceful coexistence impossible.

The Soul Beast Pokemon created by Solomon could truly achieve peaceful coexistence.

It was precisely because of this that Bi Ji willingly followed Solomon.

Solomon's consciousness returned to his main body, and he strode towards the Star Luo Imperial Palace.

Bi Ji accompanied him, her eyes filled with compassion.

She seemed saddened by the casualties of the war.