Dark clouds pressed down overhead, and the rumble of thunder continued without end, like war drums beating. Below, the overwhelming tide of abyssal creatures made the frontline contractors before Vanguard Fortress No. 1 breathe faster despite themselves as they tightened their grips on their weapons.
Click, click, click~
The alluringly beautiful Red Earl, with an evil air about her, widened her pupils slightly. She had not felt such pressure in many years, making her pupils even redder.
Beside Blood Earl stood a tall figure. His black Archmage robe made him look even more imposing, while the skeletons attached to his body gave him an aura somewhere between life and death. He was none other than the undead Archmage, Seth.
Just as the tide of abyssal creatures ahead broke through an invisible barrier, countless ranged attacks from their side blasted out with a boom.
The entire Void Fortress naturally held more than just contractors. Local Void powerhouses could also respond to the Void Tree's summons and come here to stand guard.
Of course, some local Void powerhouses were cowards who preferred to flee and survive. However, the temporary wartime shelters certified by the Void Tree could only be entered by those below a certain level of combat power. Civilians from every world of the Astral Realm had entered the "temporary wartime shelters" farthest from the Abyss's spread in their respective worlds. As for those unwilling to enter, they were not forced. Regarding choices involving life and death, the Void Tree's certification had always been extremely lenient.
Some world's great cities rejected the shelter provided by this unknown and powerful force, choosing instead to defend their homes themselves.
The fate of these great cities was already decided. As for the Astral Realm powerhouses who chose cowardice and survival, they had failed to