The Heavenly Wing Demon Lord did not flee.
When Saine's Mechanical Probes spread the first observation arc around the ruined temple platform, the intermittent fluctuations of heavenly wing rules deep within it actually grew a little clearer.
This was neither a desperate outburst nor a buildup of power before a last-ditch breakout.
The fluctuations were restrained. They even deliberately suppressed the activity of several surrounding banks of gray-green Evil Swamp mist, as though telling those outside that he could still control himself.
The Evil Spirit King stood beside Saine, his gaze darkening.
He could certainly tell that something was wrong with the Heavenly Wing Demon Lord.
To retain some measure of clear-minded will after being eroded so thoroughly by the Evil Swamp's deep origin was unusual in itself. What was more, the Heavenly Wing Demon Lord had not chosen to flee deeper. Instead, he had stopped here and waited for Saine and the Evil Spirit King to find him.
"He seems to be waiting specifically for us," the Evil Spirit King said.
Saine did not answer.
On Skynet's light screen, the internal structure of the ruined temple platform, half submerged in the mire, was being mapped layer by layer.
Traces of wind eyes left by the Heavenly Wing Demon Lord surrounded the platform. There were not many, but each was extremely well concealed. If the Heavenly Wing Demon Lord truly wanted to escape, he could use at least two or three of those rule wind eyes to shift farther into the Evil Swamp.
Yet none of those wind eyes had activated. He had even sealed several himself.
Seeing this, Saine ordered the Mechanical Probes to stop advancing.
At the same moment, several native Transcendence Realm practitioners of the Evil Swamp behind the Evil Spirit King withdrew to either side. They