Anything alive, whether human or monster, would always have a moment when a sudden blow from reality made it start contemplating the meaning of life, the universe, and the world.
Like post-nut clarity.
Just like now.
Not only were all the rulers participating in the battle stunned, even the hellish players outside the world had fallen into a daze.
They began to wonder—who am I? Where am I? Where am I going?
And most importantly: what the hell just happened?!
WHY?!
Why the hell were there so many fifth-rank beings here?!
East Xia's Kuafu, the Russian Federation's Holy Spirit Turel, America's World Giant Tlaltecuhtli and Xipe Totec, India's Agni...
At some unknown point, nearly every fifth-rank being who had entered the fragments had gathered here.
That damned thick fog had never been meant to help the giant beast conceal its tracks.
Even Behemoth had merely been a decoy meant to draw attention.
Everything done behind the scenes had been for the silent assembly of strength, bringing together the five fingers of the Present Realm.
Hidden behind the curtain, they clenched into a fist!
A hunt?
No, a war.
The war had begun!
Two days earlier, atop the collapsed and ruined castle.
Snow fell endlessly, fluttering down and gradually covering the cooling corpses.
Amid chewing sounds like a mountain collapse, Huai Shi sat atop the fallen ruins, quietly gazing into the distance as a scrap of iron he had picked up spun between his fingertips.
It was merely a habitual motion whenever he was thinking.
When he emerged from his thoughts and returned to reality, the distant thunder had also come to an end.
Lord of the Clouds returned, drenched in blood.
Seeing Huai Shi's expectant gaze, he gave an unhappy snort.
His hands were empty.
He had brought nothing back.