The moment the hymn began, everything became utterly different.
The thunderous booms and roars rising and falling across the battlefield seemed to have been given substance, erupting, spreading, and surging endlessly under the control of invisible hands.
Screams that should have vanished in an instant lingered on, as though they wished to echo around the rafters for three days. Grand roars capable of splitting the earth open had not even had time to spread before they were strangled in the cradle, leaving only the feeble whine of a mosquito to be drowned in the tide-like din.
In that instant, every sound seemed to lose its original pattern and form, changing, growing, or being ruthlessly cut away beneath the gaze of some pair of eyes.
Until, at last, they became invisible blades and swords.
The Ranch Owner's hymn shattered amid the ceaseless upheaval, torn apart into meaningless fragments.
As though amid the boundless slaughter and struggle of war, only one axis remained between heaven and earth.
One single sound.
A song of praise winding around the halo!
"Insolence!"
The Hell Saint roared in fury. Crimson flames burned fiercely in his hollow eye sockets.
Under the joint assault of Turel and Xipetotic, he suddenly turned his head, his hate-filled gaze fixed upon the center of that enormous halo—upon the peak of mountain-like Behemoth's head.
—Huai Shi!!!!
And atop that flat patch of dog head, the young man sitting cross-legged seemed to hear a call from afar and slightly raised his head.
Then he withdrew his gaze without the slightest interest.
He simply whistled, picked up the whistling kettle, poured hot water into a teacup, and watched the tea leaves rise and fall in the water.
At last, he lifted the cup and took a loud sip.
He savored the bitter fragrance of