Lan Jiufeng smiled and opened his hand. The yellow paper fluttering there floated into the air, moving on its own without a breeze before spontaneously igniting and turning to ash.
But immediately afterward, the ashes seemed to spread all around them. Countless cries of sorrow, wails, and screams, accompanied by fear and despair, rapidly swept through this void world.
Duke Saduran and his companions sensed familiar emotions and life-signatures in the sorrowful torrent surging toward them like a flood. They belonged to the subordinates who had remained in the fortress. Perhaps they were mighty beings only half a step from the side of truth; in the Classical Era, mortals would have regarded them as omnipotent gods. Yet even so, they had always lived in a world made up of "mortals," and their social circles consisted of "mortals" too.
Whether they led a knightly order or headed an Inquisition, they were always surrounded by familiar aides, secretaries, stewards, servants, and guards, forming a team befitting their status. Most of them were ordinary mortals.
Many had been with their lords for years, and had even formed bonds nearly as close as family. Now, all of them were inside this great Unity Fortress.
There was no time to wonder whether this was real or not. At that moment, the Void was filled not only with the overwhelming might of four demigods, but also with the presence of countless living beings.
To the indescribable entities in the Void, the demigods' battle might still count as a powerful "invasion by an outside evil"—something they could observe and lie in wait for, but would not dare to approach recklessly. But the vital aura of so many living beings was a delicacy that could drive them mad.
In an instant, the shadows beyond the gray fog grew