Deep-Sea Darkness (Part Eleven)

Dark red firelight lit the darkness beneath the moon. Terror gripped the Gem Sea Islands, filled with the wails of the dead and a blood-soaked dread that struck the soul.

Within that dark red glow, immense shadows loomed like mountains. They flickered in and out of the ominous light, their boom, boom, boom footsteps shaking the earth as they receded.

Around those mountain-like giants, tiny figures followed in their wake, clearing the surrounding battlefield.

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss...

Countless cries of agony.

They were the groans of lesser Haiqi caught in the energy blasts.

The Lava Giant paused. Every step he took left a burning footprint over ten meters long. The scorching heat he radiated blanketed dozens of meters, keeping the lowly black beetles from coming close.

"Hmph!"

Even so, he was growing impatient. He gave a cold snort.

As a scholar who studied Natural Law, he had none of the fascination Evolution's Profound Meaning scholars held for these dense swarms of irritating bugs.

In the distance...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Several Dark Web guardians flew over. Compared with the Lava Giant, they were minuscule; even their unleashed true forms were smaller than his palm.

"Great Guardian X, we've been ordered to place ourselves under your command!"

One Extraordinary Scholar spoke with reverence. His true form was half human, half bird, and the golden horn atop his head crackled with ice-aspected Thunder Power.

"Get rid of these pesky little bugs!"

"Yes!"

The Extraordinary Scholars gathered around X, unleashing powerful spells as they slaughtered the swarming black beetles.

Several more scholars approached from afar and joined the Lava Giant's group.

Elsewhere.

They gradually left behind the fierce firelight of battle, where the main guardian force was advancing toward the Divine Mother's region discovered by the inspector bird. Reilo,