Time was short. Only eight lords, including the Snake Mother, managed to rush into the blood vessel in the Grand Overlord's foot.
Then Intimidation wore off.
The Grand Overlord grew frenzied, thrashing his head and stamping his feet. Terrifying wind pressure and powerful shock waves forced the allied forces and Snakefolk warriors to retreat in disarray. They could not get close, much less follow the eight lords inside.
The battle outside continued, though it had grown far less fierce.
Many watched to see how the eight lords' struggle against the Grand Overlord would end. This clash between the strongest on both sides would, to some extent, decide the war's outcome.
Inside the blood vessel, folds covered the passage, making it rough going.
The vessel Bai Xiaowen had chosen was several meters wide. Normally, several people could have walked through it abreast. But Amotava's remains had been dead for a long time, and the blood vessels had contracted somewhat.
Most of the vessel was still open only because of the Divine-Blooded Creature's formidable vitality.
As for blood, almost none remained in motion. Purple-black scabs and clots lay everywhere inside the vessel. Fortunately, that let the eight lords advance quickly. Whenever they encountered a blockage, they simply broke through it.
The vessel wall was soft but tough. Its sheer width hinted at how vigorous Amotava's blood had been in life. A vessel wall needed extraordinary toughness to bear such a powerful flow.
Their feet sank slightly into the vessel wall. Worse, the Grand Overlord was still thrashing wildly, leaving the eight lords constantly off balance. One moment they were upside down; the next, they were hurled sideways against the wall. It made their advance difficult.
Fortunately, the eight lords were strong enough that such minor trouble could not stop them.
After