The Appearance

Back at the Armory Camp, a servant presented Guen with a document.

It recorded Guen's slaughter of low-level sea beasts, stating that he had single-handedly killed fourteen Apprentice Level 9 Deep Sea Beasts, thirty-five Apprentice Level 8 beasts, over twenty Apprentice Level 7 beasts, and more than thirty Apprentice Level 6 beasts.

The lower-level ones weren't recorded. In fact, Guen hadn't done much about them. As a Fighter, he could only take them down one at a time, so he focused mainly on the high-level Deep Sea Beasts. The low-level ones were just dealt with along the way.

Just from looking at the report, it was clear how thoroughly Planetary-level fighters overpowered Apprentice-level ones. But Guen wasn't particularly satisfied.

After killing so many beasts, he'd received only 0.3 contribution points. At this rate, even reaching ten points by slaughtering low-level Deep Sea Beasts wouldn't be easy.

"Carl said Deep Sea Beasts breed at an astonishing rate. The deaths of those below Apprentice Level 6 are just a number to them. Only Apprentice Level 6 and above can deal them a real blow."

Guen felt a weight settle in his chest.

It gave him a glimpse of what life was like for the common folk of East Sea Province.

Low-level Deep Sea Beasts were nothing to Guen. He didn't even feel much urge to slaughter them. But ordinary people were another matter.

How many Planetary-level fighters were there in the entire empire?

Compared with the population, they were a mere drop in the ocean, hardly worth mentioning.

Even High-level Warriors at Apprentice Level 7 could be considered experts among the common folk.

The Deep Sea Beasts' extraordinary breeding capacity meant they only had to keep multiplying. Their "weak" offspring alone could pose a tremendous threat to East Sea Province.

And humanity had to pay for it in blood.

"If it's convenient, there's no harm in helping those soldiers kill some of the higher-level Deep Sea Beasts." Guen made up his mind. The sight of the soldiers cheering and looking up to him that day had been etched deeply into his memory.

It was genuine respect!

Not just because of Guen's formidable strength.

Five days passed, and neither Guen nor Carl found any trace of the Deep Sea Beasts.

As for going into the sea to hunt them directly?

Only the strongest Planetary-level fighters dared to do that. If Guen and Carl tried, even with the Flame God Armor protecting them, they could easily be surrounded and killed. Deep Sea Beasts could unleash only sixty or seventy percent of their power on land, but Guen and Carl would be in the same situation once they entered the water.

"These Deep Sea Beasts really do breed at an astonishing rate. The beasts that breed quickly on land aren't nearly this ferocious. I wonder what these Deep Sea Beasts eat to grow so strong." Seeing that it was getting late, Guen and Carl couldn't help complaining as they headed back.

Carl, however, was used to it. "Maybe it's nature's way of compensating them. Land beasts have an overwhelming advantage over Deep Sea Beasts in both numbers and levels. After all, the land is vast."

Guen found that quite reasonable. "Still, there have been more and more Deep Sea Beasts lately. The number we kill in a day now is as many as we killed in two or three days when I first arrived."

Carl's expression turned grave. "Exactly. I've noticed it too. Going by the usual pattern, a Planetary-level beast should be appearing soon."

Guen was about to say something when he suddenly sensed something.

Carl and Guen both looked down at their watches, then exchanged a glance. "Let's go!"

The Forest Goddess Temple had more than just Guen and Carl in East Sea Province. Others had come as well, though they were stationed at different Armory Camps. This made it easier to spot the Planetary-level beasts.

East Sea Province was a long, narrow stretch of land jutting out into the East Sea.

Carl and Guen had just received a message from other members of the Goddess Temple and hurried to respond.

Guen and Carl flew at full speed. Carl's eyes flickered with surprise.

At first, he'd flown slowly to accommodate Guen. But after seeing Guen's speed, he gradually picked up the pace. Guen still kept up. Even when Carl reached his own limit, Guen remained right beside him, looking not the least bit strained.

Carl could have gone faster, but there was no need. That kind of speed would consume a great deal of stamina and couldn't be sustained. Guen looked completely at ease, so there was no point in turning it into a competition.

"Guen, it seems your special ability is related to speed. That means you don't need to worry about your safety as much." Carl sounded more relaxed now.

With such speed, Guen could come and go freely, which gave him a great deal of protection.

Carl had decided to befriend Guen because Guen had only joined the Goddess Temple half a year ago and had already reached the Planetary level. His potential was extraordinary. But in a real fight, Guen's Planet First Order cultivation would surely have held Carl back. Now, though, it seemed Carl wouldn't need to go out of his way to look after him.

Guen was just about to reply. His special ability was lightning, and there was no need to hide it too much. He wouldn't be able to conceal it once he started fighting, especially from fellow members of the Goddess Temple. But out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly spotted two figures hovering in the distance. The moment they saw Guen and Carl, they immediately followed.

With Planetary-level eyesight, they could see everything clearly.

The two Planetary-level fighters wore yellow capes over their shoulders, without any distinctive insignia. But everyone knew the capes were the Imperial Council's signature.

The Goddess Temple's Smart Watches.

The Imperial Council's yellow capes.

The Council of Elders' Grey Robes.

The Demon Hunters' ponytails, worn by both men and women...

Every faction deliberately maintained certain distinctive features, making them easy to recognize.

"Carl, they're following us."

Carl glanced at them and didn't seem concerned. The Armory Camps drew Planetary-level fighters from every faction together.

"It's fine. Those Smart Watches are unique to our Goddess Temple. We can stay in contact as long as we don't venture deep into the Wild Forest. That's our advantage. The other factions don't have anything like it. When we get there, most of the people will be from our Goddess Temple."

Guen only realized it then.

Right. The Goddess Temple's members had all received the message, and some were still coordinating. Those who were too far away had decided not to come.

They knew exactly who was nearby and could make it in time.

Planetary-level beasts were enormous. Even if they were killed, the Goddess Temple had strength in numbers, and the other factions couldn't carry off all the beasts' materials. That was the confidence of the leading faction.

"Over there..."

From far away, Guen could already see the chaos. The tall stone wall along the coast had been smashed through, and a vast number of Deep Sea Beasts surged in like a tide. Torches flickered in the darkness, and one after another was swallowed up.

Roars, screams, cries...

The sounds mingled together, and Guen suddenly grew furious.

During the Fighter trials, many warriors had died, but Guen hadn't felt this way. They had all volunteered to take part, and every one of them had been fierce and powerful, fighting for a higher realm.

But the people before him were only trying to survive. Faced with such a brutal slaughter, Guen was filled with rage.

"Die!"

Guen spotted a huge black octopus nearby, leaping into the air. It was about to land on several houses, which were immediately crushed. The giant octopus swept its tentacles through the area, pulverizing more than ten soldiers, armor and flesh alike. Guen swung his blade at once, sending a streak of light flying toward it.

The Black Octopus roared and swept a tentacle toward him.

"Pfft!"

A flash of blade light, and the Black Octopus's tentacle was cleanly severed down the middle.

Both humans and beasts froze at the sight.

This Black Octopus was a Planetary Level 2 beast. Beasts had powerful bodies, and ordinary swords couldn't cut through them—let alone a mere burst of sword energy.

Guen was stunned too. Only then did he react.

He'd underestimated himself!

He had always judged the Meteor Light Blade and the Flame Slash technique by the standards of an Apprentice Level 9 fighter. Only now did he understand how astonishingly powerful they were when driven by Origin Power.

The Second-order Force Weapon had finally revealed its edge!

Whether it was Flame Slash or a Force Weapon, there was a world of difference between using it with Origin Power and without it.

"Then die!"

Guen raised his blade and flew toward the Black Octopus, his killing intent blazing.