It Appeared

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

It recorded Guen's slaughter of low-level sea beasts, showing that he alone had killed fourteen Tier 9 Apprentice Deep Sea Beasts, thirty-five Tier 8 Apprentice, over twenty Tier 7 Apprentice, and over thirty Tier 6 Apprentice.

As for the lower-level ones, they weren't recorded, and in truth, Guen hadn't bothered much with them. As a Fighter, he could only take them down one blade at a time, focusing his efforts on the higher-level Deep Sea Beasts; the weaker ones were merely dealt with as they came.

Just from this report, one could see the overwhelming dominance of a Planetary Level over the Apprentice Level, but Guen wasn't satisfied.

After killing so many beasts, the contribution points he earned were only 0.3. At this rate, even scraping together ten contribution points by slaughtering low-level Deep Sea Beasts wouldn't be easy.

"According to Cal, Deep Sea Beasts have an astonishing reproductive rate. Deaths below Apprentice Level 6 are just numbers; only Apprentice Level 6 and above can truly deal a blow to them."

Guen's heart grew heavy.

This gave a glimpse into the lives of the common people in Eastsea Province.

Low-level Deep Sea Beasts were nothing to Guen, barely stirring any urge to kill, but for ordinary people, it was a different story.

How many Planetary Level experts were there in the entire empire?

Compared to the number of civilians, they were but a drop in the ocean, insignificant.

Even a High-level Warrior at Apprentice Level 7 was considered a master among the people.

The Deep Sea Beasts' reproductive power meant they only needed to keep breeding, using those "weak" offspring to pose a massive threat to Eastsea Province.

For humanity, the cost was paid in blood.

"If it's convenient, helping those soldiers kill some higher-level Deep Sea Beasts wouldn't hurt." Guen made up his mind. The scene of those soldiers cheering and looking up to him today had been deeply etched into his mind.

True respect!

Not just because of Guen's formidable strength.

Five days passed in a row, and neither Guen nor Cal had found any trace of Deep Sea Beasts.

As for diving into the sea to hunt them actively?

Only the strong among the Planetary Level dared to do that. If Guen and Cal tried it, even with the Flame God Armor's protection, they could easily be surrounded and killed. Deep Sea Beasts only exerted about sixty to seventy percent of their power on land, and the same went for Guen and Cal in the water.

"These Deep Sea Beasts have an incredible reproductive rate. Beasts on land with such strong reproduction aren't nearly as ferocious in combat. I wonder what they eat to grow like this." As dusk fell, Guen and Cal couldn't help complaining on their way back.

Cal was used to it: "Maybe it's nature's compensation to the Deep Sea Beasts. Beasts on land, regardless of number or level, have an overwhelming advantage over them, after all, the land is vast."

Guen agreed: "But lately, the number of Deep Sea Beasts has been increasing. The amount we kill in a day now equals what we used to kill in two or three days when I first arrived."

Cal's expression turned serious: "Right, I've noticed that too. Going by past patterns, a Planetary Level beast should be showing up soon."

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

Both Cal and Guen looked down at their watches, then exchanged a glance: "Let's go!"

The Forest Goddess Temple hadn't only sent Guen and Cal to Eastsea Province; others had come too, stationed at different Armory Camps, making it easier to spot signs of Planetary Level beasts.

Eastsea Province was a long, narrow province jutting out into the Eastsea, cramped and elongated.

Now, Cal and Guen were rushing over after receiving a message from other Temple members.

Flying at full speed, Cal's eyes flickered with surprise.

He had initially planned to slow down for Guen's sake, but as he gradually increased his speed, he found that Guen kept up effortlessly, even matching Cal's own limit without showing any strain.

Cal could go faster, but there was no need—that kind of speed was exhausting and unsustainable. Seeing Guen handle it with ease, there was no point in competing.

"Guen, it seems your special ability is related to speed. That means your safety isn't much of a concern." Cal's tone lightened considerably.

With speed, one could come and go freely, ensuring great safety.

Cal had decided to befriend Guen because Guen had only joined the Temple half a year ago and already reached Planetary Level, showing extraordinary potential. But in a real fight, Guen's Planetary Level 1 cultivation would have held Cal back. Now, it seemed Cal didn't need to worry too much about looking after him.

Guen was about to reply—his special ability was lightning, no need to hide it too much, and it would be obvious in battle anyway, especially among Temple members—when his peripheral vision caught two figures standing in the air in the distance. Seeing Guen and Cal, they immediately followed.

Planetary Level eyesight naturally saw everything clearly.

These two Planetary Level fighters wore yellow cloaks on their shoulders, without any special symbols, but everyone knew it was the unique mark of the Imperial Council.

The Forest Goddess Temple's Smart Watch.

The Imperial Council's yellow cloak.

The Council of Elders' Grey Robe.

The Demon Hunters' ponytails, regardless of gender...

Every Faction intentionally maintained some distinctive features, making them easy to identify.

"Cal, they're following us."

Cal glanced back, unconcerned. The Armory Camp's existence drew Planetary Level fighters from all Factions together.

"It's fine. The Smart Watch is unique to our Temple. As long as we don't go deep into the Wild Forest, we can stay in contact. That's our advantage—other Factions don't have it. When we get there, the vast majority will be from our Temple."

Guen realized it belatedly.

Right, the Temple members had all received the news, and they were still communicating now. Some too far away had given up coming.

Which ones were close enough to come was all clear.

Planetary-level beasts are enormous in size. Even after being killed, the Goddess Temple's overwhelming numbers mean other factions can't possibly cart off all the materials from the carcass—that's the confidence of the top faction.

"There, that's..."

From a distance, Guen spotted the chaotic scene. The towering stone wall along the coast had already been breached, and a massive tide of Deep Sea Beasts surged inland like floodwater. Torches flickered unsteadily in the darkness, swallowed up one after another.

Roars, screams, wails...

These sounds mingled together, and suddenly Guen was furious.

During the Fighter trial, countless warriors had died gruesomely, but Guen hadn't felt that way—they had all volunteered, each one fierce and powerful, striving for a higher realm.

But the people before him were simply fighting to survive. Seeing such brutal slaughter, Guen's rage boiled over.

"Die!"

Guen spotted the nearest creature—a colossal black octopus—as it launched into the air. Where it landed, several houses were instantly crushed. Its tentacles swept out, shredding over a dozen soldiers, armor and flesh alike, into pulp. Guen swung his blade without hesitation, sending a streak of light flying.

The black octopus roared and lashed out with its tentacles.

"Pfft!"

A flash of the blade, and the black octopus's tentacle was neatly severed clean through.

Both man and beast froze for a moment.

This black octopus was a Planetary Level 2 beast. Such creatures had incredibly tough bodies; ordinary swords couldn't even cut them, let alone a mere burst of force.

Guen was stunned too, then snapped back to reality.

He himself had underestimated his own strength!

Guen had always judged the Meteor Light Blade and the Flame Slash technique from the perspective of an Apprentice Level 9. Only now did he understand how astonishing the power was when channeled through Force.

A Second-order Force Weapon—now its edge was truly bared!

Whether it was Flame Slash or the Force weapon itself, with Force and without it were as different as heaven and earth.

"Then die!"

Guen raised his blade and flew toward the black octopus, killing intent blazing.