Natural Disaster

"Here?"

"Here."

Qiu Yonghao's voice was calm and steady, without the slightest trace of emotion.

Ren Wokuang did not ask anything more. He only stood there, arms folded across his chest, muscles taut, like a fierce beast about to pounce, his whole body radiating danger.

On the walls of Southeast Fortress, human warriors busied themselves tensely but in good order. Archers nocked arrows to their bowstrings, mages began chanting spells, and warriors tightened their grips on their weapons. No one spoke, no one clamored; only the heavy sound of footsteps and the clash of metal echoed along the walls.

Qiu Yonghao slowly drew the longsword at his waist. The blade reflected a dazzling light beneath the sun. He raised the sword, its tip pointing toward the sky.

"Warriors."

His voice was not loud, but every word rang clearly across the walls.

"Behind us is the Temple Alliance's final line of defense. Behind us are countless humans who need our protection. We stand here today not because I want you to die here, but because we must stand here. One step back, and behind us is our homeland. One step back, and behind us are our loved ones. One step back, and behind us is everything we must guard with our lives."

The light on the blade grew brighter and brighter, illuminating Qiu Yonghao's silver-white armor as if it were daylight.

"So we cannot retreat."

He turned around to face the overwhelming black torrent in the distance.

"Prepare for battle."

The uniform sound of swords being drawn rose from the walls, and countless warriors raised their weapons at the same time. Those weapons flickered in the light like countless ignited stars.

Ren Wokuang took the Giant Spirit Battle Axe from his back. That divine weapon, weighing tens of thousands of jin,