The Steppe People had always been renowned among the people of Warren for their courage and prowess in battle.
The fear before him did not mean they lacked courage.
It simply came from their instincts.
It was the crushing pressure of a higher order of life.
The Steppe People had no way to resist it.
When the phantom with wings on its back and two horns on its forehead fully materialized and roared at the moon, some of the trembling Steppe People collapsed outright, while the rest fled in terror.
Fear left a lasting impression.
The sight reminded some of them of what had happened at Thunder Fortress before.
"It's that demon!"
"He's back!"
A sudden shout rang out.
Standing dazedly in place, a trace of bewilderment on his face, Qin Ran instinctively turned toward the voice.
On the opposite cliff stood a deserter Qin Ran vaguely remembered.
"A spy?"
A hint of disdain appeared on Qin Ran's vacant face.
It was disdain rooted in his principles.
His principles would not allow him to betray anyone.
And so his contempt for traitors lent arrogance to his gaze as he looked at the man.
The next moment-
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the man's body, turning the spy into a fireball within a breath.
As the Steppe People scrambled away, he fell from the cliff with a dying scream.
"The first sin must be the first evil."
"And flames shall cleanse that sin."
Qin Ran recited the words as though passing judgment.
A phantom unlike the demon or the Beast of Desire flickered into view above Qin Ran's head.
It was a man with Qin Ran's face, but an entirely different bearing.
Arrogant, utterly contemptuous of all others.
The sinister phantom of Qin Ran looked down at him as a superior might