Almost the moment Neji gave the order, inside the energy core chamber, Neji's Crystal Clone changed its hand seals! The core rune array erupted with an unprecedented blaze of light!
Hummm—! The main engine at the bottom of the fortress let out a deafening roar, blasting blue exhaust flames several times thicker than before! The massive fortress jolted as though lifted by a giant hand and began accelerating upward! Its speed far surpassed before!
And at the instant the fortress accelerated upward and rose beyond a hundred meters above the ground!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
From the ridges and dense forest below, more than a dozen figures wrapped in Lightning Release Chakra shot into the sky like arrows loosed from a bow, propelled by astonishing leaps! They had clearly planned this in advance, their target unmistakable—the relatively open plaza on the fortress's upper level!
"Lord Raikage! We're here!"
"Seize the fortress!"
Amid furious roars, more than a dozen elite Jonin from the Cloud Village crashed down onto the deck plaza outside the Crystal Domain!
Every one of them was broad and powerfully built, their muscles knotted, violent lightning coiling around their bodies, their eyes as vicious as wolves'!
The instant they landed, they split into several groups without the slightest hesitation. Some roared and charged toward the nearest Konoha ANBU guard posts, while the others tried to bypass the Crystal Domain and rush toward the fortress's control center or engine area!
Two of them even lunged directly at the dragged prisoners, clearly intending to create chaos or seize hostages!
"Kill them! Leave none alive!" The Rock Squad captain's roar boomed like a war drum! The Konoha ANBU, who had long been prepared for battle, surged forward like ignited powder kegs!
Lightning collided with fire, Wind Blades clashed against earthen walls,