The fall of the rainforest's outskirts went beyond anything the elves had expected. Every living creature on the Red Soil Continent was on guard against a demon invasion, but this force of Hellfires of unknown origin was the first to make them feel the breath of the apocalypse.
Blazing flames streaked across the sky like meteors, lighting up the rainforest in an instant. Their thunderous impacts were like elemental shells, blasting round, well-like craters into the earth. The rims of those craters reeked of lingering sulfur, and then stone-like creatures slowly rose from within.
Their crimson eyes stared blankly at the steadily drying rainforest, and a casual sweep of their hands unleashed streams of oily blue flames.
Moisture evaporated, and trees crackled as they burned. After remaining in place for fifteen minutes, the creatures began marching toward the Grasslands as though they had received an order.
The trees were charred black, and a rotten stench rose from underground. Waves of scorched fumes spread endlessly across the turf, advancing straight along the Grasslands toward the northwest of the Red Soil Continent.
Black gullies scarred the Grasslands. Before the Hellfires, whose entire bodies burned with sulfur flame, the tender grass was as fragile as paper.
Grass ash swirled into the air.
The first to resist were the Beast Race's regular troops: catapults, battle qi warriors, and giant elephant knights. This was the heartland of the Beast Race, and they would not let these burning stones invade at will.
The two forces collided in a brutal clash. Huge cleavers hacked Hellfires to pieces, while Beast Race warriors were vaporized in the Hellfires' flames.
Blood mingled with sulfurous stones, producing a nauseating stench.
Carried by the currents over the Wasteland, the stench swept steadily south, forcing the inhabitants to retreat to quieter regions.
War