Deimos

Deep within a mountain range, inside a cave.

Number Nine Zhou Tai was drawing an array. The demonic power he had gained was demon summoning.

Although he was not very satisfied with his ability, it was ultimately only a one-time power that would disappear after today, so he did not care that much.

"Number Three, let me go already. I never agreed to cooperate with you. If you dare use me as a sacrifice, the others definitely won't let you off." Number Eight Zhou Tai was pinned atop the array beneath a massive boulder by Number Nine Zhou Tai, yet he continued to threaten and tempt him.

Perhaps personality determined the direction of mutation. Because Number Eight Zhou Tai liked deceiving people, he had not grown stronger after mutating. Instead, his body had become frail and weak, and his only demonic power was his big mouth.

His mouth had taken on the shape of a loudspeaker and could produce an enormous sound.

"Shut up. If you don't want to become a sacrifice, then switch bodies. I want this body," Number Nine Zhou Tai said domineeringly.

He had always been especially overbearing. Since Number One's position was unshakable and Number Two sounded more like an accessory, he had decided to seize the Number Three position.

Fortunately, Number Three had known when to yield and voluntarily gave up his position. Otherwise, he definitely would have fought Number Three until the world turned upside down.

After finishing the demon-summoning array, he slit his wrist and allowed his blood to drip onto it. Gradually, the array filled with blood and emitted a red glow.

"Number Nine, remember this. Sooner or later, I'll make you kneel and beg me!" Number Eight Zhou Tai roared furiously when he saw the array activate.

Then he quickly withdrew his consciousness and returned the body to the original Aberrant Insect.

Number Nine Zhou Tai curled his lip, not taking Number Eight Zhou Tai's threat seriously at all. Besides, he was Number Three Zhou Tai. He had even gotten the name wrong, so who was he threatening?

At that moment, the array's red light enveloped the entire cave. Number Eight Zhou Tai's body rapidly withered, and a massive arm stretched out from the array. With a light slap, it sent the boulder pinning Number Eight Zhou Tai flying. Only then did it slowly widen the crack in the array and extend its head through.

"State your wish, insect." It looked at Number Nine Zhou Tai and spoke in a language Number Nine Zhou Tai had never heard, yet somehow understood.

Number Nine Zhou Tai smiled. "My wish is simple. Kill everyone here. Anyone you see can be killed!"

"A reasonable request. I accept it. Call my name. I am Deimos!" The demon revealed a grin filled with sharp fangs as it spoke to Number Nine Zhou Tai.

If the request had been unreasonable, or if Deimos had not been interested, it would not have told Number Nine Zhou Tai its name. That would have meant this demon summoning had not only cost a sacrifice, but accomplished nothing.

Now that Deimos had told Number Nine Zhou Tai its name, it meant the deal had been made.

"Come forth, Deimos!"

Number Nine Zhou Tai smiled and immediately shouted.

The spatial rift at the center of the array grew wider and wider. Deimos's terrifying body slowly emerged from it. The cave ceiling was smashed apart by Deimos's head, and soon even the entire mountain was forced open by its body.

Deimos's head looked like a cross between a baboon and a crocodile, while its body resembled a gorilla. Bat wings grew from its back, and its tail was a cobra.

It was enormous. After emerging, it first let out a long howl, then grabbed Number Nine Zhou Tai in one hand.

"You and I will be the last ones I kill!" Deimos said with a smile as it looked at Number Nine Zhou Tai.

Number Nine Zhou Tai did not care at all. He smiled as well. "Whatever. But right now, I want to see rivers of blood. I hope you'll slaughter to your heart's content!"

The moment Deimos emerged from the array, every squad immediately sent out an alert through the communications group. Deimos was simply too massive, more imposing than a mountain, and everyone could see it from far away.

Jin Sheng was very close to Deimos, with only three mountains between them. Holding his phone, he sent messages while observing Deimos, his eyes grave. "Tiger Rank? Dragon Level?"

"Evacuate! The situation has changed drastically. All members below Snake Rank, evacuate immediately!" Blue Bird flew swiftly through the mountains. Whenever she encountered squad members, she immediately shouted at them.

Many people hurriedly packed their things and began withdrawing from the blockade zone.

Yu Xian sat atop a Bubble, looking at Deimos in the distance radiating a terrifying aura. He asked in surprise, "Which Number Zhou Tai is he?"

"Hahahahaha! He's the real Number Three Zhou Tai. I'm actually Number Nine Zhou Tai. Didn't expect that, did you?" Number Three Zhou Tai immediately burst into laughter.

The reason Yu Xian had loosened his mouth and allowed him to speak was because Yu Xian had discovered that Number Three Zhou Tai really was a big mouth. The guy seemed incapable of keeping secrets and dared to say anything.

Number Three Zhou Tai? Number Nine Zhou Tai?

He inexplicably thought of the giant ape he had fought before. Could that have been that Zhou Tai?

"This is way too absurd."

Yu Xian had originally thought his rate of growth was already outrageous, but now he felt that he could still improve just a tiny bit more.

Decision made!

From now on, he would fly into the sky to bask in the sun!

At that moment, Deimos abruptly exerted force with both legs and instantly leaped into the sky. Then it opened its mouth, and a red orb of light rapidly condensed in its maw, radiating a brilliance even more dazzling than the sun.

"Not good!"

The moment Yu Xian saw this, he immediately controlled the Bubble to retreat at high speed. At the same time, he extended a hand and continuously released vast numbers of Bubbles.

His Bubbles could probably withstand five times the speed of sound. At this moment, he pushed their speed to the limit. Many team members who had not yet managed to evacuate were instantly wrapped in Bubbles and carried away.

At first, some people had not reacted and thought they were under attack. Only when they realized the Bubbles were moving away from the central area did they understand they were friendly.

Boom!

The red orb condensed extremely quickly, and it descended at an equally astonishing speed.

In an instant, a red pillar of light shot from the ground into the sky. Then more and more pillars of light erupted from the earth. This was completely different from the explosion Yu Xian had imagined, but its power was equally terrifying.

Whenever a pillar of light appeared, its horrifying heat and shockwave caused massive destruction in the surrounding area. Some people Yu Xian had not managed to protect, and who had not reacted in time themselves, were instantly reduced to ashes.

"Die, bastard!"

At that moment, a petite figure flew rapidly from a mountain toward Deimos, then slammed a fist into Deimos's cheek.

Boom!

The flesh on Deimos's cheek quivered violently, and its eyes rolled upward again and again.

But the next moment, it clenched its teeth and shook its entire body with force, actually enduring the girl's attack. Then its tail lashed across her body, sending her flying backward. She blasted through three mountains in succession before finally stopping.

"Lion's Mighty Light!"

Then came a lion's roar. A golden lion made entirely of energy appeared, its mane blazing with scorching light like the sun.

Boom!

The golden lion collided with Deimos, and the terrifying shockwave blew everything around them away.

Jin Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood, and the light in his pupils immediately dimmed.