The scorch mark that gray-white divine light had left in the air had yet to fade when an utterly piercing scream finally escaped the Blood Guard whose chest it had punched through.
That scream was like a signal, igniting the powder keg outside Osmanthus Valley that had been compressed to its breaking point.
"Bastard! Bastard!"
Steel Bone watched helplessly as a Foundation Establishment fighter under his command was grievously wounded in an instant. His crimson eyes looked ready to spit fire.
On these Blood Plains, every Foundation Establishment Blood Guard was a pillar of tribal strength built with countless resources. Now one had been crippled before even touching the enemy's clothes. How could he not be furious?
"A pack of useless fools! Why are you retreating?!"
Steel Bone swung his enormous axe, stirring a nauseating, blood-reeking wind, and smashed two Qi Refining barbarian soldiers beside him into meat paste for instinctively shrinking back in fear.
"Anyone who retreats will meet the same end!"
Steel Bone roared toward the heavens. The magma-like totem markings covering his body blazed madly, making him resemble a demon god that had crawled out of a pool of blood.
"All troops, charge! That Spirit Thief's spell arts may be powerful, but there must be gaps between his casts! Fill them with lives! Once we get into the valley and fight him up close, we'll chop him into meat sauce, no matter how strong he is!"
"Kill!!!"
Driven by both their leader's brutal intimidation and the Blood Fiend Aura, the remaining three thousand Blood Spear Tribe warriors descended into utter madness.
Bloodlust replaced the fear in their eyes. No longer wary of that uncanny divine light, they became a pack of red-eyed, starving wolves that had caught the scent of blood. Trampling their comrades' corpses, they launched