The wind on the outskirts of the Southern Capital carried the smell of scorched vegetation. The moment the three emerged from the rift, Qi Wu's brow twitched. There was blood in the air-the smell of blood that had long since dried, mingled with dust and sulfur.
Ahead, the dark red membrane of the Meishan Barrier enveloped the entire mountaintop. Several more cracks had appeared across its surface since he had left.
That meant a major battle had just taken place here.
He hadn't expected the Demons to launch another large-scale assault on the barrier in the short time he had been gone.
Psychic soldiers who had withdrawn from the fighting crowded both sides of the mountain path.
Some of the wounded lay on the ground, missing arms or legs, while their comrades helped bandage them. No one spoke. The entire area inside the barrier was as quiet as a graveyard.
Qi Wu stood at the entrance to the mountain path, his gaze sweeping over the wounded and exhausted soldiers before finally settling on a veteran sitting against a rock wall. His left arm hung in a sling, its bandages soaked so thoroughly with blood that they had turned black.
Qi Wu walked over and crouched down. "What happened?"
The veteran looked up, froze when he recognized Qi Wu, then braced himself against the rock wall and tried to stand. Qi Wu pressed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay seated."
The veteran sat back down. He fell silent for a moment, as though gathering his words.
"Lord Child of Destiny, the barrier... won't hold much longer." He raised a hand and pointed at the dark red membrane overhead.
"The Demons intensified their assault last night. Before that, they only sent small groups to probe our defenses. Since yesterday, they've been charging