Across the vast, desolate ancient plain of the twelfth floor, a waning wind swept up scattered divine sand. The bleak silence left by fallen gods still lingered throughout the world.
Beside the teleportation array, the oppressive atmosphere had nearly solidified.
Tarrossa and the others sat cross-legged in silence. No one spoke or regulated their breathing; all their thoughts had sunk into endless regret and guilt.
Ever since their desperate escape from the thirteenth floor, the hopeless sight of the Five-Star Fiend Highgod Di Lige crushing them all with a casual strike had remained branded in their hearts, impossible to dispel.
Precisely because they had experienced the terror of that level firsthand, they understood all too clearly-
Just what an inescapable deathtrap Shiheng had faced when he stayed behind alone on the thirteenth floor to cover everyone's retreat.
As far as any of them knew, a Lowgod fighting a top-tier five-star Highgod was an ant challenging the heavens, with an unfathomable gulf between them.
From the outset, Shiheng's decision to cover their retreat had been a farewell destined to end in his death.
They had all long since accepted that the extraordinarily brilliant youth who defied the odds had perished in the void of the thirteenth floor, lost forever in that deadly realm of gods and demons.
It was precisely this heavy burden of guilt and gratitude that had led them to swear solemn oaths, promising to defend the Klan Empire to the death in repayment for Shiheng risking his life to save them.
Yet none of them had noticed the tall figure who had stood quietly for some time in the deep shadows not far away on the ancient plain.
Hidden in the darkness, Shiheng watched calmly, taking in their heartfelt vows and sincere, wholehearted loyalty.
Along his journey through