Looking down from the sky toward the surface.
One could see densely packed Naga charging out of the sea onto land, wielding battered swords and sabers, shouting slogans about their longing for sunlight.
Like a black river bursting its banks, they flooded over the Silver Folk caught in their midst.
The Midsummer Dynasty had lost the battle.
The fleeing soldiers scattered like black dots, casting aside their helmets and armor as they sprinted toward the rear.
Inside the half-ruined Seaside City.
The princess's temporary tent on the high ground had collapsed. The Ninth Princess gripped the battle standard's pole tightly, her eyes stubborn as she stared at the powerful Naga leader hovering in midair.
This was Otus. Victory already seemed within his grasp, and he wore a victor's smile as he looked down at the girl trapped in utterly hopeless circumstances below.
Behind Otus, a full seven Saint Domain experts stood respectfully at his back.
Down in the city ruins.
A great crowd of Naga warriors was also slowly advancing.
They surrounded the Ninth Princess, Li Mingyue, and her knightly retinue on all sides.
The knights looked tense and despairing, the suffocating atmosphere leaving them drenched in sweat. If the Ninth Princess had not stood firm and refused to retreat, their morale would have crumbled long ago.
Only the Saint Domain knight remained composed, knowing that the strongest pillar of support in this world was right here.
Indeed, Jiang Yang and his two companions were also inside the encirclement, standing alongside the knights under Li Mingyue's command.
Sunlight filtered through the clouds onto everyone's faces, illuminating different expressions.
Jiang Yang raised his eyes slightly toward Otus, who stood proudly in midair, and sensed his Emperor-Rank Second Step aura.
He marveled inwardly.
*After so many years, a being of the