Beyond Grade A battle zones are scattered throughout the battlefield, where bloody battles are raging. Individual forces on both sides are falling one after another, while the fleets of both sides are also engaged in fierce fighting. The World Tree army, continuously blessed by the Tree King's halo, continues to advance. Although the Three Universal Civilizations are constantly sending reinforcements, the defensive line is still slowly but steadily retreating.
As the battlefield situation on the fleet constantly changes, the combat zone of the Beyond Grade A fleets also shifts time and again as each other's fleets move.
Ames moved swiftly through space, manipulating force fields to harass enemies or aid her comrades, her robes stained with blood.
In the battle zone where she was located, more than a dozen Beyond Grade A warriors were engaged in a group battle. The association members and their direct lineage experts joined forces against the enemy and were slightly gaining the upper hand.
Force field abilities are versatile and can be used for both offense and defense. Ames mainly plays a control role on the field, occasionally concentrating force fields or dragging warships to launch attacks, which are quite lethal.
Extending her palm, Ames cast Dragon's Gaze at a Sacred Tree Envoy. She quickly scanned the battlefield and discovered that the battles Hyperion and the Anchor Tree King, and between Han Xiao and the Heart Tree King, had moved to a far distance. The layers of warships on the battlefield almost obscured their figures, and only occasional bursts of energy light could be seen from the other side, which were far more intense than those on this side.
"It seems he won't be able to take down the Tree King so quickly..."
Ames frowned slightly, withdrew her gaze, dodged a condensed Photon beam, and raised her hand to unleash a pale green shockwave as a counterattack.
Glancing at the battlefield, she saw that the enemy had shown a brief opening. Just as Ames was about to call for her teammates to coordinate and give her time to charge up her attack, the enemy launched a concentrated barrage of fire in her direction. Several association members who were supposed to be blocking the way in front of her immediately dodged, forcing her to abandon her plan to charge up her attack and helplessly dodge.
"This won't do; we can't kill the enemy this way."
Ames glanced at the association members and gently shook her head.
Although they maintained the upper hand, they failed to inflict much effective damage on the enemy. Every time they tried to advance further, the World Tree warriors became increasingly fearless, while their comrades in the association hesitated, unwilling to risk injury, causing them to repeatedly miss opportunities to expand their advantage.
The temporary loss of the healer had a huge impact on the battle situation of the Beyond Grade A. Most of the association members lost the mentality of daring to fight to the death last time, and were unwilling to get hurt. Their fighting style suddenly became conservative, while the World Tree powerhouses became more and more ferocious, and the balance of power shifted.
Ames overheard from the channel that many association members were dissatisfied with Han Xiao's attack plan. The initial plan was to quickly eliminate the Tree King to reduce the disadvantage on the front line, but now the two sides were deadlocked, Black Star failed to achieve its objective, and Aurora was also temporarily knocked down, resulting in the sacrifice of many Beyond Grade A. In their eyes, the plan had failed and was a sure loss.
Furthermore, after such a long and arduous battle, the situation on the main battlefield has worsened. Even if the Tree King is killed now, it may not be able to reverse the defeat. Therefore, many association members believe that the sacrifices in this attack plan are meaningless and have instead caused many people to lose the one-time opportunity to Sanctuary Revival, so they have quite a few complaints.
The members of the Beyond Grade A Association have all made the worst-case scenario plan and still believe that the Sanctuary Revival once, and they do not take Han Xiao's claim of "persuading" the Revived seriously.
Many people had already considered retreating, but they couldn't disengage from the battle for the time being. They could only protect themselves and were unwilling to pay the price to kill their opponents. This conservative mentality affected their combat effectiveness. Ames had no choice but to cooperate with her teammates in advancing and retreating. She had no intention of charging into the enemy ranks alone.
Just then, one of the Sacred Tree Envoy suddenly paused, as if the damage had accumulated to its limit, his body stiffened, revealing a conspicuous opening.
"Chance!"
Ames and her teammates immediately shifted their target, focusing all their fire on this person. Various abilities shattered the hastily erected defensive shield and landed on him, exploding into sprays of blood and instantly severely injuring him.
Just as the group was about to seize the opportunity to pursue and kill an enemy, several other World Tree experts suddenly unleashed their full power, bringing abundant energy to blast towards the front of their seriously injured teammate, attempting to force them back as they had done before.
Faced with the overwhelming offensive, the members of the various associations hesitated, retreating instead of confronting it head-on. It wasn't that they couldn't withstand the attack and kill the enemy, but they were unwilling, preferring to forgo the opportunity rather than get injured.
Seeing this, Ames felt somewhat helpless. This situation had happened several times before, as the association members' comrades' retreat caused them to miss many opportunities.
But just then, a resolute voice suddenly rang out in the channel.
Cover me!
A powerful teammate suddenly advanced instead of retreating, meeting the attack head-on. The scene resembled a surfer charging towards a tsunami, his protective shield instantly torn apart by the combined attack waves of multiple Beyond Grade A warriors, leaving him with numerous wounds that exploded on his body.
Everyone was taken aback. Without thinking of anything else, they quickly stopped and used ranged attacks to cover their teammate.
Ignoring his physical injuries, he forcefully withstood the immense power of the attack wave and launched a resolute and decisive charge towards the heavily injured World Tree expert. All his martial arts aura was concentrated in his fists, completely disregarding the enemy teammates rushing to his aid.
BOOM!!
The two figures collided with a deafening roar. The heavily injured World Tree Beyond Grade A, seeing the enemy charging towards it, did not hesitate to self-destruct.
Ames and her group only had time to catch a glimpse of this direct descendant Beyond Grade A who showed no sign of retreat, before their vision was completely obscured by a whiteout.
Boom!
A burst of intense light erupted, and a massive energy ball rose. Before the light faded, the powerful beings of the World Tree continued to unleash attacks towards the self-destruction zone.
The group quickly retreated a distance, and after the self-destruction energy was released, they looked back at the area and found only mutilated corpses.
"... The person is gone."
The expressions on everyone's faces were complicated.
The fallen elite Beyond Grade A members were not Revived. Knowing that the Sanctuary Revival only had one chance, they still risked their lives to seize the opportunity. This was something they could hardly do... These elite members who served civilization had a purer attitude towards this war than the rest of the elite, and were ready to die for their cause.
Ames gently shook her head. She knew she wasn't that great, nor did she want to be.
Time flew by amidst the fierce battle.
In the battlefield filled with countless floating mechanical fragments, Han Xiao and the Heart Tree King had been locked in fierce combat for a long time, and both sides had suffered some losses.
In comparison, the Heart Tree King's energy expenditure was much greater, which was not only due to Han Xiao's energy level suppression, but also due to professional targeting.
After all, mental attacks are ineffective against mechanical soldiers, and Han Xiao's physical body is not afraid of his mental attacks. Only telekinesis with mediocre physical attack power can be effective. This means that the Heart Tree King is at a disadvantage when facing Han Xiao.
The green light emanating from the Heart Tree King had dimmed considerably, and most of the World Tree brought about by the transformation had been destroyed. Its condition was far worse than at the beginning of the battle, and its movements were noticeably slower.
Once again using telekinesis to deflect the firepower of a mechanical army, the Heart Tree King sent another mental message to Han Xiao, saying calmly:
"Do you see that? Your defeat is inevitable. Even if you kill me, you can't turn the tide."
Upon hearing this, Han Xiao glanced at the battle situation and couldn't help but click his tongue.
The World Tree army in this war zone continues its advance, having broken through the defenses in some areas and pierced through several battle lines, creating an irreversible trend. There is at least an 80-90% chance that it will break through the interception circle and turn this place into a breakthrough point in the overall war situation. In wars involving hundreds of billions of dollars, the outcome of battles between high-level combat forces can no longer reverse this situation.
"Once we reach your territory, the Mother Tree will devour your world inch by inch. You will have no chance. Do you want to reconsider my previous suggestion?" the Heart Tree King continued to tempt.
Han Xiao didn't speak, but turned around and slashed with his sword in response.
The Heart Tree King hurriedly dodged, but was still grazed by the Psionic Energy. The psychic barrier shattered, and another root of the World Tree, already overburdened, broke off.
"Hehe, it seems your attitude is very firm..."
The Heart Tree King smiled outwardly, but inwardly he was filled with dread and had already begun to consider retreating.
After this exchange, he realized that he was no match for this outsider. The sheer number of powerful Apostle Weapon alone was enough to give him a run for his money, and his internal injuries were burning with pain.
'If we keep fighting, we might really be defeated here. The other Beyond Grade A fighters are probably free to act soon, it's time to retreat...'
The Heart Tree King's secret passage.
Many of the World Tree's powerful warriors who went to war have already sacrificed themselves. Since there were more Beyond Grade A on the other side, the Heart Tree King knew that the rate of casualties on his side would only snowball and continue to accelerate. Before long, other Beyond Grade A would come to help this outsider deal with him, and then it would be difficult for him to leave.
Although he was prepared to die here when he set out, the exchange tactic has now taken effect and proven highly effective. There's no need to continue fighting here; saving his life is the best outcome.
Once the idea was made up, the Heart Tree King stopped using the chat-based bombardment and immediately changed his tactics, attempting to break through and retreat, trying to shake off the encirclement and entanglement of Han Xiao's mechanical forces and return to the fleet for protection.
Sensing the change in the Heart Tree King's movements, Han Xiao's eyes flickered:
"He's finally trying to escape. Looks like he's exhausted enough; we can proceed with the plan!"
Han Xiao immediately issued direct commands to the combat intelligence, and the mechanical troops immediately surrounded and intercepted it, guiding the Heart Tree King's movements by adjusting the weak points of the encirclement.
At the same time, he proactively sent a message to the Heart Tree King:
"You'll die here today!"
This time, the Heart Tree King ignored the warnings, focusing on avoiding the concentrated fire of the mechanical troops and quickly finding a weak point to break through.
After shouting, Han Xiao kept a close eye on the changes in formation. Seeing that the Heart Tree King was slowly forced into a suitable position, he suddenly unleashed a burst of Mechanical Force.
Buzz!
A Dominion avatar, entwined with Mechanical Force, suddenly shot out from the Mechanical Deity and flew towards the Heart Tree King, radiating astonishing energy at the top-tier Beyond Grade A.
Sensing the approaching danger, the Heart Tree King suddenly turned his head, gathered his psychic power, and swept it all towards the Dominion's avatar. If it hit, it would surely send the avatar flying.
But in that very second, a surge of golden energy erupted from the Dominion's avatar, transforming him into an unstoppable golden chariot that instantly crushed the telekinetic forces without being affected. He locked onto the Heart Tree King and charged forward, his speed seemingly endless.
"Um?"
The Heart Tree King was somewhat surprised. He manipulated the last World Tree to smash it, intending to stop it. However, the Dominion's clone smashed it straight away, and couldn't even slow it down.
Seeing this, Han Xiao, who was still inside the Mechanical Deity that hadn't fallen apart, couldn't help but clench his fists, his palms sweating.
With the main body within reach, he still used the Dominator's Descent, naturally to capture the Heart Tree King alive. For this, he didn't hesitate to activate two character cards at once— Silver Shadow's [Comet Glide] and Oulu's [Golden Treasure Ship Ram]!
The former is endless acceleration, while the latter is gaining a super armor state during the charge that is uncontrollable!
Success or failure hinges on this moment; Han Xiao is betting that the Heart Tree King won't self-destruct before he gets close!
The warning signs from the Heart Tree King became increasingly clear, and he hurriedly retreated. However, the speed of the Dominion's clone's charge increased, and mechanical troops around him restrained him. The distance between the two sides rapidly shortened, and in the blink of an eye, only the last small section remained.
As the Dominion's clone rapidly enlarged in his field of vision, the Heart Tree King's mind raced with thoughts, and the idea of self-destruction immediately came to mind.
But he had many things to think about, trying to figure out Han Xiao's meaning. In his haste, he didn't make a decision as quickly as the simple-minded Tranquil Tree King.
In that instant of hesitation, the Dominion's clone, enveloped in golden energy, crashed into him, throwing itself into his arms, its bio-engineered muscles bulging instantly.
The Heart Tree King felt a powerful force binding his body, rendering him unable to move and suppressing even the cells within his body, causing him to be greatly alarmed.
This move is... a martial artist's forced control technique?!
"You got it!"
Han Xiao's spirits lifted, and he clenched his fists excitedly.
To complement this move, he has specially tuned a batch of Dominion bodies specializing in close combat over the past few months, enabling them to withstand his strength and endurance attributes to the maximum extent, allowing [Azure Dragon Bind] to unleash even greater power!
However, the Heart Tree King's strength and endurance were far inferior to those of a martial artist, and he did not break free so quickly after the forced control period ended.
Just as the Heart Tree King was struck, the surrounding mechanical forces, already prepared, released waves of force fields to envelop him, adding even more control measures.
Hila!
Han Xiao opened his mouth and roared.
In that instant, a beam of light flashed across the mechanical forces not far from the Heart Tree King. Beside an Apostle Weapon had been quietly carrying the Throne, Hila suddenly appeared, and the crimson "Dead Sea" instantly spread out.
The next instant, Hila's body sank into the "Dead Sea," and in the blink of an eye, she appeared beside the Heart Tree King, holding the Space-Time Amber, and decisively pressed it towards the Heart Tree King.
A flash of light appeared in the Space-Time Amber, and the frozen spacetime rapidly expanded, simultaneously enveloping the immobilized Heart Tree King and the Dominion's avatar.
The Heart Tree King stared wide-eyed, but couldn't utter a single word.
His experience was transmitted through the Psychic Network, and the surrounding fleets immediately turned their cannons around, unleashing a barrage of Tu Shu in this direction. Meanwhile, the World Tree powerhouses scattered throughout the area were terrified and retreated simultaneously, charging madly toward the Heart Tree King.
"Oops!"
Anchor Tree King's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't care less about dealing with the enemy and turned to support Heart Tree King. However, Hyperion suddenly cleaved a large section of his back thrusters in half with a single strike.
Han Xiao had already consciously created distance on the battlefield, leaving the Heart Tree King isolated, with no World Tree Beyond Grade A nearby able to arrive quickly.
Under the gazes of shock, anger, horror, and disbelief, a new Space-Time Amber sphere took shape, freezing the Heart Tree King's astonished expression.
Hila stared at the Heart Tree King, whose face was filled with shock, within the amber, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
"You hurt my sister, so you'll stay here forever!"