199: Fudosan-kun

Tens of thousands of miles behind the Ring Mountain Range defense line in the Southern Territory.

A war fortress named the Crimson Tower.

It was a crucial military node for the Dark Star Empire in this area, controlling the troop transfer and logistics supply lines for dozens of surrounding regions.

At this moment, outside the fortress, the sounds of battle cries shook the heavens and earth.

The Infinite City legions were engaged in the most brutal slaughter with the fortress's defenders.

The steel array formed by the Furnace Iron Guardss advanced steadily, like a moving mountain.

The holy silver barriers in their hands shimmered, deflecting arcane energy-infused arrows and dazzling magic.

Opposite them were a group of elegant, handsome humanoids.

They wore magnificent crimson-gold robes and wielded curved war blades, each swing bringing forth a scorching burst of Sunfire energy.

They were the special troops of the fortress's lord: the Sunfire Spellblades.

Above the battle line, a rain of arrows from the Lieting Archers and arcane arrows from the enemy's magic archers interwove into a brilliant yet deadly net of light.

From time to time, soldiers would fall in the rain of light.

"A bunch of worms from the dirt, daring to covet the glory of the stars?"

On the walls of the Crimson Tower, a Commander in silver-white armor, holding a crystal longsword, coldly surveyed the battlefield.

A twelfth-tier hero, Kailan Sunflare.

The commanding defender of this fortress.

No sooner had he spoken than a booming voice erupted from the center of the Infinite City's formation.

"I don't care about your broken stars in the sky!"

"I only know that anyone who blocks my path must be crushed!"

As the words echoed, a mountain-like figure strode out from the Furnace Iron Guards's formation.

With each step he took, the earth trembled.

On the fire-crystal heavy armor he wore, lava-like patterns flickered between light and dark.

The massive shield in his hand, almost half his height, now had flames rising from its surface, scorching the air into distortion.

It was none other than the Infinite City's Commander, Stone Rock.

"Stone Rock ★ Hero ★ Immovable Mountain Monarch (Gold - Upper Tier)"

"Level: Twelfth Tier"

"Skills: Copper Wall Iron Wall, Shield Reverse Impact, Lava Shield, Mountain Shattering Earth Rend (Gathers the power of the earth into the shield, slams it into the ground, causing devastating impact to a frontal fan-shaped area, and applies 'Armor Break' and 'Stun' effects)"

"Aura: Immovable Rock Army Array (Within a 1000-meter radius, allied defense increases by 20%, damage reduction by 15%, and shield-wielding units gain the additional 'Immovable' trait, immune to knockback and forced displacement)"

"Domain: Earth Pulse · Myriad Ton Barrier (Activates a domain centered on himself, suppressing enemies within range, slowing their actions, and can summon earthen barriers for defense or attack. Within the domain, he and allies continuously recover stamina and injuries)"

"Description: He is the embodiment of mountains, an unyielding barrier. When he slams his great shield into the earth, it means that not an inch of this ground shall be yielded!"

"Crude barbarian."

Kailan looked at Stone Rock, who charged like a humanoid beast, his eyes full of disdain.

He raised his crystal longsword and began chanting a spell.

"Domain · Arcane Cage!"

Buzz—

Above the battlefield, countless pale purple arcane runes materialized out of thin air.

They rapidly linked together, instantly forming an enormous three-dimensional cage that descended upon Stone Rock.

Energy flowed along the cage walls, emitting terrifying fluctuations capable of disintegrating all matter.

"Flashy nonsense!"

Stone Rock roared, neither dodging nor evading.

He forcefully plunged his Lava Great Shield into the earth before him.

"Domain · Earth Pulse · Myriad Ton Barrier!"

Rumble—!

Centered on the great shield, the earth let out a muffled roar.

A visible earthen-yellow shockwave swept in all directions, cracking the ground.

Countless thick earthen spikes and heavy rock walls rose from the ground, like living mountains, brutally colliding with the descending Arcane Cage.

Screech—!

Earth and arcane energy violently collided, emitting an ear-splitting screech.

The purple rune chains constantly disintegrated and reformed.

Meanwhile, the brown rock walls, after shattering, were re-condensed by even more magnificent (massive) earth power, becoming even thicker.

Two completely different domain powers engaged in the most primitive and savage contest of strength in the center of the battlefield.

Kailan's expression changed.

His elegant arcane domain seemed somewhat fragile before the opponent's unreasonable, pure power.

"Let me… break it!"

Stone Rock's arm muscles bulged, veins throbbing, as he exerted a sudden burst of strength.

With a loud crash.

The entire Arcane Cage was forcibly burst open by dozens of towering stone pillars that shot skyward!

It transformed into a sky full of scattered magic light particles, drifting down.

"Pfft!"

Kailan grunted, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.

With his domain shattered, he suffered a significant backlash.

But Stone Rock's offensive did not cease.

He pulled out his great shield, and his entire being shot out like a cannonball, charging directly towards Kailan on the city wall.

"Sunfire Thrust!"

Kailan suppressed his injuries, a fierce glint in his eyes.

His crystal longsword ignited with golden flames, and he moved with the sword, transforming into a streak of light to meet Stone Rock.

Clang!!!

A deafening clash of metal echoed across the entire battlefield.

The crystal longsword accurately struck the center of the Lava Great Shield, the Sunfire energy at the sword tip erupting wildly, attempting to melt through the shield.

However, the lava flames on the shield surged, completely absorbing that energy.

The next moment, an even stronger impact rebounded from the shield's surface.

"Shield Reverse Impact!"

Kailan felt a tremendous force transmit through his sword, and the web of his hand instantly split.

He was sent flying uncontrollably, crashing heavily into the city wall behind him, creating a human-shaped indentation in the sturdy wall.

"Is that all the strength you have?"

Stone Rock grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"It's not even as strong as my Lord's pat on the back."

"You…" Kailan choked, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

He struggled to extricate himself from the wall's indentation, his eyes no longer holding any contempt, only endless madness and humiliation.

He plunged his crystal longsword into the ground before him, rapidly forming hand seals, and poured all his arcane energy into it without reservation.

"In the name of Sunflare, I judge the heretic!"

"Arcane… Torrent!"

A thick pillar of energy, imbued with destructive aura, burst forth from the seal at his fingertips, heading straight for Stone Rock!

Facing this attack, Stone Rock advanced instead of retreating.

He took a deep breath and held his great shield horizontally in front of him.

Endless earthen-yellow light surged wildly from the ground beneath his feet into his body, and then frantically into the shield.

"Mountain Shattering Earth Rend!"

He did not choose to block.

Instead, he slammed the great shield, brimming with immense power, fiercely onto the city wall beneath his feet!

Boom—!!!!

The earth wailed!

Space trembled!

A fan-shaped shockwave, carrying a destructive aura, spread wildly along the city wall's surface, centered on Stone Rock.

Those city walls, covered with complex defensive incantations, now crumbled and disintegrated like brittle biscuits!

Kailan's footing instantly vanished.

The Arcane Torrent also instantly ceased due to the powerful stunning effect of the "Mountain Shattering Earth Rend."

Rampant energy exploded within his body.

He, along with the collapsing city wall beneath him, fell helplessly downwards.

Stone Rock's figure leaped out from the swirling dust.

Like a meteor descending from the sky, a simple and unadorned Resonance Shield Strike landed squarely on Kailan's chest.

Bang!

Kailan's protective magic shield shattered with a crack.

His silver-white armor on his chest cracked inch by inch.

He was sent flying a hundred meters away like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground, utterly lifeless.

"Such a sissy, even fighting is so flashy."

Stone Rock spat a mouthful of dust-mixed saliva, not even glancing at the corpse.

His gaze turned to the fortress's massive gate, cast from adamantite and inscribed with defensive runes, and he pouted.

He hoisted his great shield, his voice like a booming bell.

"Brothers! Bring out all your gear!"

"Charge in and plunder everything!"

The soldiers of the Infinite City legion immediately let out a heaven-shaking cheer, their morale soaring to its peak!

They followed their Commander, surging like a black tide towards the collapsed breach in the city wall.

Just at this moment!

In the sky above, a distorted streak of light, without warning, tore across the heavens.

It was a burning, shadowy mass emitting an aura of endless decay and corruption.

It dragged a long black trail, plummeting straight down onto the central main tower of the Crimson Tower!

Rumble—!!!

A deafening roar instantly drowned out all other sounds on the battlefield!

The entire Crimson Tower shook violently.

Stone Rock, who was about to lead the charge, abruptly stopped.

He looked up at the fortress's center, where dust billowed, and the smile on his face vanished.

It was replaced by a look of solemnity.

This aura…

It was a legend.

And, it was a… dying legend?