115: Legalist Judgment: Heroes Trapped by Laws and Decrees (Part 1)

Inside the crater area, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

At the wound on the Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage's chest, golden energy writhed and repaired itself like viscous blood, but its originally dazzling brilliance had dimmed, as if covered in a layer of dust. Its mountain-like body was slightly hunched, and in its lava-like pupils, the frantic blood-red color receded slightly, replaced by a deeper, more rational, yet more dangerous rage and humiliation. To have its core injured by beings it viewed as ants was an unprecedented and ultimate disgrace for a member of the Royal Lineage!

Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage (Hero Unit - Status Update)

Rank: LV 55 (Temporary display decrease due to core damage and Berzerk recession)

Status: [Moderate Energy Core Damage], [Berzerk Recession Period], [Rage], [Humiliation]

Health Points (HP): 58% (Repairing slowly)

Divine Power/Energy: ??? (Heavily consumed, fluctuating violently)

Core Skills:

Golden Barrier (Passive): Defense intensity decreased by 20%, energy core area defense intensity decreased by 50%, automatic repair speed reduced by 60%.

Crushing Tear (Active): On Cooldown.

War Stomp (Active): Available, but power slightly decreased due to status effects.

Unknown Royal Talent: ??? (May be triggered by injury or emotional intensification)

It let out a low growl, its voice no longer filled with the previous destructive arrogance, but sounding like muffled thunder rolling through the clouds, suppressing a rage capable of tearing the sky apart. Its gaze locked tightly onto Lin Zhou, who was protected by Moonlight Guardian in the distance; that look was bone-chillingly cold, filled with a lethal resolve.

Haotian stood in the safe zone behind it, his face so dark it looked like it could drip ink. He was mentally connected to the Golden Behemoth and could clearly feel the intense pain, weakness, and the rage that almost incinerated his reason coming from the other end of the contract. He clenched his fists so hard his nails almost dug into his palms. He had miscalculated! A severe miscalculation! He never expected that Lin Zhou would not only be full of schemes but could also accurately find the Golden Behemoth's most hidden weakness!

“Lin! Zhou!” Haotian squeezed these two words out from between his teeth. He knew that after this strike, although the Golden Behemoth hadn't lost its combat capability, it had suffered an 'internal injury,' and its sustained combat ability was greatly compromised. Most importantly, its invincible Aura had been broken. As one side waxed and the other waned, the opponent's seemingly crumbling battle line had instead seen a surge in morale because of this successful counterattack.

“I can't give him any more chances!” Haotian's eyes sharpened as he made an instant decision. The Golden Behemoth was strong, but it wasn't invincible, especially with its core damaged. If it were targeted again by that kind of exquisite combined-attack tactic, the consequences would be unthinkable. He had to end this quickly, using absolute power to completely crush the core before the opponent could organize the next effective attack!

“Golden Behemoth! Suppress your injuries! Prioritize killing Lin Zhou! Storm Giants, at all costs, cover the area where Lin Zhou is with fire! Silver Pegasus Knights, Spirit Dragons, interfere with the enemy's hero units and stop them from organizing focused fire again!” Haotian quickly adjusted his tactics, abandoning his previous steady approach in favor of a high-risk, high-reward decapitation strike! As long as Lin Zhou, the command core, died, the remaining ragtag bunch would be of no concern!

“Roar!”

The Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage let out a suppressed low growl, forcibly mobilizing the still-vast power within its body to temporarily suppress the waves of throbbing pain from its core. It no longer paid attention to the annoying trap debris and scattered attacks beneath its feet; in its massive pupils, only Lin Zhou's figure remained! It began to stride forward, and although its speed was a bit slower due to its injuries and the Law Fishmen's 'Earth Bind,' every step was steadier and more determined. Carrying a tragic Aura of refusing to stop until its goal was reached, it was like a slow-starting but unstoppable heavy tank, launching a death charge toward Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao!

At the same time, the remaining Storm Giants in the rear (about 8, in varying states) ignored their own safety and forcibly condensed dazzling lightning. One after another, thick [Thunder Spears] began to take shape in their hands, aimed directly at Lin Zhou! The Silver Pegasus Knights (about 15 remaining) and Spirit Dragons (3 remaining) also forcibly pushed through the pressure of the 'No-Fly Domain,' attempting to bypass the front and harass the Wenxin Elf Elwin and Tiangong Dwarf Bronzebeard to prevent them from having a chance to guide an attack again.

The pressure instantly concentrated entirely on Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao!

“Watch out! Their target is Lin Zhou!” Su Yueyao warned urgently. Without hesitation, she shrunk the Moonlight Domain to its limit, covering almost only herself and Lin Zhou. The pure moonlight transformed into the most solid shield, prepared to endure the incoming violent attack. Her face was even paler than before; clearly, she hadn't recovered from her previous consumption and injuries, and she was now completely overdrawing her strength.

Lin Zhou's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and his brain worked at high speed, processing battlefield information coming from the links with each of his kin.

Enemy: Golden Behemoth charging in a straight line, the greatest threat; Storm Giants charging long-range attacks, the next greatest but extremely lethal threat; aerial units harassing and pinning down allies.

Allies: Divine Power reserves nearly empty, Divine Fire unstable; main kin exhausted, with mana, stamina, and equipment durability all at low levels; Hero units in poor condition; Molten Lava Barrier broken, geographical advantage weakened.

Endure it? Absolutely impossible! Whether it was the Golden Behemoth's impact or the Storm Giants' focused fire, either was enough to instantly tear apart Su Yueyao's barely maintained Moonlight Guardian and his own crumbling Domain projection.

Evade? In this relatively narrow crater area, facing the Golden Behemoth's locked-on charge and the Storm Giants' area coverage, the space to evade was limited, and it would completely disrupt their formation, exposing their backs to the enemy.

Counter-attack? In their current state, it would be difficult to organize an effective counter-attack capable of interrupting or heavily damaging the enemy's offensive before their attack arrived.

In a flash, Lin Zhou eliminated one option after another. Finally, his consciousness sank once again into the Temple of Civilization, his gaze falling upon the cluster of thought representing 'Legalism,' which shone with a cold and impartial light.

Legalism: establish distinctions to end disputes, No Exemption from Punishment! Since they couldn't be defeated by force, they would be bound by rules! Since the target was a 'Hero Unit,' it would be judged by the Law!

A bold and precise tactic quickly formed in his mind—he was going to emulate what he did against the Furnace Fortress Chieftain, but this time, the target was stronger, the consumption greater, and the risk higher! He would manifest a stronger Legalist Edict to temporarily bind this wounded beast, creating a precious and safe output window for Su Yueyao and all their long-range forces!

“Classmate Su!” Lin Zhou's voice, carrying a strange calmness, reached Su Yueyao's ears. “I need you to buy me time to cast a spell! About three seconds! During these three seconds, I will attract its attention as much as possible, but your Moonlight Guardian must hold out against all long-range attacks!”

Su Yueyao instantly understood Lin Zhou's intention—he was going to use that power of Words as Law again! Without a moment's hesitation, she nodded heavily: “Alright! Leave it to me!” Before she finished speaking, she bit the tip of her tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood containing the Moonlight Origin onto the Moon-wheel Magical Artifact in her hand! The artifact immediately burst with light, and the originally somewhat illusory Moonlight shield instantly became as solid as crystal, emitting an indestructible Aura! She was overdrawing her own Divine Blood Origin in exchange for a brief period of ultimate defense!

Su Yueyao (Deity) - Status Update

Divine Tier: Demigod (LV 98)

Status: [Lightly Injured], [Divine Power Overdrawn], [Burning Divine Blood (Temporary)]

Divine Power Reserves: 8,000 / 120,000 (Consuming rapidly)

Divine Domain: Moonlight Domain (Projection)

Miracle Building/Status:

Moonlight Guardian: Crystal Wall: Defense intensity temporarily increased by 300%, resistance to energy attacks increased by an additional 50%. Duration: Estimated 10 seconds. Cost: Caster falls into a state of severe weakness.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhou took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the flickering and stinging of his Divine Fire, and frantically poured his remaining Divine Power, along with the 'Aura' gathered from the Temple of Civilization and the beliefs of the Hundred Schools Kin, into the thought cluster representing Legalism!

He took a step forward, actually taking the initiative to move ahead, crossing the edge of the Moonlight Guardian to face the surging golden tide! His figure looked incredibly tiny under the mountain-like shadow of the Golden Behemoth, but the awe-inspiring Aura of order rising from him caused even the charging Golden Behemoth to feel a trace of instinctive dread!

“Vile beast!”

Lin Zhou's voice was like a great bell; it wasn't a roar, yet it carried a judgmental majesty that clearly spread across the entire battlefield, even temporarily drowning out the roar of the thunder in the Storm Giants' hands!

“You bully the weak and trample upon order; your conduct is improper!”

“You repeatedly violate boundaries and break the rules; your crime deserves punishment!”

“Now, by the principles of civilization, I exercise the authority of Legalism!”

“Punishment does not avoid the high-ranking, and rewards do not overlook the commoner! Much less a beast like you!”

With every word he spoke, the divine light of order on his body grew a bit more brilliant. In the Void Realm behind him, countless phantom legal texts faintly emerged and intertwined, making a clattering sound as if an invisible chain made of rules was condensing!

Although the Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage did not understand human speech, the mental transmission between deities allowed it to clearly feel the powerful will in Lin Zhou's words that was targeting it, judging it, and seeking to bind it! This completely enraged it! It ignored the warnings from its core injuries and poured all its strength into its legs and claws, increasing its charge speed even further, vowing to tear this ant who dared to judge it into pieces!

Haotian also sensed Lin Zhou's intention, and his face changed drastically: “Stop him! Quickly! Storm Giants, attack now! Golden Behemoth, rush over!” He felt an extremely dangerous Aura condensing on Lin Zhou.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Several thick [Thunder Spears] tore through the air, carrying a destructive Aura as they were the first to strike the crystal-solid Moonlight shield! They erupted with ear-splitting explosions and blinding flashes of electricity!

The Moonlight shield shook violently, ripples surging across its surface. Su Yueyao let out a muffled groan, blood overflowing from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes remained determined. Her hands gripped the Moon-wheel Magical Artifact tightly, as she stubbornly held out against this first wave of focused long-range fire! Fine cracks appeared on the crystal-like shield, but it did not shatter!

And in the precious time bought by this, Lin Zhou's casting was complete!

In his eyes, it was as if cold fires of jurisprudence were burning. He pointed his right hand like a sword toward the Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage, which had already charged to within less than a hundred meters!

“Legalist Edict—Judgment!”

“Lock!”