67: War between planes

The second Transcendent-level pressure erupting deep within the Barren World was like an invisible tsunami, not only sweeping across the entire battlefield but also shaking the main force of the "Dragon Slaying" Legion, which had just crossed the spatial barrier and arrived at the edge of the Bone Wasteland.

Zhao Tieying stood on the massive command armored platform, his sharp, eagle-like eyes, beneath his steel mask, fixed on the distant horizon.

There was an dark-golden energy pillar, like a support for heaven and earth, and at its source, the impossibly large, suffocating bone skull of The Bone Monarch·Odun, slowly rising from the throne in the Dragonfall Nest!

The dark-golden light in its eye sockets was like two death stars about to explode, signaling the awakening of a world-ending existence.

"Target confirmed! Transcendent-level Bone Dragon! Energy readings climbing sharply! Reaching peak Transcendent-level early stage! It's awakening! Warning! Spatial structure extremely unstable!"

In the communication channel, the monitor's voice held a subtle tremor.

Zhao Tieying's fist clenched suddenly, his knuckles emitting a soft 'crack'.

Time!

Time was what he lacked most!

He had to interrupt the damned Beastmaster priests' sacrifice, tear open their defenses, and strike directly at the Dragonfall Nest before Alduin fully awakened, gained control of its immense power, and mobilized the entire Dragon Nest Legion!

"All units, listen up!"

Zhao Tieying's voice, amplified by the Legion's speaker array, rolled over the wasteland like a steel torrent, overpowering the increasingly dense roars of dragon beasts from afar.

"Target: Dragonfall Nest! Highest priority! Abandon all supplies, overload power cores! Before It fully awakens, shatter the altar! For the Professional Association! Charge!!!"

"For the Professional Association!!!"

The steel torrent, comprised of tens of thousands of elite professionals, erupted in an earth-shattering war cry. Engine roars instantly maxed out, and the colossal war machines, like arrows released from a bow, surged forward, carrying destructive energy fluctuations, launching a desperate charge towards the bone-piled throne deep within the Bone Wasteland!

However, just as the main force of the Legion began to move, like a massive steel dagger piercing the wasteland, the personal encrypted communicators of all captains belonging to Teams 1-5, including several core officers directly under Zhao Tieying, simultaneously vibrated violently.

What appeared on their screens was an urgent order from the rear command center, jointly signed by several elders from the Professional Association's high command and stamped with the highest authority seal! The order's content was cold and decisive:

【Highest Directive: Execute Immediately】 【Priority: Overrides All Battlefield Command Authority】

【Receiving Units: All Commanders of Teams 1-5】

【Directive Content: Abandon all rescue missions, including the search for and assistance to stranded examinees. Immediately change course and proceed at full speed to the core area of the Dragonfall Nest to participate in the encirclement and suppression of The Bone Monarch·Odun. No errors allowed! Violators will face court-martial!】

【Signed: Professional Association Supreme Council】

Below the order, there was even an electronic copy of Zhao Tieying's previously sent report, detailing the discovery of numerous trapped examinees and requesting a detachment for rescue, which had been directly rejected with an electronic seal!

"What?!"

The captain of Team 1, a resolute middle-aged man, saw the order on his communicator, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Abandon rescue? General Zhao's order was..."

"General Zhao's order was overridden!"

The captain of Team 3, a female officer skilled in elemental magic, had a ashen face.

"Is the Association's high command... planning to use those children's lives as bait to hold back the surrounding beast tide, so we can strike directly at the heart of the Dragonfall Nest?!"

"Damn it! Those are the future seeds of the Professional Association!"

The captain of Team 2 slammed his fist on the control panel, leaving a dent in the alloy surface.

"But this is a highest directive! It has the highest authority seal!"

The captain of Team 4's voice was hoarse, and he looked towards the command armored platform, filled with internal struggle.

Zhao Tieying had clearly received the same order.

His tall figure stiffened slightly in the command seat, and the gaze beneath his steel mask instantly turned incredibly cold, like ten thousand years of ice.

He stared intently at the cold text on the screen, then looked towards the distant area being engulfed by the beast tide, representing the faint signals of countless young lives. An indescribable fury and icy killing intent surged within his chest.

He suddenly looked up at the several teams (1-5) that were clearly beginning to hesitate, even preparing to change course.

"Zhao Tieying! Execute the order!"

"Although they are still children, they are also awakened professionals! As professionals, they must have the awareness of professionals!"

In the communication channel, an old and authoritative voice directly cut in, with an undeniable commanding tone, belonging to one of the Association's high-ranking members.

"The big picture is important! The star marrow must not be lost! Those examinees... have their own destinies!"

"Their deaths will not be without value; they are also a necessary aid for us to obtain the 'star marrow'!"

"We will compensate those fallen students a hundredfold after obtaining the star marrow! Now, immediately, lead your Legion, target the Dragonfall Nest!"

"..."

Zhao Tieying was silent for a moment, a silence like an impending volcanic eruption.

Finally, his cold voice echoed in the Legion's public channel, carrying an extreme, suppressed calm.

"Teams 1-5, execute the highest directive. Target: Dragonfall Nest core. Full speed ahead."

"General Zhao!"

Several captains cried out in alarm.

"Execute the order!"

Zhao Tieying's voice suddenly rose, like a clap of thunder, cutting through all hesitation and doubt.

He no longer looked in the direction of those who had been abandoned, his steel-like finger pointing towards the Dragonfall Nest.

"Main force of the Dragon Slaying Legion, follow me—pierce through them!"

The roar of engines intensified again, carrying a hint of tragic determination.

The war vehicles of Teams 1-5, under the complex gazes of countless soldiers, detached from the main force's flank cover formation, like several stray arrows, accelerating without hesitation towards the most dangerous and energy-turbulent area of the Dragon Nest core.

They abandoned the outer examinees, as if shedding a heavy burden, solely to stab faster towards the heart of the target.

Meanwhile, the true planar war erupted with a roar in the "Thousand Dragon Valley" and "Bone Wasteland" on the outskirts of the Dragonfall Nest!

"Roar!!!"

Greeting the steel Legion were dragon wings that blotted out the sky and deafening roars!

The sky instantly turned black.

Tens of thousands of Bone Wyverns, like a gray storm of death, spewed corrosive pale breath, raining down like a deluge!

Shadow Dragons appeared and disappeared mysteriously in the distorted light, their deadly claws tearing at the assault boats' armor!

Lava Drakes were like moving volcanoes, their scorching lava flows sweeping across the land, melting steel!

Storm Dragonhawks conjured thunderous tornadoes connecting heaven and earth, attempting to shred the entire Legion!

Venomous Thorny Wyverns sprayed deadly spore clouds.

The ground also transformed into a boiling furnace.

Armored Earth Dragons, like moving mountains, launched a clustered charge with immense momentum, their heavy footsteps making the earth groan!

Fissure Dragons wielded massive claws, tearing open bottomless chasms, attempting to cleave the Legion's formation!

Toxic Dragon Lizards, like assassins in the shadows, darted at high speed, injecting deadly venom into the armor's seams!

A torrent of Thorny Land Dragons, with destructive impact, crashed into the steel defense line!

Colossal Dragon-blooded Beasts, each step shaking the earth, spewed various elemental attacks mixed with dragon's breath.

"Open fire! Free fire! Energy shields at maximum power! Maintain formation!"

Commanders of all ranks roared their orders.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom...!"