'Quite a smart play.'
'But all according to plan.'
Nick was no longer the same.
As a Specter, he could give himself whatever ability he wanted when advancing, and when he became a Fallen, he chose to increase his intelligence.
This increase in intelligence was not something humanity could compete with.
Nick had been quite intelligent before he became a Fallen, but after increasing his intelligence even more, he had become terrifying.
The only person who could compare to his scheming abilities was the old Left Arm.
When Nick had explained the plan to the Shields, it had sounded simple.
Everything he said made sense and seemed logical.
Nick sent a signal to the Technician, but nobody reacted.
"It's you three," Nick transmitted to Sloth, Wrath, and Hatred.
The three of them tried to find Nick, but they couldn't.
As always.
This time, the three of them didn't answer and just continued traveling to the War Continent.
"Quite smart," Nick transmitted. "If we follow you, you will stop in front of the coastline, making it impossible for us to strike you. Meanwhile, your leaders will kill our leaders."
"If we don't follow you, you will enter the War Continent and conquer it. If we react, then you will have gained enough distance to enter the ocean east of the War Continent before we arrive, making you invulnerable again."
The three of them were not surprised that Nick knew what they were doing.
Everyone knew what was happening.
This was an open scheme.
Knowing about it wouldn't change the results.
When Nick saw that the three of them continued, he knew that the time had come.
This was exactly what he had planned for.
Nick sent the signal.
BANG!
The Technician, the Icestorm, and the Inferno shot towards the east.
While everyone was still in the middle of the ocean, the three of them caught up.
Death didn't strike yet.
If Death struck right now, the three Shields would return before the battle was over.
It needed to wait until the three Corruptors reached the shore of the War Continent.
Suddenly, Nick appeared in front of the three Corruptors.
For the first time, he had shown himself.
Naturally, he had assumed the guise of Julian Winter.
The three of them stopped.
"Idiot," Wrath transmitted.
Since they could see him now, they could kill him.
At that moment, Nick sent the last signal.
The three Shields above the ocean surface received it.
BANG!
And immediately plunged right into the ocean.
The three Corruptors look at the Shields in confusion.
Were they suicidal?!
Sure, they could survive in the ocean for a while due to their mental fortitude and power, but their powers would be suppressed considerably.
In this state, the three Corruptors could kill them.
Resisting the Salt Trident's influence was extremely draining on one's mind and Zephyx.
The Technician pulled out his laser rifles and targeted Wrath.
Wrath evaded to the side.
The Salt Trident's influence would make it difficult for the Technician to keep track of him.
BANG!
The laser rifle shot through Wrath's abdomen, barely missing his Specter Core.
Meanwhile, the Inferno released a terrifying wave of fire, turning everything in the surroundings into steam.
Hatred and Sloth had to retreat since this wave of fire was no joke.
BANG!
The Icestorm shot her sniper rifle.
It hit Wrath in the neck.
Time seemed to stand still as Wrath's Specter Core completely vanished.
Hatred and Sloth were beyond confused.
The humans were supposed to be weaker in the ocean!
Yet, they didn't seem weaker at all!
At that moment, they realized one thing.
Their Barriers were not even resisting anything!
Usually, their Barriers would keep them isolated from the Salt Trident's influence at the cost of a tremendous amount of Zephyx.
So,this meant that the Salt Trident had free reign to attack their minds, right?
But in that case, they should be confused and unable to fight properly!
Yet, they were not weakened in any way!
What was going on?!
The Icestorm reloaded her rifle.
The Technician hit Sloth with his lasers.
The Inferno kept pressuring Hatred with his lance.
Death had already realized what was going on.
BANG!
The Icestorm killed Hatred with a single shot while the Inferno kept it busy.
Death gave the order to attack.
Envy, Death, War, and Pestilence released their powers, ready to attack the four remaining Shields.
Yet, at the same time, the Icestorm and the Inferno rushed back, leaving the Technician to deal with Sloth.
The Technician was an Early Shield, while Sloth was merely a Peak Fallen.
Death received the news that the Inferno and Icestorm were already on their way back.
They would be here in almost no time at all.
Just when the Specters were about to strike, it gave the order to halt the assault.
They wouldn't be able to kill anyone before the Inferno and Icestorm arrived.
BANG!
Sloth's Specter Core was destroyed by the Technician's lasers.
The third Corruptor of the day had died.
The Technician looked at Nick, gave him a thumbs up, and flew back to the other Shields.
Nick just watched the Technician leave.
"I kept my side of the deal," a voice spoke in Nick's mind.
"Humanity will keep its side of the deal," he answered. "Three days from now, three Peak Protectors will enter the ocean and offer themselves to you."
"Keep your deal, or I will make sure that humanity regrets it," the voice answered.
"We will keep our side of the deal," Nick answered.
This voice belonged to the Salt Trident.
In exchange for three Peak Protectors, the Salt Trident allowed the three Shields to enter its domain uninhibited for a couple of seconds.
The Shark Mother was not nearly as big of a problem as the Salt Trident.
In order to kill a Shield,it needed to gather almost all of its forces, which wasn't easy.
Sure, there were several sharks with the power of Fallen around, but they weren't powerful enough to attack the Shields.
Of course, humanity would keep its side of the deal.
In three days, the volunteers would enter the ocean.
From the ten or so Peak Protectors, eight had volunteered.
Aegis had chosen the oldest ones.
These three Peak Protectors willingly sacrificed their lives for a better future.
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