’What about that monster?’ Tyrese inquired coldly.
’He isn’t going to sit idle and watch us seek the Winged Horn,’ Levi answered. ’I will handle him and the others... You focus on snatching the Winged Horn.’
Hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding, even though it sounded insane for Levi to take on all nightcrawlers alone... but they knew better not to question him.
Then they started working on a strategy to secure the horn while ensuring their safety. The Winged Horn was tiny, moved nonstop, and hovered hundreds of meters away from the rope’s safety... one mistake and it was all over.
On the other side, the Conquerors’ captain, Korr’Zhael, had gathered Fang and the summoners inside the Toxic Kingdom to discuss the same subject.
’Sir Fang, what are your thoughts?’ Korr’Zhael asked calmly, his gaze affixed on Fang.
The four captains all knew about Fang’s and Rain’s situation... the Bishop had reached out to them personally to push for their hiring as mercenaries.
Although he was a Bishop, he had no direct authority in this event. Hence, he had to buy them off to secure his subordinates’ infiltration.
Korr’Zhael and the rest of the captains couldn’t refuse him... why would they? Fang and Rain had secured their victory in this event, while at the same time, they would build rapport with a Duskbound Order Bishop.
There was no downside, as even if these two were caught, it wouldn’t backfire on them.
’You do you... I only have one target in my mind,’ Fang replied.
Korr’Zhael shifted his focus to Levi after seeing that Fang’s eyes remained fixed on him... recalling what Levi had done in past instances, Korr’Zhael nodded with a faint, cold smile.
’Have fun.’
After a short while, the rope completed its second circle, and yet, neither the Nightcrawlers nor the Raiders made a move on the Winged Horn... they were waiting for each other to make the first move, understanding that anyone daring to fall toward the abyss for the sake of claiming the Horn would end up bombarded to death.
It was perfect bait to take advantage of.
When Nurah and the others noticed that the Nightcrawlers remained patient, their expressions turned solemn.
’These pricks know that time is on their side... as long as we don’t make a move, they will eventually win,’ Shia frowned.
’Also, they keep expanding their Toxic Kingdom,’ Evangeline added. ’We have to kick the plan into gear.’
Everyone turned to the silent Levi, awaiting his orders... Levi kept murmuring under his breath for a moment, appearing as if he was calculating something.
Soon, he nodded to himself and said, ’Once the rope nears its peak velocity, we will fully launch the plan... be ready, you have to be flawless.’
Arthur and the rest nodded with stern expressions and turned their gazes to the rope... it was nearing the abyss, which excited the viewers a little.
Everyone believed that the sole opportunity to claim the Winged Horn was the moment the rope was about to cross the abyss... it gave them the closest chance to safely ascend again.
Even the Nightcrawlers raised their guard in anticipation of the Raiders making their move... however, when they saw that Tyrese was still smashing Arthur’s shield, they couldn’t help but feel a bit antsy.
’What the hell are they up to?’
Korr’Zhael’s pupils thinned... sadly, the Raiders refused to show their cards. Another spin was completed, which left the viewers disheartened and a bit bored by the situation. Some of them even started booing them to make a move already, or at least fight like before instead of staring at each other from a distance.
Levi and his friends ignored the boos and remained focused... their heartbeats synchronized in nervousness as they waited for the rope to touch the clouds.
Just when everyone least expected it, Levi used Combustion Leap to charge in the direction of the Toxic Kingdom all by himself!
"The Raiders’ Captain has made his move!!"
Gamemaster Envy swiftly hyped up the crowd as he put Levi on the main screen, broadcasting the insane scene of him leaping across the rope’s surface at a crazy speed. In almost two seconds, Levi was already fifty meters away from the Toxic Kingdom’s borders.
He lifted his staff to the sky and manifested a gigantic sound construct in the shape of a great sword... then, he infused aetheric energy into it until it illuminated all over the place, bringing the construct to life in the commoners’ eyes.
Without hesitation, Levi stepped forward and brought the gigantic sword down toward the Toxic Kingdom’s borders.
The blade cleaved through the air, dragging a tidal wave of compressed force behind it... the atmosphere distorted along its descent, while the contained poisonous mist began to break apart before impact had even landed!
But... a figure moved. A massive basilisk silhouette stepped out from the toxic mists at the last possible second... Nyr’Kalloth!
Without an ounce of dread, he tightened his hand into a fist and swung it with a savage roar.
BOOOOOOM!!
His knuckles collided with the descending aether-infused sound sword, causing a shockwave to erupt in all directions, ripping through the toxic fog and sending violent ripples along the rope’s length!
Nyr’Kalloth’s arm trembled slightly as his black scales opened up to release a deep midnight steam... the peculiar steam flew backward and landed on the fungi in its path. Almost immediately, the fungi were overtaken as if they were possessed by a virus... they turned black and started releasing the same mist around them.
As for Nyr’Kalloth? He merely grinned, unfazed.
"You think..." he growled while cracking his fingers, "...you’re the only monster here?"
The Nightcrawlers behind him smirked coldly at the sight of Levi standing silently in place, thinking that he was too stunned to speak.
"Heh... Captain Nyr’Kalloth wields the rare Zombie Blight Aspect ... his body has evolved to a perfected state, where it can absorb almost any type of energy and convert it into one of the most potent poisons in the universe."
"His body is too tough to break, while a single direct touch from him is enough to hijack his enemies’ bodies and minds."
His teammates sneered, convinced that Levi was a dead man for being bold enough to get this close to their captain.
"Hey now... don’t be taking over my prey." Suddenly, Fang stepped forward and pointed his finger at Nurah and the others. "You have other problems to handle."
Hearing this, everyone’s attention returned to Levi’s teammates... when they saw Rakai running toward the rope’s end while Arthur and the rest headed to the center, their expressions turned cold.
They had no idea what they planned on doing while the rope was at its furthest from the Winged Horn, but they weren’t planning to watch them.
Too bad...
The moment Nyr’Kalloth and his allies took a step forward, Levi lifted his staff and unhinged the upper crown... then, he called inwardly, ’Maw... it’s time to remind the universe of your species’ legacy.’
The Soulleech Maw bloomed in Levi’s palm and extended its long tongue. Then, it wrapped around the staff from the center to the chain. It stopped when the tip touched the dangling crown.
Levi lifted the staff above his shoulder and uttered indifferently as he faced Fang and the rest of the Nightcrawlers.
"Rejoice... you’re about to share a one-in-a-lifetime experience."
Fang and the others were left confused for a moment, having no idea how to react to Levi’s strange overconfidence... but then, their ears picked up on a faint whisper.
"Ablaze."