Seeing more and more trash cans appear, Firefly and Sparkle were completely numb, but thankfully, the sight of trash cans descending in beams of light ended after a short while.
Looking at the hundreds of different types of trash cans gathered on the scene, the two of them were shaken to their core. Even Chadwick, the old man, felt like his brain was about to short-circuit.
But unlike them, when Pei Guang looked at the trash cans he had summoned, he simply raised his hand high and gave his command.
"I am the King of Trash! The enemy army stands before us, this world wants to drive me out. On this planet, I will resist the Family's persecution! My followers, let us sound the horn of resistance against the Family together!"
As Pei Guang's declaration echoed among the trash cans, more Family members finished the Dreamweaver's puzzle and came through the passage to arrive here.
But when these people arrived and saw the hundreds of strange trash cans, even they felt a shiver of awe in their hearts!
Sensing the enemy, the trash cans turned in unison, and the charging trash can pulled out a horn. The moment it blew the horn, the trash cans surged forward.
Pei Guang: "Go! My kin! With our minds as one, capture or drive out every enemy. In the name of the trash can, let us protect this beautiful world!"
"Woooooo!!!"
The horn blared. A strategist trash can waved its feather fan toward the enemies.
The sound of the horn filled the trash cans with power, while the wisdom of the strategist cans allowed them to unleash strength far greater than the sum of their parts.
The trash cans charged.
Seeing them rush forward, the Bloodhounds dismissed them as just another kind of dream-construct.
They had plenty of experience dealing with things like this, and the pursuers here were all elites among the Bloodhounds. Not to brag, but against the usual dream monsters, each one of them could easily handle two or three at once.
Bloodhound: "Brothers and sisters, don't be afraid! Our teamwork is invincible!"
"That's right! We're invincible!"
"They're just bluffing. Take them down!"
As Bloodhounds, as Family members, as followers of Harmony, teamwork was their pride. Even though they were outnumbered by the trash cans, they were convinced trash cans couldn't beat them.
When they worked together, they could even faintly draw upon Harmony's power. That power was enough to let them handle any foe in the dream world, and was the source of their pride in Penacony.
But pride aside, they weren't stupid.
Seeing that the trash cans weren't good at close combat, and considering Pei Guang's strange abilities leaned toward melee, the Bloodhounds cleverly chose ranged weapons.
Yet the moment they drew their ranged weapons, the trash cans also pulled out their own.
Several cylindrical trash cans used their own bodies as launchers, firing trash into the Bloodhounds' midst. The moment the garbage hit the ground, violent explosions erupted.
That's right: those garbage bags they launched were packed with bombs. A trash bag filled with bombs—hardly anything unusual for them.
The artillery trash cans shelled from the backline, while at the front, a trash can imbued with Abundance marched forward. Corroded by Abundance, it possessed immense vitality, using it to become the vanguard that paved the way for the trash can army's victory.
Behind it, a trash can wielding a road sign, looking like a replica of the Decayed King trash can, followed closely. Once it got near the enemy, down came the road sign.
No Bloodhound could stand against the combination of Abundance and Destruction.
Their so-called invincible teamwork crumbled before Destruction's strike, and even the faint Harmony power they summoned was first absorbed by Abundance, then shattered by Destruction.
Look! That is the might of Abundance and Destruction united!
The Bloodhounds' fear only fueled the trash cans' advance.
Strangely dressed trash cans, even ones wearing masks, were mixed into the ranks. They piloted trash can vehicles, wreaking havoc across Penacony.
As stronger trash cans joined the battle, the weaker ones gathered together.
"The King calls us—let's clean up the trash together!"
"The holy garbage bags connect us all, let us unite as one!"
"Today! We shall protect our King—"
"Witness the power of garbage bags!"
Though the trash cans didn't speak human words, through Synesthesia Beacons, the Bloodhounds could understand exactly what they were saying.
Ordinary trash cans weren't powerful fighters: one singular trash can was weak. But when many joined together, they gained an unshakable strength.
The ordinary trash cans fused into radiant light, their wills, thoughts, and purpose united as one.
In that instant, they became a giant.
The towering trash can giant stood upon the high-rise, and the Bloodhounds, already caught off guard by the trash cans, finally felt true fear when the giant appeared.
"Help!!!"
"Run! Run!"
"Requesting backup! Requesting backup! I'm not joking—we're being attacked by trash cans!"
Faced with overwhelming fear, the Bloodhounds scattered and fled. They no longer had the courage to fight, nor any hope of victory.
If it were just ordinary trash cans, they might still have had a chance to escape. But unfortunately for them, the strategist cans had already mapped out all their escape routes.
The giant trash can, following the strategist cans' commands, began seizing the fleeing enemies.
For ordinary people, crossing the border required passing through the Dreamweaver's constructed passageways. But for a giant, one leap was enough to jump from one building to the next.
For the trash cans, the enemies carried the same foul stench as garbage, and lived lives just as worthless—so naturally, a trash can was the perfect place to contain them.
One, two, three… more and more Bloodhounds were captured by the trash cans.
At that moment, Firefly and Sparkle looked at the weapons in their hands, then set them down on the ground.
No kidding—these trash cans clearly fought better than the two of them. Especially Firefly, who was already wondering what she would even do if she had to face that trash can giant herself.
Such overwhelming power, such unwavering will: even she felt her hands go numb.
And the strangest thing of all: that giant trash can was formed from countless ordinary trash cans fused together? And then there were trash cans with Paths… damn it, even trash cans could have Paths now?
Covered in plants—that was an Abundance trash can? Which raised the question: did an Abundance trash can count as an Abomination of Abundance?
Firefly was still pondering that when she realized something: this battle didn't really… have anything to do with her anymore?