Chapter 735: Offensive
"Kill them! The great Lord Kostchtchie watches us. Slaughter these mortals and you shall become the Abyss's favored!" The Frost Shaman raised his staff and roared, the cold wind growing even fiercer.
"Pathetic mortals!"
"For Lord Kostchtchie! For the Abyss!"
The Tanarukk Frost Giants bellowed in response, unleashing thunderous war cries. Accompanied by raging snowstorms, these ten-meter-tall demonic giants swung their warhammers, spears, and clubs as they charged toward the Avernus coalition's lines, their heavy steps shaking the earth.
Meanwhile, the demons from the Iron Glacier grew more frenzied, their shrieking howls clashing like chaotic waves against the defenses of Avernus.
"Hold the line! Defend Avernus to the death!"
"Whoosh—"
The devils drew their bows. Countless hellfire-imbued arrows filled the sky, and blazing fireballs descended from above, crashing into the demon horde.
Yet under the Frost Shaman's power, the arrows were swept aside by gales, falling askew to the ground, and even the fireballs fizzled out before impact.
A devil officer's face turned grim. He shouted anxiously, "Don't let them breach the lines! Stop those giants!"
The high-ranking devils knew well how massive and durable these frost giants were. If they broke through, the hell legions would suffer tremendous casualties.
"Die, hellspawn!"
A frost giant roared and barreled into the hellish formations, swinging his hammer and crushing several devil soldiers into pulp.
With shrieking fury, several Horned Devils dove from above, piercing a Tanarukk Frost Giant's skull with hellsteel tridents.
But soon another giant roared from afar, "Damn bat! I'll rip your wings off!"
Leaping from a hill, the giant jumped over ten meters, grabbed the winged Horned Devil midair, and ripped it down from the sky.
The devil thrashed with his trident, aiming for the giant's eyes, but the Tanarukk smashed him into the ground, grinding him into a smoking lump of bloody meat.
The frost giant stood atop the corpse, roaring to the sky and pounding his chest with maniacal laughter—only to find himself in the sights of a distant hellfire ballista.
"Swish—"
With a burst of sound, a burning, massive bolt pierced the sky, drove straight through the frost giant's heart, and pinned his burly body to the earth.
The battle between devils and demons was unimaginably brutal. These were ancient enemies, locked in endless war, sparing no cruelty.
Yet under the Frost Shaman and the Tanarukk Frost Giants' fierce assault, cracks began to show in the devils' defense. The massive demons struck like warhammers, hammering away at the hellish bulwarks.
Meanwhile, the Empire's defenses looked like a completely different battlefield.
The Machine God Cult's holy defenders met the enemy head-on. Artillery barrages plowed the field repeatedly, while elemental beams fired from orbiting battleships overhead.
In this storm of bullets and fire, demons charged like moths to a flame—only to be wiped out again and again.
The Royal Authority and Magic Coin guilds held separate sectors of the line.
Royal Authority formed a wall of thousands of paladins with massive shields, blocking the demon tide outside.
Meanwhile, over a thousand spellcasters from Magic Coin stood atop their floating fortress, unleashing colorful spells like a torrential flood. Fire, lightning, holy light, and stone bombarded the invaders mercilessly, leaving the demons in agony.
"Buzz—"
Armored wyverns skimmed low, and under the command of the Crimson Scaled Conquerors, they rained bombs down, igniting infernos and turning demons to ash.
The non-affiliated players were even more absurd. They charged straight out of the line, diving into the demon tide with a death-wish determination.
"Fuck those smug guild bastards!"
"Even if I die, I'm ripping a chunk out of their haul!"
Yes, in a way, these rogue players really were charging with suicidal resolve.
Demons loved chaotic melee brawls—they thrived on it. They fed on the fear and screams of dying foes.
But this time, they ran into players just as crazed about large-scale brawls. Perhaps even more unhinged.
"Tatakai! Tatakai!"
One player in a brown nylon coat and deep green cloak trembled with excitement, long blade in hand—he'd waited for this moment forever.
The frost giants in the last war mission were too few and too short. But now, he could finally unleash his true strength!
He triggered the switch on his sword's hilt, launching a grappling cable that latched onto a frost giant's body.
Gas shot from his custom-built "3D Maneuver Gear," lifting him into the air as his green cloak billowed behind.
"Swish—"
His blade slashed across the giant's nape, blood gushing as the massive figure crashed down.
He landed lightly on the corpse, striking a cool pose with his sword, grinning. "I will wipe out every last giant!"
Another cable fired. He zipped toward the next target.
Though barely 1.6 meters tall, a mere insect compared to the ten-meter giants, years of practice had honed his skills. Especially anti-giant tactics. He was the Tanarukk Frost Giants' nightmare.
Elsewhere, eighteen shirtless monks coated in gold powder stood in formation. As one, they struck demons with hurricane fists, indiscriminately smashing enemies.
Wherever they passed, demons shrieked, limbs flew, and blood splattered.
Suddenly, a six-armed Marilith stormed in. With swords, hammers, and spears swirling, it butchered several monks into a blur of gore.
Its pitch-black serpentine eyes glared down. It let out a raspy laugh: "Tremble, quake, hate me. Struggle, mortals. Witness your comrades' deaths firsthand."
"Hahaha, but don't worry—you'll be joining them soon!"
The Marilith radiated intense abyssal pressure. Mortals would struggle to breathe, foam at the mouth, and die from fright.
Yet the shirtless monks showed no fear or grief. They simply stared at the demon, their eyes filled with resolve.
"Brothers, beware. This fiend is strong in sorcery. Don't underestimate it."
"Yeah. Even our eldest and third brother fell. Harsh bastard."
"Only the abbot could kill this thing. We must unite and stall it. Don't let it escape."
Seeing these bald mortals unafraid sparked confusion, then fury in the Marilith.
They weren't afraid of it!
No sorrow for the fallen? No fear of death? Where were the delicious emotions it craved?
Its face darkened. "Arrogant mortals, I'll show you what you're really facing!"
Corrosive venom sprayed from its mouth. Blood-stained weapons in six arms flew at the monks.
Most were under level ten—no match for such a high-tier demon. They fell in droves.
"Hold the line!"
"Look! It's the abbot!" one monk shouted. "Master! This demon killed eleven of us! Help!"
"Foul creature! I knew from one glance you weren't human!"
Thunderous fury erupted from afar. The Marilith turned in surprise.
A nearly five-meter-tall bald monk strode forward, shirtless and musclebound like gnarled tree roots.
Even more absurd—he had eight arms, each rippling with power.
He was the Guildmaster of [Shaolin Temple], the strongest monk player under Erezaghe—Dawei Tianlong!
His steel-forged frame made even the Marilith pause in confusion.
Was this guy even human?
He looked more like an abyssal fiend than a man.
But that pause gave Dawei Tianlong his chance. He roared, "Fiend! You're not going anywhere!"
Dust flew. The towering figure lunged, his fists like cannonballs smashing into the Marilith's seductive face.
"BOOM!"
Blood spurted. The demon flew backward and slammed into the cliff.
What power was this?
"Tianlong, you're a beast!"
"Watch your mouth! Remember the temple code. Say 'The Abbot is mighty!'"
"The Abbot is mighty!"
"Ignorant mortals! You've enraged me! You know nothing of the Abyss's might!" The Marilith's weapons burst into dark red flame.
Fiery blades slashed out, ready to burn and shred everything.
"Such cheap tricks? You dare flaunt them here?!"
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Dawei Tianlong unleashed hundreds of punches. Gale-force fists scattered the flaming blades.
He launched again, becoming a blur, eight fists flying at the Marilith.
It raised its head in shock—and was met with a rain of crushing blows.
"BOOM!"
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Fury twisted Dawei's face. Like a wrathful titan, he struck hundreds of times in seconds.
Blood and rubble sprayed. Dust and stone filled the air.
"The abbot is divine, slaying evil!"
"No wonder he's the abbot!"
Watching monks roared with admiration. This was their ideal: pure fists, bald heads, and overwhelming violence!
Suddenly, a chaotic shockwave exploded from the Marilith, blasting Dawei Tianlong back ten meters.
He landed on one knee, staring solemnly into the abyssal mist. "That thing's still not dead."
A screech split the sky.
"Mortals!"
"Now you've truly angered me! Witness the Abyss's fury!"
The voice rasped like a chorus of cobras.
The Marilith's body grew. Black spikes sprouted from its scales, and black mist surged with chaotic power.
"So the fiend had more tricks. But bluff all you want—you're not escaping!" Dawei clenched his fists.
"Heh. Mortal, before the Abyss, you'll soon know how small you truly are!" The Marilith hurled black mist-spears.
"Bring it on!"
Dawei punched, but the spear pierced his skin. Black mist gnawed at his flesh like wild beasts.
Missed spears corroded the ground, leaving sizzling pits.
"Abyssal corrosion? Nasty stuff!"
His expression changed. Channeling Qi into his feet, he darted through the hail of spears.
Gritting his teeth, Dawei lunged. But the black mist formed a thick wall around the demon.
Foul, corrupted rain fell from above. Any drop burned flesh, injecting abyssal force into the bloodstream.
Dawei had to burn Qi to dodge constantly, avoiding the poisonous rain.
"Cry before the Abyss, mortal," came a mocking sneer from the mist.
Mariliths weren't melee monsters. They were proud, arrogant souls who delighted in killing prey through fear and despair.
Just then, a powerful shout echoed from the distance.
"Dawei Tianlong, I'm here to help you!"