Chapter 1: The Sub-Human Task Force

The news brought by Ying Xunlei about discovering the space gate had Mels and the others buzzing with excitement!

They'd been stuck in the world of the Sub-Humans for ages. Now, the path to the Federation was finally right in front of them. For these youths, it was like holding the key to the future!

"Let's go, let's go check it out quickly," Mels exclaimed, grabbing Ying Xunlei by the arm and striding toward the door.

Sol and the others were hot on his heels, soon whooping and hollering as they followed Mels onto the aircraft specially prepared by Ying Xunlei.

The Eagle Clan's aircraft blazed across the sky. In less than three hours, they had traveled over a thousand kilometers from the Eagle Clan's settlement, arriving at a vast, desolate desert.

As the aircraft slowly descended, Mels and the others peered out the viewports. In the golden desert, amidst hundreds of aircraft, thousands of Eagle Clan warriors were tightly surrounding a cluster of rocks.

If this weren't a desert, these rocks might not have drawn anyone's attention. However, in a vast desert where yellow sand stretched for hundreds of kilometers in every direction, the presence of these rocks stuck out like a sore thumb.

From above, the rocks were arranged in a hexagonal shape, with three rocks of identical size piled at each corner. Perhaps due to their great age, these rocks had lost their majestic bearing, with many areas showing cracks and weathering. Yet, even so, protected by their hard texture, their overall form remained largely unchanged, like eighteen steadfast warriors loyally guarding their position.

With a loud roar from its engines, the aircraft slowly landed, kicking up a cloud of dust. Before the hatch was fully open, Sol, never one for patience, was the first to jump down and rush toward the strange cluster of rocks.

Following behind, Mels was just as eager to get a look at the space gate. However, when he noticed Ying Feiyu standing smiling by the gangway, he had to suppress his excitement. He stepped forward and said with a smile, "Your Highness, thank you so much for everything you've done for us."

"Brother Mels, you're too polite. We discovered this place by chance. After investigation, we found it holds massive energy readings. Therefore, I believe this must be the legendary space gate left behind in the desert by our Sub-Human ancestors when they came to this continent." Ying Feiyu stepped forward, shook Mels's hand, and explained.

"I really hope this space gate is still operational!" After hearing Ying Feiyu's words, Mels looked at the dilapidated ruins and said softly.

"I can't answer that question yet. Although we discovered this place over six hours ago and the necessary technical personnel are already in position, unfortunately, up to now, our warriors haven't been able to breach the surrounding defenses. We've only found a possible entrance." Ying Feiyu said apologetically to Mels.

Hearing this, Mels gave a slight smile, placed a hand on Ying Feiyu's shoulder, and comforted him, "Your Highness, you've already done more than enough for us. Even though we can't use this ruin yet, at least we have hope now. Come on, take me to see the entrance to the space gate first. Maybe we can find a way to activate it."

Nodding slightly and setting aside his worries, Ying Feiyu led Mels toward the entrance of the ruins. Along the way, Mels noticed that besides a few dozen technical personnel, the rest were all Eagle Clan warriors. They not only carried various beam weapons but were also setting up some high-powered beam emitters.

Seeing defenses resembling a battlefield, Mels asked curiously, "Your Highness, why are there so many warriors here? Are they building fortifications? Are you expecting bandits from other tribes?"

"Brother Mels, you've misunderstood. Although they are building defensive positions, it's not to guard against bandits. This desert spans tens of thousands of square kilometers, but there are only three oases within it. There are no oases within a hundred square kilometers around here, so not even desert bandits would venture out here.

The reason I've sent the Eagle Clan's elite troops here to set up defenses is to guard against the Five Clouds Cave! Although there's no clear information confirming their interest in the space gate, I've heard from elders that the purpose of the Five Clouds Cave's existence is to guard the space gates connected to the Federation continent! Therefore, if this really is a space gate ruin, the Five Clouds Cave will likely intervene to stop our further investigation!" Ying Feiyu explained.

"I see. We really should be careful. The strength of the Five Clouds Cave is indeed not to be underestimated." Mels said, slightly frowning.

"Hah, don't let me scare you. It seems the Five Clouds Cave hasn't discovered this place yet. Better safe than sorry." Ying Feiyu smiled slightly, took Mels's arm, and quickened their pace. "Come on, the entrance is just ahead."

Following Ying Feiyu, Mels looked forward and saw that Sol and the others were already standing near three large rocks on the northwest side of the ruins. More Eagle Clan technical personnel were using various instruments to survey the area.

From where Mels stood, these three rocks were the best-preserved in the entire ruin. Although they also had many cracks, none were broken.

The Eagle Clan technical personnel used a beam cutter to carve an opening in the central rock facing them, revealing a deep, dark passageway.

"Boss, they say this is the entrance to the interior of the ruins. However, there seems to be something protecting the passage, preventing anyone from entering. I've looked; it shouldn't be any technological device but rather an ancient magic formation! It's just that I haven't been able to understand the composition of this magic yet. It will take some time to open it." Seeing Mels arrive, Sol immediately whispered his findings to him.

"Sol, are you confident you can break this barrier magic formation?" Mels knew that Sol was the authority on tricky magic problems.

"Boss, like I said, I don't understand it yet based on what I see now, but I believe if you give me a few days, it shouldn't be a problem! It's just that these Eagle Clan technicians only know how to use their instruments to solve things. If this continues, I don't know if the key parts of the magic formation might be damaged by them!" Sol said with an unusually serious expression, making a solemn promise to Mels.

"Alright, then do your best." Mels nodded to Sol, then turned to Ying Feiyu. "Your Highness, you heard what Sol said. I trust his abilities. In this area, I believe Sol is more capable than your technical personnel. So, to prevent the magic formation inside the ruins from being damaged, could you please have your technical personnel withdraw for now? If Sol can't manage it, I'll ask for your help then. What do you think?"

"Of course, no problem." Ying Feiyu readily agreed and immediately ordered his guards to relay the new command.

Although reluctant, the technical personnel, pressured by the prince's order, regretfully packed up their things and soon disappeared from sight. Sol then devoted himself wholeheartedly to the task of unraveling the magic barrier.

Among the group, aside from Sol, only Kaslo had some understanding of magic and could offer Sol some assistance. The others could only watch from the sidelines. Unraveling the magic was not an easy task and couldn't be completed in a short time.

The desert temperature was exceptionally hot and dry. Seeing Mels and the others sweating profusely, Ying Feiyu gently stepped forward and invited them to rest in the newly built temporary command post.

Looking at the glaring sun in the sky and hearing Ying Feiyu's suggestion, Mels gently led Sha Luo and the others toward the command post, leaving only Sol, who was fully focused on figuring out how to break the barrier, and Kaslo, who was assisting him.

"Mels, have you noticed that Kaslo seems particularly concerned about the space gate?" After putting some distance between themselves and the ruins, Sha Luo, walking beside Mels, suddenly whispered to him.

"Yeah, Kaslo is the only one who can help Sol. It's only natural he's concerned about the ruins. Aren't you worried too?" Mels said to Sha Luo with a smile, completely missing the implication in her words.

"Mels, I'm not joking with you!" Sha Luo said, slightly raising her voice with a hint of dissatisfaction. Mels still looked at her with a smile and a puzzled expression.

"Sigh, Mels, it's not that I like to suspect people, but Kaslo's actions along the way have indeed been strange. Think about it. Since I joined you, Kaslo has always kept a low profile, as if nothing matters to him. Even when facing powerful enemies, he never actively displays his martial skills. From my long observation, I've found his martial arts and magic are very strong, at least on par with mine. Since he's so capable and still young, why hide his abilities? I think he must be hiding some purpose!" Sha Luo continued.

Listening to Sha Luo, Mels remained unchanged in expression. "Sha Luo, I know you mean well for us, but Kaslo is our companion. Without solid evidence, we shouldn't suspect him casually."

As Mels spoke, he immediately noticed Sha Luo's dissatisfied expression, so he continued with a smile, "Don't be upset. Actually, what I'm saying is the truth. I've already noticed things about Kaslo. If he doesn't want to explain to us, he must have his reasons. Everyone has secrets to some extent. Like yourself, did you really join us on this sea voyage and this dangerous journey just out of curiosity?"

Looking at Mels's enigmatic, half-smiling expression, Sha Luo was suddenly taken aback. As Mels said, didn't she herself have secrets? As if pondering the meaning behind Mels's words, Sha Luo stopped speaking and quietly followed behind Mels as they walked.

Mels didn't dwell on what Sha Luo was thinking. He quickened his pace to catch up with Ying Feiyu and chatted with him about some trivial topics.

Just as everyone, preoccupied with their own thoughts, was about to enter the temperature-controlled command post, an Eagle Clan warrior suddenly descended from the sky like a whirlwind, kneeling before Ying Feiyu and reporting anxiously, "Your Highness, five mysterious individuals have been spotted to the northwest. The reconnaissance unit sent elite warriors to block their advance but lost contact. Based on their earlier location, these mysterious individuals are estimated to arrive here within half an hour. Please instruct us."

"The northwest is deep in the desert. How could there be people? What transportation are they using?" Ying Feiyu asked.

"We'll know the details only after the reconnaissance unit returns. However, based on radar, we can confirm the other party is not using any transportation but is approaching us by flying." The Eagle Clan warrior reported calmly to Ying Feiyu.

"By flying? Without transportation? If they're not from our Eagle Clan, then they must be..." Ying Feiyu said, turning to look at Mels beside him. Although he didn't finish, Mels understood perfectly that the newcomers were likely experts from the Five Clouds Cave.

"Your Highness, since the opponents might be from the Five Clouds Cave, to avoid unnecessary casualties, I think it's best if you have the Eagle Clan warriors temporarily withdraw. Leave the defense here to us. We have already lifted our 'restrictions.' I believe the Five Clouds Cave won't be too much for us." Mels couldn't mention the Summoned Beasts, so he used the term "restrictions."

"Hahaha... Brother Mels, don't worry. You know we three brothers have long wanted to overthrow the Five Clouds Cave's covert control. Of course we know their strength. If we weren't somewhat confident, why would we act recklessly? Please rest for a while. If the newcomers are really from the Five Clouds Cave, then you can enjoy a good show." Saying this, Ying Feiyu confidently ordered the Eagle Clan warrior, "Immediately order the troops to deploy the special defensive formation and await my command at any time!"

"Yes, sir!" The Eagle Clan warrior's spirits lifted, and he immediately rose and flew toward the Eagle Clan troops.

After the warrior left, Ying Feiyu led Mels and the others into the command post and ordered his attendants to activate the monitors that could observe the entire ruins. The originally loose Eagle Clan defensive formation had now become very tight. Centered on the ruins, the Eagle Clan troops, numbering around three thousand, were divided into four groups, strictly guarding the four main positions to the east, south, west, and north.

At this moment, they gathered the floating combat vehicles previously stationed in various places around the perimeter of the positions, forming a circular line around the entire defense perimeter, and set up energy cannons of various sizes one by one. The elite guard unit in the center installed dozens of strange metal machines on the ground around the ruins and the central command post.

Just as the Eagle Clan soldiers were busy preparing for battle, five dark figures flew rapidly through the air in one corner of the monitor.

Ying Feiyu adjusted the monitor's focus, and five clear faces appeared before everyone's eyes. The five individuals flying through the air were not members of the Eagle Clan but were very rare "Earth Dragon Clan" Sub-Humans! These five Sub-Humans wore identical attire, their bodies wrapped in blue soft leather armor, foreheads adorned with gold headbands, and lower bodies clad in animal skin shorts that reached only to their knees, looking very peculiar.

Since this was Mels's first time seeing Earth Dragon Clan Sub-Humans, he paid special attention to their appearance. These Sub-Humans' heads resembled crocodiles, their bodies covered in thick black scales. They were not very tall, with very short limbs. Although their hands were not much different from humans', their five fingers were exceptionally thick, and the nails at the tips emitted a chilling gleam.

These Earth Dragon Clan Sub-Humans had no wings but could fly freely in the air. Mels knew that in the Sub-Human world, almost no one could use magic. They possessed incredibly strong martial arts, even reaching the realm of flying through the air.

Ying Feiyu had spoken with great confidence earlier, but when he realized the opponents were Earth Dragon Clan, he still showed some tension. Without Mels needing to ask, he could tell from Ying Feiyu's expression that the Earth Dragon Clan Sub-Humans must possess formidable power.

"Your Highness, these should be Earth Dragon Clan, right? Aren't they supposed to live in the south? Why are they appearing here?" Sha Luo seemed not to consider Ying Feiyu's current mood and suddenly asked.

"I'm not sure either. To be honest, this is my first time seeing the Earth Dragon Clan. Legend says the Earth Dragon Clan only has a few dozen to a few hundred members, and there are even rumors they are extinct. I never expected they would appear here. It seems the Five Clouds Cave really wants to eliminate us in one fell swoop!" Ying Feiyu said to Sha Luo with tightly knit brows, his tone somewhat uneasy.

"Your Highness, you seem very worried about these Earth Dragon Clan members. We haven't been in the Sub-Human world for long and have only heard about their appearance from rumors. We don't know what abilities these Earth Dragon Clan members actually possess. Could you explain?" Mels changed the subject.

"Hahaha... Actually, the Earth Dragon Clan is a very mysterious tribe among Sub-Humans. Legend has it that the Earth Dragon Clan was the elite warrior tribe that first protected the Sub-Humans in their escape from the Federation continent. After arriving here, due to heavy casualties in battles and poor reproductive capabilities, although the Earth Dragon Clan is ancient, it did not become one of the major races today.

Speaking of their abilities, if the legends are true, they would be formidable opponents. In legends, Earth Dragon Clan warriors possess immense strength; even the Lion-Tiger Clan cannot compare. Moreover, the Earth Dragon Clan, skilled in various ancient martial arts, almost innately possesses profound Qi energy that other Sub-Humans lack. A casual strike from them can split mountains and rocks. Additionally, it's said they have a kind of unknown superpower, but what exactly it is remains a matter of speculation and cannot be confirmed." Ying Feiyu explained.

"I see. It seems this will be a tough battle!" As Mels spoke, he turned slightly and gave Sha Luo and the others a meaningful look, signaling that if the situation took an unexpected turn, they should use their Summoned Beasts to confront the Earth Dragon Clan!

While the Eagle Clan sub-humans were nervously preparing for battle, heated arguments erupted within the Five Clouds Cave. The Master of Five Clouds Cave was quarreling with three mysterious figures shrouded in black.

"Special Envoy, why did you dispatch the Sub-Human combat team without consulting us first?" the Master of Five Clouds Cave demanded.

"Hahaha... Don't get so worked up. This was the 'Lord's' decision. We are merely here to inform you," replied one of the mysterious figures.

Clearly, this answer did not satisfy the Master of the Five Clouds Cave. He continued, deeply displeased, "The Lord made an agreement with us that matters of the Sub-Human world would be handled by the Five Clouds Cave. Does he intend to break this agreement?"

"Watch your mouth!" another mysterious figure interjected with an icy voice. "The Lord did indeed promise not to interfere in Sub-Human affairs. However, the current situation does not fall solely within the Sub-Human world! You should be aware that the five sub-humans around the three Eagle Clan princes are actually humans in disguise! Since humans are involved, this is no longer just a Sub-Human matter!" The mysterious figure's sharp rebuttal struck the Master of Five Clouds Cave dumb. After a long pause, he finally found his voice and said, "Although these individuals are highly suspicious, we have not yet confirmed their identities. Determining whether they are human requires more time for investigation. We cannot simply..."

"Enough!" the cold-voiced mysterious figure cut him off. "The Lord already knows the identities of these five humans! Before coming here, he anticipated you'd object to the Sub-Human combat team intervening to eliminate the humans. Therefore, he instructed us to inform you: if these five suspicious individuals are not human, the Lord will reveal the secrets of the Sub-Human combat team to you for free. But if they are indeed human, you are not to interfere in the affairs of the Sub-Human combat team! Message delivered. We trust you understand how to proceed from here. Finally, from a personal standpoint, I warn you: you know damn well the formidable strength of the Sub-Human combat team. If you wish to retain your current position, you will fall in line!"

With that, paying no heed to the look on his face, the three black-clad envoys softly chanted an incantation and vanished from the secret chamber.

Staring at the now empty chamber, the Master of Five Clouds Cave's expression shifted repeatedly. He gave his sleeve an angry flick and muttered quietly, "Finally showing your hand, are you? Unfortunately, I am not so easily subdued. Have your fun for now. We shall see who has the last laugh!"

The appearance of the five mysterious envoys and the so-called Sub-Human combat team seemed to conceal a deeper conspiracy. However, at this moment, Mels and his companions were unaware that their arrival had become the catalyst for a power struggle among the top powers of the Sub-Human world.

"Report! The enemy has ignored our warnings and crossed the last line. Requesting instructions!" The resolute voice of an Eagle Clan warrior came through the communicator.

"Order the troops to issue one final warning to the enemy. If they continue to disregard it, open fire immediately!" Ying Feiyu knew full well that such warnings were meaningless against the Earth Dragon Clan. But as the prince of the Eagle Clan leading his people into battle, he still had to follow the conventions of war, putting himself on the side of "justice."

"Understood!" came the firm reply before the Eagle Clan warrior closed the communication channel. He had clearly issued the combat order.

Time crawled by for those waiting. In just a few minutes, Ying Feiyu had checked the readiness of each defensive position three times. Only when a burst of beam cannon fire sounded from the westernmost position did he readjust the monitor to an aerial view.

From the outside, the entire ruins and the central command center were now encased in a green protective shield. The devices the Eagle Clan warriors had installed earlier around the ruins were high-performance mobile energy shields designed to protect key locations from attack. While not comparable to the shields used by major cities, they were impervious to standard anti-vehicle weapons. Thus, the ruins and the command center were currently the safest locations in the entire desert.

However, the situation on the battlefield was not proceeding as smoothly as Ying Feiyu had anticipated. The special combat unit he had trained was designed to use four different types of weapons to establish overlapping, dense firepower to inflict casualties on the enemy. When the enemy breached the final perimeter, the unit would activate large laser weapons, forcing the opponents to maneuver with a three-point crossfire.

Of course, Ying Feiyu understood that attacks of this level were unlikely to hit the enemy. However, if the enemy evaded, the objective of the attack could be considered achieved. Once the enemy dodged the laser beams, scattering or descending in altitude, the second wave of high-energy particle beams would be fired in a wide-area burst. Although these weapons were far less powerful than lasers, their attack range was vast, and their density made them nearly impossible to avoid.

If the enemy could still emerge unscathed from such an assault, their energy and strength would be significantly drained. This would be the optimal moment to deploy the Eagle Clan warriors for hand-to-hand combat.

In one-on-one combat, Eagle Clan warriors could not match agile martial artists. Even with weapons capable of firing at light speed, they would be useless if they couldn't track the enemy's movements. Therefore, Ying Feiyu devised a tactic that relied on formations with groups of three and squads of six.

The most peculiar aspect of this tactic was that regardless of the enemy's location, the warriors, by maintaining specific formations and firing in predetermined directions, could continuously fire their beam weapons! While this might not necessarily cause actual harm to the enemy, Ying Feiyu's true aim was to force the enemy into a designated position.

Once the enemy entered this pre-designed 'grave,' the most powerful weapon—the anti-gravity cannon—would fire! In the face of such immense destructive power and range, even a warship would be obliterated, rendering calculations of the opponent's defensive or evasive capabilities almost irrelevant! This was why Ying Feiyu was so confident about defeating the Five Clouds Cave.

Yet, the current situation differed slightly from Ying Feiyu's expectations. Although the first and second phases proceeded smoothly—the powerful laser weapons did indeed catch the five Earth Dragon Clan warriors off guard—for agile fighters like them, the lasers were merely surprising. The real threat came from the subsequent shotgun particle beams.

After descending in altitude, the enraged Earth Dragon Clan warriors, poised to attack the Eagle Clan forces, never anticipated the Eagle Clan's reaction would be so swift. Before they could even land, a sky full of incoming particle beams blinded them with a yellow haze. With no other choice, the five Earth Dragon Clan warriors had to suppress their fury and retreat—a retreat they found utterly shameful.

By the time they managed to escape the particle beam barrage, hundreds of Eagle Clan warriors had already formed a peculiar formation. They advanced slowly, firing their beam weapons in what seemed like random directions.

Witnessing this, the most impatient among the five warriors, Long San, could no longer restrain himself. He shouted to Long Yi, "Long Yi, these Eagle Clan brats have gone mad! Let me deal with them!"

"Wait!" Long Yi examined the Eagle Clan formation once more before grabbing Long San's arm. "Long San, look. Their formation, while seemingly chaotic, is very tight. Their seemingly random firing covers every angle! If I'm not mistaken, their goal is to herd us into a predetermined location and then eliminate us with an even more powerful weapon!"

"Long Yi, are you saying they might be equipped with land-based anti-gravity cannons?" asked the tall and slender Long Er from the side.

"Exactly. These are the Eagle Prince's personal guard. If they can casually use laser cannons against us, it's not surprising they might have anti-gravity cannons! Our mission is to eliminate the five humans who have infiltrated the Eagle Clan. I've heard they possess considerable strength. Therefore, before engaging them, we should avoid any losses!" After speaking calmly, Long Yi immediately issued an order: "Long Er, Long San, handle these Eagle Clan troops. Leave no survivors!"

Upon hearing the "leave no survivors" order, Long Er and Long San reacted very differently. Long Er was clearly reluctant to use their formidable power to eliminate their fellow sub-humans, while Long San's eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty excitement. However, even though Long Er was unwilling, he understood the consequences of disobeying Long Yi's command. He acknowledged the order simultaneously with Long San, and both stepped forward.

Watching from the monitor, Ying Feiyu grew furious as he saw two of the five enemies step out to engage. "These guys are disrespecting us! Sending only two to fight? Let's see how long you can last!"

Mels, observing from the side, felt a vague sense of unease. Judging from the earlier situation, although he couldn't hear the conversation among the five Earth Dragon Clan warriors, it was clear they had made a preliminary assessment of the circumstances.

The fact that they dared to send only two warriors against what they recognized as a non-standard Eagle Clan force indicated great confidence. Secretly, Mels, having grasped the situation, began exchanging meaningful glances with his companions, preparing to intervene and assist the Eagle Clan warriors against the formidable foes at any moment.

However, no one anticipated the utterly unexpected event that unfolded next before their eyes. On the battlefield, after Long Er and Long San took a few steps forward, they simultaneously removed the armguards from their forearms, revealing what looked like gemstones embedded in their black scales. Long Er and Long San shouted in unison, "In the name of the blood pact, appear, my guardian sacred beast!" Instantly, a cyan light erupted from Long Er's arm, while an earthy yellow light shimmered around Long San's.

Watching the monitor, Mels and the others exclaimed in unison, "Summoned Beasts!" Sure enough, before their voices faded, Long San's earthy yellow light coalesced into a monster about five meters long, resembling a lizard but with six legs. Meanwhile, Long Er's cyan light gradually formed into a creature wreathed in cyan flames, akin to a hunting leopard.

The summoned beast possessed by Long San was called an "Earth Lizard." In the human world, this type of summoned beast was quite rare. Earth Lizards were categorized by size—small, medium, large, and super-large—based on their master's power. Small Earth Lizards, under one meter in length, were generally not combat types but labor types, used in mining and tunneling due to their exceptional digging skills.

Medium Earth Lizards, one to three meters long, with their tough hide and digging prowess, served as engineering units in armies.

Large Earth Lizards, three to five meters long, possessed sturdy armor, sharp limbs on all six legs, and the ability to spray venom, making them formidable physical attack-type summoned beasts! As for super-large ones, exceeding five meters, their power and combat capabilities were even more astonishing, and naturally, even rarer. Judging by its size, Long San's Earth Lizard belonged to the large category, implying formidable combat power.

Mels was very familiar with the summoned beast possessed by Long Er. It was the pre-evolution form of the Flame Tiger, known as a "Flame Beast." While not as powerful as a Flame Tiger, the Flame Beast was still a member of the high-level summoned beasts.

Compared to the Earth Lizard, the Flame Beast had greater practical combat ability. Not only was it extremely fast—few summoned beasts could match its speed—it also possessed the abilities to fire fireballs and manipulate gravity. Since it hadn't evolved into a Flame Tiger, it had weaknesses in physical attack and relatively low physical defense against other summoned beasts. Nevertheless, with its rapid movement, it remained a powerful and difficult-to-handle magic-type summoned beast.

The appearance of summoned beasts not only shocked Mels and his group but also completely surprised Ying Feiyu. In the Sub-Human world, there was only advanced technology; no Sub-Human capable of wielding summoned beasts had ever appeared! Yet now, two vivid summoned beasts were displayed on the screen before Ying Feiyu's eyes!

The Eagle Clan warriors, true to their role as the crown prince's elite guard, did not take flight in panic at the sudden appearance of the terrifying monsters. They maintained their tight formation and continued their advance. However, their bravery did not bring them the joy of victory; disaster soon befell them.

Under its master's command, the Earth Lizard burrowed into the ground and disappeared from sight. Meanwhile, the Flame Beast charged straight towards the Eagle Clan warriors like a whirlwind.

Although the Eagle Clan formation was tight and their beam weapons never ceased firing, with several hundred warriors, no matter how well-coordinated, gaps inevitably existed. Exploiting these gaps, the Flame Beast quickly breached the outermost defense and launched its first fireball at the Eagle Clan warriors before it.

The Flame Beast operated like a continuous flame-throwing machine. It positioned itself amidst the Eagle Clan ranks, constantly twisting its body to spew flames in all directions. In the barren desert, where nothing should fuel a fire, the flames conjured by the Flame Beast burned fiercely upon the sand.

Faced with the threat of fire, even the bravest warriors could not hold their ground. While the Flame Beast's attacks primarily disrupted the Eagle Clan's advancing ranks, breaking their formation and removing the threat to Long Er and the others—without actually burning many warriors—the true killer emerged at this moment.

Amidst the gradually panicking Eagle Clan warriors, sand suddenly erupted. The Earth Lizard, which had vanished underground, had traversed hundreds of meters and burst into the midst of the Eagle Clan troops. Unlike the Flame Beast's attacks, the Earth Lizard was far more brutal. Even though most warriors had lost their ability to attack, it showed no mercy. Each swing of its iron-like tail smashed several warriors into a bloody pulp. Each spray of venom from its maw caused multiple warriors to scream and dissolve into pools of blood! Its sharp claws were like steel blades; even the high-performance protective armor worn by the Eagle Clan warriors offered little resistance, shredding like tofu upon contact.

Witnessing this scene, Long Er frowned slightly and said to Long San, "Our objective is only to eliminate the humans among the Eagle Clan. There's no need to exterminate the Eagle Clan itself! You should know when to stop!"

"What does it matter? Long Yi gave the order to leave no survivors. I'm just following orders. If you have a problem, take it up with Long Yi!" Long San completely ignored Long Er's plea and continued directing the Earth Lizard in its massacre.

Hearing Long San's words, Long Er knew he couldn't change anything. He didn't argue further but quietly turned and walked back to stand beside the other three Earth Dragon Clan warriors, watching coldly as the Earth Lizard continued its slaughter of the Eagle Clan troops.

"Long Er, you're good in every way, except you're too soft-hearted. In battles like this, if we don't completely eradicate the enemy, they might regroup and attack us again! Don't you understand this by now?" Long Yi said, looking at Long Er.

"Everything Long Yi says is correct. I just don't enjoy killing," Long Er replied coldly. Hearing this, Long Yi shook his head helplessly and continued watching the Earth Lizard demonstrate its might.

Inside the command center, Mels could no longer remain seated. Watching the Eagle Clan warriors being slaughtered by the Earth Dragon Clan's summoned beasts, Mels, having grown up in the human world, knew that even in conflicts between nations, battles required summon warriors of comparable strength. Otherwise, the outcome was predetermined from the start when forces were mismatched!

"Your Highness, please order the troops to retreat. The enemy possesses summoned beasts. Withdrawing now is not a sign of weakness. Leave the rest to us. Please trust in our abilities!" Mels tried to phrase his suggestion as tactfully as possible, to avoid wounding Ying Feiyu's pride.