CHAPTER 693: KEEP MOVING

"Feylora!"

Ethan flashed forward in an instant, catching her just before she hit the ground.

Her body was burning hot from the energy backlash, her breathing ragged—but she was still conscious, barely hanging on.

Without wasting a second, Ethan pulled up the Demon Lord’s data panel.

[Scanning target...]

[Target: Demon Lord]

[Level: 19Tier - Early Stage]

A smirk tugged at the corner of Ethan’s lips. "Dropped from mid to early 19Tier, huh?"

"So that’s it—Feylora’s evolution drained a huge chunk of his power."

He raised his hand, his voice booming across the battlefield.

"—All units, full assault! Take him down!"

At that moment, the Emerald Castle army erupted into action.

Elemental energy of every kind surged into the sky, converging into a massive, blinding sphere of raw power.

The energy orb shot forward like a meteor, screaming through the air with a thunderous roar as it slammed into the Demon Lord.

"BOOOOOOM!"

The impact forced the Demon Lord backward, each step leaving behind a trail of shattered afterimages in the air.

His defensive barrier cracked, then shattered completely—his energy shell breaking apart like glass under pressure.

"Feylora, Elira—press the attack!"

At Ethan’s command, Feylora took to the skies again, wings flaring wide. Elira surged in from the opposite side, her twin wings slicing through the night like blades of wind.

The two struck almost simultaneously—blades of light and searing flame crisscrossed, driving the Demon Lord back toward the edge of the cliff.

He gasped for breath, desperately trying to draw in the surrounding Dark Energy to recover—

But before he could even finish the motion, Ethan was already in front of him.

The Blade of the Fey gleamed with emerald light—then pierced straight through his heart.

Squelch—!

Blood and black mist burst out in a violent spray.

"This... this can’t be... My body is the hardest substance in this world... No one should be able to pierce it—!"

"Then I guess you’ve never met me."

Ethan’s voice was cold, almost amused. He twisted the blade, then followed up with a brutal punch.

THOOM!!

The blow landed like a meteor, caving in the Demon Lord’s chest completely.

A storm of raw energy exploded outward, swallowing the Demon Lord whole—until there was nothing left.

Silence.

Only the fractured air and drifting motes of light remained, bearing witness to the end.

Ethan took a deep breath. The energy inside him surged like a tidal wave, bursting outward.

Light flared around him as his level broke through—

19Tier, early stage.

Then came the system chime.

Ding—!

"Congratulations, Player Valkarion. You have completed the Abyssal Demon Dungeon in record time. Hidden bonus unlocked: You may now promote three subordinates to 19Tier - Early Stage."

Ethan’s eyes lit up.

Well damn, the system actually came through this time.

He turned to glance at Andona and Ataneya, then reached out and tapped each of them lightly on the forehead.

Power surged instantly into their bodies, and their levels shot up to 19Tier early stage in a flash.

Then he called Namyanna over and did the same.

A wave of immense energy burst from the three of them, drawing gasps and envious stares from the rest of the army.

Ethan exhaled slowly, then rose into the air, hovering above the battlefield.

"Take a moment to recover. Next, we march on Sky Citadel. Fight with everything you’ve got—and you’ll earn the same power they now have!"

The army erupted in cheers, eyes blazing with renewed determination.

With Ethan’s command echoing across the battlefield, the Emerald Castle army surged forward like a tidal wave, pouring out of the Umbral Abyss and heading straight for Sky Citadel.

The last time they’d come here, they’d only managed to seize the lowest levels—barely scratching the surface. They hadn’t even been qualified to look at the upper tiers, let alone challenge them.

Now, as they returned, there was a strange sense of déjà vu—only this time, they weren’t the same army.

And yet, the few levels they had conquered before... had already been taken back by the enemy.

Hovering above the first tier now was a radiant figure—an Angel with nine pairs of wings, his presence radiating overwhelming power. He was at the peak of 17Tier.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed with disdain as he stepped forward, his voice calm but cutting. "You from the upper levels of Sky Citadel? Or did they just forget to tell you this territory already belongs to Emerald Castle?"

The Angel slowly turned, divine energy flaring around him. A gleaming Angelic Sword materialized in his hand.

"Just a bunch of lowly insects... and you dare defy the authority of Sky Citadel? I’ll wipe you out today—show you what real power looks like."

But even as he unleashed his energy, Elira was already moving behind him. A massive phantom of the Skytear Demon Moth unfurled in the sky, its wings blotting out the sun as it wrapped around the Angel like a living storm.

The Angel staggered back several steps, eyes wide with disbelief.

"This... this can’t be. The intel said your levels weren’t anywhere near this high. How the hell did you grow this strong in such a short time?!"

Elira didn’t answer.

She simply raised her hand, palm facing upward, and turned it slowly.

In that moment, the air froze.

A crushing pressure radiated from her body, an invisible tide of power that swallowed the sky itself.

The Angel’s body trembled. Cold sweat slid down the seams of his armor.

He didn’t dare hold back. With a roar, he raised his holy sword high, summoning a blinding pillar of divine light that tore through the air as it came crashing down toward Elira.

"BOOOOOOM!!"

The heavens lit up, energy rippling in waves across the battlefield.

But against overwhelming power and a higher Tier, it was useless.

Elira calmly lifted her hand, fingers curling into a loose fist.

"Break."

The word was soft—almost a whisper.

But her power surged forward like a spear, slipping past the Angel’s defenses and piercing straight into his core.

"AAAGHH—!"

His scream echoed through the sky.

Golden feathers burst apart. Bones cracked and splintered. Blood and light exploded outward, then disintegrated into ash.

Moments later, the once-holy Angel was nothing more than a fading shimmer of dust, lost to the void.

Silence fell.

Every soldier who witnessed it stood frozen, eyes wide, breath caught in their throats.

They had never seen power like this.

Even the defenders of Sky Citadel were paralyzed with fear. Panic spread like wildfire.

"Fall back! FALL BACK—!"

"Don’t look back! Just run!!"

They scattered like frightened animals, fleeing in every direction.

Ethan watched them with a cold smile, eyes gleaming like a predator’s.

He stepped forward, boots echoing against the shattered stone.

"Keep moving."

At his command, the Emerald Castle army surged ahead, bloodlust rising like a storm as they stormed the sixth tier of Sky Citadel.

This level was far more fortified than the ones below.

Its guardian was a Dragon Lord—massive, armored in scales that gleamed like forged steel. His presence was immense, his power solidly at early 19Tier.

But the moment he saw who was approaching, his expression froze.

—Five terrifying auras.

Five individuals, all at 19Tier.

That was impossible.

Sky Citadel had detailed intelligence on Emerald Castle. There was no record of them having this kind of high-tier force.

"This... this can’t be..." he muttered, voice trembling.

Before he could react, a streak of green light shot toward him.

BOOM—!

Feylora’s figure blurred into motion, a streak of emerald energy.

She raised her hand, channeling the sovereign power of The Fey, and drove her fist straight into the Dragon Lord’s chest.

In an instant, vines of green energy exploded outward, piercing through the air and burrowing into his body.

"GRAAAHH—!!"

His massive frame convulsed violently. In a single breath, his flesh was torn apart from within, shredded by the invading power.

His body shattered into glowing fragments, scattering like petals in the wind.

Feylora came to a stop, her gaze cold and dismissive.

"Didn’t expect Sky Citadel’s defenders to be this pathetic."

Without another word, she turned and shot forward, her form dissolving into a streak of light as she ascended the stairs to the seventh tier.

...