Chapter 36 - Wars!
Sam cast a glance at Michael, whose face mirrored the shock spreading through the crowd. Eddie muttered under his breath, "This... is bad."
Sam tightened his fists, his resolve hardening despite the chaos. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he said, "Guess we're fixing my mess," before charging headlong into the fray.
Landing in the midst of the Chaos Being horde, Sam quickly assessed the situation. Among the goblin-like creatures, he spotted human-shaped Chaos Beings wielding weapons—an unsettling escalation. His Heavenly Eye activated, identifying the new threat.
[Chaos Soldier]
They were stronger than the Chaos Spawn but still fell within Tier 1. Without hesitation, Sam unleashed Atomic Fissure.
Boom!
The impact was devastating, obliterating the immediate swarm in a fiery explosion of light and force. But instead of stemming the tide, the dark pit at the center only grew wider, its edges crumbling as even more Chaos Beings poured out, faster and in greater numbers.
Sam's eyes widened at the unintended consequence. Realizing he couldn't afford to fight near the pit any longer, he retreated, using Flash Step to move 1 km away from the dangerous focal point. His expression darkened with frustration. Despite his intentions, his power had inadvertently worsened the situation. His Unbound abilities, though immense, were proving difficult to control in such a delicate scenario.
Regrouping at the frontlines, Sam focused his efforts on minimizing the damage. He carefully controlled the range of his skills, ensuring they wouldn't further destabilize the pit. Each strike was precise, and he worked tirelessly to push back the Chaos Beings.
A while later, the tide of fighters began to shift. Reinforcements from the other groups arrived, their collective resolve bolstering the battle line. With the combined strength of thousands of participants, they pushed forward, aiming to reclaim control over the chaotic battlefield.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Sam stood at the forefront, his relentless determination and raw power inspiring those around him. But deep down, he knew this battle was far from over.
Zhoooom! BOOOM!!
Sam continued his relentless assault, the battlefield trembling with every strike. He had already slain more than ten thousand Chaos Beings, their disfigured forms reduced to nothing under the force of his explosions. Yet, no matter how many fell, the enemy's numbers seemed endless. The Chaos Beings surged out of the abyss like an unyielding tide.
It wasn't hopeless for Sam, but for the others, the situation was growing dire. Their force of ten thousand participants was dwarfed by the Chaos army, which had already swelled to over ten times their number. And still, more poured from the pit.
Sam's team fought valiantly beside him, acting as a shield for the weaker participants. Michael stood at the rear, Healing Pulse emanating repeatedly to stabilize the injured and keep their line intact. Eve and Ann flanked him, cutting down Chaos Beings as they advanced, ensuring his protection.
But the Chaos Beings began to change their strategy. Instead of mindlessly charging, they started forming formations—organizing themselves into groups that attacked with greater coordination. This shift in behavior forced the participants to retreat, their front lines crumbling under the calculated assault. Chaos Beings moved in waves, creating pockets of concentrated pressure that the participants couldn't withstand.
Sam's heart sank as he saw people falling—some dragged down by sheer numbers, others overwhelmed by the strategic onslaught. He couldn't let this continue.
With a fierce resolve, Sam conjured a massive Proton Sphere, hurling it into the densest part of the Chaos army.
BOOOOM!!!
The explosion sent Chaos Beings flying in all directions, creating a temporary gap in the enemy's ranks. Seizing the moment, Sam shouted, "Everyone retreat to the Safe Zone! I'll hold them back! Fall back!"
The participants hesitated for a brief moment before obeying. The sense of desperation was palpable as they began pulling back, one by one.
Michael's voice rang out, filled with worry. "What are you going to do, Sam!?"
"I'll hold them off!" Sam replied, his tone unyielding. "If we keep fighting here, we'll be surrounded, and it'll all be over! Go! Get everyone ready for a longer fight! Retreat and regroup. Get ready for the next round!""
Michael clenched his fists but nodded, his expression resolute. "Don't do anything stupid! We're coming back for you!" With that, he joined the retreat, coordinating their forces to regroup at the Safe Zone.
Now alone, Sam found himself surrounded by an ocean of Chaos Beings. They seemed to sense his isolation, shifting their focus entirely to him. Their movements became more coordinated as if driven by a collective will to crush him.
Sam's lips curled into a fierce grin. "Come on, then!" he roared.
He slammed his fist into the ground, activating Atomic Fissure.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The battlefield erupted in a storm of destruction. The ground shattered, sending shockwaves rippling outward, breaking the formations of the Chaos Beings. Sam unleashed his full power, no longer holding back, the explosions tearing through wave after wave of enemies.
Surrounded and outnumbered, Sam stood as a beacon of defiance, his unrelenting will blazing like a storm. For every Chaos Being that advanced, a fiery explosion met them, ensuring none could pass. The battlefield was his, and he would hold it—no matter the cost.
Michael POV
This is bad, I watched as Sam unleashed his skill on the army of Chaos Beings, the devastation resembling the detonation of an atomic bomb in the movies. Flames consumed the battlefield, annihilating the monsters in their path. But the destruction didn't stop there. The pit, which we assumed was the entrance to the lower floors, was swallowed by the inferno, its edges collapsing inward.
Then came the system notification.
Ding!
Emergency Quest: Prison Break!
The moment the quest appeared, Sam jumped into the air, launching himself straight into the center of the ever-growing swarm of monsters. My heart sank. What is he doing?
Without hesitation, I shouted to the others, "Follow him! Engage the swarm!"
We surged forward, weapons ready. I wielded my spear, piercing through the Chaos Beings one by one. At the same time, I activated Healing Pulse, the yellow aura spreading out around me, mending minor injuries and keeping my comrades on their feet.
But the monsters just kept coming, an unending tide pouring from the pit. Their sheer number was overwhelming, and the battlefield was quickly becoming chaos.
In the distance, I saw people from other groups struggling. Some were surrounded by the creatures, their screams cut short as they fell. A cold dread gripped me. If this continued, we'd all be overrun.
Then Sam moved.
From the middle of the battlefield, he activated one of his massive skills. A wall of flames and shockwaves erupted, splitting the Chaos army in two and creating a brief reprieve. His voice cut through the chaos, commanding us to retreat.
"Fall back!"
For a moment, I froze, confused. Why? Why would he want us to retreat? My first thought was that Sam was planning to sacrifice himself, but I knew him better than that.
Sam wasn't sacrificing himself.
This was his battlefield, and he fought best when he wasn't held back by the need to protect others. His fighting style was too destructive, too overwhelming for a team fight.
"What are you going to do?" I shouted at him.
"I'll hold them back!" he yelled in reply. "Retreat and regroup. Get ready for the next round!"
I nodded. I knew he could hold the line—no, he was the line. Sam had never shown signs of exhaustion since reaching Tier 1, and now, as a Tier, he was even stronger.
"Fall back!" I ordered, leading our group away from the battlefield.
As we retreated, I counted our numbers. Thankfully, we hadn't lost anyone from our group. But the same couldn't be said for the others. Many Tier 1 participants were severely injured, some barely clinging to life.
Even as we pulled back, the sound of explosions echoed behind us, each one louder than the last. Shockwaves traveled the distance, reaching us even 3 kilometers away. The ground trembled beneath my feet, a stark reminder of the sheer power Sam wielded.
Finally, we reached the Safe Zone. I turned back, still hearing the relentless booms in the distance.
Michael looked around at the chaos surrounding the Safe Zone. People were scattered, many still shell-shocked and unsure of what to do. The urgency of the situation pressed on him like a weight. If they didn't act quickly, Sam would be in real danger.
He raised his voice, cutting through the noise and confusion. "Everyone, listen up! We don't have time to waste. If we fail this quest, we all die! Get yourselves together!"
The crowd stilled, their eyes turning toward him. Michael took a deep breath and continued. "Whoever is ready to evolve to Tier 2, do it now. Prepare yourselves for another fight. And if anyone has a plan, speak up! We need ideas, and we need them fast!"
A man in his sixties stepped forward, his physique surprisingly strong and well-maintained for his age. He raised his hand to gather attention. "I have an idea," he began, his deep voice commanding respect. "Let's build a fortress in front of the Safe Zone. That way, we can funnel the Chaos Beings and prevent them from surrounding us."
The suggestion sparked a ripple of agreement through the crowd. Encouraged by the man's initiative, others began to chime in with additional suggestions.
Michael felt a glimmer of hope. People really can come together when it matters most, he thought.
After a quick vote, the group agreed to build the fortress. Work began immediately. Earth mages coordinated to shape the ground into a sturdy foundation, while others dug trenches and erected walls. Tier 1 participants who met the requirements started undergoing evolution, their power surging as they ascended to Tier 2.
An hour passed. Despite the steady progress, the sound of explosions continued to echo in the distance, a stark reminder of Sam's lone battle.
Finally, the fortress was complete. A sturdy wall now stood between the Safe Zone and the chaos beyond. The participants were healed, rested, and ready to fight once more.
Michael turned to Eddie, his face grim but determined. "Eddie!"
Eddie nodded without hesitation and sprinted toward the direction of the explosions. His mission was clear: to let Sam know they were ready to join the fight.
Michael watched him disappear into the distance, his fists clenching tightly. Hold on, Sam.