In another location...
Hovering in the sky, Ice Death, Poisonous Vine, and Hoei observed the floating spheres before them, each representing the cores collected from the Five Master Clans.
A rift in space opened, and Spatial Whisperer and Thousand Earth emerged from it. Spatial Whisperer presented a green-colored sphere. "Here, I've retrieved the Botano Clan's core."
Ice Death smiled, seeing the last core. He nodded at Spatial Whisperer. "Well done. The Darkna Clan's core is also accounted for. Red Mist dispatched someone to deliver it just recently."
"Now that we possess all the cores..." Poisonous Vine began.
"We'll assume full control of the All-Filter Barrier Formation. Our forces will converge here, and we'll stage an ambush to eliminate all the alliance army experts outside the barrier," Ice Death declared.
The All-Filter Barrier Formation, crafted by the Isolated Formation God, held vast potential for their plans.
Ice Death turned to Spatial Whisperer, inquiring, "What's the current situation with Man-Eating Tamer?"
"He unleashed his fifth-stage minion. It's wreaking havoc. Even with the barrier's suppression, I doubt they can overcome it," Spatial Whisperer responded.
"So, he's intent on causing widespread destruction. We'll depart this place soon. Our task here is complete. We've emerged victorious," Ice Death stated.
"What about Man-Eating Tamer and the others who haven't returned?" Poisonous Vine inquired.
"Let them be. They can fend for themselves. Besides, this land will soon belong to us. Our priority now is to present these cores to our Great Lord. If our Great Lord succeeds, we'll be able to establish another All-Filter Barrier Formation," Ice Death explained, his gaze fixed on the floating spheres.
Spatial Whisperer gestured, folding space to envelop the five cores.
"Let's proceed. Utilizing these cores, we'll exit the barrier," Ice Death concluded.
Cracks!
Cracks appeared, spreading throughout the air. In just a second, the fractures nearly encompassed the entire dimension.
"It's collapsing. Follow me," Ice Death commanded before vanishing into the air.
Swoosh!
Spatial Whisperer, Thousand Earth, and Poisonous Vine swiftly followed his lead.
Hoei stared at the spot where they had disappeared. He knew that attempting any action would result in his demise.
"I'll wait for the right moment. A single second will suffice," Hoei muttered to himself before trailing after the trio.
Bang!
The entire space collapsed, shattering like fragile glass. Its fragments disintegrated into nothingness, erasing everything within it.
The Selnes Country had returned to normal after the dimensions that had swallowed the land collapsed, leaving the land of Selnes within the barrier again. Erkigal, Franklin, Eztein, and Vashno found themselves in the basement of the Flaem Clan, back before the space opened and consumed everything.
"We're back... I can feel the energy density of Imperium," Eztein muttered, sensing the familiar energy.
"The laws and concepts here are stronger, no doubt," Vashno confirmed.
Boom!
A sudden, heavy tremor shook the ground, and the energy fluctuations became intense, pressing them down onto their knees.
"What's happening?!" Eztein exclaimed in alarm.
Erkigal narrowed her eyes and said firmly, "Let's go."
The survivors from the first attack of the Deadly Sins were in a state of shock, kneeling and spitting out mouthfuls of blood. Their surroundings were chaotic.
This time, when Erkigal had previously opened the legacy of the Isolated Formation God, the survivors were transported to a different space, far from the battle. In that space, they weren't strongly affected by the events unfolding. However, the situation had changed drastically now that they were back in the Selnes Country. The energy radiation from higher beings was exerting immense pressure on them.
The pressure was overwhelming.
"Mama! H-help me!!"
"I can't breathe!"
"N-No!"
In this place, they were exposed and vulnerable, akin to chickens on the brink of being slaughtered.
On some parts of the Selnes Country...
Struggling, Genzu pushed himself out of the ground, spitting a mouthful of blood as he looked up.
"W-What... is happening?!"
His eyes widened in shock. The energy pressure in the air was immense, affecting his weakened body. Genzu had fought Anti-
Mage until the very end, and now, lying there, he wasn't sure if he had emerged victorious or not. All he knew was that he collapsed from the sheer expenditure of his strength.
Asfrith, who had been resting nearby, was equally taken aback by the unfolding events. Rising to his feet, he gazed intently toward the center.
Though aware of what was occurring, witnessing it firsthand was deeply surprising to him.
"I think I could push myself to the limit..."
Asfrith drew in a deep breath to steady himself. Clenching both fists, he quietly assessed his remaining energy.
There wasn't much left.
Kasci leaned against the wall, his body covered in blood, while his broken wings hung limp at his sides. He had barely managed to survive the encounter with Ice Death, his strength draining away.
He turned his head slowly, voice strained. "All the dimensions... that opened in this land are gone... It means that the civilians... are in danger once again... I don't think I could participate in the battle anymore."
Glancing down at the gaping hole in his stomach, from which blood continued to pour, Kasci understood the severity of his condition. This injury would have been fatal for most, but his tenacity kept him clinging to life.
None of them were at their peak. Faced with a terrifying fifth-stage monster, they knew they stood no chance in their current state. Death seemed inevitable.
The experts from the Five Master Clans and the alliance army shared this realization.
Erkigal, Vashno, Eztein, and Franklin emerged onto the surface, their gazes locking onto the towering, fearsome figure looming before them.
"To think that Clan Leader Paente had initiated something like this," Erkigal muttered in astonishment. "If he succeeded, he would gain power, but if he failed... it will all be in vain. He will die."
"This is the energy that I felt in the stone monument... A fifth-stage monster," Vashno remarked solemnly.
"Don't worry, I mentioned that we're familiar with the other one, haven't I? You haven't met her, but you'll witness her might today," Eztein said, a smile appearing on his face.
"Our leader is prepared," Franklin affirmed.
In the distance, a towering tree stood proudly, its branches reaching toward the boundary of the barrier, casting a colossal shadow over a vast area. Just beneath it, a colossal centipede moved through the air, each of its movements causing the ground to tremble.
Boom!
The centipede rolled in pursuit of two luminous figures—Omari Adel and Shen Yao.
"Shit! The laws and concepts got stronger, so we're back in Imperium!" Adel cursed as he soared through the air.
"This is not good—everyone will be affected!" Shen Yao's voice sounded gloomy.
ROAR!!!
A thunderous roar resonated across the land.
Shen Yao and Adel turned their heads abruptly.
Man-Eating Tamer also felt the intense pressure. Even with his fifth-stage centipede and fourth-stage minions, warning signs were evident, causing him to taste blood in his mouth. The side effects of controlling the fifth-stage monster were slowly manifesting.
Swoosh!!
A colossal figure emerged in the sky from one of the tree's branches. It possessed a pair of wings spanning several hundred meters, but its most distinctive feature was its nine heads.
It was the Lernaean Hydra.
The hydra flew in the air, roaring loudly, establishing its dominance against the other fifth-stage monster.
Souta stood atop the hydra's back, wielding his sword as he fixed Man-Eating Tamer with a gaze filled with murderous intent.
Man-Eating Tamer's eyes widened in shock, which quickly transformed into anger. He ground his teeth and exclaimed, "Blood Lightning Monster, you're back!!"
Swoosh!!
Souta leaped from Kessa's back. He slid along the ground, hurtling towards Man-Eating Tamer.
Meanwhile, Kessa collided with the gigantic body of the centipede. Despite her immense size, compared to the centipede, she appeared small.
Observing this, Adel and Shen Yao exchanged a glance. Without uttering a word, they both launched an attack towards Man-
Eating Tamer. With someone handling the centipede, they aimed to take down their primary target.
A massive golden palm and a blueish flame streaked towards Man-Eating Tamer.
Swiftly, Man-Eating Tamer leaped aside, commanding some of his minions to intercept the attacks.
Boom!!
The combined golden palm and blueish flame eradicated several of his minions instantly. With few minions left, controlling more would significantly drain him, especially as he concentrated on handling the centipede.
Emerging from the dissipating smoke, Souta brandished his sword, its blade aglow with intertwining dark and light energies, creating a peculiar spectacle on its surface.