Chapter 280: Chapter 280 - Three Blasts for the Haven
The three massive beasts began charging another round of devastating magic spheres, the energy swirling violently in their mouths as the glowing orbs expanded at alarming speed. Every soldier caught in their potential line of fire braced for impact, preparing whatever defense they could muster against the inevitable onslaught.
Unfortunately, even the Guardian Sentinel Statues could not withstand such power. The ones that tried to intercept were obliterated instantly, their stone and metal shells reduced to fragments. The sheer destructive force displayed here was staggering, and it clearly came at an enormous resource cost.
There was no way the opposing lord could unleash something like this repeatedly without consequence.
Atlas shifted his focus toward Team Blaze and Team Flame, where Lyrassa and Serenith were already preparing to meet the attack head-on.
Serenith stood beside Kazan, who towered over her like a fortress, surrounded by their squad. Yet instead of worry, Serenith wore an unmistakable look of excitement, almost joy.
"Lady Sera, Lord Atlas asks that you don’t... overdo it," Kazan said with a small bow.
Serenith grinned, ignoring the warning as she unfurled her wings, her massive bazooka already mounted on her shoulder, humming with light.
Kazan raised his left hand, signaling the others to hold their positions. At that moment, an immense surge of energy gathered before Serenith’s weapon, the light from it blinding even in the pitch-black night.
A thunderous roar ripped through the air as her bazooka fired, the atmosphere itself seeming to collapse inward before exploding outward.
Kazan braced himself as a wave of pressure burst across the battlefield, the recoil throwing dust and wind in every direction, and even knocking some soldiers a step back.
The blazing projectile streaked across the sky, faster than the eye could follow, striking the enemy before their monsters could finish charging their attacks.
Kazan was standing right behind Serenith when her body was hurled backward by the massive recoil. And then—
KA-THOOOOOM! BRRRRRAAAAAAAM!!!
A colossal mushroom cloud of crimson fire erupted in the distance, a blazing inferno of pure destruction that lit up the night sky. The impact was so intense it sent shockwaves rippling across the lake, shaking the entire island as if struck by a storm.
Atlas, seated on his floating throne, felt the tremor rattle through him, causing the throne to lurch slightly off balance.
Edrik inhaled sharply, while Atlas sighed, rubbing his temple.
"It seems asking Serenith to hold back was a waste of time," Atlas muttered.
Edrik’s lips twitched. "She’s just... very passionate about explosions."
"No wonder she managed to develop the Phoenix Mockery talent," Atlas said, watching the aftermath of the blast. "A brief revival after fatal damage. Even her fighting style is completely reckless, pouring almost all her stamina into creating explosions that excessive."
Edrik crossed his arms, his tone dripping with dry humor. "Massive explosion, total stamina drain, defeat, revival, and then she uses what’s left of her energy to run away. Truly, a masterpiece of strategy." He smirked slightly. "Still, it got her to Rank-8 Overlord at one point. Who knows how many planets she’s blown up in her past life?"
"Planets, yes... not islands anymore," Atlas replied with a faint smirk of his own.
Below them, the result of Serenith’s strike was clear, the enemy’s troops were annihilated. A small section of the island obliterated and partially collapsed.
And there she was, Serenith, already back in the air, perched casually on Kazan’s broad shoulder, staring dreamily at the distant inferno she had created. Her expression was one of awe, as if she were admiring a piece of art rather than the destruction of a battlefield.
On the opposite side of the island, just as Serenith’s explosion still echoed across the horizon, Team Blaze was preparing for their own confrontation. Lyrassa and Kaida stood at the front, facing the incoming threat with their soldiers gathered behind them.
"Lady Lyrassa, what should we do?" Kaida asked anxiously.
"I’ll handle the attack myself," Lyrassa said softly, her tone calm but absolute. "You all fall back for now."
"But... are you sure?" Kaida hesitated, clearly uneasy.
[Edrik: "Kaida, pull Team Blaze back. Now."]
The order came through the link, and Kaida clenched her jaw before shouting to her squad. "Move!"
As the command took hold, the massive magic sphere streaked across the battlefield. Dragging soil, tearing through the air, and slicing the waters apart as it passed. Kaida and the others retreated quickly, yet their eyes stayed locked on Lyrassa, who still stood alone against the storm.
She closed her eyes, her breathing steady. Around her, the earth began to stir. Grass and vines sprouted rapidly, flowers bloomed in dazzling color, and a soft, melodic hum filled the air. As if nature itself was singing. The sight was hauntingly beautiful amid the chaos of war.
Then, a surge of pure energy erupted behind her, forming into the translucent shape of a giant tree. Its branches reach skyward, glowing with serene light.
The colossal magic sphere hurtled toward her.
Lyrassa’s eyes snapped open. She raised both hands, and a swirling current of green energy burst forth from her palms. The sphere halted midair, its power caught in a powerful vortex forming before her. The air howled as the vortex intensified, twisting violently. Draining, pulling, devouring the energy of the oncoming blast.
Then something almost unreal began to unfold. The massive translucent tree behind Lyrassa started to solidify—its glowing form slowly gaining texture and weight. Energy flowed through its trunk like liquid light, spreading into its branches as leaves burst forth, vibrant and tangible.
At the same time, the colossal magic sphere before her began to shrink rapidly, its violent glow dimming as it was drawn into the tree’s core.
"Lyrassa is converting the energy into another form," Edrik said.
Atlas let out a quiet, impressed laugh. "With that kind of skill, we could reforest entire continents if we wanted to."
Moments later, a great tree stood proudly where the blast had been aimed, a living monument of shimmering bark and radiant leaves. The attack had vanished completely, absorbed and transformed into life itself.
Lyrassa’s approach was the complete opposite of Serenith’s fiery destruction, yet both had achieved the same result. Total victory in their own, unmistakable way.
"It seems the first two monsters have run out of resources," Edrik observed.
[Atlas: "Time for close combat. Hydros, Blaze, engage!"]
The command echoed through the comms, but before the teams could even advance, the air rippled again. More portals ignited across the battlefield, and from them, new monsters emerged. Identical to the first three. Each one began to charge up that same terrifying energy.
But this time, the glowing magic spheres didn’t fire straight ahead. They arced upward, soaring high into the air like meteors.
Atlas’s eyes widened as realization struck. Three massive magic spheres were now descending. Aimed directly toward the central region of Gacha Haven.
An attack like that would cause devastating losses if it hit key structures. And worse, the central area wasn’t just a military zone. It housed workers, and among them... Morganna and Vienne.
Three blasts. Three different targets.
"One’s heading for the fortress," Edrik said. "Another toward the residential district. And the last one’s locked on the farmlands."
Atlas exhaled slowly, tension flickering across his face. "Well... this is going to be troublesome."