Chapter 111: The Battlefield Awakens

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Setting aside Zhao Tianhe and the others’ ongoing escape, the island was already in an uproar. After several coastal defense teams noticed something was amiss and failed to make contact, they hurried to the patrol zones responsible for the distressed ship. It wasn’t long before they detected the arrival of the Wind Demon calamity.

Multiple coastal defense units simultaneously issued emergency warnings about the demon disaster via communication devices. The island’s heroes quickly relayed the message among themselves and organized a response.

Meanwhile, the mayor swiftly assembled the island’s elite mage forces to initiate the ritual for activating the “Great Battlefield” barrier!

“What? They’re not here?” Jeros frowned as he looked at Li Mei’s father, Li Yong, who was also a C-rank hero.

“Yes, I received the alarm too and intended to notify them, but they probably already rushed over,” Li Yong nodded solemnly.

“That’s not right,” the blue giant Han Ar said gravely. “Ahe’s got incredible perception talents; he must have sensed the demon’s approach early on. So they should have immediately flown back to alert us! How is it possible they still haven’t appeared?”

“Something must have gone wrong…” Jeros pursed his lips, pulling out the contract he had signed with Zhao Tianhe from his spatial gear.

This contract lacked any binding force but had special effects—such as showing whether the signee was alive or dead.

“He’s still alive, so Li Mei must be fine,” Jeros analyzed. “Therefore, both of them must be alive.”

After all, without summoned creatures, Zhao Tianhe’s overall strength was far below Li Mei’s.

“That’s a relief…” Li Yong sighed. “But what’s going on? With flying boats and Ahe’s perception, they shouldn’t have been caught by the Wind Demon disaster. What else could it be?!”

“Who knows…” Jeros shook his head.

But having learned many details of the capital incident from Zhao Tianhe, he suspected this was most likely a man-made disaster.

“The location of the coastal defense casualties and the direction Zhao Tianhe and the others headed directly face the demons. This can’t be a coincidence,” Jeros stared blankly at the calm sea. “Could it be… the peace has lasted too long?”

In Fuguang District’s square, all hero squads were assembled.

Government officials placed crystal stones and video crystals on nearby pillars, projecting an image of the mayor of Bal Island City.

“Everyone, this demon disaster is extremely urgent! Its scale far exceeds all recorded Wind Demon disasters!” the mayor said anxiously. “Observations show there’s not just one group of demons. The vanguard alone numbers around 30,000, with an estimated 20 to 30 bosses, none below B-rank.”

“And the other group? A staggering 100,000!” The mayor wiped sweat from his neck. “Bosses may exceed one hundred, and there’s very likely the legendary Wind Demon Lord among them!”

“The Wind Demon Lord?! Then we need at least an S-rank team to fight!” A burly, black-furred otherworldly spirit stood up and shouted. “There are only five A-rank squads on the island; they definitely can’t hold them back!”

“I’ve already contacted Saint Rose Harbor and nearby Didi and Queer Islands for reinforcements, but they’ll take at least one to two hours to arrive. The first wave of Wind Demon disaster is just ten minutes away. This situation was discovered too late…” The mayor sighed and shook his head. “Before reinforcements arrive, we must activate the Great Battlefield barrier; otherwise, the entire island is doomed!”

“So, I have to ask: should we pull the subsequent main demon army into the battlefield as well?” The mayor asked seriously.

The activation of the Great Battlefield barrier was similar to the Infinite Sword Technique, both stemming from the ancient divine magic described by Wei Luan. But this was a large-scale formation, far surpassing Zhao Tianhe’s Infinite Sword Technique in scope and effect.

Once the barrier was deployed, all demons and heroes within the designated area would be drawn inside, forming a temporary “dungeon.”

However, this dungeon belonged to the normal world side, generating numerous “virtual spirits” formed from the formation’s accumulated energy to assist in battle. Moreover, no other creatures existed inside, severing energy exchanges with the outside, so demons could not replenish.

Demons could only escape by destroying the eight giant spirit statues standing within the battlefield to open the return gate or wait three days until the barrier’s energy depleted and ended naturally.

In previous disasters with tens of thousands of demons, even the virtual spirits inside could easily handle them. But now, with over a hundred thousand demons, there was no joke.

They certainly could not win by fighting directly. Inside the battlefield, heroes faced a massive swarm of demons with no place to retreat.

Total annihilation was only a matter of time; the only question was how many could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

“Of course, all of them!” A small man with human-like features but a mouth full of fangs and triangular dark green eyes, covered in tattoos, laughed wildly.

“Exactly. We can’t let a single demon escape,” said a man wearing a metal mask and heavy armor calmly.

Almost all otherworldly spirits unhesitatingly chose to fight all the demons head-on. Ordinary heroes hesitated but had little choice in the matter.

“Everyone, don’t despair,” a slender female spirit with her eyes covered by a blindfold, wearing a red and blue long dress, spoke softly.

“Though this battle will be difficult, we have reinforcements coming, so there’s no need to fight to the death,” she said. “My talent, Life Link, can connect our lives; even if someone takes a fatal blow, it can be transformed into a stone statue to preserve their life. I won’t allow anyone to die before total defeat.”

“Share life and death? Ha! Disgusting!” The strange small man laughed loudly. “I don’t want to be linked with you! Death would be more comfortable! Haha!”

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“Foolish Jack! Don’t talk nonsense!” A tall, burly old man with a white braided beard slapped the small man and shouted, “Now’s not the time for dissent. Get serious.”

“Ah, got it~~” The man named Jack covered the back of his head, sticking out his tongue unwillingly and stopped talking.

“Three minutes until the ritual completes,” the mayor said. “For safety, I’ll activate it when the demons are one minute from the island. Wishing everyone the best…”

The female spirit, named Riley, appeared ghostlike as a lotus-shaped light flower floated in her hands.

One by one, stamens stretched from the center and connected to everyone’s chests.

The stamens slowly dissipated, leaving a lotus mark on each person’s chest.

“I won’t give up on anyone…” Riley’s voice was soft and mournful, like a ghost lamenting. “Let’s work hard together…”

Everyone stood silently, waiting for the Great Battlefield to activate.

Jeros’ expression was uneasy. He remembered that once the battlefield opened, heroes would be randomly assigned around the eight giant spirit statues.

“The battlefield’s range is vast; hopefully Ahe and the others are within it too, and we’ll be assigned together,” Jeros sighed. “I refuse to survive alone again. Even if I die this time, I will protect my comrades!”

In the distance, a massive black tornado slowly approached. Zhao Tianhe and Li Mei desperately fled through the air.

They had thought that simply escaping the dungeon and hiding somewhere would suffice, but unexpectedly, an even fiercer wave chased them.

They were cornered by ordinary Wind Demons and forced out of the water, fleeing in midair.

Seeing an elite Wind Demon approaching, both felt despair.

Li Mei’s specialty, barrier spells, could only be used for fixed-point defense. Stopping now would be a death trap!

“Forget it, let’s fight,” Li Mei sighed. “At this speed, they’ll catch us within ten minutes…”

Zhao Tianhe looked at the terrifying wind pillar formed by countless Wind Demons, connecting heaven and earth. Though hopeless, he felt no fear.

“Am I going to die? Well, that’s fine, at least I didn’t drag Ailei and Artoria down,” Zhao Tianhe smiled faintly at the desolate black wind pillar.

A cubic light barrier formed around them. Ordinary Wind Demons howled and struck it, sending ripples across the surface.

At that moment, the mayor of Fuguang District stood and bowed to everyone.

Swoosh!

A strange wave swept across tens of kilometers.

Zhao Tianhe and Li Mei felt dizzy; the scenery changed, and all Wind Demons vanished.

“Hmm? Look at you, all disheveled, Amei,” a tattooed, topless one-eyed man laughed at Li Mei. “I didn’t expect we’d be assigned together. So happy! Want to marry?”

This wild-looking man was clearly a spirit.

“No,” Li Mei instinctively refused. From her demeanor, it seemed she was used to such advances.

She looked around and collapsed to the ground, nearly crying with relief.

“The Great Battlefield… has started…” she whispered, covering her face and looking at the towering statue beside her.

The eight statues were the top heroes who once conquered the Endless Sea:

The elven archer, chosen one, Jeros Bartholomew Keel…

Her partner, the otherworldly spirit, the shadow beast from the M33 Nebula Empire, Bapi.

The dwarf berserker, Dunshan Kabron.

His partner, otherworldly spirit, a mysterious man from Earth, Old Ghost.

The human level-10 mage, Fire Lord, Salski.

His partner, otherworldly spirit, a silicon-based life form from the Fifth Dimension Dynasty, the Silver Beast Mephito.

The elven level-10 mage, Life Lord, Burs Williams Cato…

His partner, otherworldly spirit, the mysterious spirit Verdi.

Next to Zhao Tianhe and Li Mei stood the statue of Old Ghost, leisurely reclining on a giant rock.

Though Zhao Tianhe had never met this spirit said to be an Earth compatriot, he had at least visited the museum to pay respects to him.

“How long has this guy lived?!” Zhao Tianhe stared incredulously at the statue.

The museum held no detailed information, and S+ heroes’ data were specially protected and encrypted by the Association; even the highest Holy Council level couldn’t access it unless under special circumstances. There was virtually no rumor.

As for Old Ghost’s lifespan, no clear explanation existed, but he seemed present at every major recorded event in the last five centuries.

Zhao Tianhe was a newcomer with few acquaintances on the island. Li Mei was different; from her figure alone, it was clear she didn’t seek out others, but others sought her out.

After some conversation, everyone learned the general situation.

“Attacked? The demons got the dungeon’s location coordinates?!” A female mage frowned hearing Li Mei’s report. “Impossible! Are you crazy? Who did this?”

“It’s complicated. We must report directly to the Association,” Li Mei shook her head, withholding Wei Luan’s name.

Without evidence, no one would believe it and it would cause unnecessary disputes. It was better for Zhao Tianhe to report directly to the Association.

“Everyone, this is not the time for arguments,” a heavily armored otherworldly spirit pointed toward the rolling black fog in the distance. “The enemy won’t wait for us.”

“Still, the external dungeon being invaded by Wind Demons is serious and must be reported quickly,” a male mage said. “There are still demons outside; this is dangerous!”

Inside the Great Battlefield barrier stretched a vast space over ten thousand square kilometers, with an immeasurable height and jagged rocky ground. The eight giant spirit statues stood around the battlefield’s perimeter, while the demons drawn inside gathered in the center.

Countless Wind Demons howled and circled in the air, forming a massive black fog.

On its surface, eerie blood-red patterns continuously moved—likely a unique demon formation.

At the statues’ bases, beams of light shot into the sky.

Within each beam, a figure gradually appeared: first the body, then limbs, then a blurred face, finally encased in heavy armor.

When the light faded, towering warriors over three meters tall stood there, muscular and wielding heavy hammers, like gods.

These were the battlefield’s virtual spirits, lacking special abilities but possessing high attack, defense, and strong regeneration—comparable to A-rank elite demons.

In past disasters, these 800 A-rank elites could easily wipe the opposition. But against this unprecedented scale, they probably wouldn’t last half an hour, considering there were over a hundred A-rank bosses on the enemy side.

At the black fog’s center was a blood-red liquid core, no longer fog-like but fluid.

Around the liquid core swirled dense blood mist, confirming the presence of S-rank bosses in this disaster.

How these Wind Demons communicated remains unproven, but they were likely holding a meeting.

This was natural; as highly intelligent beings suddenly trapped in an unknown space, they wouldn’t rush blindly but formulate strategies.

Apparently, whoever secretly supported the demons withheld details of the Great Battlefield barrier for unknown reasons.

Control of the battlefield barrier lay not inside but on Bal Island.

Currently, the island’s controllers, upon seeing the enemy’s condition, chose to remain still. If the enemy hesitated, that was best. Every second counted now.

However, after receiving reports of the external dungeon’s invasion by Wind Demons, islanders panicked.

This meant demons existed outside as well, and all combat forces had already been deployed, leaving no reserves.

Saint Rose Harbor, upon receiving the report, took it seriously and dispatched a second wave of reinforcements. Together with the previous batch, over 80% of the harbor’s hero squads were now deployed.

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