Ormund didn’t realize it at the time, but just before the shockwave hit, a guttural roar erupted above Ethan’s head. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

In its wake, a shimmering, near-invisible membrane of light spread out from Ethan, enveloping Ormund. It seeped into the beast’s body like mist through cloth. Without that protective barrier, Ormund would’ve met the same fate as the other Pincer-tailed Sand Badgers—scattered to the wind like dust.

In that heart-pounding instant, Ethan had sensed the devastating power surging toward them. Panic kicked in. He instinctively activated his Bear Form—his go-to for brute survival. But a split-second later, another thought surged forward: What about Ormund?

Frantically, he pulled up his skills list. Something caught his eye. Not all of his Forbidden spells were on cooldown.

Without hesitation, he cast [Forbidden: Roar of Wrath].

[When equipped in Bear Form, gain the skill "Forbidden: Roar of Wrath," enhancing all allied players within 620 meters, increasing their attack, defense, health, and healing effectiveness by 100% for 10 minutes.]

He had just used [Forbidden: Starfall Barrage] a few days prior. Normally, triggering one Forbidden spell would lock out all others on his weapon for a cooldown period. Yet this one wasn’t. And right now, it was his only hope of keeping Ormund alive.

If only my Tree Form had Ironbark, Ethan thought bitterly.

The instant he released the Roar of Wrath, Ormund’s body tensed beneath him. Blood gushed from its ears, and then, like a puppet with its strings cut, the beast collapsed, unconscious—taking Ethan down with it.

"Damn it!" Ethan growled, barely keeping himself upright. Even with the defensive buffs, the shockwave had been strong enough to knock Ormund out cold.

Snarling, he forced himself to stand atop the falling beast. Muscles tensed. Magic surged through him.

"Transformation: Ancient Demigod... Activate!"

A pillar of radiant light tore down from the sky, engulfing him. His body swelled, growing exponentially. He felt his bones groan, skin stretch, blood boil.

Thump... When his feet touched the earth again, he stood as a towering giant—Grey Throat’s Might reborn.

But the sheer height startled him. Last time, in Ethereal, his transformed form had stood maybe thirty meters tall. Now... he was pushing six hundred.

Why?

Still, no time to question it. He grabbed the King Pincer-tailed Sand Badger’s enormous tail, spun with bone-snapping force, and flung the monster miles away. It landed with a thunderous crash that shook the distant sands.

Only then did Ethan kneel and gently place the small white tiger—cradled in one hand—on the ground.

"Holy... Ethan?" a stunned voice called up from below.

Uncle Jed stood at ground level, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Heh heh..." Ethan grinned through a mouthful of fangs. In this form, even his smile was terrifying. "Uncle Jed, take it and run!"

He tossed Ormund’s tail toward him.

Uncle Jed didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the massive thing with both arms and heaved it over his back. The sight was absurd—like an ant dragging the tail of a lion—but somehow, he managed. With a mighty leap, he bolted away.

Meanwhile, the Pincer-tailed Sand Badger King had recovered. Its colossal body sprang forward, cutting through space as if time itself had bent to its will. It closed the distance in an instant, three thick legs pounding toward Ethan.

From above, a claw the size of a temple came down in a blur.

"Get lost!" Ethan roared.

The Twilight War Spear, buried earlier in the sand, reappeared in his hands, drawn to him as if by fate. It elongated with the wind, matching Ethan’s towering size perfectly.

He swung.

The spear struck the creature’s head with a brutal, bone-rattling impact.

Boom.

Rip.

Its claw scraped across Ethan’s chest, tearing flesh and spraying blood. But Ethan’s blow had nearly caved in the beast’s skull.

The shockwave from their clash swept outward in a deadly gale. Uncle Jed, not far off, was caught in it and flung away like a leaf in a storm—Ormund still in tow. The sheer force sent them flying thousands of meters. If not for Ormund’s size cushioning him, Jed might’ve been hurled all the way back to the gates of Beastfall City.

The King shrieked, reeling backward from Ethan’s attack. Its tail lashed out blindly.

Whack.

Ethan didn’t dodge in time. The impact hit him square in the ribs, tearing open a ragged wound.

"Hiss... That really hurts!" he growled, gasping through clenched teeth.

Still holding the Twilight War Spear, he shifted his stance.

Spear like a dragon...

He’d trained under Uncle Jed for some time. He hadn’t mastered everything, but he’d gotten seventy, maybe eighty percent of it. Uncle Jed’s version made the spear bloom like a flower—elegant, fluid. Ethan’s? His spear barely wobbled into three awkward afterimages.

But in terms of raw damage? His strike was lethal.

Rip!

The spear plunged into the King’s waist, tearing through sinew and armor-like hide. The beast screamed and bolted a kilometer away.

"Don’t run!" Ethan bellowed, charging after it.

"Stop—stop, kid—don’t fight anymore!" the giant beast roared back in desperation.

Ethan blinked. Kid? Not ’little pest’ anymore?

"Not fighting? Fine. Give me your tail!" he demanded, standing tall with his weapon poised, only a hundred meters away.

"No!"

"Then TAKE THIS!"

Before the King could react, Ethan launched into the air. His descent mimicked a spear cleaving a mountain.

Thump!

He drove the spear straight into the monster’s head.

The beast howled, reeling again—but Ethan noticed something troubling. The King’s previously crippled limb had regrown. Shorter now, stubbier—more like a newborn’s arm—but still functional.

Its regeneration was monstrous.

He couldn’t afford to let it stall for time. If it fully healed, the tide of battle could turn. His Forbidden spell only lasted ten minutes. Worse, he didn’t know if the Ancient Demigod Spirit would vanish early like it had before.

Ethan gritted his teeth and pressed the assault. Wide, sweeping slashes of his legendary spear tore through the battlefield. Each swing opened spatial rifts in the air, cutting the void itself.

Back at the city walls of Beastfall City, the gathered spectators stood in shocked silence. Their initial hope had been for the beast to crush Ethan on sight.

Now... they weren’t so sure who the real monster was.

He was a priest, wasn’t he? Why did he have a Battle Embodiment?

Only those in the War God-rank were said to summon Battle Embodiments. And in the last thousand years, only one man in the Sea of Death had ever reached that level: Uncle Jed.

Many had gathered to see Jed fight again. He had reached the War God-rank by thirty, then vanished for over a decade. No one knew what rank he was at now.

But instead of seeing Uncle Jed’s Embodiment, they watched Ethan—no energy body, no illusion, just raw, bleeding flesh in giant form—facing the beast head-on.

"Open the gate!" Uncle Jed barked from below. Clang! He kicked the city gate.

"Open the city gate!" shouted Regis, the City Lord.

Within minutes, Uncle Jed reappeared on the walls.

"Uncle... Jed," murmured Inugoro, greeting him with a nod.

Jed barely acknowledged him. His gaze was locked on the battlefield.

"Heh... What? Upset a junior stole your thunder?" Regis teased, trying not to smirk.

"Bullshit," Jed grumbled. "That’s half my apprentice. Get your seniority straight, Regis."

He wasn’t mad, not really. Just frustrated. If he’d known Ethan was this strong, he wouldn’t have bothered acting so high and mighty earlier. Now Regis would never let him live it down.

Regis rubbed his nose awkwardly. ’That’s on me. Should’ve kept my mouth shut...’ Around them, a few couldn’t help but snicker.

"Hmph."

Regis turned to glare at one of them. The poor man instantly froze. ’I’m doomed...’

Boom...

In the distance, a hundred miles out, the sound of battle still raged. The two titanic beasts were now locked in brutal combat far to the south.

But the danger had passed.

The rest of the Sand Badgers had retreated.

Beastfall City... was safe.