My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 281: Collective Vanishing

The Power Ape Race marched swiftly through the Divine Wood Forest, led by a Giant Ape Demon the size of a small mountain, with a young man sitting cross-legged on its shoulder—Li Rui.

"My lord, as we approach the Flying Leopard Demon's camp, don't rush to order a charge to avoid unnecessary casualties."

Seated on the shoulder of the Giant Ape, he shouted to those below.

Yuan Ju was walking beside them, wielding a gold-patterned iron staff, exuding an aura of unparalleled bravery.

Upon hearing the advice, he replied, "Yes, I will follow the gentleman's advice in all matters."

As the clan leader, he wasn't as impulsive or vengeful as other apes; he knew who held the power and whom to listen to.

Li Rui did not need to walk, as he had a mount, so he could focus on checking the map while seated.

Before setting out, he had Yuan Bu recount his knowledge of the great island's sightings, adding several settlement markers to the map, along with some mysterious question marks.

"My lord! Sir! Ahead, we are blocked by the Flying Leopard Demon's guards!"

Since Yuan Bu didn't accompany them due to old age and frailty, Yuan Ju looked directly at Li Rui upon hearing the report.

"Go, send a message to the Flying Leopard clan leader and his four generals who survive. Tell them to surrender or face death!"

Li Rui shouted, startling the Monkey Demon messenger to step back, stammering, "If I deliver such words, I'm afraid I'll die, I'm afraid I'll die."

Li Rui found the point reasonable: the Flying Leopard clan looked down on monkeys, and delivering such provocative words could result in the messenger's death.

With a gruff voice, the Giant Ape said, "I can shout it for them to hear."

Li Rui covered his ears, "Then go ahead and shout."

The Giant Ape took a step forward and inhaled deeply.

"Roar—Roar Roar Roar!! Awoo!"

Li Rui was quite impressed, wondering how those few simple syllables conveyed his exact message.

The shouting had its intended effect; a cacophony of noise and roars echoed from deep within the forest.

"Form ranks, prepare to engage."

Li Rui instructed Yuan Ju.

Soon after the Power Ape Race formed their battle stance, the Flying Leopard Demon tribe also assembled opposite them.

Glaring menacingly from the other side,

the mutated Leopard Demons mostly had dark fur, but their flesh wings allowed for gliding.

Hundreds of demon warriors lined up, led by a Flying Leopard Demon with a single blinded golden eye, their leader named Feiyu.

Behind him stood four tall figures on two feet—the four generals; the remaining Flying Leopard Demons stayed on all fours, retaining more beastly traits.

Before contact, Li Rui jumped off the Giant Ape's shoulder, whispered a few words to Yuan Ju, and returned, as if on a leisure tour.

Then, Feiyu spoke, "Yuan Ju, I have long advised you to surrender to my tribe. Now that you have allies, do you think you can stand against me?"

Li Rui couldn't comprehend languages other than from the Monkey Demon, but a young Monkey Demon named Yuan Erliang, brought along for translation, was beside him.

Yuan Ju replied, "Surrender? You only covet my clan's territory, seeking to occupy our sacred training grounds. Surrender would mean slavery for my clan. Enough idle talk, Feiyu, dare you face me in battle?"

"Hahahahaha!"

Feiyu laughed skyward, "Once you dodged battle, afraid of confronting me. Now emboldened by outsiders, is that courage?"

Yuan Ju didn't waste words, just wielded the staff and advanced.

Feiyu, seeking to assert dominance and dampen the Ape Race's spirit, also stepped forward to fight.

Clang!

Yuan Ju's iron staff clashed with Feiyu's claws, sparks flying.

He moved nimbly, dodging and shifting rapidly, hard to capture.

However, Feiyu was no mere challenger; dodging attacks, he countered with his claws, sending wind blades slashing forth.

Clang clang!

Wind blades met the iron staff, sparks once again flew, as the duel remained locked without decisive outcome.

Behind, the Flying Leopard Demon tribe's fervor grew,

because of the numbers' disparity ensuring that if the leaders remained deadlocked, the Leopard's momentum was overpowering.

The four generals alone overawed the Ape Race. Only the Giant Ape could somewhat contend, while the lesser demons, though capable, couldn't outmatch the numbers.

The Water-fetching Monkey Demon beside Li Rui was fidgety, bounding across the Giant Ape's head and shoulders, unable to restrain itself, "Sir, please, help already, help."

"No rush."

Li Rui gestured dismissively. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Crack—"

The little monkey bared its teeth, "What if our lord can't hold them off?"

"Rest assured, before departure, I asked your lord, and he assured me he might not win, but certainly wouldn't lose." Li Rui spoke with a calm akin to Dong Sanchuan; stability above all.

Yet the little monkey was restless, further agitated, "Sir, if those big cats surround our lord, what then?"

"I'll step in."

Li Rui understood his concern; not just the little monkey, but even beneath, Yuan Gang and other steadfast ones, as well as other Monkey Demons, were anxious, noticeably gloomier than their foes.

Patience was vital here.

Clang clang!

After dozens of exchanges, Feiyu's expression darkened.

Over years of combat between the two races, the Flying Leopards repeatedly won, slowly encroaching on the Monkey Demons' lands. Feiyu rarely faced Yuan Ju alone, relying on the five generals to repel him. This direct duel, however, presented an unexpectedly challenging fight.

The Power Ape Race prided itself on strength, but Yuan Ju wielded an agile staff technique of notable power, surprising even the other Flying Leopards; though the Ape Race seemed weaker, their monkey king was formidable.

Bang!

Both parties retreated after a clash.

"Chief Feiyu, it seems we're evenly matched thus far." Yuan Ju stated.

Feiyu long desired to crush his opponent with overwhelming numbers. With a cold snort and an unspoken signal, the flying troops surged forward with renewed aggression.

They knew well the fifth general had fallen to the odd figure on the Giant Ape's shoulder, recognizing his might and felt safer in a group fight.

Feiyu, a veteran warrior, charged headlong with his four generals.

"Screech screech screech!"

The translation monkey, terrified, hid behind Li Rui, trembling violently.

"Sir, save us, sir!"

Yuan Ju and the other Monkey Demons felt immense pressure from their longstanding foes, treating this as a vital struggle.

"Awooo—"

The Flying Leopard Demons, fervent, charged forward with great momentum.

The Giant Ape bore Li Rui a couple steps ahead, grunting, before crouching slowly.

Li Rui, motionless save for forming a single seal with his hand.

The next moment, a dreadful aura enveloped all present.

Whoosh!

The crimson flames of the Great Fire Bell Spell surged forth, engulfing the Flying Leopard leaders and some following demons.

Ding.

A sharp sound followed as the flames abruptly retreated, and the scene seemingly paused; every demon, monkey or leopard, halted in pin-drop silence, too afraid to stir.

They didn't understand what transpired, only that the engulfed Flying Leopards had vanished from sight, leaving nothing behind.