Chapter 1051
Few cultivators waded into the ranks of the distortion beasts like Durff did. Instead, they sought to fight the beasts from the edge of their range, many cultivators working together against the bulk of an individual beast.
Yuval did the same, waiting for them to attack then launching his own counter. Flames clung to a particularly densely furred limb, which then withdrew into space beyond. If they were simply normal flames, they would have been immediately quashed. Without oxygen or even the normal concept of space around them, mundane fire would go out. But proper flames could linger and grow on almost any medium.
The downside, especially against cultivators, was that they could be put out by thinking foes relatively easily. Yuval couldn’t create a self-sustaining reaction that would function entirely on upper energy, so in most cases it was a waste of effort. Even most beasts would have enough control over their energy to put out such flames upon recognizing the danger.
Distortion beasts weren’t somehow less intelligent than normal animals with cultivation, but they did not think in the same way. Regardless of whether it could put out the flames or not, the furred beast clearly didn’t. Other flaming limbs appeared in various places around the city he was defending- but anything they caught alight Yuval was able to put out, as he was still the origin of the flames.
He couldn’t say he was solely responsible for defeating a powerful distortion beast, but he certainly caused it great trouble as its outer layer rapidly became charred by the flames. Allied cultivators found it easier to cut into the beast without its thick fur, hacking off pieces to leave charred lumps of flesh everywhere.
The cleanup was going to be a pain. Distortion beasts were not even always good as fertilizer, often filled with noxious toxins despite it making no biological sense. Sometimes their remnants could be formed into weapons and armor, but that usually took specialists.
The swarm of distortion beasts was widespread, assaulting the whole planet. Yet it was still within the realm that the locals could handle. Most likely it wouldn’t have been, had Zorka lived and the rest of the Disciples of the Beyond not been driven off. This was only a small portion of the attractive force they were intending to propagate.
It had to be noted that the Exalted Quadrant had their own forces on the planet, at least at the beginning of the event. The Disciples of the Beyond who had fled from the formation array were among the first to hop onto ships and begin departing the planet, but others rapidly followed. Some flew right into the approaching horde of beasts, and the Exalted Quadrant’s departure was unorganized. No doubt they had planned the attack, but it wasn’t supposed to trigger quite so soon.
It shouldn't have been a coincidence, and while Velvet and Runa would have gladly taken credit for their choices, it was clear there were other manipulations behind the scene. Not that Velvet was opposed, when it was for the proper reasons.