Chapter 382: New Ability, Time Anchor!
He knew the situation clearly now. With the three-way stalemate in place, the Observer Organization needed him to fight the Tribunal, so they wouldn’t dare harm him now.
Adding another warning system would just let him spot the Origin Devourer’s moves earlier.
Blind Prophet nodded. He gathered a tiny drop of golden prophecy rule in his right index finger and slowly pressed it against Logan’s forehead.
Logan didn’t resist, letting the golden rule sink into his skin.
Just beneath the skin on his brow, a faint golden rune appeared.
The rune stayed hidden most of the time, only glowing slightly when he activated the Five Rules.
It coexisted perfectly with his Five-Spiral DNA, causing no rejection at all.
Blind Prophet’s voice grew serious. "The seal is done."
"The Origin Devourer has already sensed your location. Between the two-way tracking of the Devourer Core and the prophecy seal, he is racing to arrive while his power is at its peak."
"He will reach Shattered Canyon directly in twelve hours. No detours."
Logan’s pupils narrowed slightly.
Twelve hours. That was four hours sooner than the previous sixteen-hour countdown.
Time was even tighter than expected.
Without hesitation, Logan turned and walked over to the strategic map table on the other side of the main hall.
The map clearly marked the terrain of Shattered Canyon, the locations of the three defense lines, and the Origin Devourer’s route.
Violet, Kane, and Blind Prophet all gathered around the map.
Light from the Soul Crystal brightened, and Hiyua’s figure appeared hovering above the map. She stood in the Pinocchini Council Hall, with Natalia and other Dawn Blade members behind her.
Logan first nodded to them, then pointed to the entrance of Shattered Canyon on the map. "Tomorrow’s final battle will happen in three waves."
"First, Fischl will lead the 800,000 familiar army to take the front line. They will wear down the Origin Devourer’s black hole defenses and stop him from easily expanding his ten-mile devouring domain."
"Second, Violet will lead 100,000 Ancient Beast Clan elites to attack from the flank. Focus all fire on his lower body to weaken his rule shields, creating an opening for the final headshot."
"Third, Kane and I will break through the center. We will lock onto the golden scar weakness on his throat and strike once to kill."
On the other side, Hiyua, Natalia, and the others nodded and prepared for their missions.
Standing beside Logan, Violet gripped her staff and nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, Master."
"I’ve ready 48 priests for the soul blessing ritual. Before the battle starts, it will boost the entire army’s morale by 20% and their devouring resistance by 50%."
Meanwhile, Kane stroked the hilt of his waist sword and said, his voice deep, "The revenge I have waited 3,000 years for begins tomorrow."
Blind Prophet stood in the corner by the map, his covered eyes fixed on the black marker representing the Origin Devourer. "I will wait on the battlefield flank and intervene at the critical moment."
"But know this: once I step in, it is an open break with the Ancient Tribunal. There is no turning back."
"I hope you are worth this risk."
Logan looked at Blind Prophet, his expression solemn. "We will not let you down."
The lights in the main hall flickered slightly.
On the map, the black marker for the Origin Devourer moved toward Shattered Canyon at an incredible speed.
The entire No. 53 Restricted Zone was heavy with the oppressive atmosphere before a great battle.
In the Destruction God Hall’s communication room, the Soul Crystal emitted a soft white light, illuminating the entire space.
Logan stood before the crystal, tapping its surface with his fingertip to open a remote connection to Dawn City.
Hiyua’s projection immediately appeared above the crystal.
She stood in the center of the Pinocchini Council Hall, with all members of the Dream Committee behind her.
She wore a crisp combat uniform, her forehead’s faint golden time rune glowing softly. "The Fire Seed plan is officially launched. I now have full executive authority."
"If we lose tomorrow’s final battle, I will immediately lead the core team to evacuate through the ancient passage to the Human Federation. I will preserve the civilization’s Fire Seed and all research data to ensure the legacy continues."
Before she finished, Natalia’s projection appeared on the other side of the screen. "Group A has sealed all entrances to the ancient passage. The escape route is secure."
"Meanwhile, Fischl and I have covered every possible detour route across the No. 47 Restricted Zone with our scout networks."
"Any sign of trouble will trigger an immediate warning."
Logan nodded, satisfied with their deployment. "Your most important mission is to ensure the human race is not caught in the crossfire."
"If Kane and I fall, you must cut off the ancient passage immediately and sever the connection between the No. 53 Restricted Zone and Pinocchini!"
Without waiting for a reply, Logan cut the link.
He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed silently into the night.
Four hours later, just as dawn approached.
Logan and Kane walked side by side along the Shattered Canyon defenses to inspect the army’s readiness.
The defenses of Shattered Canyon were divided into three layers, each packed with dense fortifications.
The first layer was the fortress of 800,000 Saint-stage familiar troops.
Six hundred thousand 28-star Dragon-Rhino Horned Ants stood in perfect formation, creating an endless black swarm.
Each ant’s exoskeleton shimmered with a dark-gold metallic luster, and their foreheads reflected cold light from their horns.
The Golden Ant King, Black One, stood at the very front, projecting the overwhelming pressure of a 32-star being.
The entire swarm moved in absolute silence, disciplined to perfection.
Above the formation, ten thousand 32-star Ashen Dragons circled. Dragon Emperor Sidra and Dragon Commander Biscuit led the vanguard, radiating 36-star pressure. Their wing beats created strong gusts that kept rolling gravel on the ground.
The second layer was the outpost of 100,000 Ancient Beast Clan elites.
Blood River commanded the 100,000 flesh puppets division on the left flank, while Shadow Phantom led the 60,000 Abyssal Walkers on the right. All held their weapons, ready for battle.
Blood River’s right fingers curled slightly, his No. 47 Restricted Zone tattoo flickering faintly on his fingertips.
He kept his head down, hiding the resentment and fear in his eyes.
He dared not let Logan or Kane sense his instability.
Shadow Phantom stood beside him, his shadow rules fully concealed. He also kept his head bowed. No one knew what he was thinking.
The third layer was the command position of 6,000 Saints.
Members of the spirit tribes—Green Vine, Ironthorn, Verid—along with human Saints, were scattered across various command points.
The 35-star Green Vine was surrounded by emerald vines, adjusting the life energy loops of the battle formation. Her goal was to ensure injured warriors received immediate healing once the battle began.
Kane stood at the highest point of the formation, releasing a full 60% of his Demigod pressure without holding back.
His ten-meter-tall Demigod body stood tall against the wind, the Blade of Destruction held high above his head.
Golden chains of destruction circled his body, clinking with a sharp, resonant sound.
Kane’s voice boomed across the entire defense line, filled with Demigod authority: "Tomorrow’s final battle begins with the arrival of the Origin Devourer. "
"I, alongside Lord Logan, will fight until one of us dies. We will die fighting, never retreat!"
Logan stood beside Kane, his Sixty-Six-Star Five Rule-Lights flaring to life at once.
Silver time, golden space, emerald creation, pitch-black destruction, and grey-white souls—five beams of light wove together.
They formed a five-colored curtain, shrouding the entire battlefield.
Logan’s voice was low, yet it clearly reached every warrior’s ears: "Fight to the death!"
Eight hundred thousand soldiers raised their weapons and slammed them hard against the ground. "Fight to the death!" They roared with a thunderous cry.
The shout shook the canyon walls, causing rocks to tumble down. Morale soared to its peak.
At midnight.
Logan and Kane stood side by side on the cliff edge of Shattered Canyon.
On the distant border of the No. 53 Restricted Zone, the passage for the Origin Devourer’s arrival had taken shape.
It was a black vortex over a kilometer wide, churning with the energy of the Devouring Rule.
The cold aura it radiated dimmed the three blood moons in the sky to a dark red. The earth trembled slightly.
The surrounding vegetation was completely withered, and even the rocks were slowly weathering away.
Logan held the Devourers Core in his left hand.
The black crystal grew hot and vibrated, as the two-way tracking link grew stronger.
He could clearly feel the Origin Devourer closing in fast.
Kane stood beside him, gripping the Blade of Destruction.
Its golden light shone as brightly as a torch in the night.
His grey eyes locked onto the distant black vortex, and the Destruction Rule around him hummed with microwaves.
He had entered a combat-ready state.
Behind them, Violet stood holding the Sky-Shattering Chieftain’s staff high.
Golden royal totem patterns slowly flowed across the staff.
Tears welled in her golden vertical pupils, but she showed no sign of retreating.
Seeing this, Logan whispered, "Here it comes! Get ready for battle!"
The moment he spoke, ripples of space suddenly appeared in the distant void. The Origin Devourer, a being the size of a mythical giant, materialized before them.
Logan looked at the enemy, who loomed like a mountain, and quietly told Kane, "You lead the main attack. I’ll deliver the fatal ambush."
Kane frowned slightly at that. "You’re only at the 66-star stage right now. Don’t try to play the hero here!"
Logan grinned. "Who said I’m still just 66 stars?"
He spoke, and the 66-star marks on his back suddenly flared to life. Then, the 67th star mark lit up. Next came the 68th... then the 69th... and the 70th.
Until all 82-star marks on Logan’s back were finally ignited again. Kane’s eyes trembled slightly as he stared at Logan. "You monster! How did you do that!"
Logan smiled. "This is a new ability I just mastered, the Time Anchor. It’s part of the Energy Wave technique."
"It allows me to restore myself to my state from any point in the last ten days."
"In other words, you can think of it like a [Save Point] in a video game."
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