Chapter 73 - 72: Ancient Altar
"My master will have his victory today."
The commander’s words echoed around the ancient chamber as he made his final charge. Dimensional energy crackled around his form while reality bent to accommodate his desperate assault. Stone cracked under pressure that belonged to other realms.
Leon and Elise were pushed back by the available hunters as monsters converged on their location from every direction. Crystalline golems crashed through walls with thunderous impacts. Aerial demons dove from shattered ceiling stones. Lesser abyssal entities poured through cracks in dimensional barriers.
"Fall back to the altar," Damian commanded while parrying demon claws with his one functional arm. "Defensive circle around the healers."
Iron-fang formed ranks beside ARES survivors. Sanctuary healers shared mana with Association hunters whose interfaces had failed. Guild politics meant nothing when extinction threatened everything they’d sworn to protect.
———
Chairman Ethella began engaging the commander directly, their battle so magnificent it made reality itself weep. Power that had shaped continental politics for decades focused on the dimensional threat with precision.
Storm magic erupted from Ethella’s form like captured lightning given purpose. Wind currents compressed into visible streams that could cut through steel. Thunder boomed across the city as natural forces answered his call.
"You dare challenge an S-rank Storm Caller in his own domain?" Ethella’s voice carried authority.
The Chairman displayed power unimaginable as he directed his abilities at the commander. Lightning danced between his fingers before lashing out in concentrated bolts that could melt stone. Each strike forced the dimensional entity backward toward the chamber’s entrance.
Storm clouds gathered overhead despite the underground location. Ethella’s magic reached through solid stone to command weather patterns across the entire district. Rain began falling upward in defiance of gravity.