Chapter 416: The Beasts Beneath the Illusion
Ethan, satisfied with how thoroughly he’d stirred the group’s fighting spirit, retracted his Soul Sense and expanded his awareness outward, sweeping a full twenty-five-kilometer radius. Nothing felt off—no movement, no presence that posed a threat.
"Uncle Jed, Dana, get up here. We’re heading out," Ethan called, his voice sharp and commanding. "Julian, you stay with the Central Dominion Guard. Keep pushing forward. We’ll go ahead as the vanguard. Once you arrive, just clean up the battlefield."
As Ethan finished speaking and prepared for Ormund to take off, Julian unexpectedly sprang up beside him.
"Bongo, lead the way!" he said.
Bongo stepped up without hesitation, turning her Cliffstrider and raising a hand. "Formation—charge!"
No theatrics. No unnecessary words. At her command, twenty thousand soldiers from the Central Dominion Guard instantly fell into formation, splitting into five tight columns. Their Cliffstriders thundered forward in perfect unison, bearing down on Ormund without hesitation. If the beast didn’t move, they’d collide straight into him.
Ormund huffed and crouched low, then sprang into the air with a swish of his powerful limbs.
"Damn it..." Even the stoic Ormund couldn’t help letting out a low groan as he soared above the onrushing formation. Below, Bongo led her troops past him like a raging tide. She even raised a fist at the airborne group, full of fire and challenge.
Ethan chuckled. His last remark about cleaning up the battlefield had clearly lit a fire in their hearts. And Bongo... he’d truly underestimated her. She commanded the Dominion Guard with unexpected authority.
In truth, Ethan hadn’t known that for the past three years, Julian had left most of Beastfall City’s management to Bongo. As captain of the Central Dominion Guard—and wife of their commander—she had long since earned the soldiers’ respect. When she spoke, it was as good as Julian giving the order himself. If it had been anyone else, this proud unit would’ve resisted cooperation altogether. That included their previous coldness toward Ethan.
"Let’s go too!" Ethan grinned. "Ormund, you better show some spirit."
"Don’t worry, Ethan. Not only can I fly now, even back then those Cliffstriders couldn’t outrun me."