A thunderous roar erupted, and in that very instant, the troll’s longsword flew from his hand.
But due to the shock of that terrifying sound, his aim wavered slightly.
The blade struck only Matt’s knee, viciously pinning one of his legs to the ground.
In the silence that followed, Matt’s scream rang out harsh and abrupt.
But no matter how jarring his scream was, no one paid him the slightest attention.
Whether it was the human soldiers or the demon race, whether it was Ellie or the troll—even Li Xian—all their eyes turned toward the depths of the dense forest, a place that didn’t seem too far from where they stood.
That roar, which had shaken their very souls, was so powerful that even the troll couldn’t ignore it.
Ellie froze for a moment, then suddenly recalled a legend about the Northern Wastelands Forest.
According to the tale, a legendary beast was said to dwell within these woods.
A “legendary” rank—one that surpassed even the “transcendent” tier.
Across the entire continent, the number of humans who had reached such a level could be counted on two hands.
Every one of them was a figure of unimaginable power and status, known far and wide.
Even emperors of great empires would humble themselves before such beings, treating them with the highest respect.
Ellie could easily imagine just how powerful a legendary beast would be.
And if that roar they had just heard really did belong to the creature of that legend… from the sound of it, it didn’t seem happy in the slightest…
If such an existence had truly been enraged, then everyone present today—without exception—was doomed.
“Boom! Boom! Boom—!”
Heavy footsteps pounded against the earth, causing the ground itself to quake.
A soul-shaking terror began to spread through the hearts of all who heard it.
Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.
Without any warning at all, the mysterious beast that had seemed hundreds of meters away just moments ago appeared before their very eyes.
It was a colossal creature wreathed entirely in flames.
Beneath the blazing exterior, they could barely make out the shape of a lion.
“Scarlet Flame Gale Lion!” someone cried out, instantly recognizing the creature.
Without a doubt, this was a legendary beast—one with dual elemental attributes.
Not only did it possess overwhelming destructive power, but its speed was also terrifying.
Before such a monster, they didn’t even have the right to run.
The massive lion towered over even the troll, its presence eclipsing the towering ancient trees that had stood for who knew how many centuries.
Its massive form was like a mountain, and every move it made sent tremors through the earth.
The moment it appeared, it locked its blazing red eyes on the troll.
Within those eyes burned a frenzy of madness.
With no hesitation, the lion raised its massive claws and swiped straight at him.
The massive beast’s claw was wreathed in flames and howling winds.
Its terrifying power made Ellie, who was just inches away from it, go completely pale as the claw descended toward her.
She had no idea why the legendary beast was attacking the giant troll—but she was still in the troll’s grasp!
Sensing the immense power of the beast, which far surpassed his own, the troll clenched his teeth and hurriedly raised a hand to counter the blow.
Putting all his strength into the strike, he no longer cared about the sacrificial offering still clutched in his grasp.
Ellie could almost hear the cries of protest coming from every bone in her body.
She wanted to scream, but no sound escaped her lips.
Her awareness dimmed, and tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
Whether or not the troll could block the Crimson Flame Tempest Lion’s attack, it wouldn’t matter.
At this rate, it wouldn’t take half a minute before she was crushed by the troll’s hand—her bones shattered, her body torn apart in agonizing pain.
Ellie completely gave up struggling.
Her face twisted in pain, but her eyes were hollow and lifeless.
There was no way out.
Whether it was the troll or the even more powerful legendary beast, both had shattered any chance she had of surviving.
At this point, only the Imperial Archmage, Lord Elvis, descending from the sky could save her…
But Lord Elvis was always reclusive and withdrawn.
There was no way he would know what was happening here.
Even if he did, it was far too far away—he couldn’t possibly arrive in time.
“I’m sorry, Mother Empress… I’m sorry…”
***
As death loomed ever closer, the girl’s softest and most vulnerable side emerged.
Tears streamed down her face as she instinctively looked to the sky, recalling the afternoon her father left this world.
“Father… I really did try…”
A bitter smile formed on her lips.
“But this world… it’s nothing like the stories. It’s cold, cruel, and there was never a knight who could protect me in your place, who could care for me, who could make me happy forever…”
“Even our final promise—even just living well and taking care of Mother Empress—I couldn’t do that either.”
“Her illness is getting worse, and I…”
In her darkening vision, a trace of sorrow and reluctance flickered in her eyes.
“And now I, too, will go into that endless darkness… to be with you again.”
“What is that world like, I wonder?”
As her scattered thoughts faded, the troll and the legendary Crimson Flame Tempest Lion finally collided.
The deafening roar shook the very air, threatening to rupture her eardrums.
Amid the dazzling blaze, a massive figure was sent flying with no suspense or resistance—hurling backward into the dense forest behind Li Xian.
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