165: Dragon Kingdom's Response

Bang!

The remaining adventurers were mostly low-tier, interspersed with some Fifth-Rank and Sixth-Rank Experts, but their faces were filled with despair and terror... because a barrier had appeared before them, completely blocking their path to survival!

Hope... was gone!

"baka! Why, why is this happening?! Without any warning, demons appeared directly on Sakura Island. What on earth is going on!?"

"Let me in, let me in! I'm from the Matsushita family, you can't treat me like this! If the patriarch finds out, you'll all die a horrible death!"

"baka yaro! You pigs, you usually rely on us commoners, but at a time like this, you've chosen to abandon us directly. You deserve to die!"

...Outside the barrier, a large number of adventurers had gathered.

Those who managed to escape here almost all possessed some strength.

Life and support professions had no power to resist when facing the demons.

Hiss!

The demons pressed closer, strolling leisurely, seemingly enjoying the terrified expressions on human faces.

Bang!

A Sixth-Rank adventurer used all his strength to smash a skill onto the barrier, yet there was no reaction whatsoever.

Along with the dissipating magic, the last shred of hope in everyone's hearts vanished.

"baka! I... I just came out to fish!"

No one could muster any resistance; as far as the eye could see, there were dense swarms of demons.

They couldn't win... Behind the barrier stood many Seventh-Rank and Eighth-Rank Experts.

Though their expressions showed some reluctance, this was the decision of Sakura Island's higher-ups, and they couldn't interfere.

Now, the only thing they could do was guard this barrier.

They hoped the demons would keep their promise and attack the Dragon Country.

Shichimiya Ritsuon stood behind with a cold expression; she could fully accept these sacrifices.

To use demons, a certain price had to be paid.

But in return, there would be endless resources.

This small sacrifice... was insignificant!

"Once this is over, next will be the Dragon Country!"

"The teleportation there has been opened. If this demon legion is teleported first, they will be overwhelmed with dealing with it."

"At that time... we will first seize the Dragon Country's highly strategic resource points. We won't inform the Eagle Sauce Country for now, otherwise those guys will definitely snatch the lion's share, hmph!"

"Once we take down the Dragon Country, everything else will fall into place naturally. Even the Eagle Sauce Country will be trampled underfoot!"

Shichimiya Ritsuon sneered, as if she could already see the demon army spread throughout the Dragon Country.

"It's time to remind this demon. If this barrier is broken, then I'll have no choice but to escape elsewhere!"

Shichimiya Ritsuon was actually a little nervous; cooperating with demons was ultimately somewhat risky.

Whoosh!

Shichimiya Ritsuon's body directly passed through the barrier and appeared in front of Zexio.

"Lord Zexio, can we now proceed to attack the Dragon Country?"

Before Shichimiya Ritsuon finished speaking, she was directly clutched in Zexio's hand.

The intense pain made Shichimiya Ritsuon clench her teeth, as if enduring immense suffering.

Zexio's lips curled into a sneer: "What are you?"

"You dare to command me!?"

Cracking sounds of breaking bones continuously emanated from Shichimiya Ritsuon's body.

Despite being on the verge of death, Shichimiya Ritsuon still didn't resist in the slightest.

She knew that if she fought back, the rest of Sakura Island would also be devoured by demons.

Gamble!

She had to take a gamble!

This was originally a huge gamble!

"I wouldn't dare, Lord Zexio!"

Shichimiya Ritsuon's lips bled crimson as she endured the severe pain and said, "I just don't want to see you waste time on such meaningless things. Once the Dragon Country notices, they will immediately establish a defense line, and then we will lose the best time to attack. Please reconsider!"

Shichimiya Ritsuon's lips bled crimson as she endured the severe pain and said, "Please reconsider!"

Zexio flung Shichimiya Ritsuon aside and said coldly, "Hmph! I don't need you to teach me!"

"I will conquer the Dragon Country!"

Zexio roared towards the sky, and all the demons collectively turned and walked into the Magic Formation set up in the distance.

A cold sneer appeared on Shichimiya Ritsuon's lips, but her body was slammed to the ground by a sudden magic orb.

"I hate it when people use me. Not taking your life is already the greatest gift to you!"

Zexio's figure instantly vanished, leaving behind Shichimiya Ritsuon, whose eyes were filled with resentment.

"baka!"

"I'll let you know who the real winner behind this battle is!"

...Dragon Country.

Star Gazing Plain.

The aged figure beneath the cloak instantly opened his eyes, and the fishing rod in his hand shattered.

"What was destined to come has finally arrived!"

"The Dragon Country... still hasn't escaped this calamity. My strength is almost gone, I'm afraid I won't be much help!"

Rat looked at his palm, which was already faintly beginning to dissipate.

"That little fellow, who knows where he went. If he runs into demons, that would be terrible!"

Rat took out a mysterious rune and spoke a few words into it.

Within the mysterious space.

Everyone's expressions were somewhat grim.

They were all too familiar with this demonic energy from the abyss.

"Rat, did you summon us because of the Abyss?"

Rabbit's voice was clear, tinged with a hint of urgency.

Rat nodded slightly.

"With the demon invasion, it's time for our Hidden Shadow to act!"

"Next, each of you will be responsible for your respective areas. Display the Hidden Shadow's accumulated heritage of many years; even against demons, we should be able to fight!"

Rat's voice still held some worry, his hollow eyes gazing into the distance, as if still preoccupied.

"Rat, with our current strength, plus the forces cultivated by Dragon Abyss Academy over so many years, we have a good chance of winning this battle."

"As long as no Ninth-Rank demons appear, we will certainly have no problems."

"Why are you sighing now?"

Tiger had already started cracking his knuckles, eager for battle.

Rat merely shook his head slightly, saying nothing more.

"First, let's overcome the current difficulty and preserve the foundation of the Dragon Country!"

"This time the demons appeared, the Abyssal Rift is not on the Dragon Country's border. It seems there's a problem elsewhere, very likely an invasion from another country. You must be careful and vigilant!"

"Also... let those young ones in Dragon Abyss Academy use this opportunity to gain experience..."

Rat waved his hand and said indifferently, "Go!"

After everyone dispersed, Rat muttered to himself, "Originally, this centuries-long plan was to deal with forces from outside the Yan He System..."

"Now it seems, it was a miscalculation!"

"What if Blue Star is discovered then?!"

...