As Dragon Nation's status on the international stage rose day by day.
In an age when even the Beacon Nation and the Cold Nation, two great powers, had to show Dragon Nation some respect, certain perceptive countries began crazily to curry favor with Dragon Nation.
And right now, they naturally wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.
At first, worried they couldn't handle the powerful insect horde, many people only watched from afar, not daring to act rashly for fear of getting themselves killed.
Now, seeing that Dragon Nation's forces were handling the swarm with ease, they used the banner of "supporting Dragon Nation" to rush into the battlefield, to assist Heavens Hall in fighting the insects.
"Soldiers of the Okaman Nation, let us help the people of Dragon Nation to eliminate these damned bugs!"
"Warriors of Oil, strike with me!"
"Dragon Nation's difficulties are Batan's difficulties, when one side is in trouble, help comes from all sides. Dragon Nation brothers, don't be afraid, Batan's reinforcements are here!"
Ridiculous as it was: those shouting the loudest were the countries that had once organized an Eight-Nation Allied Force to suppress Dragon Nation.
The countries that had always been Dragon Nation's allies, who never opposed Dragon Nation, silently extended their aid without fanfare.
Seeing reinforcements approaching from all directions, Heavens Hall's people rolled their eyes so far they nearly showed the whites.
"How pathetic, showing up now to curry favor, where were you when we actually needed help? You only come when you see we can handle it ourselves, coming to pick up the scraps?"
"Disgusting bunch!"
They ignored them.
Heavens Hall's army closed in step by step on the Worm Nest.
About to break through the swarm and reach the nest's depths.
But at that moment, a fierce roar suddenly erupted from the Worm Nest ahead...
ROAR!
From the nest's depths came a thunderous, earth-shaking howl.
At the same time, the sky trembled; storms boiled up, lightning flashed and thunder cracked, the ground itself began to tremble.
All sorts of omens showed: clearly, something big was about to appear!
Whoosh!
Overlord Blade, who had just sliced two poisonous insects in half with a heavy strike, looked up toward the front and said in a deep voice, "Larva, it's coming!"
"Everyone be careful!"
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
The continuous roars from the nest's depths caused a strong sense of dread among the onlooking crowd.
Those professional squads from Oil, Okaman, Batan, and other nations who had just come over to "support" Dragon Nation suddenly froze on the spot.
"What a powerful energy fluctuation, could it be… the beast Larva is coming out?"
"Shit! Why did Larva come out just when we arrived?"
"Are we… going to help Dragon Nation fight Larva?"
"Let's not rush in, watch the situation first…"
So those squads who hadn't really intended to help Dragon Nation stopped advancing.
Seeing this, a night-watchman in the crowd couldn't help but sneer, "So realistic."
"Cowardly to the core, don't pretend to be helpful if you won't actually act."
Using Ning Tiantian, One Night Stand, and the others as bait to lure Heavens Hall out, that was Larva's purpose.
So once the objective was achieved, Larva stopped hiding and revealed itself.
Ahead, a mass of poisonous insects parted left and right, making way for their leader.
The next moment, a human figure slowly walked out from the dark of the Worm Nest.
At first glance, it was a professional from the Beacon Nation.
And not just any professional, but a relatively famous ace from the Beacon Nation, the legendary Primal Energy Arcanist, William.
He held a sorcery staff and wore a cyan robe.
He looked like any normal person.
Those who knew understood: he was no longer just human.
He had already been possessed by one of the Top Ten Beasts, the one codenamed Larva, becoming Larva's vessel.
Yet when the Beacon Nation's people saw Primal Energy Arcanist · William, they still could not sit still.
"William... it's really William!"
"Has Larva really possessed William?"
"Look at how the surrounding insects act, he must be possessed."
"There are orders from above: Primal Energy Arcanist William is a key trainee talent of the Beacon Nation, expected to be a future T0-level powerhouse. At all costs, we must rescue William from Larva."
"Brothers, prepare to act!"
———
[On the Field]
Facing the imposing figure of Primal Energy Arcanist · William, Heavens Hall's members gripped their weapons tightly. No one flinched.
Because everyone knew: only by defeating Larva could they rescue their five trapped teammates.
Of course, they didn't necessarily have to kill Larva.
Overlord Blade issued orders, "Larva's strength is not to be underestimated. This operation is a rescue mission, avoid engaging Larva if possible to reduce losses."
"Front line focus on defense and drawing Larva's attention. Assassins prepare to flank and rescue. If the situation turns sour, rescue and withdraw immediately, do not get attached to the fight."
"""Yes!""", everyone replied in unison.
Ahead, Primal Energy Arcanist William was steadily approaching.
Just as Heavens Hall prepared to act. Suddenly, another group of professionals appeared on the battlefield ahead of Heavens Hall.
A large group of professionals rushed from the flank to stand before William.
They bore the Beacon Nation's flag above their heads, professionals from the Beacon Nation.
They did not attack.
The lead, an Ice-Armored Knight Moli Senna, called out to William, "William, it's me, Senna!"
"Don't you recognize me? We ate from the same bowl as kids, wore the same pants, chased the same girls."
William, the Primal Energy Arcanist, who radiated a thick dark aura, suddenly stopped.
Moli Senna's heart leapt, he thought his words had reached William, that there was a chance for William to come to his senses.
He continued, "While that thing hasn't fully devoured your consciousness and taken over your body, drive it out of you."
"You can do it, you must be able to, come on William!"
At that moment, the dark aura around William gradually receded; the red glow in his eyes dimmed, and he slowly returned from a demon-like, possessed state back to a normal human form.
He greeted Moli Senna, "Senna?"
"Oh, my god!", Moli Senna was overjoyed, "Thank goodness, there's still time!"
"You haven't been completely possessed, that's great!"
"That you could suppress Larva's consciousness, amazing!"
While saying this, Moli Senna opened his arms and walked toward William.
Just as he went to give his good brother a friendly hug, BOOM!
A ray of primal energy deathlight suddenly shot forward from William and pierced Moli Senna's body.
It blew a huge hole through his chest.
Moli Senna stood stunned, staring at the hole in his chest in disbelief.
The next second, with a "plop," he fell to his knees.
His full HP bar emptied instantly; just before he turned into scattered light, he stared at William and breathed out one last affectionate word:
"William..."
"F**k this!"