Chapter 468: Betrayal
Buzz!
Storm City.
A tall figure appeared within the teleportation array.
The guard responsible for this place became visibly solemn upon seeing the figure's attire.
The visitor was the captain of the Dragon Kingdom's Ninth Squad!
And he was here alone!
Huh?
Wait a minute…
Wasn't the previous captain of the Dragon Kingdom's Ninth Squad already sacrificed on the battlefield?
Could this be the new captain?
He looks too young…
While the guard silently grumbled.
Ling Zhan had already walked out of the teleportation array, heading towards the gates of Storm City.
He had declined the company of Yelan and the other third-year students.
Although it was his first time here, his sharp intuition told him that this emergency rescue mission was anything but simple.
A squad disappeared while on patrol in the Storm Strait, 5,000 kilometers from the Hundred Ghosts Fortress, which was not unusual.
But the problem arose when the three subsequent squads dispatched for rescue and search also went missing.
Anyone with a decent brain could see that this mission was no ordinary task.
With Ling Zhan's current strength and abilities, as long as he didn't encounter more than two fourth-tier powerhouses, he could survive.
If he brought others into the Storm Strait, they would only limit his actions.
Storm Strait…
As the name suggests.
It is a massive strait ravaged by violent, relentless storms.
These perpetual storms are caused by a massive, bottomless wind tunnel that mysteriously appeared in the strait's center at the beginning of the world's catastrophe.
The raging storms erupt from that enormous wind tunnel.
It's said that even third-tier powerhouses must tread carefully when approaching the tunnel's core; a single misstep could mean death.
What lies at the tunnel's deepest point…
Some speculate there is a colossal wind beast.
Others believe it connects to another world.
Even fourth-tier powerhouses have ventured into the tunnel to explore its depths.
But the answer from those who returned was that the tunnel's interior resembled the vastness of the cosmos, making it impossible to reach the deepest point.
Though the storm inside didn't harm them, they couldn't fully explore its depths.
No one dared to explore further afterward.
But the storm persisted.
A sturdy barrier shields Storm City from the raging storms outside.
Here, it serves as a space transfer station.
Some people even reside in the city.
Ling Zhan stood in Storm City, gazing at the distant strait. He saw a colossal storm connecting heaven and earth, emerging from the depths, with smaller storms spreading from the main tempest, ravaging the strait.
Due to the recent disappearance of four squads, Storm City was now under tight security.
No one was permitted to leave without upper-level authorization.
"Oh my gosh! I recognize him! He's that non-specialist from the Global Monster Tournament!"
"Huh? It really is him!"
"Wow! He looks so handsome in his corps uniform!"
While Ling Zhan was gazing at the Storm Strait.
Several female guards passing by immediately recognized him.
As guards within the national border, they were not directly involved in frontline warfare, giving them time to watch the tournament.
Naturally, they recognized Ling Zhan.
Ling Zhan's distinctive aura and appearance were too striking; even a quick glance was enough for identification.
Just as they were about to approach and greet him.
The non-specialist figure had already reached Storm City's exit and presented his clearance pass.
Soon, his figure vanished from Storm City.
Swoosh!
Under the stunned gazes of onlookers, Ling Zhan glided like a god, riding the wind toward the strait.
......
......
"Damn it!!"
"What the hell are you guys doing?"
At this moment.
Inside a windproof cave deep within the Storm Strait.
A young man roared angrily.
He was Jude Dulles, captain of the Rhine Duchy's Twelfth Squad.
He, along with over a hundred subordinates, was tightly bound by ropes made of a special magical material, restricting their movement and disabling their skills and talents.
The members of two other squads were in the same predicament.
One was the Tenth Squad of the Holy Light Empire.
The other was the Fourteenth Squad of the Dark Night Empire.
These were the three missing squads that went on the rescue mission to the Storm Strait yesterday.
And standing before them, the ones they were infuriated with, were members of the familiar Fusang Nation's Twelfth Squad.
They were also members of the Ghost Extermination Squad.
However...
At this moment, these Ghost Extermination Squad members wore sinister smiles as they looked at their former comrades.
Their bodies were marked with dark, eerie magic runes, exuding the sickening aura of evil spirits!
Moreover, parts of their bodies had undergone strange mutations.
Some had grown four arms.
Others had a grotesque mouth on their belly.
Some even had their faces torn apart, revealing a grinning, disturbing mouth.
What they all had in common was the aura surrounding them.
And the consistent magic runes!
The aura of evil spirits combined with the Demonic Descent's runes!
Leading them was a woman dressed in a kimono.
She wore heavy, unappealing smoky makeup, and a crimson vertical eye protruded from her forehead.
Anyone who had battled on the Takamagahara frontlines would instantly recognize this as the ghost eye of a ghost slave!
"Surprised, aren't you? My great Lord of Demonic Descent has now developed an advanced technique to merge the blood of ten thousand demons with the blood of a hundred ghosts!"
"Ah! The surging power coursing through me is intoxicating!"
The vertical-eyed woman spread her arms, lost in enjoyment and intoxication as she spoke to herself.
As she continued to speak.
Suddenly.
A Ghost Extermination Squad member entered, bowing respectfully on one knee before the vertical-eyed woman.
"Revered Bishop, more fish have taken the bait! And this time, it's a big one!"
"The Dragon Kingdom's Ninth Squad Vice-Captain Zhou Xue'er has brought over 400 senior reserve members here!"
As the member finished speaking.
The vertical-eyed woman immediately ceased her euphoric display.
Her sinister smile deepened, and she slowly stood up, waving her hand: "Use the equipment from these three squads to send a distress signal! Lure them into our pre-set trap!"
"Our actions this time will surely earn us the Priest's praise!"
"Oh oh oh oh!"
The abominable Ghost Extermination Squad members raised their hands, cheering loudly.
"Damn it!!"
The three squads' members were filled with dread!
It's over!
The Dragon Kingdom's Ninth Squad is doomed too!
They never expected that this Ghost Extermination Squad would secretly betray them, joining the Demonic Descent Organization, nor did they expect them to dare make a move so close to the Hundred Ghosts Fortress, right in the Storm Strait!