Nina and her group had already reached the edge of the city.

The moment Setan sensed their departure, he immediately led the lion clan warriors after them.

Yosan caught up quickly. Behind him trailed a force several times larger than Nina’s.

In an instant, they surrounded her.

Yosan stepped forward, his gaze cold. "Nina, don’t even think about escaping."

Nina let out a soft scoff. "That depends on whether you’re capable of stopping me."

Before her words had even fully fallen, countless vines surged from the ground, lashing toward Yosan.

If she could kill him today, all the better.

Yosan retreated sharply, but Odian cut off his escape route. Together with Nina, they launched a coordinated assault.

Elsewhere, Aviel, Kith, and the others led their forces against the surrounding beastmen.

The sky darkened in an instant—winds howled, lightning split the heavens, and flames roared across the battlefield.

The beastmen of the Barbarian City fled in terror, retreating deep into the city to escape the chaos.

Sen charged straight at Idir.

He intended to capture the teng serpent and drag him back.

Idir let out a cold laugh. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a massive black serpent, his enormous body tearing through the battlefield. Wherever he passed, a mist of blood followed.

Sen shifted as well, becoming a colossal python, and lunged to meet him.

The two titanic serpents collided, their bodies coiling and crashing against each other in a violent struggle.

But it lasted only moments.

With a thunderous bang, the brown serpent was slammed brutally into the ground. Scales tore free, scattering across the earth.

Shock flashed across Sen’s face.

At full strength, this teng serpent was far beyond him.

Before he could recover, the massive black tail swept toward him again.

He barely managed to dodge.

Again and again, he retreated in disarray, while Idir pursued relentlessly, each strike heavier than the last.

Another devastating force came crashing down.

Sen narrowly avoided it, his heart pounding wildly.

No—if this continued, he would die here.

Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

Idir’s eyes sharpened. Waves of terrifying black energy surged forward, chasing after him like a living tide.

Sen’s pupils shrank in terror. "Master, save me!"

In an instant, another surge of dark power wrapped around him, shielding him from the fatal blow.

Seizing the opportunity, Sen fled at full speed, disappearing from sight.

Idir did not pursue. Instead, he immediately returned to Nina’s side, placing himself between her and danger.

Nina controlled the vines, tightening the encirclement around Yosan.

Yosan tried to escape, but Odian blocked him at every turn. Forced into a corner, he hacked through the vines, carving out a desperate opening.

Then Idir rejoined the fight.

The pressure on Yosan skyrocketed.

In the distance, Yosan caught sight of Setan.

Relief flickered across his face as he rushed toward him. "The first task!"

Setan’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile as he closed the distance.

Yosan’s heart lifted—finally, reinforcements.

But in the very next second, his expression froze.

A terrifying force surged toward him—from behind.

Yosan twisted his body at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.

His face twisted in fury. "You—!"

Damn it. This powerful beastman was on Nina’s side.

He had nearly been killed just now.

Setan’s expression was cold and resolute. Without hesitation, he coordinated with Nina, launching relentless attacks.

Anyone who dared harm her deserved death.

Under assault from all sides, Yosan was pushed to the brink.

He dodged the sweeping strike of a massive serpent tail, only to be struck by the vines the next moment.

Wounds quickly spread across his body.

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

With a sudden motion, he pulled out a black, diamond-shaped crystal. Smearing it with his blood, he poured his witchcraft power into it.

He was going to abandon his final clone—and drag them all down with him.

Idir’s expression changed instantly.

He lunged toward Nina, shielding her with his body.

"Careful, little one—he’s going to detonate using the crystal’s power!"

Detonating with the crystal’s energy would multiply the blast’s power. Idir had once been gravely wounded by the same method—captured only afterward, when he was weakened.

The moment Odian and Setan heard his warning, they both lunged toward Nina, intending to shield her from the impact.

Nina reacted instantly—she slipped out of their path and activated her shield. Seeing Idir, Odian, and Setan throwing themselves in front of her, she pulled them back within its protection.

Around them, the other males scattered, hastily raising their own shields.

Then—

Boom.

A deafening explosion tore through the air. A monstrous wave of force surged outward like a collapsing mountain, crashing against every shield. The barriers trembled violently as each of them strained, pouring their strength into holding them together.

In the next instant, the force dissipated.

The shields shattered.

A collective breath of relief followed.

The explosion had been devastating—far beyond ordinary power. Without Nina’s shields, those closest to the blast would have been severely injured... and the weaker ones likely killed on the spot.

As for Yosan’s followers—those without protection—some lay dead, others grievously wounded, all sprawled across the ground.

Viann, Ridan, and the others moved swiftly, finishing off the survivors.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

At the same time, the barrier sealing the city collapsed under Odian’s formation.

"Nina, the barrier’s broken. We need to move—now," Odian urged.

"Alright." Nina glanced toward the center of the explosion. "Do you think that was one of Yosan’s clones... or his real body?"

That old monster couldn’t still be alive... could he?

"That should’ve been a clone," Idir replied. "His true body is far stronger than that."

Nina frowned. "How many clones does he even have? When are we ever going to finish him off?"

Odian took her hand, his voice steady. "Don’t worry. He can create at most three clones. You’ve already destroyed one before, and now this one—so at most, he only has one left. And every time a clone dies, his true body is weakened."

Idir added, glancing at Nina with quiet admiration, "If you’ve already killed one before... and this makes two... then this was probably his last. He once self-destructed another clone while trying to capture me."

He couldn’t help but marvel—she was even stronger than he’d expected. Just now, her power had clearly surpassed his.

"That’s good," Nina said, her gaze sharpening. "Next time, we finish the real one."

"We will," Odian said. "But first—we leave."

"Alright."

Nina was about to move when Setan stepped forward.

"Little female... can I come with you?" he asked. "I’m strong enough to help."

Even knowing how powerful she was, he still wanted to be there—to protect her.

Nina looked at him. "Where I’m going is extremely dangerous. You should focus on your own matters."

"Please, take me with you," Setan insisted. "You’re heading to the Sky Star Forest, aren’t you? I’ve been there before. I can guide you—and share what I know."

Afraid she might misunderstand, he added quickly, "I only overheard your companions talking about it and made the connection myself."

If she was heading somewhere that dangerous, then all the more reason he couldn’t stay behind.

Nina hesitated for a moment... then nodded.

"Alright."

Having someone with experience there would at least help them avoid some unnecessary risks.

When they returned, she could repay him—with a Fire Crystal, perhaps.

Setan’s face lit up with relief. "Then let’s go."

As Nina turned to leave, her gaze flicked briefly to Lina, who lay discarded on the ground like refuse.

"Send two men to take her to Sin Beast City."

Sal gave his subordinate a look. "You take her. Don’t forget what I told you."

The male nodded and dragged Lina away.

Without further delay, Nina and Odian led the group out of the city, heading straight for the Sky Star Forest.

***

Inside the City Lord’s Manor, Yosan coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face twisted with fury.

"Damn that Nina... another clone lost."

He had no clones left now.

Next time... he would have to be far more careful.

Then... A voice echoed in his mind. Ancient. Authoritative. Inescapable.

"Yosan. Sen. Come."

Yosan and Sen both froze. The call of their master had arrived.