Chapter 419: Chapter 420: Everything Falls into Despair!

Far away, the mermaid princess Alia suddenly clutched her heart without any warning.

Her petite body trembled violently, and her eyes instantly overflowed with panic!

"Ah!"

She let out a short scream, her face turning as pale as paper in an instant.

"Alia, what’s wrong?"

The Snow Maiden immediately turned around to inquire.

However, the moment she touched Alia, the Snow Maiden herself froze!

The spiritual link she always maintained with Aster Grant... was severed!

It wasn’t a blurry distance, it was completely, like a string breaking...

Disappeared!

A terrible suspicion surged into her mind instantly.

She knew better than anyone what this severance meant...

Only when the soul of the Beast Tamer is utterly extinguished, would this soul-based contract link break so thoroughly!

"Sister Snow Maiden..."

Alia lifted her tearful face, her voice trembling uncontrollably, filled with fear.

"My heart... it hurts so much!"

"It’s like... it’s like when Mother left me!"

"Aster Grant... Aster Grant must be in trouble!"

"Let’s go back! We have to hurry back, please?!"

This ominous premonition was identical to when the Oceanic Clan faced invasion before, even more intense!

She clung tightly to the Snow Maiden’s sleeve, her eyes full of pleading.

And the Snow Maiden, looking at Alia’s desperate gaze, felt the emptiness of the soul link in her mind.

A flicker of struggle crossed her beautiful face.

Reason told her that returning to Dragon Island now was tantamount to walking into a trap.

If even Aster couldn’t contend with the existence there, what good would it do for them to go back?

But...

With only a moment’s hesitation, a hint of determination flashed in the Snow Maiden’s eyes.

She nodded heavily, her voice icy cold:

"Alright! We will go back!"

Even if certain death awaited them ahead, she would go back!

At the very least... confirm Aster’s situation!

In the next moment, she whisked Alia, transforming into an ice-blue streak of light, charging back...

Toward the already collapsed Dragon Island!

...

At the same time.

In the human domain, Baelgard command center.

Just a moment ago, the entire human race was still immersed in the exuberance of rampant fortune and breakthroughs by countless people.

The sky was clear, the sunshine bright, brimming with hope and vitality.

However, without any warning...

The sky darkened once more!

Dark clouds obscured the sun, as if a grayness from the world’s origin.

The sky was like a massive gray curtain, suffocating all beneath it!

Soon after, cold, piercing snowflakes began to fall!

This was no ordinary snow!

It was crystal clear, yet carried a sense of melancholy and deathly silence!

Falling upon the skin, it brought a chill straight to the soul!

"What’s happening?!"

Zane Drake looked up at the strange celestial phenomenon, his heart sinking abruptly!

A dreadfully ominous foreboding appeared in his heart instantly!

This was by no means a natural phenomenon!

This seemed more like...

The heavens mourning some great sorrow!

"Drake, urgent reports from all quarters! It’s snowing heavily across the entire human domain!"

A messenger came rushing to report, panic-stricken.

Zane Drake’s face turned exceedingly grave.

This phenomenon of the entire realm mourning, as recorded in ancient scrolls, often heralded...

The collapse of the race’s pillar of fortune!

Just as his mind was in turmoil—

"Thud!"

Nearby, Elara Crimson, who was handling affairs, suddenly stiffened.

In the next moment, she collapsed softly to the ground, the documents in her hands scattering everywhere.

Her face was deathly pale, her eyes vacant, as if she had lost all spirit.

"Elara!"

Zane Drake and Cavan Vero were alarmed, rushing forward to assist her.

"The link... broke..."

"The master’s link... is completely broken..."

Elara Crimson muttered dazedly, tears running down silently.

The soul contract link between her and Aster had disappeared!

The implications were clear beyond words...

Almost simultaneously, another dull sound was heard!

Lilith, the Blood Progenitor, who had been quietly sitting in the corner, unexpectedly fell back without warning.

Her life aura vanished at that very moment!

"Lord Blood Progenitor!"

The Queen of the Holy See’s face changed drastically as she stepped forward to check.

But she found no trace of Lilith’s life force!

This moment turned her face ghostly pale.

She knew that Lilith had a blood covenant with Aster.

They shared life through the blood covenant.

If one died, the other couldn’t escape.

But now...

Lilith’s life had gone to zero without warning.

Which proved that....

Aster... is dead?!!

Zane Drake, Cavan Vero, and Abel Vance all understood this point.

The entire command center fell into a dead silence in an instant!

A pin drop could be heard!

Zane Drake’s towering frame swayed violently, as if all strength had been drained from him in an instant.

He stumbled a half step back, leaning against the cold wall.

His face, once radiant with the strength of the human race, visibly dulled with alarming speed.

The hope in his eyes was completely extinguished, replaced by endless grief.

In a mere instant, it was as if he had aged more than ten years.

"Aster... has fallen?"

Cavan Vero’s voice was extremely dry, trembling as he squeezed the news through clenched teeth.

Dead silence persisted in the command center for what felt like a century.

Soon after, overwhelming grief shattered every defense in people’s hearts.

"No... that’s impossible! How could Aster..."

Abel Vance shook his head violently, his voice hoarse, as if denying the cruel reality before them.

His body trembled slightly, his tightly clenched fists turning white from the force.

Stryker standing behind him, heavily patted his shoulder.

This usually unyielding man also had a desolate resignation in his eyes at this moment.

He said nothing, but his gaze spoke volumes.

Abel Vance turned to meet Stryker’s sorrowful eyes, the last shred of hope shattering like a bubble.

He bowed his head abruptly, the hot tears now uncontrollably sliding down his cheeks.

"How could this happen... how..."

Yet at this moment, the one suffering the most agony, the deepest sorrow...

Was undoubtedly the highest commander, Zane Drake.

But he could not fall, nor show any hint of his inner breakdown.

He had to rally, to lead overall.

He took a deep breath, summoning all his strength to keep his voice as steady as possible:

"Now... is not the time for despair."

"We must... prepare for the demons that are coming."

However, just saying this drained all his energy and spirit.

After a long moment of silence, he managed to compose himself enough to continue speaking:

"Proceed... with the previous arrangements!"

With those words, he turned and left immediately.

His silhouette appeared ever so hunchbacked at this moment, as if it could be crushed at any time.

Gradually, the news of Aster’s fall spread to every corner of the human domain.

The aura of despair silently pervaded the entire human race.

...

...