Volume 2 — Chapter 6
Spatial Rift. The Battle.
"Lady Caili," Shenwu said respectfully, his voice deep and steady. "We're moving out. Those who descend below a kilometer may engage at full strength."
He knew how terrifying the gap after the tenth rank was. The eleventh rank wasn't just a number — it was a chasm. To stop a single eleventh-rank fighter, at least ten tenth-rankers were required.
Caili nodded. The sky trembled. The spatial rift widened, and the planetary suppression that held back foreign energy began to weaken. The rift fully opened. A surge of dark-purple light poured out, and the air was filled with a dreadful hum and screeching cries.
Dozens of creatures emerged — insectoid monsters with double tails that clicked rhythmically, communicating in some twisted language. The last one to crawl out was a grotesque beast eight meters long, its body bristling with spikes and warped limbs — a confirmed tenth-rank threat.
"Spatial Rift, mid-level breach!" echoed a report from ground command. "Fifty-seven rank six, sixteen rank eight, four rank nine, one rank ten confirmed!"
Suppressive cannons activated. All targets locked.
Shenwu raised his hand.
"Lady Caili attacks first. All units hold position."
The ground lit up with green energy — planetary suppression was fully engaged.
Caili stepped forward. Behind her, a radiant circle appeared — a Force Stone ignited at its center. The structure came alive, channeling immense energy. The sky vibrated, as if the planet itself braced for the blow.
She raised her spear. Her voice echoed for hundreds of kilometers:
"Ninth Skill: Zone Control!"
A translucent sphere formed around her and the insects, slowing everything within. Caili began to dance mid-air — a deadly, elegant spear dance.
"Tenth Skill: Ten Thousand Spears!"
In an instant, ten thousand copies of her appeared, spinning their spears in perfect unison, forming a spiraling beam of death.
"Tenth Skill: Unified Strike!"
Hundreds of beams rained down. The insectoids exploded on impact, their bodies detonating violently — but the tenth-rank monster raised a defensive field, repelling part of the assault. Caili halted her attack and shifted to defense as the resulting explosion tore through even her zone.
Over 40 enemies were obliterated. The explosions cracked her domain, allowing several insectoids to slip through and dive toward the city.
Shenwu roared:
"Any who breach city perimeter — terminate! Within one kilometer, shoot on sight. Elite squad, engage!"
Above, two aircraft circled, controlling the airspace over the princess's fortress.
Inside the palace, Princess Long Yuehua nervously watched the battle unfold. She turned to Xin Linchen and whispered gently:
"Don't be afraid, my little one. I'm here."
Xin Linchen, however, was lost in thought. Inside his mind, he murmured:
"…Now I'm afraid."
He summoned the sword — and from it, Ain appeared, stretching lazily.
"What do you want now?"
"How long has it been… since my death?"
She yawned and replied,
"Judging by the strength of your soul… To fully disperse would've taken 10³⁰ years."
"…What?" Linchen raised an eyebrow.
"The Insectoids. Universe Eaters. The ones we destroyed…"
"One of them survived. It slipped into the Omniverse's Accumulation Flow and started to multiply."
"Impossible," Ain hissed. "I destroyed them all. Including the Queen. If they're here… this universe is doomed. But how? When you rewrote reality, there should have been no error!"
"It's not an error. This is the work of absolute beings. Or... maybe my barrier has weakened."
Ain narrowed her glowing eyes.
"Then I'll find this universe's Guardian. But I need time. I'm off!"
She vanished in a crimson flash.
---
Only Caili and the rank-ten monster remained. She had eliminated all others. The monster… smiled with its mandibles. A deep sense of dread surged in Caili's chest.
"No..." she whispered. "He's going to—"
In the next moment, the monster teleported — straight into the city.
"He's going to explode!!" Caili screamed.
From atop the tallest building, the city's Main Cannon of Light rose — a massive 700-meter barrel shaped like a divine spear.
BOOM!
The suppression cannon fired — the shot struck the monster, halting it mid-air.
But he kept moving. He was almost at the energy shield — until Caili arrived in a blinding streak and slammed him away with her spear.
"Sixth Skill: Spear Shot!"
All her power surged through the weapon. The spear pierced the monster, spun around, and struck again — launching him upward. He exploded in the sky, leaving behind a cloud of red mist.
Shenwu and his squad finished off the stragglers. A single empowered blow was enough to end the rest.
He looked up into the heavens — filled with admiration.
Caili had saved thousands. Swiftly. Without a single wasted move.
---
Caili returned to the princess's chambers.
"Are you alright?" Yuehua rushed to her.
"All good," Caili smiled softly.
Seeing Xin Linchen's frown, she pinched his cheek. He flailed his little arms in protest, and she laughed.
"Threat's over, little one. Time for bed."
"Yes… You too. You used too much power," Yuehua said gently.
Caili grinned, pinched the boy again, and left.
Bai — the white dragon — was already asleep. Yuehua lay beside Linchen, refusing to leave her son alone. Bai opened one eye, came closer, and curled up protectively next to Linchen.