Prequel

Prologue

　　"Awooo..." A piercing howl, like a lone wolf crying to the moon, rang out in the darkness. With this sound, countless blood-red figures suddenly burst forth from the shadows. Each of these figures was tall and robust, clad in heavy blood-red armor, wielding all manner of massive and terrifying weapons, their ferocious faces lit by the sharp gleam of blood-red eyes.

　　In the midst of the ghostly darkness, the shining blood-red eyes glowed like countless crimson lamps. The bloody light spread, seemingly endless. In the blink of an eye, the deep darkness appeared to be overtaken by these blood-red gazes, scattered like stars in all directions.

　　"Awooo..." The voice roared again, even more shrill and violent than before. "Awooo awooo awooo..." Before the first wailing cry faded, tens of thousands of similar voices echoed in response. The shrill, furious howls surged like a raging sea, merging into a single, overwhelming wave. The cruel and violent killing intent within seemed as if it would tear the entire shadowy space apart.

　　Amid the scattered blood-red lights, a straight golden bolt of lightning suddenly flashed. Like a blade splitting the heavens, the lightning instantly illuminated the entire dark space, leaving an indelible golden streak in the countless blood-red eyes.

　　Where the lightning passed, innumerable bodies were cleaved in two. As flesh and blood flew, a thick stench of blood quickly spread. In the edge that seemed able to cut through anything, even the furious howls, like a raging tide, were abruptly silenced by that bolt of lightning.

　　But in the next instant, countless blood-red figures seemed to be enraged, the blood-red glow in their eyes burning even brighter, and the previously halted howls erupted again with several times the force.

　　"Awooo awooo..." Amid the violent roars, countless blood-red figures began their desperate charge. Their target was singular: the imposing figure clad in golden armor standing amidst the sea of blood-red shadows. That person wore resplendent golden divine armor, majestic and solemn in form, wielding a five-foot-long golden war blade in his right hand. The blade was straight and without curve, about four fingers wide, double-edged and razor-sharp. Just looking at it, one could feel its unparalleled sharpness.

　　Most intimidating of all were the man's black eyes. In those deep eyes, there was no emotion—only the cold arrogance of an emperor gazing down upon all living things. Though surrounded and beset by countless blood-red figures, not a hint of fear or surprise could be seen in those eyes.

　　He wielded the golden blade with sweeping, grand movements, the force of his strikes overwhelming and fierce—none who blocked him survived. Like bolts of golden lightning flashing through the darkness, wherever the blade passed, whether massive weapons, thick armor, or exquisite martial skills, nothing could withstand its edge. Severed limbs, blue and red organs, and spurting blood filled the space within thirty feet around the golden figure, turning it into a field of death.

　　Even though the golden figure seemed invincible, like a god of war, the blood-red figures pressed on without fear or hesitation, throwing themselves at him like moths to a flame. From afar, amidst the layered sea of blood-red shadows, a single streak of golden lightning rampaged back and forth, unstoppable. Wherever the lightning passed, a storm of blood and gore followed.

　　Clang! A blood-red longsword blocked the golden blade. The crisp clash of metal rang out, piercing through the thousands of furious howls, clearly reaching the ears of every figure present. After thousands had fallen, this was the first time anyone had managed to block that unstoppable blade.

　　The flawless, seamless blade finally showed a flaw at this moment. In an instant, more than a dozen weapons seized the opportunity—blades, spears, hammers, staves—each attacking with unpredictable changes, but all sharing one thing: their moves were vicious and aimed at vital points. After a long battle, the blood-red figures had finally sent out their most elite experts.

　　Yet in this perilous moment, the golden figure's body twisted in a strange way, and most of the weapons merely grazed the golden armor, striking sparks but failing to penetrate. The remaining few weapons were instantly cut in two by a backhanded slash. The blade flashed, forcing back the most threatening blood-red longsword in front. With divine martial skill, the golden figure resolved all crises in an instant.

　　The fierce blood-red sword strike missed and immediately vanished without a trace. But the tide of blood-red figures seemed endless, their fearless numbers seeking to overwhelm by sheer force. The human wave tactic, though simple, was often the most effective and invincible.

　　No one knew how long it lasted, or how many had been slain. In this never-ending, relentless battle with no time to catch his breath, even one as strong as the golden figure finally began to tire. The right hand that wielded the blade, once steady as a rock, now began to tremble slightly. Though the blade still flashed freely, its movements were gradually slowing.