Level up is hard? I can Directly Purchase infinite Levels!-Chapter 98: Good Things Are Taken by Force

On the hundred-meter-high walls of Unfallen Bastion, two prodigies of the human race—Jacob and Austin—stood gazing into the vast sky.

A gale howled past them, snapping their robes and tossing their hair into disarray. Yet their eyes were razor-sharp, filled with an unshakable resolve.

"Some of the alien races have openly declared that they’ll hunt down Arlis," Austin said in a low voice. "Once someone says it out loud, it means a lot of others are already thinking the same thing."

"What do we do now?"

"In a one-on-one fight, I fear no one. But if they focus their encirclement on a single target..." Austin clenched his jaw. "There’s nothing we can do to help—unless..."

He looked toward Jacob.

Jacob shook his head. "With her personality... she’ll definitely go."

"But if she goes, facing those vultures lying in wait, the chances of her falling are—very high." Austin frowned deeply.

"If we want to bear the glory of being human prodigies," Jacob said, his gaze sharp as he looked over the boundless land, "then our path was always destined to be paved with blood and storms—right up until the day we spill our last drop on the battlefield."

"Even so, whether it’s you, me, or her... we have no choice but to keep moving forward."

"Those alien scum don’t just want the opportunities—they want to hunt us."

"So it’s not only Arlis. You and I have probably already been included in their calculations."

A fierce, indomitable pride flashed in Jacob’s eyes.

"But so what? Didn’t generation after generation of our predecessors walk this same road?"

"Without being tempered by death and blood, how could our spines ever hold up the sky of the human race?"

"Those so-called prodigies of the alien races are merely relying on richer resources and a deeper foundation. They’re just a few steps ahead of us."

Austin slammed his fist into the air in frustration. "If they didn’t have those things... would they dare be so arrogant?!"

It was precisely because the human race lacked such resources that they were forced to gamble everything—for those opportunities, for every possible chance.

...

Inside Unfallen Bastion.

Arlis stood in the plaza, dressed in light leather armor. Many people were gathered behind her.

"Miss, please think this through again. There’s no need for you to make this trip," an elderly man called out, trying to stop her.

Many prodigies of the alien races had already publicly declared their intent to kill her. That meant they had surely prepared a meticulous encirclement.

If she went this time, the odds were overwhelmingly against her.

"Grandfather Evan," Arlis said with a gentle smile as she turned back, "hope isn’t something you wait for."

"Weren’t you the same back then?"

"According to the intelligence, there are countless opportunities there. If I can obtain even part of them, I’ll become stronger—and better able to protect the human race."

Seeing that she had made up her mind, the old man grew even more anxious.

"This time, the prodigies of the Seventeen Royal Clans are mobilizing—there are even Divine Scions involved!"

"The elites of every major race will be there, in staggering numbers. This is practically a guaranteed kill zone. And on our side... there are very few who can stand beside you and truly help."

"If no one can help," Arlis said calmly, "then I’ll break through alone."

Her smile remained, but her eyes were as firm as bedrock.

She knew Grandfather Evan wanted her to temporarily avoid the edge of the blade—and that would indeed allow her to escape this crisis.

But if she retreated out of fear, how would she face herself in the future? How could she ever step onto a higher stage?

And if, because she chose not to fight for it, the greatest opportunities ended up in the hands of the alien prodigies, they would only grow even stronger.

How would she contend with them then?

That was what she feared most.

She feared being left far behind by those alien prodigies—feared being unable to do more for the human race.

She had already died once in the mountain ranges outside Iron Dragon Fortress.

Fully aware of the dangers of this journey, her heart was instead unusually calm.

The old man wanted to persuade her further, but Philippe, standing nearby, raised a hand to stop him.

He looked at his daughter and spoke in a deep voice.

"Since you’ve already decided... then go."

"I’ll protect her," Richard stepped forward.

"I’ll help Sister Arlis too!" the silver-armored girl said, stepping out as well.

"We’ll go too!"

Many young talents behind them surged forward.

"Thank you..."

No matter how strong Arlis was, she couldn’t suppress the emotions welling up inside her as she heard those words.

These people were indeed talented, but even the strongest among them were only around Master Rank two or three. They couldn’t truly help her.

What they wanted was to use their lives at the critical moment—to take enemy attacks in her stead, trading their deaths for her survival.

And precisely because of that, the weight she carried only grew heavier.

"Don’t worry," Arlis promised. "This time, the priority is seizing opportunities. I’ll avoid direct confrontation with them as much as possible."

...

Mistshadow City.

This ancient fortress, belonging to the gargoyle race, was guarded by a Grandmaster Rank-4 gargoyle elder and four Master-rank experts.

Besides gargoyles, many other alien races lived in the city—members of the blackwater clan, hill trolls, and more.

Boom!

At that moment, an enormous lightning sphere fell straight out of the distant void, crashing into the most prosperous central district of the city.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Hundreds of lightning bolts as thick as barrels exploded outward, tearing the surrounding alien races to shreds.

Under the blinding arcs of electricity, everything was annihilated into dust.

Buzzz—!

The entire ancient fortress shook violently.

"What’s going on?!"

"What happened?!"

Panic instantly spread among the alien races in the city.

The Grandmaster-rank guardian and the four Master-rank experts swept the area with their mind power, instantly grasping the situation.

They were about to tear open space and move to kill the attacker—

But just as they moved, a massive poison formation covering half the city slammed down from above, with terrifying green beams of light firing downward!

"These poisons... it’s Borm!" the Grandmaster’s expression changed drastically. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He raised his hand, forming a silver hemispherical barrier that collided with the toxic sigil formation, but he was firmly suppressed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The destructive lightning sphere rampaged through the city like a world-ending thunderfire wheel, erasing all life it touched.

Even Expert-rank cultivators were reduced to ashes on contact.

The one who struck was Raine!

He showed not the slightest hesitation or pause. After wreaking havoc for half an hour, his Thunder Light Wing beat powerfully, and he transformed into a streak of blood-colored light, swiftly leaving Mistshadow City and vanishing into the horizon.

Borm also withdrew, tearing open space and departing.

Boom!

The Grandmaster finally shattered the poison formation.

He stepped into the sky, his powerful mind power sweeping outward—but the attackers were already gone.

Looking down at Mistshadow City, now a scene of devastation and wailing, his eyes burned with fury.

Countless gargoyle clansmen had been crushed into fragments, scattered among the shattered ruins.

"It’s that monster Raine...!"

"Damn it... damn it all!!"

He roared toward the direction Raine had fled.

The four Master-rank experts soon flew up as well. Seeing the catastrophic casualties, their faces darkened like gathering storm clouds.

"Notify the clan immediately," the Grandmaster commanded, forcing down his rage.

"Tell them Raine has already left Iron Dragon Fortress. His target is very likely... the Tidebound Battlefield!"

...

Elsewhere.

After leaving the range of Mistshadow City, Raine halted atop a layer of clouds.

"Check personal status."

With a thought, a light screen unfolded before him.

[Host: Raine Valiriel]

[Rank: Elite Rank 9]

[Unique Talent: Blood Devourer]

[Skills: Riftpierce Thrust, Mighty Force Technique, Obsidian Golem Codex, Blood Pact, Void Thunder, Judgment Spear, Endless Flameburst, Judgment Waltz...]

[Weapons: Thunder Prison Blade, Shard of the Riftblade...]

[Bloodstone: 580,000]

[Blood Devourer — Temporary Rank Increase Available: +3 Ranks]

...