Chapter 317: The Spear’s Path

"Warlord? What actually happened, Mila? Weren't you flying south to inspect the movements of the Skeps?" Psychic Ancestor Marble spoke in confusion.

"Yes," Mila Marble nodded, "After transmitting the movements of the Skeps to Central Command, I was just about to return when I noticed a Tier 1 Floating Spider fly east. When an Armadillo launched a spike at it, the Floating Spider shrugged it off as if it wasn't affected. Just that fact alone revealed its identity. It was Warlord."

"On seeing that I had realised its identity, it attacked me. I defended with all my might while flying towards Marble City at my maximum speed. I managed to survive somehow." She sighed, "But, for some reason, it was heading towards the territory of the Spindle Bees, at a time when the Floating Spiders were attacked by the Swarm the most."

"I'll dispatch our scouts," Psychic Ancestor Marble closed his eyes, emitting a psychic energy pulse. Five seconds later, a team of three exited Marble City from the outermost sectors, proceeding in 12 radial directions.

Each team consisted of three Sky Controllers, all hailing from the Marble Family. With such a line-up, even if an Ancestor made a move, they were guaranteed to return alive. After all, despite being alone, Mila Marble survived an encounter with Rhachis Ancestor Warlord.

"Hmm," Psychic Ancestor Marble frowned, "Every mode of communication beyond the city walls is being jammed. The jamming is many times stronger than the usual."

The marble figure gazed at the soldiers on the walls, throwing attacks at their foes that swarmed without end. Corpses were being brought into the city upon every instant. To manage everything that happened in the city, in and around the city walls, and possibly defend against any attacks other Tier 6 beings might make, Psychic Ancestor Marble didn't have the freedom to personally make a move.

Ten minutes later, he received the first report, "So, Puppet has already made its move in their defence against the Swarm."

It was the report from the west, by the team that exited from Sector 9, 10th Ring. They had the least amount of distance to scout, hence their early arrival. Soon, the team that exited from Sector 10, 9th Ring made their report. "Rhachis Ancestor Web is moving towards the northeast of the Floating Spider territory."

Ten more minutes later, the team that had exited from Sector 8, 10th Ring returned, making their report, "No sight of Warlord. A large number of Transformers from the Warlord Family were flying near the place of battle, waiting for their turn against the Swarm."

The teams from the south reported the movements of the Swarm. But, the moment the teams that had gone north returned, they conveyed in panic, "Rhachis Ancestor Wave is flying towards the territory of the Spindle Bees."

The ones that had gone east returned with injuries, "Rhachis Ancestor Warlord and Rhachis Ancestor Spindle are standing side by side and facing Marble City."

Once he obtained all information, Psychic Ancestor Marble thought, linking everything to find the cause, "Web has moved closer to Marble City, as if it wishes to attack us the moment it gets a chance. Warlord and Spindle are in the territory of the Spindle Bees while Wave is flying towards them. Earth has migrated for the time being. So, all the characters that could influence the situation have made their move."

His eyes widened as the marble figure dissolved, appearing 50 kilometres above marble city. The marble figure gazed east, finding something amiss. "It can't be…?"

Just when he thought, the aura in the region visibly trembled, moving away from the territory of the Spindle Bees. It was evening, the sun beginning to set.

Suddenly, an aura flux pulsed from the heart of the Spindle Bee territory. The pulse caused waves to form in the air, coursing far and wide, forming numerous concentric circles as they progressed. The moment the Swarm came in contact with the pulse, their bodies trembled, affected by the aura.

They stopped all attacks, creating numerous fluctuations in the air as they communicated. The pulse lasted for 10 seconds before waning in strength. A minute later, the Swarm started to move once again.

Using the time when they were immobile, the soldiers on the city walls erupted with a lot of attacks, killing most of the Swarm in their surroundings. It was thanks to the barrier shielding out everything that they were safe. But, their expressions were solemn, their gaze directed towards the east in unison.

"Light," The marble figure muttered, watching a streak of light condense into the figure of Rhachis Ancestor Light beside it. "They are birthing an Ancestor."

"These are dangerous times," Rhachis Ancestor Light frowned, "Strongest is in Dawn City. You have a lot to manage because of the Swarm. But, the moment I make a move, Web will try to attack us. And, it seems Warlord, Wave, and Spindle are ready to stall me."

"Don't mobilise the Royal Families unless the situation is dire," Rhachis Ancestor Light said, "If the situation escalates, even Parasite might be willing to make a move. We have to tread with caution. For now, we'll probe them first."

"Alright," Psychic Ancestor Marble nodded, condensing a 100-metre-long sphere. Rhachis Ancestor Light took in a deep breath, gazing east as he closed his eyes. His aura was fully concealed in his frail form, slumbering within.

Tier 5 Skill—Warlord Transformation!

He immediately turned into an 80-metre-tall giant, grabbing the magenta spear using his right hand. A translucent energy covered its tip while white light seeped into the shaft. The shaft faintly trembled, brimming with power, emitting enough light to brighten the night.

Seeing the scene, the soldiers fighting on the wall bellowed, displaying their fighting spirit, their roar resounding in the Wilds 200 kilometres away. Citizens on the streets immediately kneeled, paying their respects, bordering devotion.

Rhachis Ancestor Light craned his arm backwards, exerting strength in his muscles. With a mild shout, he simply threw the spear, without using his Unranked Skill to propel it forward. Even then, the spear travelled in a straight line, not even lowered by a millimetre—by gravity—despite travelling for more than 200 kilometres.

Figures of River Whales, numbering in the thousands—condensed from water—lined themselves in the spear's path, forming a blockade more than a dozen kilometres wide. The spear pierced through the blockade, its speed only lowered by a fraction, splashing all the water along its wake.

Vines grew from the ground, turning into a lush forest as flowers bloomed, showing their faces towards the approaching spear. Each flower possessed a radius of 10 metres, their girth massive. The spear pierced through all of them, its speed lowered by another fraction.

"It's too powerful." Rhachis Ancestor Spindle spoke in panic, standing on a flower petal, overlooking a massive flower bud growing out of the water. Hidden within the bud was the source of the earlier aura pulse.

"Let me try again." Rhachis Ancestor Wave spoke, erecting massive barriers of water along the spear's path. They were structured to divert the force of impact through their entire forms, absorbing as much of the spear's energy as possible. Hundreds of such barriers were formed in a second, lining up in the spear's path.

The spear pierced through them all, its speed lowering by another fraction but the water structures failed to absorb much damage, getting pierced at the point of contact. Vines formed again, attempting to grab the shaft before shredded by flashes of light emitting from within.

"Move away, it has already come close enough." Rhachis Ancestor Warlord spoke, turning humanoid as it raised its right hand, aiming at the spear.

Unranked Skill—Greater Warlord!

The moment it activated the Skill, it was no longer able to use any of its Nurtured Skills, even its Tier 6 Skill. In return, it could activate the Tier 3 Skill hidden within Greater Warlord, its power elevated to Tier 6.

Tier 6 Skill—Forged Line!

It was a laser, the effect imbued in it changing to light the moment it impacted the spear, countering the light in it. The spear emitted light from it, negating Rhachis Ancestor Warlord's ability while propelling the spear forward.

The spear began to slow down but the rate of decrease wasn't enough. Rhachis Ancestor Warlord flew forward, exerting more strength in its ability, increasing the volume of the laser beam. The spear soon arrived, its momentum more than enough to destroy their defences.

Rhachis Ancestor Warlord caught the spear with its bare hands, the momentum sending it reeling back. Emitted from its hands was the effect of its Tier 6 Skill, preventing it from suffering any injury.

The spear began to lose momentum, curving towards the surface. It pushed Rhachis Ancestor Warlord along its path. Soon, they passed over the land and continued to fly over the sea, eventually stopping after they crashed into a jungle of plants.

The vines retracted as Rhachis Ancestor Warlord panted, the thumping of its heart audible from kilometres away. The marble spear in its hands dissipated into psychic energy, leaving nothing behind.

It wasn't injured, except expending some energy. Rhachis Ancestor Warlord flew over, watching that Marble City had turned silent. Rhachis Ancestor Spindle flapped its wings, spinning around the bud it protected, checking if the exchange caused any disturbance within.

When Rhachis Ancestor Warlord flew over, it nodded to show that the situation was still fine.

Rhachis Ancestor Wave sucked in a lot of water from the sea, creating a massive sphere around it, spanning three kilometres in radius, speaking with lingering fear, "We have to stall Light using any means necessary."

"That will be difficult, almost impossible." Rhachis Ancestor Warlord gazed west, "Light is someone who has even fought against Lord Parasite. We can't fathom his true strength. The only way to stall him is by attacking Marble City. He cares for his people. That's our only choice."