Chapter 696 - All Hands to the Sky
"Damn it, we need more healers! I'll bring more healers from below!" Jovina shouted, her voice barely audible over the roaring flames. Her butterfly summon fluttered nearby, but it was doing little to lessen the damage they were all enduring together.
From below, a wyvern soared closer—it was Booba, with Starfall riding behind her.
"Oh, damn it, the damage is insane," Booba remarked as the wyvern circled around them.
Starfall wasted no time, casting an array of supportive skills, their effects barely holding as they all worked desperately to reinforce each other.
Earth shields, ice barriers, and countless other protective spells formed around them, only to melt or shatter almost instantly under the meteor's relentless assault.
"Where is the damn Trison?" Jovina yelled in frustration.
Elincia answered, her voice tight. "He was killed earlier."
"Damn it!" Jovina cursed. "When we need them most, they're gone!"
It was absolutely brutal. Everyone who had managed to gather around Broken was doing everything they could to survive. They threw every resource they had from their inventories—potions, rare consumables, and expensive scrolls—just to keep casting their skills and counteracting the relentless health drain that threatened to overwhelm them.
On the other hand, Broken, his usual calm demeanor slipping under the immense pressure, kept his eyes locked on his health bar. Despite its now higher health, it was draining faster than he'd ever seen, the rate of loss far outpacing any recovery efforts.
"More shields! More shields!" he shouted. Every second felt like a losing battle, the strain almost unbearable as the fiery destruction raged around them.
For the first time, true tension etched into his face. The responsibility of this colossal battle rested squarely on his shoulders. If he failed—if he fell—it would mean the end. Everything, everyone, would be lost.
A massive jolt shook the air around them, causing their positions to shift dangerously as the meteor pressed down with greater force. Panic rippled through the group as they struggled to maintain their position.
Broken's eyes darted to Polly, and he immediately realized the truth—she had reached her limit. Her wings faltered, her movements heavy and labored.
"Broken, you can release Polly," Goldrich called out. "I'll conjure a floating platform for us."
"Polly, go," Broken said firmly. "You can't endure this any longer."
"Master… I-I can…" Polly's voice wavered, but her strength betrayed her. Her spirit energy was completely depleted, not giving her a choice. With one final flicker, her form shimmered and vanished, retreating back to the spirit world.
Now standing atop Goldrich's floating platform, Broken and Alora steadied themselves. But it was obvious that Goldrich, already taxed to his limits, could no longer cast as many protective shields as before. Their defenses were rapidly eroding under the relentless heat and pressure.
Nearby, Tora hovered on his wings, but his abilities as an archer offered only minimal support to their dire situation. He turned back toward the camera broadcasting his message.
"We're all fighting together here!" he shouted. "Everyone on the ground, raise your hands high! We can't do this alone!"
"The more of you who can make it up here to Broken's position, the less of the burden he'll have to carry alone! Every one of you counts—your strength, your skills, your presence. If you can fly or provide support, now is the time! Together, we can share this damage and keep fighting. Broken needs us, and this is our chance to make the difference!"
SexyBloom approached cautiously from below. However, she kept her distance, circling the battlefield. Occasionally, she retreated to avoid being overwhelmed, knowing the damage in Broken's vicinity could kill her instantly if she got too close without proper preparation.
Suddenly, a fast-spinning object shot up from below, spiraling wildly until it lost momentum near their position. All eyes turned toward the object as it slowed, and then, without warning, a familiar figure emerged.
"Ivana!" Jovina shouted. She quickly sent her butterfly summon to catch Ivana midair.
Ivana grabbed hold and gracefully leapt onto Goldrich's floating platform. Without hesitation, she slammed her shield onto its surface. Almost instantly, two massive protective shields formed around the group.
For the first time, Broken allowed himself a brief moment to glance at her. The shields she conjured were unlike anything they had seen before, and their immediate impact was undeniable—the strain on their defenses lessened significantly.
"Broken, how much longer do we need to hold this?" Jovina asked.
Before he could answer, Elincia spoke up. "From what I can see, there's a crack forming in the meteor. But I don't know… do we need to hold on until it completely breaks apart?"
"Damn it, this is insane," Jovina muttered. "I swear, I'm going to make whoever did this to us pay dearly."
The battlefield was still in chaos, far from under control. Some managed to raise their hands to offer support, but many couldn't withstand the overwhelming damage and fell.
Others formed parties with healers to share buffs and sustain themselves, but disorder persisted as surviving demons launched brutal attacks, undeterred by the meteor's destruction scorching them. Continue your adventure with empire
Broken and the others had made the right decision by unleashing massive area-of-effect attacks. Without that, the unchecked demons would have plunged the battlefield into even greater chaos.
"I can't do this! I'm out of Mana and health!"
"Damn it, even the meteor is burning us alive, and these bastards are still attacking!"
"Don't let the frontline collapse! Keep those demons back!"
"The damage is too much! I can't stay standing—someone help me!"
"Why aren't they retreating? They're burning up like we are, but they're still fighting!"
"Keep fighting! We just need to buy time for Broken!"
"Don't give up! The kingdom is counting on us!"
Everyone was pushed to their absolute limit, burning through every resource they had. Expensive items for instant skill casts, potions, buffs—everything was being used to keep Broken alive.
It was clear they were now in a state of desperation. Whether they could succeed or not, none of them knew. All they could do was give their absolute best and hope it was enough.
More and more players who could fly began to approach, each one maintaining just enough distance to avoid being completely overwhelmed by the intense heat and pressure. Ten, twenty—soon dozens of them were nearby, casting their support skills and buffs toward Broken and the others, doing everything they could to bolster the fragile defenses.
But the strain was relentless. Some lost their balance, their flight momentum failing as the scorching flames consumed them. Their screams echoed sharply as they plummeted toward the ground.
One by one, others began to fall, the sheer intensity proving too much to endure.
Even Jovina, still desperately clinging to her resolve, grit her teeth in frustration. "Damn it," she growled. "My summon is running out of stamina. It's barely holding on!"
Until…
A figure shot upward, suddenly appearing near them. With a single powerful motion, he flapped his wings and crossed his arms.
All eyes turned toward him—a man draped in a green cloak, his long blonde hair flowing, and a pair of wings that shimmered under the blazing light of the meteor.
"What a touching moment. Am I interrupting your little gathering?" the man said.
The group froze for a heartbeat, and then the tension rose sharply.
Rage and fear flared in equal measure. If the meteor wasn't already enough of an overwhelming threat, now they had to deal with him.
"Damn it," Jovina muttered. "As if things couldn't get worse."