Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye

Saying this, he reached out and lifted the small bear, then took out the multicolored Yuanchu Crystal from its body and crushed it. A burst of seven-colored light enveloped Luca, and the surging Yuanchu power poured into his body.

The burgeoning energy began to repair his body. The cracks that had once marred Luca's form were now visibly healing at an astonishing rate.

Quagmire and the others were stunned at first, but that quickly turned into wild joy.

"I thought you were a goner," Fuzzsir voiced what everyone was thinking, though for some reason, there was a trace of regret in his tone.

The power of primal energy was undeniable. It could simulate and break down various forms of energy, and using it to repair a divine body was no problem. Not to mention, it was Luca's body now.

He clenched his fists, feeling the immense power coursing through him. Not only had his vitality returned to its peak, but it even felt like he was stronger than before, by more than a fair margin.

Seeing this, not just the others, but Luca himself couldn't help but exhale in relief. It seemed his earlier assumption was correct—the Flesh and Blood Giant Bear was indeed an artificial monster created by the Via Empire, and it was still an incomplete prototype.

No wonder the creature's aura was so unstable. Artificial monsters were created by merging magical-tech and monsters, with traits such as incredibly high regenerative abilities and bizarre powers. The Via Empire had used these creatures to become the most powerful empire in the Eternal World, only to mysteriously disappear soon after.

At the time, Luca was still struggling in the post-apocalyptic world and didn't know much about these things. After the war broke out, he didn't have the mind to focus on them, so his knowledge remained vague.

He glanced at the little girl being held by Donlow and sighed softly. If he wasn't mistaken, this little girl was also an artificial monster, and her father, Lu Tieshu, was a top-tier biologist globally.

The disaster caused by the Via Empire was directly tied to him. It was also rumored that Lu Tieshu had once collaborated with Zenith Technology Company, but he disappeared suddenly afterward, and many questions were buried by the passage of time.

To encounter his daughter here in Leaf City was a surprise for Luca…

As Luca's body healed, the others were filled with excitement. Cornbark, in particular, sighed deeply in relief. If anything had happened to Luca, it was clear that Drumph wouldn't have spared anyone.

"You guys don't have to worry, I'm fine now," Luca said with a smile, trying to reassure the others and calm their nerves.

"Good to hear, good to hear!" Quagmire rushed over and gave him a big hug, slapping him hard on the shoulder. His face was flushed with excitement, and for a moment, he didn't even know what to say.

Donlow's eyes were also a bit misty, while Melania, who had been tense all this time, finally relaxed. Fuzzsir, however, was muttering under his breath, complaining that he didn't get the chance to turn Luca into his subordinate.

"You all go ahead and take the civilians out of here. I'll cover you," Luca said, knowing it wasn't the time for casual conversation. The danger hadn't passed yet, and they were at the final critical moment. If they stopped now, all their efforts could be in vain, and the hundred thousand people evacuating would likely lose their lives right here. Even if they survived, they'd live the rest of their lives with the guilt of those they couldn't save.

The others understood the severity of the situation and quickly composed themselves, preparing to deal with the monster horde that was already closing in.

The hundred thousand people evacuating Leaf City had only a fifth of the way left to go before they could exit the city.

However, at the same time, the Northern Territory army's medicinal pills were running low and could no longer sustain them through the remaining journey.

The frontlines had now retreated to the area where temporary safe zones had been set up.

Fortunately, the earlier attacks by the Flesh and Blood Giant Bear had significantly weakened the monster horde. Not only had it killed many high-level monsters, but it had also wiped out a great number of lower-level ones, reducing the pressure on the defenses and on Quagmire and the others.

With Luca's strength not only restored but also enhanced, he had effectively become a living artillery. He unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks on the monster horde. Whether they were low-level or high-level monsters, any that failed to dodge were instantly killed. Cornbark and Quagmire watched in awe. This guy could single-handedly take on an entire army.

At the same time, game notifications began popping up in front of him.

[Ding! You killed a lv55 Abyss Spider (Common), earning 151,000 experience!]

[Ding! You killed a lv58 Dawn Light (Rare), earning 767,000 experience!]

[Ding! You killed a lv60 Crawler (Rare), earning 849,000 experience!]

...

Streams of experience poured into Luca, and his level began to rise at an incredible rate. In the blink of an eye, his body shimmered with the light of a level-up.

[Ding! Your level has reached 61. You have earned 360 free attribute points!]
Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

Luca paid no attention to the notifications. With a wave of his hand, black magic runes appeared in the air, and the sky darkened with swirling thunder. A roaring black hurricane obscured the heavens, and sharp, meter-long wind blades sliced through the air, crashing down on the monster horde below.

Black blood splattered in all directions as countless monsters were effortlessly sliced apart by the wind blades. The combined roars and screams of the monsters filled the air, but they could do nothing to stop Luca.

Especially the high-level monsters, whose hearts were filled with both anger and fear. This was the first time they had ever encountered such a powerful human. Killing them felt like killing dogs, and even their leader had been slain by this human.

At this moment, many of the high-level monsters began to feel the urge to retreat. Unlike ordinary monsters, high-level monsters had developed intelligence. This meant they were capable of assessing situations, weighing the pros and cons, and avoiding danger when possible.

However, Luca gave them no chance to escape. With a wave of his hand, the sky above him suddenly trembled as lightning crackled. A series of lightning spears formed, and before long, they rained down from the sky like a torrential storm.

By the time the monsters realized what was happening, the sky was already filled with lightning spears, and they were falling directly toward them. Thunderous explosions rang out as the spears struck the horde, and the soldiers of the Northern Territory army quickly supplemented the firepower. The once unstoppable monster horde was now forcibly halted by Luca and the others.

At this time, the last stretch of the path through the monster horde for the hundred thousand civilians from Leaf City was within sight. The safety zone was shielded by Luca's Dark Tortoise Shell, concealing the group's presence. Everyone, including Luca, remained tense, as if on a razor's edge, not daring to relax for even a moment.

If the monster horde managed to break through the barrier and discover that the people in the safety zone were no longer hidden, even with Luca's Dreamweaving Mist covering their tracks, it would be nearly impossible for the civilians to escape.

But the sheer number of monsters was overwhelming, and with Luca's current power, reversing the tide was nearly impossible. He glanced behind him and saw that the Dark Tortoise Shell was shaking under the impact of the monster horde, cracks appearing all over it.

Meanwhile, the army's ammunition had run low, and Quagmire and the others were exhausted after continuous battles. They were barely holding on, relying entirely on Luca's firepower to maintain the defense. Because of this, the Dreamweaving Mist covering the escape route began to destabilize, wavering under the pressure.

Seeing this, Cornbark immediately grabbed the radio, his voice furious as he barked, "Everyone listen up! It's now or never! No more conserving ammunition—give it everything you've got to clear the way!"

Attack was the best form of defense. Everyone knew this was the final moment. Luca and the others also began to push forward with all their strength.

With a wave of his hand, Luca summoned a storm of thunder and wind. Lightning spears and wind blades rained down on the most densely packed area of the monster horde, as if they were endlessly pouring out. Quagmire's blood surged as he leaped into the air, his body coiling like a dragon, charging through the monster horde with wild abandon. Donlow's fists were enveloped in white energy, and each punch he threw was accompanied by the sound of dragons roaring and tigers growling, blasting monsters into pieces with each strike.

Melania's movements were swift and elusive, darting between the high-level monsters like a ghost. Fuzzsir, on the other hand, wielded his staff, his body surrounded by swirling gray death energy, as a massive black magic circle unfurled around him.

Skeleton monsters rose from the earth, joining the battle against the horde of monsters. The last armored division of the Northern Territory army bared its fangs, as tanks, fighter jets, and armed drones began to unleash a torrent of firepower onto the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The battlefield erupted into chaos as the Northern Territory army and Luca's group deployed their last reserves of ammunition and their trump cards, all in an effort to buy time for the civilians who were evacuating.

The entire battlefield was filled with the deafening sounds of gunfire and explosions. The intensity of the firepower had increased more than twofold compared to before. The monster horde, which had already reached the outskirts of the temporary safety zone, was forced back by the overwhelming assault. The sky and the earth were shrouded in smoke and the blood of countless monsters. Leaf City's buildings and streets had already been reduced to ruins, and the pungent stench of blood filled the air, making it almost unbearable.

Luca kept all his focus on the escape route and the monsters before him. The long spear of frost that he wielded swirled and danced through the air. Each time he swung it, a high-level monster was instantly struck down.

They couldn't even fight back. They didn't even have the chance to react. A group of high-level monsters that had previously dared to resist was now paralyzed by fear, scattering in all directions. The chaos spread through the monster horde as well.

But Luca didn't ease his vigilance. He knew full well that these monsters couldn't suppress their cannibalistic instincts, and in such a chaotic situation, it was more likely that their ferocity would be triggered.

"Hahaha! We made it! We finally made it out!" Just as Luca struck down a high-level three-tailed fox, he suddenly heard loud cheers coming from the direction of the escape route.

Turning around, he saw that the first group of civilians had made it through the safety passage created by Dreamweaving Mist. They were already a long distance from the monster horde, and the exit was just ahead.

Their faces were filled with wild joy, some of them hugging each other and crying, while others sprinted desperately toward the city's exit. The sounds they had caused earlier were the result of their own frantic movements. However, Luca and the others didn't feel relieved by this sight. Instead, their expressions darkened.

Something was wrong. This wasn't over.