At the quarry, the team's temporary base, a group of masked figures arrived—twenty-four masked beings appeared out of nowhere.
"Seventh Elder, the traces of the Crimson Evil God we tracked lead southeast, and coincidentally we received a request for reinforcements from a hunting team.
They claimed to have found hostages captured by evil gods. They should be fighting at this very moment."
"What was reported?" the masked elder asked.
"That they found about seventeen humans who disappeared from the advanced base, locked inside a cage guarded by half a dozen evil gods.
They assessed themselves to be at an advantage and advanced to try rescuing the hostages."
"Damn it—it's a trap. That damn Crimson Evil God… does he think he can treat our village like his playground?"
The Seventh Elder was furious. "Men, move! Full speed southeast! We will kill this plague and settle our debt with him!"
This group was the Exterminators, normally dispatched on missions to hunt high-level evil gods around the village.
Their formation consisted of twenty-four members:
• one Elder at quasi-Level 2,
• one 9-star,
• two 8-stars,
• eight 7-stars,
• and twelve peak 6-stars.
They were the strongest mission-oriented unit in the village.
They rushed southeast at full speed. With their advanced levels, they covered the distance in about twenty minutes.
And when they arrived, rage consumed them.
On the ground, humans were torn apart. The captain was fighting the beast like a rat in a trap—one arm missing, and a deep gash across his face.
Two members of the team had suffered horrific deaths: a man and a woman with their heads severed.
On the ground, three arms and one leg were scattered like discarded meat.
In the distance, countless evil gods were crushed and mangled around a cage full of humans who wept in despair.
"Go!" the Elder shouted, as he and ten of the highest-level members surrounded the creature, while the others provided support to the wounded.
The Seventh Elder was also a quasi-Level 2, but this beast was far stronger—strong enough that he required heavy support to even have a chance.
In his thoughts, he quickly understood:
Only the Third Elder or above could fight evenly with this thing.
Even he, who trusted his own abilities fiercely, couldn't help feeling intimidated.
This will truly be a problem, he thought, his voice solemn.
Among this hunting group there should have been Cylan, Dante, and Crowler — meaning two disciples of an Elder and the disciple of the Village Leader.
If something happened to them, the whole village would descend into chaos.
But first, I must deal with this beast, the Elder thought as he advanced.
"Damn Crimson One… Today, I, the Seventh Elder, will avenge Astral — the Eleventh Elder you murdered so cowardly!"
As he roared, a massive axe materialized in his hand, and he charged at the enemy.
Along with him, every high-level member began attacking the evil god—swords, spears, axes, bows—everything descended upon the monster.
The Elder took the front line and advanced fearlessly, his pitch-black axe tearing through the air and clashing against the beast's claws.
The collision echoed through the forest. A shrill metallic screech filled the air, nauseating and unbearable.
But the result was clear—
The evil god proved superior in that brief exchange.
However, the human was not alone.
From behind, a heavy strike cleaved downward — the beast dodged with ease.
But a spear thrust targeted its legs, followed by a sword slash aiming for its stomach.
The creature did not dodge, but easily blocked the attacks of the 8-star warriors.
Yet the Elder refused to give it a moment of rest and pressed forward relentlessly.
His black axe, a Level 1 King-Grade weapon, was lethally sharp — any direct hit would be fatal.
Slash, retreat, defend, claws —
The battle entered a fierce stalemate.
Neither side intended to back down.
The Elder spun his axe and lunged again. Axe and claws collided rhythmically — both were masterful fighters within their realms.
The Elder then poured a massive amount of mana into his weapon, and his element took form—dense metallic essence radiated outward.
He swung his axe, releasing a black metallic arc that surged toward the evil god.
Unable to dodge, the beast countered with its claws, unleashing corrupted energy that clashed with the metallic wave.
But the beast was not only dealing with the Elder—
numerous spells rained down on it: fireballs, pressurized water, stone stakes, blades of wind.
A thunderous crack echoed as a lightning arrow struck the creature's body, smoke erupting instantly.
"Haha! Truly a disciple of the Three Thunders' Sister," the Elder said, glancing at the man who shot the lightning arrow — a 7-star cultivator.
The Sister of the Three Thunders wasn't an Elder, but a renowned cultivator in the village — a 9-star, likely a future Elder.
Ahhhhhhh!
A piercing screech burst from the beast as the lightning arrow embedded itself into the upper part of its body, causing real pain.