"My lord, we are close," Inora reported quietly as they advanced beneath the pale canopy.
"Based on our distance, Jacain should have entered the forest already."
Sombravida nodded after a brief pause.
"Have him make first contact."
"This territory is vast. It likely houses organized high-level Hollows. If they operate in coordinated groups, direct engagement would be costly."
He turned slightly.
"Let Jacain probe their strength."
"Inora — once he releases Cero, concentrate on sensing how many high-level signatures respond… and how many vanish."
"Yes, my lord."
Her sensory tendrils extended, faint reiatsu ripples spreading outward.
Beside them, Feslina scanned the surroundings with her clustered eyes as they moved deeper into the forest.
The air felt heavy.
Then—
A distorted howl echoed from deep within the woods.
Jacain.
A tidal surge of spiritual pressure rolled outward. Even at the forest edge, Sombravida felt the oppressive weight press against his Hierro.
Inora's tentacles flared.
Moments later—
A thunderous explosion shook the forest.
Jacain's Cero.
Inora inhaled sharply.
"Seventeen high-level signatures reacted. After the blast, ten remain. Eight are critically weakened."
Sombravida nodded.
"Continue monitoring."
He knew the first wave would be expendable.
Moments later, another detonation roared through the forest.
"Twenty-four signatures engaged. Ten destroyed. Eight weakened."
Sombravida's eyes narrowed.
"Are those the same eight?"
"Only two remain from the previous group. Six have vanished."
"…Two."
Sombravida paused, calculating.
"Wait."
"Feslina, retrieve the others."
She sped away.
A third explosion boomed across the forest.
Smoke spiraled above the canopy.
Inora's voice sharpened.
"Fourteen signatures remain. Four destroyed. One critically weakened. Nine still stable."
Sombravida's eyes hardened.
"They've identified his limits."
"Inora, we advance."
"If that weakened signature survives the next Cero, withdraw and bring reinforcements."
"Jacain is nearing exhaustion. I will support him."
"My lord," Inora asked while running beside him, "why now?"
Sombravida answered without slowing.
"This forest is too large to lack intelligent predators."
"He has fired three Ceros."
"A Menos possesses overwhelming power compared to high-level Hollows."
"But forcing him to fire repeatedly means they are using attrition tactics."
"Attrition…?" she repeated.
"Yes."
"A coordinated pack strategy."
"They disperse, attack from multiple angles, and force repeated large-scale attacks."
"Fresh attackers rotate in while exhausted ones withdraw."
"Psychological pressure increases."
He accelerated.
"After three discharges, Jacain's reiatsu has dropped. His aim will degrade."
"He has likely been provoked."
"The weakened signature is probably the instigator."
As they closed in, Jacain's roar shook the forest again.
A fourth Cero detonated.
Inora gasped.
"Ten signatures. Three gone. Two weakened."
"…the weakened one… it recovered."
Sombravida's eyes sharpened.
"As expected. It has a recovery method."
"Inora — return and bring reinforcements."
"Yes."
She turned back.
Sombravida surged forward alone, disappearing into the forest in a blur.
Inside the Battlefield
"Damn it… why is this Gillian so persistent?"
A three-meter alien Hollow stood amid the devastation.
It possessed scythe-like forearms, a leonine torso, and a scorpion tail.
This was Erolrot, ruler of the forest territory.
He commanded dozens of high-level and elite Hollows.
Through constant devouring, his reiatsu had nearly reached evolutionary threshold.
When the massive Gillian entered his domain, he felt exhilaration.
A Menos was a moving treasury of spiritual power.
If devoured, it would propel him toward evolution.
He immediately devised a plan:
Use expendable subordinates.
Wear the Menos down.
Deliver the final blow.
First Assault
"First group — attack!"
More than a dozen Hollows charged.
Jacain answered with Cero.
They were erased.
Second Assault
"Second group — surround and strike!"
Spiritual attacks rained down from multiple angles.
Jacain fired again.
The attackers scattered, but many perished.
Third Phase: Attrition
Erolrot advanced personally.
"Donka — shield formation."
The massive Hollow obeyed reluctantly.
Erolrot spat a writhing flesh projectile toward Jacain's torso.
The impact detonated against his Hierro.
Jacain roared and fired a third Cero.
The blast annihilated Donka and scorched the battlefield.
But the beam had slowed.
Erolrot's grin widened.
"He's tiring."
Rotational Pressure
He retreated, devoured a fallen mask fragment, and barked:
"Scatter! Bleed him dry!"
More Hollows surged forward.
Jacain fired again.
The fourth Cero was weaker.
The battlefield fell silent.
Jacain's reiatsu plummeted.
Final Encirclement
Only a handful of Hollows remained.
But their resolve hardened.
They sensed weakness.
"Haha!" Erolrot shouted.
"Another Cero! Show me!"
The survivors prepared their final assault.
Jacain assessed the battlefield.
He had underestimated them.
Even reduced to a few survivors, their coordination remained intact.
Retreat.
He stepped back—
But his escape path had been sealed.
"Trying to leave?" Erolrot snarled.
"Kill him!"
Attacks converged.
Jacain raised his arm—
Then a voice cut through the chaos.
"You are not qualified to touch my people."
Lightning exploded through the battlefield.
Three Hollows behind Jacain disintegrated instantly.
A figure landed between the combatants.
Less than two meters tall.
Humanoid.
Silver-blue energy crackled along his right claw.
Erolrot stared in disbelief.
"Who are you?"
The figure stepped forward calmly.
"Ace Sombravida."
"King of the Gillian you seek to kill."