Lord of the Truth

1055  Sakaar's plan

"What is wrong with you, you cursed tree?!"

"Look, the crimson scoundrel is attacking our brothers!"

Those 300 high level martial emperors whom were sent flying away by the treacherous strike of the soul creature, Hovenheim, did not remain idle for long. They swiftly returned with vigor to resume what they had started. And then, they saw Sakaar wreaking havoc upon their brethren on the other side of the battlefield.

"Seize him!"

Swish Swish

Hovenheim's silver branches descended from above the clouds again like lightning bolts to block their path. Bam! This time, only some were struck while the rest managed to evade, focusing on their target as they charged toward Sakaar.

Buzz Buzz Buzz

"What?!" More than twenty thousand Underworld Daisies appeared before them— it was the remaining half of the blood sea!

"Destroy them! Even when their numbers were double this, they could only stall us. What can these blood daisies do now?" One of the martial emperors roared in anger as he saw his brothers on the far side being pursued by the five overpowered daisies. He surged through the sea of Underworld Daisies before him, accompanied by dozens who heeded his call.

Buzz Buzz

The daisies, which had been stationary moments ago, attacked immediately as if an enemy had entered a wasps' nest. This time, they weren't just trying to push them back. Each daisy sought to inflict as much damage as possible.

Bang! Bang!

The daisies began exploding on impact. Sakaar was no longer using them merely to intimidate enemies into retreating or to inflict minor injuries. That option was no longer viable due to their dwindling numbers, so he started using them in the most violent way possible.

In this manner, the number of daisies rapidly decreased. They exploded, fell, burned, or even turned to dust. However, the damage to the Great Serpent's martial emperors also began to mount quickly. Breaking through that barrier was undoubtedly no easy feat— it would take at least 15 minutes!

Whoosh Whoosh

Soul Creature, Hovenheim, did not waste such an opportunity. Trapped amidst the daisy network, they had nowhere to go as the massive branches rained down upon them! Bam!

"That cursed tree again! Brother Basar, take your men and eliminate that Soul creature immediately!"

"Understood!" Marshal Serbal's aide saluted sharply, taking his hundred men to intensify the attack on the spiritual creature Hofenheim. More importantly, they aimed to strike the branches before they could reach the rest of their allies, giving them a chance to focus on destroying the daisies.

The imperial guards felt anger surging through their veins as they watched their comrades fall like this. Over thirty of them had been slain before their very eyes, and they couldn't advance.

"Destroy those bloody flowers! Burn Durger's blood in your veins, spare nothing!"

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Bam!

A colossal club descended upon Sakaar's head from behind, striking with such force that he spat out blood, "Pffft...!" The impact hurled him dozens of meters away before he managed to regain his balance.

His body quivered slightly, but his gaze remained sharp. Buzz, with a swift motion, Sakaar raised two fingers in the direction of his assailant.

Instantly, one of the five Underworld Daisies darted toward the attacker with lightning speed. Bam! The unfortunate foe exploded into a crimson fountain, his life extinguished before he could even utter a scream.

"You insolent fool! Do you think you can act as you please among us?!" Two more adversaries charged at Sakaar from his side, their weapons gleaming under the chaotic battlefield's light. Sakaar's right arm morphed into a massive hammer, its surface crackling with an ominous energy as he swung it with brutal precision. One attacker was sent hurtling away, his body crumpling under the devastating blow. But the second attacker, moving with the agility of an imperial elite, managed to bypass Sakaar's defenses, driving a blade deep into his side. "Arghhh!!" Sakaar bellowed in pain, his voice echoing through the battlefield like a wounded beast.

Buzz Buzz The Underworld Daisies did not delay, surging forward with terrifying speed. In mere moments, the two attackers were reduced to flying masses of blood and gore, their remains splattering across the ground like rain.

Panting heavily, Sakaar stood amidst the chaos. His breaths came in ragged gasps, each exhalation a visible puff in the cold air of the battlefield. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed on the five new foes advancing toward him. His blood-soaked figure radiated a feral determination, an unyielding will that refused to break. Then, with a thunderous roar that shook the very ground, he shouted, "KAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

This cry was not just a challenge but a declaration of his intent. From the beginning, Sakaar's strategy had been clear: to exchange the wounds he sustained for as many enemy lives as possible. The cost of his pain was the blood of his adversaries.

Without the blood sea, Sakaar's strength was still formidable. As a level 49 expert, his power approached that of a warlord. Yet, even with his prowess, he understood his limits. Alone, he could crush most of the marshals of the Great Serpent Empire, with the exception of Celibus. In direct combat, he could take down ten imperial guards, hold his ground against twenty, and might even escape from thirty. But against a hundred? The odds were close to none, and he knew it.

Now, every time the five daisies left his side to strike new targets, Sakaar found himself surrounded by dozens of enemies. Their blades glinted with malice, their eyes filled with the desire to claim his head. These were no ordinary soldiers— they were imperial guards, disciplined and fearless, their resolve unshaken by the terror of his power.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Sakaar's sharp mind picked up on a critical detail. He observed the group attacking the soul creature Hofenheim and noticed their dwindling stamina. The heavy use of the purple mist early in the battle had taken its toll, leaving them vulnerable and nearly depleted of their energy reserves.

A plan began to form in Sakaar's mind. If he could eliminate those one hundred attackers quickly, the balance of the battlefield would shift. Their numbers would be reduced to a quarter, and their morale would suffer a devastating blow. But he also knew the clock was ticking. He needed time—just 15 more minutes. In that span, fatigue would further weaken his enemies. Their strikes would become slower, and their strength diminished by at least 20%. The tide of battle would turn in his favor.

But plans are fragile things, easily disrupted. The sudden arrival of the Great Serpent Empire's army into the city had shattered any hope of executing his strategy perfectly. His lord, though valiantly holding the line by summoning countless soul creatures, was fighting on a front unsuited to his role.

Sakaar, as the supreme general, understood his duty. He had to end this fight swiftly and move to stop the invading army, allowing his lord to focus solely on his own battle.

Even if the plan was ruined, Sakaar was determined that the outcome must remain unchanged.

Blood dripped from Sakaar's wounds, pooling at his feet, but he stood tall. His right arm transformed into a massive hammer, its weight seeming to challenge the heavens themselves, while his left became an enormous shield, its surface glowing with a faint, protective aura.

"KAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" His war cry echoed once more, shaking the spirits of friend and foe alike. Sakaar braced himself for the storm ahead, ready to endure every blow, to strike back with unrelenting fury.

Thirty-three foes had fallen, leaving 367 enemies more to go.