Chapter 1588 - 1588: Without Him, You’re Nothing

Orin and the others were still reeling from Beast Sovereign's arrival.

Their emotions had been dragged up and down all day.

When the people from the Atlas Federation first appeared—especially after displaying their strength—Orin's group had thought they were finished.

Then Lord Theron arrived and firmly declared that he would protect them. Their despair instantly turned to joy.

When the fighter Ethan summoned proved no match for Theron, they became even more confident. With someone that powerful protecting them, why should they fear the Atlas Federation?

Their relief didn't last long.

As soon as that enormous beast arrived, Theron began to struggle. The man who had dominated the earlier battle was now being overwhelmed, and the Cathay Republic's hopes sank once again.

Then they heard Ethan's order.

Their faces changed instantly.

As soon as the words left Ethan's mouth, Chris and the others charged the Cathay Republic fighters.

The Cathay Republic had only six Stage SS fighters left, and all of them were just Tier 36. The weakest members of Chris's group were Tier 37, while Chris himself had already reached Tier 39.

They weren't even on the same level.

After blocking a few attacks, the Cathay Republic's senior officials turned and fled without hesitation, leaving their people behind to slow Chris's group down.

Stage S fighters packed the surrounding area. Forced to engage, they surged forward and unleashed an overwhelming barrage of attacks.

Garrick swept out a hand, raising an enormous protective dome around his allies.

Big Mike transformed into living fire once more. Terrifying flames spread in every direction, devouring the lives of the Cathay Republic fighters around him.

The others launched their own wide-area skills into the crowd. Cathay Republic fighters fell by the hundreds.

High above, Theron saw the slaughter while fighting Beast Sovereign, and pain filled his face.

He wanted to intervene, but Beast Sovereign kept him pinned down. All he could do was watch as the Cathay Republic's people were massacred.

"How can you be so cruel?" Theron demanded, glaring furiously at Ethan.

"They stopped being our people the moment they came for us," Ethan replied calmly.

"They attacked the Atlas Federation, so there's no reason to let them live. I'm not leaving them alive to stab us in the back while we're dealing with other species."

"But they are still human!"

"I decide who stands with humanity. They chose the other side."

"You—"

Bang!

A tail smashed into Theron and sent him flying.

"You what? You've got the nerve to get distracted while fighting me?" Beast Sovereign snapped.

A thin line of blood appeared at the corner of Theron's mouth. He looked at Ethan one last time, then took a single step and vanished.

"Trying to run?"

Beast Sovereign immediately chased after him.

Ethan opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, both of them had disappeared from sight.

He sighed.

"Why run? It's not like I was going to kill you. Wouldn't visiting the Atlas Federation be better than staying in this place?"

"What the hell is that guy thinking...?"

Hopefully, Beast Sovereign could bring him back. It would be a terrible waste to let someone that powerful get away.

Shaking his head, Ethan stepped forward and charged straight at the Cathay Republic's senior officials.

Now that he'd made his decision, he couldn't leave any future threats alive.

The Cathay Republic had once been Earth's leading superpower, notorious for throwing its weight around. Ethan hadn't expected it to develop so well after the apocalypse.

Honestly, if he hadn't gone to Eldoria, the Atlas Federation might not have been able to defeat them.

By then, Orin and the others had fled to the rear of the Dragonspire City compound.

Only to discover that a battle had already broken out there as well.

When Orin saw who was attacking, his fury exploded.

They were creatures from the Void Realm—the same ones the Cathay Republic had previously subdued.

The moment Dragonspire City's Stage SSS fighter left, they had turned on their masters.

These creatures had never joined the compound willingly. They had only submitted because they feared the Stage SSS fighter and because the Cathay Republic had used a combination of threats and incentives to force them into service.

Now that Theron was gone, they had no reason to remain obedient.

If they rebelled now, they might earn some goodwill from the Atlas Federation and be allowed to live. If they continued fighting alongside Dragonspire City, they would undoubtedly die with it.

So the moment the Stage SSS fighter left, they launched their rebellion without mercy.

"What the hell are you doing?" Orin shouted furiously. "The enemy is over there! Get over there and kill them!"

The Cathay Republic had always treated the Void Realm species this way. As far as its people were concerned, they were nothing more than servants.

Normally, the Void Realm creatures obeyed without protest. Orin never imagined they would dare turn against the Cathay Republic, and their defiance only infuriated him further.

The creatures sneered at his command.

"You still think things are the way they used to be? Without that Stage SSS fighter, you're nothing!"

"You treated us like dogs for long enough. If we don't wipe out this city, how could we ever face our dead?"

The Void Realm creatures threw themselves into the slaughter with even greater ferocity.

When Ethan arrived, he was surprised to find the battle here even fiercer than the one Chris's group was fighting.

Then he saw that the attackers were from the Void Realm and immediately understood.

The Cathay Republic had used its Stage SSS fighter's power to enslave Void Realm creatures and force them to work. That was how it had developed so quickly.

Now that the Stage SSS fighter was gone, rebellion was inevitable.

This saved Ethan a great deal of trouble.

More than ten million people lived in the Dragonspire City compound. Killing them all would take time.

With the Void Realm creatures helping, it would go much faster.

Ethan flashed forward and reappeared in front of Orin and the others.

Orin was still seething over the betrayal when Ethan suddenly materialized before him. His face went pale.

"You—"

"That's enough, President Orin. Your time is up," Ethan said calmly.

He waved a hand.

A flash of sword light pierced Orin's skull.

Orin's eyes widened. Unwilling to accept his end, he collapsed to the ground.

The president of the Cathay Republic, once the leader of Earth's dominant superpower, had died a pathetic death.

"Mr. President!"

The remaining officials went pale.

"We'll take you down with us!"

They roared and charged Ethan in desperation.

Several daggers appeared above Ethan's head, then shot forward.

Shnk! Shnk!

Blades punched through flesh.

The remaining Stage SS officials were pierced through in an instant. Their eyes remained wide as their bodies toppled stiffly to the ground.

Every Stage SS fighter in the Cathay Republic was dead.

Now for the rest.

Ethan turned his gaze toward the Void Realm creatures.

"Pick up the pace. If I see anyone slacking, I'll kill them first."

The creatures shuddered.

Then they attacked even more ferociously.