Chapter 1617 - 1617: Is That Funny?

Outside Fallen Star City, a massive group of Void Realm beings stared at the ruined city, utterly confused.

"Nerissa, are you sure this is the Fallen Star City you told us about? The one full of skyscrapers and bustling with activity?"

Seraphine gave her a strange look.

"It... should be." Nerissa was just as baffled. She checked their location several more times, but there didn't seem to be any mistake.

"Could another race have conquered it?" Seraphine frowned.

"Impossible. Lord Ethan has already reached Stage SSS. Who in this world could possibly defeat him?" Solren had absolute faith in Ethan.

"Of course we don't need to worry about Lord Ethan. But don't forget, how many days has it been since he returned? This place has clearly been abandoned for a long time. Another race might have attacked while Lord Ethan and his people were still on the Eldoria Continent," Seraphine suggested.

"That's certainly possible." Solren nodded.

"Then what do we do now? This world is enormous. How are we supposed to find Lord Ethan?"

"Don't worry. Quite a few Azure Nereids remained in Fallen Star City. I'll try contacting them."

Seraphine was about to reach out to the members who had stayed behind when a vast swarm of figures suddenly appeared in the distance, flying toward them.

Within moments, they arrived overhead.

They were a race specializing in wind-type abilities. Each had a pair of transparent wings on their back, and their numbers exceeded a hundred thousand. Most were Stage A or Stage S, putting their overall strength roughly on par with the Azure Nereids and Aurelians.

However, the dozen or so figures leading them were all Stage SS.

The two races immediately went on guard.

They outnumbered the newcomers, but they didn't have a single Stage SS fighter. If a battle broke out, they would be at a severe disadvantage.

The winged beings hovered high above them, looking down.

"Are you natives of this world?" the man in front asked.

"No," Seraphine replied.

"Then what world are you from?"

"The Eldoria Continent."

The Windkin glanced at one another and shook their heads.

"Never heard of it. Judging by their strength, it can't be a very powerful world."

"We've lost a lot of people and need more manpower. We could make them a subordinate race."

"Haha, that works. And those women are all gorgeous. They could be more than just subordinates..." One of the men grinned lecherously.

After discussing it among themselves, the leader turned back to Seraphine.

"From now on, you'll follow us, the Windkin. This world is extremely dangerous. With your strength, you won't get far on your own. Join us, and I'll guarantee your safety."

"Thank you for the offer, but we'll pass," Seraphine said.

"That isn't your decision to make." The Windkin man sneered.

"What? Are you planning to attack us?" Solren demanded.

"Heh. It seems you still haven't learned how cruel this world can be."

"If you come with us willingly, things will be easier for everyone. Otherwise, I'll eliminate your leaders and take control by force." The Windkin man stared coldly at Seraphine and Solren.

Their expressions darkened.

"I'm warning you, we're under someone's protection," Solren said. "Touch us, and you'll die horribly."

"Hahaha! Someone's protecting you? Where are they?" The Windkin leader burst out laughing. "Go on, call them out. Let me have a look."

This world was in complete chaos. If these people truly had a protector, they wouldn't be wandering around without even one Stage SS fighter among them.

While the man was still laughing, a dimensional rift suddenly opened above them.

Two figures stepped out and stood in midair, looking down on the Windkin.

"I'm the one protecting them," Ethan said. "Is that funny?"

"Lord Ethan! You finally came!"

The Azure Nereids and Aurelians erupted with excitement when they saw him.

The Windkin, on the other hand, went pale.

A Stage SSS fighter!

Their leader nearly died of fright. Cold sweat poured from his body as he forced a smile onto his face.

"Greetings, my lord. I didn't know they were under your protection. I was too blind to recognize their status. Please forgive me."

"If you're that blind, you clearly don't need your eyes."

Light flashed in Ethan's eyes.

"Ahhh!"

The Windkin leader screamed and clutched his eyes in agony.

Everyone froze in shock. None of them had expected Ethan to be so ruthless.

The other high-ranking Windkin glared at him.

"My lord, we never did anything excessive, and we've already apologized," one of them said grimly. "Was there any need to go this far?"

"You think that was going too far?" Ethan smiled.

"Looks like you don't understand how cruel this world can be at all."

Dozens of daggers appeared behind him and shot toward the Stage SS Windkin.

Their faces changed. They immediately spread their wings and retreated.

But the daggers tracked them as if they had eyes, closing the distance at terrifying speed.

The Windkin hurriedly raised energy shields around themselves.

It didn't matter.

The instant their shields formed, the daggers punched straight through and buried themselves in their skulls.

Ethan's Telekinesis wasn't much use against anyone stronger than him, but against weaker enemies, it was brutally effective.

One dagger, one kill.

The dozen or so Stage SS Windkin went rigid, then dropped from the sky.

Ethan used Teleportation to collect every corpse into his spatial storage ring before reappearing in front of the surviving Windkin.

The rest of them were dumbstruck.

In the blink of an eye, every top fighter their race had brought with them was dead.

Mom, this world is terrifying. I want to go home!

When Ethan's gaze fell on them, they finally broke. More than a hundred thousand Windkin dropped to their knees.

"Mercy, my lord!"

"Please spare us!"

Ethan studied them, wondering whether he should kill them all.

Normally, once someone crossed him, he wiped them out.

But there were more than a hundred thousand Windkin here. Killing them all would cause an enormous commotion and might attract other Void Realm races.

He had come to pick up the Azure Nereids and Aurelians, not create unnecessary trouble. If too many enemies were drawn here, getting both races back to New Atlas would become incredibly difficult.

"Forget it. I won't kill you," Ethan said. "Kneel here for one hour, and then you can leave."

This might have been the first time he had ever shown such mercy.

Still, the strongest among them were only Stage S. They were no threat to him.

"Thank you, my lord!"

"Thank you for sparing us!"