Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Under the white sky, the black, semi-transparent light shield flickered with flowing light. Although dark in color, it didn’t obstruct the view into or out of the city. Judging by how it had blocked Star’s collision earlier, its defensive power was clearly astounding!

”Boss... save me... this is a trap...” Star was dazed by the impact, suffering what humans would call a slight concussion. He kept muttering deliriously through the Soul Connection.

”Alright, you’re fine. This isn’t a trap. Get over here, quickly!”

”No...”

Only then did Star register, realizing that apart from a stinging pain in his forehead, no other part of his body felt like it had been attacked.

”Oh, oh.”

Star let out a strange yelp and slowly stood up. Perhaps because the effects of the concussion hadn’t fully dissipated, Star, still dizzy upon standing, went the wrong way and bumped into the light shield again.

「...」

After a long while, Wen Yu and his two soul pets quietly observed the Demon City.

Ten minutes earlier, when a disoriented Star had stumbled over to Wen Yu’s side, the protective barrier enveloping the entire Demon City had already vanished.

’Protective barrier’—that was the name Wen Yu had given the black light shield.

Star’s injuries had also healed completely. The species innate talent of a divine beast was certainly no joke.

Once Star’s head cleared, he immediately began to roar and bellow, continuously spewing Dragon Flame at the Demon City.

Unfortunately, every blast of Dragon Flame was intercepted by the protective barrier outside the Demon City.

Wen Yu frowned, observing the Ancient Demon still standing on the city wall.

From start to finish, even when Star was extremely close to the Demon City, this Ancient Demon showed no sign of attacking.

From this, it seems this protective barrier might be two-way! It defends against attacks from outside and also prevents the Demon Tribe inside from attacking out.

After pondering for a moment, Wen Yu’s thoughts suddenly turned to the black cylindrical object standing in the center of the Demon City.

”Star, take me up for a look.”

「...」

In the sky, Star continuously tested the protective barrier above the Demon City.

No matter how strong Star’s attacks were, or even if he merely tried to enter the Demon City, he was outright blocked by the protective barrier.

Wen Yu, meanwhile, simply stood on Star’s back, scrutinizing the black cylindrical object.

Each time Star attacked, black light flared on the cylindrical object. Then, a large amount of the Demonic Qi it had absorbed would gush out, replenishing the protective barrier’s energy.

Wen Yu nodded and directed Star to fly to the front of the Demon City.

Then, he spoke to Zhao Mingming, who was waiting there.

”New intelligence: there’s a 30-meter-high cylindrical object in the Demon City. My initial judgment is that it’s a device generating the protective barrier. Its energy source is Demonic Qi. The protective barrier is very strong; at least, I can’t break it with my current strength. Each time it negates an attack, it consumes Demonic Qi.”

Seeing Zhao Mingming diligently taking notes, Wen Yu continued, ”The protective barrier is likely bidirectional. It can block attacks from both sides—both physical and energy attacks. It prevents creatures from entering from the outside but doesn’t stop those exiting from within. Alternatively, the barrier itself might have a simple friend-or-foe identification system, or some creature is controlling it! That’s all the intelligence on this protective barrier.”

Zhao Mingming quickly finished his notes and sent Wen Yu’s intelligence to the Chief Commanding Officer.

Then, looking at Wen Yu, Zhao Mingming asked, ”Commanding Officer, since we can’t get in, what should we do?”

Gazing at the massive Demon City, Wen Yu said softly, ”If I can’t get in, they naturally can’t get out. I’ll wait right here. Let’s see if they can truly tolerate a human bottling up their entire city of Demon Fiends inside this protective barrier.”