System's POV

Chapter 1179: Praelium Fati [Part 3]

Cranky was a Savage Lightning Emperor Honey Badger.

It had evolved and surpassed its limit—supposedly Rank 9 Sovereign.

But with the combined gains from the power of Faith and the Majin King Core he had absorbed during that fateful battle in the lands of Fractured Heaven, the Honey Badger had stepped into the ranks of an Archon.

And that was not the end of the Honey Badger’s growth. Once again, it had made another breakthrough, evolving into a High Archon.

He was Laplace Demon’s and The One’s secret weapon, one they could use if things went south in Pangea.

Giving Solterrans entry to Pangea wasn’t simple. Cranky and the warriors of the Valbarra wouldn’t have been able to cross over if it weren’t for Laplace Demon making preparations beforehand.

They had predicted that a rulebreaker would appear during the great battle between the Jinns and the Wanderers, so they had asked the Kings of the Barbarians, the Tigerkins, the Ogres, the Trolls, and the Orcs to prepare their armies to help Zion in battle.

Since they treated Zion as their benefactor and Cranky as their Deity, the warriors of the Valbarra Archipelago answered Laplace Demon’s call.

As for Cranky, Laplace Demon only had to say that someone was bullying Zion in his world. The Honey Badger had even screeched in anger, as if telling the right-hand man of The One to show him the face of that bastard so he could scratch it to oblivion!

It was also why Cranky didn’t hesitate to fight the King of Artem, who had “bullied” Zion, as soon as he set foot in Pangea.

And now, after seeing King Astrion almost snatch Zion away right under its nose, Cranky grew livid with anger.

A screech that seemed to split the sky apart reached King Astrion’s ears, prompting him to clash against the four-meter-tall Honey Badger, whose speed was no joke.

Their collision sent sparks flying in the sky, as Cranky’s claws clashed with King Astrion’s sword.

Knowing that he had missed the opportunity to run after the teenage boy who had ruined his plans to become a Celestial, King Astrion set his sights on the Allied Army, who was making a strategic retreat.

A sneer appeared on his face as he distanced himself from Cranky, intending to obliterate the army that had nearly wiped out his own!

“He’s coming!” Prince Aurelion shouted. “Nagas, do your thing!”

The Naga Patriarch and the mages of their race once again channeled the magic that slowed down King Astrion’s movement, which immediately took effect.

The Artemian King’s eyes narrowed as he pointed a finger on the Artemian Patriarch. The Gauntlets the Artemian King wore transformed into a miniature cannon that shot a beam attack at the Majin, who was getting in his way.

At that exact moment, something rose from the ground, and a towering Earth Dragon used its body to block King Astrion’s attack.

Rogg grunted, but the damage he received was superficial.

Compared to Nautilus’ main cannons, the puny beam from King Astrion’s cannon was not enough to send it flying!

“You really thought we are helpless bugs you can crush so easily, huh?” Erasmus sneered. “Is that your best shot?”

Everyone stared at the shameless Lord of Death, who positioned himself right beside the leg of the Earth Dragon.

Clearly, Erasmus planned to use Rogg’s body as a shield if ever King Astrion tried to blast him too!

“He’s right, you know?!” Camazotz once again entered the battlefield and flew straight to King Astrion. “Hmph! You puny High Archon! Let’s see what you’re made of!”

The members of the Order of the Apocalypse, who were waiting for Zion to return from the treasury, shifted their gaze at the projection to look at the Death Bat with solemn looks on their faces.

Camazotz had fought a Majin King alongside Zion and his Monster Army.

So this time, they didn’t think that he had gone batshit crazy—they truly believed he had a plan.

King Astrion snorted and slashed his sword toward the insect who was courting death.

But instead of running away, Camazotz didn’t evade, even allowing the arrogant King’s sword to hit his armor.

Sparks flew on the spot where the sword had clashed with the armor, sending Camazotz crashing toward the ground.

However, King Astrion also grimaced in pain and shock, having received damage from striking his enemy.

Cranky didn’t miss this opening and clawed the King’s chest, and the latter crashed on the ground from the impact.

King Astrion’s body smashed into the earth, carving a crater large enough to swallow a fortress tower.

Dust and shockwaves rippled across the battlefield, forcing even Rank 8 Sovereigns to brace themselves against the aftershock.

Pain washed over King Astrion’s senses, but despite all this, he immediately rolled to his side, barely escaping Cranky’s follow-up attack, which struck at the location where the King’s head had been just a few seconds ago.

The ground trembled, followed by the loud clap of thunder, as Cranky repeatedly unleashed a barrage against the King, who was forced to go to the defensive.

The Naga Patriarch’s spell was still active, preventing the King from moving normally.

Camazotz propped himself up and spat a mouthful of blood before joining Cranky in his battle.

Seeing the annoying Death Bat approach him, King Astrion gritted his teeth and hurled lightning bolts in his direction.

But Camazotz dodged this easily.

Even if it hit him, the damage wouldn’t have been much since he had long gained strong resistance against them from the lightning tribulation he had experienced in the past.

“Vortex Blow!” Camazotz roared as his punch that broke the sound barrier smashed on the side of King Astrion’s face.

The crisp sound of his fist hitting flesh made the Death Bat’s smile widen, but before he could follow up his attack, his opponent grabbed his arm and punched him back.

But that was a mistake.

Both of them grimaced in pain, but the first one to recover was Camazotz, unleashing a barrage of punches at point blank range.

Unfortunately, none of those punches landed as King Astrion immediately deployed his barrier to protect himself from Camazotz and Cranky, who were simultaneously attacking him from the front and the back.

Both of them were determined to end the Artemian King before Zion could return to the battlefield, which would put him in danger once more.