Boom!The ground before them rumbled. A huge crack split open, and hot lava spurted out.Next, three giant creatures climbed out of the crack.They were the Lava Giant Apes, formed from black rocks and lava, reaching a height of five feet.They were at Top Level Heavenly Immortal Realm Level Seven.The worst part was that hundreds of Fire Bats stood on each of the giant ape's shoulders.The Fire Bats were small but had sharp fangs and wings with flames on the edges. Plus, they flew at a high speed.Besides that, they could spit a type of spiritual fire that corroded a cultivator's celestial light shield and magical item."Bloody hell! Three Lava Giant Apes and an entire cloud of Fire Bats! Why are they moving together? The intel never said a word about this!" Lyndon shouted, horror bleaching the color from his face."We're finished. The three of us can't handle them. Signal for help now!" Ethan barked, two hammers trembling in his white-knuckled grip while sweat beaded on his brow.Jared narrowed his eyes, studying the three Lava Giant Apes.He caught the unnatural crimson flicker in each ape's eyes and the sluggish, puppet-like drag in their movements.Someone's controlling these creatures.A thousand feet behind, the Earthfire Pavilion convoy saw the scene too."Three Lava Giant Apes and a swarm of Fire Bats..." Ferdinand muttered, voice low and grim."That makes no sense. The two species never hunt together.""Jared and the others are in danger! Send support, now!" Lindsay cried, urgency tightening her words.She lunged forward, signaling several disciples to follow."Hold it!" Elliot quickly stopped her, one hand upraised."Lindsay, don't be reckless! We know nothing about what's ahead. Rushing in could be suicide.""But Jared—" she began, frustration sharpening each syllable."They are just hired escorts," Elliot interrupted, tone iced in disdain."Since they accepted the task, they should take the risk. Our disciples' lives are more valuable than theirs."Then, he turned to Ferdinand and said, "Elder Flameheart, I suggest we stop moving forward. If Jared's group can defeat the beasts, that would be great. If they fail, they can buy us time to search for another route."Elliot's words sounded dutiful, yet he was planning to let Jared's group become bait for the vicious beasts, so the Earthfire Pavilion could be safe.Lindsay stared at him, aghast. "Elliot, how could you say that? They're our companions!""Companions?" Elliot echoed, a cold smile curving across his lips.He let out a dismissive laugh. "Lindsay, you're naïve. They joined us because we promised to pay. The moment real danger bites, they'll be the first to bolt. Why do you take them seriously?"He swept a cold look across the other escorts and asked, "Tell me, am I wrong?"Silence answered him. One by one, the escorts lowered their eyes, every protest drying in their throats.It was the truth that they came here for money. They would not risk their lives.Ferdinand stroked his crimson beardand said, "Elliot's right. We aim to harvest Flame Spirit Herbs. Jared's group accepted the task. They should know the risk we watch for now. If they falter we decide whether we aid them or retreat." Lindsay stomped her boot, sparks of frustration flashing in her eyes.Yet Ferdinand's word was final. Earthfire Pavilion disciples held their ground, blades half-drawn, but not one stepped forward to help Jared.Meanwhile, Jared heard the conversation clearly. His face was calm.Beside him, Lyndon's cheeks drained of color while Ethan's jaw clenched so hard cords bulged along his neck."Damn it! We're just their pawns. I shouldn't have taken this task!" Ethan spat.Lyndon offered a crooked smile. "Too late for regrets. Mr. Chance, do we fight or run?"Jared studied the three looming Lava Giant Apes and the cloud of shrieking Fire Bats aloft. His voice rang steady. "Both of you fall back and stay alive. I will handle them."Lyndon's eyes widened. "You? Alone?"Jared gave a single, unhurried nod.noveldramaHe stepped forward, and gray-tinged chaotic celestial energy swirled in his body. Faced with approaching carnage, he shed the last trace of restraint.The first Lava Giant Ape barreled in. A boulder-sized fist, blazing with molten heat, hammered toward Jared.Jared did not dodge. He met the strike head-on, his own hand closing into a hammer of flesh and power. Fists collided.Boom!Cracks spider-webbed up the ape's arm, raced past its shoulder, and the entire limb burst apart in a shower of molten gravel.The giant ape bellowed and lurched backward, pain reverberating through its titanic frame.In a blur, Jared appeared above the staggering ape, heel descending with crushing finality.Crack!The giant ape's skull shattered. Its mountain-like body toppled and broke apart, cooling into a mound of dark stone and hardened lava.It all happened in seconds. Two other Lava Giant Apes and the swirling swarm of Fire Bats still hung in stunned suspension, their bestial minds struggling to comprehend the sudden shift in the battlefield.A furious bellow-raw, guttural, and full of molten rage-tore from one of the giant apes, the sound rolling across the scorched earth like distant thunder.Both giant apes charged at once, pounding forward on knuckled fists. The Fire Bats shrieked and swooped down, spitting balls of corrosive spiritual fire.Jared pressed his palms together, fingers weaving through a rapid series of sigils. "Chaotic Domain-open!"With him at the center, the space within a radius of thirty miles suddenly distorted.A gray, hazy mist spread out, enveloping the area. All the corrosive fireballs that entered this region abruptly slowed down, then silently dissipated like melting ice and snow.The Fire Bats diving down fromabove, upon entering the range ofthe gray mist, seemed to lose allsense of direction, spinning in place before plummeting one by one Their vitality was extinguished before they even hit the ground. Cóntent Jared combined the chaotic celestial energy with his rudimentary comprehension of space and time forming the initial prototype of the Chaotic Domain. Though it was far from perfect, it was more than sufficient to deal with these low-intelligence beasts.The two Lava Giant Apes barreled into the grey mist, and their movements slowed down. Their movements slowed to an agonizing crawl, every swing of an arm or tightening of a fist fighting against the swampy drag of warped time.Jared appeared beside one of the giant apes and unleashed his grey sword energy.