Even though the Third Prince was accompanied by two elite guards who had reached the Advanced Stage, the danger before them allowed no room for complacency.
The swarm of insect monsters in the sky was overwhelming, like a black curtain blotting out the heavens!
The sight was terrifying—like the end of the world had arrived.
No matter how powerful a warrior may be, in the face of such a massive encirclement of insect monsters, they had no choice but to retreat!
Normally, someone at the Advanced Stage would be considered a top-tier fighter, but in this apocalyptic crisis, they were as powerless as anyone else—unable to resist, only capable of falling.
The two guards were filled with tension. Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they led the Third Prince on a desperate escape.
They were already moving at maximum speed, but they dared not slow for even a second. Their chakra was surging frantically!
Suddenly, the ground trembled ahead, and several pits burst open—yellow light shot upward from them.
Without question, those were the insect monsters—each the size of a clenched fist!
The sight was utterly hopeless. They hadn't expected that while escaping danger from behind, they would face another ambush ahead.
Even though the explosion's shockwave had already decimated a large portion of the beasts, the swarm was like a nightmare that refused to end—a shadow that clung to them with malicious persistence.
What am I supposed to do?!
The Third Prince was completely panicked. He still dreamed of ascending to the throne—how could he possibly die here?
No! I won't accept this!
He let out a hysterical scream, his eyes filled with fury, then suddenly raised a cold, determined palm.
His chakra surged wildly, forming a blurry palm-shaped imprint in the air, which shot backward.
This was a technique passed down through ancient times, inherited by only the most elite warriors.
The moment the energy imprint flew out, the sky roared like a raging storm. Insect monsters were shredded into pieces by the blood-colored divine light of the attack.
But then the swarm grew even more chaotic. The death of their own seemed to trigger their nerves, turning their rage into madness!
The Third Prince froze in horror. Only now did he realize—fighting back was a mistake. Against these insects, the only option was to keep running. Any attempt to retaliate would only bring more disaster.
The two guards came to the same realization. Just as they were preparing to clear the obstacles ahead together, they stopped—realizing that killing more of the insects would only enrage the swarm further.
These two elite bodyguards were no fools—they had traveled the world and seen many things. A thought crossed their minds.
Could such an immense swarm be led by a single insect king?
If a true monarch existed among the swarm, its power would far exceed the limits of human strength—possibly even surpassing all known boundaries.
This terrifying possibility made them even more nervous. For such a sea of monsters to move with order, there had to be a king. But strangely, no king had shown itself yet. Why?
"Your Highness, don't stop—keep moving!"
One of the guards shouted in alarm as the Third Prince hesitated for a moment, slowing down slightly.
He knew now wasn't the time for doubt. Chakra surged through him again, and he pushed himself forward at full speed.
Across the mountain range of Mount Kyofeng, people were fleeing in every direction, seeking shelter wherever they could.
Some were lucky enough to find places to hide. Others were not—swallowed alive beneath the crushing tide of insect monsters.
Just then, the Third Prince and his guards spotted a massive stone formation ahead. In the center, there appeared to be a hollowed-out space—a cave that could serve as shelter.
But when they reached it, they found several others had already taken refuge inside.
These people were part of some unknown minor sect from the Rakshasa Kingdom. After much difficulty, they had found this place to hide—and now, faced with unexpected company, both sides stared at each other in shock.
The Third Prince's face darkened instantly as he barked, "Out of my way!"
The people inside the cave grew visibly nervous.
One of them sneered and said, "You think we'll just give up our shelter? If you step outside now, you'll die instantly! We're not letting you in!"
He was right—outside was a living nightmare. The thick swarm of insect monsters was like a blanket of death. No sane person would step out voluntarily.
But the Third Prince was arrogant and ruthless. With a cold smile, he replied, "You brought this on yourselves."
Before the words finished leaving his mouth, his two Advanced Stage bodyguards sprang into action!
Violent chakra surged out, blasting the cave's occupants with tremendous force. Those who were physically weaker were killed instantly. The survivors, terrified, fled in all directions.
This was the first time they had felt such terror from those two men. This was the strength of true elites—Advanced Stage warriors.
The survivors didn't dare stay anywhere near the Third Prince anymore.
A few sharp-eyed ones immediately recognized him: this was the Third Prince of the Rakshasa Kingdom.
They were stunned. Cursing their luck, they moved on to search for other places to hide.
None of them dared to retaliate.
Even if they could win a fight against him—what then? With the Third Prince's immense influence and the power backing him, who would dare to oppose him?
Finally, the prince managed to catch a breath in the cave, feeling somewhat secure.
Elsewhere, in a mysterious cavern deep within the mountain, Senju Yukika was still feeling the pressure brought by the enormous swarm of insect monsters outside.
Through his spiritual sense, he could detect that the number of these creatures was not just massive—it was increasing by the minute.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the count was approaching ten million!
Yes—nearly ten million insect monsters now roamed Mount Kyofeng. The horror was unimaginable.
It felt like the end of days. An apocalyptic scene that made everyone despair.
Many regretted deeply having come here in search of treasure.
Meanwhile, Senju Yukika couldn't help but wonder—why had these insect monsters suddenly appeared in such overwhelming numbers? Was it just a coincidence?
Or was something far more terrifying behind all of this?