The devastating energy wave from Eagle's final arrow spread out widely! The brilliant blackish-red light consumed everything in the valley. A thunderous explosion echoed as if the world was about to shatter. The ground trembled violently; cliffs on the surrounding mountain tops began to crack and partially collapse. The immense destructive power seemed ready to annihilate all life in an instant…
But then... in the split second before the devastating energy wave could strike the now-unconscious bodies of Da Vinci's team!
Countless massive tree roots suddenly shot up from the ground beneath them! They wove together rapidly and intricately as if alive, forming a thick and strong "Divine Arbor Dome," completely enveloping and protecting their bodies within!
BOOOOMMMMMMM!!!
Eagle's destructive energy wave slammed into the arboreal dome! An explosion and a blinding flash of light! The wooden dome vibrated violently as if it would shatter. Bark and large branches broke and ignited into ash in an instant! The immense impact caused the ground in that area to collapse into a deep pit, sending Da Vinci's team, still wrapped in the remaining remnants of the wooden dome, plummeting into the suddenly appearing underground cavern!
When the smoke and heat began to dissipate, it revealed a giant crater and the mostly charred and withered remains of the wooden dome. But its thickest core had partially survived, enough to mitigate most of the destructive power and narrowly save those inside from death.
On the clifftop, now partially collapsed, Eagle's figure stood, panting heavily. Large beads of sweat covered his forehead and temples. The pitch-black energy aura around him had visibly dimmed, and dark blood seeped from the corner of his mouth and several wounds on his body caused by overexerting his power. His amber mechanical eyes flickered slightly as he scanned the giant pit below.
Soon, the towering figure of Kairo, leader of the Spark Faction, along with four or five other members, quickly appeared at the edge of the pit. They looked down at the remains of the wooden dome and the still bodies of Da Vinci's team with faces full of shock and concern, before immediately sliding down into the pit.
"Damn it! Their condition is much worse than I thought!" Kairo cursed when he saw the true state of Da Vinci's team up close. Everyone was severely injured and still unconscious. He quickly ordered Sage, the group's medic, and others to assist immediately. "Sage! Check their vitals, quickly! Others, secure the perimeter! Eagle might not be far!"
As Sage was urgently checking pulses and wounds, Ryu, one of Da Vinci's team, began to cough softly and slowly, painfully opened his eyes. His vision was still blurry, but he vaguely recognized Kairo's face.
"Y-you... Kairo-dono..." Ryu tried to speak, his voice faint. "How... did you... get... here..."
Kairo looked at Ryu with slight relief to see him conscious, before replying in a serious and urgent tone, "We came according to the plan with Raven! She anticipated that the confrontation with Eagle wouldn't end easily, and there might be a situation where you'd need urgent help. So we prepared an 'emergency escape route' and 'reinforcements' in this area beforehand."
He looked up at the clifftop where Eagle had stood, his expression tense. "But I never thought he'd go as far as to unleash such a devastating ultimate attack! Our original plan was to 'support' and 'open an escape route' for you after you had clashed with him for a while and he had weakened somewhat. But it seems the situation 'escalated' and became 'more severe' than we estimated... My arbor dome almost couldn't withstand that power. If it had been a moment later..." Kairo didn't finish, but his expression conveyed the horror of what had just happened.
"You... created... those roots..." Ryu murmured weakly, but he was beginning to understand the situation better.
Kairo nodded. "Yes... but now is not the time to explain." He looked at Eagle, who was still panting on the cliff, weakened but still a threat not to be underestimated. "It's not over! Even though he used a lot of power, he's still dangerous! We need to get you all out of here as quickly as possible, before he recovers or reinforcements arrive!"
Then Kairo turned to order the remaining Spark Faction members. "Prepare to move the injured! Escort team! Prepare to counter a new wave of attacks from him! I'll go up to 'buy time' and 'assess' his strength myself!"
"Are you going alone, Kairo-dono!" one of the Spark Faction members asked with concern.
"He's significantly weakened... and I'm not in peak condition either after forcing myself to create that arbor dome," Kairo replied, his eyes fixed on Eagle unwaveringly. "It's a 'probing' of each other. If I'm lucky... I might find a chance to 'drive him off,' or at least buy enough time for you to evacuate safely."
With those words, Kairo leaped up towards the clifftop to confront the weakened but still dangerous Hawk. The ground beneath his feet seemed alive; small roots and vines sprouted to aid his movement, allowing him to traverse the rough and steep terrain with the agility of the wind!
Eagle, who was trying to gather his meager remaining energy, noticed Kairo's arrival. His mechanical eyes narrowed coldly. "Another little whelp... think you can do anything in my current state?" Though he said that, he raised his bow, ready.
"My name is Kairo... and I'm here to stop you," Kairo said flatly but firmly.
"Arbor Sword Dance – Emerald Talons!" Numerous thorny vines shot out from the ground around Kairo, moving with fluid and complex motions, trying to limit Eagle's movement and create openings in his defense!
Eagle cursed in annoyance. He had to constantly dodge and parry the thorny vines with his bow, preventing him from accurately aiming at Kairo. "Plant-controlling power... how annoying!"
Kairo seized the moment Eagle was entangled with the vines and closed the distance in an instant! His fist, quickly encased in thick, hard bark, slammed into Eagle's side!
Ugh!
Eagle cried out in pain! The impact was so heavy it sent him staggering back several steps! Though his armor was strong, he could still feel the internal damage! His physical strength is also extraordinary! Eagle thought in alarm. He had underestimated Kairo!
The battle between Kairo and Eagle, though brief, was fierce. Eagle tried to use his remaining long-range archery skills, but Kairo's vines and roots constantly harassed and obstructed him, preventing him from getting a clear shot. Kairo, on the other hand, capitalized on his slightly faster recovery and understanding of the terrain, attacking Eagle continuously and heavily. The determination to protect his comrades and stop the threat was pushing Kairo beyond his normal limits!
Finally! With the coordination of Spark Faction members who provided suppressing fire from a distance (though not inflicting much damage, it was an effective distraction), and Kairo's relentless assault, Eagle "slipped up"! A vine managed to entangle one of his legs momentarily, causing him to lose balance!
Kairo didn't let this golden opportunity pass! He roared! "Arbor Spear – Piercing the Core!" A large, sharp root, like a spear, shot up from the ground where Eagle had stumbled! The tip of the wooden spear aimed directly at the vital point on Eagle's chest!
"This is the end for you! Hawk!" Kairo shouted! He was confident this attack would finish off the hunter!
But then! In the split second before the wooden spear could pierce Eagle's armor!
The mechanical eye symbol on Eagle's chest plate suddenly glowed an intense dark red! Accompanied by a piercing alarm signal!
"Unit Eagle... critical status... emergency directive from the Emperor... immediate retreat! Confirming retreat!" A cold, emotionless synthetic voice sounded from the communication system within Eagle's armor!
Eagle's eyes widened in shock mixed with indignation! "Damn it! At a time like this!"
Suddenly! A terrifying and utterly chilling killing intent erupted violently from Eagle's body! It wasn't power he intentionally unleashed to fight, but a "resistance" or "final reflex" of a hunter being "forced" to retreat against his will! The killing intent was so strong it made Kairo, who was about to impale him, instinctively flinch slightly! The tip of the wooden spear grazed Eagle's chest plate, inflicting some damage, but not a fatal wound!
Eagle seized the moment Kairo hesitated! He slammed some "special device" hidden in his boot onto the ground! A thick cloud of black smoke billowed up, instantly obscuring vision!
"You filthy rats! Remember this! I will definitely come back for you!" Eagle's voice hissed from the smoke cloud before his figure quickly disappeared from the area, leaving Kairo and the Spark Faction in bewilderment and frustration.
Kairo cursed in annoyance. "Damn it! Almost had him! These damn Nebula systems are so annoying!" He looked in the direction Eagle had fled before turning back to the giant pit where Da Vinci's team had fallen. "Right now... I need to check on them."
He ordered some Spark Faction members to keep watch outside, while he and a few others quickly descended into the underground cavern to assist Da Vinci's team, who had narrowly survived but were still in critical condition and in urgent need of medical attention.
[End of Chapter 35]