Agents in grey armor jumped onto the walls. Standing apart from each other, these guys looked rather sparse in comparison to the soldiers.

“Mana missiles!” The keyholder commanded.

In unison, these agents swung their hands forward. Rays of lights shot out of the dome. Before, the sanctuary looked like a turtle. Now, this was a porcupine with its quills up.

Firing at an angle, those rays shot through the monsters like a net of laser.

BOOoom!

Explosions plowed the ground.

That was the last straw. The monsters in the distant slowed down. The sparse surviving monsters nearby fled.

Like receiving a signal, the swarm of monsters started fleeing in all directions.

“Yes!” Soldiers stood up shouting, hugging, fist-pumping the air.

Outside the dome, one after another, the dead monsters evaporated into mist, leaving drops peppering the ground.

“Hold your ground soldiers. We are just getting started.”

The keyholder’s message ran through the defense lines.

Some blocks away…

The group of 5 elite monsters faced with the approaching monsters.

“No… Deserters!” The ape’s machete started to glow red.

“Go back!” The ape made a large swing with his machete, blasting out an arc of flames.

Boom!

Fiery explosions brightened up the night streets. The flames formed a wall, blocking the fleeing monsters’ path.

The dude in white cloak waved his feather-fan. A sudden breeze blew towards the fleeing monsters. The wind quickly building up in strength.

“Enough.” Lord Trample commanded. “The children have already succeeded in their duties.”

“Let them leave.” Lord Trample walked into the wave of monsters. “Now, I go alone.”

“We will fight by your side.” The monsters bowed.

“Follow your orders. Stay here.”

At this command, these elite followers kneeled onto one knee. It’s as if invisible weights had been added to their shoulders.

On the sanctuary walls, the soldiers aimed outside. A freezing breeze brushed by. But on the outside, it’s silent now.

Beams of lights from the watch towers scanned the battleground. The ground glistened with items.

After a moment of waiting, finally, red flare lights reflected off a figure.

Moving at an even pace, that figure stepped through the wastelands.

The searchlights from some watchtowers converged at that figure. Lord Trample could be seen clearly now. This place was like a stage, and Lord Trample was under the converging spotlights now.

Other searchlights continued to scan the battleground.

“Is that our target?” Standing on a watch tower, a soldier snickered. “Just one? Watch this. My darling here can knock right through 3.5 inches of steel plate.”

BAM!

With a loud rambling sound, a bazooka missile shot towards that figure.

Lord Trample extended a hand. That missile crashed into its palm.

BOOOooom!

A fiery explosion!

A pillar of grey smoke, dust, and debris rose up into the air.

The shockwave brushed against the Sanctuary’s dome.

Lord Trample stepped out of the smoke unharmed.

“Wow. That’s really something.” The bazooka man raised his brows and nodded.

In the next instance, streams of lights, bullets, and bazooka missiles converged at that target.

Btttooom!

An earth shaking explosion!

The shockwave brought up a ring of dirt into the air. Asphalt blocks and dirt rained down.

With his arms crossed, Lord Trample walked out that fiery explosion unharmed.

“My dagger!”

“My sword!”

Some agents stumbled back in shock. They had lost their most-trusted weapon, yet this monster was still unharmed.

Seeing this result, people stopped firing.

Walking up to the invisible barrier, Lord Trample stopped and looked around.

“Greeting humans.” Lord Trample’s rumbling voice echoed down the walls. “I am Lord Trample. The commander of the mist monsters.”

“As you humans like to say, new year, new beginning. Your era is now over. It is time to welcome a new era. Mother Earth has made her choice. She chose us, the mistborn! We shall be the new rulers of this planet! You have but two choices humans. To bow to the inevitable, and step out of my way. Or, to be crashed along the way. Nobody can stop the destined fate. Just as none of you can leave a scratch on me. We do not have to be enemies, humans…”

While Lord Trample made his speech, the keyholder shot a glance at Liam.

Liam pressed his temples. ‘Everly, how long.’

“Stop rushing my like a fucking slave! Alright?!” Behind the front gates, Everly popped a glowing block into existence.

In front of her, a team rushed to assemble something.

“I’ve heard that this is the strongest settlement. I am disappointed. Lord of the humans, bow to me, and I will spare your life.”

Standing above the front gates, the keyholder locked his gaze with Lord Trample.

After a quick moment of thought, the keyholder nodded. “If we become your vassals, what is the cost?”

“Wise choice, lord of the humans. My mercy is only reserved for the meek. Look at what you violent humans have done to my children. Everyone human soldier here must pay the price, with their lives.”

The keyholder took a glance at Liam. Liam nodded back.

The keyholder sighed and raised a hand.

The sound of engine humming gradually got louder. The front gates started to open up.

Seeing this, the towering monster nodded in approval.

Before the gates fully opened, a blinding light could be seen through the doors.

“Ohhmm…” Lord Trample could see a cannon pointing at him.

A bursting light brightening up the night.

A beam of energy blasted out that cannon.

Before Lord Trample could react, that beam of energy had already smashed into its chest.

“Hhhaaaah!” Lord Trample pressed forward into the beam. Yet, this towering monster was still quickly sliding back, plowing out two trails on the ground.

The beam of energy pushed against Lord Trample like a fire hose. The chest armor on Lord Trample quickly brightened up. In a blink, it became blindingly bright.

Yet, Lord Trample was like a sink. It’s as if he could absorb as much energy as he wanted. It’s as if his body was indestructible, impenetratable.

Streams of energy sprayed off Lord Trample’s armor. The chaotic sprays cut the ground like a laser, leaving trails of molten ground.

Snap!

Cracks grew on Lord Trample’s breastplates.

“Ooohhmmm!” Lord Trample leaned forward against the energy beam. His armor crumbled into dust. Glowing cracks started to run down the monster’s body as well. The warrior’s brazen skin reddened up.

“OOoooooowuuuu!” Lord trample finally stopped sliding back. Pushing against the beam, he made one step forward.

One step! Two steps! Three steps!

Wearing a crazed smile, Lord Trample picked up speed.

Yet, in the next moment, the energy beam thinned out and disappeared.

Lord Trample took a quick step forward.

“That’s it?” Lord Trample panted with a snicker.

“Ignite!” The keyholder commanded.