Against The Eternity Chapter 40: [39] Chapter - 18: The Tide Shift (Part - 2/2)

Read chapter 40 of Against The Eternity by Phoenixfly_steller on NovelPedia.

[39] Chapter - 18: The Tide Shift (Part - 2/2) Then, they saw it. A massive horde of beasts surged into the clearing, every creature that had been chasing Eklavya now crashing forward in a unified, unstoppable wave. The grandmasters reacted instantly. Weapons flashed into their hands, talismans ignited mid-air, and layers of ki surged outward as techniques were activated without hesitation. But the disciples, they faltered. Their faces drained of colour as the sheer number of beasts poured into the clearing, far beyond what any formation could easily contain. Claws tore through tree trunks like paper, massive bodies collided and surged over one another, and the overlapping roars of dozens of third-tier beasts shook the very air, turning the clearing into a storm of raw, living destruction. Eklavya caught Anshvi’s wrist and pulled her upward without hesitation, guiding her onto the trunk of a thick, rain-slick tree. The bark was rough beneath their hands, damp and treacherous, but he moved with practiced ease, climbing until the branches grew dense enough to conceal them. Above, leaves still clung to droplets of rain, each one catching faint traces of moonlight that filtered through the canopy, casting a soft, ghostly glow around them. From that hidden perch, they watched the chaos unfold below. The six grandmasters fought with overwhelming power—far beyond ordinary cultivators. Ki erupted in violent bursts, talismans flared, and elemental attacks tore through the clearing, lighting the battlefield in flashes of fire, wind, and raw force. But it wasn’t near enough. The beasts answered every strike with ferocity. Claws collided with ki barriers, massive bodies crashed through attacks, and their roars shook the forest with relentless fury. The battle turned savage within moments—uncontrolled and overwhelming. Between breaths, the grandmasters cursed. Eklavya’s name echoed again and again—filled with rage, humiliation, and disbelief. They shouted of revenge, of disgrace, of being deceived by someone they had dismissed as insignificant. But something felt… wrong—like a note out of place in an otherwise violent symphony. Eklavya’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield below with growing unease. The clash of steel, the thunder of collapsing trees, the guttural roars of dying beasts—everything was there. And yet… something was missing. “Where is the fifth-tier beast?” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely louder than the whisper of leaves around them. “It should have appeared with the horde… why isn’t it here?” Anshvi’s gaze followed his, her brows knitting slightly as realisation settled in. She felt it too—not fear, but a quiet tension, like the forest itself was holding its breath. Even as the lesser beasts hurled themselves into the slaughter below, their unseen leader remained absent. Time dragged on, heavy and suffocating. For nearly two hours, they remained hidden among the high branches, their bodies still but their senses sharp. The rain had faded into memory, leaving behind a damp hush that clung to everything. Mist drifted low across the ground, weaving between broken trunks and fallen bodies, blurring the edges of the battlefield until it looked like a half-forgotten dream. Below them, the forest had been reshaped into ruin. Trees lay uprooted, their massive roots exposed like torn veins. The earth was gouged open in long scars where claws and techniques had clashed. Pools of blood gathered in the uneven ground, dark and glistening, slowly seeping into the soil. The metallic scent rose thick into the air, mixing with the dampness of rain-soaked leaves and the faint, bitter trace of burnt ki. The sounds were relentless. Steel rang. Ki exploded in bursts of light. Beasts roared, screamed, and fell. Disciples shouted commands, their voices hoarse, their movements growing sharper, more desperate. Every strike carried weight—survival, pride, fear—all tangled together in a brutal dance beneath the fadi