I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

With the echoing of Lian’s words, for a moment, a strange silence fell over the main bridge of Ashfall Ward.

Hundreds of Cindari soldiers stood on the other side of the barriers.

The tall shields of the Rootbound Wardens covered the entire width of the bridge. The tips of spears could be seen through the gaps in the defensive formation, and the archers stationed on the towers had their drawn strings aimed at Ashfall’s inner square.

Two massive Ballistas were also placed on the bridge’s central platform.

Thick Mana bolts were slowly forming inside their bodies, and their red tips were aimed directly at the gathering of Awakeners.

In front of them, Kael stood in full battle armor.

Lian’s question was neither loud nor said with anger, but the calmness in his voice made it more contemptuous than any insult.

As if hundreds of soldiers, three surrounded paths, and two Ballistas meant nothing.

As if Kael was just a commander who had forgotten his duty and returned late to his post.

His fingers tightened around the spear’s shaft, and a thin flame moved on the weapon’s tip.

”Because from the moment you entered this city, the real threat was no longer behind the border.” His voice was amplified with Mana and echoed throughout Ashfall Ward.

Upon hearing the commander’s answer, the Cindari soldiers placed their shields more firmly on the ground.

The sound of spear butts hitting the pavement rose from three sides of the district.

The archers on the towers adjusted their arrows’ angles.

Behind Lian, the Awakeners also prepared themselves. More than forty people were stationed in the square and at Ashfall’s entrances, but only a few of them could directly resist the Rootbound Wardens.

Some had still not reached Level 15. Some had fresh wounds.

The number of Healers was limited, and most of the Potions had been stored for a possible escape or the Forgotten Tree mission.

If the battle turned into a prolonged war, the Cindari’s numerical and equipment advantage would gradually show itself.

Lian took his gaze off Kael and examined the field. The three main bridges were closed, the surrounding towers were under enemy control.

Archers, Mages, and Ballistas could deal heavy damage to the weaker Awakeners in the first few minutes.

It was not enough to defeat Kael to win.

He had to break the Cindari’s defensive line so quickly that their army would lose morale and command before a war of attrition could begin.

’It’s not hard. Better if I intervene first and after disrupting their order and organization, the other Awakeners can join in.’ He thought to himself.

If the Awakeners joined in from the start, their casualties would be high, and that was not something he wanted. He preferred to keep their casualties as low as possible.

It would be even better if they suffered no casualties at all.

Then Lian opened the Status panel before his eyes.

[Available Stat Points: 137]

He had obtained all his current stats points from killing monsters in the border passage between the two forests, and the rest from killing the Cindari.

He hadn’t needed to use them during this time, but for the current situation, the stronger he was, the better.

[Power: 693]

[Spirit: 450]

[Speed: 465]

[Mana: 965]

[Resistance: 508]

His gaze moved over the numbers for a moment.

His Mana was higher than all his other Stats.

Spirit was also at an acceptable level.

But the upcoming battle required raw power, explosive speed, and resistance against hundreds of attacks. Without hesitation, he chose to distribute the points.

[Power +67]

[Speed +35]

[Mana +10]

[Resistance +25]

[Confirm Allocation?]

Lian confirmed.

[Allocation Confirmed.]

A hot wave rose from the center of his body.

In the first moment, he felt the blood in his veins become heavier. Then the pressure was transferred to his muscles, bones, and joints.

The new power spread through his entire body like invisible energy. The muscles in his shoulders and arms contracted slightly.

His bones made a quiet sound for a moment and then settled more firmly than before.

The Mana flow in his channels became faster.

[Physical Strength: 760]

[Spirit: 450]

[Speed: 500]

[Mana: 975]

[Resistance: 533]

[Available Stat Points: 0]

’I can feel the wall again.’ For a moment he frowned. After increasing his stats, for a moment he could feel the existence of a wall.

The wall was getting closer and closer, nearer to him than ever.

’If my guess is correct, my limit is 4000 stats.’ Currently, the total of all his stats was over 3000.

And since he was finally feeling the limit and the wall, his guess was that his limit could be 4000 stats.

This number was insane. A five-star class awakened one’s limit was 2000 stats, but him? Twice that!

The pressure coming from Lian’s body had suddenly become heavier.

Not like the release of a Skill, not like a temporary power increase with a Potion, but as if his body had truly become stronger in the span of a few seconds.

Kael didn’t know how this change had happened, but his pride wouldn’t allow doubt to show on his face.

He pointed his spear at Lian.

”Lian, put down your weapon.”

Then he took his gaze off him and fixed it on the Awakeners behind him.

”Hand over Marcus, Ethan, Cassian, and the classified prisoner.”

Aren was leaning against the wall near the council building. The heavy chains were still around his body, and Marcus stood beside him to keep his balance in case of weakness.

”The rest of the Outsiders will not be punished if they surrender. This is your last chance. Hand over your weapons and surrender.” It was clear their policy toward humans had changed.

They could no longer allow dangerous variables like humans to have weapons, and they had to disarm them by any means.

”You think we’re fools? Or do you think we’re afraid of that army behind you?” Lian stepped forward.

At that same moment, several archers lowered their arrows slightly, aiming directly at his chest.

Kael furrowed his brows.

”We will not surrender, and we will not hand over anyone.” His gaze moved over the first line of soldiers.

”But about you Cindari, soldiers who put down their weapons will live.”

A few of the Rootbound Wardens looked at each other for a moment.

Not because they were thinking of surrendering, but from sheer disbelief. They had surrounded Ashfall from three directions.

Their numbers were several times greater than the humans.

The Ballistas, towers, and the city’s defensive lines were also under their control.

But Lian spoke as if this army should beg him for mercy to survive.

”You are surrounded. You have neither numerical advantage nor environmental advantage. What makes you so delusional?” For a moment, Kael thought he was deliberately trying to provoke him.

”Numbers and environment aren’t always important. One against a dragon, hundreds of thousands of ants can’t do anything.” Lian answered with the same calmness.

”What dragon?” The veins on Kael’s face became brighter. He didn’t know what a dragon was, but he felt they were being insulted.

”In your dictionary, its synonym is the contaminated Titan.”

The commander’s face turned ugly. Now he understood that they were really being mocked! He lowered his spear.

”Fire!”

The sound of the Ballista locks being released rose from both sides of the bridge at the same time. The gathered Mana inside the machines was released with a red explosion.

Two massive bolts were fired from the platforms.

Each of them was taller than a human’s body and thicker than a mature tree trunk. Their surfaces were covered with compressed Mana veins, and the air around them burned in their path.

The target of both was not the first line of Awakeners.

They were moving directly toward Ashfall’s central square; where the Mages, wounded, and support forces were gathered.

”Barrier!” Rindo shouted.

The Mages raised their hands.

Several layers of Mana began to form in front of the square.

But the Barrier was not yet complete when blue lightning exploded among the human lines.

[Thunder Step]

Lian disappeared. A moment later, he appeared in front of the first Ballista bolt.

His feet were in the air, and the massive bolt was coming toward him with deadly speed.

[Thunder Calamity]

A deep roar rose from inside his body. Lightning spread from his right shoulder to his fingertips.

Thick veins of blue and white lightning twisted around his arm. The air around his fist trembled from the intensity of the energy, and the sound of thunder covered the city’s alarms for a moment.

Lian thrust his fist forward. His strike hit the bolt’s tip. The explosion of thunder and his fist lit up the sky above the bridge.

The impact wave reached the surrounding buildings and shook the nearby windows.

The bolt stopped in the air for a moment, then a thin crack started from its tip and continued to the end of its body.

Lightning entered the entire structure. The massive bolt exploded from the center and turned into hundreds of burned and molten pieces.

The Awakeners behind Lian only felt a warm wave pass over the incomplete Barrier.

But the second bolt was still approaching.

Before the pieces of the first bolt could fall to the ground, Lian activated Thunder Step again.

Blue light split in the air. He appeared on one of the wooden barriers at the main entrance.

He planted his left foot firmly on the surface and pulled his left fist back. This time, the lightning passed from his side and chest and gathered on his left hand.

The second strike hit the bolt’s body.

The explosion sound was even more intense than the first impact. The Ballista bolt bent in the middle.

Then the compressed energy inside it was released, and a wave of flame and lightning scattered around.

The Cindari soldiers raised their shields for a moment. Even Kael unconsciously stepped back.

Two weapons built to break city walls and kill massive War Beasts had been destroyed with bare fists.

All the Cindari unconsciously swallowed their saliva. It wasn’t just them; even the Awakeners were shocked and amazed...

What had they just witnessed?

A brief silence fell over the field. Lian landed on the ground. Lightning was still moving between his fingers, and his gaze was directly fixed on Kael.

”Now it’s my turn.”