The panicked wizards all looked toward the coast and immediately broke out in cold sweat.

Chief Frim believed the black tide had completely retreated, so he withdrew the formation. But who could have imagined that there were still black tide monsters that had separated from the black tide and swum over from underwater!

The next second, besides that ribbonfish-like black tide monster, more monsters surfaced. At the same time, the nearby Red Sea Tree forest began collapsing in large sections!

Black tide monsters had already broken through the original defense formation’s position, tearing at the Red Sea Trees’ trunks and roots, destroying Nephret’s final hope against the black tide.

No one cared about any missing Black Flame Emperor anymore.

Everyone’s eyes blazed with fury as they flew toward the Red Sea Trees.

Not just here—other areas soon also transmitted information about discovering black tide monsters.

Saul quickly joined the battlefield.

Various magical lights flashed on the sea surface, but couldn’t slow the speed of the Red Sea Trees’ destruction.

Lower-rank wizards couldn’t cast magic underwater where pollution exceeded safe levels, while higher-rank wizards were limited in number.

Royer was still missing.

None of the second-ranks present dared command Saul to go underwater.

Even for a third-rank wizard, facing so many black tide monsters in the sea was extremely dangerous.

Without the concealment of defense formations, the black tide monsters saw the Red Sea Trees as a sumptuous feast. They simply wouldn’t come up to fight the wizards.

Watching the Red Sea Tree forest being “gnawed” with horrific wounds like a sunfish by monsters in the sea, some lower-rank wizards had no choice but to risk pollution and enter underwater combat.

Soon people were being polluted, their entire bodies oozing black blood as they floated motionlessly on the sea surface.

Becoming new flesh and blood sludge.

Seeing this scene, Saul finally understood why these black tide monsters had left the retreating tide waves to re-enter the Red Sea.

It was precisely these flesh and blood sludges containing massive pollution that caused the Red Sea’s pollution levels to rise, attracting those black tide monsters that had originally been leaving.

“How did the mermaid aberrant appear in the first place? Could the mermaid race have planned from the beginning to turn themselves into pollution in the sea, attracting black tide monsters to take revenge on wizards?”

Beth: [If the mermaid race could easily do this, how could they have been oppressed by Tribunal wizards for so many years?]

Saul’s brain spun rapidly. He suddenly remembered that mermaid princess Pearl had once called atavistic mermaids ashore by the seaside. Could she also make other mermaids detonate the black tide pollution in their bodies, thus being completely polluted and becoming mermaid aberrants?

But Pearl’s soul body had long been destroyed. How could she possibly do this?

Alfonso?

Impossible. Even if Alfonso wanted to release the mermaids, he wouldn’t let Pearl destroy the Red Sea Trees.

Then… only Floco, whom Saul had called over!

“That bastard! I told him to come receive the mermaids, and this guy, fine, he comes to pick them up, but he also drops a nuclear bomb to distract the Tribunal wizards’ attention!”

Finally understanding the cause and effect, Saul also realized that there was now no other way to stop the returning black tide monsters except using force to drive them out of the Red Sea Tree forest.

“The pollution concentration in the seawater is getting higher and higher. More black tide monsters might be attracted. The most important thing now is to restart the defense formation. Strange, hasn’t Frim noticed the situation here? Why hasn’t he restarted it?”

Saul didn’t understand the defense formation’s situation and could only grab a nearby second-rank wizard to ask, “How long does it take to restart the defense formation?”

The wizard grabbed by Saul answered blankly, “It needs, at least two hours.”

Two hours?

Saul looked at the Red Sea Trees being destroyed, “Send someone to confirm whether the defense formation is being restarted. No matter what, for these two hours, we can only tough it out.”

“Okay, okay!” The grabbed wizard immediately returned to shore, where they had communication facilities.

Seeing the other go to make contact, Saul prepared to dive headfirst into the sea.

However, just as he turned around, he saw a figure appear on shore.

Saul was startled—it was actually Black Flame Emperor Elo.

He was then delighted. If the real fourth-rank wizard Elo had returned, then the coastal defense battle could be much easier.

Plus, as long as Frim opened the defense formation within two hours, this black tide monster threat would shrink to just a moderately-sized black tide assault.

The other wizards almost all cheered loudly.

Since Wizard Elo had reappeared, he might have just teleported away from the battlefield momentarily. Although it wasn’t clear why he only appeared now, as long as he was here, everyone’s hearts settled back into their stomachs.

Elo didn’t disappoint everyone either. He immediately deployed a big move. Without flashy light and shadow effects, everyone’s vision suddenly emptied.

The seawater near the Red Sea Trees actually disappeared in an instant, while the Red Sea Trees and nearby wizards and black tide monsters remained, without suffering the slightest harm.

Such powerful yet precise control was simply unimaginable.

At the same time, an invisible barrier blocked the outside seawater from flooding back in.

The Red Sea Trees barely stood upright relying on their dense root systems.

Wizards and black tide monsters fell to the seabed.

The underwater wizards reacted and immediately took flight again, while the black tide monster fish that relied on buoyancy could only fall to the seabed, jumping and thrashing using muscle power.

Not a single mermaid could be seen on the current seabed.

It was bare, all bone fragments.

Without the obstruction of highly polluted seawater, the Tribunal wizards swarmed forward, killing or throwing out the monster fish still destroying the Red Sea Trees.

The barrier blocking the seawater clearly couldn’t hold much longer.

Saul quickly commanded Little Algae to guide the monster fish while rapidly dismembering enemies with Soul Blades.

However, just after he had dealt with several monster fish, he saw Emperor Elo fly up to him, “Have all wizards enter the seabed. Before the defense formation restarts, we can only use manpower to block black tide monsters from entering Red Sea Tree range. People can die, but the Red Sea Trees cannot fall!”

Saul was stunned, not understanding why Elo was handing command authority to him. Clearly, he was the person with the highest prestige and strength on site.

However, Elo’s next words made Saul’s heart sink.

“I’m going back now to restart the defense formation. This place can only be left to you all.”

Saul immediately understood, “The person who has been maintaining the defense formation is you?”

Elo no longer had his usual arrogance. He frowned, clearly also troubled by the current situation.

“What about Chief Frim?”

“He… has business and isn’t here.” Elo naturally couldn’t tell Saul the inside story.

Saul’s heart sank again, directly to the bottom.

He almost wanted to curse!

At such an important time, the Tribunal Chief actually wasn’t here?!

Saul really wanted to ask “Where the hell did he go?”

Seeing that Saul had recognized the gravity of the situation, Elo didn’t want to stay here longer, “I’m going back. This place can only rely on you for now.”

“Fine!” Saul said almost through gritted teeth.

Frim wasn’t here, and Royer and Alfonso, who hadn’t returned after such a long time since the incident occurred, might have already died as the diary predicted. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NoveIꜰire.net

Now this area really could only rely on Saul, an outsider!

Just as Elo was about to teleport away, he paused again, “If you find Stuart… Please try your best to bring him back alive. You’ll earn my gratitude and that of the Black Flame Empire.”

Saul was first confused, then showed a look of realization.

“So the person on the sea surface before was always him?!”

The real Black Flame Emperor’s face was grim as water as he nodded heavily.

“This Saul is really clever.” Elo thought to himself.

(End of Chapter)

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