Back on the battlefield, Neylan descended from the airship and landed beside Gyn's unconscious body. He crouched, placed two fingers on Gyn's neck, and closed his eyes briefly.

"He's alive," Neylan confirmed… "His Divinity flow is blocked, but it's not permanent. I can fix it."

He lifted Gyn's body with ease and turned to Sreas.

"We will honor our promise," Neylan said. "We will ignore Capone City and target Clovis City instead."

Sreas nodded once.

"Good luck," he replied.

Neylan was confused since it was as if Sreas was hoping that they would succeed in conquering Clovis City…

Nonetheless, he didn't answer. He simply carried Gyn back toward the airship.

As he returned to the airship, he stopped for a moment…

"Hmm?"

He finally realized that the 'Good luck' from Sreas could also mean another thing… Perhaps, Sreas was so sure that they would fail to conquer it!

***

In the meantime, the skies above Euphemia City were clear, but everyone knew about the situation of other cities…

Haruo stood on one of the castle's balconies, his wings folded behind him.

His gaze was fixed on the horizon, waiting for the appearance of the enemies. His silver armor shimmered faintly, and the Divinity flowing through his veins pulsed quietly. He had been waiting for the enemies to arrive.

He was sure that by now, the assigned immortals of other cities had already made their move to protect the residents of the city…

It could be through a retreat, a sacrifice, or even a challenge in an attempt to protect the mortals.

Soon, he received the report he had been waiting for…

Sreas had succeeded in his part. Capone City was spared!

It was the same for Chad, who had protected Orpheus City with his plan to send all the residents into hiding.

Haruo closed his eyes briefly, letting the wind brush against his face.

He wasn't surprised by Sreas's victory. The Asura was a legend in his own right, and Haruo had always respected strength born from discipline.

As for Chad, it was a plan that was actually arranged by Magnus.

Nonetheless, Euphemia City was next, so Haruo wanted to succeed as well.

After all, this was just a part of the plan. Once Clovis City near the Shadow Castle was targeted, the real plan would commence.

However, they didn't want the other cities to suffer huge casualties, so they had to do this much.

Haruo sighed as he waited patiently.

Clovis City and Euphemia were the only two major cities not yet under siege. The others were still probably holding on, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Magic Automatons and the gathered Arcanists. But even those defenses were beginning to falter.

Without a miracle or a deal, they would soon collapse.

Haruo opened his eyes and looked down at the city.

His thirty apprentices were scattered across the rooftops and towers, preparing for battle.

Each one had received his blessing. Each one carried a fragment of Divinity within their bodies.

Of course, they weren't half-Immortals, but they were stronger than most Master-Rank Arcanists. If they continued to grow, they could reach the level of Grand Arcanists in time.

But time was a luxury they didn't have.

"Hmm?"

Haruo sensed it before he saw it. The Chaos Beasts were moving.

A massive force was heading toward Clovis City, and a smaller detachment was veering toward Euphemia where he was located.

It wasn't a full-scale assault, but it was enough to tear through the outer defenses and force the city into chaos. He was sure that the city would suffer huge casualties at this rate…

'I have to move now.'

He didn't wait.

With a single beat of his wings, Haruo launched into the sky.

Whoosh~

He ascended rapidly, cutting through the clouds, and locked onto the lead airship where Kent and the others were located.

The vessel hovered above the advancing Chaos Beasts, its hull was lined with cannons and some high-level Rune Arts.

It was one of the primary carriers used by the Chaos Immortals.

Haruo didn't hesitate as he flew straight toward it.

The airship's defense systems activated, scanning his aura. They didn't fire immediately after knowing that it was an Immortal. Cannons wouldn't work against them.

Thud!

Haruo landed gently on the forward deck…

The ordinary crew members backed away instinctively. His presence was overwhelming, not because of aggression, but because of purity.

"I am Haruo," he said. "Guardian of Euphemia City."

Soon, a group of Chaos Immortals surrounded him… They immediately had an idea what Haruo wanted.

After all, Sreas just succeeded in doing so.

"Stay where you are…" One of the Immortals said.

Moments later, Kent finally appeared.

He stepped onto the deck, flanked by Arin and Neylan. Nyssa remained in the shadows, observing.

Kent chuckled at the sight of Haruo's wings. "You came early. We haven't started the siege yet…"

Haruo nodded. "I didn't want to wait for the beasts to reach the city."

Neylan smirked. "You're here to negotiate, then?"

"I am," Haruo replied. "I heard what happened in Capone City. Sreas made a deal. I intend to do the same."

Kent's expression hardened.

"We've already shown our benevolence," he said. "Sreas was the exception. Capone City was already enough… We don't need to make another."

Haruo didn't flinch.

"You call that benevolence?... You sent Chaos Beasts to slaughter civilians. I heard that you burned cities to the ground. And now you want to parade one spared city as proof of your mercy?"

Arin narrowed his eyes. "Watch your tone, Angel."

Haruo turned to him, unbothered.

"I've seen your kind before. You crave power, but you fear legacy. You want to rule, but you don't know how to lead. If you think sparing one city will earn you loyalty, then you're more naive than the mortals you trample."

Kent's jaw tightened. His argument didn't even sound right…

"You're bold."

"I'm honest," Haruo replied. "And I'm offering you a chance to prove you're more than tyrants with Divinity."

Neylan stepped forward. He had had enough. There was no need for them to accept any more deals.

"You think you can talk your way into a deal? Hahaha!"

"I don't need to talk," Haruo said. "I'm offering terms. You spare Euphemia City, and I won't interfere with your campaign. My apprentices will remain neutral. We won't support the Shadow Domain… We won't join the resistance."

Kent was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head.

"No."

"Then name your terms."

Kent turned to Neylan, then back to Haruo.

"If you want us to spare this city, you'll have to earn it. Fight two of us at the same time… If you lose, when we confront the Shadow Immortal, you'll stand with us. You'll serve under my command. You'll fight as one of us against Vale..."

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