Level up is hard? I can Directly Purchase infinite Levels!-Chapter 97: Humanity’s Struggle for Survival — Death Ever at Their Heels

Chapter 97: Humanity’s Struggle for Survival — Death Ever at Their Heels

Even for Divine Scion Tress, he could only challenge opponents one full rank above himself.

And even then, it usually required his own rank to be at a high tier.

Could the dirt-poor Patrol really cultivate a freak of this level?

It was simply inconceivable.

"Humanity rose too late. Their foundation is shallow,"

Rex said from the side, speculating.

"They don’t possess powerful bloodline physiques, let alone the ability to create heaven-defying forbidden arts. Could it be that he’s mastered some kind of secret technique to conceal or suppress his rank—deliberately masking his true strength to mislead others?"

The warrior shook his head.

"Even if that’s the case, don’t forget—he’s only eighteen years old. Reaching this level of combat power at that age is terrifying enough!"

"It doesn’t matter. When I return, I’ll deal with him personally,"

Tress said coldly, clearly understanding their concerns. With a single sentence, he passed judgment on Raine’s fate.

He then turned his gaze toward the distant void.

At that very moment, a voice rang down from the heavens!

"Arlis is coming out as well. Don’t you have any thoughts about that?"

Roooar—!

Several thunderous booms echoed from afar.

A few colossal dragons burst through the clouds and flew toward them.

Under the overwhelming pressure of dragon might, the sea below surged into thousand-meter waves. Rolling clouds crashed against the sea of lightning like raging torrents, unleashing earth-shaking roars.

The Thunderclan prodigies frowned and stared intently.

At the forefront was a massive black dragon, its demeanor imperious, radiating an innate nobility and an unmatched, domineering presence.

All the prodigies recognized him at once.

This was Lionel, one of the two Divine Scions of the Black Dragon Clan, bearer of Black Dragon divine blood!

Behind him stood several of the Black Dragon Clan’s top three prodigies.

"What, you want to join forces with me?"

Tress asked coldly.

The two Divine Scions faced each other, yet Tress’s aura did not yield in the slightest—if anything, it was even sharper!

"You know this won’t be just her going,"

Lionel said, offering a pointed reminder.

"This is the perfect opportunity for a grand hunt. Killing only her would be a waste."

"Heh... you really are as greedy as ever,"

Tress sneered.

The Black Dragon Clan was always like this—incurably greedy.

Lionel replied calmly,

"The other royal clans’ fellows will all be there. They might be even greedier than I am."

"Once everyone wants a piece, conflict is inevitable. If you and I join forces, it’ll make those people think twice about whether they’re truly qualified!"

The seventeen great royal clans of the alien races were far from united.

Intertwined interests and long-standing racial grudges meant that hostility existed even among them.

These grudges were ancient—so old that their origins could no longer be traced—yet they had become one of the factors allowing humanity to hold on until now.

On the surface, however, their primary objective remained highly unified.

Tress pondered for a moment.

Without question, this was both a grand hunt and a feast of opportunity.

To achieve both goals at once, allying with Lionel was indeed the most advantageous choice.

"Then let’s hope our objectives are aligned,"

Tress said, extending his hand.

Lionel was very satisfied with this answer.

"Trust me. This time, Arlis won’t be lucky like she was last time."

...

On the opposite end of the Koshi Range.

Atop the towering Bluestone Peak—ten thousand meters high—snow blanketed everything, and life was utterly extinct.

Yet now, several young figures bathed in divine radiance stood there.

Their bodies shone brilliantly, exuding a restrained yet chilling sharpness.

"It’s foreseeable that Arlis and Jacob won’t miss this opportunity,"

a prodigy of the Whirling Serpent Dancer race said with a hand covering her smile.

She was also recognized as one of the ten great beauties of Ironspike Field—Cecilia!

The woman standing before her, however, possessed an even more exalted status.

With skin like ice and bone like jade, her beauty was otherworldly—like a snow goddess carved by the hands of the gods, breathtaking beyond words.

She was Elena, one of the Divine Scions of the Frostborne Clan, bearer of the Heart of Ice and Snow!

Beneath her dazzling radiance, the Frostborne Clan prodigies beside her all seemed dim by comparison.

"Arlis was severely injured by Tress earlier, then hunted down by Bruce and his people. Her foundation was damaged, and she’s been recuperating ever since. Her strength probably hasn’t improved much,"

Elena said calmly.

"Many will choose to target her. We don’t need to get involved. What we should really watch out for is Jacob!"

Since Arlis had fallen behind the other prodigies, she would inevitably become a prime target.

More importantly, her father, Philippe, was the commander of Unfallen Bastion.

Killing Arlis would also deal a significant blow to Philippe, making it far harder for him to advance further.

That was far more meaningful than killing an ordinary prodigy.

The upper echelons of many clans had made it clear: whoever killed Arlis would receive a special and generous reward.

With the fallen star landing in Ironspike Field, the scale of the hunt against her this time would likely be unprecedented.

There was no need for them to join that chaos—better to choose another target.

"The idea is sound,"

a young man behind Elena said, offering a compromise.

"But what if everyone else thinks the same way you do?"

"Why not adapt when we get there? Worst case... we kill both."

Elena nodded, accepting the suggestion.

Across the alien races, prodigies and Divine Scions were discussing the hunt. Many elites from powerful clans had already personally entered the field, intending to bury every human prodigy who came at the Starlight Archipelago!

Whether Stonekin or Silverlight Kin—

Their Divine Scions had long since set out.

The upper ranks of the royal clans tacitly approved—or even encouraged—this action.

After all, if they could sever the backbone of humanity’s top young generation, the blow to humanity would be fatal!

...

"Hehehe, looks like the human rising stars are finished this time!"

Deep within a certain mountain range.

A Chimera—lion’s head, goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail—grinned ferociously as it looked into the distance.

It was an alien beast from the Abyss, and also a lord among alien beasts.

At this moment, its eyes were filled with schadenfreude.

"This is obviously a trap. What if they don’t go?"

a Master-rank alien beast beside it asked.

"That star casually dropped an ancient Divine Relic—Sheit Battleplate,"

the Chimera sneered.

"You can imagine how extraordinary the opportunities hidden within that star must be."

"How could those desperately poor human brats possibly miss it? Even if they know it’s a hunt, so what? If they don’t take the risk, they won’t even be qualified to face royal prodigies in the future."

"So no matter how dangerous it is, they’ll obediently stretch out their necks... all that’s left is to see whether the blades of the various prodigies are sharp enough."

"These humans really have it rough,"

a Master-rank alien beast mocked.

"Humanity never had any foundation to begin with. They’re born inferior to the royal clans,"

the Chimera snorted. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"If they don’t gamble with their lives, humanity will never see tomorrow!"

...

Stonekin Territory.

"This Sheit Battleplate is my gift to you, Young Master Bryn. I only ask that you do me one favor—kill Arlis for me!"

The prodigy Andy, who had obtained the sacred armor, offered this heaven-sent treasure without hesitation to the clan’s Divine Scion, Clayton.

He knew very well that although his luck was extraordinary, his strength and status were far from sufficient to protect an Ancient Sacred Armor. Keeping it might even invite death.

He might as well do someone a favor and present it to the future ruler of the clan.

By befriending him early, benefits would surely follow later—and it was also a perfect way to show loyalty.

Moreover, Arlis had once killed Andy’s elder brother and severely injured him as well.

Using this sacred armor to enlist Divine Scion Clayton’s aid would surely allow Arlis to be completely dealt with in this hunt!

On top of that, if the clan learned that he had gifted the sacred armor to a Divine Scion, they would certainly compensate him.

It was a win on all fronts—Andy saw this clearly.

Clayton accepted the Sheit Battleplate, the amazement in his eyes undisguised. He said cheerfully,

"Rest assured. I will kill Arlis for you! And also..."

He took out a large number of precious advancement resources, along with a supreme transcendent weapon, and handed them to Andy.

"I won’t take your gift for nothing. All of this is yours!"

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Samwell exclaimed with delight.

"Arlis is just a side matter... I’ve long wanted to kill her anyway,"

Clayton said, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold, lethal smile.

This opportunity was far too rare.

Not just Arlis—any human prodigy.

See one, kill one!

Almost unable to wait any longer, he turned and tore open the void, departing at once.