Logan leaned forward and shot toward the demon like a released arrow. The ground beneath his feet cracked, fragments of stone erupting in his wake.

The demon didn’t move. It stood there casually, as if Logan’s charge meant absolutely nothing.

"What... what the hell is that thing?" Shen Lian, the head of the Lian family, whispered, her eyes locked onto the demon, filled with unease.

"It killed Hueng Long without even batting an eye... Can we really make it out of this alive?" another family member muttered, his voice trembling.

Everyone held their breath as Logan closed the distance.

The demon’s muscles slowly coiled beneath its skin, power gathering silently. It was ready to act — but just then...

"Freeze!" Logan’s voice rang out like a command from the heavens.

The demon saw those two golden eyes. In an instant, its body stiffened. Its limbs locked in place, as though bound by an invisible force. It gritted its teeth, veins bulging as it tried to resist — but it couldn’t move.

Not even an inch.

Logan crossed the remaining distance in a blink — his blade slicing through the air with a sharp whoosh.

The sword struck the demon’s neck. But what happened next shocked everyone beyond words.

The blade stopped as if it had hit an impenetrable wall. It didn’t sink in. It didn’t even scratch the surface. The demon’s skin was beyond comprehension — unyielding, untouchable.

"What...?" shock flooded Logan’s eyes. He knew the creature was powerful — Zola had warned him. But this... this was on an entirely different level. To remain completely unharmed even under his full-strength attack...

Before he could process it...

Boom!

Logan’s focus wavered for the briefest moment. The power of Dragon’s Glare flickered, and that was all it took.

The demon broke free.

Its fist tore through the air with a deafening whistle before crashing straight into Logan’s face.

Whoosh!

Logan was sent flying like a broken kite, his body hurtling across the battlefield.

Thud!

In the distance, his body crashed into a member of the Spirit Family. The man tried to dodge....

but too late.

The impact sent both of them skidding across the ground, tearing through more than twenty others before finally coming to a halt.

Blood burst from Logan’s mouth. Two of his teeth fell loose, clattering against the ground. One side of his face had caved in slightly, his cheek visibly sunken.

The demon didn’t spare him a second glance. To it, Logan was no different from others present on the battlefield.

Its gaze had already shifted — locking onto its next prey.

And then it moved.

Schlk! A martial sovereign stepped forward, raising his guard to block...

But the demon’s hand pierced straight through his chest, bursting out from his back.

Without slowing down, it passed a female elder of the Wei family, a martial emperor.

Her head fell to the ground a moment later.

Then it charged again.

Two more stood in its path — a young woman at the martial king realm, and a middle-aged man, a martial emperor.

Schlk! Schlk!

Both fell.

The demon became a streak of crimson light. Wherever it passed, blood erupted, and desperate screams echoed across the battlefield.

In mere minutes, more than a dozen had fallen. And it still wasn’t done.

Logan’s fingers dug into the ground as, with sheer will, he forced his broken body to rise.

Pain surged through every inch of him. His face — the side that had taken the blow felt completely numb, as if it no longer belonged to him.

Still... He stood. His back hunched slightly, blood dripping from the corner of his lips, his breathing uneven.

He was ready to move again. But then....

A hand grasped his shoulder. "You can’t defeat it." Zola’s voice was calm... yet heavy.

"No one from here can. The Earth is finished. Come with me to the Immortal Heavens. You can heal there... and grow stronger for what’s to come."

Logan slowly turned his head, his gaze weak but unwavering. "But what about them?"

Zola’s eyes didn’t waver. "They will die here. And you will too... if you stay."

A brief silence followed.

Then Logan spoke.

"Then I’ll die here." His voice was low but resolute. "There’s no way I’m leaving innocent people behind just to save myself."

Zola’s expression darkened slightly. "Don’t be a stubborn fool. Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary. To save thousands, you must abandon hundreds. This... isn’t your time to save everyone."

Logan slowly raised his hand and brushed Zola’s hand off his shoulder. Weakly. But firmly.

"If I leave even one person behind... then I don’t deserve to save anyone." His breathing grew heavier, but his eyes sharpened. "I don’t deserve to live even if it’s for some so-called ’greater good.’"

He took a shaky step forward, his leg shaking from exhaustion and pain. But his eyes were telling a different story. They didn’t look like the eyes of someone about to fall, about to die. Rather, they looked like the calm before a raging storm. "You might be right... Maybe I really can’t save anyone today."

His voice steadied as he took another step.

"But saving people isn’t a choice I make when I’m strong... and ignore when I’m weak."

A faint, blood-stained smile appeared on his face as his fingers tightened around Audrey’s hilt. "It’s a necessity. It’s who I am."

He charged forward without the slightest hesitation.

Zola didn’t stop him. "Humans..." he muttered under his breath. "Foolish beyond words."

"Really?" the female voice echoed from within. "Then why does that smile on your face say otherwise?"

Zola’s lips curved faintly. "Maybe your nature is starting to rub off on me... I’m beginning to appreciate this kind of foolishness."

Meanwhile....

Logan appeared before the demon in an instant. Without holding anything back, he swung his sword with every ounce of internal energy he had left. Wind magic surged around the blade, amplifying its speed and force. Flames erupted along its edge, blazing fiercely as it cleaved through the air, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake.

The demon didn’t step back. It simply raised its left arm.

Clang!

The blade struck its elbow and...

stopped.

Just like before.

The demon’s eyes shifted slightly, glancing at Logan from the corner — calm... almost bored.

Then...

It lifted its leg.

Bam! The kick landed with overwhelming force, sending Logan flying once again.

Logan twisted midair and slammed his foot against the ground, forcing himself to stop.

The earth cracked beneath him as he skidded backward.

"Blarrghhh!"

A mouthful of blood burst from his lips.

But before the crimson droplets could even touch the ground...

He moved again.