"Their lives matter, too." Su Yaoyao didn’t back down. She looked at Pani with a determined gaze and enunciated every word.

’Every life is precious,’ she thought. ’You can’t just take away their right to exist simply because you’re on opposing sides.’

"His Majesty the Emperor’s priority is to ensure your safety," Pani said, seeing he had no other choice but to reveal the Emperor’s thoughts, hoping it would persuade Su Yaoyao. "If you return safely and plead your case, he might consider sparing Snake Scale City."

It was the only way. Only by returning could Su Yaoyao secure a chance of survival for the people of Snake Scale City.

"His Majesty?" Su Yaoyao looked at Pani, her eyes filled with confusion.

She knew very little about the Emperor. At a life-and-death moment like this, she found it hard to believe he would simply spare Snake Scale City.

Pani pursed his lips. He knew His Majesty hadn’t told Su Yaoyao his identity, but he couldn’t worry about that anymore.

He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Augustine."

Su Yaoyao’s eyes widened. The image of the imposing Augustine instantly flashed through her mind.

She never imagined that the powerful man she knew was actually His Majesty the Emperor.

The news left her reeling, but it also ignited a flicker of hope. ’At least we have a history,’ she thought. ’I have to convince him. I have to save the innocent Beastmen of Snake Scale City.’

"Alright, let’s leave the city." After a moment’s thought, Su Yaoyao finally made her decision.

Su Yaoyao and Pani moved quickly, leaving the castle under the cover of darkness.

Meanwhile, from a high tower, a pair of green eyes like deep, dark pools watched their every move.

Mingye’s eyes were filled with cold rage. He raised his wine glass, drained it, and then smashed it violently on the floor. The sound of shattering glass was ear-splitting.

"So this is your choice? To break our agreement?" His voice was low and cold, as if echoing from the depths of Hell.

"Noah, stop her." His snake-shaped earring glinted as he issued the command.

Pani sprinted toward the city gate with Su Yaoyao, the wind howling in their ears.

He was surprised to find that the guards who were supposed to be at the city gate had vanished. An ominous feeling washed over him.

But time was short. With no time to dwell on it, they continued running toward the military barracks.

However, the moment they cleared the city gate, the ground began to tremble violently, as if some colossal, sleeping beast was about to awaken.

"Look out!" Pani yelled, throwing his arms around Su Yaoyao as they tumbled to the side.

The very instant they moved, eight enormous tentacles erupted from the earth, followed by a massive purple octopus that rose up before them.

The octopus’s body glistened eerily in the moonlight. Each of its tentacles was as thick as a barrel and covered in sharp suckers.

"Give my sister back!" the octopus’s furious, guttural voice echoed through the night.

Su Yaoyao’s pupils constricted. She instinctively drew the Pulse Gun from her waist, gripping it tightly with both hands and aiming it at the behemoth before her.

The octopus trembled, whether from rage or sorrow was unclear. "Sister, are you going to shoot me?" he asked, his voice catching in a sob.

Su Yaoyao froze. ’Could this be Noah’s true form?’ she thought, immediately lowering her gun.

"Noah, I’m just going back to discuss something with His Majesty," Su Yaoyao said, trying to keep her voice calm and soothe the giant octopus.

"I’m not listening! If you go back, you’ll never return!" Noah’s voice was filled with despair and rage.

"Noah! The lives of everyone in this city are at stake! I have to go back!" Su Yaoyao yelled, her eyes filled with determination.

"So they want a fight? Fine! Snake Scale City isn’t afraid! I knew there was something off about this guy the moment he showed up. He stinks of disguise herbs! I knew it! You’re the villain who’s come to steal my sister!"

Noah completely lost control, and his enormous tentacles lashed out at Pani.

Relying on his natural agility as a rabbit Beastman, Pani dodged with lightning speed.

His figure was a black blur under the moonlight, weaving left and right as he deftly evaded every attack.

"Steal?! You’re the ones who stole her! You stole my wife!"

And during his rut, when he was at his most vulnerable. That period was worse than death for him.

"So you’re my sister’s Beast Husband. Then you deserve to die even more! Once you’re all dead, she’ll be mine!"

Noah’s attacks grew more frenzied. His tentacles whipped through the air like colossal lashes, their movement creating powerful gusts of wind.

Despite his agility, Pani was gradually being overwhelmed by such a powerful opponent.

He had already sustained several wounds, and his clothes were stained red with blood.

Finally, unable to dodge in time, Pani was struck by a tentacle. He was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily to the ground.

But Noah’s tentacle struck again! He was going for the kill!

At the critical moment, Su Yaoyao didn’t hesitate. She threw herself in front of Pani.

"Noah! Stop!" she screamed.

Noah’s eyes widened in shock. The tentacle froze in mid-air, its attack halted.

Just then, a deafening lion’s roar ripped through the air. A gigantic white lion, moving like a bolt of white lightning, streaked in from the distance and sank its teeth viciously into Noah’s tentacle!

Su Yaoyao recognized the familiar figure. ’It’s Leon.’

The lion’s power was immense; it tore clean through the tentacle.

"AGH!" Noah let out a bloodcurdling scream filled with pain and fury.

Su Yaoyao watched in shock. "Noah..."

Roland led the charge with the Holy Knight Order, while Reg followed close behind with his soldiers, their forces surging forward like a tide. They cut heroic figures in the moonlight.

On the other side, the gates of Snake Scale City swung open, and a countless swarm of thick, venomous snakes poured out, slithering across the ground like a black tide.

Mingye led the Black Robed Soldiers, each brandishing a powerful high-tech weapon, his eyes gleaming with cold, murderous intent.

"Kill them!"

Su Yaoyao watched the slaughter in horror. The battlefield thundered with war cries, and blood stained the earth red.

A spray of warm blood—she didn’t know whose—splashed across her face, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. "No... don’t..." she stammered, her voice filled with despair.

Fighting through the pain, Pani picked up Su Yaoyao and started to carry her to safety. "Yaoyao, we’re going back to the barracks," he said, his voice weak but firm.

Su Yaoyao’s gaze remained fixed on the battlefield, watching the two sides slaughter each other, her heart filled with agony.

"Stop..." Tears streamed down her cheeks.

In that moment, it was as if even the Beast God was weeping over this brutal war.

"Stop! All of you!" Su Yaoyao screamed. She felt a tremendous power surge within her chest, and a brilliant golden light erupted from her body!

A wave of immense spiritual power radiated outward, bearing down on the entire battlefield.

Instantly, everyone was forced to their knees, unable to move, utterly crushed by the overwhelming spiritual power!