The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 334. Ambush by Lake (2/2)

"Mana do me a favour...." Tyler then gave some instructions to Mana. Mana nodded and disappeared she also took a Halbred from Tyler.

With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out his halberd—its blade infused with a deep, ominous glow of Abyss Aura. The weapon pulsed with raw power, the air around it trembling slightly as if reality itself was resisting its presence.

"Need a little help here..." Tyler said, hurling the halberd toward the battlefield.

This time, it wasn’t just a projection—it was the actual halberd, heavy with killing intent and deadly aura.

The Wind Domain Grandmaster instantly caught on. With a sharp nod, he snatched the weapon mid-air just as the lake began to churn again. Another series of elemental attacks surged—jets of water and chunks of boulders rained from above, coordinated strikes from the Water and Rock Domain Grandmasters.

The Wind Domain Grandmaster didn’t waste a second. With the momentum of wind accelerating him, he spun and hurled the halberd like a bolt of lightning. It streaked through the air, almost invisible to the eye, and struck Raptor’s shoulder with pinpoint precision.

Blood splattered. The weapon had pierced through flesh and bone, but the injury was shallow. Raptor let out a guttural growl and reached for the halberd, intending to yank it out.

Far from the chaos, Tyler calmly whispered, "Boom."

A violent explosion erupted as the halberd self-destructed. The blast tore through Raptor’s shoulder, sending shockwaves through the lake and flinging water dozens of feet into the air. The monstrous warrior let out a scream of agony, clutching his now mangled arm.

Tyler smirked. "That should hurt."

Without delay, he pulled out three more halberds from his storage ring and threw them toward the Grandmasters.

The three of them caught the weapons mid-flight, their expressions twitching. Each halberd vibrated ominously, the Abyss Aura radiating like a cursed relic. Even the seasoned Grandmasters exchanged wary glances—these were not weapons to be taken lightly. A single mishandling could cost them their lives.

"Where the hell is he getting these from?" the Rock Domain Grandmaster muttered under his breath.

Nevertheless, they wasted no time. In perfect coordination, the three Grandmasters flanked Raptor from different directions, each one hurling the explosive halberds with full force.

Pierce. Boom! Pierce. Boom! Pierce. BOOM!

Three massive explosions shook the entire area. Raptor’s body convulsed violently from the successive detonations, his screams echoing through the valley. The lake roared in response, the shockwaves splitting the surface like a divine punishment. His once-proud figure now looked battered and broken, his armor shredded, his domain flickering with instability.

Finally, the monstrous Raptor crashed back into the lake with a deafening splash. He didn’t rise again.

On the shore, the slaves stood in stunned silence. Then, slowly, one by one, their faces softened. A faint, involuntary smile crept onto their lips. The tyrant who had tormented them had fallen, and though they dared not cheer, a sense of relief—of satisfaction—washed over them.

But just as the moment felt triumphant, a sudden flash of lightning struck from above.

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning fell like divine judgment, striking a group of slaves and burning them to ashes on the spot.

Tyler’s smile vanished instantly. "What the hell? Why did he attack the slaves?"

"Maybe it was misfire? Or just... friendly fire?" Mana who just returned said, though her voice lacked conviction.

Tyler clenched his fist. "No. That wasn’t an accident. That was intentional."

He turned toward the Grandmasters. "Kill him. Now."

The three Grandmasters nodded, preparing to unleash one final coordinated attack to end Raptor once and for all.

But just then—something strange happened.

The air quivered—a ripple surging outward, as if a single drop had shattered the stillness of an unseen ocean.

A strange ripple distorted the space beside Tyler. Before anyone could react, a figure emerged from the anomaly. A girl with long silver hair, striking red eyes, and a pair of soft rabbit ears stood in front of them. Her presence was so sudden, so seamless, that even Tyler’s senses hadn’t picked her up until she was already there.

With a single leap, she darted past them all, light as a feather, swift as a shadow.

Everyone froze. None of them had sensed her approach. Even the Grandmasters stood still, baffled and tense.

The mysterious girl paused mid-air, turning her head slightly. Her eyes locked with Tyler’s.

Tyler felt her red eyes familiar.

"Someone powerful is coming," she said softly. "You’d better run."

Before anyone could respond, she vanished—disappearing into thin air, as if she was never there.

The group was stunned.

"...Who was that?" Mathilda asked, blinking in disbelief. Despite the chaos around her, she couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the girl’s ethereal beauty.

"I don’t know," Tyler said, his voice grim. "But if someone like that is warning us... we better listen."

Without hesitation, he gave the order. "Retreat. Now!"

No one argued. Within seconds, they gathered their equipment and fled the battlefield, soaring away from the lake on elemental platforms and wind-boosted flight techniques.

In less than ten seconds, the area was abandoned.

Back on the lake, Raptor’s broken body twitched slightly. He coughed, blood dribbling from his lips. His mouth curled into an irritated snarl as he realized his enemies had escaped.

He wanted to chase. To kill. To tear through the skies and drag them back, one by one.

But his body wouldn’t move.

Raptor’s limbs trembled, not from rage, but from the sheer toll the battle had taken on him. His shoulder was mangled, his internal organs damaged by the successive explosions. His once-proud aura flickered weakly, like a candle struggling to stay lit in a storm.

Yet just as he tried to push himself up from the lake’s surface, a new pressure descended from the heavens.

It was overwhelming.

Crushing.

His instincts screamed danger even before his mind caught up. He turned slowly, and what he saw froze him in place.

A golden-armored man stood calmly in the air, radiating power that made even the sky seem dim. His flawless features and glowing eyes gave him an almost divine presence. His armor shimmered with celestial inscriptions, and on his chest glowed a sun-shaped crest—Apollo, the enforcer of the Celestial Order.

Beside him floated a fox-eared woman, dressed in an alluring yet battle-ready outfit, her nine shimmering tails fluttering gently behind her. Her sharp golden eyes scanned the lake with mild amusement, as if nothing here could possibly pose a threat.

A massive Giant stood behind them, his muscular body towering like a mountain. He carried no weapon—his fists were more than enough.

And then there was the shadow—a mysterious figure clad in a black leather jacket, his face partially obscured by a dark hood. He stood silently, emanating a quiet killing intent that made even the air tremble.

The four of them stood calmly in the sky, as if walking on invisible platforms, divine in presence and terrifying in power.

"As expected... an ambush," Apollo said, his voice calm but commanding. "When I sensed multiple slaves dying at the same time, I arrived immediately. But it seems I’m still a step too late."

His golden eyes swept across the battlefield. Nothing escaped his gaze. The torn terrain, the faint traces of domain energy, the remnants of Abyss-infused explosions—it all painted a picture.

Apollo’s Divine Sense flared, enveloping the entire area. His brows furrowed slightly.

He turned his gaze back toward Raptor, who still lay half-submerged in the lake.

"You didn’t call for me the first time," Apollo said coldly. "And even now, you failed to inform me again... I’m disappointed."

Raptor bowed his head, trying to suppress his fear. "M-My Lord... I—"

"That angel... she was within my reach. Twice. And both times, she slipped away." Apollo’s voice was no longer calm. It was cold steel laced with rage. "You lost her again."

"I-I swear... please give me another chance!" Raptor pleaded, forcing himself to kneel on the water’s surface. "I will find them. I will bring her to you... just grant me the opportunity!"

But before he could finish his sentence, a heavy thud echoed.

A golden boot crashed down on his head.

Raptor’s face slammed into the surface of the lake with a brutal splash. Blood oozed from his mouth and nose, staining the water around him.

He struggled, trying to rise, but Apollo pressed harder, grinding his face into the water below.

The air grew heavier.

The fox girl watched silently, one brow raised in mild interest. The Giant cracked his knuckles with a low grunt. The leather-clad shadow didn’t even flinch—he simply stared.

"You had your chance," Apollo said softly, his voice echoed with less interest. It wasn’t a shout, but it struck harder than any roar. Raptor’s spine stiffened, an icy dread clawing up his nerves.

"I—urk—" Raptor tried to speak, but the pressure bearing down on him was overwhelming. His vision blurred. His limbs trembled. His very bones groaned under the crushing weight.

Then came a sickening crack..

Blood spilled like ink across the air as Apollo’s golden boot pressed down mercilessly. The ground beneath trembled slightly—then, with a wet, grisly squelch, Raptor’s head exploded under the force, crushed like a ripe melon in a vice.

His body twitched once, then fell limp—motionless and ruined.

Apollo calmly pulled his boot back, unbothered by the gore.

"Now let’s go for Angel Hunt ," he said, his tone calm as ever, wiping the blood off his boot with a flick.