Zhou Huai sat in a wheelchair.

He calmly looked at everyone kneeling before him.

Through the soul link, he could clearly sense each person's emotions.

Excitement.

Fervor.

Some were also afraid and terrified.

Yet they still chose to kneel here, begging to stay.

Although they had signed the Demon Lord Contract with him and would obey his every command,

they were not mindless robots after all.

They also had their own families, their own attachments, and things they wanted to protect.

Zhou Huai had always considered himself a selfish person.

He actually didn't have much emotional attachment to Donghai City.

From the first day of his Transmigration, Zhou Huai's only goal was to become stronger.

To become stronger at all costs.

Founding the Evernight Guild was to build his own faction so that he would no longer be isolated and unsupported.

Manipulating Gandalf to travel far overseas and seize the Pendulum of Life was to heal his broken body.

Everything he did initially stemmed solely from himself.

Yet at this moment, Zhou Huai's iron-hard heart wavered slightly.

If there was still something in this world that could make him truly let go of everything to protect,

perhaps it was this group of guild members before his eyes who were willing to go through fire and water for him and revere him like a deity.

He looked at Moli, the once timid and shy girl who had now grown into an independent acting guild leader.

He looked at Qin Ming, the originally aloof and cold boy who had dared to brave danger alone and enter the tiger's den to complete the mission.

He looked at Wang Hao, looking at those Classer who once struggled at the bottom of society and were regarded as trash.

They craved power; they craved strength.

But the root of their craving for power was more to protect the people they wanted to protect.

In front of them, Zhou Huai suddenly felt that he was the real coward, the pushover.

If as a Professional, he couldn't even protect his own hometown,

then what was the point of becoming a Professional?

Zhou Huai clenched the armrests of his wheelchair.

Earlier outside the car window, looking at the helpless children and elderly on the streets,

Zhou Huai also fell into hesitation for a moment.

Although he was selfish, he was not a cold-hearted person.

He needed a reason to muster up the courage.

To stay for Donghai City.

Now looking at the Evernight Guild members kneeling before him,

Zhou Huai knew his reason had been found.

After a brief internal struggle,

Zhou Huai took a deep breath, and those profound eyes regained their calm.

He spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly spreading throughout the entire courtyard.

"Have you really thought this through?"

"Staying will mean death."

"Even many people won't make it past tonight."

Everyone raised their heads in unison.

Their gazes were as firm as iron, without the slightest hesitation.

"Lord! We have thought it through!"

The earth-shattering shouts converged into an invisible torrent.

"Good!"

Zhou Huai's voice suddenly rose!

That voice carried an unprecedented resolution and heroism!

"Since you are not afraid of death!"

"Neither am I!"

"Then let us all stay!"

"Let us protect Donghai City together!"

"Lord! You absolutely must not!"

Hearing this, Moli's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"How can we let you stay and risk danger!"

"You are the soul of our Eternal Night! If anything happens to you, we..."

"You should evacuate first; leave Donghai City to us."

Zhou Huai raised his hand, interrupting her words.

He shook his head, stars seeming to burn within those pitch-black eyes.

"No."

"I am your Lord."

"You must always remember, the Lord will not abandon any of you!"

"I will always be with you!"

"Either live together!"

"Or die together!"

The words were sonorous and powerful, like thunder crashing heavily into everyone's heart!

Everyone present could no longer suppress the excitement in their hearts.

Hot tears welled up and streamed from their eyes.

They looked at the thin figure in the wheelchair, their gazes reaching the pinnacle of fanaticism!

At this moment they finally understood.

This was their spiritual leader.

To whom they could offer their loyalty and lives at any time!

The members did not say another word of nonsense.

They simply and coincidentally bowed deeply, knocking their heads heavily towards Zhou Huai, towards the only Lord in their hearts!

"Long live our Lord!"

"We swear to follow the Lord to the death!"

"We are willing to live and die with Donghai City!"

At this very moment, a cold System prompt rang without warning in Zhou Huai's mind.

【Ding! Major choice detected from the host, triggering a hidden challenge quest!】

【Quest Name: Protect Donghai City!】

【Quest Objective: Successfully resist the beast tide and protect Donghai City from being destroyed!】

【Quest Reward: Top-grade Professional Orb draw chance x1 (Guaranteed SSS-Class)!】

Zhou Huai gasped, almost thinking he had misread!

Top-grade Professional Orb draw chance?

Guaranteed SSS-Class?!

In other words, no matter how bad his luck was, as long as he completed this quest, he would definitely be able to draw an SSS-Class God-level profession for his next Avatar!

That was an SSS-Class!

It was the very apex of the world's pyramid, existence akin to deities!

It seemed even the System was encouraging him to stay and hold this city!

With the stimulation of this challenge quest,

the last trace of hesitation in Zhou Huai's heart completely vanished into thin air!

Looking at the densely packed figures kneeling in the courtyard, an unprecedented heroic spirit surged in his chest!

"Evernight Guild, all members listen up!"

His voice rang through the clouds like a giant bell!

"Head to the East City Wall!"

"Assemble!"

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Lord!"

"Long live the Lord!"

Amidst the earth-shaking shouts, all members stood up one after another.

Traces of tears still hung on their faces, but their eyes burned with unprecedented Battle Intent!

They no longer hesitated in the slightest, turning in unison without hesitation to transform into a black torrent, wildly charging toward the direction of the East City Wall!

In the courtyard, only Zhou Huai, Ye Zhentian, and a few others remained.

Ye Zhentian stared blankly at that imposing troop, then looked at the calm-looking youth in the wheelchair, feeling that his brain was completely fried.

He opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something, but in the end, not a single word came out.

Zhou Huai ignored him.

Slowly closing his eyes.

At this moment, his brain raced at an unprecedented speed.

Defending the city!

To defend this city relying solely on Donghai City's current strength was nothing more than a pipe dream.

He had to mobilize all the power in his hands!

Yasuo and Xiang Yu were still in their class advancement challenge quests and hadn't succeeded yet.

Even if they came out now, they would only be S-Class Professionals, which wouldn't play a huge role.

Now, the only ones who could play a decisive role in a war of this scale were...

Gandalf, who possessed several large-scale Forbidden Spells and could be called a mobile turret!

Meteor Fire Rain!

Thousand Mile Ice Seal!

Blazing Blade Storm!

Raging Giant Waves!

If all these terrifying Forbidden Spells were released, they would be enough to turn a radius of several thousand meters into scorched earth!

To defend Donghai City and obtain that SSS-Class Professional Orb!

Gandalf, it was time to return!