Continuous explosions, within that huge deep pit, were like a never-ending death firework.

Zhou Huai thought to himself that this old fogey was really tough.

Even for a Hell-level BOSS, under such dense and saturated bombardment, it would have died a dozen times over.

Yet this guy could still hang on by a thread.

Adhering to the principle of either not fighting at all, or striking to kill in one go.

Zhou Huai prepared to summon a new Hell-level BOSS to deliver the final blow.

If Kujo Masakage hadn't been arrogant and careless, plunging headfirst into the swarm of insects—

opportunities to so easily severely injure an SS-Rank Expert would not be common.

However, right at this moment.

His expression shifted, and he abruptly raised his head to look at the distant skyline.

Two figures tore through the sky, rushing over at an unimaginably fast speed.

One of them was a dark-skinned, bald giant whose physique was as burly as a mountain, but bizarrely, he was missing both arms.

The other was a man dressed in a pure white suit, with a scholarly temperament that was completely out of place in this devastated battlefield.

Zhou Huai's expression turned stern.

Although he didn't recognize these two fellows, the terrifying aura emanating unreservedly from them, like a vast ocean, had already provided the answer.

These two were SS-Rank Professionals!

Furthermore, they were very likely the two fellows who had fought with Soma Kosuke in Karuizawa earlier.

Now that they appeared here, it meant that...

Soma Kosuke's plan had most likely failed.

The Man in White Suit hovered in mid-air, his gaze sweeping across the devastated Fuji City below, which looked as if it had been bombed by a meteorite, and a faint arc curved at the corner of his mouth.

"Mr. Koji was indeed right."

"Something really went wrong here at Lake Kawaguchi."

He pushed the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, his tone relaxed and casual.

"Fortunately, we arrived in time."

"Otherwise, the Pendulum of Life really would have been snatched away."

Having said that, he casually stretched out his hand toward a certain direction in the distance and gently beckoned.

"Hum—"

A streak of golden light pierced through the darkness before dawn, soaring into the sky from the distant night.

That was precisely the Pendulum of Life, which was tightly bound by black chains in the hands of Polina and Kalen.

At this moment, it actually broke free from its restraints, transforming into a stream of light that instantly crossed a distance of several kilometers and landed in the hands of the Man in White Suit.

Seeing the Pendulum of Life, Zhou Huai's heart sank completely.

Kalen and Polina had not successfully escaped.

They very likely ran directly into these two suddenly appearing SS-Rank Experts.

Their side's plan was going to fail along with it.

Zhou Huai quickly adjusted his state.

Now was not the time for regret.

Evacuate first and talk later.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Huai shifted his thought.

The Soldier Beetle transformed into a throne once again, supporting Caesar and shooting rapidly toward another direction in Fuji City.

However, as fast as he was, someone was even faster than him.

"Roar—!"

A furious roar exploded from the ruins below.

A massive figure soared into the sky, blocking Caesar's path.

That was impressively Shuten-dōji, holding a huge Spiked Club and radiating an overwhelming scent of alcohol all over his body.

Behind Shuten-dōji, the figure of Chong Wenguma also slowly rose from the ruins.

He was covered in injuries, blood hung at the corners of his mouth, and his face was pale, evidently having suffered quite heavy injuries in the explosion just now.

But in his eyes looking at Zhou Huai, a relentless malice and madness burned.

At the same time.

That bald giant and the Man in White Suit also appeared in the other two directions as if teleporting, forming an inescapable net together with Chong Wenguma and Kujo Masakage, who was struggling to recover in the deep pit, completely blocking all of Zhou Huai's retreat routes.

The Man in White Suit looked up and down at Caesar, who was covered in black carapace, with a hint of playful amusement on his face.

"You must be the Insect Master who has always been stirring up trouble in secret, as mentioned by Mr. Koji, right?"

"I really underestimated you."

"Chong Wenguma and Kujo Masakage combined couldn't deal with you."

"You even almost ran away with the Pendulum of Life."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of condescending appreciation.

"Now that Soma Kosuke is dead, you have no need to continue fighting with us."

"Why not stay and have a good chat with us, how about that?"

"Our Dawnbreaker Guild greatly appreciates talent like you."

Zhou Huai's eyes, hidden beneath the carapace, suddenly narrowed.

These two fellows...

Were actually people from the Dawnbreaker Guild?

This point completely exceeded Zhou Huai's expectations.

Hiding beneath Caesar's cold carapace, his mind was operating at an astonishing speed.

First, he didn't expect that Kujo Koji, whose actions had always been extremely xenophobic, would choose to cooperate with the Dawnbreaker Guild.

Second, he didn't expect that this Dawnbreaker Guild, which had an obscure reputation domestically and acted mysteriously, had such a profound foundation.

As soon as they made a move, there were two unheard-of SS-Rank Professionals.

But where did these two SS-Rankers pop out from?

As everyone knew, the SS-Rank Experts of various countries were countable, and once they appeared, they would definitely be immediately absorbed by the state machine and heavily cultivated as top strategic resources.

How could they be whisked away by the Dawnbreaker Guild without anyone noticing?

Internationally, there wasn't even the slightest bit of rumor.

This was almost impossible.

Unless...

Unless the other party, just like himself, could create a powerful SS-Ranker using their own Avatar.

Or else...

In Zhou Huai's mind, a possibility suddenly flashed.

Ancient Remnant Clan.

Natsume Rinku was the best example.

If he hadn't intervened, I'm afraid her body would have already been completely occupied by the Ying Yinman who called herself the Princess of Great Qin.

In this way, a powerful SS-Ranker would have quietly appeared in the world.

Having figured this out, Zhou Huai was even more puzzled instead.

What the hell was the Dawnbreaker Guild doing?

Were they really planning to welcome the return of the Ancient Remnant Clan?

Or rather, was the meaning of their existence for this?

Seeing that Caesar kept silent and seemed to be thinking, the Man in White Suit in the air had an even stronger smile at the corners of his mouth.

He greatly enjoyed this feeling of controlling everything and giving choices to others.

"It seems you are a smart person."

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice carrying a sort of enticing magic.

"A smart person should make smart choices."

"You are very talented, this is unquestionable; being able to force two SS-Rankers to this extent with your own strength, you can't find a few across the entire world."

"But your talent was used in the wrong place."

"For some boring personal grievances, or to steal a dead object, you put yourself in such a dangerous situation—is it worth it?"

The Man in White Suit spread his hands, his posture elegant.

"We at Dawnbreaker are creating an unprecedented great era."

"A new world without national borders, without decayed classes, where only strength and talent are supreme."

"Join us, and you will obtain resources you cannot imagine, touch the deepest secrets of this world, and become one of the creators of the new order."