The four demonic streaks shot toward the sky like desperate firecrackers.
Ancestor Blood-Sea led the pack, his red robe whipping violently against the mountain gale. Behind him, Old Monster Ghost-Hand threw away three necrotic bone flutes just to shave off half an ounce of flight weight. Old Demon Iron-Skull was already chanting an ancient earth-escape incantation. Matron Corpse-Wither tossed poisoned black hair needles blindly behind her back.
“Faster, you useless old bats!” Ancestor Blood-Sea screamed through blood-stained teeth. “Clear the mountain crest! Once we hit the cloud line, their spirit-tracking array will lose our scent!”
Down below, the valley floor shook.
A heavy, metallic thud rolled through the stone plaza.
Tie Niu kicked Ancestor Kunlun-Zi deeper into the dirt with one heavy combat boot. He reached up, tapped his brass comms earpiece, and grinned.
“Iron Guard battalions one through four,” Tie Niu barked into the radio. “Form the perimeter! Don’t let these four old hedgehogs touch the outer vegetable garden! That soil was just turned this morning!”
Beside him, Old Dao leveled his heavy runic riot shield. “Righteous Iron Guard, lock arms! Heaven-Locking Formation, deploy!”
