From the void torn open by Astel, several meteorites fell, scattering toward various parts of the Lands Between.
Bai Shi realized they were likely Astel larvae.
As a species from the cosmos, Astel underwent a life cycle of incomplete metamorphosis with several stages.
In its juvenile stage, it was known as a Fallingstar Beast, which later matured into a Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast.
After reaching the Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast stage, it would undergo a transformation.
At this point, it transcended the category of "beast," sprouting wings and taking on a form similar to an adult Astel.
This was a pupal stage, hanging like a chrysalis. Its mobility was severely limited, and its attack methods were reduced, making it considerably weaker than its ferocious juvenile stage.
However, this was necessary to become an adult.
Once it reached its adult form, the combat power of a Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast was nothing in comparison.
As a cosmic species, an adult Astel's combat prowess was formidable.Gravity magic, laser beams, teleportation... its arsenal of abilities was endless.
The once-glorious Eternal City had been utterly destroyed by an Astel summoning meteorites from the void.
Perhaps powerful heroes could survive such destruction, but without a populace, what was a dynasty?
Thus, the brilliant Nox civilization fell, leaving only a few clans of Numen and Nightfolk to migrate to various corners of the Lands Between.
—
The Astel in the sky waited until all the meteorites containing its young had fallen before emerging from the void.
The front half of an Astel resembled a dragonfly, with two pairs of thin, shimmering wings that radiated an ethereal light.
Only when the Astels had fully emerged from the massive hole in the sky, stretching their bodies against the backdrop of the brilliant starry river, did the people below see their tails—long appendages resembling strings of stars, ending in a tail stinger covered in sharp spines.
The round, star-like orbs making up their tails varied in size and color.
Some were a dim, pitch-black; others a brilliant azure; and some a deep purple, like spheres of gravity.
There were even a few that looked like true stars, encircled by faint yellow planetary rings.
But the most conspicuous were two or three that emitted a soft, golden amber glow.
These few golden amber orbs were the key reason everyone could clearly spot them in the night sky.
The crowd on the Wailing Dunes had never seen such a creature and was stunned by this strange visitor from beyond the heavens.
The dunes instantly buzzed with discussion.
Blaidd looked up at the strange creature, an unexplainable chill running through him.
The sight of the eye on its skull-like head was enough to make his fur stand on end.
His instincts were screaming at him: these things were terrifyingly dangerous.
When he fought General Radahn, no matter how powerful the general was, he had never felt such an emotion.
That was because, in the end, General Radahn was a life form similar to himself. But the things in the sky were completely different.
Was that even a normal living being?
Blaidd even began to question this.
Jerren and Freyja were not entirely ignorant of cosmic species.
According to General Radahn, many different races existed among the stars.
The White King and the Black King were rare examples of cosmic beings one could communicate with.
Most other races were completely incomprehensible, though it was possible they just hadn't found the right way to communicate with them.
However... the terrifying creature they were looking at now did not seem like something they could reason with.
Everyone else was observing the strange creatures in the sky.
Only Alexander, due to his field of vision, couldn't see anything and could only fret anxiously.
Finally, he came up with a solution, simply lying back and falling onto the sandy dune.
Only then was his front properly aimed at the sky, allowing him to see the Astels among the stars.
"Eh? Whoa? What is that thing!"
"I've never seen a creature like that before, and it looks so strong."
Bai Shi spoke, explaining to them:
"They are Astels."
"Astels?"
"Astels are a cosmic species, and they are terrifyingly powerful."
Bai Shi watched the Astels dancing in the sky and frowned.
These things had appeared at a terrible time.
And not knowing what they wanted was the most critical issue.
They were currently flying very, very high.
Higher even than the point from which Radahn had brought him plummeting down earlier.
In other words, they were completely out of reach.
After a short while, the first Astel that had appeared flew off in one direction, disappearing into the vast darkness of the night.
The two Astels that followed seemed to have already locked onto the first group of life forms they encountered in the Lands Between.
A sphere of purple gravity light engulfed them, and their figures vanished from the night sky in an instant.
The next second, their forms reappeared with the light on the dunes right in front of everyone.
Everyone was startled, raising their weapons in preparation for battle.
Bai Shi also drew his Starscourge Greatsword, standing on high alert.
The dragonslayer swordspear he had was broken and needed to be repaired or reforged, so it was currently unusable.
As for the Sword of Night and Flame, while its damage was respectable, its size was far too small, especially when facing such massive creatures.
The gravity power of the Starscourge Greatsword could also inflict extra damage on the Astels, who came from the stars.
The Ruins Greatsword was a decent choice, but it was certainly not as strong as his Starscourge Greatsword, which was enhanced to +9.
But strangely, the two Astels did not attack.
Flapping their wings, the two Astels flew in a circle around the dune where the group stood, one behind the other, as if observing them.
Their mandibles rubbed together, producing a hissing sound. It was unclear if they were communicating.
Bai Shi found this extremely strange.
With the "Greater Will" out of contact, were they acting on their own consciousness, without orders?
Also, wasn't the "Greater Will" the only entity that could communicate with Astels? Could they be approached as normal living beings?
Bai Shi silently observed every move of the two Astels.
But the others couldn't remain so calm.
Some warriors, seeing the Astels at such a close distance, broke out in a cold sweat.
Being stared at by those pale, skull-like heads was truly unnerving.
The Old Man and Bernahl were very powerful, so even from a great distance, they could sense the immense pressure these creatures emanated.
Now that they were up close, they experienced a long-forgotten emotion called 'fear'.
They were simply too strong, definitely on par with an ordinary demigod.
Dann was currently contemplating how long it would take to beat such a creature with his fists and feet.
As for Leda, after observing the Astels for a moment, she began to secretly watch Bai Shi.
She was observing Bai Shi's expression and actions.
This creature that had just appeared from the night sky looked very difficult to deal with.
And although things were calm for now, there was no telling if it would suddenly attack.
Storm King Bai Shi was not in good condition.
If a fight were to break out, she planned to join in with Dann and Freyja.
Fight alongside him, establish a connection first. It would make it easier to contact him again later.
Then, to everyone's surprise, the two Astels turned and left.
But their next destination was the location of Radahn's corpse.
Bai Shi realized what the Astels likely wanted. After being trapped outside the Lands Between for so long, they were probably very hungry.
He immediately charged toward them, carrying Radahn's Starscourge Greatsword.
Since he had taken Radahn's weapon, he had to at least help look after his men.
Given the temperament of the Redmane Knights, they would surely fight if they saw the Astels going for Radahn's body.
As he charged, both the Starscourge Greatsword and Bai Shi's own body grew in size.
The Starscourge Greatsword also had magic that allowed it to change size based on the wielder's will.
After all, Radahn's size during his star-conquering feat was different from his later size.
Unfortunately, running was no match for flying.
A battle had already broken out over there.
The Redmane soldiers roared loudly, trying to drive the Astels away.
But the Astels remained unmoved, their eyes fixed only on Radahn's corpse.
The Redmane Knights knew this battle was inevitable, so they drew their weapons and aimed them at the Astels.
The general's body would not be desecrated!
The Redmane horn sounded, signaling the beginning of the battle.
The arrows of the Redmane Knights flew toward the head of one Astel, aiming for the single eye on its skull-like face.
The gravity-imbued arrows forced it to turn its head, looking down at the small life forms beneath it.
A purple laser, after a brief charge, shot out from its mouth.
In an instant, a gap was torn in the ranks of the Redmane army.
A Redmane Knight with a sword and shield charged to the Astel's side, aiming to strike its joints.
But a tail stinger pierced him through the top of his head.
The next second, the other Astel had already teleported into the midst of the army.
With a wave of its right hand, a magnificent river of stars appeared, followed by a violent explosion.
Even though the Redmane soldiers raised their shields in time, they were still sent flying by the blast.
Only a Crucible Knight and a Leonine Misbegotten endured the explosion, charging forward to slash at the Astel.
By the time Bai Shi's Starscourge Greatsword slammed into an Astel, the Redmane army had already suffered considerable losses.
This was not an enemy the Redmane Knights could face with courage alone.
"All of you, get out of here!"
"This is not a battle you can take part in!"
Seeing the Redmane Knights show no sign of retreat, instead continuing to fire arrows at the other Astel, Bai Shi grew angry.
At this rate, who knew how many would die.
"You'll only be a hindrance if you stay! Go now!"
Jerren had already caught up and commanded the Redmane Knights:
"You should not die here!"
"Take General Radahn's remains back to Redmane Castle!"
The Redmane Knights sheathed their weapons and began to move General Radahn's body.
The other warriors who had rushed over were also ordered away by Jerren.
Jerren did not want these warriors who had come for the festival to die here.
He left only the Crucible Knight and the Leonine Misbegotten to hold back the other Astel.
Bai Shi swung his Starscourge Greatsword, landing several blows on the Astel before him, chipping off many pieces of its pale bones.
The Astel cried out in pain and whipped its long tail at Bai Shi.
Bai Shi leaped up to dodge it, taking the opportunity to bring his sword down heavily on one of the Astel's secondary limbs.
The sharp Starscourge Greatsword immediately sliced off the six-fingered, skeletal hand.
The Astel stared at Bai Shi and slammed its remaining five palms on the ground.
A wave of dark gravity energy spread out, catching the unprepared warriors with immense pressure and pinning them to the ground.
Bai Shi immediately used the Starscourge Greatsword's skill, Starcaller Cry, to weaken the Astel's subsequent dark wave. Otherwise, those soldiers would have been crushed into pulp.
The Astel was strong, but not so strong that Bai Shi couldn't handle it.
It was still a bit weaker than Radahn.
It was probably worth one or two of Radahn's lives.
However, Bai Shi's current condition was not ideal.
Although his wounds had fully healed, his stamina and magic were low, and all his restorative items were gone.
If it were just Bai Shi alone, he could try to fight it.
But with so many warriors around, continuing the fight would surely result in many deaths.
And this was with the Astels not having used their ultimate move, Meteorite of Astel. That was the only reason they felt they stood a chance.
If it used the move that once destroyed the Eternal City, there would probably be nothing left here.
So, Bai Shi decided to use Fengling Yueying.
He had no choice. They had been the ones to play dirty first.
Besides, the desire for victory flowed through his veins! But the current situation wasn't so simple that he could just use Fengling Yueying.
The warriors were engaged in close combat with the Astels.
No matter which power he used, even the storm he had the deepest mastery of, would harm them under the amplification of Fengling Yueying.
So, he had to get them to leave first, to get far, far away.
Most of the warriors were obedient, as they knew they couldn't be of much help if they stayed.
As for Bernahl and the Old Man, they weren't interested in the current battle and had already left long ago.
But people like Blaidd and Alexander were unwilling to leave.
The same went for Leda, Freyja, and the others.
They had taken the place of the weaker warriors, keeping the Astels occupied.
Bai Shi appreciated their good intentions and his fondness for them grew.
But he still sternly ordered them to leave, again and again.
Seeing they still wouldn't go, Bai Shi sighed.
These warriors of the Lands Between were truly filled with valor. If only they weren't so stubborn.
While clashing with an Astel, Bai Shi spoke again to drive them away:
"Go now! I have a way to eliminate them."
"I have a secret art that can instantly boost my power, but I won't be able to control it enough to avoid harming you."
"If you continue to get entangled with the Astels, you'll just die senselessly in the aftershock!"
"So go! As far away as you can!"
Hearing Bai Shi say this, although everyone had their reservations, they figured he had no reason to deceive them.
So they each found an opportunity to disengage from the Astels.
In the end, only Leda was left, holding back one of the Astels.
Leda leaped and dodged nimbly, drawing that Astel over to Bai Shi's side.
Leda turned her head to look at Bai Shi and offered a quiet blessing:
"Lord Storm King, I wish you success."
Bai Shi nodded, his fondness for this Needle Knight of Miquella growing even more.
"Thank you."
After luring the other Astel to Bai Shi, Leda disengaged and left.
That Astel still wanted to chase Leda, but there was no way Bai Shi would let it.
With a loud shout, Bai Shi once again unleashed Starcaller Cry, a powerful gravitational force pulling at both Astels.
The Starscourge Greatsword fell heavily, crashing onto the tail of one Astel as it stabbed toward him.
But the tail, which took the full force of the blow, only showed a few cracks.
The Astel's bony body wasn't sturdy, but the series of orbs that made up its tail were exceptionally tough.
The other tail whipped against Bai Shi, sending him flying.
Bai Shi tried to use the storm to adjust his posture in mid-air, but one Astel had already flown behind him.
The Astel's giant palm slapped against Bai Shi, dark energy reverberating through his body without restraint.
Bai Shi's internal organs were instantly shattered by the dark wave, and he was sent flying backward like a cannonball.
Waiting for Bai Shi was a pair of mandibles charging with magic.
A laser beam shot precisely toward the airborne Bai Shi.
Bai Shi shrank his body, barely allowing the blast to graze past him.
The Astel had poured a tremendous amount of magic into this attack. It shot across the sky, instantly annihilating a distant dune.
Feeling the laser that had just skimmed past him, Bai Shi broke out in a cold sweat.
He had no Flasks left. Taking a hit like that would be disastrous.
Bai Shi glanced at the many warriors running into the distance.
Although they had run far, the distance still wasn't safe enough.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Shi used his descent to swing his sword down heavily at the Astel waiting below with its jaws wide open.
"You want to eat me? You're not worthy!"
His twin swords clashed against the Astel's massive jaws, but Bai Shi soon gave up voluntarily.
Because the Astel he was wrestling with began to glow with purple light from its mouth again, and its tail was stabbing toward him.
The moment he landed, the other Astel had already teleported over and swung its arm, leaving a river of magical stars in mid-air.
Raising the Starscourge Greatswords and crossing them in front of him, Bai Shi blocked the explosion.
Seeing how difficult Bai Shi was to deal with, the two Astels grew agitated, their mandibles hissing fiercely.
Then, one Astel teleported into the sky, coiling its body and gradually opening a massive, void-like portal.
The one on the ground pressed its six palms firmly to the earth, its entire body flashing with bright purple magic.
The ground Astel lifted its palms, letting out a sharp screech. In an instant, a hundred-meter radius was enveloped in gravity magic.
Bai Shi was ready to use Starcaller Cry to counter the gravity, but to his surprise, this move wasn't meant to apply gravity to him.
On the contrary, Bai Shi's body lost all weight, and he, along with the sand and stones on the ground, was lifted into the air by the Astel.
At the same time, meteorite after meteorite was already falling from the void portal in the sky.
A sky full of falling meteors covered the heavens. No one would doubt their power.
This was Astel's ultimate attack!
Bai Shi's body had just adapted to the brief weightlessness and was about to use the storm to push himself away.
But the Astel on the ground immediately slammed its palms down, and an immense gravitational force opposite to the earlier one pressed down on Bai Shi.
The rapid adaptation to weightlessness now worked against Bai Shi; he could barely stand.
"Hmph, I don't care anymore."
"If anyone is still in range, I wish them good luck."
Fengling Yueying!
Super Damage, activate!
‘Ding’
The Starscourge Greatsword in Bai Shi's hand erupted with an unprecedentedly intense light.
The extreme gravitational magic instantly burned out the Astels' sensory organs.
Bai Shi raised the Starscourge Greatsword high and roared at the sky.
You had your fun. Now it's my turn!
Purple magic instantly expanded from the sword's blade, covering most of the Wailing Dunes.
Under the extreme gravity, everything in this space was forcibly frozen in place.
The void portal was sealed in an instant, and the meteorites floated motionless in the air.
The Astels were also immobilized. They tried to use their own gravity to break free but were suppressed to the point where they couldn't even circulate their magic.
Bai Shi let out a deep breath, controlling the gravity to pull them before him.
The moment this thought formed in his mind, the two Astels, along with the countless meteorites in the air, were pulled over by the force of gravity.
Their bodies crashed down in front of Bai Shi at immense speed, then were instantly halted by the gravity.
An even more blinding magic covered the Starscourge Greatsword. Bai Shi brought the swords down with an unadorned slam.
A massive sphere of light was born on the Wailing Dunes, casting a purple glow upon the night sky—
As the dark night sky glittered with the light of the stars, the entire Wailing Dunes was shaken by a massive, world-turning explosion.
Annihilating magic was unleashed with berserk fury, turning everything around to dust.
Purple gravitational lightning shot into the sky, blooming like thousands of fireworks, illuminating the night. But contained within was the power of destruction.
The force of gravity tore the bedrock beneath the dunes into countless fragments, which floated in mid-air before being completely annihilated into nothingness.
The shockwave from the explosion swept through, leveling all the dunes.
Finally, a pillar of purple light shot into the heavens, piercing the clouds before gradually dissipating.
The two Astels were instantly obliterated. After the explosion, only a terrifyingly deep crater, several kilometers in diameter, remained.
The blow had pierced through the earth, and seawater was already beginning to well up from the bottom of the crater.
Bai Shi sighed, jumped down into the deep crater, and picked up the shattered fragments of Starlight Amber.
The Golden Amber co