Chapter 150: Heavy Casualties

An ultimate-form entity had just self-detonated. An explosion far more terrifying than the one caused by Leslie's self-destruction erupted in the air, sending shockwaves rolling in all directions and giving rise to a terrifying tempest.

A dense cloud of smoke and dust billowed, spreading for over a mile and thoroughly shrouding everything in sight.

However, the giant golden bird gently flapped its wings, generating a violent gale that swept away the dust filling the sky.

Yet, down at the bottom of the crater, Charles had long since vanished. A deep, massive hole remained in his place, and the cavern had completely collapsed, burying the underground passage.

A colossal tortoise with a shell over ten meters in diameter lay prostrate over the cavern, completely devoid of life. It was precisely this creature that had blocked the subsequent attack of the Heavenly Winged Bird and the horrifying bombardment generated by the Moon Child's self-destruction!

The giant golden bird that had blotted out the sky vanished, and an elderly man with graying hair and a stooped back descended from the sky.

His eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of life, bearing witness to the passage of long ages. A natural aura of supreme dominance radiated from his body, akin to an peerless emperor.

"Lord Dean," Bienne stepped forward, lowering his head in a bow.

This elderly man was none other than the founder of Morant Academy, a genuine fourth-tier destiny spirit master, the master of the cataclysmic divine beast Heavenly Winged Bird, and an invincible powerhouse.

Yet he appeared so aged, teetering on the brink of mortality, and even his immensely formidable aura could not conceal the decaying scent emanating from him.

"I have returned too late..." Dean Stuart swept his gaze across the surroundings and sighed.

As far as the eye could see, ruins and wreckage littered the ground. The entire central laboratory had been utterly obliterated by the battle between third-tier powerhouses, and not a single intact masonry stone could be found anywhere.

The entire central laboratory had consumed hundreds of billions in resources. If not for loans from the Atlantis City-State Alliance and contributions from various major families, its construction would have been utterly impossible.

It housed hundreds of rune factories, various high-precision experimental machines, experimental materials shipped in from all corners of the world, and countless invention achievements—altogether worth far exceeding an ordinary minor kingdom!

Yet now, it was nearly reduced to complete ruin, with only a fraction remaining.

Most importantly, the numerous researchers inside had all perished on the spot. The loss of such talent meant that even if the laboratory were rebuilt with massive investments, it would struggle to recover its former glory.

Furthermore, the distant residential area had been thoroughly wiped out by those suddenly emerged insects. Every building, tree, flower, and blade of grass had been destroyed and devoured.

Some destiny spirit master students who failed to escape in time from their quarters were completely consumed by the insects. A rough estimate showed that at least a hundred people had lost their lives in this catastrophe.

This was the most severe loss Morant had suffered since its establishment, one that even shook its very foundations.

It was foreseeable that the various families would undoubtedly join forces to exert pressure, seizing the opportunity to expand their respective shares.

Yet the academy had no choice but to rely on the help of these greedy wolves and tigers; otherwise, it would lack even the funds for reconstruction.

"Lord Dean, it is my responsibility. I failed to protect the academy properly." Bienne lowered his head deeply.

He had originally thought it was merely Leslie's rebellion, something that could be easily suppressed while taking the opportunity to purge the central laboratory and root out hidden local spies.

However, there were always events in this world that defied anticipation, completely throwing off his calculations.

Even Isaac, whose strength was a cut above his own, had utterly perished, beaten to death by a pack of ultimate-form entities!

Since when could ultimate-forms appear in packs?

He had originally thought that by exhausting the majority of his family's resources to successfully acquire three ultimate-form entities, he could already be considered a top-tier third-tier powerhouse.

Yet the enemy actually possessed a full seven of them, including an even rarer mental-attribute totem. It was simply unimaginable!

A mere third-tier powerhouse had actually endured two attacks from the Heavenly Winged Bird without dying, and in the end, had even detonated an ultimate-form entity as a diversion to escape.

To be able to sacrifice two ultimate-form entities at the very last moment and escape under the attack of a cataclysmic divine beast—the enemy's strength was terrifyingly unfathomable!

"A semi-totem creature... It seems this is the True God Cult once again!" The Dean's spiritual power swept across the corpse of the giant tortoise, instantly seeing through its origins.

"The True God Cult—those madmen have gone too far. We must continue to thwart their horrifying plans. Otherwise, if the Gate of Origin is truly opened, no one will be able to bear the consequences!" Bienne said in a deep voice.

The Dean, however, shook his head. "You think I don't want to? It is only because the Harrison Empire tacitly allows their development; otherwise, how could they have continued to exist until now?"

"Why?" Bienne asked in shock, hearing such a deep secret for the very first time.

This was the True God Cult, after all! Over the centuries, they had caused countless terrifying atrocities, slaughtering over a million ordinary people, making them the common enemy of every empire and kingdom in this world.

Yet now, he actually heard that the Harrison Empire had condoned their development. Didn't that sound far too surreal?

"You do not understand... Bienne, gather the students as best as you can to clean up the aftermath. Morant Academy cannot fall to ruin here; our future shall undoubtedly be even more brilliant!"

After giving his instructions, the Dean summoned a giant bird and flew toward the southwest. Another ultimate-form entity was fleeing in that direction, and Garfield, who had been snatched away, had to be rescued.

After he left, Bienne gazed at his stooped figure, and a flurry of thoughts suddenly surged into his mind.

Legend had it that the Gate of Origin connected to the primal source of the world. All Origin Artifacts flowed from it, and all Origin Crystals were formed by the energy leaking from it, slowly condensing across various parts of the world.

Legend had it that within the Gate of Origin lay unimaginable treasures capable of exponentially enhancing the strength of destiny spirit masters and allowing totems to undergo a direct super-evolution!

Legend had it that entering the Gate of Origin could grant a person—eternal life!

Could it really be...?

Unwilling to dwell on it any further, he began executing origin arts to recall his primary totem.

This time, his Golden Monkey totem beast had suffered grievous injuries and required a period of time alongside vast resources to repair. Repairing an injured ultimate-form was no small expense, as only Grandmaster-tier cartographers were capable of mending them.

Next, he plunged entirely into a state of busyness. Apart from the Dean, he was the only remaining administrative figure in the entire academy; the other surviving third-tier destiny spirit master had long since fallen into a coma due to the slaughter of their primary totem.

Clark, Isaac, Joseph, coupled with the self-detonated Leslie, and Garfield who had been carried off by the ultimate-form totem beast—Morant Academy had effectively lost a full five third-tier destiny spirit masters in an instant!

Third-tier destiny spirit masters belonged to the absolute upper echelons in any faction. Such a terrifying loss completely shook the foundations of Morant Academy.

Could the academy truly rise again?

His thoughts began to waver, but upon raising his head to look at the magnificent giant tree piercing straight into the firmament, Bienne's eyes filled with unyielding determination—

No one could destroy this academy. Even at the cost of his life, he would protect it!