My starting summon is a small skeleton

"What's going on?"

The repeated failure of the sacrifice caught Zhang Mingrui off guard.

"Is there someone else causing trouble?"

A flash of inspiration suddenly came to Zhang Mingrui, and his eyes narrowed, "Could it be Tie Xiong?"

Realizing it might be that old adversary, Zhang Mingrui became immediately tense.

He spread out his consciousness, covering the entire city thoroughly.

He began to check the situation inch by inch and, after completing the inspection, found that everything here was normal.

"It's not a problem here?"

Zhang Mingrui breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression changed again—if it wasn't a problem on his side, where could it be? It must be Elder Mountain that had issues.

Realizing this, he didn't even take the time to deal with Sun Kongkong and the others and rushed back to Elder Mountain.

And at this very moment on Elder Mountain.

Almost at the same time that Zhang Mingrui was rushing back, a figure was slammed heavily against a wall.

Before he could recover, the one who had slammed him acted again, grabbing him and pinning him to the wall.

The figures of the slammed and the slammer were thus clearly exposed.

The one being slammed was Yuan Hua, who had previously told Sun Kongkong he had no means left, and the one doing the slamming was Zhao Xue'en, who was stationed on Elder Mountain.

At this moment, Zhao Xue'en was consumed with fury, wishing he could tear Yuan Hua to pieces.

The reason was the very thing Yuan Hua had just done.

Yuan Hua obviously understood the core issue better than Sun Kongkong, choosing to infiltrate Elder Mountain rather than going to Jing City, seizing the opportunity to strike the lab when the time was right.

As an Epic level powerhouse, his strike brought the sacrificial ritual and the refinement of the Fragments to a halt.

The loss this brought to Zhao Xue'en and the others was unimaginable, as was Zhao Xue'en's rage.

Furious, Zhao Xue'en grabbed Yuan Hua by the throat, word by word he said, "Have you thought about how you want to die?"

The other party just gave a contemptuous smile.

"This, I already figured out before I came, prepared to not return!"

With that, Yuan Hua erupted.

Several Summoned Beasts inside him howled as the burst of Beast Soul energy caused Yuan Hua's strength to surge. He clenched his fist and smashed the swelling power towards Zhao Xue'en's face.

"Obstinate fool!"

Zhao Xue'en scoffed coldly, extending a hand and easily deflecting Yuan Hua's punch with a light touch.

But the moment his finger touched Yuan Hua's fist, Zhao Xue'en's expression dramatically changed. Something was wrong, the feel was off, the energy in Yuan Hua's punch was all wrong; it had no damage in it.

"What's going on?"

Zhao Xue'en was stunned, and before he could figure out the situation, the Yuan Hua in front of him gave a tragic smile.

"Old Zhao, say goodbye to your Gate Fragment!"

With these words, Yuan Hua resolutely detonated his internal power.

He intended to explode himself and all the energy of the Summoned Beasts within him, turning himself into a bomb-like blast.

Such an explosion might not hurt Zhao Xue'en, but it could damage Elder Mountain and the lab.

Further damage to the lab might mean Zhao Xue'en and their Fragment Refinement could be completely ruined.

Zhao Xue'en was clearly aware of this, so the moment he saw Yuan Hua erupt, he immediately went mad trying to prevent Yuan Hua's outburst.

But that was easily said than done.

After all, Yuan Hua was an Epic 2 Star strongman. In a one-on-one fight, Zhao Xue'en could easily suppress him, but to restrain Yuan Hua's life-risking outburst with only Zhao Xue'en, an Epic 3 Stars presence, was somewhat insufficient.

So, Yuan Hua was determined to explode, at least, that's what he thought.

However, just as Yuan Hua thought he himself was doomed and the laboratory was bound for destruction, a slightly tense voice rang out.

"Good, good, thank goodness I got back in time."

With that voice, another figure appeared out of thin air behind Yuan Hua, flanking Yuan Hua's front where Zhao Xue'en stood, they exerted force simultaneously.

For one Epic 3 Stars to suppress Yuan Hua's self-detonation was difficult, but with two acting together, it wasn't much of a challenge.

Yuan Hua's self-explosion was easily suppressed.

The two of them restrained Yuan Hua's outburst and threw him on the ground. Zhang Mingrui bent down and looked at the motionless Yuan Hua: "You've got some nerve, kid. Elder Mountain is under martial law and yet you still managed to infiltrate, almost destroyed our experiment. You certainly have some tricks up your sleeve, pity you don't use them for the right cause."

"The right cause?" Yuan Hua sneered. "In your eyes, what is the right cause?"

"Of course it's to do as we say, to be our dogs, to be our tools!" Zhao Xue'en and Zhang Mingrui had now completely dropped their facades, unabashedly spouting their views while dragging Yuan Hua by the hair into the laboratory.

Once inside the laboratory, Zhao Xue'en and Zhang Mingrui tossed Yuan Hua aside and began various checks.

Repairing all the facilities that needed repair.

It took close to three hours to fix the destruction caused by Yuan Hua's recent outburst.

"Luckily, we're fortunate. You struck a non-critical spot, although it gave us a bit more work, it didn't ruin our grand plans."

Once everything was set, the two men grinned at Yuan Hua.

Their luck was the greatest misfortune for Yuan Hua and the millions of Jing City's people. Yuan Hua's face was exceedingly grim as he coldly regarded the two men before him.

At this moment, his heart was ashen.

The refining of the Gate Fragment hadn't been destroyed, which meant everything he had done was for naught.

The people in Jing City, who had only been granted a few hours' reprieve, were still doomed to die.

What was most terrifying was not just the fate of the millions in Jing City, but the prospect of these two individuals possessing five Gate Fragments.

Then, they would wield an even more frightening and formidable power, entirely mastering the whole Alliance, with the lives of everyone in the Alliance in their hands.

That was a scene Yuan Hua dared not even imagine.

Therefore, at this very moment, Yuan Hua, who had never believed in a savior, urgently wished for someone to come and defeat these two men, to save the world and to save him.

"Anyone, please, come out and save us!"

In his despair, Yuan Hua cried out a laughable plea.

Zhao Xue'en and Zhang Mingrui shook their heads.

"No one can come to your rescue. Nobody can save you…"

"Boom!"

Amidst Zhang Mingrui's malicious words, a blasting noise erupted.

This sound, particularly jarring in this environment, made Zhao Xue'en and Zhang Mingrui frown and turn their heads, to see Elder Mountain split open by a controlled breach, with three wounded individuals charging in.

These three individuals were none other than the ones Zhang Mingrui had recently nailed down in Jing City.

Seeing these three, Zhang Mingrui's mouth curled with disdain: "What now, you want to be the savior? Have you forgotten how you were just pinned down in Jing City?"

"I don't have time to deal with you bastards, and I let you escape. You don't flee for your lives but instead come here to deliver your deaths, huh?"

"We did not come to die; we came to wipe you two 'Undead' out!"

Xing Zhanlong stepped forward, his eyes full of hatred as he glared at Zhang Mingrui and Zhao Xue'en, "You two old ghosts, to satisfy your own desires, you murdered the elders and destroyed both the Dark and Science Alliances, even using the lives of Alliance members to achieve your goals.

You people are unworthy of being elders, so today we are here to eradicate you two 'Undead'!"

Zhang and Zhao were amused by Xing Zhanlong's words, "Eradicate us? Just with you few misfits?"

Sun Kongkong stepped out, his voice cold in response, "Who said it's just us?"

Almost at the same time as Sun Kongkong's words were uttered, a trembling figure stepped out.

This person was none other than Gutian, the overall commander of Zhang and Zhao's refinement operation.

Seeing Gutian stand on the opposing side, Zhang and Zhao were stunned, then a sneer appeared on their faces, "Well, well, young Gutian, having pangs of conscience, are you?"

"My lords, I truly cannot stand by and watch millions die; I am sorry..."

Zhang and Zhao, with arms folded across their chests, sneered like they were watching a clown perform, "Enough, shut it. Anyone else, come out now!

Even this kid has turned to your side, you must be able to call out more people, right?

Just call all of them out!"

Sun Kongkong did not dally, and immediately used a device.

With the use of that device, the sounds of footsteps and whooshing grew louder.

A large group quickly surrounded them.

This surrounding crowd had all sorts of identities.

There were the Governor of Jiangnan who was recently taken down for kissing up to Lu Wu, workers from inside Elder Mountain,

people from major universities,

even, vaguely, members of the Zero Organization or the Dark Organization.

This group, originally of different identities, stances, and classes, came together for a common goal.

Yet, the expressions on the faces of Zhang Mingrui and Zhao Xue'en were eerily calm.

"Good, very nice; quite a turnout."

"Some rats from Zero Organization and some of our lapdogs, all gathered here at this moment, it looks like we two old things are rather abandoned."

Before them, Yuan Hua coldly said, "You two are devoid of conscience, devoid of any humanity, that you have come to this end is no surprise at all."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingrui and Zhao Xue'en laughed.

"Devoid of conscience? Devoid of humanity? These, we acknowledge.

After all, there's a difference in level.

To exist at our level, one can no longer be constrained by mere human morality.

We stand at a higher level.

We should be like laws, like nature.

For beings at our level, controlling life is an ordinary matter, so don't bind us with human ethics and morals, and as for laws,

the laws of humans are for humans, while we have already transcended human existence.

To some extent, we are gods!

So, to us, being without humanity is not a derogatory term."

The words of Zhang and Zhao completely upturned everyone present's values.

They felt that these two old things had completely lost their minds.

Yet they didn't care at all, and looking at the furious Sun Kongkong and the rest, the two old things continued, "Another thing, what do you mean by 'this end we've come to'? Do we look miserable now?

You all seem to be the miserable ones, don't you?"

"Have you thought about what you are doing? You're challenging the gods!

Have you thought about how you're going to bear the consequences?"

Listening to the two 'Undead' who completely fancied themselves as gods, Sun Kongkong and the others couldn't stand it anymore.

"No more nonsense, let's go, prioritize destroying the laboratory!"

At Sun Kongkong's command, this makeshift assembled group erupted.

Their strength was indeed quite formidable.

Nearly ten Epic Level powerhouses and countless others of different ranks surged forward, an imposing force indeed.

However, facing such a crowd, Zhang Mingrui and Zhao Xue'en's faces showed clear disdain.

"Ants, daring to compete with gods."

"Let you experience the power of gods!"

In their arrogant voices, the two 'Undead' took out a refinement fragment they had earlier.

Then, they activated the power of the Gate Fragment.

The next moment, an indescribable force burst forth, a mysterious and powerful force that drove people to despair.

Under this force, all those who rushed at them were nailed to the spot, unable to move.

This was the power of two Epic 3 stars and a Gate Fragment.

Watching Sun Kongkong and the others pinned and unable to move, the corners of Zhang and Zhao's mouths twitched upward.

Zhang Mingrui turned to Yuan Hua, "See, this is your savior."

"There are no saviors in this world, nor is there any need for one. If there must be one, we can play that role.

As for you, become the dust of this world, become the steps for our ascent."

The two old men spoke, then commenced the next round of sacrifice.

The power of sacrifice wrapped around Sun Kongkong and the others, seeking to drain their strength, to transform them into nourishment for those who received the refined fragments.

This group of Summoners, including some ten Epic Level beings, the power they could offer through sacrifice was terrifying.

Immediately, one fragment was fully refined.

Seeing the fragment shine brightly, the eyes of Zhang and Zhao lit up, while Sun Kongkong and the others plunged into utter despair.

They had not expected that their final struggle would end this way.

Under this power, they had no chance to resist; they could only watch as their strength was drained, as the fragments, one by one, were lit.

Soon, five fragments were fully illuminated.

The dazzling lights were mesmerizing.

"We've succeeded, we have succeeded with these five fragments, even Tie Xiong and the chairman we can slay!"

The two elated old men rushed crazily towards those five fragments.

Just as they were about to grasp the five fragments, a sharp sound of shattering rang out, and a figure appeared out of nowhere...