Village Head's Debauchery

The others behind him were in far worse condition, with several spirit beasts retreating back to the floating island to avoid being crushed by the overwhelming pressure.

"Gina," Orion called.

Instantly, a transparent barrier enveloped them. The overwhelming pressure that had suffocated them vanished immediately.

Viki'ma looked at Gina with gratitude, but deep in her heart, this only made her more fearful of the true capabilities of the beings beside her.

"Good job," Orion said, glancing at her with a smile. He sensed that she had placed a barrier around J'garin, Iy'yra and her kin.

Jaros, Zaelthar, and the others struggled against the pressure.

Orion didn't know how long they could hold on. He needed them to continue observing what was about to transpire, so they would understand the gap between them and develop a deeper respect for Paradise, not the kind born from fear of the King's aura.

"Help them if they are unable to resist any longer," he added.

Gina nodded, smiling gently.

Orion refocused his gaze ahead and said, "However, before I address that, I want to speak about another issue first. Several spirit beasts have taken a binding oath to protect this territory. Though they have fulfilled their oaths, a few of them were severely injured in the process!"

"As the Supreme Leader of this territory, I have decided to take vengeance for them. None who attacked them will be allowed to leave. So if anyone here is responsible for these crimes, step forward now!"

Though Orion now stood within the safety of the barrier, his senses were still spread outward, and he could feel everything happening around him. He sensed that the pressure aimed at them had paused briefly before vanishing entirely.

The spirit beasts behind him also felt the suffocating weight lifted from their bodies and began to breathe more freely, sighing in relief.

It felt as though the gathering was eager to observe the show about to begin.

Orion had no problem with that. He also didn't mind if some decided to join in.

He could tell they were all curious about the source of his confidence, and he was prepared to show them.

Ten minutes passed.

No one stepped forward. Still, Orion remained silent.

He had already received information from Kafla, who had vaguely identified the positions of two culprits within the crowd. From the other seventeen scouting groups, six enemies had already been identified.

They were prepared to engage and had sealed the surrounding areas to prevent drawing attention.

So, Orion waited patiently. With this body, he could afford the time.

Twenty minutes later, five streaks of light shot through the sky and materialised into massive figures before them.

The first was a 2,100-meter-tall moth with vast silken wings. It had six radiant eyes with no pupils and antennae that extended from its head like delicate threads, swaying gently in the wind.

The second was a 2,400-meter-tall ape, its body sculpted with magma-forged muscles, partly covered in metallic armour engraved with mysterious, intricate runes.

The third was a 1,500-meter-tall silver-antlered horse, swirling with azure rings around its hooves and chest.

The fourth was a 2,800-meter-tall elk wrapped in purple, thorny vines, its antlers shaped like bells, emitting a nearly silent tune that carried an eerie resonance.

The fifth was a massive 2,000-meter-tall wolf with pitch-black fur. Its claws shone with pure white light. These spirit beasts obscured the sky and the surroundings.

They glanced at the spirit beasts assembled outside the floating island before focusing on Orion.

Orion furrowed his brows at the five spirit beasts that had appeared before him. He gestured for Gina and the others to follow as he flew upwards. When he was directly above the five, they came to a stop.

Orion stared down, meeting their immense gazes, and asked, "Which of you are the culprits?"

The five spirit beasts frowned, baring their sharp teeth. They snorted one after another.

"Didn't you say that those who attacked the spirit beasts who took a binding oath to protect this territory should step out? We are here now, but instead, you're asking who we are?" the massive wolf said gruffly.

"Are you trying to figure out our identities and weigh whether it's worth attacking us or not? If you're planning on confronting us, then let me inform you. You're not worthy to learn our names. However, if you want us to forget this matter, then hand over the information regarding the King's aura."

"Please, don't be offended by his rude words. He simply assumes you're another arrogant god who doesn't understand the power disparity between spirit beasts and beings from the material realm, especially considering your strength is halved the moment you enter the Spirit Realm," the silver-antlered horse chimed in, her silver irises locked on Orion and the others.

"Though I agree with him that you're a bit arrogant, I don't believe this is a matter that can't be resolved peacefully. Why don't we go somewhere private to discuss this instead of airing everything out here?"

The ape with magma-forged muscles and armoured plating snorted loudly. "Does it look like he wants to settle this peacefully? Besides, my eyes are starting to hurt from looking up at you. You should come down a little lower before we can settle anything peacefully." He narrowed his eyes at Orion, briefly glancing at the three women and Viki'ma.

'It seems they're still wary of the King-ranked aura lingering here,' Orion thought.

While they were speaking, Orion had already received confirmation from Viki'ma that the silver-antlered horse and the black-furred wolf were the spirit beasts who had ambushed them.

He stared at the five spirit beasts and gauged their strength from the aura they emitted. Four of them were at the Duke rank, while the silver-antlered horse was only at the Marquis rank.

He still couldn't gauge their age, which was most important in measuring a spirit beast's strength.

Orion realised he had underestimated them by thinking they would confront him alone. Still, he didn't care whether the other three spirit beasts were their accomplices or opportunists who emerged to take advantage of the chaos; he would handle them all the same.

Rather than respond, Orion turned to the three women behind him.

"Do you want to handle all of them?" Orion asked.

"Yes. Since they're all guilty of the same crime, we can accommodate them together. Isn't that right, sisters?" Greta responded.

Celeste and Gina nodded in agreement.

"Alright. I'll leave it to you from here," Orion said, retreating as the three women flew forward.

The spirit beasts angrily observed this scene, feeling insulted, as Orion not only dismissed their presence but also intended to confront them using only the three goddesses at his side.

The pitch black-furred wolf immediately grew irritated and said, "It seems no one has taught you a lesson since entering the Spirit Realm. I'll show you the difference between our strengths—"

His glowing white claws flared as he prepared to swipe them forward, only to stop mid-motion as he sensed the space around him twist.

Mirror Realm!

Celeste swiftly activated the renowned divine technique. Before any of the spirit beasts could react, a hole tore through the fabric of space, and they were all sucked into the distorted dimension, along with the three women.

Orion glanced at the space where they had just been, then turned to Viki'ma.

"You can return to the others. I'll handle everything from here," he said.

Viki'ma, her mind spinning with countless questions and still shaken by what she had just witnessed, snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. She swiftly turned into a streak of light and flew back to the others behind them.

Orion refocused his gaze ahead and said, "Now that the culprits have been handled, let's begin with the information you all came here for!"

His tone was calm. "If anyone wants to receive that information, you must first take a binding oath to protect this territory, like the others behind me whom you met upon arrival, for eight months, before I reveal it to you. You may come forward and take the binding oath before me!"

"Those who do not wish to take the binding oath may leave. I will not obstruct your way out, since you have not harmed this territory or its residents!"

When Orion finished speaking, he fell silent.

The surroundings grew quiet. The atmosphere was eerily still, then an enormous wave of pressure crashed through the stillness and descended upon the barrier.

It trembled slightly.

The icy plain below was crushed under overwhelming pressure.

BOOMM!!

Spiderweb cracks spread outwards as the icy plain continued to sink.

Inside the barrier, J'garin, Iy'yra, and the others remained safe. However, the same could not be said for the spirit beasts who had accompanied them to watch.

A few had taken the opportunity to return to the floating island earlier. The others who remained regretted not doing so as they struggled against the crushing pressure.

Several transformed into their true spirit beast forms. Those who could not withstand the pressure plunged toward the icy plain with horrific screams.