The Scorpion General was sent flying, with all the armor covering his chest shattering into pieces, each fragment scattering in every direction.

Countless shards spun through the air before raining across the blood-soaked battlefield.

"Ahhhhh!"

A soul-rending scream escaped from the General’s throat as he crashed heavily into a sand dune.

Boom!

The ground quaked, and thick dust rose into the sky.

On the dune, a deep crater appeared, covered in spiderweb-like cracks with the General at its center, while loose sand continuously cascaded down the sides.

Beneath the broken armor, the General’s scales had already shattered into fragments.

The protective scales had completely failed to withstand the terrifying force of the hammer.

Flesh and blood were mangled into a grotesque display.

Fresh blood continuously flowed from the horrifying wound, dyeing the sand beneath him crimson.

His ribs were broken, and some of his organs were pulverized. Every breath became incomparably painful as blood continued pouring from both his mouth and chest.

The attack left no room for survival, destroying every organ in his body. Even though Scorpion Men were known for their strong tenacity and powerful life force.

Against an attack of that magnitude, the General’s fiery eyes gradually dimmed.

The light that had burned fiercely throughout countless battles slowly faded away.

He raised his head with great difficulty and looked at the thousands of undead servants before him.

Their hollow eyes burned with strong soul fire.

’My King... I’ve tried my best.’

With that, the General breathed his last, and his head lowered, never to rise again.

The commander who had led the Scorpion Clan’s invincible army for countless years had finally reached the end of his life.

And in that moment, a strange silence permeated the Bleeding Desert followed by a strange sorrowful cry that echoed throughout the Three Moon World.

...

Inside Mantis Town, the streets were busy with both humans and Beastmen when a strange, sorrowful cry echoed in their ears.

The bustling streets gradually quieted as countless people instinctively raised their heads toward the sky.

"Do you hear that?"

"Yes."

"What is that sound?"

Quickly, everyone began discussing the strange sound, but no one could determine where it came from.

Some awakeners instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.

...

Sandroach Town continued peacefully, with a few humans walking along its streets.

With the purge of the Slave Trade Guild, the town entered a strange period of peace.

The fear that had once hung over every street had finally disappeared, allowing both humans and Beastmen to breathe a sigh of relief.

Just then, a strange sorrowful cry echoed through the air, and everyone inside the town could hear it.

"Do you hear that?"

"Where is it coming from?"

Many Sandroach Men stared at each other with confusion for a moment before shifting their gazes toward the humans.

Their expressions carried equal amounts of confusion and vigilance, as though they feared the strange phenomenon was a bad omen.

"We hear it, but we can’t tell where the cry comes from," a human responded.

...

Inside Horn Lizard Town, both humans and Beastmen were talking excitedly about the rumors of war when the sorrowful cry echoed throughout the town.

The lively streets gradually fell silent as the strange cry drifted through every corner of the town, causing countless people to instinctively stop what they were doing.

"Hmm?"

"What is that?"

"Why do I feel sad all of a sudden?"

"Do you hear the sound?"

"Yes, look around. It’s not only us. Everyone seems to have heard the sound."

No matter where they searched, they could not locate the source of the strange cry, yet the inexplicable feeling of sorrow lingered within everyone’s heart.

Inside the Horn Lizard King’s residence, the Horn Lizard King sat on his throne with one of his subordinates reporting to him when they heard the cry.

When the King heard the cry, his expression changed immediately, and his body tensed. The calmness in his eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by a rare look of seriousness.

"What happened?" he muttered, his voice booming throughout the hall. His deep voice echoed repeatedly against the stone walls.

Others might not know the meaning of the strange sorrowful cry, but how could he not know? As one of the oldest rulers in the Bleeding Desert, he understood what this means.

After thinking for a second, he couldn’t help but mutter.

"Is it possible it is related to that human?"

Thinking of that human, a look of anticipation appeared on his face. Instead of fear, there was curiosity, as though he had been waiting for this very moment.

"Interesting... This time, history might not repeat itself."

...

Inside Scorpion City, everywhere was laden with thick tension. An oppressive atmosphere blanketed the entire city, making every citizen feel as though a storm was about to descend.

The streets were eerily quiet with doors and windows closed. The bustling city had completely disappeared, leaving behind only silent streets and tightly shut doors.

Powerful and intimidating guards patrolled the streets.

Their sharp eyes continuously swept across their surroundings while their hands remained firmly gripping their weapons, prepared for any unexpected situation.

Just then, the strange sorrowful cry echoed throughout the city. The mysterious sound drifted over every building, every street, and every corner of Scorpion City.

"Hmm?"

This!

The guards tensed up, and their eyes flashed with vigilance.

Instinctively, they looked toward the sky before quickly scanning their surroundings, unable to determine where the strange cry had originated.

"What is that sound?" one of them asked.

His voice carried obvious uneasiness as an inexplicable sense of dread gradually rose within his heart.

Meanwhile, inside the King’s chamber, the elders were seated patiently waiting for news from the Palace Guards when they heard the cry.

The previously silent chamber became even quieter as every elder instinctively held their breath.

"Hmm?"

This!

The Old Elder straightened his back, and his face was riddled with shock and uneasiness.

His wrinkled hands unconsciously tightened around his staff as disbelief filled his aged eyes.

Quickly, he shifted his gaze and looked at their King.

The lazy expression on the King’s face was long gone, replaced with a solemn expression.

The two looked at each other, understanding dawning on them.