Chapter 177: The Last Beacon

Thud thud! Thud thud!

The earth began to wail.

After effortlessly crushing seven peak-level Third-Stage mid-level cultivators, a colossal, mountain-like humanoid mutant started its slow advance toward the Capital Safe Zone.

The ground crumbled; mountains shattered.

Every heavy step sent tremors, like giant hammers pounding on everyone’s hearts.

“It’s over…”

“We’re completely finished…”

“Why!! Why is there such a huge gap!!”

They wailed in despair.

At that moment, even the steadiest warriors and commanders could not accept the reality. They knew that Fourth-Stage mutants were formidable—but never imagined they could be this strong.

The pinnacle of human combat power appeared as fragile as an infant before this beast, leaving no room for resistance.

They had hoped at least to inflict a critical wound or, at worst, stall for time.

No one could have imagined that all seven would fall within three seconds.

Any tactics or plans now seemed utterly laughable.

Under the overwhelming impact, even the remaining defensive lines showed signs of collapse. They were at a loss on how to halt this monster, as extinction appeared inevitable.

Inside the core command room of the Safe Zone, commanders with little combat strength looked on with hopeless, bitter smiles at the advancing mutant.

Standing at the console, Chu Tian forced a bitter smile as he slowly retracted the protective cover from the red button.

“Notify Yenir.”

“Send him with the last group to break through and evacuate.”

“After we initiate our final global broadcast, we’ll end it all…”

He stiffly turned his head.

A few staff officers in the command room trembled as their eyes fixed on that final button.

Once pressed, the entire Safe Zone would vanish.

Huaxia Battle Zone’s last bastion of resistance would be wiped from the face of the earth—a final card, a means to perish together.

“Yenir, hasn’t he awakened?!”

“Didn’t he just ascend to Fourth-Stage? Have him act! Maybe there’s still hope!”

“Chairman Chu! Let’s try one more time, please! I believe in him! I truly believe in him!!”

Coming to his senses, a nearly hysterical Middle-Aged Man rushed to Chu Tian, desperately clutching his hand.

Pressing that button would truly mean the end of our nation!

Even the carefully preserved spark would be futile! Those people—top-picked engineers and researchers with the potential to rise to the Third-Stage—were too few, too fragile!

“Yenir…”

With resolute determination, Chu Tian gave a bitter smile and shook his head slightly.

“I believe in him too, but we can’t keep gambling with our last hope.”

“He just ascended to Fourth-Stage. No one knows if he can truly control his power or if his body is already compromised.”

“If he were ready to act, he would have already appeared.”

“Besides, if we force him to risk everything and he fails, his death would extinguish our only hope.”

“Let him go. Perhaps, just perhaps, there’s still a chance to reignite civilization.”

Hearing Chu Tian’s words, the Middle-Aged Man who had tried to stop him shuddered all over.

Indeed, the most rational choice was not to wager our final hope.

We had already lost too much and could not afford further losses.

Just as Chu Tian sighed and prepared to initiate the final global satellite broadcast, a staff officer suddenly stared in amazement into the distance and dashed to the command room window.

“Wait! Hold on!”

“Yenir! I see Yenir!!”

“He’s here!!”

In the next moment, everyone turned in shock, their eyes fixed on the sky above the defensive line.

A solitary figure floated toward the Fourth-Stage mutant as a torrent of violent, surging spiritual energy gathered around him.

Like a blazing sun rising, it illuminated the entire battlefield.

Even several kilometers away, they could feel an overwhelmingly invincible aura emanating from him!

And that figure was none other than Yenir.

………..

With Yenir’s appearance, the entire defensive line erupted in cheers like a roaring tidal wave.

They too sensed the terrifying might in Yenir—a power that could rival the Fourth-Stage mutant. Under that pressure, they struggled for breath.

Yet the immensely powerful Yenir rekindled the fighting spirit that had long faded.

Countless soldiers roared his name, while previously despondent commanders shed tears of excitement.

“He’s here!”

“Yenir has arrived!!”

Not only did the troops erupt in cheers, but realizing that Yenir could hold his own against the advancing catastrophe, everyone found the courage to charge again.

It wasn’t just the human side experiencing a turnaround— even the mindless horde of mutants instinctively began to recoil under his overwhelming pressure.

Weaker mutants shrieked in terror as Yenir relentlessly approached.

King against king.

Four pairs of eyes locked gaze from a distance.

Yenir looked quizzically at the relentlessly advancing Fourth-Stage mutant.

He could sense that if he tried to stop them, he would surely succeed!

The power inside him felt endless—an indescribable, destructive force ready to engulf everything at a mere thought.

Yet as their eyes met—the emotionless gaze of the Fourth-Stage mutant—Yenir’s mind grew cloudy.

No one knew the inner turmoil he was enduring.

What is truly real? What is false!?

Am I even in a trial!?

If this is a trial, what must I do? Kill the monster embodying my past obsession? Eradicate this destroyer of everything!?

Reality and illusion intertwined.

Amid the deafening roars, Yenir seemed frozen in place, utterly bewildered.

As the monster neared the final defense, countless soldiers and high-ranking officers—like ants on a hot pan—were gripped by anxiety.

“Lord Yenir!!”

“Act now!!”

“The monster is coming! Lord, please act!!”

“You are our final hope!”

They urged him, desperate and anxious.

Unable to understand why Yenir hadn’t yet acted, their frustrated shouts echoed in the room.

Disregarding his inner turmoil, the awakened warriors, their spirits rekindled, charged into the fray once more.

Watching the brutal battle unfold, Yenir hesitated and raised his hand toward the advancing Fourth-Stage mutant.

He didn’t understand why the enemy remained motionless, silently watching him.

In that moment of hesitation, Yenir was torn apart inside.

For some reason, he felt that if he chose to act, this disaster could finally be ended. Everything might return to a better time.

Uncertain and wavering.

As if to bolster his resolve, he heard the voices of his sister and mother.

“Ning’er!”

“Brother!”

“Kill that monster! You’re our hero! With you, Mom, I, and everyone can live happily here!”

Amid the ruins, Ye Xiaoan, cradled by their mother, raised her small fist as if looking up to a great hero. Her childish voice brimmed with hopeful urging.

“Ning’er! Kill it!”

“Then our family can be together forever, free from suffering…”

Dazed by his mother’s and Ye Xiaoan’s voices, Yenir’s heart trembled. In his eyes, familiar faces emerged from the ruins—each a cherished memory, all looking to him with hope.

They cried out in unison, smiling with open arms as if waiting for him to vanquish the monster so they could all live happily.

No apocalypse, no disaster—only a future where he would be hailed as Huaxia’s hero, saving a collapsing nation.

End this disaster…

I can end it…

Trembling all over, Yenir knew that once he acted, everything would truly be over.

But amid his agonizing struggle, a moment of clarity flashed in his eyes.

He thought—I now understand the Awakener Trial.

Is it to surrender to the obsession of my past life, living in illusion with those I love?

Or…

To try once more to stop this disaster?

Even if it seems almost impossible?

………

“Hasn’t Yenir emerged yet?!”

“Why is it taking so long!!”

Outside the Trial Tower, in the Hall, anxious onlookers watched the ever-flashing black vortex.

Seven hours had passed.

This was far longer than they had estimated.