The landscape below grew increasingly desolate, consumed by the grey dust left in the Xylarri's wake. The air itself felt thin and leeched of its natural spiritual Qi. It was replaced by the cloying hostile energy of the alien invaders.

But the further east they pushed, the denser the swarms became. What had been scattered groups near the evacuation lines now coalesced into vast undulating rivers of pale chitinous bodies flowing westward across the plains. Worse, the nature of the enemy was changing.

Where before they had faced mostly drones equivalent to Foundation Establishment or early Core Formation, now they encountered larger and more formidable Xylarri with disturbing frequency. Bulky four-limbed insectoid creatures radiating mid-Core Formation auras acted as vanguards, smashing through obstacles.

Tall whip-thin humanoid Xylarri moved with blinding speed, their clusters of black eyes tracking Li Yu and Jian Xuan with unnerving focus. These were clearly elites, perhaps commanders or specialized units within the swarm.

Li Yu blasted a 5th-Stage Core Formation humanoid drone apart with a focused void-infused staff strike, his Koi Martial Spirit instantly devouring its energy. Even as he absorbed it, three more of similar strength turned towards him, their silent screeches echoing in his spiritual sense. Jian Xuan who was engaged with a hulking insectoid leader was forced onto the defensive for the first time, his 'Singing Blade' struggling to penetrate its thick, purple-energy-reinforced carapace.

The two of them broke off the engagement, retreating momentarily to reassess.

"Brother Little Crab," Jian Xuan said, his breath coming slightly faster, his usual grin replaced by a grim line. "Their numbers are endless... and they grow stronger. We push further east from here and we risk being overwhelmed."

Li Yu nodded in agreement, his gaze sweeping the horizon. The purple rifts still pulsed far to the east, still spewing forth a stream of Xylarri. Pushing deeper felt pointless and currently suicidal. They didn’t know things continued to get stronger or if this was already the top of the mountain. "There's no strategic value in continuing east," he agreed. "Anyone still caught this far out... is likely already lost." The thought was cold and sad but realistic. Even they were beginning to have a hard time out here.

As they slowly retreated westward, Li Yu retrieved his merit token. He was activating the long-range communication function to contact Theron. "Grand Elder. We are approximately a little more than halfway between Aethelgard and the eastern rifts.” Li Yu began.

“The Xylarri density is overwhelming here and their strength seems to keep increasing. Now Core Formation elites are becoming a bit more common. Are there any evacuation convoys or allied units still operating east of our current position?"

The reply came back almost immediately. Theron's voice was heavy with grim finality. "Sadly no… All confirmed allied units and evacuation ships are now west of the Iron Peaks line. They are consolidating towards the Whispering Plains. Communication with several easternmost outposts went dark hours ago almost immediately after the rifts opened. We must assume... we must assume the eastern side of the continent is lost. Sacrificed."

A heavy silence followed and everyone processed that news. Li Yu could almost feel the weight of the decision Theron must have made. There were no right choices, only slightly better ones. Li Yu didn’t know if he could make a decision given the circumstances. .

"Casualties?" Li Yu was finally able to ask but only a low quiet voice came out.

Theron sighed, a sound filled with weariness and grief. "Initial estimates... are devastating. We believe civilian losses in the eastern territories could reach thirty percent… perhaps higher. Those closest to the rifts...."

He paused and his voice grew even heavier. "Cultivator losses are... severe. Many fought among the rearguard, sacrificing themselves to buy time. We have confirmed... Jarek Volkov (Rank 4, Skyfire Academy) was killed. His outpost where he was stationed was one of the first to be overwhelmed, but he held the line allowing three transport ships to escape before he was consumed."

Li Yu felt a jolt. Jarek Volkov. The calm analytical scholar-warrior from the tournament. A top-five genius. Gone.

Theron continued. "We also lost Lysette Moreau (Rank 9, Verdant Guard) while she was defending a mortal evacuation point. And Silas Croft (Rank 10, Ashen Blade Sect) was overwhelmed covering the retreat from a border fortress. Many others... elders, captains, disciples... are unaccounted for. This... this is a catastrophe."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The news of the three top-ten disciples falling, along with countless others settled like a stone. Li Yu's jaw tightened. This plague had to be stopped.

"Grand Elder," Li Yu began. "Commander Jian Xuan and I will cease our eastward advance since there is no one left. We will begin a fighting withdrawal westward towards the Black River line. However, we will not take a direct route."

"What?" Theron questioned.

"We will sweep north and south as we retreat," Li Yu elaborated. "Purge any Xylarri swarms we encounter. Reduce their numbers. Slow their overall advance. Buy more time for the defensive lines to solidify."

There was a moment of silence on the other end then Theron's voice came back filled with understanding. "That is incredibly dangerous. You will be operating deep in enemy territory with no support."

"We understand the risks," Li Yu said. "But allowing this initial tide to reach the Black River at full strength is unacceptable."

"The Crab God demands vengeance for the fallen!" Jian Xuan added, his voice ringing with renewed albeit grimmer conviction.

"...Very well, thank you to you both" Theron finally conceded. "Proceed with extreme caution. Your strength is needed but do not throw your lives away recklessly. Report your position periodically. May the Ancestors watch over you." The connection cut.

Li Yu looked at Jian Xuan. "Ready?"

Jian Xuan met his gaze. The earlier fanaticism was replaced by a cold hard battle-light in his eyes. He drew his sword. "Let the purge begin, Brother Little Crab. Let the Crab God feast upon our enemies."

They turned west but angled slightly north to begin their deadly sweep.

It was no longer about rushing to save as many lives as possible. It was now rushing to take as many lives as possible. It was about extermination.

They flew fast over the ravaged landscape. Whenever their spiritual senses detected a concentration of the corrupting purple aura – a swarm devouring what was left of a ruined village, a column moving across a plain, a cluster nesting in a desecrated forest – they descended without hesitation.

Li Yu activated his devouring field immediately upon engagement. Casting the wide weakening net right away. Jian Xuan charged headfirst into the thickest concentration, his blade a precise instrument of death. His swordsmanship, augmented by Soul Dominion roars that shattered the weaker drones' primitive consciousness made him a terror.

Li Yu met the charges of the larger and tougher Core Formation Xylarri. His staff was blurring, crushing limbs and heads with monstrous physical force. With his sentry technique set up, Abyssal Javelins rained down targeting elites or clusters of drones. His own water arts surged forward to create fields of binding ice or high-pressure currents to slow and disrupt the swarm's movements.

All the while, his Koi Martial Spirit worked relentlessly. He actively drained the stronger elites he grappled with, weakening them for the kill while simultaneously fueling his own power.

They became a two-man engine of destruction, leaving trails of grey dust and fading purple energy in their wake. They didn't stop to rest and didn't pause to consolidate. They moved from one swarm to the next, a relentless purging fire sweeping across the blighted land.

They encountered horrors. A Xylarri swarm feasting on the corpses of a fallen transport ship. Mortals and cultivators alike were reduced to husks. Jian Xuan reacted with cold fury, his sword art becoming terrifyingly brutal to inflict as much pain as possible. He was leaving nothing but severed parts and dissipated energy.

They found a lone and heavily wounded allied cultivator, a Core Formation disciple hiding in a cave. He was surrounded by Xylarri drones slowly breaking down his last defensive artifact. Li Yu arrived first, his devouring field weakening the attackers.

Jian Xuan followed soon after with afterimages of his sword following him. The cave entrance was cleared in seconds. Li Yu gave the shocked survivor a few high-grade healing pills. "West," Li Yu ordered curtly. "Don't stop." The disciple nodded numbly and fled.

The two of them fought relentlessly for hours. First sweeping north, then turning west, then sweeping south. All the while cutting a wide swathe of destruction through the advancing Xylarri tide. Li Yu lost count of how many he killed but it was exhausting mentally to fight for so long.

The inert purple wisp in his Ocean of Qi grew noticeably larger, a swirling vortex of contained destruction energy. His cultivation base felt increasingly stronger, compressed and agitated.

Jian Xuan, despite his Soul Formation cultivation was beginning to show signs of fatigue physically and mentally. His movements were still fast, his blade still deadly but the sheer unending number of enemies was taking its toll even on him.

"Brother Little Crab," Jian Xuan panted, wiping purple ichor from his blade after they cleared another valley filled with hundreds of drones. "These things... they truly are endless. Even the crab god must be full by now from all these sacrifices." He joked.

"Their numbers are indeed troublesome, it seems endless," Li Yu agreed. His own vast reserves were constantly replenished by his absorption but it was still taking its toll on him. He looked westward. They had been fighting and moving for nearly a full day since contacting Theron. "We should be nearing the Black River soon. The first defensive line."