"Secretary-General, we have arrived. Please refrain from harassing my vice officer any further," the middle-aged man spoke with a humble yet stern tone. The person he referred to as the Secretary-General showed displeasure in his expression but held back due to some restraint, reluctantly letting go.
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"Thank you, Mr. Rocky, and the escort team," the Secretary-General replied.
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This Secretary-General's name was Fatber, responsible for managing various documents and internal/external communication for the royal family. While not having immense power, Fatber was also a cousin of King Anwar, often taking advantage of his identity to commit wrongdoings. People tolerated him due to this connection, albeit unwillingly.
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High-ranking officials like Fatber usually stayed within the city, indulging in luxury and rarely venturing into the dangerous realm of "Paradise." This visit was prompted by the upcoming once-every-eight-years major review, requiring inspections and evaluations in various villages.
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As the three entered the tent, there was a sudden loud noise outside, followed by a spreading cloud of smoke. The guards and Huntectors stationed outside were engulfed in the mist.
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Rocky immediately went into a defensive stance, holding a massive shield in front of him and drawing a sword from his waist to guard the rear. The smoke slowly crept into the tent, and a figure moved within the haze, accompanied by numerous cries of agony. The smoke seemed to hit an invisible wall in front of Rocky's shield, settling along this barrier.
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"Who goes there?" Rocky shouted loudly, dispersing the smoke with his momentum. A figure dressed in a black robe, holding two longswords, stood at the entrance of the tent. Behind the figure lay several guards and Huntectors in pools of blood. While the hood of the robe covered the face entirely, the glimpse of a bone helmet was visible through a black void. Blood dripped from the two swords, leaving no doubt about the identity and intentions of the attacker.
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"Aoino, stop using Weapower, and focus on protecting the Secretary-General as much as possible. I'll handle this Skullbreaker," Rocky decided as he sensed Aoino preparing to engage in combat. He made this decision to ensure the safety of the weakest link, Fatber.
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Just as the two were turning to leave through the tent's back door, the Skullbreaker suddenly swung its sword. A sword aura shot toward Fatber, undoubtedly targeting him. However, the sword aura vanished like it hit a wall, thanks to Rocky's creation-type Talent, "Ethereal Wall."
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Creating an invisible wall with two intersecting stripes on his shield's surface, Rocky had not only established a formidable defense but also a barrier that could block non-physical attacks like pressure, smoke, and flames. This Talent earned him the title "Invincible Stone" within Homeland.
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"Don't even think about getting past here!" A layer of white substance solidified and covered the shield as Rocky strengthened its hardness with Weapower. The Skullbreaker was capable of swiftly defeating over ten people and launching sword auras, making it a new and unseen type of enemy. Rocky remained cautious.
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The Skullbreaker, brandishing dual swords, advanced toward Rocky. Upon seeing this, Rocky raised his shield high to both block the attack and repel the Skullbreaker. Though two sword auras were unleashed during the strike, both were stopped by the "Ethereal Wall."
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Rocky's offense and defense combined, and he held the upper hand.
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On the other side, Aoino led Fatber away from the tent. Engaging in combat at such close quarters, Fatber felt fortunate to narrowly escape death.
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"Please hurry and get me out of here! Did you see that? It was a sword aura! That Skullbreaker nearly took... my life," Fatber exclaimed.
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However, fate soon reunited him with death. Not even a dozen meters away, another Skullbreaker in a black robe leaped from the treetop, appearing before them.
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"And there's another companion?"
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