It's so hard being a hero!

Those are two eyes.

The eyes were enormous beyond belief, each wider than a city gate.

The color of those eyes was indescribable, like a chaotic color between deep purple and pitch black, with distorted starlight swirling in the deepest part of the pupils.

Behind those eyes was a blurry outline with indistinct boundaries.

Sophia could only see his silhouette moving slowly, as if adjusting his position or surveying the small battlefield.

He spoke.

The sound surged from the crack, low and heavy, like a roar coming from underground, each word carrying a power that vibrated the air.

"In my name, I will tear open this door."

These words were not spoken to a person, but to the crack.

As soon as he finished speaking, the dark crack seemed to receive a command and suddenly widened again, with the cracks at the edges spreading to both sides, as if an invisible hand was tearing the sky apart from the middle.

A large amount of dark energy suddenly gushed out from the crack, like a flood bursting its banks, and swept towards the direction of Zhenmo Pass.

The dark aura churned, possessing an overwhelming weight. Wherever it passed, even light was swallowed up, and the sky turned as black as midnight. The demon soldiers on the ground, who had not yet been affected, instinctively let out terrified howls.

"Back off."

An aged voice boomed from the walls of Zhenmo Pass, its power amplified by magic and spreading across the entire plain.

"Everyone, retreat back inside the pass immediately, quickly."

This is the voice of the commander-in-chief of the garrison at Zhenmo Pass, an old general from the Holy Realm.

Sofia and Leila moved around the same time.

Layla grabbed Sophia's wrist and pulled her back forcefully.

"Stop looking, hurry up, something big is about to come out."

Sophia didn't struggle and followed Lyra's steps to run backward. Her gaze went over her shoulder and saw that the rolling dark energy was advancing forward at a very fast speed, only a few hundred meters away from them.

But those who run slowly are not so lucky.

Several mercenaries who fell behind the group didn't even have time to run before being caught up by the dark aura.

Their bodies shuddered violently at first, then their skin began to turn black rapidly, and the whites of their eyes turned pure black. Then, they let out a roar that was neither human nor any other creature, and turned to pounce on their own people.

Their attacks were even more ferocious and faster than those of the demon soldiers before them, showing no signs of their previous exhaustion.

"It has been corrupted by demons."

Leila cursed and quickened her pace.

At that very moment, several figures shot into the sky from the city wall of Zhenmo Pass.

Sophia caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye—it was Frey.

She flew at the forefront, her body wreathed in golden-red flames, hovering in mid-air like a small sun. Her hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals, and a huge golden magic circle unfolded before her. The circle's patterns were dense and complex, radiating intense heat.

Several figures flew up to her left and right, including warriors in heavy silver armor, priests in white robes, and one or two mages in dark robes.

More than a dozen Saint Realm experts acted simultaneously, erecting a huge light barrier in front of the dark energy.

The light barrier was created by layering several types of magic together. The outermost layer was a golden holy light barrier, the middle layer was a silver-white battle aura barrier, and the innermost layer was a semi-transparent spatial sealing array.

The moment the dark energy collided with the light barrier, it produced a deafening roar.

The golden light curtain trembled violently, and countless cracks appeared on its surface, making it look as if it would shatter at any moment, but it ultimately held on.

Frey's hands continued to unleash magic, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. She could clearly feel how powerful the force opposite her was.

That was no ordinary power, but the will and energy directly poured in by a demon god. Even through a spatial rift, it had already exceeded the limits that a human powerhouse could withstand.

"It won't last long."

She said it in a low voice.

Several Saint Realm experts nearby also sensed that the cracks on the surface of the light barrier were increasing, and the impact of the dark energy was gradually becoming stronger.

Frey turned around and roared down at the plain below.

"Retreat quickly, everyone back inside the pass."

Her voice pierced the entire battlefield, reaching the ears of everyone who was retreating.

Sophia and Leila had already rushed to the city gate of Zhenmo Pass.

The iron gate was slowly descending, the heavy metal chains creaking and groaning.

Laila grabbed Sophia and darted through the descending iron gate.

Sophia glanced back.

Behind her, the retreating soldiers and adventurers surged into the city gates like a tide. Some fell and were helped up by those behind them, while others glanced back at the churning darkness behind them, their faces filled with expressions of relief at having escaped death.

On the city wall, the dozen or so Saint Realm experts were still holding up the light barrier.

Sophia noticed that the edges of the golden light curtain were darkening at a visible speed, the cracks in some places had widened, and fine black mist was seeping out from it.

After the black mist fell to the ground, it wriggled like a living thing and chased after the figure still running outside the city.

Sophia also saw that the black crack hanging high in the sky was still open.

Those enormous eyes were still staring at the land, devoid of any emotion, simply watching, as if waiting for something, or perhaps confirming something.

Just then, a muffled "bang" exploded overhead.

The iron gate was finally completely closed, and the sound of metal hitting the ground echoed in the doorway, completely separating the outside world from the Demon-Suppressing Pass.

Sofia leaned against the city gate wall, her chest heaving, her breathing much more rapid than usual.

She raised her head and looked out through the observation port above the city gate. The darkness outside had not completely receded, but the Saint Realm experts were still holding on, and not one of them retreated.

Above the Demon-Suppressing Pass, light and darkness are silently confronting each other.

Chapter 132 Pass Breakthrough

The golden light curtain on the city wall has been mostly shattered.

Cracks spread across the surface of the Holy Light Barrier like a spider web, with dark purple power seeping from every crevice.

The cracks continued to expand, not quickly, but steadily, becoming deeper and wider with each breath than the previous one.

Frey stood in mid-air, maintaining the output of magic with both hands. Golden and red flames leaped and burned around her, but the light was no longer as bright as it had been at the beginning.

She could feel the pressure from her palms gradually increasing; the layer of darkness was like an invisible mountain, slowly and steadily pressing down on her.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"I can't hold on any longer."

The president's voice came from the side.

His voice was hoarse and low, carrying a hint of suppressed fatigue.

His hands were still pressed against the back of the light screen, and silvery-white battle qi was continuously flowing into it, but even so, his arms had begun to tremble slightly.

Frey paused for a moment, then nodded.

"We have to give up on Zhenmo Pass."

The president did not question this assessment.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and roared down the city wall behind him.

"Pass down the order: everyone must retreat immediately and leave Zhenmo Pass within half an hour."

His voice, amplified by magic, resounded throughout the city, echoing in the streets and alleys.

The evacuation within the city was already underway, but the pace accelerated significantly after receiving this order.

Soldiers carried the wounded towards the teleportation array, while adventurers rushed out with whatever equipment they could carry. The teleportation array's light flashed almost constantly.

Sophia stood on the steps inside the city wall, looking down at the chaotic but orderly crowd below. She then turned and ran down the city wall.

She has to go find Leila.

The retreating forces within the city were converging towards the teleportation array in the west, but she knew Lyra wouldn't be the first to leave. The Dawn Knights were still organizing their evacuation, and Lyra, as the vice-commander, would certainly be among the last to depart.

Sure enough, Sofia crossed two streets and spotted Laila in an open area near the city gate.

Lyra stood at the front of the line, her greatsword sheathed, and was speaking loudly to several officers, arranging the evacuation order for the last group of people.

The silver-background, gold-embroidered banner of the Knights of Dawn was still planted on the ground behind her, its fluttering in the wind.

Sophia walked over quickly.

"Sister Leila."

Leila turned her head, and after seeing her, she was taken aback for a moment, then frowned.

"Let's go, you're not a formal member of the Dawn Knights, go first."

"What's the rush?"

Sophia walked over and stood beside her, her gaze sweeping over the line of people still passing through the city gate.

"I'll go with you."

Leila opened her mouth as if to say something, but seeing Sophia's unwavering blue eyes, she swallowed her words.

"alright."

She turned around and called out to those behind her.

"Last team, get ready to go. Hurry up, don't dawdle."

The Dawn Knights' ranks quickened their pace, the sound of hooves and footsteps echoing loudly on the stone pavement.

Sofia stood beside Leila, watching the young faces run past her one after another.

Some had wounds on their faces, and some had dried bloodstains on their armor, but no one's eyes showed fear.

This is the Knights of Dawn, the team she personally led back then.

Decades have passed, and people have come and gone, but that spirit remains.

After the last knight passed through the city gate, Lyra finally turned around and walked towards the gate.