Chapter 814- Night Of The Raid (6)
"Really, Your Grace it's a pity that you are in the enemy faction. Having you by my side would really alleviate some of my burdens. Won't you reconsider joining my side" Cynthia offered. Nonetheless, the duke only remained silent.
"It's a pity. Anyways, don't say that I am cheating your grace. This is a war, to win one is allowed to use all kinds of means. Besides, I'm not obligated to answer to your question".
Duke Montford snorted "So be it then. I don't know who is supporting you, but you won't be able to take down my Castledor city".
Saying that, he got ready for battle. Ground around him bent, jutting out an earth spear which he held in his hand.
"Hmph, using my own air engine against me huh. However, a target like that flying so low is just asking to be attacked".
SWISH… right after his words fell, he hurled the spear towards the Air engine with all of his strength.
"[Sacred Echoes]" a purple light broke through the air colliding with the spear just before it could hit the air engine.
"Hmm? Now that's surprising. I see Your Highness has prepared quite a lot of cards to fight me" Duke Monford looked at Cynthia's purple white persona and commented.
At this moment, the princess was covered in a purple white markings that raced through her body from head to toe. These markings looked exotic as well as ancient and graceful at the same time.
These markings glowed with an ethereal light, giving Cynthia an otherworldly look. It was not only her appearance that has changed, even her eyes and her way of talking were completely different than before.
"Be serious Duke, I know you are much more powerful than this".
"Haha, I'm just an old man who is getting left behind by the times now. Although, I may not be as powerful as I was in my prime, I will still keep Your Highness company"
Giving a rare grin, Duke Montford activated his skills. [Ultra Enhanced strength], [Ultra enhanced Agility], [Super enhanced defence], [ Super Enhanced endurance], [Agile reflexes], [Body Reinforcement], [Keen Senses], [Precision Strike], [Battle Aura], [Intimidating Aura], [Tempest Surge], [Mana Armour… [Visage-Zephyrus Armour].
The long list of rare and superior skills, was enough to even intimidate some of the most powerful adventurers here. Yet the most dreadful aspect of Duke Montford was not his drastically increased aura or his stats but the complete transformation that he had undergone.
At this moment, he was encased in an emerald green armour, a seamless ensemble of gentle and berserk winds swirling and pulsating together. The armour looked sleek, hugging the body and giving an elegant look to the user.
Delicate patterns resembling Zephyrus ripple across the surface, emphasizing the fluidity and grace associated with the winds. Donned in the Zephyrus armour, Duke Montford seemed like the manifestation of berserk wind.
"How long has it been since I activated this skill? Your Highness, please be careful. This is the technique that was passed down to our family for three generations".
Saying so, Duke Montford stepped forward and disappeared. At the same moment, leading the group of adventurers and mowing the enemy was Balke and his team. They managed to break through the enemy defences and reach the gates of the castle.
"Will Her Highness be alright?" Frida who was beside him, asked. Her attention was towards the sky where an epic showdown between the leaders of the two sides was going on.
On one side was a violet and white light streaking across the sky while on the other an emerald green glow which released a piercing cry like that of a hawk every time it moved.
Their clash created ripples in the air, disrupting the mana and topography of the city completely. One side used advanced and intermediate magic of all five basic attributes of mana while one simply focused on earth magic and the physical skills of a warrior.
Large earth mounds which had either been destroyed into tiny debris or blasted apart by wind or other magic, fell down from the sky like meteors. The scale of their fight was so fierce that no one could intervene carelessly.
Blake observed the emerald green light in the sky and muttered "I didn't expect the Duke to be so strong. In terms of pure skill attainment he could even be a match for the strongest man in the kingdom".
He then shifted his eyes towards the violet and white light in the air and smiled "That said, the princess is not weaker either. Since she told us to leave it to her, we should believe. She will definitely win which is why, we should complete our task too. Let's go in and find that stupid prince. Miss Emma, please lead the way".
Leading the way, was one of the women who always stuck close to the princess. Since Annette stayed back to look after Cynthia, Emma was the one tasked to lead them. For some reason she had all the information about the first prince, what was he planning, where was he hiding and how many people he had on his side.
Although they all had their doubts, they nevertheless knew not to ask. The woman in front of them although looked human, did not give the aura of such. More precisely, the feeling they were getting from her every time that she glanced at them, was like a predator looking at its prey.
This feeling was extremely uncomfortable, leaving them confused many times. Who was this woman and how did she know her highness?
"We are here. There are about two hundred enemies up front and about half that number behind, trying to ambush".
While they were having such thoughts, Emma led them through the castle and in front of a large hall. Just as she had stated, there were exactly two hundred enemies in the front waiting for them while forming a defensive formation while a hundred soldiers circled them and came from behind.
"Stop, this is as far as you go intruders. We won't allow you to destroy the kingdom of Ellesmere" The soldier who seemed to be the captain of this unit, unsheathed his sword and declared.
Even though his feet were trembling and sweat trickled down his face, he still mustered his courage to confront the enemies. It was funny how even though they were both fighting for the kingdom of Ellesmere, they were enemies opposing each other.
Tsk… Blake clicked his tongue, he did not enjoy such a slaughter. However, he who had dedicated himself to the cause of the princess, had no choice but to follow it through.
With every swing of the sword, blood of many would fall, staining the otherwise pristine white floor, red. Steeling himself, he continued to proceed forward until all that remained was a mountain of corpses.
CLACK… suddenly, Blake's leg stumbled onto something and he was about to fall down when Frida hurriedly caught him.
"What's wrong Blake? Why are you walking around in a daze?".
The man looked down and noticed that the thing that he stumbled upon was the decapitated head of the soldier captain. Looking at his cold and dim face now, Blake remembered the words he had spoken to him before his death.
"You monsters!! How can you still call yourselves humans after you commit such slaughter? Even if you kill all of us, the kingdom will never fall in your hands".
To them, he and the others must have undoubtedly seemed like a villain. People who were trying to disturb their kingdom. The sword in his hand was stained with the blood of the soldiers of this land who bravely threw themselves towards him in hopes that their sacrifice would be able to help the kingdom.
For the first time in a long while, Blake felt that his sword was heavy and very difficult to lift.
"Don't think too much about it, we are doing everything for a greater purpose. If even that is not enough to lighten that burden you are carrying, know that no matter what you become or think of yourself, I will always love you"
Suddenly two gentle arms wrapped around him and Frida's comforting sounded beside his ears. Feeling her warmth, Blake felt energy return back to his body and his guilt ridden conscience was back to normal.
There can be no revolution without shedding blood, if his resolve was so fragile, he should have just sat back. However, he came here and followed her highness of his own volition, to return the huge favour he owed her.
This raid was no doubt the most difficult for the princess and the blood that flowed no matter which side, was of her own people. Nonetheless, her resolve was not something that could be shaken easily.
She was still fighting now at this moment, to reduce as many casualties in this battle as possible. So why was he standing here whining like a fool?
"I'm alright now. Everyone let's go" Blake nodded towards his teammates. As the leader, his attitude and mood also affected the team. As such, now that he was back to his usual self, the team's atmosphere also lifted up.
"U-Um… There is an underground route straight from here. T-The first prince is at the end, hiding inside the emergency shelter" Emma informed, leading them forward.
"Hello~" At the end of the underground route, in front of the huge reinforced door of the emergency shelter, were two children, one of whom was waving his hand towards them.
Blake, Wyot, Frida and the others instantly recognised them as the two children who were always surrounded by that peculiar demi human group. They wondered where they were all this time, now they knew.
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