Chapter 463: Chapter 464: The King’s Responsibility
On the other side.
Above the defensive line of Angel City, the golden Barrier was already covered with hundreds of cracks.
Every time Demonic Qi crashed against the Barrier, the cracks widened a little.
The Angel Warriors standing on the city wall clenched their weapons so tightly their knuckles turned white, and their wings trembled slightly.
It wasn’t fear, but exhaustion from continuous battle.
This time, the Demon Clan’s assault was relentless, without sleep or rest, giving them not a single chance to catch their breath.
By now, they had been fighting for a full day and night!
Laney stood at the highest point of the main city wall, both hands pressed against the cold white stone railing.
The cold wind lifted the golden hair at her temples, revealing a slightly pale profile.
She could hear the suppressed breathing of the Angel Warriors behind her, could feel the gazes of the millions of citizens in the entire Holy City focused upon her.
"Your Majesty."
An Angel of Totem Eighth Tier stepped two paces toward Laney.
The Angel’s face was full of weariness.
This battle was not only a tremendous trial for the warriors at the bottom; for them, the upper-tier Angels, the pressure was even more crushing.
"Your Majesty, the Barrier can hold for at most another five hours! I suggest... we activate the final contingency plan."
The so‑called final contingency plan was the most brutal plan passed down through the generations of the Angel Race.
Abandon all outer-city defensive works and pull all Power back into the core sector of the inner city.
Relying on the last Barrier left by the Holy City, they would make a final stand.
This meant giving up more than two-thirds of the urban area, abandoning the civilians who could not retreat in time, abandoning everything.
Laney’s nails dug deep into her palms.
Abandoning the Lives of part of the populace was something absolutely unacceptable to her.
Thus, in her plans, this option had never existed.
Either everyone lived together, or else...
They died together!
Then she turned her head, looking toward the sky in the southeast.
"How is Lord Kieran Sinclair’s side...?"
Over there, the storm of gold and black Energy already shrouded half the sky.
Even at such a distance, one could still feel the spatial tremors caused by the clashes between those few combatants.
"Lord Kieran Sinclair is fighting one against three, holding off the three Totem Ninth Tier powerhouses of the Demon Clan."
"But judging from the fluctuations we can sense, Lord Kieran Sinclair’s current situation is extremely grim."
"And the situation of the other four Great Angels... is about the same as Lord Kieran Sinclair’s!"
Hearing this, Laney closed her eyes, a trace of fatigue in her expression.
Up to this moment, there had not been a single good piece of news.
The situation on the battlefield was growing ever more desperate.
If things went on like this—
It wouldn’t be long before the entire Angel World fell.
Only, at this moment, the reporting Angel spoke again:
"Your Majesty!"
"There is another piece of bad news!"
At these words, Laney’s eyes snapped open:
"Speak!"
"The scouts have brought back word that the Demon Clan seems to be trying to open another Void Passage... not far outside the Holy City."
The area fell instantly silent, as if dead.
The Void Passage.
Everyone present knew exactly what that meant.
One Void Passage meant one Totem Ninth Tier powerhouse.
Right now, with only five Totem Ninth Tier Demon Clan present, the Angel Race was already struggling to cope.
If another one appeared...
Laney forced down the turmoil in her heart and managed to ask in a steady voice:
"How long until that Passage is fully constructed?"
"At the fastest... forty minutes."
This Angel lowered his head.
"Our assault squad attempted to sabotage it, but... they were annihilated to the last."
Another calamity.
A familiar wrenching pain lanced through Laney’s heart.
She forced herself to take a deep breath, her mind racing as she calculated every possibility.
That Void Passage must be destroyed.
With five Totem Ninth Tier Demon Clan, the Angel Race was already at the limit of what they could handle; if another appeared...
Laney’s eyes grew firm; she had made her decision.
"Summon all warriors with four wings and above who can still fight."
Laney turned, her back straight, resolve etched into her figure:
"Form a death squad. I will personally lead it."
"Your Majesty, you must not!"
The Angels present spoke out almost in unison.
"I am the Monarch of the Angel Race."
Laney cut them off. Her voice was not loud, yet it allowed no argument:
"If even I hide in a safe place, on what grounds can I demand that my warriors go to their deaths?"
"Your Majesty!"
The Totem Eighth Tier Angel’s voice trembled slightly with urgency.
He stepped forward two paces, his pale face full of pleading:
"Please reconsider! You are the symbol and hope of the Angel Race as it stands today. If you personally risk yourself, should anything happen... the morale of the Holy City will collapse completely!"
Laney did not look back. She only spoke softly:
"You’re right, I am a symbol. But a symbol should not exist only to be revered from afar."
She slowly turned around, facing the officers on the wall, and as if also facing the countless eyes within the Holy City that were fixed on her.
"A symbol should be the first to stand up in the darkest hour."
"But Your Majesty!"
A wounded Six-winged War Angels could not help but speak:
"That Passage will definitely be heavily guarded! The scouting squad has already been wiped out. If we go again, we will only be..."
"Only be going to our deaths?"
Laney finished for him, her tone unnervingly calm.
"I know. Everyone here knows."
"But some things, even knowing they mean death, must still be done."
Laney looked toward the distant point where Demonic Qi was already faintly gathering.
"Once that thing is completed, it will be far more than just one more enemy to face."
"It will become a springboard for the Demon Clan to pour in endless reinforcements; it will become the final straw that breaks our defensive line."
"At that time, what we lose will not merely be the Lives of a few brave warriors, but the entire Holy City, and with it the last hope of the Angel World."
She paused, making every word ring crystal clear:
"So this is not going to our deaths. This is using our limited strength to fight for a sliver of survival for more people."
Everyone understood the logic, yet letting their Monarch walk into danger still made the hearts of all the High-tier Angels twist with pain.
During this period, through her outstanding performance,
Laney had already become the universally acknowledged Monarch in the hearts of all Angels!
To watch their own Monarch march to her death with open eyes...
"Then... please allow me to go in Your Majesty’s stead!"
An Angel knelt on one knee. "I am willing to swear a blood oath: if I do not destroy that Passage, I will not return alive!"
"Me as well!"
"I’ll go too!"
Several high-ranking officers dropped to their knees to request the mission.
Laney looked at them, a trace of emotion flashing in her eyes.
But she shook her head.
"Each of you has more important duties."
"You must remain on the walls to coordinate the overall defense. While I am gone, you must act as Guardian to our people."
"Every one of you has your own responsibilities, so this task can only be carried out by me!"
"What’s more, as the Monarch of the Angel Race, I can mobilize a small portion of the world’s Power; only I can truly erase that Void Passage!"
"Therefore, this matter is decided. There is no need for further discussion!"
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