Chapter 539 : Invasion
When Charlotte woke up again, it was already two days later.
Granting a hundred portions of bloodline power in one go had taken a toll on her, even though she was a Demigod. It took her two days and nights of sleep to recover.
After washing up, having breakfast, and handling two days’ worth of accumulated official duties in place of “Lilith”, Charlotte went to the city’s training ground.
On the training ground, bloodborne warriors in various outfits were exercising.
Upon seeing Charlotte, they stopped their actions and excitedly stood at attention, saluting.
“Lady Lilith!”
“Good morning, Lady Lilith!”
Charlotte nodded in acknowledgment. As she scanned these bloodborne warriors, who had awakened before her, she nodded inwardly.
Bloodline power was indeed an unparalleled source of strength for the bloodborne.
After receiving her bloodline bestowal and sleeping for a day or two, these bloodborne warriors had almost all reached the level of the Blazing Sun.
Even those who hadn’t reached this level were at the peak of the Silver Moon, just a step away from breaking through. With some battles, they would naturally overcome that barrier.
This was also because, while granting bloodline power, Charlotte had activated the inherent ability of the Gospel of Blood, [Bloodline Gift].
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Correspondingly, the consumption of blood divine power was quite substantial.
“Consider it an investment for the upcoming war against the Old Gods and for establishing good relations with the future bloodborne leaders.”
Charlotte thought to herself.
A hundred extraordinary beings, each given enough time to at least reach the Blazing Sun…
In the future era, this force would be enough to shake any power.
Even the Crescent Kingdom, one of the strongest nations on the continent, didn’t have as many Blazing Sun-tier experts directly at its disposal.
However, in the era Charlotte had traveled to, while this force was strong, it was not overwhelming.
This was, after all, the Mythic Era.
The concentration of magic and the activity of elements in the world far exceeded the future, with a significantly higher number of extraordinary beings and Gods.
Overall, Charlotte’s enhancement of the Free City-States Alliance’s extraordinary combat power only made it possible for the city-states to launch a counterattack.
And that was enough.
“Savior, there you are!”
A familiar voice caught Charlotte’s attention.
She looked over to see Bardock, the Commander of the Third Legion, running towards her in a hurry.
Behind him was a dusty bloodborne warrior, at the Silver Moon level, looking anxious.
Charlotte’s heart tightened as she looked at the panting bloodborne warrior.
“What happened?”
“Lady Lilith, the Evil God Cult’s army launched an attack on our border fortress a day ago. They have surrounded the fortress. Lord Harald is leading the defense, but the situation is critical and urgently needs the alliance army’s support!”
The bloodborne warrior reported.
“How many enemy troops?”
Charlotte asked.
“At least ten thousand, with more than three thousand extraordinary beings! The army is led by the divine followers of the God of Secret Contracts and the God of War! They have summoned divine incarnations, destroying several of our elven magic towers under construction and plundering, slaughtering, and sacrificing several of our villages!”
The bloodborne warrior said angrily.
Charlotte frowned slightly and looked at Bardock.
“What happened? Didn’t we report a few days ago that they didn’t have the strength to attack us?”
“The news of your bloodline bestowal must have leaked. It’s said that the Old God’s cult used divine power to forcibly enhance a large number of extraordinary followers, intending to invade while you are weak!”
Bardock said in a deep voice.
Invade while I am weak?
Charlotte’s expression was peculiar.
Oh.
Granting a hundred portions of bloodline power was indeed exhausting, and she had slept for two days straight, but to say she was “weak” was far from the truth.
This thought only flashed briefly.
Charlotte quickly understood why the Old God’s cult would think she was “weak.”
If Lilith had personally conducted this bloodline bestowal, it would have been much more draining than for Charlotte.
Based on the mirror memories Charlotte had reviewed, Lilith had just become a Demigod at this time. Despite having slain the God of Abomination and Deformity and even taken some of his power, she was also significantly injured.
In the information Charlotte had previously obtained, Lilith had decided to conduct this “bodyguard selection” because of her limited power.
Lilith’s bloodline came from Charlotte. Although she had become a Demigod, without the “Gospel of Blood”, she hadn’t transformed into a “True Ancestor” bloodborne like Charlotte. At best, she was equivalent to a Blood Duke.
In this context, to achieve the same effect in bestowing bloodline power, Lilith would have had to give much more than Charlotte.
Bestowing bloodline power to a hundred bloodborne warriors would have left Lilith utterly exhausted, not just refreshed after a single sleep like Charlotte.
“Savior, the situation has changed. Since the enemy used divine power to enhance their extraordinary followers, our counterattack plan may need to be postponed!”
“Not only that, but we also don’t have time for everyone to get accustomed to their new powers. It’s said that this time the Old Gods’ ‘sacrifice army’ includes over two thousand of their most fanatical followers! If we don’t stop them in time, the villages and towns in the northern region will suffer devastating blows!”
“We don’t have time to gather the army, and the elven teleportation arrays can’t support large-scale transport. To stop them, we must send the newly awakened warriors to the battlefield as soon as possible!”
Bardock said through gritted teeth.
The so-called extraordinary believers enhanced by divine power are essentially “divine warriors” forcibly elevated with divine power.
Charlotte was not unfamiliar with this. She had encountered such warriors in the army of the God of Abomination and Deformity during her second time travel.
This method was somewhat similar to Charlotte’s bloodline bestowal but fundamentally different.
Charlotte’s bloodline bestowal enhanced the target’s bloodline potential from its source, thereby strengthening their extraordinary powers. In contrast, the Old Gods’ method crudely infused diluted divine power into the followers.
This method could indeed transform followers into extraordinary beings in the short term, granting them great power. However, it essentially treated the followers as “war consumables.”
Divine power was not something unmodified mortals could endure. Even diluted divine power was “poison” to them.
Extraordinary beings enhanced by injected divine power would find their lives on a countdown from the moment their strength surged, like fireworks being ignited.
For this reason, the Free City-States Alliance referred to these sacrificial god followers as the “Sacrifice Army.”
Of course, the Old Gods, who saw these followers as expendables, didn’t care about this. As long as they could achieve victory before the fireworks faded, it was all worth it.
This is why Bardock said the counterattack plan needed to be delayed.
Facing these fanatical “believers” whose lives were on a countdown, a reckless attack would cause significant casualties. The correct approach was to defend with all their might and wait for the enemy to “die.”
After some thought, Charlotte ordered.
“Notify everyone, all warriors who have undergone the second awakening, gather and follow me for support.”
“You? You’re going too? Absolutely not!”
Bardock’s face changed as he tried to dissuade her.
“Oh? And why not?”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
Bardock explained.
“You are a Demigod, the cornerstone of the City-State Alliance. Ever since you slew Alador, various factions have been watching you closely!”
“The situation in the northern frontier is different now. Every faction is backed by mythical power. This sudden, fierce assault by the Old Gods’ cult is clearly targeting you!”
“There’s word that the cult of the God of Secret Contracts is in close contact with several Old Gods and may have already formed an alliance. You just bestowed bloodline power, and your injuries from the battle with Alador haven’t healed. If you go to the front lines now, you’ll be in great danger!”
After listening to Bardock, Charlotte shook her head.
“If the Old Gods have indeed joined forces, I must intervene. Or do you think we can win the war with just the army and usual extraordinary beings?”
She then smiled and added.
“Besides… who told you that I am in a weakened state now?”
With that, a crimson glow erupted from Charlotte.
An ancient and vast aura rose from her, and a bloodline aura that inspired both affection and awe spread among the bloodbornes.
As they watched Charlotte, her silver hair fluttering and her overwhelming divine power and strength evident, Bardock felt his soul tremble.
His eyes widened, and he became excited.
“Could it be, your power… your power…”
“Notify everyone, all warriors who have undergone the second awakening, gather quickly. The battlefield… is also the fastest place for them to adapt to their bloodline power.”
Charlotte commanded.
“Yes… understood.”
Bardock bowed respectfully.
“Additionally…”
Charlotte continued.
“The expedition plan remains unchanged. The army will continue to assemble.”
“The expedition plan remains unchanged?”
Bardock was puzzled.
But seeing Charlotte’s calm and serious expression, he eventually nodded and said,
“As you command.”
…
Free City-State Alliance, Northern Frontier, Blackwater Village.
Thick smoke obscured the sky, and the low-lying village had already fallen into a sea of flames.
Seven or eight children huddled together, their faces filled with fear as they watched the approaching Evil God Cultists, trembling.
In front of the children, a blood-soaked young girl stood with a steel sword, confronting the Evil God Cultists who were gradually surrounding her.
She looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, with fiery red hair. Her skirt armor was stained with blood, but her crimson eyes were full of determination.
Before her lay seven or eight fallen cultists, and the surrounding cultists hesitated to continue fighting her.
Until the cultist army parted, and a priest of the Old God in a high priest’s robe stepped forward.
“They say the awakened bloodborne warriors of the Free City-State Alliance are all formidable. It seems that is indeed the case.”
“Stranger, you are a true warrior. I am Dawn, a priest of the God of Secret Contracts. May I know your name?”
“Rowena.”
The red-haired girl took a deep breath and raised her sword again.
“You can call me… Rowena.”