Chapter 121: Flame Part 1: Trap [VIP]
"so……"
So when you suddenly told me that you had decided to switch sides with me because of Lias's death, I immediately realized you were lying! Lias was important to you, but his weight wasn't significant enough to cause someone as determined as you to change their beliefs because of his death.
"I didn't betray my beliefs. They betrayed their promises and their dreams."
Ulysses raised his head and uttered a bitter, tearing cry like a wild beast about to be killed.
"I've always been in pain. To achieve his goals, His Highness Yaris often assigns me to do things that go against my moral code. He always tells me that these dead are necessary sacrifices on the road to ultimate success. I completely disagree with this, but... but... in fact, I have thought more than once about killing him, killing this demon with a beautiful appearance but a dark heart, who enjoys toying with others' feelings... especially last night... when I saw Yaris's body..."
Are you in pain?
"Yes, I am in pain."
Ulysses choked up and said, "I've done many shameful things for His Highness. I know how terrible his character is. He tries his best to appear noble, elegant, generous, and tolerant, but deep down he's always... The fact that he was abandoned by his parents at birth has left a scar in his heart that will never heal. Master Lucien's running away from home is even more... Even though he's now returned to His Highness, His Highness still..."
"He's teased me more than once about Lias's stupidity and obesity. He's very jealous of Lias and my relationship. He...he...I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it..."
Cold sweat continued to break out on Ulysses' forehead, and he felt like vomiting in his throat.
"...Lias is a simple, almost foolish man. He just wants to live a peaceful life with his family. He has nothing to do with anything that's happening right now. Yet, His Highness... simply because he's been jealous of the healthy brotherly relationship Lias and I share for years... Lord Lucien has always indulged him without a trace..."
"What they did has completely betrayed their dreams! I can't... This time, I really can't continue to forgive His Highness Yaris! Although I once... I can't let him do whatever he wants anymore... It may sound a little scary, but for someone like Yaris, perhaps death is the true mercy..."
An even stronger coldness pierced Ulysses' brain, bringing him more painful torture than the flying blood and flesh.
[I am searching your brain with mystical means. If you deceive me, your brain will explode!]
"I know... I knew it from the beginning... I know you're using demonic means to interrogate me. I know that if I say anything that doesn't align with my thoughts, I'll... I'll..."
Ulysses replied breathlessly.
[Are you really completely disappointed with Yaris now? ]
"Yes, I feel despair... Archduchess Anna is right. He is not a human child. He possesses a heart more ruthless than a demon... And yet, he is extremely skilled at disguising himself and deceiving others into love and sympathy... At the very least, Monsieur Lucien has been completely captivated by him... Given His Highness Jaris's cruelty and Monsieur Lucien's indulgence of him, if they were to gain supreme power, the world would likely fall into an even darker abyss..."
Ulysses was gasping for breath. The intense physical and mental torture had almost pushed him, who was usually good at enduring pain, to the limit of his ability to bear it.
"Your Majesty, I did lie to you. I had no intention of offering my loyalty to you. I simply hoped to protect as many civilians as possible by relying on you... For me, who has already fallen into despair, neither Edmund, who is being manipulated by Your Majesty, nor Lord Lucien, who is obsessed with His Highness Jarris... are of any use... I want to protect the people... I just want to prevent more people from losing their lives and stable lives because of this war..."
The cell fell silent.
Blood from the intense demonic interrogation continued to drip from his nose, lips, and chin.
Ulysses closed his eyes and tried to concentrate.
(You must never lose your mind... and you must never let your body escape the control of your mind...)
(As long as my mind is clear... as long as I haven't lost my mind... I won't become a puppet controlled by others at will... I...)
(This kind of pain, this kind of torture… If I can’t even bear this, how can I protect my beloved country… I, I must…)
[——Ulysses, I agree to your request and allow you to stay by my side as Prime Minister, but you won't completely obey my orders. You will handle my daily affairs with the people.]
With a burst of light laughter, the weight on Ulysses disappeared and the chains broke.
“Thank you, thank you…”
He collapsed to the floor, barely breathing.
, picked him up and took him out of the dungeon.
…
…
It has been one day and two nights since the Sacred Square Massacre.
The residents of the Lower Town gradually dissipated over time.
At daybreak, they, determined to resist with arms, headed for the Ebola Bridge under the leadership of the Citizens Volunteer Group. The Ebola Bridge, jointly controlled by the Citizens Volunteer Group, entered the upper city to support the so-called rebels.
The sun gradually rose, but the winter mist never dissipated. The air was filled with an unsettling smell, which seemed heavy and depressing.
(What happens next?)
On one side of the Ebola Bridge, Royce, the tribune of the Knights Protector who was in charge of guarding the bridge, subconsciously glanced at Joanna beside him. This female leader of the citizen volunteer group had bright eyes and a strong, nearly square chin. She wore a shirt and trousers that were easy to move in. She held a sword in her hand and a dagger on her waist. Although she was petite, she was full of power.
"—Nervous?"
Royce asked involuntarily.
Joanna looked up and said to Royce, who was a head taller than her, "I was so nervous last night that I couldn't close my eyes. But now—I only have one thought left in my mind."
"What idea?"
"Move forward at all costs and smile in the face of death."
"You've already..."
"You haven't made a decision yet?"
"No, I just didn't expect you to have such awareness. I always thought..."
"Do you think women only hide behind men for protection?"
Joanna's tone was stern: "If the country falls into the hands of the devil, women will suffer even more terrible misfortunes than men! Therefore - even if it is just to live with dignity, we must join the battle!"
"Yes, you said—"
"—Ah! That! What is that!?"
A panicked voice interrupted Royce and Joanna's discussion.
They looked in the direction of the sound and saw an ominous silver light flashing in the depths of the mist!
"The army is coming! It's the army!"
Someone in the crowd let out a trembling cry.
"Don't panic! Look carefully at the flag! Which team is it?"
Royce shouted.
"Yes, yes, it's a purple flag! It's embroidered with... embroidered with the emblem of the Yula Dynasty! It's the Emperor's Royal Guard!"
The crowd was shocked to hear this answer.
Especially the group of civilians from the lower city who were crossing the bridge - most of them had no military training and decided to join the battle based on their inner anger.
(The Emperor is going to suppress us! The Emperor really wants to—)
"—Ahh! We're doomed! We're going to die! All of us!"
In panic, someone screamed.
The already terrified crowd was suddenly plunged into a vortex of chaos!
"Help me! I don't want to die!"
"Hurry! Go back! I want to go back!"
"God! Save us!"
…
The bewildered people screamed and tried to run back to the downtown area. The noisy and disorderly chaos caused the crowd to get out of control and a large-scale stampede was imminent.
"Calm down! Everyone calm down!"
Royce yelled.
However, the crowd was in a state of panic at this time. Even if some people were willing to listen to Royce's words and remain calm, they would still...
"I'll do it!"
Joanna raised her magic loudspeaker and roared at the panicked crowd, "You bunch of losers! Do you think you can avoid being killed if you just return to downtown and stay home? Idiots! Losers!"
“…”
The noisy crowd suddenly quieted down.
"—You're already so frightened before you even see the enemy! Pushing and trampling on each other! To deal with you bunch of cowards, our enemies don't even need to brandish weapons. They just need to strut in front of you in a row, and you'll scare yourselves to death! Trampling yourself to death! Squeezing yourself to death!"
"Go back! Useless things! Master Lucien and Master Yaris don't need trash like you!"
"...We...We are not useless!"
People angered by Joanna's words retaliated angrily.
Joanna sneered, pointing at the increasingly clear purple flag that was gradually emerging from the mist.
"If you are not cowards, stop running immediately! Remember! Once you give up resistance, everyone will die! Our enemies will use spears to drive you to the empty central square as if they were hunting. First they will shoot arrows, then they will use machetes! Finally, they will pile your bodies high and roast them over the fire! And eat them! Because they are monsters, monsters that feed on us!"
“…”
The horrific future that Joanna described with her words stimulated everyone present. People stopped screaming and ran away, and the panicked crowd regained order.
At this time, the Knights Protector blew the horn.
Woo woo woo——
The long trumpet sounds mixed with the sound of infantry boots and cavalry hooves, creating a powerful momentum.
At this moment, people finally plucked up the courage.
They may be weak, but they are definitely not lambs to be slaughtered!
The Knights Protector, whose highest belief is protecting the people, are with them!
With them stands the Citizen Volunteer Corps, who have secretly undergone rigorous training to save their country!
Justice and the motherland are with them!
…
…
"Report! Our men are now engaged in battle near the Ebola Bridge with the Royal Guards and the lizard-like monsters that caused the Sacred Square massacre!"
A member of the citizen volunteer group, with a red cloth tied around his arm and a bandage wrapped around his left shoulder, walked into the room and described his horrific experience on the Ebola Bridge to the crowd who had just finished their discussion in a hoarse, almost dry voice.
"...Those things weren't human at all! They were three meters tall, with monster heads, armored, and beneath that, a layer of green, scaly skin! My companions and I fought hard, and many died before we managed to break through... They, they..."
"What are the casualties?"
Xiao Yun asked directly.
"It's terrible... Everyone is desperate. But even though those monsters have the upper hand, they've stayed on the upper part of the Ebola Bridge. They haven't crossed the bridge, nor have they joined the Royal Guards in attacking the lower part of the city..."
At this point, the messenger took a breath and said, "It seems that they only want to prevent us from escaping, and they don't intend to kill us all."
"You are their livestock, and of course we can't kill all of them at once."
The "Dark Night Mentor" let out a sinister laugh.
"Shut up!"
Yaris glared at him coldly and continued to ask the messenger: "Are Royce and Joanna still alive?"
"Still alive."
The messenger excitedly said, "When the Royal Guards first appeared, many people at the scene panicked and wanted to flee. Thanks to Lady Joanna's words, the collapse was stopped, and Lord Royce's urgent reorganization of the army, we were able to avoid being overwhelmed by the Royal Guards right away..."
As he spoke, the messenger's voice gradually grew hoarse. "We are so useless! We said we would protect our homeland with our own hands, but... as soon as we got to the battlefield..."
"It's not your fault, you did your best."
"That--"
"We will fully support you."
Xiao Yun said without hesitation, turning to look at Yaris: "The lizard monsters are waiting on this side of the Ebola Bridge instead of attacking the lower city with the Royal Guards. It is obvious that their target is us."
"you mean--"
"As soon as we show up, they will hunt us down with all their might."
"Well, you're quite right."
Yaris nodded calmly and said to the messenger, "Not only will we send reinforcements immediately, we'll also go there with the reinforcements! Lucien and I will be responsible for luring the monsters away. Malus, you will seize the opportunity to retake control of the Ebola Bridge, defeat the Royal Guards that have invaded the lower city, lead the civilians of the lower city straight to the city gate, and leave the capital as soon as possible! To Denos!"
Upon hearing this, Malus clenched his fists in anger and said angrily: "Your Majesty Lucien! Your Highness Jarris! You are our most important banners! How can you take such a risk so easily!"
"It's a bit risky, but for the sake of the people—"
Yaris looked up, his eyes as bright as the night sky sternly looking at Malus and the others: "Act immediately!"
"But--"
Ansel yelled, "This is a trap! A trap to catch us all!"
"I know this is a trap for us, but the people in the downtown area gathered together because they trusted us. We are responsible for their lives."
Yaris said firmly, "Besides, the barrier surrounding the capital is almost complete. We must hurry and get everyone out."
"Your Highness—"
"Teacher Ansel is right. We need to rescue the civilians in the lower city, but we can't completely ignore our own safety in order to save others."
Xiao Yun suddenly spoke up, saying in a firm tone, "Brother, at least you must let us act separately to prevent the worst from happening."
"Worst case scenario?"
"The rescue of the Ebola Bridge failed, and the entire force was wiped out."
Xiao Yun said casually, "I hope that brother will stay in the Sin Tower with the golden gem and lead the troops stationed in the Sin Tower to Denos after dark. As long as brother arrives in Denos safely, even if the capital's troops are completely wiped out, we still have hope of turning the tables!"
"If we were to be intercepted by a large army of lizard monsters at night, my brother would use the golden gem to summon a black snake to fend them off, or he would give the gem to the person responsible for covering our retreat. Even though the black snake claimed to be my 'pet,' I still think it's safer to use the golden gem to command it."
Xiao Yun added.
"I'll listen to you."
Yaris nodded: "We will split up and meet up in Denos."
"Teacher Ansel, you take a thousand people and most of the magicians to stay and protect my brother."
Xiao Yun gave clear instructions: "Teacher Malus, lead the remaining people with me to the Ebola Bridge for rescue. Teacher Malus will be responsible for fighting the Royal Guards and leading the civilians out of the city. Leave the hateful lizard monsters to me and the Dark Night Mentor—"
"Why should I—"
The Dark Night Mentor grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Xiao Yun glanced at him and asked, "What do you think?"
“…”
The old wizard nodded reluctantly.
Yaris said to Romila, "Go immediately to the vicinity of the palace and find a way to enter the barrier and bring Ulysses out safely."
"no problem."
Romila nodded, and with a whoosh, she dived into the darkness and disappeared without a trace.
The others also acted quickly, either gathering their teams to provide support or packing their bags for a night march.
Xiao Yun also put on his armor and prepared to set off.
Before leaving, Yaris held his brother's hand and said firmly: "I will wait for you in Denos. You must come as soon as possible."
"I won't keep you waiting."
Xiao Yun lowered his head, kissed his cheek, and handed the golden gem to Yaris.
[Be careful of the "Dark Night Mentor", I always feel that he is not trustworthy. ]
"Like you, I find him untrustworthy, so I'm bringing him with me to Ebola Bridge to deal with the lizard monster. This way, he won't take advantage of your poor health and tendency to fall ill and cause trouble."
【I see. 】
Yaris looked up and gently touched his brother's earlobe with his lips: "Be careful."
"certainly."
"If something happens to you, I won't hesitate to use my last trump card."
Yaris said half-jokingly: "I don't have the ability to save the world, but I know how to destroy it, so——"
"So what?"
"Even if it costs the world, you must return to me safely."
"I definitely won't keep you waiting."
…
After a simple hug and farewell, Xiao Yun quickly walked out of the room, accompanied by the "Dark Night Mentor" with reluctance written all over his face, and headed to the vicinity of Ebola Bridge with Malus who had already gathered his troops.
Yaris sat alone at the windowsill, looking at the noisy and busy crowd below, his slender fingers tightly grasping the golden gem left by his brother.
"...If you interfere and prevent him from returning to me, I will make you pay a price you cannot afford."
…
…
"Fight! Don't be afraid! We will win!"
The deafening roar echoed repeatedly on one side of the Ebola Bridge.
The blood turned into a waterfall and flowed into the Ebola River below the bridge. On the river dyed red with blood, corpses and wounded who had unfortunately fallen into the water floated.
As the tribune, Royce fought desperately, shouting and giving orders, doing his best to lead the Knights of the Protection of the People and the Citizens' Volunteer Corps to fight against the elite troops that the empire was proud of, to ensure that the people could retreat back home safely.
——It’s not that the people were frightened by the butcher knives of the Royal Guards and lost the courage to resist, but because the other end of the bridge is now firmly occupied by monsters from another world.
The heads of these monsters were covered with spikes and scales like lizards. Each monster was more than three meters tall, and their armor was stained with the blood of the people. The spears in their hands were mostly hung with human heads or other similar chilling things.
They stood quietly at the other end of the bridge, watching the desperate fight taking place on this side of the bridge with emotionless golden eyes, and strictly prohibited anyone from the lower city from crossing the Ebola Bridge into the upper city.
"What should we do now? These monsters are guarding the Ebola Bridge and are clearly targeting the reinforcements of Lord Lucien and Lord Yaris!"
Joanna yelled at Royce while kicking away the soldiers.
"I have no idea!"
Royce wiped the blood and sweat off his face with his sleeve and shouted to Joanna, "I'm praying for reinforcements to arrive and rescue us immediately, but I'm also afraid that something even more tragic will happen if they do arrive!"
"No matter what—we must persevere! Persevere!"
"Yes!"
After a few brief exchanges, the two were separated by the chaotic crowd, and their shouts were quickly drowned out by the roars, screams, and wails of the melee.
However, no matter how brutal the battle was or how slim the hope of victory was, they and the people who responded to their call fought desperately and tried their best to fight against the devil!
Although many of them were seized by the fear of death and lost the courage to fight before the battle even began, most of the remaining people showed unimaginable bravery. In the face of the overwhelmingly powerful Royal Guards, their morale was high and they showed no fear.
"Listen! Those monsters only want to drive us into the lower city. Our only enemy for now is the Royal Guards!"
"We may not be able to defeat the monsters, but we can definitely defeat the enemy!"
"We will win! We will win!"
"Don't be afraid! Reinforcements will arrive soon! Lord Lucien will be here soon!"
Hearing the name "Lucien", the team, which had been exhausted from the battle, regained its strong fighting spirit.
“Fight! Fight!”
"We will definitely win!"
"Master Lucien will be here soon!"
"soon--"
With a yearning for justice and victory, people once again rushed towards hell without hesitation.
Sudden--
A long and loud horn sounded in the distance.
In an instant, everyone - whether it was the Knights Protector and the Citizens Volunteer Corps who were fighting desperately, or the Royal Guards who were slaughtering indiscriminately with their well-equipped equipment, or even the lizard monsters standing quietly at one end of the Ebola Bridge - all looked towards the source of the sound the moment they heard the horn.
They saw an army!
A sacred, majestic and inviolable army, holding high the banners of the twin gods and family tree that symbolize the Holy Family, appeared on the battlefield that has become a hell on earth!
At the front of the team was the commander wearing golden armor, with a smile of victory on his handsome face as bright as the sun.
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