Chapter 143: Dawn: Invasion of the Royal Capital [VIP]
"You are too weak to go to the front lines. I will lead this battle myself!"
Xiao Yun patted Ulysses on the shoulder and handed him to the servants beside him.
"But--"
"In the final battle with the Demon Prince, you are the key to victory. You must recover quickly."
Xiao Yun said sternly.
Hearing this, Ulysses finally lowered his head.
Xiao Yun then said to the messenger, "Tell Munger that reinforcements are arriving soon! Don't be afraid of the zombies. Fight back bravely. The gods are on our side! Also, since these zombies can still move even with their heads chopped off, chop off their legs! Legless zombies can only crawl on the ground!"
"yes!"
The messenger was greatly encouraged, left the room, and rode to the outer city to report the news.
Xiao Yun also urgently assembled the heavy sword troops and magician troops, and arrived at the chaotic battlefield as quickly as possible.
…
It was almost dusk.
When Xiao Yun's reinforcements arrived, Mengge and others were shouting loudly to boost morale.
"Don't retreat! Don't be afraid! These are just tricks of the Dark Mage!"
"Cut off their legs! Make sure they can't walk anymore!"
"Don't hesitate! Attack with all your might! Let the souls of the dead rest in peace!"
"Throw the torches! Throw the torches!"
"The enemy's goal is to throw us into chaos! As long as we don't get scared, they will be destroyed!"
“…”
However, even after being told how to kill zombies, the soldiers would still feel fear when they saw the dead with blood gushing from their arms and heads and slightly decayed bodies staggering towards them. They would rush forward while chanting scriptures praying for forgiveness, hacking at the zombies that they could not kill no matter how hard they tried.
"Don't be afraid! Chop off their legs! Make sure they can't move, then gather them together and burn them!"
“That’s right!”
Xiao Yun, who was riding a horse, responded loudly to Mengge's shout, and the attendants behind him also held up the flags.
Seeing the flags of the twin gods and the family tree that symbolize the Holy Family, the soldiers who had been cowering in fear suddenly became excited!
"His Majesty!"
"It's His Majesty! His Majesty is here!"
"No one can retreat! We cannot embarrass ourselves in front of His Majesty!"
"Just a bunch of zombies! We're not afraid of death, so why should we be afraid of zombies?"
"Brothers! Charge! Charge! Kill the zombies!"
"Long live! Long live!"
The heavy sword troops that came with Xiao Yun rushed towards the zombies fearlessly. With the cooperation of the magic troops, they dealt with the rampant zombies like cutting melons and vegetables.
"They were no match for us when they were alive, but now that they're zombies, they can scare us into running around! No kidding!"
"Just a bunch of pathetic zombies! Send them back to eternal sleep!"
"Let the gods and His Majesty witness our bravery!"
“…”
Passionate shouts swept across the battlefield, and the sense of honor overwhelmed fear.
At this moment, everyone forgot their fear and bravely rushed towards the terrifying and strange enemies.
…
…
As night fell, fires were lit one after another in the outer city of Denos.
The zombies, unable to move but still struggling and twisting after their legs were chopped off, were piled up and burned.
Listening to the terrifying roars like hell that kept coming out of the flames and watching the horrifying struggles and rolling that happened from time to time, the soldiers were still terrified even though there were magicians beside each fire to deal with emergencies.
Munger also lowered his head in shame: "I am very ashamed. If Your Majesty had not arrived in time, I am afraid that -"
"This isn't your fault," Xiao Yun consoled him. "Anyone who encounters something like this for the first time would panic, even collapse and flee. You were able to quickly suppress your fear and prevent an effective counterattack. You're already quite impressive."
"But--"
"The enemy resorted to such despicable tactics, which shows that the troops available to Him are becoming increasingly scarce, and we are on the road to victory."
"Yes."
"The battle ahead may be beyond most people's imagination. Not only will we encounter lizard monsters again, but also zombies and all sorts of monsters we've never heard of. However—"
Xiao Yun paused for a moment and said, "Most of the magic is based on tricks and illusions. As long as we overcome our fear, we will definitely defeat the enemy!"
"What if..."
"There are many types of magic. It's true that a considerable portion of it isn't illusion or trickery. However, non-trickery and non-illusion magic often appears on the front lines of the battlefield as part of the army. Magic that can only be deployed in dim light, such as dusk or darkness, after a complete defeat on the front lines is definitely illusion or trickery!"
"Understood!"
Mengge suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly.
"I will immediately send someone to tell everyone what His Majesty said, so that they will not collapse if they encounter similar things again."
“Also, keep a close eye on the fire and don’t let
"yes."
…
Night passed, dawn came, and the outer city of Denos floated.
It has been learned that from yesterday afternoon to evening, priests came to the scene carrying hanging stoves that emitted mixed incense mist and chanted prayers.
The sun slowly rose, and was forcibly summoned to rest by blasphemous means.
Watching this scene, everyone felt a complex emotion of holiness and sadness.
…
During the next day and night, the army gathered near Denos encountered no more strange things.
Despite this, the coalition forces remained highly vigilant and adopted a rotation rest system throughout the army to ensure that even if the enemy attack occurred at night, the army could be ready to fight at any time.
(From the perspective of our forced adjustments to our daily routine, the Demon Prince did not gain nothing from the zombie attack.)
Xiao Yun thought with emotion, and became more determined to liberate the royal capital and deal with the Demon Prince.
…
…
"...The capital city has two layers of barriers, one covering the Imperial Palace, and one covering the capital. The barrier covering the Imperial Palace is almost unbreakable, while the barrier covering the capital is designed to target ordinary people."
Ulysses said bitterly, "Edmund has publicly complained more than once about the disobedience of the civilians in the lower city and their waste of food. However, if anyone persuades him to open the barrier and let the civilians leave, he will immediately become very angry. His Highness Yaris and I both suspect that he regards the civilians in the lower city as hostages to threaten His Majesty and as food reserves for His Majesty's lizard monster army."
"This guy is absolutely crazy!"
Malus, who had also been Edmund's swordsmanship instructor, banged the table in anger.
"But because the barrier enveloping the capital is designed to target ordinary people, intermediate-level and higher mages only need to master certain techniques to enter and exit the barrier unimpeded. I intend to lead some mages to infiltrate the capital, unite with the civilians of the Lower City, the upper-class nobles who are seriously dissatisfied with the status quo, and the officers and soldiers who no longer want to work for Edmund's regime, and launch a small-scale uprising within the capital to cooperate with His Majesty's general offensive to liberate the capital!"
"Wait a moment!"
Kairusha posed a question: "The capital is now encircled by a barrier—although this barrier is ineffective against mid-level mages and above, the soldiers are ordinary people. How can we break through the barrier and attack the capital?"
"We don't have to do anything."
Xiao Yun stated frankly, "Whether it's him or the Demon Prince, their ultimate target is me. As long as I appear at the gates of the royal capital, the barrier surrounding the royal capital will automatically open, luring me to lead my army into the royal capital."
"And then close the barrier?"
Alfonso asked warily.
Xiao Yun nodded.
"No! This is too dangerous!"
Everyone shouted, including Ulysses.
Xiao Yun said calmly, "This is what I must do. If we can't eliminate the Demon Prince and liberate the capital before He returns, the entire Western Continent will be plunged into an unimaginable crisis! We don't have time!"
"That can't be—"
“No matter how risky a thing is, as long as the chance of success is not zero, it’s worth a try.”
Xiao Yun said firmly: "Besides, my brother is inside, he is waiting for me."
"Yaris..."
Alfonso couldn't help but sigh.
There was also some bitterness and helplessness in Kairusha's eyes.
"So we have no choice."
"Yes, you have no choice."
Alfonso announced with emphasis, "And I choose to attack the capital with you."
"Me too."
Kairusha said without hesitation: "I don't know how long I can live. If that's the case, I should use the little time I have left to do what I want to do!"
Ulysses added: "As the vanguard, I will try my best to get as many people as possible to join the uprising and assist His Majesty!"
"But--"
"Your Majesty has no choice but to take this risk for the future of the Western Continent, and we have no other choice either!"
…
…
The eighty-kilometer road connecting the royal capital and Denos was originally recognized as the busiest section of the Western Continent. No matter day or night, there was an endless stream of pedestrians and vehicles traveling between the two prosperous cities. Even on rainy nights, there would still be carriages traveling in the rain. On both sides of the road were large and small orchards, hotels and villages.
until--
Civil war breaks out, and the emperor himself leads the lizard army to invade the sacred city of Dinos.
Civilians living nearby were shocked by the tragedy and most of them abandoned their homes and fled to the countryside. Travelers passing by were subject to increasingly strict inspections, so Wang Dong took a detour along this route.
In just a few months, the once bustling avenue became deserted and filled with a dilapidated and ominous atmosphere.
…
Snap! Snap!
The Holy Empire coalition forces, holding the dazzling banners of the Twin Gods and the Family Tree, appeared on the almost abandoned road in a mighty procession.
The few remaining residents were shocked by the sound of the march. They hid in their houses and peeked through the cracks in the doors and windows, their hearts filled with fear.
(Is the war finally over? Is the night about to pass?)
(Why do we have to endure such misfortune...)
What exactly happened in the capital during this time? Why... suddenly...?
(……)
All they could do now was pray.
Pray that good will triumph over evil.
Pray for the hero to defeat the demon.
Pray that peace and light will return to the world.
…
…
The army marched forward and arrived at the outskirts of the royal capital before dusk.
——The various strange things that have happened in recent months have caused the rich people living in the suburbs to abandon their villas. Even the poor people living at the bottom of the slums have temporarily left with their families for fear of the lizard monsters that appear from time to time.
There are not many living people in the suburbs of the royal capital now. The houses, some exquisite and some dilapidated, stand quietly in the dusk, looking extremely eerie.
Standing on Wolf Head Hill not far from the north gate of the royal capital, everyone looked out and found that the royal capital was like a translucent gray-green jelly under the cover of the barrier.
As night fell, lights began to light up in the royal capital. However, because of the gray-green barrier, the night lights that once gave people peace of mind also became a subtle presence similar to demonic aura.
"Is this our enemy?"
As the soldiers watched the capital tremble and shake like a ghost beneath the barrier, a strong sense of unease welled up in their hearts.
In order to fight against the anxiety, people lit torches and lights. Not only was the camp as bright as day, but even the woods and grass on both sides of the camp were illuminated. The small animals hiding and sleeping in the grass were scared and ran away.
…
At dawn, a magician who was responsible for high-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance of the royal capital came to Xiao Yun.
"Report! A large number of lights have appeared at the south gate of the royal capital. It is suspected that the enemy is gathering troops."
“About how many people?”
"It's impossible to tell. Judging by the density of the lights, the total number of people should be over five thousand."
"Is he an ordinary soldier?"
"I can't be sure."
The mage lowered his head in shame.
Xiao Yun smiled bitterly and said, "You've worked very hard. Go down and rest."
"yes."
Immediately afterwards, several more magicians who also used magical methods to scout and monitor the royal capital from high altitudes came to Xiao Yun.
After summarizing their reports, Xiao Yun discovered that a certain number of soldiers had gathered at the four gates of the royal capital, with the most at the north gate and the least at the east gate. In addition, there were large crowds of people holding torches along the way from the Ebola Bridge to the Sacred Square. They were suspected to be civilians in the lower city who responded to the call of Ulysses and others and revolted in their favor.
"The decisive battle will take place today..."
Xiao Yun muttered to himself, the crystal pendant that Yaris made for him was pressing against his chest and was feeling slightly warm.
(Why is the pendant suddenly hot? Is there something wrong with you? Yaris! You have to wait for me! You must wait for me!)
"--His Majesty!"
"Um?"
Xiao Yun glanced around calmly and said, "Judging from the enemy's troop deployments, they plan to engage in a battle at the north gate. This means the barrier at the north gate will be lifted first."
"Yes."
"I decided to use the north gate as a breakthrough point!"
"just in case……"
"So the first group must be all elite and equipped with a sufficient number of magicians."
Xiao Yun murmured, "The barrier surrounding the capital can only be opened from the inside. Therefore—in order to liberate the capital and rescue the civilians trapped within, we must take a risk!"
"yes!"
"Alfonso and Kairusha—"
Xiao Yun thought about it and decided to let the two of them lead a team each to the South Gate and West Gate respectively.
"As soon as the barrier disappears, enter the city immediately! Rescue the civilians in the lower city!"
"Where's the East Gate?"
Everyone asked in unison.
"There are high mountains and castles near the east gate, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. It serves as an escape route for the soldiers in the city."
Xiao Yun said slowly, "I emphasize again that our mission is to eliminate the alien demon king entrenched in the imperial palace and save the country and its people! As long as the enemy troops lay down their weapons and leave the battlefield, do not pursue them."
"Yes, sir!"
…
…
The sun slowly rose, and the gray-green barrier covering the north gate gradually disappeared like a thick morning fog.
The soldiers outside the north gate, ready to meet the enemy at any time, all widened their eyes.
Without the barrier of the barrier, the scenery before everyone was so beautiful and yet so pitiful, like a beauty tormented by nightmares, with pale skin, thin cheeks, and big eyes full of fear.
"Is this the current capital?"
Xiao Yun muttered to himself.
The north gate slowly opened, and what appeared before everyone was an empty and clean street leading to the upper city.
"Should we send scouts in to investigate first?"
Marina asked Xiao Yun in a low voice.
Xiao Yun shook his head: "The battle for the capital isn't a war in the conventional sense. Sending scouts will only lead to their sacrifice in vain."
"but……"
"It doesn't matter. Everyone here has already realized it."
Xiao Yun smiled, his ocean-like blue eyes flashing with a heavy light.
However, even though he had anticipated the various situations he might encounter after entering the capital, he couldn't help but show hesitation when he thought of the impending death.
"Let's go."
Xiao Yun said quietly.
"yes!"
Marina turned around: "Order, all troops, move out!"
The order spread to all the troops like waves. Everyone had already been aware of it. After hearing the order, there was no panic or anxiety. They took calm steps and walked into the cursed capital.
…
The sun in the sky rose higher and higher, and 1,500 elite troops led by the first emperor of the Holy Sun Empire officially set out, passing through the abnormally quiet north gate like a silver river and walking on the spacious streets of the upper city.
There was no sound around.
The five thousand soldiers discovered during the early stage of the magic reconnaissance seemed to have disappeared out of thin air.
Xiao Yun raised his head and looked at the ruins of the Sin Tower at the end of his sight, which was as silent as the night.
(Teacher Ansel...)
Ripples of sadness arose in Xiao Yun's heart.
At this moment, the warhorse suddenly shook its head vigorously, as if sensing some invisible danger.
(Um?)
Xiao Yun immediately tightened the reins and ordered the army to stop moving.
"His Majesty--"
"Do you feel something is wrong?"
"this……"
Neither Marina nor Monger spoke.
From the moment they entered the north gate, the warriors' intuition repeatedly reminded them that danger was approaching, and the air was filled with a strange, icy stickiness.
"Sure enough, you guys felt it."
Xiao Yun spoke quietly, lowered his head, and patted the horse's neck.
"It's okay, it's okay... You are the bravest..."
Feeling the king's trust and warmth, the warhorse shook its nose and continued to move forward.
The team set off again.
Everyone was convinced that danger was imminent, their nerves were on edge, and they were ready to draw their swords and fight at any time.
Then--
The 5,000 troops gathered at the north gate mentioned during the early magic reconnaissance appeared!
They built a defense line in the streets, with shields in the front row, and spears and swords leaking out from the gaps in the shields. Behind the shields were archers ready to attack, and behind the archers were cavalry.
They are obviously ready for a decisive battle!
"--attack!"
At Xiao Yun's command, the elite troops rode their horses and charged into the rain of arrows, throwing spears as they charged.
"ah!"
The defending Edmund army was horrified.
They didn't have much fighting spirit to begin with, and the opponent launched a close-range charge. Not only was the first wave of arrows easily blocked, but the large shields used to form the defense line also became leverage for the enemy horses to leap forward!
"Go!"
“Ahhhh!”
For a moment, the screams of Edmund's army broke out like raindrops.
The battle line was easily broken through like a small tree in the wind, and the people and horses let out deafening screams.
This overwhelming situation was also within Xiao Yun's expectations.
——The defenders of the royal capital were not a bunch of useless people without any sense of honor and unable to fight. However, the horrors that had occurred in the royal capital in recent months had crushed their will. Facing the Holy Empire coalition brought by Xiao Yun, they had no sense of responsibility to defend the capital. They were driven to the front line by their commander like zombies and were quickly defeated under the sharp attack of the enemy who was outnumbered.
“Ahhhh!”
The soldiers of Edmund's army began to collapse and flee. The commanders' shouting was completely ineffective. Even the middle and lower-level commanders joined the fleeing camp. A very small number of generals who were suspected of being controlled by the "demon spores" stubbornly stayed in the place where blood was flowing like a river and were captured alive on the spot.
The encounter ended quickly. At least 3,000 of the 5,000 soldiers deployed on the north gate defense line fled on the spot, and more than half of the remaining less than 2,000 soldiers surrendered on the spot.
From this, it can be seen that even the troops that are deeply trusted by Edmund and ordered to garrison the royal capital can hardly be called a truly combat-capable force now.
"Marina, you take some people and stay behind to receive the prisoners."
"His Majesty--"
Marina was a little reluctant: "I don't want to stay! I want to go into the palace with you!"
"The palace is dangerous."
“No one is afraid of danger.”
"All right."
Xiao Yun pointed to the ruins of the Sin Tower in the distance and said, "Before we officially enter the Imperial Palace, I must go to the Sin Tower. Once you've dealt with the prisoners of war, come meet us at the Imperial Palace."
"no problem."
Marina agreed gracefully.
Xiao Yun continued to lead the team forward along the road, crossing the straight but deserted road, and arrived at the ruins of the Sin Tower, which still exuded an unsettling dark atmosphere even under the scorching sun at noon.
(Tower of Sin... "Tower King"...)
Xiao Yun took a deep breath, took out the golden gem and held it high above his head.
"Everyone better be careful, what's going to happen next might be—"
Before he could finish his words, the soldiers behind him screamed in unison.
"ah!"
"What is that!"
“It’s so big—ah!”
“—You’re here!”
Xiao Yun raised his head and calmly looked at the giant snake that was coiled like a mountain on the ruins of the Sin Tower.
Its body was so huge that it could almost fill the entire palace. The iron-black scales all over its body merged with the charred Sin Tower after the fire.
At this moment, it was raising its huge head high enough to block out the sun in the sky, and staring at the golden gem in Xiao Yun's hand with its empty eye sockets burning with cold black flames.
【You’re here! You’re finally here! 】
"Well, I want to take you somewhere to do something."
Where are you taking me?
"The Palace of Light."
【you……】
The giant snake tilted its head.
[I do sense that the King is trapped in the Palace of Light. However, due to the dimensional laws, I cannot contact him, nor can I leave the Tower of Sin on my own, even though the Tower of Sin has collapsed... Of course, breaking through the barrier surrounding the palace is no problem for me...]
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