Lycia battlefield.
The smoke of war had not yet dispersed, the setting sun was like blood, and the earth was stained crimson.
The wind swept up scorched earth and fragments of battle flags.
In the distance, Caesar's Legion was packing up spoils of war and reparations, returning triumphantly.
Cerydra did not order the massacre of Lycia.
Her sword was never aimed at destruction, but at submission, and at ending the Golden War that had raged for hundreds of years.
The Lord of Lycia performed a knight's salute, bowing his head and kneeling before the Empress, promising never again to pursue the Saintess, and to end the war to jointly resist the Black Tide.
"She..."
Cerydra called softly.
"Your Majesty."
Hysilens felt a heavy weight in her heart, but in the end, she only shook her head gently.
Triguard had died, and Trianne was very disheartened, her usual liveliness vanished without a trace.
Another one of us had fallen into eternal slumber amidst the flames of war.
"Sigh."
Cerydra sighed softly.
Suddenly, a small, dispirited figure curled up on the back of a Dromas, abruptly lifted her head, and pressed her chubby little hands to her ears.
Her eyes lit up with a long-lost sparkle, and she nodded repeatedly.
"Mm, mm, Trianne understands."
As her words fell, Trianne excitedly bounced on the Dromas's back, her cheeks flushed again. "Little fish, Lord Demon is back!"
"We received a message."
"Tribbie said that Lord Demon is rushing to Aidona City-State, telling us to change the direction of our army's advance!"
Cerydra and Hysilens exchanged glances, turbulent waves surging in their eyes.
It wasn't that they hadn't wanted to rescue Trissha before.
Aidona was not far, but there was a city-state in between.
If the army rashly crossed its borders, even if only to save someone, it could easily be seen as an invasion.
Coupled with having just defeated Lycia, with many wounded soldiers.
Rashly heading to Aidona could very likely lead to being attacked from two sides.
As a friend, she wanted to save Trissha.
But as a commander, she absolutely could not let passion dictate her actions and make a wrong decision that would doom countless loyal souls.
But now it was different.
Ryuga was back, and the situation had reversed.
If the enemy can go, so can I.
Cerydra's eyes suddenly brightened. She stood up abruptly from the Dromas's back, raising her scepter high in her right hand.
"Soldiers!"
"The Saintess of Janus has brought us an oracle, dispelling the darkness for us!"
She paused, then her shouts grew more fervent.
"Now, the Lord of Aidona is hunting our Saintess."
"Are you—angry!?"
The army was silent, only the wind roared softly.
In an instant, a tide of fury erupted!
"Angry!!!"
"Revenge!"
"For the Saintess!!"
"Flatten Aidona!!"
Thousands of soldiers roared in unison, the sound waves shaking the Dromas herds, making them rear their heads and whinny.
Battle flags fluttered like fire burning the sky.
Cerydra's lips curved into a smile. She once again raised her scepter high, pointing it sharply eastward.
"Excellent!"
"Now, Lord Demon has already set off."
"We cannot fall behind!"
"Soldiers, let us stand together through thick and thin! Leave no comrade behind, spare no enemy!"
"All forces—change direction! Advance on Aidona!"
"Roar—!!!"
The soldiers instantly boiled with excitement, their roars sweeping across the plains like a tsunami.
They had been worried about whether they could defeat Aidona due to their wounded and weary troops.
Now, they were no longer afraid.
The scene of Lord Demon striking down the Titan of Strife was still vivid in their minds.
Immediately, iron armor clanked, chariots rumbled, and banners unfurled into the sky.
Caesar's Legion changed formation in the morning light, their pace quickening from slow to swift, converging into an unstoppable torrent of steel, their fighting spirit boiling as they rushed towards Aidona.
...
...
Outskirts of Aidona City-State, in the forest.
"Children, a little faster, a little faster!"
A tender cry trembled in the wind, like a thread about to break.
"So tired... I can't run anymore..."
A small boy stumbled a few steps, his knees hitting the gravel ground heavily, his palms scraped with streaks of blood.
"Sister, please use the Century Gate one more time... I'm scared..."
The little girl clutched the red-haired girl's clothes tightly, crying.
People kept falling behind, and people kept collapsing to the ground.
Among a group of small figures, the red-haired little girl was exceptionally conspicuous.
Trissha stood at the end of the line, her small body as immense as a silent mountain.
She panted heavily, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, sliding down her cheeks, mixing with dust to form streaks of mud on her chin.
Behind them, the thunderous sound of hooves grew closer.
The Lord of Aidona's pursuers had found them.
"The Saintess ran that way!"
"Block all paths, don't let her escape!"
The pursuers drew closer, like the footsteps of death, pressing in.
"Everyone, gather around me!"
Trissha suddenly turned around, gritting her teeth, her chubby little hands exerting force.
A faint golden light appeared, then suddenly surged, and a triangular Century Gate appeared out of thin air.
"The Century Gate... is open!"
"Quick! Get in!"
The children scrambled towards the Century Gate.
Some fell and were immediately pulled up by their companions; some cried out, and were pushed inside.
"Great, we're saved..."
"Wuwu, Mama... I miss you so much."
Cries, shouts, and footsteps mingled together. Only Trissha stood motionless before the gate, her chubby little hands continuously exerting force, barely holding on.
No one noticed that her arms were trembling, and a trace of golden blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
She forced a smile and gritted her teeth, her lips almost bitten through.
Until the last little girl stumbled through the light gate.
Trissha could no longer hold on. Her small body swayed, and she violently coughed up a large mouthful of golden blood.
"The Saintess is there!"
"Chase!"
"Even if we have to kill her, don't let her escape."
The Lord of Aidona's pursuers finally caught up to within 50 paces. The leading commander rode out, drew his bow, and shot an arrow at Trissha's back.
The sound of the arrow piercing the air suddenly rang out.
Trissha raised her wet eyes, glanced at the fading gate, and with her last ounce of strength, leaped.
A golden flash, and the figure disappeared into the gate.
The Century Gate closed with a crash.
"Damn it! Chase them!"
The commander roared, slamming his fist angrily on the saddle.
"She's out of strength, she definitely won't last long. She can't teleport too far, she must be nearby, chase her!"
"Yes!"
The pursuers responded in unison, spreading out around the forest.
...
Outskirts of Aidona, a desolate village.
"Sister Saintess, I... it hurts."
The little girl was as weak as a flickering candle in the wind, lying amidst scorched earth and gravel, her eyes hollow.
Her legs had long been gnawed away by the Black Tide.
The young woman sat beside the little girl, her moonlight-white dress fluttering gently in the wind, its hem adorned with purple buds and butterflies.
Her long, purple-gradient hair cascaded like a waterfall.
A hint of pity flashed in her purple eyes as she looked at the little girl.
"Doll, thank you... Sister..."
The little girl's hollow, unfocused eyes lit up with a faint glimmer. Holding the doll sewn for her by the Saintess, she tried to force a smile.
The doll was crude, but she loved it.
But soon, her eyes became unfocused again.
"Mama." "I... I'm so tired, I miss you so much."
"In my next life... I don't want to be human anymore."
The little girl mumbled deliriously.
"Death is an unavoidable certainty."
"Don't be afraid, Sister will take you home."
The young woman leaned down and embraced the small, broken body.
The power of the Death Titan activated.
A wisp of profound death aura flowed out, transforming into butterflies.
They danced gracefully, gently encircling the little girl, landing on her hair, shoulders, and severed limbs, as if adorning her with her final splendid attire.
The little girl smiled.
She saw her mother walking towards her, calling her name.
Her body was gently lifted by purple butterflies, turning into scattered ashes.
"Sister Saintess... someone said that the holy city blessed by dawn is beautiful, and Lord Demon has appeared... ending the strife, perhaps you can find your..."
Before the little girl could finish her words, a cluster of purple flames plummeted from the sky.
Boom~
The flames instantly engulfed the little girl's remaining head.
The flames surged, coiling and spreading as if alive, extending down her neck, and flesh was reborn in the inferno.
The young woman stood frozen, her pupils trembling violently.
The body that should have vanished was actually recovering little by little?
To be continued…