Translator: CinderTL
On the smoke-filled battlefield, Gloria gripped her longsword tightly, its pale golden blade flickering with an ethereal light.
Sizzle!
A sickening corrosion sound echoed as the sword's edge bit deep into the demon's flesh.
Before the creature could react to the searing pain, the Imperial Princess used the embedded sword as a pivot, nimbly leaping into the air and unleashing a swift, wind-whipped kick with her left leg.
Thud!
A heavy, muffled impact reverberated as the demon crashed to the ground.
Gloria smoothly withdrew her sword, sending a spray of dark crimson blood arcing through the air.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward and thrust the blade with pinpoint accuracy.
Thwack!
The positive energy-infused blade pierced the demon's forehead, silencing its agonized howls.
Huff...
Only after confirming the demon's complete demise did Gloria exhale a long, weary breath.
She tore a strip of fabric from her already-ripped skirt and tightly wrapped it around the blood-slick sword hilt.
Lord Roland's combat techniques are far more practical than the courtly swordsmanship I learned...
She mused inwardly, her lake-blue eyes sweeping across the battlefield, a shadow of unease crossing her face.
Compared to the limited number of human soldiers, the demons' and devils' onslaught seemed endless.
Though their individual strength was weaker than she had anticipated, they were still far beyond the capabilities of ordinary soldiers to withstand.
Maintaining the battle lines even in their current state was already a remarkable feat.
"If Lord Roland were here..."
Gloria recalled the fleeting glimpse of Roland's departing figure and shook her head slightly, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"He never truly belonged to the Golden Valley Kingdom. Choosing to leave in the face of danger... it's only natural."
Though her mind reasoned thus, the thought of that gentle and handsome youth still stirred a faint ripple of loss in her heart.
She shook her head vigorously, as if to dispel these lingering thoughts, then called out loudly, "Duke!"
"Here!"
Before the word had even left her lips, a massive figure landed heavily beside her, sending shards of stone flying.
Duke's eyes filled with genuine admiration as he gazed at the Imperial Princess before him—her body drenched in blood, her clothes torn, yet her gaze remained unwavering.
The duke from the Western Territory casually wiped blood from his brow, swung his greatsword to deflect several incoming bone spikes, and asked in a deep voice, "Princess Gloria, what are your orders?"
"Orders..."
Gloria glanced at the increasingly chaotic battlefield and shook her head slightly. Her pearly teeth unconsciously bit down on her lower lip as she slowly said, "Duke, regroup the troops. We... we're preparing to retreat."
"Retreat? But..."
Duke frowned deeply.
"His Majesty Monen..."
"My father... I fear he may already be..." Gloria shook her head, her voice trailing off.
Though her age and devotion to the Blazing Sun Church had limited her time with her imperial father, she knew his boastful and restless nature well. Had he triumphed over the two otherworld adversaries, he would have undoubtedly proclaimed his victory with a resounding roar across the battlefield.
But now...
She gazed toward the dense forest where Monen had vanished, her bright eyes gradually dimming.
That grove had remained eerily silent for far too long.
Though she refused to believe her formidable father could have been defeated, the possibility of the otherworld invaders returning to the main battlefield loomed.
Taking a deep breath to steel herself against the worst-case scenario, Gloria raised her head, her eyes now devoid of hesitation.
"Duke, we must withdraw our forces from the battlefield while our casualties remain manageable. Preserve our remaining strength until..."
Her words abruptly halted as she noticed Duke's gaze suddenly shift away.
"Duke? Are you listening...?"
"No, Your Highness! Look over there!" Duke's voice trembled unnaturally, almost shrill.
This loss of composure was particularly jarring coming from such a hardened man.
"What..." Gloria frowned and looked in the direction he was pointing.
The next moment, her mouth dropped open involuntarily, her face instantly flooded with horror and terror.
"That... that's..."
Meanwhile, within Golden Grain City:
"Thank you, Miss Theresa," Sean said, watching the silver-haired woman bandage the wound on his arm. A flicker of relief at having survived flashed in his eyes. "If you hadn't intervened in time, I might have..."
"It's nothing," Theresa replied, glancing at the mangled corpses of demons and devils scattered nearby. A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes.
Back in Mist Creek Town, this young man hadn't possessed such strength. How had he improved so rapidly in just a few months?
Yet, when compared to Roland...
After a moment of careful consideration, Theresa, who had been feeling somewhat disheartened by her recent setbacks, let out a soft sigh.
"Indeed, no matter how exceptional an ordinary person's innate talent may be, they can never reach a level beyond my comprehension..."
As her thoughts drifted, a robust voice suddenly rang out from nearby.
"Save the thanks for later!"
Following the voice, they saw a man striding toward them.
Even under the gloomy sky, his golden hair shone with a dazzling radiance.
"Miss Theresa," Darco nodded to Sean before turning to the Silver-Haired Woman. "My Knight Academy classmates are settled. The monsters haven't discovered this place yet. What's our next move?"
"Our next move is to leave this crumbling city as soon as possible."
A slender figure materialized silently beside them.
Her short brown hair fluttered gently in the blood-tinged breeze, carrying a faint, peculiar fragrance.
"That idiot Galvis has pinpointed the node through which demons and devils are invading our world," she said, leaning casually against a broken stone pillar, her tone as relaxed as if discussing the dinner menu.
"But whoever opened the node did it clumsily. It's extremely unstable and could collapse at any moment. If that happens..." She shrugged. "The resulting temporal turbulence would tear us all to shreds."
"Miss Avril."
Seeing who had arrived, Darco, who had been standing ramrod straight, unconsciously bowed slightly.
He had already experienced the seemingly young elf girl's skills firsthand.
If she hadn't shown mercy...
Recalling the perilous moment, the noble youth instinctively touched his neck, his eyes still wide with lingering fear.
"Heh..."
Noticing Darco's cautious demeanor, Avril chuckled softly and, in the blink of an eye, appeared beside the noble youth.
She lightly patted his shoulder, her tone teasing.
"Not bad, knowing to protect your companions in times of crisis. No wonder you're Roland's friend. But next time... remember to look carefully before acting, understand?"
"U-understand... Wait!"
Darco jerked his head up, his face etched with surprise.
"Roland?"
"Roland?"
Seeing Sean shout the name almost simultaneously, Darco raised an eyebrow and pressed further.
"Did Roland ask you to come rescue us?"
"Of course, didn't I mention that?"
Avril tilted her head toward Theresa.
Receiving a negative reply, she playfully stuck out her tongue.
"My apologies, my apologies. But judging by your expressions..."
The elf girl toyed with the dagger in her hand.
"These must be Roland's two best friends, Sean and Darco, not just others with the same names."
"Wait... best friends?"
Darco glanced sideways at Sean beside him.
"Him? This big oaf is Roland's friend too?"
"Hey! What did you call me, you pansy?"
"Who are you calling a pansy?"
"Whoever answers to it! The stench from those monsters can't even cover up your perfume!"
Watching the two young men lock foreheads like bulls about to charge, Avril opened her mouth to speak, then leaned over to Theresa with a helpless sigh.
"They're definitely Roland's friends, all... equally foolish."
Theresa, who had been about to mediate the argument, paused to consider this for a moment, then...
nodded solemnly in agreement.
Just then, a voice hoarse with excitement broke through the bickering.
"Hey! Stop fighting! Come look at this!"
The group turned to see Galvis standing at the edge of the cracked city wall, waving his arms wildly in the air, his face radiating uncontrollable excitement.
"Damn it! What's he doing now? Doesn't he realize this commotion will attract every monster in the area?"
Avril cursed under her breath, about to step forward and stop him, but her feet froze in place.
Her pupils constricted sharply as her gaze locked onto a figure hovering in the distant sky.
"That... that's Roland?"
The elf girl's breath caught in her throat.
In the distant sky, a figure floated serenely above the chaotic battlefield.
Silver scales covered his body, reflecting a cold, metallic sheen in the dim light, like a statue of an ancient war god.
But what truly took their breath away was the swirling mass of energy coalescing in his palm.
"Gods above..." Darco's voice was dry, almost cracking.
Countless searing white lightning bolts writhed and coiled within Roland's palm, emitting deafening roars.
The blinding light even eclipsed the flames of the battlefield, illuminating the entire sky as if it were daylight.
Each arc of lightning pulsed with pure destructive energy, warping the air and causing it to hum under the unbearable strain.
Even at such a distance, the crowd could feel a stinging sensation on their skin, and their hair stood on end involuntarily.
"Well done, Roland," Sean murmured to himself, a hint of joy flickering across his face.
Theresa stared unblinkingly at the figure, her usually composed expression now etched with disbelief.
Galvis froze completely, his breath seemingly suspended. He tilted his head back, his lips parted slightly as if about to chant something, but no sound escaped his throat.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Roland slowly raised his arm.
The energy sphere, forged from pure thunderbolt, spun rapidly in his palm, expanding and radiating a terrifying pressure.
In the next instant...
The world was swallowed by pure white.
An indescribable roar tore through the sky, shattering the clouds and momentarily drowning out the clamor of battle and the cries of the wounded.
Blazing thunderbolt poured down like divine retribution, transforming the entire precinct into an ocean of lightning.
The blinding light seared everyone's eyes, and even at this distance, the shockwave whipped their clothes and hair.
As the final thunderclap faded into the heavens, only a distant, still-crackling afterglow remained—the lingering echo of divine judgment.
(End of the Chapter)
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