Chapter 6: Sudden Appearance of the Enemy

The night in the capital of the Relkes Empire had lost not only its usual peace but was also ringed by flames around the sacred imperial palace. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the Capital Guard Army, led by several ambitious men under the banner of "cleansing the court and eliminating treacherous ministers," launched a frenzied assault on the palace atop the Holy Mountain. Hapless warriors braved a rain of arrows, charging toward the palace walls. After suffering heavy losses, the Capital Guard Army finally reached the walls and began direct attacks using scaling ladders, siege engines, and other weapons.

Despite being outnumbered and with the battle situation deteriorating, the commander of the Imperial Guards showed no intention of retreat. More than ten thousand Imperial Guards soldiers still held the front lines, upholding their oath of loyalty with their lives. As the Capital Guard Army began setting up scaling ladders against the palace walls, the Imperial Guards promptly used boulders, attempting to pulverize the enemy's climbing forces from their elevated position.

Meanwhile, the Capital Guard Army singled out a group of highly skilled warriors to form an assault unit. Using their skills and the masses of soldiers as cover, they quickly scaled the palace walls and launched attacks against the Imperial Guards. With their formidable martial prowess, they swept through like tigers among sheep, leaving rivers of blood wherever they went.

This situation placed even greater pressure on the Imperial Guards defending against the enemy's advance, leaving multiple stretches of wall undefended.

Seeing that enemy troops could swarm the walls at any moment, Mels and his three companions could no longer hold back. Led by Mels, the four swiftly leaped from the watchtower and charged toward the four enemy special warriors closest to them.

"Give me your life!" Mels roared, descending from above like a deity, swinging his longsword toward an enemy expert clad in black armor who was attacking the surrounding Imperial Guards with his back turned.

Perhaps sensing the threat from Mels, or perhaps the surging Qi energy emanating from him had already shaken the opponent's spirit, the warrior immediately abandoned his attack on the Imperial Guards, turned to face Mels, and raised his longsword in an attempt to block the strike. However, he underestimated Mels' power. Before their blades even clashed, the formidable Qi energy surging from Mels' hand shattered the opponent's longsword. Like splitting dry wood, the special warrior's body was cleaved in two from head to crotch.

Mels' lethal strike elicited cheers from the surrounding Imperial Guards. However, after landing, Mels trembled, his gaze somewhat dazed as he stared at the bloody scene before him.

Although Mels was born into a bandit organization and was accustomed to scenes of slaughter, this was the first time he had personally caused such a gruesome death. For a young man in his twenties, this shock was truly hard to imagine. But he had no time to reflect, as several more enemy figures appeared around him.

"Sir Knight, we can hold this position! Please hurry to the Second District—it's under attack by the Imperial Guards Knights. If reinforcements don't arrive soon, it may fall to the enemy!" the Imperial Guards officer in charge of defense said to Mels.

Hearing this, Mels snapped out of his daze. He nodded blankly and immediately rushed toward the second defensive sector located at the center of the palace walls.

From the very beginning, Salade had never intended that the Imperial Guards Knights alone could capture the palace. His reason for deploying them so quickly was merely to disrupt the Imperial Guards' defensive system, creating opportunities for the large-scale sapper units of the Capital Guard Army.

The second sector, under the fiercest attack, was directly above the main palace gate. If this area fell, the Capital Guard Army outside the gate could freely use siege engines to batter the gate. Although the Imperial Guards commander had deployed significant forces here, the absence of powerful knights made the defensive pressure immense. Dozens of captains had already joined the battle, but against the enemy's formidable knights, their effectiveness was limited. When Mels arrived at the second sector, he saw that nearly thirty Imperial Guards Knights had already gained a foothold. Hundreds of Imperial Guards soldiers, led by their captains, fought back desperately but were still unable to drive the enemy off the walls. With enemy reinforcements pouring in, the second sector was on the verge of falling.

Mels could no longer remain calm. Shaking off the shadow of his earlier slaughter, he immediately swung his longsword and charged into the enemy ranks like a war god.

However, on the battlefield, the role of a single individual is minuscule. Trained in team combat, the Imperial Guards Knights quickly recognized the threat posed by Mels' speed and his red Dragon Knight armor. Three of the nearly thirty-strong team immediately broke off to intercept Mels, blocking his path.

Mels, a disciple taught by the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, though initially shaken, calmed his mind like still water upon entering true combat. His arm, infused with Supreme Innate Qi, gradually unleashed the extraordinary combat power of the True Nameless Divine Style.

The three Imperial Guards Knights blocking Mels wore silver armor. The tallest among them wielded a long spear, while the other two flanked him, each holding a single sword. When the distance between them and Mels narrowed to about five meters, the two flanking warriors suddenly advanced one after the other, encircling Mels from both sides.

Their longswords whistled through the air. Although their skill had not yet reached the level of externalizing Qi, the sword winds they generated still made Mels' cheeks sting slightly.

Experts! Mels thought to himself. Recognizing his opponents' strength, he had to abandon the idea of quickly defeating them, gradually focusing his mind to deal with their attacks.

The "Proud Cold Blade Technique" was the Frost Death God's peerless skill that dominated the world. Now wielded by Mels, though lacking the Frost Death God's air of lethal certainty with each strike, it was still not to be underestimated.

When the two enemies' longswords struck like venomous snakes from left and right toward Mels' arms and legs, Mels held his sword horizontally and executed a standard "Spring Cold Reveals Green" technique. In an instant, without even moving his body, he deflected both enemies' attacks.

With their attacks broken and their Qi inferior to Mels', the two enemies immediately revealed openings. Mels would not miss such a perfect opportunity. His sword suddenly shot leftward, the blade humming with wind and thunder as it flashed toward the left enemy's chest at lightning speed. It seemed Mels intended to use "Corpse on the Snowfield" to strike down the enemy with a single blow.

However, just as his longsword was about to pierce the opponent's chest, the spear-wielding enemy, who had not participated in the attack until now, suddenly advanced lightly and thrust his spear straight at Mels' chest.

At that moment, Mels finally understood the enemy's tactics and coordinated combat style. The spear-wielding warrior was not the main attacker but the defensive core. Whenever either of the close-combat warriors was in danger, he would use his spear to block Mels' attack, giving the other two warriors a chance to counterattack.

This combat style was not unfamiliar to Mels. Over the years, the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes had trained him and the other youths in similar team tactics, except the enemy's spear was replaced by the magic Sol spoke of.

Leaping aside to dodge the enemy's spear, Mels also lost the best opportunity to pursue. Seeing the enemy who should have been defeated regroup, and witnessing nearly ten more enemy knights climbing onto the walls, Mels grew increasingly anxious. The longer the delay, the worse the defense would become—a principle Mels understood well but could do nothing about.

"Boss, I'm here to help!" Just as Mels was considering whether to use Dou Lie Qi, which consumed a great deal of Qi, Akafir's voice came from not far away.

Akafir arrived with his words. Before the last syllable faded, Akafir, wielding a longsword, appeared beside Mels like a ghost.

"Boss, a game of cat and mouse," Akafir said with a slight smile.

Others might not understand Akafir's words, but Mels, who had trained with him, could never forget. Mels smiled faintly and nodded slightly. Akafir immediately dashed forward at lightning speed toward the enemy. Akafir was far faster than Mels. Before the enemies could react, his longsword was already aimed at the spear-wielder's throat.

The startled enemy knight, no longer concerned about maintaining the attack formation, retreated at his fastest speed, attempting to evade Akafir's strike. However, Akafir's longsword clung to his throat like a maggot in the bone, neither advancing to pierce nor retreating.

Seeing their companion entangled by Akafir, the two single-sword warriors immediately tried to attack Akafir in a coordinated assault. Unfortunately, this time Mels would not let any opportunity slip. With lightning-fast movements, ghostly evasive footwork, and demonic flashes of his blade, Mels swiftly launched an attack on the two warriors.

With Akafir's assistance, the enemy's previously flawless attack formation was completely shattered. In no time, the two warriors fell one after another to Mels' blade. However, this time Mels held back. Though both warriors were slashed in vital spots, they were not fatally wounded.

Seeing that Mels had dealt with the enemies, Akafir no longer toyed with his opponent. His longsword thrust out decisively, the merciless iron blade piercing the opponent's throat. Without even time to scream, the spear-wielder stared wide-eyed, looking at Akafir with disbelief as he left this world.

Although three enemies were defeated, the number of Imperial Guards Knights on the walls not only failed to decrease but grew larger. Under such circumstances, Mels knew that relying solely on their own strength would be insufficient to turn the tide. However, without counterattacking, death on the walls was only a matter of time. Helplessly, Mels and Akafir could only brace themselves for an all-out battle.

The narrow battlement walkway had been completely cut off by the Imperial Guards Knights. On the right side where Mels and his group were, the Imperial Guards could barely form a defensive line with his help, but the situation on the left side remained unknown to Mels.

Just as Mels prepared to recklessly use his still-unpracticed Dou Lie Qi for a desperate fight, a sudden commotion broke out within the Imperial Guards Knights' ranks. In moments, Bagina and Emma, both covered in blood, appeared as if entering an undefended area, wildly charging into the enemy's center.

Although Bagina's martial skills were outstanding, they still fell short of Mels and Akafir. As Mels wondered how they could so easily break through the enemy's defenses, he suddenly noticed that the gleaming weapon in Emma's hand was the key to the situation.

Emma and Bagina advanced one behind the other, with Emma at the forefront. Relying on the blue light emanating from her hand—a weapon like a beam of light—she fearlessly cut through the enemies' weapons.

Emma seemed unwilling to harm any enemy, merely swinging her beam weapon to cut through their spears, swords, blades, and halberds. Bagina, however, showed no restraint. Whenever an enemy entered her attack range, her whip would lash out without mercy.

Their tacit coordination quickly broke through the enemy's defenses. The Imperial Guards Knights, stripped of their weapons, were no match for them. Even some Imperial Guards soldiers seized the opportunity to launch attacks against the Imperial Guards Knights.

Emma indeed possessed some strange objects. Although Mels and the others had examined these items before, they never imagined that a simple metal object could emit such a powerful beam. As the second-largest knight order in the Relkes Empire, the Imperial Guards Knights were equipped with weapons and armor certainly not cheap gear. Yet now, these lethal tools were being severed like straw under Emma's beam weapon.

Just as Mels and Akafir stared in astonishment at the scene, Bagina suddenly shouted, "You two fools, what are you standing there for? Come help!" Hearing Bagina's words, Mels and Akafir snapped out of their daze, quickly responding before rushing into the battle.

Over the next hour of combat, although the Imperial Guards Knights fought hard to resist Mels and his companions, those stripped of their weapons were no match for these youths. The second sector, nearly lost, finally returned to Imperial Guards control.

The powerful siege engines repeatedly battered the palace gate, but the bronze-cast gate held firm against each assault. Once the Imperial Guards regained control of the second sector, their commander immediately ordered the pouring of black oil outside the walls. Crimson flames, like demons from hell, engulfed the unfortunate Capital Guard Army soldiers. The fire, once a source of warmth for humanity, now became a tool of death. Amidst ghostly wails and howls, hundreds of Capital Guard Army soldiers were consumed by the flames.

The raging flames temporarily halted the enemy's advance. Seizing the rare moment to catch their breath, the Imperial Guards commander relieved the over ten thousand soldiers who had fought hard through half the night from the front lines.

Originally numbering fifteen thousand, the Imperial Guards had already suffered over two thousand casualties after just half a day of fighting. Although the Capital Guard Army's losses were greater, their numerical advantage allowed them to withstand such casualties.

In contrast, the Imperial Guards were different. With only about a quarter of the enemy's numbers, if they maintained the current casualty ratio, they would be defenseless and collapse without a fight in less than three days.

Meanwhile, Salade, Mark, and the Right Prime Minister gathered around the Left Prime Minister to discuss the next steps in their strategy.

"Salade, what exactly are you doing? Didn't you say that deploying the Imperial Guards Knights would allow us to capture the palace at any time? After half a night of bitter fighting and hundreds of casualties, why haven't you even broken through the first palace gate?" the Right Prime Minister said.

"Sir, you witnessed the battle just now. The Imperial Guards Knights fought with all their might! However, the enemy possesses top-tier experts, which was unexpected. How can you blame the Imperial Guards Knights?" Salade retorted discontentedly.

"So you're saying I wronged you?" Seeing Salade dare to defy him, the Right Prime Minister said angrily.

"I'm just stating facts, which is better than some people talking without feeling the strain! The brothers of the Imperial Guards Knights are elites I personally selected. Should I just watch them die for no reason?" Salade said furiously.

As the two argued heatedly, the Left Prime Minister suddenly spoke, "Both of you, quiet down! What's the rush? Are you afraid the dog emperor will escape? The Imperial Guards Knights indeed fought bravely, and fierce enemy resistance was expected.

No need to worry. The dog emperor only discovered our plan at the last moment and had no time to send for reinforcements. Moreover, the Imperial Guards are primarily a close-combat force for protecting the emperor. Their stockpile of arrows is limited. As long as we continue our fierce assault, they'll soon run out of arrows and be unable to mount a proper counterattack. Then we can do as we please!

Mark, once the flames before the palace gate subside slightly, launch an attack immediately. Don't give them time to rest! Salade, order your troops to be ready for battle at all times. Once the palace gate is breached, I want the Imperial Guards Knights to charge into the palace immediately and capture the dog emperor with overwhelming numerical superiority! Now, both of you, stop arguing here and return to your troops!" Hearing the Left Prime Minister's words, Salade and the Right Prime Minister glared at each other before returning to their respective forces.

Mark, expressionless, bowed to the Left Prime Minister and quietly withdrew. Though the rebel army appeared powerful, its internal leadership was fraught with deceit and discord, harboring hidden seeds of disaster.

On the other hand, during the lull in fighting, the Imperial Guards commander also met with Mels and the others to discuss subsequent tactics.

"Sir Knight, thank you for your brave attacks earlier, preventing our forces from quickly losing the first palace walls! However, the truth is, our combat effectiveness is continuously declining. Our stored stones are exhausted, and the soldiers' arrows are dwindling! If the rebels continue their fierce assault, I fear we cannot hold out for long," the Imperial Guards commander, a man in his forties with a worried expression, said helplessly to Mels.

"Has the situation really deteriorated to this extent? How long do you estimate we can still withstand the enemy's attacks?" Mels asked after a moment of contemplation upon hearing the Imperial Guards commander's words.

"If we face attacks like the one just now, I fear we can only hold out until dawn!" the Palace Guard general said helplessly.

"Is that so..." Upon hearing the general's tactical assessment, not only Mels but all the officers present fell silent.

After all, the Capital Guard Army numbered as many as 120,000 troops, while the Palace Guard had just over 30,000. Currently, relying on the easily defensible palace walls, they were barely holding off the enemy's assaults. Once the palace was breached, it would be simply impossible to repel the enemy's onslaught in close-quarters combat!

In other words, the moment the palace fell would mark the defeat and annihilation of the Palace Guard.

"Commander, do not despair yet. I believe Lord Xiu Lante must have a plan. For now, all we can do is defend the palace with our lives!" With no other recourse, Mels could only comfort the gathered officers by suggesting that Xiu Lante had a well-laid plan.

"Lord Xiu Lante is indeed a master strategist, but given the current situation, even if the entire Dragon Knights Regiment returned at once, it would be difficult to turn the tide of battle! I would like to ask you, Sir Knight, if the palace is breached, do you have any other means to protect His Majesty? If not, then I was wondering if we could request His Majesty to come out and negotiate with the rebels to prevent needless slaughter," the general whispered.

"What? You high-ranking generals, who usually hold yourselves so loftily, are now preparing to back down and submit to those treacherous ministers?" The hot-tempered Bagina [Female], not waiting for Mels to speak, slammed the table and stood up, loudly rebuking the Palace Guard general.

"Bagina, be quiet!" At this critical moment, Mels sternly stopped her from continuing. After all, this was a very tense moment. If they provoked the general's displeasure, he might angrily detain Mels and the others and then open the city gates to surrender to the Left and Right Prime Ministers.

However, the Palace Guard general was not as weak as Mels had imagined. He first lowered his head in thought, then suddenly stood up and declared, "This young lady is right! As subjects of the Relkes Empire, having received years of cultivation from His Majesty, how could we betray the Emperor at such a critical moment!

Once we successfully repel the enemy, please, Sir Knight, report my words here today verbatim to His Majesty! I am willing to accept any punishment!"

After saying this, he turned to the messenger beside him and ordered, "Pass down my command: anyone who utters further words of cowardice or fear of battle shall be executed on the spot!"

"Well said! That's a real man!" Bagina immediately praised loudly upon hearing his words. At the same time, she pouted and glared at Mels, as if saying: Hmph, you think everyone's as spineless as you?

Seeing the firm look in the general's eyes and Bagina's mocking expression, Mels smiled faintly, thinking to himself: Bagina, you've really done a great service this time! However, if Uncle Xiu Lante [Male] still doesn't launch an attack, then all of this will be meaningless!

Moments later, when Mels and the others returned to the front lines, the dense ranks of the Capital Guard Army once again began their assault on the palace. This time, in addition to the massive siege engines, heavy catapults were slowly rolled into position!

After a deafening roll of war drums, the Capital Guard Army surged toward the palace walls like a tidal wave. Facing the enemy's attack, the Palace Guard soldiers who had just entered the front lines tightly gripped their weapons, drew their bows, and readied arrows, prepared to resist the enemy's advance.

"Ready... loose!" At the command of the various commanders, a rain of arrows once again flew down.

However, this time the Capital Guard Army's offensive was even fiercer than before. The heavy infantry no longer blocked the advance routes of the light infantry; they merely closely surrounded the siege engines to protect these cumbersome devices. Meanwhile, the light infantry braved the arrow rain and charged forward, determined to capture the palace quickly at any cost!

Just as the Palace Guard was holding off the enemy's first wave, the dull snap of catapult springs sounded, and huge stones mixed with bundles of burning hay shot toward the palace walls. For a moment, the palace seemed engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke making it difficult for the soldiers to keep their eyes open.

And yet, even under such adverse conditions, the soldiers fought on desperately, using their bows to shoot at distant enemies and large stones to block the enemy's attempts to scale the battlements!

Unfortunately, the Palace Guard, disadvantaged in both numbers and equipment, soon showed signs of retreat. The broad front wall of the palace had multiple sections where the enemy had gained the walls!

By now, Mels was almost numb from killing. His blood-red Dragon Knight armor seemed freshly painted with blood, and his cold steel blade had been carved with grooves by human muscle and bone. Yet, the battle continued. Not only Mels understood, but every soldier on the battlefield knew that once the palace was breached by the rebels, they would die without a grave!

Watching as more and more enemies appeared on the walls, with a steady stream of assault troops forming thin lines scrambling to climb up, the situation grew increasingly dire. The teetering palace walls could be overrun by the enemy at any moment!

At this critical juncture, Mels suddenly noticed a large contingent of soldiers in blood-red armor rushing toward the battlements from inside the palace.

The Dragon Knights Regiment? How is that possible? How could they be inside the palace? Mels thought, utterly perplexed.

However, whether Mels believed it or not, these roughly two thousand soldiers truly appeared like heaven-sent reinforcements on the verge of being captured battlements!

Today, Mels finally witnessed the strength of the continent's foremost knight order—the most outstanding Dragon Knights Regiment of the Relkes Empire! These brave warriors, each highly skilled, climbed the inner walls almost effortlessly and then appeared like demons on the most intense parts of the battlements.

Without any words or hesitation, they unleashed their instinct to kill! Swords rose and fell, heads rolled. Almost every strike aimed for the enemy's vital points! Under the fierce assault of these fresh troops, the Capital Guard Army soldiers were soon driven back down the walls!

Perhaps fearing the dreaded reputation of the Dragon Knights Regiment, or perhaps because their combat prowess was simply too overwhelming, the advancing Capital Guard Army troops began to flee without fighting. No matter how much the rear commanders urged them, they refused to face these red-armored devils again! Left with no choice, the Left Prime Minister could only order the Imperial Guards Knights, held in reserve at the rear, to attack! However, he did not realize this would be his final command—and his most mistaken one!

The appearance of the Dragon Knights Regiment not only shook the morale of the Capital Guard Army soldiers but also inspired the hard-pressed Palace Guard troops! Everyone believed that as long as the Dragon Knights Regiment was present, even facing a million-strong army, the palace would remain safe!

After repelling the enemy's frenzied assault, the Dragon Knights Regiment did not rest content. Their arrival was not only to help the Palace Guard defend but also to carry out Xiu Lante's orders—to wipe out all rebel forces in one fell swoop!

Led by several Dragon Knights Regiment captains, huge wooden barrels were carried to the few remaining catapults of the Palace Guard. After loading all the barrels, they did not fire immediately but waited for the right moment.

Shortly after, just as the Imperial Guards Knights had entered the front lines, a commotion erupted at the foot of the Holy Mountain in the distance. At that very moment, the Dragon Knights Regiment soldiers on the palace walls launched all the barrels. Each barrel, weighing several hundred pounds, propelled by the catapults, flew far over the heads of the Capital Guard Army soldiers and landed in the middle of the mountain path, exploding with a roar. The black oil inside immediately began to flow slowly down the path.

"Give me the bow!" a captain in deep red armor, with two golden dragons engraved on his chest, shouted to his comrades behind him. Immediately, a huge specially-made bow appeared in his hands. As a flaming arrow shot out, under the horrified gazes of tens of thousands of soldiers, an overwhelming sea of flames soared into the sky!

It turned out that Xiu Lante had not delayed his attack without reason; he needed time to complete his preparations. After nightfall, he ordered two thousand Dragon Knights Regiment members to carry one barrel each and climb the steep cliffs on the eastern side of the Holy Mountain to reach the palace. Meanwhile, he led the remaining three thousand troops to secretly gather in civilian houses at the foot of the mountain.

Once the surprise troops successfully ascended the Holy Mountain, he led his forces to cut off the retreat of the Capital Guard Army, thus setting the Holy Mountain ablaze!

Xiu Lante truly deserved to be called a "genius"! He knew that at the start of the battle, the Capital Guard Army would gather at the foot of the Holy Mountain. If he attacked then, it would be impossible to cut off their retreat.

But after the enemy had fought bitterly through the night and was on the verge of breaching the palace, their troops would be densely packed on the mountain path. When the Dragon Knights Regiment soldiers appeared on the palace walls, the Left Prime Minister would surely order the Imperial Guards Knights to engage! This way, the rear defense would be minimized, and a large number of troops would be trapped on the narrow path. By launching his attack only at this moment, Xiu Lante only needed to firmly choke the enemy's retreat. The Capital Guard Army would then either be burned to death on the path or charge toward the palace to surrender to the Palace Guard!

Mels stared in shock at the towering flames before him, unable to imagine that the hundred thousand troops who had been swaggering just moments ago were now being roasted alive. For a moment, various Summoned Beasts soared into the air from both sides of the mountain path. However, by then, the Dragon Knights Regiment and the Palace Guard were already fully prepared.

Mels finally understood why they hadn't summoned beasts earlier! Although the enemy attempted a desperate struggle, it was already too late. Under the assault of various Summoned Beasts, the Capital Guard Army soldiers, fighting frantically for their lives, were repeatedly forced back into the flames.

Heart-wrenching screams, thick black smoke, and the pungent smell of burning flesh finally made Mels unable to bear watching any longer! Akafir had already vomited and curled up on the ground.

A great fire, a single conspiracy, had utterly obliterated over a hundred thousand lives! This was the ambition of humanity, and the price of that ambition!

The fire burned from late night until dawn, and from dawn until nightfall before gradually subsiding. The black oil alone couldn't burn for so long, but combined with the fat of over a hundred thousand humans, the power of the fire demon was fully displayed.

By the time Mels and the others stepped onto the charred earth, suppressing their nausea as they descended the mountain path, it was already the evening of the third day! When they met Xiu Lante, before they could receive any commendation from the Emperor, shocking news reached Mels's ears from Xiu Lante's mouth.

"Thousands of black-clad individuals have recently appeared in the Fijinando United Kingdom. They are likely the culprits behind the annihilation of the Blue Whirlwind!"