Chapter 417: Chaotic Battle
The overwhelming swarm of the Mantis Tribe braved the arrows and magic attacks, charging into the royal palace.
They dove down from the sky, using their sharp claws to attack the human soldiers on the walls.
Many Mantis Tribe soldiers directly crashed through palace windows and flooded inside.
"Watch out!"
A royal guard spearman was on alert, scanning the chaotic sky.
Amid the dizzying number of mantis soldiers, one locked onto him and dove.
Only after his companion's warning did he turn sharply.
But it was too late. The mantis soldier swooped by.
A sharp slash, and blood sprayed everywhere.
The royal guard's head was gone, and his headless body collapsed, blood spurting out.
The mere five thousand royal guards stood no chance against the overwhelming number of mantis soldiers.
Even though the royal guards were elite soldiers, the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.
Though they took down many foes, their own losses were devastating.
Palace mages and royal guards kept falling.
Screams echoed throughout the palace.
"Kaka, human king, where are you?"
Boom!
The doors to the royal hall were kicked open.
The massive doors flew dozens of meters before slamming into the ground.
Kakada casually walked into the royal hall.
At the very moment he entered, a freezing cold arrow came shrieking towards him.
Kakada grinned menacingly, dodging with a flash.
The ice arrow slammed into the ground outside, instantly freezing a large area.
Without missing a beat, Kakada rushed toward the female human mage by the throne, clad in a purple robe.
A black shadow flashed across the hall, closing the distance in an instant.
The wind pressure arrived before he did.
"Dream on!"
A man blocked the female mage, swinging his sword swiftly.
Confidence blazed in his eyes as he unleashed a crescent slash.
Clang!
Kakada caught the sword with his claw.
"Human, you're weak."
Kakada sneered at the human swordmaster.
With a squeeze, crack — the sword, despite its aura, shattered.
Amos' pupils shrank.
He instinctively raised his arms to guard his chest.
Boom!
Amos was sent flying, slamming into a wall dozens of meters away, causing a massive crack.
Kakada, with four arms, had used another claw to strike Amos even after snapping his sword.
Thankfully, Amos's bracers absorbed the brunt of the blow.
"Quick reflexes!"
Kakada looked at the fallen Amos with a touch of surprise.
Even in such a daze, Amos reacted.
"Vivian, be careful!"
Struggling up, Amos shouted.
The female mage Vivian, standing before the demon lord, reacted.
The ring on her right hand flashed, instantly encasing her in ice.
Kakada sneered at the sight.
Had he truly wanted to kill her, she wouldn't have had the time to react.
"Human woman, you're mine. I'll offer you to the great Demon God Emperor, kekeke!"
Despite humans being 'ugly' by demon standards, the Demon God Emperor favored them.
A powerful human mage would certainly please him — and earn Kakada a "Blood Crystal."
Grinning, Kakada raised his claw to smash the frozen Vivian.
Whoosh!
A piercing sound behind him.
A golden spear flew at him like a meteor.
"What's that?"
Kakada turned, swinging his claw.
Clang!
The spear clashed violently with Kakada, forcing him back several steps.
The golden spear spun through the air.
A figure darted into the hall, catching the spear.
"Your opponent is me, ugly bastard!"
Kariss, the Spear Hero, twirled his weapon and pointed it at Kakada, full of provocation.
Kakada sized up Kariss.
"Kaka, I know you — Spear Hero. I can smell the nauseating stench of your weapon."
"Prepare to die! Tonight, I will kill you!"
Kariss narrowed his eyes, anxiety creeping into his heart.
In stories, heroes always defeated demon kings.
Reality was crueler. In the endless wars, humans were always on the losing side.
Many heroes fell to demon lords.
Thirty years ago, the previous generation's Shield and Sword Heroes died to repel a demon invasion.
The Bow Hero died two years later from lingering injuries.
The Spear Hero survived but lost both legs — Kariss's teacher.
Kariss knew: human "God-ranked" warriors varied greatly, but even the strongest only matched demon generals.
Only peak heroes could face demon kings.
"Kill me? Hahaha!"
Kakada's laughter echoed in the hall.
Then it abruptly stopped.
Kakada looked down on Kariss with scorn.
"The last Spear Hero cried and begged at my feet. Out of pity, I only ate his legs. He never told you, did he?"
Kakada licked his lips with a black tongue.
"Beg me, and I'll just eat your legs too, kekeke!"
Kariss' pupils shrank, breathing heavily.
Clenching his spear tightly.
"You lie! I'll kill you!"
Roaring in rage, Kariss flashed forward, spear blazing like a dragon.
A massive shockwave tore through the hall.
Kakada sneered, vanishing into a blur of black light.
Gold and black streaks collided again and again.
Each clash sent shockwaves through the hall.
Boom!
Glass windows shattered.
"Kill, kill, kill!"
Kariss unleashed a flurry of furious spear strikes.
But Kakada's four arms formed an impenetrable defense.
"Kekeke, you're far too weak!"
Kakada countered, knocking Kariss back.
Seizing the momentum, Kakada kicked Kariss in the chest.
Boom!
Kariss flew backward like a cannonball.
"Compared to the last Spear Hero, you're trash!"
Kakada leapt high, about to crush Kariss.
Suddenly, Amos appeared in front of Kariss.
"Sword of Light — Holy Cross Slash!"
Roaring, Amos unleashed blinding holy energy.
A dazzling cross-shaped slash shot at Kakada.
Kakada sneered and vanished again.
The slash tore open a giant hole in the ceiling.
Below, Kakada reappeared before Amos, slashing down.
Clang!
Kariss's golden spear intercepted the blow.
Both slid back over ten meters.
"Amos, together!"
"Got it!"
The two steadied themselves, charging together.
---
Meanwhile, fierce fighting erupted in the city districts near the palace.
"Minotaur Tribe!"
Human reinforcements clashed with charging minotaurs.
"Block them!"
Human commanders roared.
Minotaurs, towering at 2.5 meters, smashed into human soldiers.
It was chaos.
The huge minotaurs rampaged like tanks.
Their axes tore through armor effortlessly.
But on the narrow streets, their momentum was soon halted.
The battle spilled into nearby streets.
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell from the sky.
Boom!
A massive figure landed — Mires, wielding a giant axe.
He smashed the street, sending cracks and shockwaves everywhere.
"Humans, eat this!"
Humans flew like ragdolls, crashing into buildings.
As Mires laughed, a blinding white light streaked from the northern sky.
Boom!
The light exploded, unleashing holy fire.
When the light cleared, a massive crater remained.
Inside stood a battered but grinning Mires.
His armor destroyed, skin scorched, wielding a red-hot axe.
"Painful! Hahaha!"
Mires laughed, fury burning in his golden eyes.
On a rooftop, three human Sword Saints readied themselves.
"It's Mires, the Minotaur Demon King!"
"Attack together! Buy Eula time!"
They leapt into battle.
---
Meanwhile, the northern wall sounded urgent horn blasts.
"Retreat! Withdraw immediately!"
The human army outside the walls, caught in furious battle, hesitated.
The sudden call to retreat caused chaos.
Human forces, numbering in the tens of thousands, began falling back like a receding tide.
"Battle mages, cover the retreat!"
Priests atop the walls chanted.
Orbs of light flew toward the battlefield, shielding the withdrawing troops.