Chapter 418: Battle Inside and Outside the City
The light sphere emitted a dazzling brightness, dispersing the darkness.
The war mages chanted loudly.
One explosive fireball after another soared from the city walls.
They streaked across the night sky, striking the demon army outside the city.
"Boom!"
Deafening explosions rang out.
Firelight burst among the demon army.
Mushroom clouds of flame rose into the air.
The explosive flames and shockwaves swept in all directions.
Countless demon soldiers were obliterated in the fire.
Those further away were blasted into the air.
Icicles radiating freezing cold shattered among the demon army.
Wherever the white mist passed, everything was frozen solid.
On the battlefield, a tornado suddenly appeared.
Nearly two hundred meters high, it sent demon soldiers and mounts flying.
"Combined Magic, Fire Tornado!"
Within the tornado, flames suddenly erupted.
The tornado swiftly fused with fire.
On the dark battlefield, it became a dazzling fire tornado.
Wherever it passed, all demon soldiers were sucked in.
And burned to ashes by the flames.
The scorching temperature even distorted the surrounding air.
Above the battlefield, dark clouds churned.
The clouds quickly covered the entire battlefield.
Lightning and thunder roared within the clouds.
In an instant, a deafening thunderclap rang out.
Dense lightning bolts rained down on the demon army.
Each strike incinerated demon soldiers within dozens of meters.
"This is the god-tier war magic 'Cumulonimbus Thunderstorm'!"
Exclamations rang out from the city walls.
All the mages looked up worshipfully at the graceful figure in a sky-blue robe atop the watchtower.
Only a Water God-tier mage could unleash such a vast Cumulonimbus Thunderstorm.
For a time, the battlefield outside the north city became as bright as day.
Each lightning strike lit up the heavens and earth.
"Human mages are truly troublesome!"
In the rear of the demon army.
On a beast-drawn chariot, Adelaide looked up at the stormy sky.
Even as a demon king, Adelaide felt envious of human magical talent.
Unlike demons, who had virtually no magical aptitude.
Though their powerful bodies could easily slaughter human mages.
Human mages were never alone.
One-on-one, demons could easily kill human powerhouses of the same level.
But in two-on-three, demons usually lost.
"Retreat!"
Adelaide calmly issued the retreat command.
Continuing the chase was pointless.
Menia City had a crystal barrier.
Once the human army retreated behind it, they would activate the shield.
Continuing to pursue would only make demon soldiers easy targets.
Although this war also aimed to cull the old, weak, and sick among the demons.
Cannon fodder still had their uses.
They couldn't be wasted meaninglessly.
The trumpeters behind him quickly blew the retreat signal.
"Woooo!"
The deep, prolonged sound of horns echoed across the battlefield.
Although both sides used horns for orders.
The sounds were distinct enough for both demons and humans to tell them apart.
At the horn's call, the demons stopped chasing the human army.
Like a receding tide, they withdrew from Menia City.
"Sire... shall we support Kakada and Myris?"
Adelaide looked toward Menia City in the distance.
He smirked and waved his hand.
"No rush. Let the army rest first, then we'll move."
Tonight, Menia City was doomed to fall.
But the fall shouldn't be too easy for Kakada and Myris.
Menia City, Grand Cathedral.
"Report! Your Majesty, the palace has fallen!"
A soldier rushed into the cathedral hall.
He knelt halfway, his face pale and dripping with cold sweat.
This news made Bartro, clad in heavy armor, sway unsteadily.
"What about Lady Vivian and Lord Amos?"
"I... don't know. The palace is unreachable!"
Was the Kingdom of Armenia destined to end under his reign?
Bartro's expression shifted wildly.
He could feel his heart pounding violently.
The immense pressure made it hard to breathe.
"Your Majesty, our only hope now is the 'Divine Descent Ritual,' there may still be a sliver of hope!"
At that moment, a melodious voice rang out.
A graceful figure in pure white robes entered, surrounded by cathedral knights.
"High Priestess Tabesa!"
Bartro's eyes lit up.
He quickly stepped forward.
"But... the Divine Descent Ritual requires..."
"It is Heaven's blessing and gift. They may lose everything, but gain invincible strength for life."
Outside of the Papal State, no one knew that the ritual summoned angels.
The vessels would have their consciousness erased and be possessed.
Outsiders only knew they would gain immense power and become Heaven's apostles.
Taking a deep breath, Bartro nodded.
"I will gather the surviving god-tier warriors immediately!"
With a grave expression, Bartro turned and strode out.
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace hall.
"The crystal isn't in the palace?"
Kakada's pupils shrank as he sat on the throne.
"Damn humans, they tricked us!"
Kakada's roar echoed through the ruined royal hall.
After roaring, he quickly calmed down.
He stood up.
In a flash, he soared outside.
"All forces, assault the Grand Cathedral!"
If the crystal wasn't in the palace, it had to be at the Grand Cathedral.
The night grew deeper.
Menia City was in chaos.
Fierce battles erupted everywhere.
In alleys and streets, human and demon armies clashed.
Magic glowed like countless stars.
Many districts were ablaze.
Civilians screamed as they fled the infernos.
Shouts and the clash of metal filled the air.
Occasional booms shook the ground.
Entire houses turned to ashes.
Those were battles between true powerhouses.
At that moment, a radiant light sphere rose from the Grand Cathedral.
At a thousand meters high, it exploded.
The flash illuminated the entire city.
"It's the Grand Cathedral's signal!"
On a rooftop along a street.
A figure was sprinting madly.
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
It was Carys, the Spear Hero.
Carys carried Vivian and Amos over his shoulders, fleeing desperately.
His hand holding Vivian rested on her plump ass.
Vivian blushed slightly at his shamelessness.
At this moment, she said nothing.
Survival was the priority.
"Carys, Amos..."
Vivian glanced worriedly at the bloodied Amos.
She had been unable to intervene in the palace battle.
Too close.
If she broke free from her frozen state, the demon king would have killed her.
No way he would let an Ice God-tier mage join the fight.
Carys squeezed Vivian's soft, firm ass gently.
"He's alive, just unconscious. Otherwise, I wouldn't be carrying him!"
Feeling the silky softness, Carys grinned.
Exhausted, but carrying a beauty made it all worth it.
Breathing in Vivian's fragrance, Carys looked intoxicated.
Though a bit older, she was still stunning.
Maybe after the war, he could even date her.
At their age, dating meant going straight to bed if both agreed.
At that moment, the surroundings suddenly brightened.
In the southern sky, another radiant light sphere appeared.
"Carys, it's the Grand Cathedral's signal!"
The signal made Vivian's heart sink.
She no longer cared about Carys's wandering hand.
The situation was dire if they had to fall back to the cathedral.
"Looks like we have to head back!"
Carys leapt like a flea across rooftops toward the cathedral.
Meanwhile, all human forces in the city saw the signal.
"Retreat immediately! Regroup at the Grand Cathedral!"
The demons had breached the city.
Holding the walls was meaningless.
The signal ordered all troops to withdraw.
Those fighting inside the city also fought their way toward the cathedral.
The demons' assault had thrown the city into chaos.
The streets were too cramped for organized battle.
Fighting spilled into every street.
The armies broke up, separated by buildings.
The battlefield became utter chaos.
Only the mantis-demon soldiers could ignore terrain.
Menia City, Grand Cathedral.
As grand as the royal palace.
The cathedral was massive.
Though lacking walls, huge plazas surrounded it.
Tonight, under the full moon and blood moon.
Silver-helmeted figures filled the plazas.
Five thousand cathedral knights formed an iron wall of flesh.
As more human soldiers poured into the plaza.
The area grew ever more crowded.
"It's the mantis demons! They're attacking!"
In the northern sky, a swarm of figures like locusts appeared.
They surged toward the cathedral.
"Archers, prepare to fight!"
The northern plaza erupted into activity.
Archers hastily lined up.
"No! We'll hit our own troops!"
Many human soldiers were still flooding toward the plaza.
If the archers fired volleys, the arrows would fall on the incoming soldiers.
"Use magic! Magic archers, mages, priests, prepare to attack!"
Magic attacks traveled straight and dissipated at range.
The plaza's mages raised their staffs and chanted.
Magic archers nocked arrows of pure magic.
Infantry readied defensive formations.
Closer... closer...
Suddenly, countless mantis demons leapt over rooftops into the plaza.
"Free fire! Stop them!"
Magic archers and mages unleashed their attacks.
Magic arrows and spells filled the sky.
Fireballs, ice arrows, wind blades, stone bullets, and more...
A rainbow of magic covered the heavens.
Explosions rocked the sky.
Countless mantis demons were torn apart.
Fragments rained down, turning to ash before hitting the ground.
"The minotaur army is right behind us!"
A soldier entering the plaza shouted a warning.
They weren't so much retreating as fleeing.
"Roar!"
Deep in the streets, thunderous roars echoed.
Huge, savage figures charged into the plaza.
"Archers, fire!"
The human army had been waiting.
Arrows whistled through the air.
Rainstorms of arrows struck the demons.
"Ssshh!"
A large number of minotaur soldiers fell.
Though poorly armored.
The minotaurs' bodies were extremely tough.
Many roared in pain but stood back up.
They pulled out the arrows and bled red like humans.
Roaring, they charged the human soldiers.
Facing the towering minotaurs, fear flickered in human eyes.
It wasn't about strength.
Humans instinctively feared giant creatures.
"Kill! Fight to the death without retreat!"
A human commander roared.
Holy aura burst from his body.
Priests in the rear quickly cast blessings.
Waves of halos flashed across the soldiers.
Wounds healed visibly.
Exhausted bodies regained vigor.
Strength surged anew.
"Fight to the death without retreat!"
"Fight to the death without retreat!"
Human soldiers shouted and charged.
They knew tonight could be their last.
But there was no retreat.
Only battle to the death.
On the northern plaza, minotaurs and humans clashed.
Metal clanged, sparks flew.
The violent crashes echoed to the heavens.
"Hahaha, humans, die horribly!"
Suddenly, crazed laughter rang from the night sky.
More than a dozen figures crashed down like meteors.
"Boom!"
They smashed into the human army.
Explosions of rubble and shockwaves blasted outward.
Soldiers were thrown flying.
"Humans, die!"
Huge figures charged nearby human soldiers.
Wielding axes, they slaughtered indiscriminately.
These were the minotaur demon generals.
Neither ordinary soldiers nor cathedral knights could stop them.
Wherever they passed, it was like a tornado.
They tore through human ranks like a storm.