Chapter 296: Teacher, Save Me
Above the Imperial Capital, the terrifying pressure surged like a physical tsunami, crashing wave after wave against the city's magical barrier.
The golden shield flickered madly, emitting ear-piercing wails as if it would shatter in the next second.
The scene in the sky had already affected the entire city. The streets were in chaos. Civilians hid in their homes in terror, yet couldn't suppress their curiosity, peeking up at the massive magic circle in the sky.
Inside the palace hall, the color had long drained from Legate's face. After the initial shock came utter madness.
He rushed to the window with bloodshot eyes, staring fixedly at the sky.
"Damn it! How dare they?!" he roared. "This is my Imperial Capital! My country! I am the Emperor of the Unified Empire!!!"
"Your Majesty! Calm down first," Friedrich advised urgently. "The priority is to activate all defenses. Your Majesty should retreat to the secret passage. They are coming for you!"
There was a secret passage in the palace that could allow the Emperor to escape the capital in times of crisis.
"You want me to flee?" Legate spun around, a sickly, twisted grin on his face. "I am not going anywhere! I will stay right here and watch with my own eyes as those two arrogant fools are utterly annihilated by my army!"
He used magic to amplify his voice across the entire capital: "Pass my order! All mages, focus all attacks on the magic circle in the sky! Full power!"
At Legate's command, the entire capital stirred like a poked hornet's nest. All defensive forces were mobilized rapidly.
Tens of thousands of troops assembled quickly. Although inferior to the vanguard legion in strength, they were still formidable.
Hundreds of remaining mages poured their mana into the teetering barrier with all their might, trying to stabilize the shield.
Watching Legate's near-irrational actions, Friedrich felt a chill in his heart.
He knew better than anyone that against a force capable of wiping out the entire vanguard legion, these conventional defenses were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Negotiation was the best option right now.
Moreover, Friedrich had vaguely guessed that Serie alone couldn't have achieved such a feat.
He knew the legendary Elven Saint well; he had personally planned the tactics the Court Mages in the vanguard legion used against her.
Although Serie was strong, she wasn't a god. She couldn't contend with the Empire's massive army alone.
But if the one beside her was an existence who had once slain gods... that would be different.
"Your Majesty! It is useless! Their power level has surpassed—"
He wanted to make one last effort.
"Shut up!" Legate interrupted him rudely. "I don't believe it! I absolutely don't believe it! The Empire will not fall! I will not be defeated!"
Legate knew that the moment he decided to move against Serie to unify the human nations, he had cut off all paths of retreat.
Therefore, even if it meant death, he would never back down.
Friedrich retreated gloomily. He ordered the guards to dismiss everyone in the palace.
If the mages and soldiers of the entire capital couldn't resist the approaching duo, the people in the palace certainly couldn't.
Staying here would only be throwing their lives away.
Soon, the energy fluctuations in the sky reached their peak.
In the center of the magic circle, two figures slowly emerged—Serie and Rhodes.
They didn't hide their presence, hovering openly above the Imperial Capital. Just like last time, they used teleportation magic, but this time, the mana fluctuations around them carried a heavy killing intent.
The pressure leaking from the teleportation circle was Rhodes's warning to them.
"Fire! Open fire!!!"
BOOM!
Hundreds of offensive spells, along with countless bolts, shot brazenly toward the two figures in the sky.
Even with the vanguard legion destroyed, the Empire still had deep reserves. The hundreds of mages and tens of thousands of troops in the capital were the best proof.
Given more time, Legate could have gathered over a thousand mages and hundreds of thousands of troops.
Unfortunately, Rhodes and Serie came too quickly!
They gave him no time to react.
Facing the concentrated fire capable of leveling a small mountain, Rhodes extended his hand. A massive magical shield unfolded before him. When the spells and bolts touched the shield, it was as if they hit an insurmountable wall—they all dissipated instantly.
Not even a ripple was stirred!
"No... impossible..."
Soldiers and mages witnessing this were dumbfounded. They had never seen such a powerful magical shield.
Could human magic really achieve this?
The madness on Legate's face froze.
Just then, Serie moved.
Continuing to tangle with these mages was pointless. It was better to end the battle quickly.
She slowly raised The Light of Ersten. Borrowing the power of the Holy Sword, she unleashed a seemingly simple slash aimed directly at the barrier blocking their way.
Facing this slash infused with traces of faith power, the capital's barrier had no ability to resist. Upon contact, it melted and disintegrated at a speed visible to the naked eye.
In the next second—all barriers shattered!
Stripped of its final protection, the Imperial Capital was completely exposed to the two seemingly small figures above.
Serie and Rhodes didn't hesitate, flying rapidly toward the palace.
"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!!!"
The Royal Guards outside the palace screamed, but their formation began to crumble under the terrifying pressure exerted by the two.
Legate finally panicked completely. Watching the two figures getting closer in the sky, the aura of death approached rapidly.
At this speed, soldiers and mages couldn't reinforce him in time. He stumbled backward, knocking over a lampstand behind him, looking wretched.
"Teacher... Teacher! Save me!"
He finally put down his imperial dignity and cried out to Friedrich for help like a helpless child.
Friedrich looked at Legate's state, his eyes full of complex emotions.
Pain, disappointment... but mostly, a predestined responsibility.
After all, he was his teacher. He had watched him grow up and assisted him in ascending to the throne.
"Your Majesty, please step back."
Friedrich took a step forward, shielding Legate behind him.
His aged body straightened in this moment. Powerful mana fluctuations began to ripple around him—the last power gained by burning his already meager life force.
"Teacher..."
Legate watched Friedrich's life aura diminishing constantly, muttering to himself. Regret began to emerge and spread throughout his body.
In the sky, Rhodes and Serie had arrived above the palace. Looking at the luxurious palace below, Serie swung her sword again.
The entire palace was split in half, completely exposing Legate and Friedrich to their vision.
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