Chapter 208: Wind Orchid City(1)
Wind Orchid City—a prosperous metropolis. As a border city between two provinces, its commerce thrived, and its towering walls rivaled those of the empire’s frontier. It had once been hailed as the Empire’s Emerald.
Though it had suffered plunder at the hands of the "Black Crow Banner" bandits, the hardworking farmers had gradually restored its vitality.
Trade caravans flowed once more. The streets bustled with people, lively and vibrant.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion erupted from the south, accompanied by a violent tremor of the earth.
"What happened?"
The city’s residents stood frozen in confusion, all turning their eyes southward.
"Looks like something happened to the city wall—there’s smoke over there."
"You’re joking, right? What could possibly happen to the wall? It’s not like someone’s attacking the city."
"Why not? Did you forget the Black Crow demons last time?"
Voices overlapped as the citizens spoke in panic.
Soon, their fears became reality.
"Dong—dong—"
The heavy tolling of bells rang out. In no time, countless soldiers rushed toward the southern wall. Like waves splitting apart, the civilians were shoved violently to both sides of the streets.
"Return home!"
"Citywide lockdown!"
"Enemy attack! Squad leaders—mobilize the militia!"
Archers, mages, warriors—all wore fierce expressions, though their bodies trembled slightly as they hurried toward the wall.
"Damn it. Who dares invade my territory?"
A striking woman in a mage’s robe stepped out of the mage tower, gazing into the distance with a grave expression. She was Alice, the Divine Chosen of Wind Orchid City’s lord. "The city has only just recovered... and now it’s under attack again."
And this time—it was the main city itself.
Inside the lord’s hall, Adrian also heard the commotion. After a brief moment of stunned silence, he shot to his feet in rage.
"What is that noise? Which idiot dares attack my territory?"
"Assemble the army immediately. I will crush the invaders."
Alice arrived at the southern wall at top speed.
The sight before her was shocking.
It was as if the wall had been kicked by a colossal giant—an entire section of the thick lower structure had been blasted away. At the breach lay a gruesome mess of severed limbs and crushed flesh, smeared across the stone so deeply it could not be scraped off.
Inside the wall, the soldiers of Wind Orchid City stared in stunned silence at the figure beyond the breach.
A short-haired woman wearing a mask stood there, a massive spiral knight’s lance resting on her shoulder. She stood arrogantly at the opening.
She was like a sharpened butcher’s blade, her entire body radiating a terrifying aura of bloodlust.
"It’s... the Seventh Executor of the Shadow World Sect—Gladiator."
"What? Didn’t they say the Shadow World Sect was nearly wiped out?"
"Those rumors? Just for laughs."
Adrian had participated in suppression campaigns before, and among his troops were sharp-eyed veterans who recognized the terrifying lance at a glance.
"She specializes in siege-breaking and formation-shattering. Stay alert."
The Seventh Executor, Veronica, let out a twisted grin, her eyes gleaming with mockery. "Hehe... being the center of attention feels so good. I’ll slowly slaughter everyone in this city. Just thinking about it excites me."
"Veronica, don’t underestimate them. A city’s military strength isn’t something you can handle alone—even with the Divine Guard. Lure Alice out and capture her—that’s the priority."
Beside her, a black-robed lord, guarded by the Divine Guard, issued commands. "Don’t waste your divine power on cannon fodder."
"Let me enjoy myself first."
Veronica rolled her eyes, completely ignoring the order.
Facing the neatly formed ranks of heavy infantry, she bared her teeth in a wide grin.
"Hold the line! Do not let her through!"
"Seal the breach! Shields up!"
The infantry captain at the breach roared at the top of his lungs, gripping his shield tightly as he braced himself.
The soldiers raised their shields and leveled their spears, trying to block the opening. But in the next instant, their vision blurred, twisting and distorting.
"Tier-Three Divine Skill—Bloodshadow Spiral!"
The spiral lance began spinning at high speed, like a massive drill. Countless streaks of red light wrapped around it. Before such a terrifying weapon, the formation of ordinary soldiers could only tremble like ants.
A devastating attack crashed forward. The spinning lance slammed straight into the formation.
"Splurt—"
With sparks and blood bursting everywhere, in a single clash, a formation of over a hundred soldiers was almost entirely annihilated—leaving only scattered remains.
"Run!"
The remaining soldiers lost all will to fight. Their morale collapsed instantly as they turned and fled.
"Hahaha! This is too fun. Mortal bodies are so fragile—even plate armor is useless."
Veronica laughed wildly, hoisting her lance as she strode arrogantly through the breach.
"Hurry, we need reinforcements!"
"You idiots on the wall—are you already dead?!"
The defending general roared furiously. "Don’t be intimidated! No matter how strong a Divine Chosen is, she’s still human. She won’t be able to use that skill again in a short time!"
The surrounding soldiers snapped out of their shock.
From the wall, flame towers immediately unleashed volleys of fireballs. Soldiers hurled stones and fired arrows, bombarding Veronica from all directions.
"Clang, clang—"
Arrows that could normally pierce flesh bounced harmlessly off her body.
Brilliant spells struck her, only to dissolve like snowflakes.
"It’s not working at all... what kind of monster is she?"
A young recruit on the wall trembled uncontrollably, glancing back repeatedly. If not for the overseers behind him with drawn blades, he would have fled without hesitation.
"Calm down. It may look like the attacks are useless, but her power is draining rapidly. Once her divine power runs out, she’ll retreat."
The veteran beside him spat on the ground. "If she dares to push too far alone, she’s dead for sure."
"Really? I don’t believe it."
"Of course it’s true. Otherwise, why would the baron spend money raising an army—just to produce manure? You should be glad you’re an archer. Unlike those unlucky bastards down there, using their lives to wear her down."
Laughing madly, Veronica charged forward, her lance sweeping left and right—no one could withstand even a single strike.
"Send in the militia to fill the gap! Everyone else, tighten the defensive line!"
Watching his carefully trained soldiers fall rapidly, the general felt as if his heart were being cut apart. "Once the knights arrive, everything will turn around."
Just as Veronica reveled in the slaughter, a beautiful crimson butterfly suddenly entered her field of vision.
She glanced upward—and realized that countless butterflies had surrounded her at some point.
Their patterns were like works of art, exquisitely detailed.
"What is this—"
Before she could react—
"Boom! Boom!"
Scarlet light flashed like shooting stars, detonating instantly. Centered on the butterflies, a series of violent explosions erupted.
