Chapter 219: Rescue(1)
The group evaded the pursuing puppet monsters and swiftly exited the city through the secret passage.
"Whew... it’s over." Looking at Wind Orchid City shrouded in mist, Phield shrugged. "Now the family can deal with the headache of corruption."
"My lord, look! The Night Owl members seem to be in trouble."
Ashina pointed toward the outskirts, tugging at Phield’s sleeve.
Following her direction, they saw the two members of Night Owl being surrounded and besieged by a noble army, locked in a desperate battle.
Since Ashina hadn’t intercepted the messengers, the call for help from Wind Orchid City had reached nearby nobles. Though nobles were often divided by conflicting interests, when it came to suppressing rebels, they were surprisingly united.
When nobles were in trouble, they truly came to help.
Three noble houses had already mobilized—a third-tier Divine Chosen and several hundred private soldiers—rushing to reinforce Wind Orchid City, clashing fiercely with the two Night Owl members.
Clang—
A blood-stained flying dagger collided with a curved blade, erupting in a shower of sparks. Miriam was steadily forced back by a Divine Chosen wielding a scimitar.
"I’ve used too much divine power... I can’t keep this up."
Miriam panted heavily. Her left arm hung limply, blood dripping from her fingertips and pooling on the ground.
"Die!"
A graceful figure filled with battle intent appeared behind Miriam like a phantom, trailing a brilliant stream of energy.
"Watch out behind you!"
Brinda’s golden eyes locked onto the incoming enemy. She dashed forward, crossing her arms in defense.
Slash—
The sharp blade cut cleanly through Brinda’s arms. With a sickening sound of steel slicing flesh, both of her arms were severed, golden blood spraying into the air.
"It hurts... but I’m not going down like this."
Blood trickled from the corner of Brinda’s mouth like a winding golden snake. Her aura surged wildly.
"Third-tier Divine Skill—Lion King’s Howling Blast!"
A compressed storm of wind erupted from the phantom lion behind her, roaring outward.
The scimitar-wielding Divine Chosen took the hit head-on.
In an instant, her elegant clothes were shredded. Her skin split open, blood forced out and then annihilated by the blast. Bare and battered, she retreated rapidly, her eyes filled with caution.
Though the two before her had expended most of their strength, fighting them both at once was still extremely risky.
The noble army formation was also heavily disrupted. Soldiers at the front were torn apart by the storm, while those further back were thrown into disarray.
"Have the soldiers continue the assault," the scimitar-wielding Divine Chosen ordered decisively. "Kill them!"
Armored soldiers raised their maces and battle-axes, charging forward recklessly.
Seeing Brinda swaying unsteadily, Miriam’s eyes filled with worry. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Lion, go. I’m too weak—if we run together, I’ll only slow you down. We’ll both die."
"What are you saying? Don’t underestimate me."
Brinda turned, forcing a bright, sunny smile onto her bloodied face. "Don’t forget—I’m the tank. There’s no way I’d abandon my teammate and run."
"But—"
"Don’t worry. I can regenerate quickly. Give me an hour or two, and my arms will grow back." She grinned, winking. "So, Miss Miriam, you go first. Don’t hold me back here."
"Damn it... neither of you is getting away."
A noble in a crimson robe raised his longsword, pointing it at them from afar. His voice was hoarse with fury.
"Anyone who disrupts the peace of the Empire will be punished—at all costs! Surround them and kill them!"
Though he didn’t personally know the nobles who had been slain, such acts were like a blade at his throat. How could he not hate them?
"Lord Qike, wait for us!"
The thunder of galloping warhorses echoed in the distance. At the front, a young woman sprinted toward the battlefield on foot, faster than the cavalry behind her, forcing the knights to shout helplessly.
"Heh... caught you, Night Owl—the ones who disrupt the Empire’s peace."
Qike skidded to a stop at the battlefield, pointing at the two with a stern, hateful expression.
"You are accused of murdering nobles and killing civilians and soldiers. I sentence you... to death."
As she spoke, a brilliant light burst from her hand. A small, corgi-like creature with a foolishly cute appearance leapt out.
"Woof~"
The little dog barked innocently.
"A living divine artifact?" Brinda’s expression turned grim. "Damn it... another Divine Chosen—and one with a living artifact."
Living divine artifacts were terrifying—they could act independently of their wielder and consumed almost no divine power.
One Divine Chosen was already enough trouble. With another added... there was no chance of winning.
Miriam’s face fell into despair. "I’m sorry... this is all my fault. My plan was flawed from the start."
"Stop saying that. We’re a team. If you get the chance... survive."
Brinda didn’t take a single step back. There was already resolve for death in her eyes.
The nobles’ Divine Chosen were about to attack—
"AWOOOO—!"
A chilling, terrifying wolf’s howl tore through the air.
"What was that?"
Everyone turned toward the source.
Dust billowed from the forest as flocks of birds scattered into the sky.
Under countless gazes, a massive, ferocious wolf slowly emerged. Its scaled head exuded overwhelming pressure. Ashina stood atop it, lance in hand, her cold eyes sweeping the battlefield.
Rosalia appeared elegantly, carrying the Greatsword of Gluttony. The stench of blood around her was enough to make people wary even from afar.
The members of Nightfall Domain donned their masks, raising the Black Crow banner high.
This sudden force instantly became the center of attention—especially Phield, mounted atop his warhorse, The Ring of Sin circling him.
"Are they enemies... or...?"
The noble coalition hesitated. Every single one of them wore masks—nothing about them looked safe.
The two members of Night Owl were equally stunned.
Miriam muttered, "More nobles... this time, we’re finished."
As members of Night Owl, they knew well—they had no allies.
"M-my lord... it’s the Black Crow demon!"
One of the reporting soldiers collapsed in terror, trembling on the ground. "It’s them—they slaughtered us so badly we couldn’t even leave the city!"
Phield quietly issued an order: "Charge. Rescue the two from Night Owl, then withdraw slowly. Don’t show weakness."
Then, narrowing his eyes at the noble coalition, Phield burst into laughter.
"As expected... a bunch of fools. With just two pieces on the board, I lured you into marching deep alone."
"Now... die!"