Chapter 153 : Chapter 153

Chapter 153. The Final Battle

Below ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the city wall, the fierce flames ignited by the fire oil finally gradually died out, leaving only a charred stretch of ground and twisted, carbonized corpses.

Seizing ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this brief chance to breathe, Eli quickly came to Count Quintus’s side.

“Count, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍their main force is about to arrive! I have already sent people to urgently request aid from Lord Lucius!”

Naturally, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Count Quintus had also seen the enormous army rapidly gathering and approaching on the distant horizon.

When ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he heard that Eli had already requested reinforcements in advance, the taut string in his heart loosened slightly.

But ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his voice remained hoarse and heavy. “Well done. But before the reinforcements arrive… we can only rely on ourselves!”

At that moment, the last tongues of flame below the city wall flickered a few times and completely went out.

The obstruction was gone.

The main force of the allied army led by Paul had already joined up with Sessen’s surviving troops.

The black mass of soldiers numbered close to ten thousand, and the pressure they brought was suffocating.

Paul had no unnecessary words. He merely raised the sword in his hand high, pointed it directly at Dragon Gate, which still stood ahead, and roared with all his strength.

“All troops, hear my command! Target, Dragon Gate! Break through it at any cost!

Titles! Wealth! Women! Everything in Thorne City belongs to whoever seizes it! For the Federation! Charge!”

“Ohhh—!”

Shouts mixed with greed, frenzy, and the desire to kill erupted from the allied army like a tsunami!

The Federation soldiers, their eyes reddened by the stimulation of a count’s title and the wealth before them, charged toward Dragon Gate in a full-scale assault like a flood bursting through a dam!

On the city wall, Eli looked down at the densely packed enemies below. This was his first time directly facing a mass charge of nearly ten thousand men.

That terrifying momentum made his heart pound violently against his will.

But he had no time to fear.

“All archers and crossbowmen! Fire at will! Target the enemy ahead! Loose arrows! Do not stop!”

Fortunately, Hofgard’s troublesome “Arrow-Breaking Flying Shields” seemed to have been exhausted during the previous battle and chaos.

Dense arrow rain once again poured down from the top of the wall, falling into the charging enemy ranks with the shriek of death.

The Federation soldiers raised the shields in their hands one after another, trying to block them.

The arrows struck wooden shields and iron shields, producing a dense series of crackling impacts.

But the rain of arrows was too dense. Countless arrows still passed through the gaps between shields, or directly pierced shields that were not sturdy enough with their powerful momentum.

“Ah!”

“My leg!”

“Save me!”

Screams rang out continuously amid the charging tide.

Soldiers struck by arrows rolled and fell, only to be instantly trampled underfoot by the comrades surging up behind them.

The casualty count was rising sharply, but driven by greed and fanaticism, the allied army’s charge did not weaken by much.

Sessen was even more ferocious. He simply and roughly yanked out the arrow Eli had shot into his arm, dragging out a spray of blood.

He did not even look at it. Grinning savagely, he threw the arrow away, raised a heavy square shield, and charged toward the city wall at the very front!

His bravery greatly encouraged the Hofgard soldiers and the allied troops from the other states behind him.

They let out beast-like howls and followed closely.

Count Quintus’s face was ashen as he watched the enemies swarm beneath the wall like ants. He ordered hoarsely,

“Rolling logs! Throwing stones! Smash them down! Throw every last one we have!”

The defenders strained with all their strength to push the last stored rolling logs and throwing stones down from the wall.

The heavy logs and stones fell with howling wind, and the foot of the wall was immediately filled with the horrifying sounds of bones being crushed and shrill screams.

But against a charge of nearly ten thousand men, this small amount of defensive material was like a cup of water against a burning cartload of firewood.

The casualties it caused were soon drowned beneath even more enemies surging forward.

Soon, the last throwing stone was pushed down from the battlement.

The city-defense tools had been completely exhausted.

“Spearmen! Forward! Block the battlements! Stab down any enemy who climbs up!” Count Quintus roared with all his strength.

The defending soldiers raised their long spears one after another and stabbed with all their might at the Federation soldiers climbing madly up the siege ladders!

The edge of the city wall instantly became the bloodiest and cruelest meat grinder.

Federation soldiers were constantly pierced by long spears and fell from the wall screaming.

Defenders were also constantly struck by spears thrust up from below or by flying arrows, collapsing into pools of blood.

At this moment of utter chaos, Sessen seized a fleeting opportunity.

He roared, and the Gold Tier battle aura within him erupted without reservation.

A powerful aura spread outward with him at its center. He directly and brutally knocked aside several soldiers blocking his path.

Then, he swung the heavy warhammer stained with blood.

Using all his strength, he stepped onto the sturdiest siege ladder and rushed toward the battlement with all his might like a berserk rhinoceros.

With a few swift and heavy steps, he had already rushed to the edge of the battlement.

A defending soldier, his face full of resolve, thrust his long spear forward, stabbing fiercely toward Sessen’s exposed chest!

Sessen did not block at all!

He even pushed his chest forward slightly, allowing the sharp spearhead to pierce into his solid muscles and become stuck against his hard bones.

A mad smile appeared on his face, and his left hand abruptly grabbed the spear shaft.

The warhammer in his right hand swept sideways with the momentum, smashing the nearby soldiers and sending them flying.

At the same time, he roared and flung the long spear embedded in his chest, along with the soldier holding it, toward the outside of the city wall!

Thud!

There was a heavy impact on the ground.

Taking advantage of this opening, Sessen vaulted over fiercely. His heavy body landed on the city wall like a boulder!

“Ohhh! Lord Sessen is up there!”

“Boulder Sessen!”

“Quick! Follow Lord Sessen! Charge up!”

The Federation army below the wall let out earth-shaking cheers. Even more soldiers, like sharks that had scented blood, surged madly toward this opened breach!

Sessen stabilized himself and swept his warhammer horizontally, easily knocking back several defenders who tried to surround him, smashing their bones and tendons apart.

His bloodshot eyes, filled with killing intent, instantly locked onto the white-haired figure not far away!

“White-haired brat!”

Sessen let out a furious roar and swung his warhammer, charging toward Eli like an out-of-control war chariot!

All the defenders who tried to block his path were sent flying, along with their weapons, by his terrifying strength.

“Lord Eli!” the surrounding soldiers shouted in terror.

Eli looked at Sessen charging toward him like a savage god and took a deep breath.

Then he abruptly drew Silver from his waist and held it before him, preparing to block this thunderous strike.

Boom!

The warhammer and longsword collided fiercely! Sparks flew everywhere!

Eli felt an irresistible force travel along the blade.

The webbing between his thumb and index finger split open instantly, blood pouring out, and his entire arm nearly went numb.

He grunted and staggered backward, forced to retreat seven or eight steps before he barely dispersed that force.

Although he had not been smashed flying on the spot, his chest churned violently with blood and Qi, and sweetness rose in his throat.

“Hm?” When Sessen saw that Eli had actually taken his enraged blow head-on, a trace of surprise and even stronger interest appeared on his face.

“A Silver brat can take one of my hammer blows? You have some ability! But this ends here!”

He no longer held back and fully drove his Gold Tier battle aura.

His warhammer swung like a windmill, carrying afterimages as he launched a continuous storm of attacks toward Eli!

Eli gritted his teeth. Relying on his agile footwork and Silver’s sharpness, he struggled to parry and dodge.

But the gap in strength between him and Sessen was truly too great. Moreover, his previous command and fighting had already consumed a great deal of his stamina and energy.

He felt the sword in his hands growing heavier and heavier, and his steps were becoming increasingly unsteady.

“Eli! I will help you!”

In the distance, Ron naturally noticed the dangerous situation here.

His heart burned with urgency as he led the reserve force and fought desperately toward this breach, rushing to support Eli.

“Do not think you can disturb our boss’s fun!”

“Get lost, Western Frontier dogs!”

However, at this moment, more and more Federation soldiers had already surged onto the wall through this breach.

They grinned viciously and formed a dense formation, firmly blocking Ron and the reinforcements he led outside.

The two sides tangled fiercely together. Although Ron was brave, he found it difficult to break through for the moment.

At this moment, Eli’s situation was already on the brink of collapse.

Both of his hands had long since been shaken bloody, and his arms were so weak and sore that he could almost no longer lift them.

He failed to dodge in time, and Sessen’s warhammer brushed past his ribs.

Although it did not strike him directly, the terrifying force of the wind still swept his entire body into the air and sent him crashing heavily into the stone wall behind him.

“Ugh!”

Eli could not help spitting out a mouthful of blood, and the intense pain nearly made him faint.

“It is over!” Sessen grinned savagely and walked toward him step by step.

“Eli—!” Ron, who was being firmly blocked on the outside, saw this scene and let out a desperate and furious roar.

He swung his sword with all his might, trying to force his way over, but even more enemies entangled him.

Eli looked at Sessen steadily approaching him, his eyes filled with unwillingness. Am I still… too weak?

Then, struggling, he used his almost numb hand to grab Silver, which had fallen beside him, intending to make one final resistance.

At this critical moment,

a calm voice sounded directly in the depths of his mind.

“Young Master, please allow me to borrow a trace of your strength.”

Eli instantly froze.

That voice… was the butler? Sebastian?

Before he could think further, an abrupt change occurred!

Several shadows that seemed almost alive shot out without warning from the shadow beneath his feet.

Like living black venomous snakes, they swiftly wound up along his legs and feet, then instantly sank into his body.

A cold, violent, unfamiliar power filled with a dark aura instantly flooded every part of him.

All pain and exhaustion were forcibly devoured by this power in an instant!

His originally clear blue eyes also instantly turned into a pure and profound black.

Eli only felt that his body was now filled with strength!

Coming out this late to save the scene—do you think you are the protagonist?!

This absurd thought flashed through his mind, only to be drowned by the murderous desire brought by that dark power.

He abruptly raised his head. Those pure-black eyes locked onto Sessen, who was right before him, and the corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc.

He no longer feared. He no longer retreated.

He took the initiative to raise Silver in his hand, and the sword seemed to sense this dark power as well, letting out a low hum.

Sessen looked at Eli, who seemed to have become an entirely different person, especially those eyes that made one’s heart shudder.

His charging steps could not help but pause, and his brows furrowed tightly.

What is going on with this brat? Has he gone mad? Or did he use some forbidden secret art?

“Playing tricks! Then die for me!”

Sessen suppressed the trace of unease in his heart and swung his warhammer again, smashing it with all his strength toward Eli, who was charging straight at him.

He believed that before absolute strength, all tricks were futile.

However, the scene that unfolded next shocked everyone who could see it, including Sessen himself, to the point that their souls nearly fled.

Facing that warhammer, which was powerful enough to crack stone, Eli still did not dodge or evade.

Silver in his hand was wrapped in a strange black current, and he chopped straight down in a simple and direct slash.

Clang—crack!

Sessen’s heavy warhammer, forged by a Great Smith of Hofgard and having accompanied him through many years of battle,

was split straight into two halves the instant it touched the blade wrapped in black Qi.

The cut was as smooth as a mirror!

“What?!” The savage grin on Sessen’s face instantly froze, turning into utter horror.

He instinctively tried to retreat. But at this moment, he discovered in terror

that the shadow beneath his feet had, at some point, become like a viscous swamp.

It tightly wrapped around his feet and calves, preventing him from moving!

“Now…” There was no emotion in Eli’s pure-black eyes, only cold killing intent. “It is over!”

Before his words fell, Silver in his hand carried a bleak and beautiful black light.

Like the scythe of death, it slashed horizontally toward Sessen, who was struggling desperately!

The sword light flashed.

Sessen only felt a chill at his neck. Then he saw heaven and earth rapidly spin before his eyes.

He saw the soldiers below looking up in shock. He saw that burly body still standing in place…

In the end, his consciousness sank into cold darkness and chaos.

“Lord Sessen!!!” The Federation soldiers at the breach let out screams of absolute terror.

Their commander, who had been as invincible as a war god in their hearts, had actually… actually been beheaded in a single exchange?!

Eli did not stop walking, and he did not even look at the head rolling across the ground.

His pure-black eyes swept toward the breach, which had fallen into brief chaos because of Sessen’s death.

The surging dark power within him was driving him onward.

He needed to vent.