Chapter 377 - 362: Like a Deity

Chapter 377: Chapter 362: Like a Deity

On the smoke-filled battlefield, Gloria gripped her Longsword, a faint golden radiance flickering on its blade.

HSSSST!

With a grating, corrosive sound, the edge of her sword bit deep into the flesh of the Demon before her.

Before the monster could recover from the excruciating pain, the Princess used the embedded Longsword as a pivot, vaulting nimbly into the air and whipping out her left leg with a whoosh.

THUD!

A heavy thud echoed as the Demon collapsed to the ground.

Gloria smoothly withdrew her Longsword, sending a spray of dark red blood into the air.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward and thrust her blade with precision once more.

SQUELCH!

The blade, infused with Positive Energy, pierced the Demon’s forehead, silencing its howls.

"Haaaah..."

Only after confirming the Demon was completely lifeless did Gloria let out a long sigh.

She grabbed the already torn hem of her dress, forcefully ripped off a strip of cloth, and wrapped it tightly around the hilt of her sword, now slick with viscous blood.

’The Combat Skills Lord Roland taught me are far more practical than court Swordsmanship...’

she thought to herself. Her eyes, as blue as a lake, swept across her surroundings, a shadow of gloom passing over them.

Compared to the limited number of human soldiers, the demonic onslaught seemed endless.

Although they were quite a bit weaker than she’d perceived them to be, they were still far beyond what ordinary soldiers could handle.

It was already a feat that the battle lines were still holding, however tenuously.

’If only Lord Roland were here...’

Remembering the glimpse she had caught of Roland leaving earlier, Gloria shook her head, a bitter smile touching her lips.

’He was never... part of the Golden Valley Kingdom to begin with. It’s... it’s only logical that he would choose to leave when faced with danger.’

Even as she tried to reason with herself, the thought of the gentle and handsome young man still sent ripples of disappointment through her heart.

She shook her head forcefully, as if to dispel these distracting thoughts, and then called out loudly.

"Duke!"

"Here!"

Before the word was even out, a burly figure landed beside her with a heavy thud, kicking up a spray of gravel.

Looking at the Princess before him—covered in blood, her clothes in tatters, yet with an unwavering gaze—the Duke’s eyes couldn’t help but fill with sincere admiration.

The Duke from the Western Domain wiped the blood from his brow, swung his Giant Sword to parry several incoming bone spikes, and asked in a deep voice.

"Her Highness Princess Gloria, what are your orders?"

"Orders..."

Glancing at the deteriorating battle, Gloria shook her head, unconsciously biting her lower lip as she spoke slowly.

"Duke, rally the troops. We... are preparing to retreat."

"Retreat? But..."

The Duke’s brow furrowed.

"What about His Majesty Morne...?"

"My father... I’m afraid he’s already..."

Gloria shook her head, dejected.

Although she hadn’t spent much time with Morne due to her age and her devotion to the Fiery Sun Church, she knew her father’s temperament well—he loved to show off and couldn’t stand being out of the spotlight.

If he had been victorious in his battle against those two powerful enemies from the Otherworld, he would have likely announced his triumph with a shout that echoed across the entire battlefield long ago.

But now...

She looked toward the dense forest where Morne had gone, her bright eyes gradually dimming.

For too long, not a single sound had come from that patch of woods.

Though she was unwilling to believe her powerful father could be defeated, what if those two visitors from the Otherworld returned to the main battlefield...?

Thinking of the worst-case scenario, Gloria took a deep breath. When she looked up again, all hesitation was gone from her eyes.

"Duke, we must withdraw from the battlefield as soon as possible, while our casualties are still manageable. We need to preserve our forces until..."

Her words trailed off as she noticed the Duke suddenly avert his gaze.

"Duke? Are you listening...?"

"No, Your Highness! Look over there!"

The Duke’s voice trembled unnaturally, almost shrill.

Such a loss of composure was particularly startling coming from this hardened man.

"What...?"

Gloria frowned and followed his gaze. The next moment...

Her mouth fell open, her face instantly consumed by shock and Fear.

"Is that... is that..."

「Meanwhile, inside Golden Ears City.」

"Th-thank you, Miss Teresa."

Sean looked at the silver-haired woman bandaging his arm, a flicker of relief for having survived passing through his eyes.

"If you hadn’t intervened in time, I’m afraid I would’ve been..."

"It’s nothing."

Glancing at the shattered demonic corpses not far away, a flash of surprise crossed Teresa’s eyes.

Back in Wuxi Town, the young man before her hadn’t possessed this kind of strength.

’How could he have progressed so rapidly in just a few short months?’

’But compared to Roland...’

After a moment of careful consideration, Teresa, who had been feeling somewhat disheartened and discouraged, let out a soft sigh.

’As expected. No matter how talented an ordinary person is, they can’t reach a level so far beyond me that I’m left choking on their dust...’

As her thoughts drifted, a resonant voice came from the side.

"Save your thanks for later!"

Following the sound, they saw a man striding toward them.

Even under the gloomy sky, his golden hair shone with a dazzling light.

"Miss Teresa,"

Dalko nodded to Sean before turning to the silver-haired woman.

"My classmates from the Knight Academy are all settled. The monsters haven’t found this place yet. What should we do next...?"

"Next, we’d best leave this collapsing city as soon as possible."

A slender figure appeared silently beside them.

Her short brown hair fluttered gently in the blood-tinged breeze, giving off a strange, fragrant scent.

"That idiot Galvis has already identified the node through which the demons invaded this world."

The newcomer leaned against a broken stone pillar, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the dinner menu.

"But the person who opened it was incredibly clumsy. The node is extremely unstable and could collapse at any moment. If it does..."

She shrugged.

"The resulting Space-Time turbulence would be enough to tear us all to shreds."

"Miss Avril."

Recognizing the newcomer, Dalko, who had been standing ramrod straight, unconsciously bowed slightly.

He had just experienced the methods of this seemingly young Elf Maiden firsthand.

If she hadn’t held back...

Recalling the dangerous scene from moments ago, the young noble subconsciously touched his neck, his eyes still showing lingering fear.

"Hehe..."

Noticing Dalko’s cautious expression, Avril let out a light laugh and, in the blink of an eye, was at the young noble’s side.

She patted his shoulder gently, her tone laced with a hint of amusement.

"Not bad. You know how to protect your companions in a crisis. A worthy friend of Roland. But next time... remember to look before you leap, understand?"

"Un-understood... Wait!"

Dalko snapped his head up, his face a mask of surprise.

"Roland?"

"Roland?"

Seeing Sean shout the name at almost the same time, Dalko raised an eyebrow and pressed on.

"Did Roland ask you to come save us?"

"Of course. Did I not mention that?"

Avril tilted her head and looked at Teresa.

After getting a negative response, she playfully stuck out her tongue.

"My apologies. But from the looks of you..."

The Elf Maiden toyed with the Dagger in her hand.

"You must be the two best friends Roland mentioned, Sean and Dalko, and not just some other people with the same names."

"Wait... best friends?"

Dalko shot a sidelong glance at Sean.

"Him? This big oaf is Roland’s friend too?"

"Hey! Who are you calling a sissy?"

"Who did you call a sissy?"

"If the shoe fits! Even the stench of those monsters can’t cover up your perfume!"

Watching the two young men pressing their foreheads together like a pair of bulls, Avril opened her mouth, but ultimately just sidled up to Teresa and sighed helplessly.

"They must be Roland’s friends, all right. Just as... goofy."

Teresa, who had been about to intervene, pondered this for a moment, and then...

She nodded with great solemnity.

Just then, a voice, hoarse with excitement, broke up the argument.

"Hey! Stop fighting! Come and look!"

Everyone followed the voice and saw Galvis standing on the edge of a cracked city wall, waving his hands excitedly in the air, his face overflowing with irrepressible excitement.

"Damn it! What’s gotten into him now? Doesn’t he know all this commotion will attract the monsters around here?"

Avril cursed under her breath. She was about to step forward and stop him when she froze in place.

Her pupils contracted, her gaze locking onto a figure in the distant sky.

"Is... is that Roland?"

The Elf Maiden’s breath hitched.

In the distant sky, a figure floated silently above the chaotic battlefield.

His body was covered in silver scales that refracted a cold light under the dim sky, making him look like an ancient statue of a war god.

But the most breathtaking thing was the ball of Energy coalescing in his hand.

"Gods above..."

Dalko’s voice was so hoarse it was almost a whisper.

Countless searing-white serpents of electricity writhed and coiled frantically in Roland’s palm, letting out a deafening hiss.

The blinding light outshone all the fires on the battlefield, illuminating the entire sky as if it were day.

Every arc of lightning contained pure, destructive Energy. The air warped and distorted within the Energy Field, emitting a strained hum as if on the verge of collapse.

Even from so far away, they could feel a stinging sensation on their skin, their hair standing on end.

"Way to go, Roland..."

Sean murmured, a hint of joy appearing on his face.

Teresa stared unblinking at the figure, an expression of disbelief on her usually calm face.

As for Galvis, he had stopped moving entirely, his breathing seemingly suspended.

He tilted his head back, his lips slightly parted as if to chant something, but no sound came out.

Under everyone’s stunned gazes, Roland slowly raised his arm.

The sphere of Energy, formed from pure Thunderbolt, spun rapidly and expanded in his palm, exuding a heart-stopping pressure.

The next second...

The world was consumed by pure white.

An indescribable roar tore through the sky, shattered the clouds, and even momentarily drowned out all the sounds of slaughter and wailing on the battlefield.

Scorching lightning poured down like divine punishment, turning the entire area into an ocean of Thunderbolts.

The intense light seared everyone’s eyes, and even from so far away, the shockwave whipped up their clothes and hair.

When the last peal of thunder slowly faded between heaven and earth, all that remained in the distance was a field of crackling electrical light.

Like the lingering after-effects of a judgment handed down by the gods themselves.