Chapter 279 - 262: Nonstop Raids, Evil Creature Reappears
Chapter 279: Chapter 262: Nonstop Raids, Evil Creature Reappears
Forward, forward.
Jon drove his Mechanical Warhorse forward. With a flick of his arm, a wave of Sword Qi from Broken Abyss lopped off the head of the young rebel standing dumbstruck in his path.
Until the moment of his death, the young man’s face was still etched with bewilderment and confusion.
Why? Why was this happening?
As his head spun through the air, his eyes, still holding a glimmer of light, reflected a final scene: a cavalry unit, all mounted on Centaur-like Mechanical Bodies, was smashing through the defensive line he and his comrades had spent days building in this district. And every single one of those cavalrymen could unleash Sword Qi of varying colors.
He knew that was a skill only the high-and-mighty Knight Lords were supposed to possess...
It was just...
’Why... are there so... many...’
The head hit the ground, rolled a few times in the filthy water, and then fell silent.
Then, literal iron hooves thundered across the ground, leaving nothing but chaos in their wake.
"The third position."
Jon slowed his mount slightly, waiting for his team to catch up. He glanced up at the magnificent Fortress at the city’s highest point. Almost without thinking, a three-dimensional map of Heta County City materialized in his mind, showing his current position and his next move.
He knew this city all too well.
Soon, the commandos regrouped amidst the smoke-filled ruins. After the high-speed charge, the joints of their Gun Cavalry mounts let out sharp HISSES as they cooled, releasing scorching steam that condensed into white mist.
The faces of the Radiant Knights and the Defender Army were streaked with sweat and grime, yet their eyes were astonishingly bright. Like sharpened blades, their gazes were locked on the black-haired figure standing tall as a mountain at the head of the formation.
The recent battle had been flawless. Each of Jon’s concise commands had precisely torn through the weakest points of the rebel defenses. No enemy could stand where his blade pointed.
The novelty of riding these strange Mechanical Body mounts and charging wantonly through enemy ranks, combined with the thrill of victory from following a powerful leader and shattering every obstacle, was forging this hastily assembled strike team into a keen, effective blade at an astonishing rate!
Leona rode her Gun Cavalry closer, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Your Highness, the rebels will likely be much denser up ahead. Where should we break through?"
"We stay the course."
Jon didn’t even turn his head. His gaze pierced through the swirling smoke and chaotic silhouettes of the buildings ahead, locking onto Red Crying Castle at the city’s highest point—a fortress that looked like a congealed scab of blood.
"We press forward. Tear through every obstacle until the gates of Red Crying Castle are beneath our feet!"
He paused, then turned his head. His serene gaze swept across every face gathered at his side, his eyes filled with an indomitable will.
"Once we reach the Fortress, we will become the tip of the spear, and we will drive it into the rebels’ heart!"
"We will draw all the rebels’ fire and endure their most desperate, final counterattack! At the same time, we must stop any civilians from approaching Red Crying Castle!"
"This is the most dangerous mission, and also the most glorious. Tell me, can you do it!?"
"We can!"
"We’ll follow Your Highness to the death!"
"Let those bastards witness the Sun’s fury!"
"Crush them!"
Jon’s words were like a spark in boiling oil, instantly causing their already fervent morale to explode!
The Radiant Knights pounded their fists against their breastplates, creating a dull roar like war drums. The Defender Army raised their Holy Emblems high, their fervent cries erupting amidst the smoke-filled ruins and converging into an unstoppable torrent of conviction.
Every pair of eyes burned with a near-fanatical light, all fixed eagerly on Jon’s figure. He was the blade that would sunder the darkness, the beacon that would guide them to ultimate victory!
And just as the war cries shook the heavens and their morale reached its zenith, a faint but clear buzzing emanated from inside Jon’s coat.
His ice-blue eyes betrayed no emotion. With a fluid motion, he reached into his coat and pulled out a Communication Crystal Stone, which was trembling slightly and flickering with an unstable glimmer.
He infused it with Magic Power from his fingertip. The Crystal Stone’s surface lit up, and Sutton’s iconic voice—coarse and metallic—instantly cut through the surrounding clamor, reaching Jon’s ear with perfect clarity.
"Jon, my boy! That girl Rosalind was afraid of distracting you from the battle and wouldn’t let me say a word, but this old man figured you ought to know!"
"Just a moment ago, those shady bastards from the Eternal Frost Sect sent a few big, winged lizards to sneak-attack our Workshop! Heh!"
Jon’s expression didn’t flicker. The hand holding the Crystal Stone was steady as a rock.
’This news didn’t surprise him. He had left a heavyweight like Sutton at Grent Manor precisely to guard against such petty incursions.’
"I understand. Any casualties?"
"Heh!"
Sutton’s smug, hearty laugh came through the Crystal Stone.
"With me here? You can rest easy! Those frozen-goods didn’t lay a single finger on the kids in the Workshop! Though, the manor’s outer wall and a few rooftops will need some work."
"Good."
Jon’s voice remained level, as if he were merely confirming some trivial detail.
"Once I’m done here, I’ll go back and deal with them. I have more important things to do right now."
As he finished speaking, the Crystal Stone’s light dimmed and went out, its Energy completely depleted.
Without a second glance, Jon closed his fist. The hard Crystal Stone gave a faint CRUNCH in his palm, instantly turning into a pinch of glittering dust. He flicked it away, and the powder scattered into the biting, blood-and-smoke-scented wind, vanishing as if it had never been.