Chapter 565 - 537: Battle of Giant Dragon City
Chapter 565: Chapter 537: Battle of Giant Dragon City
On the walls of Giant Dragon City, the banners of the Tricia Kingdom fluttered. Defensive siege engines and Magic Energy Weapons were on display, and a great number of Knights and soldiers stood on either side, poised to defend.
However, after two years of war, this Kingdom had almost no renowned generals left. Figures like Ural and Aluba had either died in battle, been captured, or perished as failures after being consumed by the Flame Seal.
In any case, for the remaining men to be standing on those walls, their courage was commendable.
As the saying goes, a thunderous strike is the truest form of mercy.
Therefore, Ronin had ordered Ridder and the others to take Giant Dragon City with overwhelming force, minimizing innocent casualties.
And so, the moment the battle began, Carlos’s flames descended upon the city walls. Its giant claws stomped down left and right, directly crushing the battlements.
Sophia, Macken, and the others followed, unleashing all of their powerful attacks at once.
Although the enemy retaliated with Magic, Combat Skills, and even Magic Energy Cannons—turning the North Gate of Giant Dragon City into a bombardment zone—they were exhausted after just a few exchanges.
Soon, the city gates were blasted open, and close-quarters combat began on the ground. In the sky, the Griffin Knights and Dragon Eagle Knights also erupted into a fierce battle.
Ronin watched the battlefield in silence. His army quickly gained the upper hand and soon advanced with overwhelming force.
’There only seems to be one Proud Sun Knight and one Magic Master defending Giant Dragon City?’
Come to think of it, only the Magic Master was genuine. The Knight was just a Silver Moon Knight who had activated the power of the Flame Seal to match the strength of the Proud Sun Level.
He was surprised. ’Looks like they aren’t even trying to hold the city. They’re planning to defend the Royal Palace to the death.’
Ridder said, "The Royal Palace has an Array and decades’ worth of stored food, but I don’t understand why he thinks that’s enough to keep him safe."
Even with an Array for protection, they could just surround the Royal Palace and wear it down over time.
"He’s waiting for us to attack."
Ronin said with a smile, "Seeing as Flame Wings has been waiting so long, I’ll be happy to grant his wish."
Ridder was taken aback. "You’re going to attack personally?"
"Of course!"
Ronin said, "Macken and the others are more than enough for the main battlefield. You’re coming with me to the Royal Palace. Let’s see just how strong their Array is."
Ridder immediately accepted the order, though a trace of doubt crossed his mind.
From what he knew of Ronin, his lord was usually cautious. He wouldn’t take risks without being absolutely certain of the outcome. This proactive attack was uncharacteristic of him.
’Has he grown complacent now that the war is nearing its end, or does he have some new trump card?’
Ridder suspected it was the latter, because Ronin felt different than before.
If their auras had been roughly equal before, Ronin’s aura was now more restrained, yet sensing it carefully revealed an indescribable, profound weight.
’Could it be? Has the Duke broken through to become a Sage?’
’No, it couldn’t have been this fast, could it?’
These thoughts flashed through Ridder’s mind, but he voiced his agreement immediately.
And so, the two of them flew straight toward the Royal Palace of the Tricia Kingdom.
At that moment, the Tricia Kingdom’s top fighting forces were gathered within the Royal Palace. Flame Wings had concentrated nearly all Flame Seal Knights of Meteor Level and above, preparing for a decisive battle with Ronin, hoping to turn the tides.
"Du Sang, do you think Ronin will attack the Royal Palace directly?"
The tense atmosphere caused beads of sweat to form on Tyrone’s forehead. He could only try to change the subject to relieve the pressure of becoming the king of a fallen kingdom.
Du Sang said respectfully, "Your Majesty, judging by Ronin’s past methods, he will probably send his subordinates, like Ridder and the other Knights."
Tyrone frowned. If that were true, wouldn’t all their preparations be for nothing?
Now, he was both terrified that Ronin would come and worried that he wouldn’t.
"They’re here!"
Flame Wings said in a deep voice, and for a moment, it was as if an icy wind swept through everyone’s hearts.
His voice was still echoing as two figures appeared in the sky—one with silver hair, the other with red.
Although they had never seen Ronin and Ridder, they knew their distinct features and recognized them at once.
Ronin’s Spiritual Power had already swept across the Royal Palace, and he knew this group had gathered in the central plaza, poised to receive an attack.
"Ronin, you’ve finally come!"
Flame Wings’s voice dripped with mockery and amusement. "I’ve heard all about your glorious deeds, going from Baron of the Forest to Duke of Conqueror in just five short years. I just wonder if you, the man who has shaken the world, have the guts to come down and fight me to the death?"
Du Sang’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly, he found it amusing.
’If such a simple taunt could bring Ronin down,’ he thought, ’he never would have become the ruler of the Orland Continent.’
Ronin laughed heartily. "I’ve long heard that Serdil laid an Array within the Royal Palace. I wonder how powerful it is?"
As he spoke, he gave Ridder a meaningful look. Ridder understood at once, drew his Longsword, and condensed his Extreme Elemental Power into a fiery red blade of light hundreds of meters long that came crashing down.
But just as the blade of light was about to strike the Royal Palace, the entire complex was enveloped in a shroud of purple light.
This purple light was mixed with the fluctuations of wind and the solidity of earth, forming a thick barrier that completely blocked Ridder’s attack.
RUMBLE~
Although the Energy explosion kicked up a furious storm, when it subsided, the Royal Palace below was completely unscathed.
"Hahaha!"
Flame Wings laughed. "This is a defensive Array set up using a Magic Pattern bestowed by Lord Theress. A mere Legendary thinks he can break it?"
He paused, then cursed under his breath, "In your dreams!"
Ridder snorted, fully unleashing the aura of a Legendary expert.
The blade of light from a moment ago, hundreds of meters long, had been powerful, but it was merely a casual strike. Now, he was getting serious.
"Heavy Strike Burst!"
Ridder condensed his Extreme Elemental Power into his left fist and smashed it downward.
In that instant, the very space before him seemed to tremble from the force. To Tyrone and the others, the enormous Flaming Fist Aura looked like a flaming meteor crashing down with the weight of a mountain, carrying an unstoppable power that could smash anything in its path.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Heavy Strike Burst slammed viciously into the Array, sending violent ripples across the barrier. The ground beneath the Royal Palace quaked, and a sharp pain pierced everyone’s eardrums; those with slightly less strength even started to bleed from the pressure.
But the ripples seemed to be diffusing the power of the punch. After the violent fluctuations, the barrier remained completely intact.
Ridder was secretly shocked. ’My full-power Heavy Strike Burst didn’t even penetrate the barrier. This Array really is strong.’
"Again!" he shouted, gathering his power for another attack.
Seeing this, Flame Wings laughed to himself. ’Excellent. Just like that. Waste all your power trying to break the Array. The moment you break through and rush down, thinking you’ve won, you’ll fall right into my trap!’
Serdil had actually set up two Arrays: an outer defensive Array, and a second, a suppression Array controlled by Flame Wings. The suppression Array could inflict various pressures on enemies who entered it, such as increased gravity, disrupted elemental control, and psychic tremors, all to interfere with their thoughts and weaken their combat strength.
"Let me."
Ronin held out a hand in front of Ridder, stopping him.
"The ’Theress’ he mentioned must be the Great Sage Level Storm Lord that Sophia told us about. A defensive Array created by such a powerful expert is bound to be strong. You could break it, but it would probably take you a dozen or so hits, and that would drain you considerably."
Ridder nodded solemnly, retracted his Power, and stepped aside.
Ronin raised his hand. In an instant, the very sky and earth seemed to change color as endless Flame Power gathered in his fist.
"This is...!"
Ridder was stunned. ’Ronin is also using the Heavy Strike Burst Combat Skill, but his Power... it’s on another dimension compared to my Extreme Elemental Power.’
’Is this... the Power of the Sage?’
Down below, Flame Wings’s pupils constricted. He instinctively sensed that something was wrong with this attack, but it all happened too fast. Before he could even process it, Ronin’s attack descended.
If Ridder’s attack had merely made space tremble, Ronin’s attack directly twisted and warped it.
Its ever-expanding Power delivered an unprecedented shock to the senses—sight, sound, and even soul—as it slammed into the defensive Array.
BOOM!
In that instant, the entire world seemed to lose its color.
The defensive Array, which Flame Wings believed could withstand at least a dozen strikes from a Legendary expert, had shattered to pieces from a single blow by Ronin.
"No, that’s impossible!" Flame Wings cried out in disbelief.