Chapter 837: Ran Chi's Hellish Battle (Part 2)

Chapter 837: Ran Chi's Hellish Battle (Part 2)

"

Emperor Saint Baldus's words were forceful and inspiring, stirring the hearts of many citizens, who stood up straighter.

"Dear people of Kreth, let us join hands and work tirelessly for the comprehensive advancement of the Kreth Empire. Let us unite our efforts to achieve even greater success in the new year. Let us all wish for the prosperity and stability of the Kreth Empire, for the well-being of our people! May the God of War and Swords protect our Twelve Military Deities, and may they achieve great success and bring victory to all the people of the Kreth Empire in this special year!"

His voice grew louder and more passionate, and the crowd responded with thunderous applause.

"Long live Emperor Saint Baldus! Long live the Kreth Empire!"

The people of Kreth chanted in unison, over and over again.

The applause continued for a long time, and Emperor Saint Baldus raised his hand to acknowledge the crowd.

The noise gradually subsided.

Everyone knew that at this moment, one of the most important ceremonies of the day, the Blessing of the Twelve Military Deities, would take place in the sacred Kreth Memorial Square.

The bell, which had already rung, sounded twelve more times, and the doors of the Divine Lineage Cathedral on the side of the square slowly opened.

This was another entrance to the "Divine Lineage Hall," the spatial connection to the Imperial Military Headquarters, and an ancient ceremonial building that the Kreth Empire had preserved for many years.

Golden light spilled from within the cathedral, nearly illuminating the entire square.

The crowd held their breath, their eyes fixed on the door, waiting for the legendary Twelve Military Deities to appear.

Not long after, a young man with indigo hair rushed out, smiling and waving to the crowd.

It seemed he had been a bit slow, and had only realized he should have come out earlier after being reminded by the other deities. Thus, he had to run a bit to make it on time.

He was tall and slender, wearing a cloak that resembled wings, which fluttered lightly, emitting a soft blue and white glow, as if it were a fragment peeled from the clouds in the sky. The cloak's ends resembled angel wings, and every gentle breeze made it seem as if he were about to take flight. His light steps were as free and unrestrained as feathers dancing in the wind.

The young man's face was youthful and vibrant, his neat indigo short hair shimmering in the sunlight, the strands dancing with the wind.

He was none other than the First Military Deity, Hyzenthus of the Diamond Throne.

"Look, that's the First Military Deity, Lord Hyzenthus!"

"He looks so young, so handsome and vibrant!"

"He's even a bit cute, what should we do?"

The crowd buzzed with excitement, especially the girls, whose voices merged into a chorus, almost reaching Hyzenthus on the square.

Hyzenthus stopped, turned to face the crowd, and bowed deeply.

The square fell silent for a moment.

Then, even more enthusiastic cheers erupted.

Hyzenthus did not engage in much conversation with the crowd.

His humble and unassuming bow had already spoken volumes.

He stood at the Diamond Throne in the Kreth Memorial Square, waiting for the other deities to arrive.

From behind the doors of the Divine Lineage Cathedral, another figure emerged.

His steps were much steadier than Hyzenthus's, neither rushed nor slow, and he paid no attention to the sounds or atmosphere of the square, walking on his own.

The man carried a black-bladed imperial sword, dressed in leather armor, with his jet-black hair tied into a high ponytail.

His presence caused the air around him to thicken, the chill that accompanied him making the temperature outside the square seem to drop a few degrees.

The noise outside the square quickly subsided, the crowd hesitant to disturb this deity, whose aura was markedly different from Hyzenthus's.

He stopped at the Obsidian Throne.

With his sword in hand, he stood with his eyes closed, then opened them slightly, his gaze sharp and focused, following Hyzenthus on the side.

The crowd saw the Second Military Deity, Salon of the Obsidian Throne, and the chatter resumed.

"That's General Salon, the first sword master of the empire, undefeated in his battles outside the empire."

"The other deities are no match for him. To him, being a deity is probably a boring task. He has spent his entire life seeking strong opponents to challenge."

"Stop, stop."

Before the conversation could continue, the Third Military Deity, Gait of the Carnelian Throne, emerged.

Everyone knew that despite Gait's strength, which even a cardinal of the Resurrection Church might not match, he was still a step behind the Second Military Deity, Salon, who would never challenge Gait.

Gait wore a long black cloak and held a mechanical carnelian staff. In the winter light, his handsome and cold face and aloof eyes were visible, flickering with a sense of superiority.

"Hmph."

Gait scoffed at the crowd's chatter and approached the Carnelian Throne.

"Don't be so upset, Gait. There are very few people in this world who are stronger than you, and those who are are exceptional cases."

The Fourth Military Deity, Jasper of the Jade Throne, followed, offering a gentle smile to Gait.

She, standing at 1.8 meters tall, was not inferior to the male deities, with her black hair neatly tied back.

What attracted the most attention from the crowd outside the square was her mechanical eye.

She was not only the Empire's strongest mechanic but also showed signs of self-modification.

"That's Jasper."

"No wonder she's the Jade Seat, those eyes, one as gentle as autumn waters, and the other as sharp as icy blades. Truly one of a kind."

The people began discussing this Empire's strongest mechanical pioneer.

Jasper was clearly more easy-going than the previous two Military Deities, and even when they talked about her, she didn't mind and would smile at them.

She stood before the Jade Seat in Kreth Memorial Square, joining Hyzenthus, Salon, and Gait. The four of them stood tall like four unyielding mountain peaks, commanding respect from the people of Kreth.

"Oh dear, this is such a headache. Every year, I, a doctor, have to attend these events..."

A faint complaint escaped his lips.

A doctor in a simple white coat strolled out of the Divine Lineage Cathedral with a leisurely pace.

His silver-white hair framed a smiling face, and his complaint seemed to bother him not.

Even in such a solemn occasion, he carried a dark golden long case of medical supplies on his back.

It was his inseparable equipment and his responsibility.

"According to tradition, the ceremony for the blessing of the Empire's Military Deities doesn't restrict their attire. They can wear what they're most accustomed to on the battlefield. So, sometimes, you'll see strong individuals like Doctor Lugaid."

"Don't be fooled by his appearance. He's the fifth Military Deity, the Mother-of-Pearl Seat. His very existence is a powerful morale booster."

Lugaid stood before the Mother-of-Pearl Seat, hearing the people's discussion, and he smiled slightly, nodding in greeting to them.

His gaze swept over the crowd, as if checking on everyone's health.

"It's the Water Azure Jade High Priestess!"

"The Moon Goddess High Priestess!"

Voices of reverence immediately welcomed the next Military Deity.

The sixth Military Deity, Violet of the Water Azure Jade Seat, appeared before the crowd.

She looked to be around thirty years old, exuding an indescribable charm. Her deep blue-black hair shimmered with a deep and lustrous sheen under the midday sun. Her fair skin resembled white jade, and beneath her arched eyebrows, a pair of amethyst eyes shone with clarity, yet they also held a hint of storminess, making it difficult to stare at her for too long.

Violet heard the voices of the crowd, and a gentle smile curved her lips.

She stopped at the Water Azure Jade Seat, turned to face the people, and performed a perfect priestess's salute.

This gesture instantly silenced the entire square, everyone captivated by her graceful figure.

"So beautiful."

"The Moon Goddess High Priestess is the best!"

"The Principal is the strongest!"

The people of Brillada erupted into a frenzy once more. The students of Saint Kreth Monastery, mingling among the citizens, followed Violet with their eyes, sharing her legendary stories.

Seconds later, the seventh Military Deity, Philip of the Blood Jade Marrow Seat, arrived, changing the atmosphere of the entire square.

It was as if a fireball had flown out of the Divine Lineage Cathedral, crashing into the center of the square with a deafening boom and towering flames.

Amidst the flames, Philip's figure gradually materialized.

He wore a dark red robe, and his cape billowed like blood in the wind.

Philip strode forward, surrounded by a scorching current of air that warped and deformed everything in its path, ready to ignite at any moment.

The crowd exchanged glances, unsure how to react.

Just as Philip reached the Blood Jade Marrow Seat, the eighth Military Deity, Conzale of the White Goldstone Seat, followed closely behind.

He appeared to be in his late thirties, but his physique was more robust than anyone else's.

Conzale's face exuded a sense of resolute righteousness, and his eyes were as sharp as a falcon's. Standing at two meters tall, he wore the Empire's magic-engineered crystal mechanical plate armor. His wrists were covered with a layer of complex mechanical structures, seamlessly integrated with his skin.

His appearance instantly calmed the crowd, and as the most reliable shield of Kreth, Conzale embodied a sense of security.

Behind Conzale, a silent figure had quietly made its way into the square.

He had a perfect face and a tall, straight posture. His deep purple hair was neatly combed back, and he wore a crisp military uniform with golden fringes on the shoulder and sleeve badges, enhancing his extraordinary demeanor.

His aquamarine eyes were calm yet sharp, like a deep lake with an unseen bottom, yet they also emitted a piercing light, making it difficult to meet his gaze.

The crowd stirred upon seeing the ninth Military Deity, Simon Luo of the Red Beryl Seat.

Most of the voices were of admiration.

Simon Luo, the Marquis Roland, was rarely criticized for his military achievements or his upright character. As a noble, he rarely displayed arrogance and was strict with himself while being lenient with others.

Simon Luo nodded slightly, acknowledging the crowd's praise.

"Tsk, so noisy."

The tenth Military Deity, Julius of the Red Beryl Seat, clicked his tongue and headed towards his blessing location.

He seemed to be the youngest among the Military Deities, with slightly disheveled dark red hair. He wore his family's military uniform, and for once, his tie and accessories were properly worn.

"Don't be grumpy, Julius. It's such a wonderful day."

A faint sandalwood fragrance wafted through the air, and the eleventh Military Deity, Simon Luo of the Emerald Seat, appeared beside Julius.

He had a gentle face, and his light golden priestly robe was embroidered with exquisite emerald green patterns. His eyes were a pure silver, as if they could see through everything, yet they also held infinite wisdom and compassion.

"Yes, Julius, be happy!"

The twelfth Military Deity, Bianca of the Cat's Eye Seat, patted Simon Luo's shoulder and then Julius's.

"How can you two always be so cheerful?"

Julius turned around in surprise, not angry, just a bit grumpy. He got along well with most of the Military Deities.

Bianca, the Empire's only beastman Military Deity, always drew attention with her cat ears and long tail.

Her orange hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her dark green leather armor accentuated her curvaceous figure.

The three of them chatted casually, making their way to the last three Military Deity seats.

The twelve Military Deities stood like twelve gleaming swords in the wind.

They were now all present.

The entire square fell silent.

Everyone felt the solemnity of the moment.

Saint Baldus slowly rose from his throne and walked to the edge of the viewing platform.

He faced the statue of the God of War and the Sword at the end of Kreth Memorial Square and slowly drew his Seros Spirit Sword. Pointing the tip of his sword at the sky.

At this moment, everyone in the square stared intently.

They knew that a solemn moment was about to arrive.

"Ancestors above, protect your people."

"In the name of the God, grant us the blade!"

Saint Baldus began reciting the ancient prayer of Seros.

His voice was loud and solemn, each word filled with reverence and supplication to the War and Sword Gods. He prayed for the War Gods to bless the Empire, bestowing upon its army unparalleled courage and strength, and for the War Gods to lead the Empire towards a more glorious future.

As Emperor Saint Baldus' prayer echoed, the statues of the First War Gods seemed to glow in response, their armor almost cracking with divine light.

Until the light fully blossomed, piercing the clouds, twelve rays of light converged in the center of the sky, forming a divine light array like a celestial canopy. The insignia of the First War Gods, the emblem of the God of War and Sword, was a sign of recognition for the land's faithful nation since the Divine Age, and a response to the devout prayers of its people.

The divine light slowly descended, enveloping the heads of the twelve War Gods.

Each War God felt the blessing power gradually enveloping them, and during this time, they would receive unmatched protection, but they couldn't move an inch.

...

North side of Brillada.

A part of the city that no one had noticed.

A medium-sized magical vehicle drove smoothly down the street, approaching the City Hall.

Through the one-way glass of the vehicle's window, they could see the faces of people on the street filled with excitement and joy, watching the giant screen on the building, all seemingly thrilled for the grand blessing ceremony in the plaza.

However, the expressions of the dozen people inside the vehicle were solemn.

"The blessing has begun," said Ran Chi, holding a Holy Communication Magic Card.

"The twelve War Gods are protected by ancient traditions and the defense barrier, and they cannot act for now."

"This is our best opportunity," they said.

As they spoke, they could see the live situation in the Kreth Memorial Plaza in front of the Imperial Palace through the broadcast.

"After we go underground, we'll rely on Director Nikola of the Imperial Special Action Department and High Priestess Viola, who will finish the blessing in over an hour, to handle the situation on the ground."

Abigail, the Empire's master of spatial magic engineering and director of the Brillada Opera House, gave them their final instructions.

Today, she was the overall rear commander.

Since Ran Chi needed to participate in the battle personally, he might not be able to command most of the time, and the tasks of command and support were often left to her, who was blocking the door with Barton at the rear.

Her task was to provide real-time information to the assault team, set up a temporary camp for them, and ensure that everyone could return to the surface safely after the assault.

"Well, Abigail, you'll have a hard time later," Ran Chi thanked her.

In the last two weeks, Red Falcon Nikola had successfully become the new director of the Imperial Special Action Department, and today, he would support them on the ground, and at any time, he might lead the team to help them block the door. Professor Landry also fulfilled his wish and became the head of the Empire's New Energy Agency Committee.

"Secretary Nala has temporarily lent her Ultra Long Range Communication Program-8 to the Sixth War God, Viola," Ran Chi informed the others.

This would ensure that even if they fell into another spatial Blood Moon City, they could still grasp the situation in the most critical location on the ground in real-time.

At the same time, they could contact Viola across space, allowing her to be aware of the underground situation and changes. If she needed to intercept the Vampires, she could prepare to do so at the first opportunity.

As long as today's Blood Moon City assault was successful.

This disaster caused by the Vampires in the Kreth Empire would surely be calmed by their growing Silver Moon Reform Alliance.

"You fighters are the most dangerous, and I'll do my best to guard your backs," Abigail nodded to them.

The vehicle slowed down and stopped in front of the City Hall.

The door slid open silently, and they filed out one by one, their movements clean and swift, without making a sound.

"You are..."

The military guard at the entrance of the Brillada City Hall's first floor opened his mouth slightly, wanting to scream, but no sound came out.

Their bodies slowly went limp, falling to the ground, sinking into a deep slumber.

The same scene played out in various corners of the City Hall.

The staff, who were working diligently, didn't even have time to realize what was happening before they fell one by one, like puppets with their strings cut.

In less than half a second, the entire hall fell into an eerie silence, only the ticking of the clock continued, as if nothing had happened.

They walked into the hall with their usual expressions and confident steps, knowing the place well.

They passed through the luxurious interior, going downstairs, until they reached a basement office and entered through another door.

Just walking to this point, they could feel the spatial fluctuations.

As long as they found the spatial node, even Ifatia, an 8th Rank non-spatial mage, could infiltrate.

And they had the Dimensional Bishop, Toliatos.

Toliatos lightly touched his fingers, and the space opened like a zipper.

Deep within the underground of the Kreth Empire, a palace forgotten by time was hidden, and only the Vampires' unique power subtly cast a hazy blood-colored moonlight over this space shrouded in mist.

It was a center of power buried deep beneath the ground.

Before they could even actively break in.

Suddenly, a red light enveloped them, and in the darkness, the blinding red illuminated the faces of everyone.

"They're here," Ran Chi said, not finishing his sentence.

A spatial gravitational force appeared out of thin air, emitting a dazzling blood-red light and deafening roar, swallowing them.

This was the Blood Moon City's summoning that Ran Chi had experienced numerous times! The Vampires would rather pull them in and take the initiative to gain the upper hand in battle than let them infiltrate!

A force of gravity struck, and everyone plummeted.

The distorted space stretched and compressed, and the howling wind roared in their ears, as if a million evil spirits were screaming and howling.

...

At the center of Blood Moon City.

The castle stood tall, its obsidian outer walls shimmering with cold light.

Inside the Blood King Palace's grand hall, the atmosphere was cold and dim, with candles on the dome replacing the light.

In the center of this grand hall, a banquet table took up space, and on the sides, thirteen high-backed chairs with crimson gem totems symbolizing their owners.

"They did come after all."

Heritiera Marquis sat on the seventh chair, her fingers resting flat on her legs, eyes closed, as still as a rock.

There were only three figures in the Blood King Palace at this time.

And the one opposite her was not a Vampire.

They all seemed calm and unhurried, Withered Bishop Nedochika was playing chess with Heritiera Marquis.

Behind Withered Bishop Nedochika stood a tall man with purple eyes.

"I never thought the Duchess would find so many companions. It's unbelievable," Withered Bishop Nedochika muttered in surprise as she placed a chess piece.

The Seventh Ancestor, Marquis Helaitier, listened to Nedochika's words, glancing at the chessboard. The single candlelight was insufficient to illuminate Helaitier, instead casting her figure into darkness, leaving only the teardrop birthmark under her eye clearly visible.

"It seems everything is going according to your plan," Helaitier remarked, understanding that Nedochika was subtly manipulating the sacrifice of the Rotting Saint, intentionally letting the anticipated enemy know about the Rotting Branch's involvement.

However, the Rotting Branch had never revealed any traces in Brillada.

By providing this misleading information to potential enemies, they could be led to believe that only the Rotting Branch was aiding the Blood Clan.

If the Rotting Branch were to join the battle now, it would create a critical imbalance in combat power.

Not to mention the return of other Ancestors.

"Alright, I should head to my battlefield. I hope I'm assigned an opponent who isn't too strong, as I'm not very skilled in direct combat."

Bishop Nedochika, the Rotting Bishop, reluctantly glanced at the unfinished game on the long table and stood up.

Marquis Helaitier, the Seventh Ancestor, must have already manipulated the invaders to fall into the "most suitable" battlefield.

And it was time for her to face her own opponent.

"Don't worry, your chances of victory against me in the Fade Temple are zero percent," Helaitier assured.

"That's quite an exaggeration. I'm not that powerful," Nedochika replied with a silvery laugh.

As she passed by a male's shoulder, she patted his arm.

"Saint, go and hunt down your enemies. Prove your strength to me, and you'll be one step closer to your ultimate goal—'capturing me.'"

She spoke to Colonel Macrae, the Capital Garrison Commander, who was also her Saint, with a hint of provocation.

"..."

The youth with grayish-white hair and purple eyes remained silent, his sunglasses reflecting the shadows as he turned and slowly disappeared into the darkness.

...

The void shimmered with dazzling and crimson light, transforming into a distorted and peculiar world.

High above Blood Moon City, countless silver birds spread their wings and flew in various directions. These were Abigail's mechanical messengers, capable of gathering the entire city's panorama and sharing it with Abigail, who could then relay the latest updates to other members via communication devices.

The surrounding scenery plummeted upwards, and the once pitch-black void suddenly burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, swirling and shifting like a kaleidoscope.

Wooden houses and castle-like stone walls intertwined, with buildings embedded in the night sky like a Rubik's Cube. Upside-down and skewed structures continuously rushed past, defying the laws of gravity.

"Brother!"

Toliatos' voice cut through the wind, sounding particularly sharp. He gripped Lan Qi's shoulder, struggling to resist Blood Moon City's guidance mechanism using spatial magic.

He was the Great Demon closest to Lan Qi when they fell into the barrier, while the other members seemed to have vanished without a trace.

"Are you ready?!"

Toliatos asked Lan Qi.

The Blood Clan Ancestors' strategy was to disperse the enemies, taking full advantage of Blood Moon City's home field defense and sending them to more suitable opponents' home fields to defeat them one by one.

The planner behind this was the Seventh Ancestor, Helaitier.

As the Blood Clan's astrologer, she would match the Great Demons falling into Blood Moon City with different sub-palaces, leaving the combat to the Blood Clan Marquises.

The safest entrance to Blood Moon City was on the west side, with the Blood King Palace at its center. The remaining directions—east, north, and south—were all sub-palaces ruled by Blood Clan Marquises.

When Toliatos entered, he had already assisted the spatial engineer, Abigail, in setting up a camp at the western entrance. He left Houbelia and Barton to protect her, ensuring Houbelia's safety in the most secure location.

"No problem. I lost three times to Duke Rahal, but this time, I'll win," Lan Qi replied with determination.

This might be his final battle.

Blood Moon City was protected by an absolute powerful barrier. When falling through it, they would inevitably be scattered due to the various barriers they'd pass through.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end