Chapter 521: Burning
The cold wind was biting, the sky dark and heavy. The nights in the Anzeta Wasteland were always this frigid and desolate—but tonight was different.
The trajectory of artillery fire tore through the pitch-black sky, weaving a dazzling, radiant net that illuminated the land as if it were daylight, also revealing the grotesque faces of demons lurking in the darkness.
"Boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
The artillery fire did not cease for a moment, nor did its frequency wane.
This was the current military strength of the Ember Empire.
The war had raged for an entire day, yet the defenders of the Imperial Wall had not even exhausted their reserve ammunition. Meanwhile, fresh supplies continued to arrive from the north.
Amid the surging tide of demons, terrifying grins flashed in and out of sight.
These demons, tall in stature and bat-like in winged form, had only their teeth and claws barely discernible, while the rest of their bodies melded into the darkness, blending seamlessly with the shadows.
They were Shadow Demons, known as the hunters of the night.
It was said that when a particularly jealous soul was dragged into the Abyss, it would deform, split, and merge with other souls, until only jealousy and malice remained, forming an incorporeal being—thus creating the Shadow Demons.
The Shadow Demons flitted through the shadows, evading artillery fire with ease as they advanced into the perilous minefields.
Like specters, they skimmed the ground, unable to trigger the landmines. Within mere breaths, they reached the front of the Imperial Wall.
"Awooo—"
"Keh keh keh, you cannot stop the Abyss."
Chaotic black shadows slithered across the ground, while the hoarse, rasping laughter of the Shadow Demons echoed before the fortress, sending chills down the spines of those who heard it.
In reality, they were searching for hosts to possess.
Tales of demonic possession were common. The ignorant often used them to explain strange or violent behavior. While most such cases resulted only in madness or delirium, Shadow Demons were frequently the culprits.
When war came, Shadow Demons would possess enemy soldiers and commanders, planting seeds of suspicion and paranoia among their own ranks.
Inside the bunker, Adroville fixed his gaze on the shifting shadows, instantly identifying them and urgently speaking: "Those are Shadow Demons! We must find their traces quickly! Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Yet, as he spoke, within the Imperial Wall, several soldiers' faces already bore faintly eerie smiles, wisps of dark mist curling around them.
Dolo looked surprised but remained composed: "Shadow Demons?"
Adroville shut his eyes tightly, rapidly casting several detection spells. When he reopened them, his silver pupils shimmered with starlight.
With a grave expression, he explained:
"These demons are the fusion of Abyssal and Shadow energies, capable of traversing shadows and possessing mortals. They are extremely difficult to deal with, unless there is—"
"Shing—"
Suddenly, a blinding radiance burst forth. A new sun appeared in the sky, its divine brilliance engulfing everything within a radius of several hundred meters.
"No—"
"Aaaaaah—"
"Damnable mortals! How could you wield such power!"
The possessed soldiers writhed and convulsed on the ground, their bodies exuding thick, black smoke as twisted shadows shrieked in agony.
Finally, as the last of the distortions crumbled into dust, the light purified the Shadow Demons completely, leaving only the bewildered, disoriented soldiers behind.
"A legendary-tier Light Priest."
Adroville muttered under his breath, finishing the words he had left unsaid earlier.
"Marshal Dolo. I have come by His Majesty's decree to assist."
From the radiance emerged a woman clad in a white robe adorned with gold trim, holding a scepter. She inclined her head slightly toward Dolo in greeting.
She was none other than Ingrid, once the honorary bishop of the Amanata Church, now the court priest of the Empire.
"Thank you for your intervention, Lady Ingrid."
Dolo also greeted her, an ugly grin creeping onto his face, his tusks bared at the corners of his mouth.
"You are too polite. This is for the Empire, and besides, exorcising demons is my duty."
Ingrid nodded again, her polite smile accompanied by a subtle gleam in her beautiful eyes.
Dolo placed a hand over his chest and responded, "Of course, all for the Empire."
Adroville, however, widened his eyes in utter disbelief—the Ember Empire had actually recruited a legendary-tier Light Priest!
Such beings were typically steadfast champions of order and goodness, never ones to align with an empire renowned for its expansionist ambitions.
Ingrid, noticing Adroville, said, "You must be the esteemed 'Scales of the Guardian,' a warrior who has long battled against demons."
Adroville acknowledged her words with a hint of satisfaction: "You flatter me, Lady."
Ingrid then turned, her eyes slowly closing as she began to levitate, her scepter positioned horizontally before her chest.
When Ingrid reopened her eyes, golden-red flames flickered within her pupils.
Gazing at the distant demonic horde and the relentless barrage of artillery fire, she was overwhelmed with emotions and murmured to herself.
"The Empire."
Years ago, during a fateful battle, she had been coerced by the Emperor, forced to sign a contract under the threat of death, binding her to thirty years of service for the Empire.
Over the years, Ingrid had witnessed the Empire's rise, the prosperity it brought its people, and the bloodstained shadows lurking beneath.
She had watched the brutal war in the south, lamenting the countless Fadlan citizens who perished in the conflict.
Now, she felt lost.
What was truly right?
Three so-called imperial heirs, claiming divine lineage, waged war for personal gain, leaving countless families torn apart.
Yet, the 'Tyrant Dragon Emperor' had provided the Anzeta people with a life free of want, establishing a new order for them.
Perhaps allowing the Empire to rule Fadlan was the right choice?
Regardless of what was right, eradicating demons and repelling the Abyss was indisputably necessary.
Rather than dwelling on the right path, it was better to eliminate the evident wrongs.
"Hoo..."
At last, Ingrid sighed, pushing aside all distractions, focusing solely on the imminent battle against the demons.
The priestess raised her hand, and her scepter ascended into the sky, unleashing boundless radiance, rising like the sun in the night.
"Boom—"
As the luminous energy gathered, a golden wall emerged from the earth, leaving no sanctuary for the demons lurking in darkness.
Even the Shadow Demons still weaving through the shadows, attempting to bypass the wall, ignited in flames, wailing in agony and cursing venomously.
[Wall of Light]
"For the Empire, or rather, for this world."
Hovering high above, Ingrid gazed coldly at the burning demons and spoke in a hushed voice.