Chapter 293 - They're Here
Deep within the imperial palace of the unified southern empire.
The hall was filled with a somber atmosphere, much like Leggett's mood at that moment.
He paced anxiously before the throne, its red carpet unspooling, unconsciously gripping the scepter that represented the empire's highest power so tightly that his fingertips trembled.
"Still no news?" he asked in a hoarse voice, his gaze fixed on Friedrich, who stood silently below.
A shadow fell over Friedrich's face as he shook his head slightly. "Your Majesty, six hours have passed since the last contact. We tried every known form of long-range communication magic, even resorting to special methods used only in emergencies, but there was still no response from the Vanguard Legion."
"No response at all?!"
Leggett abruptly stopped, his voice rising sharply with disbelief and rage. "This is impossible! The legion has over a hundred court mages, dozens of whom are skilled in long-range communication magic! Even if it was Serie they were facing, how could she possibly silence them all?! Not a single message?! Could it be that they are all…"
His words came to an abrupt halt as a thought he least wanted to believe suddenly appeared, sending a chill down his spine.
Friedrich raised his head. "Your Majesty, judging from the current situation..."
He didn't say it explicitly, but his heavy gaze said it all.
"No...it can't be..."
Leggett instinctively denied it, as if trying to convince himself, or perhaps resisting the cruel reality. "That is the empire's most elite legion! It is an army that I have poured countless efforts into building! They have the most elite soldiers, the most powerful mages, and... and many magical items that I specially prepared for them. How could they... how could they be... by two people..."
His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a muttering to himself. His face drained of color, leaving only a stubbornness that was being forced to endure.
In Leggett's eyes, he had devoted his entire life to building the Empire's mighty vanguard legion. He invested far more resources in this army than he did in having the dwarves forge the holy sword. He believed that his army was invincible and that no one in the world could confront them head-on, not even elves or demons. As for among humans of the same race, it's even more impossible.
In fact, one of his purposes in sending this mighty legion was to kill Serie, and another was to launch a surprise attack on the Kingdom of El.
However, the plan has now failed. It was a complete failure.
Seeing the emperor's self-deceiving demeanor, Friedrich's pent-up worries, disappointments, and anxieties about the empire's future finally broke through his long-held restraint.
He took a sudden step forward, his aged voice echoing in the empty hall. "Leggett! Wake up!!! You should be thinking about how to deal with the current situation, not fooling yourself like an idiot!"
The shout, addressing him by his full name, startled Leggett, who immediately looked up and stared at his teacher in disbelief.
In his memory, Friedrich would always be that calm, collected teacher, occasionally stern but never losing his composure. Even when he was young and unruly, or when he made mistakes in decision-making during the war, he was never reprimanded in such a direct tone.
Friedrich's chest heaved violently. Seeing the mixture of shock, confusion, and a hint of anger on Leggett's face, he swallowed back all the words he was about to utter, turning them into a heavy sigh.
He knew that his shout had crossed the line for this increasingly stubborn emperor. But in the end, he couldn't resist.
How did things get to this point?
Friedrich began to reflect on himself. At the same time, he softened his tone and said with utmost solemnity, "Your Majesty, I did not mean to offend you. But the facts are before us, and we must accept the worst possibility: the Empire's vanguard legion has probably been... completely annihilated."
The shock on Leggett's face slowly faded, replaced by anger at the challenge to his authority.
He stared intently at Friedrich, as if he were about to explode at any moment. However, his remaining rationality and the unwavering look in Friedrich's eyes kept him in check.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. "Friedrich, watch your words! I am the Emperor, the master of this empire!"
Friedrich ignored the emperor's warning. All he cared about at that moment was the survival of the empire. After all, if the aftermath is not handled correctly, the country simply cannot continue to exist.
"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to immediately mobilize the remaining troops in the country, especially the mages who are stationed in the capital. We must prepare for the worst."
"The worst-case scenario?" Leggett frowned, his tone tinged with disdain.
"Teacher, you're exaggerating a bit. Where is this place? This is my imperial capital! Garrisoned by tens of thousands of elite soldiers, with layers upon layers of magical barriers. Even if Serie and Kurtz truly possess divine powers, would they dare to attack our doorstep directly?!"
Legget seemed to have found a reason to support his confidence, and his tone became firm again. "Last time, they took advantage of the loophole in our barrier, so they were able to teleport directly to the sky above the capital. Now that the loophole has been completely fixed and the barrier fully deployed, not even a fly could sneak in silently. If they dare to come, we'll show them the true power of the empire!"
The arrogance in his words shattered Friedrich's last glimmer of hope.
He was just about to continue persuading—
BOOM!!!
A roar composed of magic suddenly appeared without warning, piercing through layers of magical barriers and echoing clearly in every corner of the capital.
This roar was not a sound, but more like a lament of space breaking apart. Immediately afterwards, an indescribable, terrifying magical pressure, as if it were a tangible force, crashed down upon the entire capital!
The magical barriers inside and outside the capital city instantly emitted a piercing scream, their light flickering wildly and erratically.
The soldiers patrolling the city wall looked up in alarm, only to see the once-clear sky now radiant with an indescribable glow, and an enormous magic circle slowly unfolding.
This scene seemed familiar, as if it had just happened.
Upon sensing this aura, Leggett's arrogance froze instantly, giving way to extreme horror.
He abruptly turned his head to look out the palace window, his pupils reflecting the enormous magic circle in the air, and that aura that was both incredibly familiar and terrifying at this moment.
Friedrich slowly closed his eyes. "As expected, it still couldn't be stopped."
Serie and Kurtz had arrived.
Moreover, they came in a manner far beyond their imagination, so domineering that they directly crushed all the defenses of the capital.
[End of Chapter]
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