Chapter 218: Reinforcements Arrive
Thousands upon thousands of small lightning meteors covered in white flames rained down from the skies at near lightning speed, crashing into the armies below. The powerful gusts of wind were instantly ignited by the flames, spreading the inferno wider and faster with every explosion.
Shields and defensive abilities from the opposition fought desperately to withstand the bombardment, but it was truly catastrophic. Even the two Mortal Lord existences struggled, doing everything they could to dispel the flaming storm while shielding their allies and taking the brunt of the damage themselves.
In the area Elton had defended earlier, powerful large scale attacks erupted once more in an attempt to breach the barrier, only to be repelled by Shayleaf, who appeared just in time to reinforce the defenses with her magic. Still, cracks spread across the barrier before halting when the attackers caught sight of the white river of exploding flames carried by winds from Erica's devastating spell.
"Hold the line! Do not falter!" roared a leading expert, battered and scorched as he struggled against the sticky white flames and electrical bursts surrounding him.
No matter how they fought, the outcome was inevitable. A flaming massacre unfolded, washing over the battlefield as death descended upon them. Warriors caught directly in the bombardment were obliterated, while those outside the main path of destruction scrambled in terror to avoid the scorching splash damage.
At that same moment, another large army suddenly tore through the battlefield where Zoro and Christy were stationed, smashing into forces that were already engaged. Zoro's eyes flashed with excitement, a devilish grin forming across his face. With a single leap, he crashed into the enemy ranks with lightning like speed, his Golden Lord aura erupting violently as his twin black katanas carved through dozens.
He locked onto one particular figure, an expert distracted by the foreign army's sudden appearance. The man jolted in shock as Zoro appeared beside him, already mid swing.
—Nitōryū: Kuro Setsudan Owari—
(Two Sword Style: Black Cutting End)
—Qabḍah as-Sawdāʾ al-Fāniyah—
(Mortal Black Fist)
Two fists wreathed in black Ki collided with Zoro's blades, producing a massive explosion of light and sound.
BOOOOM!
Schliiiing!
The Mortal Lord level expert was knocked backward, blood streaking down his arms as he steadied himself with a glare of hate. Zoro likewise held firm as the black and flaming shockwave blasted outward, hurling dozens of warriors through the air. Injured or not, they scrambled back into formation.
Behind Zoro, the new army of reinforcements cut through the chaos and rallied behind him. At his signal, they pulled back toward the forest barrier to regroup. Zoro's eyes never left the Mortal Lord before him.
"So that army of reinforcements is with you after all," the man spat darkly. "Looks like we've underestimated you people in more ways than one… Hmm?! More are coming!"
The Mortal Lord's expression hardened as he barked orders for his troops to retreat and prepare for the next wave. The others on the field followed suit, wary of what was to come.
Erica's earlier attack had ripped open vast gaps across the battlefield, and those openings now served as perfect entry points for more forces. The remainder of the Black Reaper Corps and their allies finally arrived, followed by the many contingents including Ramiro's division.
A cold dread rippled through the air as all sides hesitated. The battlefield had become a sea of glowing white fire and blackened earth. Erica's flames refused to die, crawling endlessly across the land like living serpents of divine punishment.
Elton and the others, except for Ramiro, had long since worn their White Star Radiance masks since before leaving the makeshift house Shayleaf created, so their faces were still relatively unknown.
Far off in the distance, observers could scarcely believe what they were seeing.
"It's them! That's the top brass of White Star Radiance!" an expert shouted.
"Guh… Daoist Black Devil Blades! That monster is there! He needs to be disposed of, fast!" another growled, eyes blazing with hatred.
…
"Hahaha! Oh, Dragon Spear Hero of Leon! I and your Elder Brother have arrived to aid you!"
In another sector of the battlefield, a man with a heroic and commanding air strode confidently beside Carlos Leon Jr. and the gathered forces of Ramiro's followers, calling out with a broad smile. He was none other than Brassaint's second Prince, Jin Fang.
"¡Carajo! We finally caught up to you after that little disappearing trick, segundo hermanito!" Carlos Jr. said with a gritty grin.
…
Far higher above, aboard numerous Magical Aircrafts bearing the Soloman Clan's insignia, stood many of their experts. Even from this distance, they could see the lingering traces of the white, fiery magic, the signature of their clan's bloodline arts. Awe and pride mixed among their ranks.
"Is this the work of Lady Erica? She truly is an incredible genius, even more so than what the records implied," murmured a woman, her tone filled with fascination.
"Dealing with her will be more difficult than we imagined," another replied, his voice calm but laced with tension. Then, furrowing his brows, his eyes shifted toward two figures flying through the distant skies.
"There's a much bigger problem on our hands. Could it be… that he is the man in question?" The woman followed his gaze, eyes narrowing in curiosity.
…
Elsewhere, high in the air among another fleet of Magical Aircrafts, a large contingent of experts from the Aka Boshi no Tengan Clan stood in tense silence. Their focus was locked on one person far below. A woman was standing amid the rubble and ruin with her beautiful blonde hair with white streaks flowing through the wind.
She wore a white mask adorned with gold star patterns. Around her, the forces of the Black Reaper Corps were reorganizing, but her gaze was fixed upward, directly toward them even from such a distance cloaked behind a barrier to hide their presence.
"As you can see, the truth is out," said Christian, her tone calm yet cold. "My granddaughter was the one who awakened the Kokon Tengan. With that being said, I'd rather the clan not do anything… to force my hand."
Her voice hardened, a low threat hidden beneath her words. "She and my newly adopted grandson who is proudly flying high on that demonic beast are a match made in heaven. It was he who helped her achieve her evolution."
Silence followed in the aircraft. Then, a calm voice filled with intrigue spoke up.
"Be that as it may, I'm convinced," said a Soul tier expert of the Aka Boshi no Tengan Clan. "Hehehe… I don't know what Daoist Blue Heavens Sword did, but not only Lady Christy, but even that Lady Erica and the Fanged Elf Lady Shayleaf carry a twisted fate intertwined with his. Such evolutions are truly glorious on top of being miraculous."
He paused, his eyes narrowing with amusement. "And even if we wanted to do something, that Aetherial Master hidden above would likely intervene. Honestly, how did the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect convince someone of his caliber, a man from the Red Star Empire, to get involved in all this?"
Christian said nothing, though unease flickered behind her calm expression. She too couldn't understand why such a being would meddle in affairs that had nothing to do with the Empire.
…
High above the clouds on a smaller Magical Aircraft, five experts observed the chaos below. Among them were two Early Stage Mortal Lords of the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect, both watching the other three with deep respect.
One of the remaining three, a man with long unkempt hair and three swords strapped to his back, scanned the battlefield through the windows, his gaze cautious and faintly bothered.
"Haha, look at our junior brothers and sisters down there. They can never stay out of trouble," said another, Rukia, her tone carrying a smug yet amused edge.
The last person sat in silence, sharp eyes betraying faint intrigue. His focus was locked entirely on Elton, whose movements atop the Winged Serpent Demonic Beast filled him with unspoken admiration. This man was none other than the Bloodflame Sword Duke, Rowan.
"The Fae Grand Spirit Alliance led by the Fang Elves have finally arrived too, it seems," Rukia said seriously, arms crossed. "It's still best to stay cautious. There are likely other powerful experts lurking in the shadows."
"Master and his mission, huh…" Rowan muttered, his tone thoughtful. "In this world, one is bound by such restrictive laws of strength and cultivation. I often wonder what kind of world our Master truly came from."
Rukia gave a faint chuckle, eyes still on the field. "Well, Master also said these laws make cultivation easier for the weaker masses. Tradeoffs, right? But if we ever become strong enough to thrive in the Central Continent of Omerico, that hindering gap… will shrink dramatically."
Rowan simply nodded before returning his focus below as if watching a play.