Chapter 245: Severing Souls with a sh!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The instant he heard Count Levan shout the order, Thales subconsciously shook for a moment.


    ’No.


    ’We’ve already arrived...’


    A chill ran up the prince’s spine, surged to the top of his head, and spread across his whole body.


    *Shing!*


    It was the sound of weapons being unsheathed. They came from all around them, jumbled up and chaotic. It could have made a person’s heart to freeze.


    Thales felt like he was about to stop breathing. His eyes slowly widened too.


    ’No.’


    He did not even need to call forth the Sin of Hell’s River. It just rose in his body and surged into his mind.


    ’Calm down.’


    Thales said to himself.


    From the confusing shouts from both parties to the tense yet swift draws of the warriors’ swords, Thales watched as everything before his eyes slowed down at once.


    It was as if the morous scene was dunked into the water of ake. Majority of the sounds were eliminated in a split second.


    Thales clenched his jaw tightly. With the sensation of time slowing down, he gradually turned his head around.


    In his field of vision, Count Levan slowly waved his left hand with a ferocious expression. He was shouting something.


    Next to Count Levan, the shocked expression on Shiles’ face wasced with a trace of subtle emotion as he slowly twisted his head. Theplex gaze he cast on Thales was hard to decipher.


    Severity and pain were hidden beneath d’s gloomy expression. He stared at Miranda amid the chaos, then took gradual steps as he retreated into the ranks of his own people.


    On the ground, two small troops of ck Sand Region soldiers stood with resolute and ferocious countenance. With weapons in their hands, they stepped on the umted snow, pressing forward step by step.


    ’We’ve been exposed.


    ’It’s just the gatehouse and we’re already exposed. We haven’t even touched the entrance of Heroic Spirit Pce.


    ’Lampard... We haven’t even seen the shadow of the team of personal guards by his side, much less the four archdukes.’


    Thales gasped for breath absentmindedly.


    Behind him, with a sword in hand, Kohen spoke anxiously to Miranda, who still had disbelief written on her face.


    Raphael’s expression had never been so solemn and grave. The youngster of the Secret Intelligence Department resolutely drew out the sword by his waist.


    The dozen or so White de Guards emitted an orderly yet stunning bellow and brandished each of their own weapons. Absolutely undeterred, they resisted the first defense line.


    ’What do I do?’


    Thales almost crushed his teeth into bits while he trembled.


    He was taken by surprise when he was ambushed by the vampires in Mindis Hall. He had been struck by panic when he was identally dragged into an assassination in front of Renaissance Pce. He was suddenly ambushed by the Night Queen and her Sacred Blood Army in the birch tree forest. He was also filled with anxiety and terror when he was surrounded outside Broken Dragon Fortress.


    Desperate, Thales recalled these battles, which urred abruptly, and how he escaped from them every single time.


    ’Useless.


    ’Every method has been used...


    ’Compared to the circumstances right now...’


    His sense of time had been lengthened considerably while he thought of these things. Thales anxiously watched the two paths leading to the wide flight of stairs, which headed to the top of the gatehouse. The ck Sand Region soldiers who were prepared to return to their posts spun around uniformly and came down. With slow and powerful steps, they charged towards the small group of twenty individuals. Theirrge group contained a number so great that it was uncountable.


    It chilled the heart.


    At this moment...


    *Preett—*


    A swift, ear-piercing and panic-inducing whistle suddenly rang from above their heads in the distance!


    Thales trembled slightly.


    The urgent whistle, which sounded like an rm broke through Thales’ train of thoughts while his perception of time was slowed down. Everything before his eyes resumed its regr flow of time.


    *Preett—*


    The whistle directly prated everyone’s ears.


    Whether it was those from ck Sand Region, or those from Constetion and the White de Guards, everyone who heard the whistle had a sudden change of expression!


    Count Levan, Nichs, d and Mirk all raised their heads in unison. They looked at the gatehouse above their heads, and the movement of their hands involuntarily waned.


    That scene at the moment was simr to a sudden thunderp causing everyone to wake up from their dreams.


    *Preett—*


    The whistling continued, spreading far into the distance.


    Astonished, Thales also raised his head towards the top of the gatehouse along with everyone else.


    ’What’s going on?’


    But he did not have to wonder anymore.


    Once the whistling paused, the loud and clear voice of a man came from the sky. It broke through the morous crowd and exploded in the archway.


    "Emergency!"


    "Enemies—their patrols are assembling!" His voice contained an anxiety and agitation that he could barely suppress. He had practically screamed himself hoarse, but he still continued to shout desperately.


    "They want to invade the city!"


    This piece of information came out of nowhere. In that instant, Count Levan’s face turned iparably pale as d’s gloomy expression froze.


    Thales was also shocked by this news.


    ’This is...’


    "Everyone!" the bellowing voice rang again above their heads.


    "Return to your positions!"


    Once he finished speaking, the sound of hundreds of people moving simultaneously in the gatehouse above them rose into the air. Everything sounded chaotic and shocking.


    The soldiers of ck Sand Region on the stairs and ground were instantly bewildered.


    But in just a mere fraction of a second, as amander, the experienced Count Levan gritted his teeth and turned to Thales as well as the others. He roared in anger.


    "First, get these people—"


    But before he could finish shouting the entire sentence...


    *Bang!*


    An astonishing and terrifyingly heavy, blunt sound rang in the air!


    It attracted everyone’s attention.


    Thales instinctively turned his head and looked at the source of the sound.


    It was the Star Killer.


    Right before Thales’ eyes, Nichs resolutely hacked into the shield of an enemy, who was blocking the archway with an unprecedented fierceness on his face.


    Without a single pause, the Star Killer roared, and with a twist of his hip, he kicked with his left leg!


    *Boom!*


    It was yet another terrifying, blunt sound.


    His enemy flew two meters away, coughing up blood.


    "Break the siege!" the Star Killer shouted at full volume.


    Nichs was like a continuously-burning, human-shaped weapon. With the Severing Souls de in hand, he struck once again at his next opponent.


    The Star Killer bellowed as the Severing Souls de drew a line of blood on his enemy’s abdomen. With a face full of blood, he yelled, "Leave your horses, guard the rear, charge inwards!"


    At the next second, almost all the White de Guards began to move immediately.


    Approximately a dozen ferocious Nortndic men roared as they dashed in the direction of Heroic Spirit Pce. They formed a line with Nichs, and charged towards their enemies—who had either reacted instinctively to the situation, or had long since been prepared for this—while they brandished their weapons!


    "Bastard!"


    *ng!*


    Blood and the reflection of light from the metal appeared in the air. The temperature from blood and the shes of metal came into existence at the same time.


    The White de Guards charged forward regardless of the cost, and the moment they appeared, they cut down quite a number of men.


    Only then did the soldiers of ck Sand Region react to the situation.


    The soldiers on the steps quickened their pace as they descended. The two squads on the ground also shouted and rushed to the group, who was trying to break out of the encirclement. There was zealousness, and rage in their roars.


    "Charge!


    "Kill them all!"


    Thales had only just begun to understand what was going on when Kohen, with a fierce look on his face, wrapped his arm around Thales’ waist and picked him up from behind!


    ’What the—’


    In that instant, Thales only managed to catch a glimpse of the indescribably stunned Marquis Shiles among the crowd, as well as his instinctive steps of retreat.


    The young police officer was like an antelope on its highest guard. His figure straightened as he dashed off in an instant!


    He clenched his teeth, and veins popped up on his neck. With his left arm around Thales, he followed Nichs and rushed out of the archway.


    ’This feeling’—a fire seemed to be burning in Kohen’s heart—’it’s like we’re back at de Fangs Camp, the Western front line and the nightmarish desert battlefield.


    ’Break through the siege, or get killed.’


    Kohen roared as he unsheathed his sword.


    *ng!*


    He struck his first enemy on the chest, only to realize that the other party was d in chain armor. His attack bore limited effect.


    The violent Kohen did not care. He took advantage of the superiority of his figure, clenched his teeth, and applied force in his footsteps. He struck with his right shoulder!


    At the next second, the police officer’s entire body mmed into the other party, knocking him over.


    Thales was being held in his left arm. All he could see were the images before him jumping all over the ce. The ground in his field of vision was moving backwards endlessly. His brain was in chaos, and he was seeing stars.


    Even his thoughts were interrupted.


    A single-edged sword reached from the side, slicing an enemy’s throat open. Wya’s figure then emerged next to Kohen.


    Wya and Ralf had just arrived by their sides. Raphael and a tensed Miranda caught up soon after.


    "Charge!" Raphael’splexion was grim. His message was simple and also firm.


    Kohen did not say anything. He just held Thales tighter and charged forward again!


    Everyone on their side began to move. They followed the footsteps of the White de Guards in an attempt to rush through the archway and dash into Heroic Spirit Pce!


    Fortunately, a majority of the ck Sand Region soldiers were on the steps. Only two small groups were left on the ground. For a moment, the thin defense line could not resist the intrepid assault headed by the White de Guards.


    "Harlson, Jason, hold them back!" Count Levan shouted.


    Count Levan watched the soldiers who were still rushing down from the steps, and a flustered as well as exasperated cry rose seemingly out of nowhere from him, "Get your a**es moving, you bastards!


    "Surround them!"


    On Thales’ side, Mirk had a fierce look as he drew his de. With a sh, he cut off the rope on the carriage, which Thales had previously been riding, and stabbed the horse’s butt!


    While it whined in pain, the pitiful Nortndic horse charged towards Count Levan as though it had gone mad. The soldiers protected themander in a flurry amid Count Levan’s harrowing and angry howls. This chaotic event affected quite a number of soldiers from ck Sand Region and prevented the soldiers who had just run down the stairs to join the fight.


    Another White de Guard swung a horse whip without a care for the horse’s remaining power, driving the other carriage out of the archway. He chased after Nichs’ shadow.


    "Archers, fire at the path ahead of them!"


    d’s voice rang in the thick of the chaos. It seemed like the disciplinary officer still maintained a fair degree of calmness. "Aim for the prince, stop them!"


    Thales was shocked. He raised his head on Kohen’s arm and saw a small number of archers drawing their bowstrings as well as anchoring their crossbows. They were aimed in the direction of where they were breaking out of their siege.


    ’What?’


    He felt a chill in his heart.


    "The carriage!" Putray’s voice rang anxiously from behind.


    Once he finished speaking, another carriage drove by Kohen’s side and knocked over a ck Sand Region axemen blocking the road.


    In the next moment, Kohen let out an angry yell. Thales felt his eyes blur. His body leaped into the air as he was tossed by the police officer!


    *Bang!*


    Thales was thrown through the vehicle’s window. He fell into the coach and rolled a good few rounds until he hit the wall.


    When he eventually climbed up in a daze, the first thing he saw was Little Rascal, whose face was full of bewilderment and terror.


    "What’s going on outside?" The girl’s dark green eyes were wide as she helped him up.


    The panting Thales had no time to reply as the traveling carriage took an immediate sharp turn!


    Both of them stumbled, simultaneously crying out in fear as they were caught unprepared, and fell in the vehicle.


    The rustling sound of arrows was heard.


    *Thud! Thud!*


    Arrows sessively struck the coach.


    Thales raised his head just then and felt his skin crawl.


    An arrow had pierced through the thin coach, revealing a sinister arrowhead several feet from their heads.


    "Beautiful driving skills!" Amid the chaos outside the vehicle, Putray still somehow found the energy to praise the White de Guard’s driving skills.


    "Restring your bows!" d’s calm voice rang once again, ovepping Count Levan’s howling.


    "The others, march forth from the side where there are no enemies! Catch up first, form a defense line and block them!"


    Thales was hugging Little Rascal. Heid on his stomach on the floor without attempting to do anything else. He did not dare get up.


    "Did something go wrong?" Little Rascal asked in fear. "Where are we going now?"


    "Heroic Spirit Pce." Thales gritted his teeth as he felt the pain on his thigh. "If I’m not mistaken."


    Outside the coach, a White de Guard knocked over an enemy. However, the back of his leg was immediately pierced through by a soldier behind him. He was howling in anger as he fell from the countless des behind him.


    But the rest of the White de Guards had charged out of the thin encirclement. Only eight of them were left protecting the carriage as they charged towards the ten pirs in the corridor of Heroic Spirit Pce.


    They were brought from the fortress, and now, four veterans among those from Constetion had fallen.


    At the same time, Nichs was already at the back instead of his initial position in the front as a vanguard.


    Rays of fury shed in the Star Killer’s eyes. The Power of Eradication surged in his body.


    He was seen abruptly stopping during his sprint. A back elbow attack followed immediately after!


    It mmed right into the face of an unprepared pursuer.


    *Thud!*


    A terrifying dull sound rose, followed by the sound of bones cracking.


    The pursuer fell like a whirling rudder. Upon impact, he was knocked over in a sh with his waist acting as the axis. From standing and running, he fell into a position where he had the back of his head crash against the ground. He spat out a mouthful of teeth, and finally stopped moving altogether.


    "F*ck! And we thought of deceiving our way through the gatehouse?


    "I knew it," Nichs roared and cursed. He delivered a strike with his de, and it grazed the shield that his second enemy used to block his attack before drawing blood from his enemy’s neck. "The Nortnders’ method is still more effective!"


    While in battle, he turned his head around and watched hisrades follow the carriage. They had already gone through the archway. He was the only person left behind.


    The Star Killer saw more and more ck Sand Region soldierse down into the archway from the steps. They formed lines of pursuit, and went forth to chase after the carriages.


    Nichs frowned.


    Someone suddenly grabbed his arm.


    "Why are you still daydreaming?!" Putray had a firm grip on the Star Killer’s arm. He looked unhappy. "Are you actually thinking of acting as a rearguard alone?"


    Nichs shook off Putray’s hand, not epting Putray’s act of kindness to him. He then turned around and ran.


    "Keep running!" the Star Killer said discontentedly. "Make sure they are ten meters away from you!"


    Nichs followed Putray. They were the final two people of the team, and they ran forward a little before Putray shouted back anxiously.


    "Widen the distance between us? What happens next? They will catch up eventually. We’re too heavily outnumbered!"


    "Less nonsense, more running!" Nichs’plexion was ferocious as he angrily yelled, "I’ll cover you!"


    The running Putray was momentarily stunned.


    Nichs pressed his palm on the small of Putray’s back and pushed him one step forward.


    At the next second, Nichs spun on his foot. With his right leg as an axis and the left anchored to the ground, he turned around in an instant to face the aggressive pursuers behind him.


    "Watch carefully." The Star Killer gnashed his teeth while he said, "This is how Nortnders solve our problems!"


    Putray frowned. However, he only hesitated for a fraction of a second before he resolutely continued to sprint forward.


    Nichs watched the gradually approaching pursuers and let out a deep breath—right in front, two of the pursuers were only five meters away from him.


    From up above, the ck Sand Region pursuers were like an endless swarm of ants. They formed lines on the horizon and pressed towards the lonely small dot that was Nichs.


    Behind this small dot was a carriage.


    ’Damn it.


    ’These sloppy citizens of the Empire.


    ’Serves you right to be unlucky,’ he silently cursed.


    "Archers!"


    d’s orders rang again amid the pursuers, "Fire the second round!"


    The sound of bowstrings being drawn rang from the crowd.


    The ck Sand Region pursuers grew ever nearer. Nichs could even clearly see the pores on their faces at this point.


    But the Star Killer still did not move a single step back.


    Alone, he faced these people. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.


    He did not intend to turn back.


    The next second, this man with his resolute expression and fierce eyes gently raised the Severing Souls de in his hands.


    The Star Killer’s hand stroked the edge of the de.


    *Clink!*


    The sharp sound of shing metal was heard.


    Without suffering from any form of obstruction, Nichs broke off a piece of the de from his weapon. He then flung it forward indifferently.


    Nichs heaved a sigh and muttered, "The border ends here."


    With a chilling gaze, he watched his pursuers draw closer. A sneer appeared on his pale face.


    The charging carriage finally gained a stable speed.


    Having just recovered from his shock, Thales got up in the carriage, stood on a seat and pushed the window open.


    Little Rascal huddled up to his side. In a panic, the two small heads watched what was transpiring behind the carriage.


    Nichs stood behind them all, serving as a wall before the hundreds of pursuers.


    Only the sight of his back could be seen.


    The sounds of bowstrings being released rose from the enemy camp.


    Arrows darted straight towards Nichs, leaving their ghostly shadows in the air.


    Thales widened his eyes as panic struck his heart for a moment.


    Yet, the Star Killer just lightly brandished his de in the air with a feeling of indifference.


    In the next second, a dazzling yellow ray suddenly shone from Nichs’ de!


    The light was incredibly eye-catching even though the sun was still out.


    *nk! nk!*


    The crisp sound of shing metal rang.


    Thales widened his eyes. Right before his line of sight, dozens of arrows froze high in the air before Nichs.


    It was as if they were all being blocked by an invisible hand.


    A bizarre, yellow ray radiated from the point of the arrowheads. It was identical to that of the Severing Souls de.


    A few secondster, the arrows fell in session.


    Thales’ mouth hung wide open.


    But the arrow situation was not the only strange thing that happened.


    The rows of ck Sand Region soldiers roared viciously and surged forth at Nichs like ck waves.


    They charged until they got into the area three meters away from Nichs.


    At the next second, yellow rays suddenly shed in the air.


    The first row of ck Sand soldiers all stopped at once!


    It was as if they had knocked into a transparent wall and crashed ’face-first’ into the air in a very pathetic manner!


    *Bang!*


    The second row of soldiers knocked into the first row as yellow rays shed in the air again.


    But the ck Sand Region soldiers remained suspended, staring at each other in astonishment.


    The invisible protective screen was still in effect.


    The third row, forth row... More and more soldiers knocked into the row in front of them.


    The sounds of cursing, rebukes and groaning rang non-stop.


    Some soldiers held weapons, ruthlessly stabbing the air; some cooperated and used their shields to m against the air; there were even some archers who drew their bowstrings to the limit and shot arrows.


    But apart from the yellow ray shining brightly over and over again, their attacks practically had no effect.


    Some soldiers also tried to bypass the mysterious barrier from the side. However, even when they had their backs against the pce walls, they realized in astonishment that the strange protective screen still existed.


    They remained firmly locked in the area before Nichs—just three meters away from him, and unable to move an inch forward.


    They looked on helplessly as the carriage went farther and farther away.


    The Star Killer coldly observed all of it and snorted lightly.


    Count Levan and d’s figures appeared among the crowd. They were both astonished by the sight of the mysterious barrier before them.


    "What’s going on?" d furrowed his brows, surprised and bewildered.


    Count Levan even reached out to touch the barrier.


    The next moment, Count Levan looked at the de in Nichs’ hand. He recalled something and hisplexion paled. "This is..."


    While wielding the Severing Souls de, Nichs sneered and stuck his thumb out at them. Then, he slowly flipped his hand down with his thumb pointed to the ground.


    Thales’ carriage had already stopped without anyone noticing.


    Apart from the indifferent-looking White de Guards, almost everyone from Kohen, Miranda, Putray to Raphael watched the sight behind them in surprise.


    "It can’t be." Putray was extremely surprised. He was dumbstruck. "Could it be that..."


    Just like that, they stared at Nichs in surprise, shock and confusion.


    They stared at him as he, all by himself, blocked off the countless ck Sand Region soldiers behind him.


    "That is..." Thales watched Nichs’ impressive feat of single-handedly turning the tables. He widened his eyes. "What is that?"


    ’Is it Asda’s air wall?’


    Little Rascal answered him.


    "The Severing Souls de," Little Rascaly t next to him and muttered. Her face was full of astonishment. "So the legends are true..."


    Thales was stunned.


    ’Legends?’


    Little Rascal turned her head around, the hues of excitement on her face could not be concealed. "Three hundred years ago, with a force no one could stand against, the Night Wing King conquered Dragon Clouds City in one go. However, he encountered Army Destroyer Moust, who defended the city before Heroic Spirit Pce and the first gatehouse. Thetter was supposed to have exhausted all troops and food. He was supposed to have no power to reverse the perilous situation. Yet, he miraculously ensured that the pce gate and gatehouse were not lost, protecting the final Walton bloodline!"


    Little Rascal took a deep breath. "So, the Army Destroyer defended the city with just one de. The legends of him solely fighting back against ten thousand soldiers... is real!"


    Thales felt his heart tremble.


    He raised one of his brows. "Defended the city with just one... what?"


    Little Rascal looked at Nichs’ back. Gradually, her expression turned from one of entrancement to one of reminiscence. She then eximed in admiration, "Legend has it that in the most dangerous moment, the Army Destroyer awakened the legendary anti-mystic equipment—the Severing Souls de, a weapon used for war strategies!"


    Thales was stunned for a moment. "War strategies?"


    "Severing Souls." Little Rascal nodded excitedly. In that moment, terror was nowhere to be found on her face, as if she had found the most beautiful dessert. "It can lock down everything in ordance to its user’s intent!"


    Thales blinked.


    ’Lock down everything?’


    Little Rascal’s excited words continued, "It is said that as long as the Severing Souls de and its user can form a powerful resonance...


    "As long as the user of the Severing Souls de doesn’t hesitate at the price he has to pay and acts regardless of the cost...


    "As long as he is resilient enough, his willpower is firm enough, and his powers are strong enough...


    "As long as these things can be done..."


    The girl turned around. She was so worked up that her eyes lit up. "Then even if it’s the long and endless border between Eckstedt and Constetion, the Severing Souls de will still be able to seal off the whole thing without missing an inch!


    "Not a drop of water and a feather can go through it!"


    One second.


    Two seconds.


    Three seconds.


    In surprise, Thales hung his mouth wide open. His gaze transitioned back and forth between Little Rascal’s small face and Nichs’ back.


    ’What?


    ’Lock down... the border between Eckstedt and Constetion?’


    While Thales was dumbstruck, Little Rascal lowered her head.


    "So that’s it, that’s how it is..."


    She took a deep breath and softly recited a few ancient Nortndic poems.


    "The Night King spreads his wings, the dead knocks on the door.


    The Wrath King has died, the Dragon’s vein runs cold.


    Hopepletely broken, hot blood non-existent."


    After reciting the tragic verse, the girl looked at the pursuers who were blocked off in front of Nichs. She recited the final line absent-mindedly.


    "The Army Destroyer... severs souls with a sh!"