The torrential rain and thunder outside the window could no longer be regarded as the background. Along with the flood came the wrath of the ocean.
Humans had occupied the most fertile land for far too long. As the victors of the last Holy War, they had a reason to be proud. The Seafolk were chased into the pitch-black, cold ocean. The Beastmen lost their grasslands and plains. The Undead hid in the swamps and deserts. Even the Kingdom of the Elves, which was also the Law of Order, could only shut up its citizens and live in peace in a corner of the world when faced with the overbearing Human Kingdom.
The losers of the previous Holy War and their God of Protection had suffered in agony for more than 1,700 years. The long-lived ones who were fortunate enough to survive could still remember how their families and homes were destroyed in the war. They hated and feared war, but also longed for war. They hated the destructive war that took everything away, but they also hoped to return to the homeland that their ancestors had lost. They wanted to vent their hatred and anger in a war of vengeance and reclaim everything that they had lost.
The short-lived humans had long since viewed themselves as the core of the world, the beloved of Aichy, the king of all living things.
The origin of the Beastmen, the holy land of Bianluya, the Great Plains of Bianluya, the fertile black soil of today is said to be able to grow seedlings even if rice is sown, but it is one of the less important parts of the endless territory of the San Antonio Empire. The original owners of the Beastmen were either killing each other in the underground world or searching for food in the wastelands.
Back when the Sea Tribe was still just an aquatic tribe, they could be found in rivers, lakes, and seas. But now, if the Sea Tribe appeared in the inland lakes, it was likely that armies would immediately come to annihilate them, and adventurers would come to claim their rewards. The Kingdom of the Elves, which was supposed to be an ally of the Elves, would always be able to find their own kind in the slave market. The border conflicts between the Elves and the Human Kingdoms had never stopped.
The once-brave Knight class had now become the Lord Knight class. Humans' overly comfortable and relaxed lives compared to other species had given rise to an inexplicable arrogance and pride. As short-lived species, their short-sightedness and forgetfulness made them forget the glory and struggle of their ancestors. They felt that they were the spirit of all creatures, and that all other lives should be their subordinates.
"Orcs? Weren't they just a bunch of barbarians who couldn't even speak clearly? In the face of our new technology and war machines, these barbarians are nothing. Elves? Heh, they're just a bunch of stupid antiques. If there really is a Holy War, just two of our human superkingdoms would be enough to sweep through all four sides. Ha, perhaps we'll become the easiest Holy War's victors. "
The victors of the last Holy War were proud of their strength and devoted themselves to scheming against their own kind. The losers, on the other hand, were suffering in agony, waiting patiently for a chance to make a comeback.
The two sides had completely different battle preparation attitudes, causing the originally victorious [Order] to unknowingly fall into an absolute disadvantage.
In the northern wastelands, the Earth Elemental God and the Beastmen came together. On a cold night, relying on bonfires to keep warm, the tribe leaders pointed at their dream homeland on the map and loudly roared and cried. The Beastmen warriors swore a blood oath and prepared for the journey. On the barren island in the south, the Black-Winged people, who had already become a pirate species, regained the right to fly with the help of the Wind Elemental God. They activated the ancient floating island, picked up their divine spears, and began a new hunting season.
If it wasn't for the Fire Elemental God that Eliza had eaten as a tonic, the four ancient Elemental Gods would have all been mobilized. The Elemental Tide would rise wildly throughout the entire plane. Magic, abilities, Divine Arts, and other supernatural abilities would become much easier to learn. As the origin of elemental magic, the four main elemental magic would have an exponential increase in power.
At the same time, it would become easier and more frequent to receive visitors from other planes. The Elemental Gods would become a permanent resident of the main plane. The Chaos Faction's demon army had already begun the latest round of bloody elimination competition. The new army leader would obtain the opportunity to bring demons to harvest the souls of the surface.
Perhaps this was only the prelude to the eternal Holy War. But if they couldn't even survive the prelude, it wouldn't be wrong to say that it was the final battle.
As for the Order Faction, other than the humans, the second main force should be the Elves, who had already split into countless kingdoms, tribes, and tribes. However, more than a hundred years ago, the Kingdom of the Elves had already begun to close off their countries. The long-lived species and the Elven Gods, who were getting weaker and weaker, had no intention of informing their "allies" even if they received the warning of the Holy War. After all, they knew that even if they did inform the humans, they would most likely be ignored and mocked by the arrogant humans.
You could praise the Elves for their beauty, kindness, and intelligence, but never praise them for their magnanimity. That was because in the Elven language, forgiveness and forgetfulness were synonymous. For those narrow-minded Elves with long ears, thousands of years of accumulated grudges seemed to have happened just yesterday. They had long since decided to stay out of trouble, so it was already good enough that they didn't kick them when they were down.
Furthermore, there were rumors that the Elven Gods had always been in cahoots with the Chaos Evil Gods. It was difficult to ascertain whether the rumors were true or not. However, it was a publicly acknowledged fact that the relationship between the Elven Gods and the Human Gods was extremely poor. After all, there would always be some indescribable estrangement between a leader who was past his prime and a leader who was still in power. It was just like watching a popular celebrity from yesterday. Even if they didn't show it on the surface, they would definitely feel all sorts of emotions in their hearts.
Alright, getting back to the main topic, the current situation was already laid out before us. The Chaos Faction had been sharpening their blades for a thousand years, while the Human Empire was still in the midst of internal strife in the midst of peace and prosperity. As long as war were to break out, the outcome of the early stages would already be decided.
Looking at the conclusion after that, I personally made the same mistake as the Celestial Tower. They relied too much on prophecy magic while I relied too much on the so-called 'historical prophecy'. Even if that 'history' was a simulation of reality and the earlier part of history was accurate, it didn't mean that the later part would be accurate as well. Other than the butterfly effect that I had on myself, just the fact that there were no other 'players' in the real world meant that everything was destined to be different.
In the real world where there were no 'players' blessed by the heavens, it was impossible for the 3 Elemental Gods to be killed by a random plot. The level of the Elemental Calamity had far exceeded my expectations. Perhaps, in the entire Holy War and the continent, this could only be considered as an appetizer. However, this war was destined to be even more tragic than the one in the 'history'.
Alright, even if I really predicted it, even if I didn't stay in Sulfur Mountain City's prison and sharpen my Law Skills, I would still be helpless in such an important matter that involved countless powerful Gods.
The current reality was already the complete opposite of the 'history'. In that history, the 4 Elemental Gods were destroyed and 3 of them were sealed. The only Fire Elemental God managed to escape from the Underground World and mixed together with the Underground Alliance Army that released him, causing the friction between the Underground World and the Surface World to intensify. In the real world, due to my influence, the originally troublesome Fire Elemental God was completely eliminated. The other 3 Elemental Gods found their own helpers and became the new super troublesome ones.
Debating on which history was better was meaningless and worthless. History doesn't have hypotheses, nor does it believe in ifs. There was no possibility of a winner or loser.
At this moment, I had to face the storm stirred up by the wings of the Butterfly of Fate, the huge wave that was stirred up by the Water Elemental God.
Coming out from the VIP lounge, even I, who had experienced countless wars, was shocked by the sight before me.
Outside the window was a tornado that covered the sky. It was as though a giant dragon was sucking up water into the sky. The dark clouds maintained a relatively even rainfall, turning the entire city into a city of rain.
"A miracle!" This wasn't a description, it was a judgment based on the current situation. Only Divine Power could create such a strange phenomenon.
Inside the room, the hall on the first floor was in a mess. The flood had already spread into the room. On a temporary platform, the major nobles were urgently contacting their advisors.
The moment Dasos walked down, he was surrounded by messengers. Countless Mystical Light flashed and disappeared. The precious high-level Mages became the only reliable messengers.
"The coastal defense line has been broken through. There are too many Seafolk! Those Sea Giants are impossible to defend against! "
"Court Archmage Anso died in battle. The Court Mages are beginning to retreat. The White Wolf Guards are being surrounded by the Seafolk. It's impossible to break through!"
"The road to support has been blocked by refugees. The private soldiers of the nobles are already killing people to clear the way."
Bad news fell like snowflakes, but the most worrying thing was the images sent back by the Mage Eyes set up on every street.
In one scene, the White Wolf Cavalry, the pride of the Ottoman Empire, were surrounded by short murlocs. Their well-bred warhorses could not move an inch in the flood, and the cavalry, who were forced to dismount, had no choice but to remove the Misilar mithril alloy that they were so proud of, in order to move in the flood.
In the water, the fearless charge that they were so proud of was impossible to carry out. The indestructible Violent Heavy Sword was unable to find a target to attack. It was impossible to throw the explosive javelins in the heavy rain. The dripping White Wolf Guard was unable to catch up to the Murlocs swimming in the water. Their heavy armor and weapons became their greatest burden. The powerful White Wolf Guard was fighting a chaotic battle in the flood. Their performance was even worse than a fisherman's.
"Ahhh!"
Even though the sound transmitted from the image was very soft, the Knight's expression of extreme pain, the blood that appeared on his body, and the sudden appearance of a harpoon on his back explained everything.
"Wa la la la la la!"
Merrily shrieking, the merman popped his head up from the water, but then he lowered his head and dove back into the water, searching for the next chance to attack.
The short stature of the Murlocs, which was ridiculed by other races in the past, became the best weapon in this flood. The muddy river water made it impossible for the Knight to discover the Murlocs underwater.
On the other side, a sturdy Knight was caught in a fishing net and dragged to the ground. Relying on his strong physique and heavy armor, he was entangled in the fishing net and couldn't get up at all. He tore the net with all his might, but he still couldn't open his eyes. In the end, he could only open his eyes wide and strangle his own neck. Just like that, he was drowned to death in the eyes of everyone.
"… That's little Mickey, the youngest Silver Knight of the guards. His ability to control his steed and charge was the best in the 7th Platoon, but he died just like that in the hands of a low-level Murloc! Hauke, the strongest Knight of the seventh squad, was drowned! My Lord, please think of something! At the very least, we can't let everyone die such a worthless death! "
The angry roar of the White Wolf Knight in the hall made everyone feel inexplicably sad. One of the virtues of a Knight was to not fear sacrifice, but at the same time, there was also a rule that said sacrifice must be worthwhile. If one died while charging towards a giant dragon, it would naturally be a kind of honor. However, if one died in the hands of a weak Murloc that they looked down on in the past, it would be an insult to a Knight.
If the powerful White Wolf Guard was already so tragic, then the Ottoman people in the other scenes were even more tragic.
A beautiful mermaid was jumping underwater. The pouring rain reminded her of the Water Curtain Waterfall in her hometown. Thus, she caressed the magic shell between her golden hair and sang a song.
The mermaid's singing voice was world-famous. The beautiful figure in the shell swimsuit was even more charming. However, the warriors present didn't have the mood to appreciate it. That was because along with the Song of Tides, there was a deadly lurker.
"Ahhh! Piranhas! There are piranhas under the water! "
The warrior who screamed in pain immediately fell to the ground. After a few seconds, white bones filled with teeth marks floated to the surface of the blood.
"Jellyfish, poisonous jellyfish! Everyone, get out of the water! "
The almost transparent and colorless jellyfish in the water were impossible to detect. Even the strongest warrior would be paralyzed to death unknowingly after being touched by those poisonous tentacles that were filled with deadly venom.
"Ahhhhh! Swordfish! "
This warrior was lucky. At the very least, he knew who killed him. The long mouth of the swordfish pierced into his stomach. He didn't even struggle for a few seconds before he fell to the ground and died.
Along with the mermaid's singing, the seafood delicacies in the restaurant became a deadly hunter.
Everyone knew that staying in the water was equivalent to seeking death. However, under the blessing of the two Gods' Divine Power for Rain City, every place in the city was submerged in water. The warriors had nowhere to retreat to.
Although there were people who abandoned everything and climbed onto the roofs, judging from the fins of the sharks underwater, it was the same as being trapped in a dangerous place where they couldn't move. What awaited them was still the end of the world.
A large number of Seafolk entered the city. If the battle between the middle and low-level warriors caused people to sigh helplessly, then the battle between the high-level warriors caused people to despair.
"Exploding Flames, come!"
A battle mage who specialized in fire summoned the flames he was most proficient in in despair. However, before the flames could take shape, a young Naga clapped her hands together and extinguished the flames.
As the incarnation of a Water Snake Spirit, every Naga more or less knew some water magic. Perhaps on land, she would only be able to quench thirst. However, the waves she created in the water were deadly.
Furthermore, she was only an apprentice. The Water God and Sea God's Blessing greatly increased the Seafolk's combat strength. The shockwaves created by the Sea Giants could easily destroy even the sturdiest of fortresses. The Seafolk archmages with evil smiles only needed to hide in the water and repeatedly summon huge waves to wash away everything.
Furthermore, the elite warriors from several hundred tribes had arrived today. The human warriors were surrounded and killed by the flood. In terms of the number of high-level warriors, the humans didn't have the advantage.
"Never fight against the Seafolk in the water, unless you also have fins and don't need to breathe."
It was unknown who said this ancient advice first, but there was only a deathly silence in the hall. What followed after was the faint sound of sobbing.
That's right, no one could defeat the Seafolk in the water. Just like how I almost died in the fishing nets of a group of Fishmen a few days ago. The combat strength of the Seafolk in the water was immeasurable. This was also the reason why the two Gods went to rest after completing the Blessing of Rain City. They believed that there was no need for them to interfere anymore.
The development of the situation proved their judgment right. From the moment this city became the home ground of the Seafolk, the outcome of the battle was already decided. The Ottoman Empire was destined to lose its most luxurious city, the Pearl City.
No one expected that on this joyous day for the Ottoman Empire, the powerful empire would meet with such a calamity. Everyone turned their gazes to Dasos, waiting for his decision.
A city wasn't everything to an empire. A vast territory could still form new armies. As long as the people were alive, there would still be hope. The day of vengeance would eventually arrive.
Meaningless sacrifices were meaningless. Everyone could see and think about what needed to be done right now. However, the cruel decision would be carried out by the emperor who ascended to the throne today.
"… Abandon the defensive line. Those who can walk, retreat! Leave the city!"
Shouting these words through gritted teeth, Dasos seemed to have aged ten years.
"No!! My parents are still at home! Your Majesty, please save them! "The cry of alarm from the nobles was only the beginning.
"My boys are still resisting, how can we give up! This is the most despicable betrayal! " The old general roared at the king. His soldiers were dying tragically one by one. Once the retreat began, all of them would become cannon fodder. There was no possibility of survival.
"Kagesi is the capital. If we lose the capital, what face do we have left to stand on the Aichy continent? We will become the laughingstock of the entire world. " The old marquis smiled bitterly. What he said was indeed the truth. The only ones who were smiling in the hall were the small countries that were forced to be subordinate. Even though the envoys were worried about their own safety, they still looked happy.
For real diplomats, even if they died, as long as they didn't sign on the humiliating treaty and their descendants wouldn't be shamed for a hundred years, it was worth it even if they died on the spot.
"I said, give up!"
The scarlet demon sword emitted a blood-like brilliance. The king who held the sword stabbed it into the ground.
"Stay in this city and wait for death? Stupid! So what if we lose the White Wolf Guards? We can just rebuild the White Lion Guards and White Tiger Guards. So what if we lose the old capital? Our great Ottoman territory is vast. There are countless cities that are close to Kagesi. We can just choose again. We have indeed lost today. We will remember this hatred. Tomorrow, my army will take back everything! "
"I said, retreat! Take away the important things and throw away the useless belongings. Take away all the national treasures. Technical information is prioritized. Children, women, and the elderly are prioritized. Special talents are prioritized. Young men with four limbs, pick up your weapons and stand with me. My Knight and I will stay until the very last moment! "
After his anger reached its peak, the Winter Wolf King's tone became abnormally calm. However, his trembling whiskers showed that he was still in a state of rage.
The Emperor's calmness and initiative to bring up the rear stabilized the situation at the critical moment. He didn't hesitate to cut his losses and no doubt avoided the most tragic ending. As for me, it was time for me to make a decision.
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect things to turn out like this. You can leave with the first batch of women. No, I should say, please leave with them. "
"Green Wild Bay's Goblin Bank. If you complete the requirements of the contract, you can receive the key there. However, it will have to be at least a month later."
I didn't answer the question and didn't speak a single word of truth. I was making the final preparations before leaving, so how could I tell the other party that the key was on me?
Leave just like that? Impossible! Little Renée is currently following my request to invite talents from all over. Kolos is currently standing guard at the Church, so they are definitely in danger. If I were to escape with the key, not only would my companions on the surface die, even those fellows in the underwater base would starve to death.
"You intend to save your companions? Stop joking. The entire city is filled with the Seafolk. Even if it is you, fighting with the Seafolk in the water is suicidal! A meaningless sacrifice is the shame of a Knight! "
"Heh, suicidal? I don't think so. "
There was no point in saying anything more. I shook my head and walked down the hall. In a relatively spacious area, I took out my own Space Bag and searched for my old belongings.
Yes, even if it was me, I had no chance of winning against the Seafolk in the water. Furthermore, the duration of the War Angel transformation was extremely short. As long as I entered the water, it would be impossible for me to shake off the Seafolk's pursuit. It was impossible for me to achieve my goal. However, as long as I had that item, it wasn't impossible.
"Naturally, I have no chance of winning in the water. However, it might be possible on the ice. I got it! "
After pouring out a pile of dried plums, marbles, handmade poker cards and other miscellaneous items, I finally found my target. It was a hand-carved short Wooden Sword. It was only the size of a hand and it was obviously a child's toy sword. The workmanship was rough and there were a few crooked words carved on the hilt of the sword. The words were distorted and childish, as though it was written by a child.
"Cavendish's sword. Roland is not allowed to steal it or play with it."
Those words were really written by a child. That was the signature that Cavendish left for his precious Wooden Sword when he was still a child. When he was young, he was never willing to call me, who was only a few minutes older than him, older brother. Basically, he would just call me by my name.
Caressing the marks on the sword, I felt as though I had returned to that warm and carefree childhood. In the midst of war, I saw that reckless and straightforward foolish younger brother.
I shook my head. This wasn't the time to reminisce about the past. What I needed wasn't the Wooden Sword itself but the soul that was sleeping within it.
"Irene Béla, I need your help."
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