Chapter 139: All Warmongers
Chapter 139: All Warmongers
As the sky-blue water curtain’s radiance gradually faded and disappeared, the intimacy within the stone chamber finally came to an end.
Ileena had already put on her armor at some point. It was a tight leather armor that outlined the enchanting and graceful figure of the female Mercenary. Sun Fei had never imagined that a woman’s body could be so incredibly alluring—so captivating that once you caught a glimpse, you never wanted to look away. Legend had it that the previous Flower of the Rogues, Andariel, could distract the most devout priest during prayer with her smile. Sun Fei believed that Ileena’s charm at this moment was no less than Andariel’s.
With a gentle wave of her slender hand, the armor and bow placed on the distant stone table flew toward Ileena as if they had a life of their own.
The woman who had been as gentle as water just moments ago instantly transformed back into the image of the peerless Valkyrie she usually was. Having successfully completed the power stacking of the other six NPC Mercenaries, Ileena now possessed terrifying Might. She could freely switch between the four types of Magic swords—electricity, fire, ice, and poison—not only diversifying her attack methods but also multiplying the strength of each Magic element. Her power had likely more than doubled, reaching at least the intermediate Four-Star Level, slightly surpassing Sun Fei’s normal combat ability.
After donning her armor, Ileena looked composed, and her gaze toward Sun Fei seemed unchanged.
However, only she knew how joyful she felt inside. She had always believed herself to be just a small, humble Rogue, destined to meet the same tragic fate as many of her sisters in hopeless battles—dying under the sharp claws of monsters and demons. Such a life was numbing; if not for her unwavering belief in defending the camp, she might have gone mad from the endless darkness and oppression.
Sun Fei’s appearance changed her destiny.
It was like a warm candle suddenly lighting up in the endless darkness.
In the destroyed Tristram, when Sun Fei used his body to block the numerous arrows from the skeleton archers; in the Monastery basement, when he used his broad chest to block the onslaught of skeleton monsters and blade demons; in the Hall of the Dead in the distant oasis, when he drew all the water-fat warriors, Zombies, and hollow corpses to himself… Ileena didn’t know when she had quietly fallen in love with this young warrior. The affection growing in her heart was like a virus with no antidote, spreading wildly in the Valkyrie’s heart, tormenting her almost to the point of madness.
But behind her seemingly strong and invincible exterior, Ileena’s heart was as fragile as a drifting willow catkin.
Her heart was entirely devoted to Sun Fei, and she had forgotten herself.
Especially after learning that Sun Fei’s identity in the ‘World of Light’ was that of a revered King, the sense of distance in Ileena’s heart grew even more pronounced. The presence of the beautiful, chrysanthemum-like Angela carved an abyss in her heart… She had thought the fateful curse of the Flower of the Rogues had manifested on her once again, but what had just happened suddenly lifted her heart, which had been falling into a bottomless pit of despair, straight to heaven.
That moment, that glistening tear, was not one of sadness, but of overwhelming joy.
Ileena had finally allowed herself to indulge. She tightly wrapped her arms around Sun Fei—the most reckless and bold action she had ever taken in her life. Even when facing the dark sorceress Andariel in the World of Diablo, Ileena had never felt so tense.
The spring night left no trace.
But Ileena felt deeply content.
Because she had obtained what she had always dreamed of—not the fleeting pleasure of the moment, but the realization that Sun Fei cared for her in his heart. Just as Andariel, for Diablo, would fall into demonhood and even ruin her most cherished appearance by cultivating poison Magic without regret, it seemed that every woman called the Flower of the Rogues hid a brave heart willing to go mad for love beneath their icy exteriors. Like moths drawn to a flame, even if the outcome was destruction, they would unreservedly give everything they had.
“Your Majesty Alexander!”
Ileena knelt on one knee, lowering her head. Her fiery red hair cascaded down, swaying softly in the air.
Sun Fei immediately understood her meaning.
He gently lifted Ileena and held the somewhat flustered Valkyrie tightly in his arms: “In the name of the King of Shampoo City and the supreme leader of the Rogue Encampment, Ileena, I revoke your right to kneel. From now on, you must stand firmly by my side. Do you understand?”
Hearing Sun Fei’s almost tyrannical words, Ileena was momentarily stunned. Then, an incredible joy blossomed in her bright eyes. She understood, of course she understood the meaning behind Sun Fei’s words—it was a happiness she had once thought unattainable.
A smile brightened the stone chamber like spring.
Every woman had a hidden side.
Who could have imagined that the formidable Valkyrie Ileena, who stood valiantly at the Eastern Peak Summit, would lose her unwavering confidence in the face of love, becoming hesitant and fearful like a timid little girl.
Sun Fei could sense Ileena’s feelings.
He felt like a steaming pile of excrement waiting to dry, when suddenly a dazzling flower that dimmed the heavens and earth quietly nestled upon him.
…
…
“Listen, you lowly scum of Shampoo City! Lower the drawbridge immediately, release the detained Prince, and have that foolish King Alexander kneel and come out to apologize! Only then will Shampoo City be spared from being razed to the ground!”
On the other side of the stone bridge, a lone rider stood proudly against the wind, a look of disdain in his eyes as he shouted loudly.
“How dare you! Who are you to show such disrespect to His Majesty Alexander?”
The Silver Saint Michelle Ballack leaped onto the steel wheel of the drawbridge, angrily retorting. Behind him, the soldiers of Shampoo City wore expressions of rage. Swords were drawn with a clang, and archers pulled their Longbows taut like full moons, ready to release arrows at their captain’s command to pierce the Knight’s throat across the bridge.
“Bah! Ignorant fools! You are not worthy of knowing my name! Quickly summon Alexander to kneel and apologize!”
The brightly armored Knight waved his hand and murmured an obscure incantation that drifted in the wind. Visible to the naked eye, dense, transparent Wind Blades materialized before him. With a wave of his hand, the sharp sound of slicing air echoed as the Wind Blades shot toward Ballack and the others.
“It’s a Mage! He’s a Mage!”
A chorus of exclamations rose from the crowd. Although they had endured the arduous battle against the Black Armored Army and were now battle-hardened warriors, the mystique of a Mage still evoked awe. Moreover, this enemy was clearly a high-level Mage.
“Stay calm! Fall back! Form up!!”
Michelle Ballack, Drogba, Pierce, Ivanovich, and Essien reacted swiftly, instantly snatching two-meter-tall steel Tower Shields from the soldiers beside them to form an impenetrable steel wall. These Tower Shields were spoils from the previous Black Armored Army battle, each weighing a thousand jin. Only Saints like Pierce, who had undergone transformation with the Hulk Potion, could lift them.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—!
The dense, whistling Wind Blades slammed fiercely into the Tower Shields, leaving shocking marks on the ten-centimeter-thick steel surfaces. The tremendous impact sent even Drogba and the others reeling, their blood boiling and shoulders numb.
“Archers! Loose! Loose!! Shoot him dead!”
At Ballack’s roar, the Shampoo City archers released their tightly drawn bowstrings. A series of twanging sounds echoed as a sky full of sharp arrows, like a swarm of ravenous locusts, shot toward the lone rider on the stone bridge, casting a bloodthirsty shadow over the sky.
“Oh… Damn you lowly scum! How dare you fire arrows at me!”
The Mage on horseback was furious. With a string of Magic incantations and gestures, cyan Wind Blades condensed into an invisible shield three to four meters tall before him. The volley of arrows thudded against the shield, forcing the Mage and his horse to stagger backward. After the first wave of arrows, crisp cracking sounds were heard as the transparent shield fractured into pieces like shattered glass.
“Damn you lowly scum! Do you know who I am? Damn it… How dare you fire arrows at a Noble Mage of the Zenit Empire? You’re dead! You’re all dead! Your skulls will be made into chamber pots…”
After this volley, the Mage on horseback, like a Magical Beast poked in the rear, cursed angrily as he retreated.
Despite his rage, life was more important. The arrow volley had thoroughly frightened him.
Pulling on the reins, the horse neighed, and the rider hurriedly retreated out of arrow range.
On the southern bank across the bridge, the mysterious army finally appeared before the people of Shampoo City. Mottled and complex flags fluttered in the wind, indicating that this was a coalition force from different factions. Nine fully armed Knights rode at the forefront, followed by attendants holding high banners of various designs. Behind them, soldiers clad in armor of different styles and colors advanced slowly toward Shampoo City like nine surging torrents.
The Mage who had earlier attempted to break through alone returned to this Miscellaneous Army, pointing his whip toward the drawbridge and speaking indignantly.
At the Shampoo City bridgehead.
“It looks like a temporary alliance of various small kingdoms—Shenhua Kingdom, Luneng Kingdom, Chanba Kingdom, Deke Kingdom, Greentree City, Redwater City…” The first Urban Management Legion Commander of Shampoo City, Gordon Brook, scanned the distant flags and quickly identified the origins of this joint Miscellaneous Army. A murderous intent surfaced on Brook’s face. “I know why they’re here… Hah, they really don’t know their place. His Majesty Alexander didn’t want to make an example of them for now, but these fools actually dare to try to reclaim their Princes by force. It seems we must make them feel the pain, or they’ll keep thinking Shampoo City is the easy target it used to be, to be trampled by anyone.”
“This is an opportunity!” The right chancellor, Best, also wore an excited smile. “Perfect for training and preparing for the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament.”
The two top military and political leaders of Shampoo City had, at some point, become incredibly warlike, setting the tone for the impending conflict.