Free Web NovelChapter 2434: Chapter 2435: Flames of War
The Force of Fate radiated outward from Feng Yuan, establishing a future of death for all living beings around, while the power of the City of Time refused to be outdone, resisting with its temporal might.
The natural disaster collided with time, the two ceaselessly wearing each other down. Gladys burst into this fragile balance, flinging her Divination Cards, which, empowered by the City of Time, greatly enhanced their ability to peer into the future, targeting weak points in the defense. The cards quickly succeeded in shattering the barrier.
As the protective barrier was breached, the soldiers on the frontline completely lost their means to resist the force of the natural disaster. The terrifying power of the disaster, accompanied by fierce winds and rain, assaulted the fortifications. Normally, Beastmasters would not be affected by such extreme climates, or rather, relying on their beasts’ power, they had enough ability to protect themselves against such weather.
However, under the interference of the disaster’s power, the beasts’ strength couldn’t form effective protection. Even when they summoned their beasts’ power to shield themselves, the fierce winds and rain, like the wrath of Divine Beasts, ignored all defenses, slicing through like sharp blades.
Gladys swiftly retreated, watching the frontline transform into a hell on earth. Even she couldn’t help but feel a bit nauseous at the sight.
She didn’t criticize Feng Yuan’s attack as inhumane. Gladys understood well that as long as victory in war could be achieved, the means didn’t matter. Clinging to so-called rules only to lose the war in the end is the most lamentable thing.
"The first frontline has collapsed."
Empire Lanadi, feeling the change in the atmosphere across the battle lines, spoke suddenly. Although it was expected, when the outcome was laid before them, Lanadi couldn’t help but sigh.
Do they regret it? Maybe, but not much. Even without Empire Gladys’s provocation, the other side would certainly face them head-on during war. Perhaps the current situation wasn’t the worst.
Thinking this, Empire Lanadi looked at the others. Their faces were grim but their eyes resolute. They knew what awaited them, but they didn’t care, as long as...
The White Wolf Deity roared. As expected, the Eastern Alliance Empire launched a strong attack on Maomu City, because Feng Yuan originated from there. Although he was now causing havoc in the Mordan Empire, they’ve not forgotten what he did in the Eastern Alliance Empire.
However, Feng Yuan was well-prepared for them. The White Wolf Deity decisively acted as soon as they appeared. With no understanding of time power, the Eastern Alliance Empire naturally found themselves at a disadvantage against the time-power-wielding White Wolf Deity.
Even needing to protect the entire Maomu City, for the White Wolf Deity, the enemy’s suicide charge still found it hard to break through its defenses.
Due to Great Xia entering a war-preparation phase, transportation to and from Maomu City was nearly halted, so there were no scattered people outside for them to ambush.
"White Wolf Deity..."
Hearing the divine wolf’s roar, Zhanzheng Qichen couldn’t help but sigh. Earlier, he suspected that Feng Yuan might have enlisted the White Wolf Deity to help guard the city, and it seemed he was right.
After all, the other party had already demonstrated the ability to command the White Wolf Deity. Summoning the White Wolf Deity to guard the city was expected.
With the White Wolf Deity present, Zhanzheng Qichen did not believe that those Imperials had any means to cause enormous destruction to Maomu City.
Never mind, even with the White Wolf Deity there, better to lend a hand anyway.
Thinking this, Zhanzheng Qichen picked up his staff and walked out of the dormitory. Perhaps due to recent negotiations temporarily earning Mao Mu Special Service’s approval, when Zhanzheng Qichen left, no one followed him.
After all, their main task now was to fend off the attack from The Imperial Timeline. Although the number of soldiers sent by the other side was limited, if not for the White Wolf Deity blocking them, relying solely on Maomu City’s Beastmasters might not be enough to withstand this wave of offensive.
Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan did not participate in the battle outside the city. Even if they had means to temporarily exert Legendary Level combat power, it was ultimately unstable. In comparison, the safety of their families was of more concern.
Data City was also a temporary refuge for civilians. Although not absolutely secure, compared to other places, as long as the Data Domain couldn’t shatter rules like a Divine Beast, it couldn’t truly threaten the lives of those within the Main World in the Data Domain.
After consideration, Qi Chen and the others brought all their family and friends into Data City. Although a large number of civilians flooded into Data City, under coordination by AI guards and official personnel, order within Data City remained good.
As the Maomu City officials with management rights over Data City, they temporarily shut down some characteristics of Data City, such as the false sensation of fullness, and prohibited the appearance of false food constructed by the Data Domain within Data City.
For a simple reason, these things would interfere with subsequent placement and rescue work. After all, when the Data Domain was first discovered, it proved that the sensation of false fullness had its disadvantages; even if one went hungry for long within the Data Domain, nothing seemed wrong.
But once back in the Main World, the impact of hunger would erupt instantly. The current situation was unclear, and even Maomu City didn’t know how long they needed to stay sheltered here.
During this time, their food would be allocated by specialized personnel. Of course, those with food reserves at home and enough strength could return to retrieve items.
The entire Data City opened several areas, all transformed into temporary residences. Qi Chen’s and Dou Yanlan’s parents were unsurprisingly living together. Xiao Shuang waved at Qi Chen, saying,
"Bro, don’t worry, I’ll protect everyone~"
At this moment, all Magic Mechanized Soldiers were deployed, and the White Shadow Wolf controlled the mechanized soldiers patrolling in the room. Although within Data City it wasn’t infeasible to allocate a standalone villa for every family, doing so would overwhelm their staff, so under normal circumstances, the living areas were thirty-story residential buildings.
Qi Chen and the others could be allocated a villa, but not due to favoritism toward Qi Chen or Dou Yanlan; it was because their fathers held this qualification.
After much consideration, they chose to forfeit. Although the villa area might be more comfortable, it wasn’t necessarily safer. Considering that the attackers might deploy stronger forces at the villa area, Qi Chen and the others decided blending in with ordinary people was safer.
After all, Xiao Shuang had the Magic Mechanized Soldiers and the White Shadow Wolf. Though her power wasn’t entirely stable, it wasn’t weak either.
Faced with a conventional attack, Xiao Shuang wasn’t without defenses. As for Qi Chen and the others? Though they protected their own home, they couldn’t do so always; occasionally, they would go out on a walk.
Their fathers had already left home on missions, which was why Qi Chen and the others grew more cautious.
Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan planned to fetch some pre-prepared food. Before Feng Yuan’s assault on The Imperial Timeline, both families were stocking up, or rather, most families were doing the same.
However, because the Eastern Alliance Empire’s assault was too sudden, under emergency transfer, most people couldn’t take advantage of their reserves.
"Xiao Shuang, be careful."
"You too, bro. Be safe on the road and come back if it’s too risky."
With hands on her hips, Xiao Shuang looked worryingly at Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan. As long as the Data Domain remained unbroken, in a certain sense, it was absolutely safe, given its cheating immortality traits.
In comparison, the Main World was fraught with danger. Even though the White Wolf Deity blocked the main force outside the city, it couldn’t prevent small groups from infiltrating and causing chaos within the city.
Therefore, those able to leave Data City and return to the Main World generally had some strength.
"Mm, we’ll be careful."
With a smile, Qi Chen said as he and Dou Yanlan made their way towards the connection point. As Data City became a civilian refuge, its connection to the outside was forcibly severed, and Data-based Spirit Beasts couldn’t easily leap into the Data City’s zone. Similarly, leaving Data City required specific passageways.
The City of Shadows had already unfolded; familiar scenes turned illusory. The streets were filled with Beastmasters releasing their beasts, tensely watching their surroundings, and patrolling troops.
The streets, which were once bustling with vehicles, now had none. Only Beastmasters and their beasts moved along the roads that used to be busy.
Looking at this radically changed city, Qi Chen couldn’t help but sigh. Just then, Dou Yanlan shouted loudly,
"Ah Chen! Watch the left!"
Ah Mu quickly raised a barrier, and a flash of black light streaked through, shattering the barrier instantly. As the black light was about to strike Qi Chen, he swiftly conjured a staff and parried the assault, forcefully repelling the assassin.
Before the opponent could react, another shadow of a staff descended. Unlike Qi Chen, this shadow struck with brutal force. Seeing the bloody ground, Qi Chen looked at Zhanzheng Qichen, puzzled, and asked,
"You, how are you here?"
