Free Web NovelChapter 441: Chapter 50: Those Are All My Lines
Anise’s warning was no exaggeration. Despite being separated by several Demon Realms, Westheid’s front line for the Royal Court made direct, unimpeded contact with the Master of Armor Tomb just one month later.
The Master of Armor Tomb’s domain expanded with terrifying speed... it was a complete steamroll, making one wonder if the Demons had even put up a fight.
Or perhaps, any resistance against the Master of Armor Tomb was as laughably futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
The Enchanting Demon’s realm was run clean through, but Serralis, where Anise resided, managed to survive for the time being. This wasn’t because they were spared, but simply because a target that drew more hatred had been found.
Unfortunately, the Royal Court was the Master of Armor Tomb’s target.
Upon discovering traces of the Elves, the Magic Armors, which had been aggressively marching toward Serralis, immediately changed direction and surged toward the Royal Court. As a result, the several Demon Realms that were confronting the Royal Court were utterly annihilated.
Needless to say, its hatred extended to everything associated with its enemy. It must have had a ’small’ issue with Emperor Qianlu and was planning to march on the capital to have a stern word with the Celestial God’s direct representative.
Caught in a pincer attack between the Royal Court and the Armor Tomb, they were annihilated without so much as a ripple.
After this, the Royal Court officially clashed with the Master of Armor Tomb. Only then did Westheid truly understand why Anise had called the Woodland Immortal an unbeatable foe and had immediately started thinking about escape.
Along the Barrier outside the City in the Lake, tens of thousands of defenders nervously constructed their defensive lines.
Among them were the Punishment Army and mortal logistics personnel, but the bulk of the forces was the grand army of the Elf Royal Court. The allied forces brought by the Qinghui Territory were also responsible for one of the defensive sectors.
Tall towers shimmered with a magical halo. Hundreds of massive cannons, fixed on various high points, bombarded the enemy without pause, their RUMBLE deafening. More Rhythm Mages, and even Tuners, were reinforcing the Barrier or constantly inscribing Techniques upon the citadel.
Elf Warriors clad in exquisite Armor patrolled the area, their steps firm and ringing. These were originally the Forbidden Guard tasked with protecting the Capital, but they had been brought to the front lines since the Wind Law Queen was personally leading the campaign.
More Elf Warriors mounted the city walls, manning various war machines aimed outside the city. From time to time, they fired precise shots and blasts, as if engaged in battle.
But the Royal Court Army itself didn’t seem to be under attack. It was less of a battle and more of a suppression.
"Your Majesty!"
"Duke Qinghui!"
When a fully armed Westheid ascended to a high point on the defensive line, he drew everyone’s gaze. It was as if they had found their backbone, and the incredibly tense atmosphere finally eased. The mere sight of Duke Qinghui’s figure—and his record of victory in every battle—was enough to bring a sense of relief.
"Mm. Carry on. Don’t stop."
Westheid waved his hand, signaling the defenders to continue their suppressive fire. He, meanwhile, gazed into the distance, his eyes fixed on the enemy the Royal Court Army was arrayed against.
What he saw were bizarrely shaped yet exquisitely beautiful suits of Armor. Each one looked like an ancient work of art—and indeed, they were.
The Land of Thousand Lakes had a rich and profound culture of Armor-crafting dating back to ancient times; Westheid knew this well. Elves and other races alike held a special fondness for forging precious Armor.
This was because in the ancient past, the Land of Thousand Lakes was filled with "exposed silver." Minerals rich in Magic Power, tempered by the unique geographical environment and the Extraordinary System, could easily be forged into perfect Armor.
In the past, the Armor of the Thousand Laws Royal Court represented the highest level of craftsmanship in the Mortal World—the Mecha of the Celestial Vault Kingdom didn’t count, as they weren’t recognized as Magic Armor.
Nevertheless, with the rise of modern industrial processes, more and more handcrafted Armor was replaced by mass production, and the once-Prominent Magic Armor gradually fell into decline.
But the Armor now spread across the enemy’s formation... no one would underestimate them, because they had already paid a heavy price.
Before this, the Royal Court Army was supposed to be securing the nodes of the Demon Realms. However, not long after recapturing a City in the Lake, they ran head-on into this host of Armor Tombs.
After a brief clash, the Royal Court Legion suffered a crushing blow and was utterly routed. An elite legion of ten thousand was almost completely wiped out, with only a few dozen survivors fleeing back to the city.
And the bodies of the fallen could be seen now, hanging from the branches of the dense forest.
Their original Secret Silver Breastplates had been replaced by ancient wood. A faintly glowing, fiery-red amber grew from the center of each chest. Their inverted-triangular helmets were also infested by the wood, sprouting backward-sweeping, branch-like antlers. Green sashes hung from their shoulders. Thus, new Armor, with scorched ancient wood as its main component, was born.
As for the Elf Warriors originally inside the Armor?
’Pfft. They’ve already gone to heaven!’
’If you’re lucky, you might get a desiccated corpse back. Unlucky? Just an empty shell, sucked dry.’
Subsequently, as the Armor Tombs advanced on the defensive line, Westheid made a swift decision, ordering a blanket of suppressive fire to break the enemy’s momentum.
However, even so, it was merely a delaying tactic.
Under the constant barrage, the Magic Armor would indeed be damaged. Yet, the moment one fell, it would be engulfed by countless vines and branches. Accompanied by hazy bursts of light, the repaired Armor Tomb would rise and charge back into battle.
And the forest itself was an indestructible Holy Sanctuary.
"Brother," Yolanda said, pointing into the distance, "that forest... is it still expanding?"
The lush, green thicket wasn’t there originally. It surged forth from the horizon like a tidal wave, expanding at a rate visible to the naked eye. Countless flowers and trees sprouted and flourished in the blink of an eye.
"You don’t have to wonder. Even the cooks can see it."
Westheid said, his expression grave.
Holy Spirits were Demigods who became nearly omnipotent, receiving an immense boost within their own Domains. Even a useless twit like the Pure Holy Spirit, turtled up in the heart of the Purity Forest, had managed to stymie the Chaos Demon Army, which had been trying to crack that nut for years without success.
The Master of Armor Tomb was no different. Back when it was a Holy Spirit, it had spent its entire existence within its Holy Land, content to be a Tomb Guardian Spirit. Unable to take a single step beyond its borders, it naturally posed no threat.
’After all, no matter how strong you are in your own Holy Land, you’re just a king in your own little castle. What’s an ultimate Earth-bound Spirit got to be so smug about? If you’ve got the guts, come on out. I guarantee you won’t like what happens next!’
But as a Celestial God’s Shadow of Emperor Qianlu, the rules of the game were different.
As is well known, a Shadow of the Thousand Laws can corrupt and distort the nodes of the Grand Ensemble. Therefore, by occupying a Grand Ensemble node, it could twist the entire region into its own Holy Land.
’It’s like lifting yourself up by your own bootstraps!’
’Isn’t this the ultimate form of ’Bright Radiance Manifested in the World’ that I envisioned? To be able to freely expand the borders of my Holy Land and then do as I please within it.’
’The Master of Armor Tomb... It’s stolen my script!’
