Free Web NovelChapter 448: Chapter 53: Change Your Mindset or Be Replaced
And so, Westheid immediately changed course, returning to the City in the Lake.
Due to the Master of Armor Tomb’s sudden betrayal, the Burning Ambers from the Forest of Serenity took over the battlefield. This caught the Royal Court Legion completely off guard, as they had grown used to the previous enemy’s rhythm. Fortunately, the Royal Court had contingency plans for such a scenario and adapted quickly.
As the embodiment of the Forest of Serenity’s rage and will to fight, these puppets were more a statement of intent than a measure of combat power. They were a declaration that the Magic Forest had activated its counterattack protocols.
The Forest of Serenity was no longer gentle. It would now expand and fight back against the invaders in the most brutal manner possible.
For this reason, the Royal Court’s troops could no longer remain scattered within the forest’s bounds. They could feel a scorching sensation clinging to their bodies, a prickling on their backs that forced them to retreat. The army of Burning Ambers, however, did not immediately give chase.
They merely advanced at a slow, mechanical pace, refusing to attack unless one stepped into their range.
"Brother West! It’s gone!"
On the defensive line of the City in the Lake, Ailorus threw herself into Duke Qinghui’s arms, shouting.
Her little face was pale, but she looked relieved to be free from the confrontation on the Tuning plane. Clearly, the previous struggle of wills against the Master of Armor Tomb over the nodes of the Thousand Laws Ceremony had been an arduous one for the Little Queen.
Westheid gently held the Elf Lolita’s shoulders and patted her back comfortingly, but he couldn’t bring himself to say any words of comfort.
"Yes, but it’s not over. Don’t relax. This war has only just begun."
As if to prove Duke Qinghui’s words, the ember-covered Magic Forest expanded rapidly, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws like a living creature. Flying sparks made contact with the City in the Lake’s Barrier, immediately sending ripples across its surface.
"Ngh..."
Ailorus, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, immediately furrowed her lovely brows and hugged Westheid tighter.
Duke Qinghui shouted at the group of Tuners who had gathered around:
"What are you all standing around for?! This isn’t a Demon’s assault, just the expansion of its Domain! Help the King of Wind Law!"
As if waking from a dream, the Tuners entered a meditative state and pushed back the encroaching Demon Realm. In an instant, within a realm invisible to the mortal eye, the fierce clash intensified to a fever pitch.
When they had previously faced the Demigod Demon, they were overwhelmed in a single encounter by the sheer immensity of the Master of Armor Tomb’s essence. Only Ailorus, relying on the absolute suppression of the Wind Law, could contend with it. But the Elf Lolita was still too inexperienced. Even with the Master of Armor Tomb distracted by its fight with Westheid, she had been sweating profusely from the effort.
"Next time..."
Westheid felt the Elf Lolita’s small hands tighten their grip in his arms, clutching his arm desperately.
When he looked down, he saw sacred, cyan eyes that seemed to be burning. Those eyes, which should have been utterly clear and pure, were now stained with profound indignation.
"Next time, I’ll hold on longer... I swear."
Ailorus was defiant, deeply dissatisfied with her own performance. After facing the terrifying Demon Demigod, her first reaction wasn’t fear, but extreme shame.
In Westheid’s eyes, however, Ailorus had already done more than enough. To face a Demon Demigod with such a vast difference in Tiers and hold her ground without faltering—one couldn’t possibly ask for more.
"No... It’s not just about holding on. I will defeat it completely! As long as I learn more, and more..."
"I know. I have no doubt about that."
Duke Qinghui was taken aback for a moment, then smiled as he stroked the Elf Lolita’s beautiful golden hair.
"Mhm!"
Ailorus snuggled deeper into Westheid’s embrace and didn’t forget to return the favor, reaching out to playfully ruffle the man’s hair.
However, this was no time for tender moments. The battle was not over. The army of Burning Ambers was advancing steadily, and they were nearly endless. As long as the Forest of Serenity remained covered in embers, the Burning Ambers would continue to spawn indefinitely.
Westheid informed Ailorus of his request to use Restricted-Level Weapons.
Before the Wind Law Queen could respond, Faticia and the other Tuners’ eyes went wide.
"Use Restricted-Level Weapons? Th-that’s... that’s not a good idea, is it?"
The beautiful Purple-haired Elf said weakly:
"If it were just a few constructs, that would be one thing. But a full-scale deployment of Forbidden Techniques would cause immense damage to the Grand Ensemble. Moreover, some of the Royal Court’s commanders and officers might find it hard to accept."
In the Thousand Laws Royal Court, while the Demons were running rampant, they were only polluting and encroaching on the nodes of the Grand Ensemble, not destroying them directly. Because of this, many in the Royal Court clung to the wishful thinking that as long as the nodes weren’t severely damaged, the number of casualties didn’t matter.
But Forbidden Techniques were different. They would cause real damage to the Grand Ensemble.
"What is there to hesitate about?!"
Ailorus snorted coldly and shouted:
"Desperate times call for desperate measures! In the past, in the Land of Rhythm, we enjoyed peace and tranquility because of the Divine Ancestor’s protection and grace. But now, the enemy runs rampant, and the Forest of Serenity is determined to fight us to the death!"
"Sister Faticia... How many days has it been since you became the Grand Law Officer? Have you already started to change your way of thinking?"
Ailorus’s sacred, cyan eyes glared at the Purple-haired Elf, her gaze unfriendly, as if she couldn’t believe someone from her own Direct Lineage would say such a thing.
"No! I would never presume to oppose you!"
Faticia grew anxious and hurriedly said, "It’s just... as the Grand Law Officer, I must also consider the feelings of my subordinates..."
"Consider what? Why should we care about what those below think? Who is the King of Wind Law here?! Besides, we are the ones facing this great Demon enemy, and I will be the one to repair the nodes after the war. If I have no objections, who would dare to object?!"
Ailorus interrupted, the little Elf Queen looking quite majestic at that moment. She jumped down from Westheid’s arms, planted her hands on her hips, and said:
"The entire Royal Court Army will cooperate with West’s strategy! Anyone who doesn’t will be sent to the rear! Those unwilling to make sacrifices and pay the price are not worthy of being on the battlefield!"
There would be no debate. Change your thinking, or be replaced.
Forbidding someone from participating in battle could be considered a severe punishment. To the believers of the Mortal Order Realm, fighting to protect their faith in the Divine Ancestor was an immense honor, to which death was nothing in comparison.
Thus, with Ailorus’s unconditional endorsement and support for Westheid, Duke Qinghui quickly escalated the intensity of the war to the next stage.
The Thousand Laws Royal Court almost completely opened its channels to the Qinghui Territory. Troops, supplies, and war machines from the outside world poured in ceaselessly.
The [Crown of Fire] built by the Shadow Fire Technicians; the Yonglan Knights’ [Riding God Giant Statues]; the Imperial’s [Army of Light]; even the Qinghui Territory itself had the [Pure Long Moon]—a construct developed in-house (with much inspiration from other sources). It could provide powerful buffs to allied forces on the battlefield while also serving as a super Magic platform capable of unleashing tons of firepower in an instant.
If these constructs—born purely for destruction with no regard for the environment—could be considered normal, then the Forbidden Techniques that followed were the real heavy hitters.
The Techniques of the Witches from the [Ring of Clear Skies]... After pledging allegiance to the Qinghui Territory, they received ample resources and support. The endless campaigns also allowed the Demon Practitioners to rack up achievements with satisfying ease.
As a result, there were no longer just one or two Great Witches of the Legendary Tier. All the Legendary Witches had their own self-created Techniques—things that would normally never see the light of day. After all, besides Duke Qinghui, no one else was fond of those who used the power of the Celestial God’s Shadow.
Now, however, in order to fight the great Demon enemy, it was natural to "fight fire with fire." The [Ring of Clear Skies] set up one cumbersome and heavy Technique after another along the Royal Court’s defensive lines. Various specialized Techniques designed to neutralize the Demon Realm caused the pressure on the Royal Court Legion to drop sharply.
This made the Royal Court commanders, who had initially been grumbling with complaints, wisely shut their mouths and focus on the war at hand.
