Chapter 818
Chapter 818
“For the glory of the Seyrun Empire, kill the enemy!”
“For the Queen, for freedom! Kill!”
Atop the city walls, the two armies clashed madly. Blood flowed like a river, and the air thrummed with killing intent. This was not a war of depravity, but one where both sides fought for their own ideals. Shen Lang now understood why the Roland Knights, the Eastern Knights, the Eastern Warriors, Duke Hall, and the Black Pearl Pirates had all pledged their loyalty to the Medusa Queen. It was not merely because of her strength, but more so for their own freedom. If the Seyrun Dynasty were to rule this world again, they would lose that freedom. Only the Queen could grant it to them. But to Duke Russell, “freedom” was a hollow word. For him, restoring the glory of his ancestors and the Seyrun Empire was the highest ideal.
“Shen Lang, why did you come here? You’ve changed a little. You’re not as reckless as you used to be.”
Shen Lang shrugged and said.
“Would you believe me if I said I came for you? That I crossed thousands of miles of ocean just to… do *that thing* with you.”
Zhang Chunhua asked in a coquettish voice.
“To deliver your ‘package’ from thousands of miles away?”
*Ugh! You vixen, aren’t you a bit too shameless? To say such things so openly.*
Zhang Chunhua looked at Shen Lang seriously and said.
“My dear Lang, I don’t know what happened to you, nor why you’ve come to seek refuge in the Western World. But let me ask you one thing. Do you want to go back?”
“Yes. Of course, I want to go back. But I will return with a mighty army.”
“My dear Lang, we’re a shameless pair, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. A shameless pair, squirming with desire.”
“Then your hopes don’t lie in the Queen’s City, and these armies are not for you. They will never leave the Western World. They fight for their freedom, not for power. It would be more accurate to say their loyalty is not to the Medusa Queen herself, but to the cause of freedom.”
“My goal has become clearer and clearer. I’ve already obtained most of what I sought in the Queen’s City.”
Since arriving in this new world, Shen Lang had been drifting with the tides for the past six months. Because this world was so unfamiliar and he didn’t speak the language, even with his monstrous intellect, he couldn’t put it to proper use. But once he thoroughly understood this world, he could find any opening to take root and build his own power base. Once his strategic objectives and path were clear, he had the ability to rise at an astonishing speed.
This was true not just for Shen Lang, but for any nation. Finding a direction and a strategic path was the most critical task. Otherwise, one would just buzz about aimlessly like a headless fly.
***
The battle on the walls of the Queen’s City reached its zenith, with both armies locked in a frantic, brutal struggle. Though outnumbered, the Medusa Queen’s forces were formidable fighters. Moreover, a hundred thousand citizen-soldiers from within the city had joined the fight. Thus, despite Duke Russell’s massive army swarming the walls endlessly, they could not breach the city. Piles of corpses mounted above and below the ramparts. Watching the stalemate, Duke Russell slowly descended from the command platform and silently donned his helmet. Instantly, the vassals of House Russell fell to their knees, crying out.
“Your Grace, you are the commander! You cannot enter the battle yourself!”
“Your Grace, you are not only the hope of House Russell but a star of the Third Seyrun Empire. You must not risk yourself!”
Nearly everyone tried to stop Duke Russell from taking the field himself. In a war of this scale, the commander was not meant to fight on the front lines. Duke Russell spoke slowly.
“The Russell of twenty years ago, of ten years ago, of today, and of ten years from now will all be the same Russell. I will not change with the rise and fall of titles, nor with the number of soldiers I command. I am Russell the warrior, not Russell the Duke.”
“Duke Russell, we can use our secret gunpowder to destroy the walls of the Queen’s City. We could breach it immediately.”
A priest of the Fire God said.
“No! This city is a treasure of the Seyrun Dynasty. It has stood unbroken for over a century, and I, Russell, will not be the one to destroy it today. Warriors of House Russell, charge! For the glory of the Seyrun Empire!”
At Duke Russell’s cry, thousands of elite warriors from his house followed him with wild abandon. His sons followed their father as well. He was a commander brimming with charisma.
“Charge, charge! For the Empire, for the Empire!”
***
Shen Lang sighed and said.
“He truly is a hero. A hero worthy of respect! Now I see why Duke Siwa surrendered to him, and how he managed to conquer the eastern territories of the Witch Empire.”
The moment Duke Russell charged onto the walls, the tide of battle completely turned. Duke Russell was so powerful that no one could withstand even a single blow from him. Leading his house warriors, he tore through the defenses of the Queen’s City as if he were a razor-sharp sword. General Roland was incredibly strong, and General Nanfeng had also reached the pinnacle of martial prowess. Yet General Roland was defeated by Duke Russell after only three exchanges, and General Nanfeng was knocked from the walls after parrying just three blows. All five of the Medusa Queen’s great generals were easily defeated by Duke Russell. However, seeing that neither of them was killed, it seemed Duke Russell had shown them mercy.
The Queen’s City was on the verge of falling. As Duke Russell and his thousands of powerful warriors tore through the defensive lines, the great army of the Third Seyrun Empire poured ceaselessly into the Queen’s City. The outer walls fell, and a short while later, the inner walls fell too.
“This city is about to fall. What about the Medusa Queen?”
Zhang Chunhua was silent for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t believe the Queen’s City will fall. But even if it does, you won’t be in any danger. Neither will the little Princess Yaoyao. Duke Russell is a noble of high standing; he would never harm you. He’s not like Duke Dybas.”
“For freedom, for the Queen!”
Still, countless citizen-soldiers and warriors surged forward like a tide, trying to block Duke Russell’s army.
“For the glory of the Empire!”
But Duke Russell and his army were too strong. With more and more soldiers pouring into the city, the fall of the Queen’s City seemed only a matter of time. At last, the people inside the city despaired.
“Is freedom falling? Is the City of Freedom doomed?”
Countless citizens turned toward the royal palace and fell to their knees in unison.
*Your Majesty, please come quickly and save your people. The Witch Empire is about to be destroyed. The free and great Witch Empire is about to perish.*
Duke Hall, leading the warriors of his house, charged forth madly, desperately trying to stop Duke Russell. But he too was defeated after just three exchanges. No matter how strong they were, no one before Duke Russell could parry his sword more than three times.
“Duke Hall, surrender. I will see to it that the Third Seyrun Empire recognizes your house.”
Duke Russell’s sword was at Duke Hall’s throat. Duke Hall sneered and said.
“No, that will never happen. No matter how perfect I appear, no matter how much more noble I act than anyone else, it will be useless. Everyone will look at me and say, ‘Look, there’s Hall, the half-breed of the Veda tribe.’ The founder of House Hall was a slave, and a slave who married a Veda woman at that. My house will never be considered true nobility.”
Duke Russell said to him.
“House Hall was once a vassal of the Seyrun Empress. And now you surrender to a foreigner from the East?”
“No! The Medusa Queen is not a foreigner. She represents freedom, the motherland of all free people in this world. Only under her rule can we find dignity and liberty.”
Duke Russell said coldly.
“The Queen’s City is about to fall, and the Witch Empire is about to be destroyed. Where is your Medusa Queen? Why has she not yet shown herself?”
“Everything the Queen does is absolutely just. Perhaps the reason she has not yet appeared is that we are not yet ready to receive her. Hahaha… Mighty Duke Russell, kill me. Take my head. That way, the nobles of the Seyrun Dynasty will not be shamed. Go and build your Third Empire.”
Then, Duke Hall closed his eyes and awaited death. Duke Russell had spared many others because they were not subjects of the Seyrun Dynasty. But Duke Hall was a noble of the Seyrun Dynasty. His actions constituted treason, so he had to either surrender or die. Duke Siwa had surrendered and lived.
Duke Russell said in a slow, deliberate tone.
“Duke Hall, you have not brought shame upon your house. Perhaps after your death, the Seyrun Dynasty will finally recognize your family’s bloodline.”
“It matters not.”
Duke Russell placed a hand on the crown of Duke Hall’s head and said solemnly.
“Duke Hall, vassal who betrayed the Seyrun Dynasty, you have refused to surrender. Therefore, in the name of the Empire, I sentence you to death.”
Then he slowly raised his greatsword, preparing to take Duke Hall’s head. Duke Hall was a representative figure of the Queen’s City; his death would signify its fall. Even if the Medusa Queen were present, there would be no one left to govern this city.
*Swish.*
Duke Russell’s greatsword descended with unparalleled ferocity. But just then!
*BOOM!*
A loud explosion echoed as a massive hole opened in the ground. A pillar of pure white light shot out, reaching the ends of the sky, and a layer of frost instantly coated the ground as if the entire world had frozen over.
The Medusa Queen had finally arrived!
The Medusa Queen appeared—a woman whose enchanting allure could topple cities with a glance and ruin nations with a second look, paralyzing the judgment of all who beheld her. She had not descended from the heavens, but emerged from the sundered earth. Everyone trembled before her beauty, utterly suppressed. Countless people fell to their knees at once. Soon, hundreds of thousands were prostrated, their foreheads pressed to the ground.
“Long live the Queen!”
“Long live the Queen!”
“The heavens have protected Her Majesty!”
All the people of the Queen’s City dared not look directly upon her face. She was followed by four impossibly large female warriors. Barefoot, the Medusa Queen led the four women and walked slowly toward Duke Russell’s great army.
With every step she took, the air around her turned bitingly cold. Though no snow fell, one could see their breath turn white. This was the south, where the weather was oppressively hot. Yet, wherever her feet touched, the ground froze solid as ice. Witnessing this, Duke Russell was too shocked to speak. Duke Russell readjusted his helmet and spoke slowly.
“Medusa Queen, this is the first time we have met. I ask your forgiveness that no royal prince of our Seyrun Dynasty nor His Majesty the Emperor is present to properly receive you. Therefore, I, a Duke of the Empire, will face you in battle. For the glory of the Empire, let us fight!”
At Duke Russell’s loud cry, thousands of his house warriors charged madly toward the Medusa Queen. Behind him, tens of thousands of soldiers rushed the Medusa Queen like a surging tide, looking as if they would overwhelm her in an instant.
But a moment later, Duke Russell’s great army was sent flying like kites in the wind. Not a single person could withstand a single blow from her. Nearly a thousand men were struck by her sword and sent flying helplessly through the air.