CHAPTER 73 #5
?Countless deep wounds instantly split open across their bodies from the unseen barrage.
?Mabilis na kumalat ang sariwang dugo sa paanan ng puting trono. Tumalsik din sa trono ang dugo ng mga kawal.
Sunod-sunod na ubo ng dugo ang umaalingawngaw sa buong throne hall.
Ang iba sa mga kawal ay tuluyan nang bumagsak at nawalan ng malay dahil sa matinding pagdugo ng kanilang mga sugat.
?Isang kawal ang nanghihinang napatingin sa puting trono at muling napaubo ng dugo habang nakahawak sa kaniyang dumudugong tiyan.
His left arm also had a deep cut, sliced so wide that the raw flesh and bone were terrifyingly exposed.
?
She's... fast! so fast!
Rassia was already sitting on the white throne, calmly crossing her legs while staring down at the pool of blood covering the whole floor of the throne hall. Looking at the dying knights below her, a cold smirk played on her lips.
"Hindi nababagay ang puti sa aking trono... It's better in a color red," ani Rassia habang nakaupo sa trono. Her expression remained blank, but there was a faint smirk on her lips as the flames from the torches reflected in her full black eyes.
"So you decided to put their blood on that white throne, is it not?" ani Lucy Pearl from beside her, her voice carrying a teasing and almost amused tone.
Rassia just smiled while staring down at the dying, injured knights scattered across the hall.
?"They are coming... I can't wait to see their surprised faces..." Rassia murmured, sensing the familiar presences drawing closer.
?Nagkatinginan sina Katarina at Agarus bago kapwa napangiti.
?"It reminds me of the old days, My Queen. In that tavern... that place became a pool of men's blood," ani Katarina habang inaalala ang nakaraan.
"My, my... most problems in this world are caused by stupid, evil old men." Rassia tilted her head.
"Men who use their power to abuse the weak, hurt women, exploit children, and silence anyone who dares to stand against them. They take what they want, call it their right, and hide their cruelty behind authority. I should have killed them all back then, especially knowing what they did to Dazro..."
she continued.
Ilang sandali pa ay biglang lumitaw ang mga Mysarea Knights sa loob ng throne hall.
One after another, they emerged from the Erenhal passage before quickly forming their positions on both the left and right sides of the Imperial Throne.
Their movements were organized and disciplined, with every knight already wearing their full armor and carrying their weapons as they silently took control of the massive hall.
The sudden appearance of armored knights completely changed the atmosphere, making it clear that Rassia and her companions had not come to the Imperial Palace alone.
Ang kaninang punong-puno ng Holy Knights at Imperial Knights na throne hall ay halos hindi na makilala.
The knights who had previously guarded the throne were now unconscious and scattered throughout the hall, leaving the center of the room completely under Rassia's control.
In their place stood the Mysarea Knights, their armor reflecting the crimson glow of the burning torches while they maintained their formations without making a single unnecessary movement.
Mas naunang nakarating si Rassia at ang kaniyang mga kasama kaysa sa Mysarea Knights na dumaan sa lagusan ng mga Erenhal.
While Rassia had already entered the throne hall and confronted the Imperial and Holy Knights, the rest of her forces had been moving according to the plan they had prepared beforehand.
The Erenhal passage allowed them to enter the Empire from different locations, ensuring that their arrival would not be limited to the Imperial Palace alone.
Isa-isang lumitaw ang mga Mysarea Knights sa labas ng mga na estado at palasyo ng mga maharlika, whom Rassia had already identified as potential allies.
Meanwhile, outside the Imperial Throne Hall, nanatiling mahigpit na nakasara ang dambuhalang double doors, habang ang mga Imperial Knights na naiwan sa labas ay patuloy na nagkakagulo sa paligid.
Several of them had already tried to break through the barrier surrounding the entire throne hall, but every attempt had failed.
Some struck the barrier with their weapons, while others attempted to use magic, yet the mysterious wall of energy remained completely intact.
They could feel powerful mana pressing against the other side of the doors, making the air around them feel strangely heavy.
Ngunit mas lalo silang kinabahan nang biglang mawala ang mga sigawan at ingay na kanina pa umaalingawngaw mula sa loob.
A few moments earlier, they could clearly hear the knights shouting and the sounds of powerful magic being released, but now...
nothing. The sudden silence was far more frightening than the chaos they had heard before.
"Your Majesty! Captain Caspian! Lieutenant! Mabuti at narito na kayo!"
sigaw ng isang Imperial Knight nang makita sina Lurtheron, Caspian, at Dazro na papalapit.
Agad siyang lumapit sa kanila, halatang nagmamadali habang pilit na ipinapaliwanag ang nangyayari.
"May barrier na nakalatag sa buong paligid! We tried to break it, but we couldn't! Hindi namin kayang mapasok ang throne hall!"
Napatingin sina Caspian at Dazro sa dambuhalang double doors, while Lurtheron remained completely silent. The three of them could feel the enormous mana presence coming from behind the sealed entrance, and none of them could tell what had happened to the knights who had been guarding the throne.
Napakuyom ang kamao ni Lurtheron habang nakatingin sa napakalaking barrier na bumabalot sa buong throne hall.
It seems I could break this barrier easily... but I can't use my power...
Bahagya niyang pinagmasdan ang kakaibang mana na dumadaloy sa barrier, carefully examining its structure despite the overwhelming presence coming from inside.
This barrier is ancient... I trained in Light Magic with Pope Theodoro when I was young, so I was able to recognize ancient magical techniques. This isn't ordinary magic. This barrier belongs to an ancient power... a power that once belonged to the vampires...
Muling tumingin si Lurtheron kay Caspian at Dazro bago marahang sumenyas sa kanilang dalawa.
"Earth Mages, don't focus on destroying the barrier. Captain Caspian and Lieutenant Dazro will handle it. Use your power to destroy the double doors," utos ni Lurtheron habang hinigpitan ang kaniyang hawak sakaniyang puting espada.
"Break the doors first. Once we have an opening, Captain Caspian and Lieutenant Dazro will deal with the barrier. I want everyone ready to move the moment that entrance is cleared."
Mabilis na nagtanguan ang mga Earth Mages bago sabay-sabay na lumuhod at idiniin ang kanilang mga kamay sa sahig.
Agad na kumalat ang kanilang mana sa ilalim ng marble floor, causing the ground beneath the massive double doors to tremble.
Unti-unting nagsimulang yumanig ang mga pinto habang ang mga sinaunang ukit na nakapalibot dito ay kumislap.
Samantala, itinaas naman nina Dazro at Caspian ang kanilang mga kamay.
Sa harapan ni Dazro ay mabilis na nabuo ang isang magic circle.
His dark mana slowly spread toward the ancient barrier surrounding the throne hall, but instead of trying to destroy it directly, Dazro focused on consuming the energy that maintained its structure.
Unti-unting nagsimulang humina ang barrier habang hinihigop ng kaniyang dark magic ang enerhiya nito, causing several cracks of light to appear across its surface.
"Keep going," malamig na utos ni Dazro habang lalo niyang pinapalakas ang kaniyang dark mana. "This barrier is ancient. I can't destroy it immediately, but I can weaken it."
Mas lalong kumalat ang dark mana sa paligid ng barrier. The ancient magical energy resisted at first, but Dazro continued absorbing it piece by piece, carefully preventing the barrier from collapsing before Caspian was ready.
"Captain," sambit ni Dazro. "Now."
Tumango si Caspian.
The magic circle in front of Caspian suddenly expanded.
A powerful surge of mana gathered in his hand before he directed it toward the weakened barrier. He concentrated his attack on the exact point where Dazro had weakened its structure.
Sa isang iglap, isang malakas na bugso ng mana ang tumama sa barrier.
The ancient barrier trembled violently. Cracks spread across its surface. Then, with one final burst of energy, the barrier shattered.
Kasabay nito, isang napakalakas na tunog ang umalingawngaw sa buong paligid. At sa harapan nila, ang napakalaking double doors ng throne hall ay nagsimulang masira.
"Your Majesty! What's happening?! Ramdam ko ang mga presensiyang iyon! Is someone attacking us?!"
ani Megan, tila natataranta habang mabilis na papalapit kay Lurtheron.
Her voice carried clear concern as she looked toward the damaged entrance, trying to understand the overwhelming mana presence spreading throughout the palace.
Sa likuran niya ay nagmamadaling sumunod ang kaniyang mga maidservants, carefully holding the lower part of her gown as they struggled to keep up with her hurried steps.
Na sa likuran din ni Megan ang ilan sa mga council ni Lurtheron, who had also begun to realize that something was seriously wrong.
Solomon had already summoned his sword, his expression becoming guarded as he stood near the Emperor.
None of them could ignore the immense pressure coming from the throne hall, especially now that the massive double doors were beginning to give way.
"Mother, leave here immediately!" utos ni Lurtheron, his voice firm and commanding.
Ang iba pang kabilang sa 13 Guardians ay nagsimula na ring magsidatingan, each one immediately moving toward the damaged entrance to help break through the remaining barrier.
Their arrival brought more powerful mana into the area as they prepared their respective abilities, while the Imperial Knights quickly made way for them.
Ngunit bago pa man nila tuluyang mapalakas ang kanilang attacks, the remaining barrier suddenly trembled once more, revealing that it was already close to collapsing.