Gaius heaved a frustrated sigh as his eyes locked on the huge Gate of Lasirion. Approximately two hours ago, demons started coming out of the Gate and already destroyed properties of the Kingdom and killed people along. Ever since the breached of the guarded walls, people who were strong enough to fight fought with their lives on the line. His eyes glanced over the battlefield as he find people that he wanted to see. But, unfortunately, they weren't here.
"Prince Gaius..." Caine called as soon as he saw Gaius' face contorted into a deep frown.
"Any news about Chang Xiuying?"
"She still hasn't showed up."
"Haa… where the heck is she..."
"Prince, what if she is at the other side of the Gate?"
"What makes you think that?"
"The commander should have showed up hours ago, but he didn't. I was thinking that the most important battle is happening on the other side."
"Hmm… true..."
"Prince, you should trust Xiuying more."
"That will be so. After all, she never missed a battle to protect Lasirion."
"That's right."
Gaius sighed then said, "We should help."
"Of course."
Then they jumped from the top of the wall. They ran towards the Gate as they slew demons in their wake.
In the past, they would have problems killing demons on their own. They might sacrifice their lives or sacrifice a part of their bodies just to kill one. Ever since the Wake of the Strong that occured about three years ago that made humankind sleep for a long period of time just to wake up with a stronger body, they had no trouble killing those Rank C monsters that require teamwork. Now that the circumstances allowed, they could kill demons easily with a strong slash.
As soon as they cleared the path, they used the momentum of their running and charged towards the Gate. They closed their eyes when they felt that slimy surface and opened them once they felt the cold air of death tickle their skins. Gaius looked around as Caine fought a large number of demons. There, he saw the figure of Flora, Alaric and Jude amidst the crowd.
But where was Chang Xiuying?
He shrugged his shoulders then moved his body to fight.
'She's a strong woman. I believe in her,' he thought.
They carved their way towards Flora's group. As they arrived, Caine greeted them with a wide smile that showed his perfectly lined teeth.
"What?!" Jude suddenly screamed at the back as he killed one demon. "Oh. Your reinforcement?"
"Nope, we didn't call---them," Flora said as she kicked a demon on his stomach.
"What are you guys doing here?" Alaric asked.
"Well… we decided to help."
"The fight will be over anyway. You're late," Flora mumbled as she glanced at the back of the troops.
Gaius similarly looked in that direction and felt two strong auras coming from there. He couldn't see but he could recognize one of them.
"Is… Ying at the very back?"
"Master was fighting the Demon King when I suddenly lost contact. I don't know what is happening anymore. How about the other side, Prince Gaius?"
"The demons breached through the wall and somehow, we kept it under wraps."
"That's good."
"By the way, who are those powerful people?"
"Jude called them."
"I see."
"..." they went silent as they leisurely fought.
"Can you contact Ying now?"
"I still---can't reach Master."
"Tell me as soon as you contacted her."
"Alright."
There were thousands of demonic soldiers that marched towards the portal. The numbers reached almost 80,000 and 12,000 breached the portal to Lasirion. Those that remained retreated but their enemies didn't allow it. After all, this was already an opportunity to reduce the number of demons in this world. That means decreasing the mortality rate of humankind. Reducing risks of attacks from monsters and protecting humans were the job of the Blanche and that was exactly they did at this moment. They evacuated people and slashed down those that attempted to catch a human as a means of fuel to their body.
After this work was done, there would be the final mission they needed to partake in.
Their eyes traced at the bottom of the hill as they heard loud explosions. It was an explosion caused by mana as two powers clashed against each other.
However, it wasn't a demonic mana that carried death, but a pure silver glow against a deep blue glow. That signifies the start of their mission as the Demon King fell. But the question that remained in their minds was, 'Who killed him?'. It couldn't be that two opposing factions joined hands to defeat one being. The answer would be between Chang Xiuying or their commander, Waltham. Their minds leaned more on Waltham more than Chang Xiuying. What criminal would kill another criminal?
Suddenly, there was another explosion and a destructive force thrown out near them. The battlefield silenced as they wait for the dust to settle down.
"It can't be..." Forge muttered as he watched a figure struggle with its body. When the dust settled down, they heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing that woman instead of their commander.
Chang Xiuying sprawled on the ground as strong energies fluctuated in her body. She tried to get up but instead, coughed out blood. Her body wouldn't listen and it was irking her. However, at the least, she instilled a deep wound on that person who tried to kill her and was still trying to. She could see a figure basked in a deep blue glow approaching where she was as that man killed demons at his wake. His steps were light and his movements smoothly flowed.
Waltham arrived in front of Chang Xiuying then pointed his sword at her neck. Although he could feel a stinging pain at where his left hand would be, he ignored it and sent glares to the woman in front of him. Chang Xiuying remained silent while her body was screaming at her to control her newly acquired power. However, that wouldn't be possible and it is killing her slowly.
"The child of the infamous Primordial Emperor… and the Silver Empress. You finally showed your true colors."
"Sorry, I don't know those people," she quickly retorted.
Waltham chuckled darkly. "Those are your soul parents. The one who gave birth to your original body."
"And why are you telling me this?"
"Just so you know."
Chang Xiuying laughed. "Thanks then?"
"It is unfortunate that you have to be born in a family filled with criminals."
"Haa… whatever you say."
"Once I kill you, your broken soul will transfer to another body and rejoin them. In that sense, we will come and kill you once again. Prepare yourself, Chang Xiuying, we will always be behind you wherever you are."
"I guess that's kind of reassuring that you will never forget me," she grinned as blood trickled down her mouth.
"I will give you a painless death."
"Haa… like hell!!!" Chang Xiuying bolted in front of her and immediately brandished her sword at the neck of Waltham.
The attack was so sudden that he relied on his instincts to dodge the incoming threat. However, the path suddenly changed and went towards his unguarded right leg. A deep gash resulted from that short exchange.
"You… Why do you keep on fighting justice? You could've gone to our side!" Waltham muttered.
"Do I even have a choice?"
"We already earned your ire. It is unfortunate that you have been killed in a world where gaining strength is impossible. Then you just had to be reborn in a world that perfectly fits your nature. That stupid man..."
"... you mean Earth? You people killed me?" Chang Xiuying's voice lowered dangerously.
"Yeah. That Earth."
Chang Xiuying's eyes glowed at that moment and her figure suddenly vanished. Waltham's eyes widened as he injected strong mana pulses in his body and especially, his eyes. He couldn't find even one disturbance in the surrounding mana. However, he suddenly felt goosebumps behind him as he quickly turned around and slashed his strengthened arms, but only air was cut.
"Stop being a coward!" He yelled.
However, there wasn't any response.
He accessed his mana inside his body and then released them around him. But it was all in vain. Perhaps… She escaped? That can't be. Suddenly, he felt strong goosebumps as his mana blended with the surrounding mana. His entire body went numb as his eyes restlessly scanned the area.
"You said you know my parents," a voice rang inside his head.
"Of course! The Primordial Emperor is locked up in the world with your mother, the Silverite Empress, in the Land of Exiled criminals," he quickly said, but why is he answering her so honestly?
"What did they do?" The voice said gravely.
"The… the Primordial Emperor killed all of the people in Mawuagan and spread his own monsters called the Primordials. Your… mother was the descendant of the ancestral criminals thrown in the Land of the Exile. It was originally a place where we throw criminals to die, but people started having resistance and built their own force in that world."
"Where is it exactly?"
"I don't know..."
Suddenly, Waltham's head went flying as his blood spurted out of his severed neck. The Blanche members gawked at the sight and they trembled under the pressure of the grave atmosphere permeating through their bones. Even the demons shook from where they were. Then, Chang Xiuying's voice entered Flora, Jude, Alaric, Gaius and Caine's ears, "Duck."
Just as they ducked, all of the remaining people who were standing got cleaved into two.