Back at the palace, gazes shifted from the civilians to Armad, Sulaini had observed him emerge and noticed the fairness of his skin, but he dismissed it as some spell cast by his master. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't a familiar enchantment, but rather a genuine change in skin tone.
The captains glanced at Sulaini, hoping for an explanation, but he simply shrugged. He wasn't privy to Armad's situation. Meanwhile, Armad noticed the curious stares from his men, surprised they hadn't mistaken him for someone else. "That could have led to some interesting events," he thought wistfully. Though confident they could identify him through cultivation, he had expected a barrage of questions. Dismissing the idea, he wasn't in the mood to discuss it.
He still remembered the whitening pills he had taken; their effects lingered. It would require extensive skin
enhancement to regain his tan, or the fairness would persist for some time.
Without pausing to address any of their inquiries, Armad continued on his path. Immediately after his departure, Sulaini doubled back and intercepted the judge.
“What’s happening, my Lord?” Sulaini inquired. “Why is the prince behaving in such a manner?”
The judge shook his head, admitting he was clueless about the situation. However, he noted that it wasn’t uncommon for cultivators to encounter such challenges in their pursuit of enlightenment. He had observed the changes in his master but remained silent to avoid offense. It was likely that his master’s attempt to forcefully advance his cultivation had backfired due to an error.
Numerous factors could lead to such outcomes, such as misused spells or excessive cultivation without allowing time for stabilization. Given the pressure on their master, it wouldn’t be surprising if he resorted to risky means to advance his cultivation. That explained the judge’s silence and Sulaini’s understanding. They exchanged a knowing glance, both feeling remorseful. They believed their neglect contributed to their master’s predicament.
Determined to restore their master’s honor, they knew the news of his condition reaching the capital would bring ridicule upon the prince and his family. However, this realization filled them with renewed determination and hope. With resolve, they rallied their men to follow Armad.
They soon reached the wall, and upon reaching the battlements, they dispersed and took up their positions accordingly. The captains each led separate units, spreading out around the area. Meanwhile, Sulaini oversaw everything, moving about with a watchful eye.
As Armad observed alongside the judge, it became evident that while he was the nominal leader, his men would only heed the commands of Sulaini, their true commander. Similarly, the palace staff and residents followed the judge’s orders dutifully, but both men never opposed the prince’s directives.
In a hushed tone, the judge advised Armad, “Your Highness, perhaps it would be wise for you to take cover and allow us to handle this battle.” He was concerned about the subtle change in Armad’s appearance, wishing to prevent it from becoming public knowledge. He feared the wild people would spread rumors about Armad’s use of a spell gone awry, potentially reaching Ikenga and the prince’s adversaries.
Armad understood the judge’s concerns but remained undeterred. He had sworn to himself that none of the wild people would escape with their lives. From his vantage point, he observed the mass of wild people, numbering nine thousand strong. Their demeanor suggested they intended to strike without hesitation, aiming to seize control of the city before sunset.
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With a confident smile, Armad formulated his strategy. He would refrain from initiating the conflict and instead wait for the wild people to make the first move.
In battle, initiating the attack is often seen as a sign of desperation, contrasting sharply with the defender’s advantage when fighting on familiar ground. Armad realized this as he observed the wild people charging toward his city. He knew the situation could persist indefinitely.
As anticipated, the wild people, including Deva and Core formation cultivators, began conjuring various spells even before reaching the city walls. Flames and wind attacks were unleashed, seemingly aimed at breaching the defenses and incapacitating the defenders. However, Armad’s men, both Core formation cultivators and Deva, adeptly intercepted these spells.
Before long, both sides were embroiled in combat, even before meeting face to face. Core formation cultivators fought against Core formation cultivators, while lesser cultivators rode out to engage their counterparts. Armed with ominous-looking weapons, some riders had already prepared their spells. Despite their inability to cast spells from a distance due to insufficient cultivation, they galloped towards their targets. However, their plans were interrupted as the gates unexpectedly swung open.
The sight that greeted the wild people was unexpected and unsettling. Rows of civilians on horseback stood before them, with a few cultivators among them, though outnumbered. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the civilians urged their horses forward, galloping towards the approaching wild people.
Laughter erupted among the wild people, incredulous at the audacity of the civilians. What madness drove these ordinary people to believe they could challenge cultivators? They pondered, dismissing it as a foolish death wish. Yet, how could their small numbers compare to the vast bandit horde?
The realization that the civilians constituted less than half of their numbers only fueled their amusement. However, their amusement turned to shock as the civilians smoothly dismounted from their horses halfway between the two groups.
The wild people were taken aback by the feat, recognizing the intense training and stamina required—a rarity among civilians. Moreover, they accomplished it mid-gallop without sustaining any injuries. But their astonishment grew as they realized the true threat lay with the horses, which continued their frenzied charge despite nearing the wild people.
Although the horses appeared ordinary, lacking any discernible cultivation, they posed a significant danger. The wild people ruled out the possibility of them being demon-beasts, as those were notoriously difficult to tame and reserved for the elite. The wild people questioned how the civilians acquired and bred such creatures unnoticed. If demon horses were accessible to civilians, why hadn’t the wild people obtained them too? This realization bolstered their confidence that the horses weren’t demonic, though something about them remained unsettlingly unusual.
Determined not to wait for the civilians to approach, the wild people unleashed a barrage of spells. Their shock was palpable as their fireballs merely glanced off the horses, seeming to invigorate them further as they charged unabated.
Despite some horses sustaining injuries from the spells, they pressed on, crashing into the wild people without pause. They plowed through rows of wild people, trampling those who fell in their path. Few cultivators managed to extricate themselves and flee, but the unskilled were often oblivious to their demise.
Within moments, the battlefield descended into chaos, prompting even the Deva in the sky to look down in bewilderment. Meanwhile, Sulaini found himself facing five Deva alone, their attention momentarily diverted by the commotion below.
Despite their wild and barbaric nature, the lead Deva felt a pang of distress as he witnessed the chaos below, almost as if his children were being trampled.