CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: NO WAY OUT

While the rampaging horses plowed through the front ranks of the wild people, those behind crashed into them, resulting in a tangled mess. Oblivious to the chaos, the horses trampled both wild people and bystanders alike, leaving them crushed and lifeless. The volunteers, under the orders of their overseers, raised their water bottles and drank, feeling a surge of strength they had never experienced. They enthusiastically joined the fray, mercilessly slaughtering any wild people who had survived the initial assault. Some launched volleys of arrows while others hacked and slashed with lethal precision, causing gruesome injuries. They showed no signs of fatigue or remorse as they fought on. Meanwhile, the ground-bound fighters among the wild people found themselves displaced before the battle even began, highlighting the hierarchy of cultivation levels within both armies.

The leaders quickly realized that their errand boys faced certain death if luck continued to evade them. In a bid to salvage the situation, the foremost leader ordered a group of Core formation cultivators to take action. However, the wild people weren’t the only ones caught off guard. Sulaini himself, along with his fellow Deva and the Core Formation cultivators accompanying them, were dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events.

Earlier, they had intended to question the prince about his plans to sacrifice civilians, but they never anticipated him opening the gates for them. Their battle had begun, preventing them from intervening. Now, witnessing the unfolding scene, they, seasoned cultivators, had no intention of allowing their opponents to come to the rescue of their comrades.

Through silent agreement, around a hundred Core formation cultivators floated down, forming a barricade between the leaders and their subordinates. Anyone attempting to pass had to contend with them, much to the frustration of the leading Deva, who roared in anger. He stepped back, protesting and attempting to assist his men.

Sulaini swiftly swung his sword at him, leaving Deva no choice but to draw his weapon in defense. Unfazed, Sulaini hurled a dagger toward the other four Deva, who now recognized the threat he posed. In rapid succession, he launched four more daggers, each seemingly guided by a will of its own, targeting specific cultivators.

Despite this, the ground massacre continued unabated. Wild people caught in the thick of battle were gripped by terror, unable to discern the battle’s direction. One moment victory seemed assured, the next, annihilation loomed ominously close. Amidst the chaos, only the agonized screams of the wounded and the overpowering stench of blood and death filled the air.

It was noteworthy that the wild people bore the brunt of the casualties, with nearly every fallen fighter belonging to their ranks, while the volunteer civilians remained largely unscathed.

Realizing the futility of their efforts, the wild people hastily retreated, only to encounter another obstacle in their path: two figures standing resolutely ahead. Initially unrecognizable, one of the men, with his fair complexion seemingly illuminated by the sun, appeared unfamiliar yet oddly familiar to them. The other, however, was unmistakable—a renowned judge often seen in the company of the prince.

Confusion swirled among the wild people as they pondered how these men had left the city unnoticed. Some even recalled seeing them on the battlefield moments earlier. Despite their sharper senses, they found no answers to the identity of those blocking their escape route.

Soon, they realized they couldn’t linger in one place, as the relentless horses closed in on them. The tireless civilians pursued relentlessly, never faltering as they gained ground.

Some cunning wild people contemplated circling to evade both men. Seeing the judge and the fair man unmoving offered a glimmer of hope for a narrow escape.

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Their hopes were dashed when they encountered an invisible barrier just as they neared the line opposite the men’s position. Horses and riders crashed to the ground upon impact, some propelled forward to collide with the unseen wall, resulting in grisly injuries.

Those in pursuit halted in shock, but it became apparent that their pursuers, horses and men alike, were swiftly closing in. Attempts to redirect their horses proved futile as they came face to face with the formidable adversaries.

The wild people’s greatest challenge lay in the relentless strength and danger posed by the horses. Despite their efforts to fend them off, the horses remained tireless, crushing and trampling with deadly efficiency. With each attack, the wild people stood little chance, facing fractures and injuries before they could retaliate.

By now, any remnants of bloodlust had dissipated from the wild people’s minds, highlighting their lack of loyalty, trust, or affection for their leaders. Their motives were solely driven by greed for wealth and women.

Their pledge centered on exploiting and harming the innocent, with their greatest fear being the threat to their own lives. In the current predicament, their original goals were forgotten, replaced by a desperate desire for escape.

Armad, however, had no intention of granting them any reprieve. His timely arrival before the battle ensured that none would elude justice, as he summoned an invisible barrier to confine any escape attempts.

While the horses wreaked havoc among the wild people, Sulaini and his two thousand warriors confronted the leading assailants. Though outnumbered by the less skilled wild people, Sulaini’s men possessed superior cultivation.

A skilled fighter like Wilberforce could contend with multiple wild people of similar cultivation without necessarily resorting to lethal force. However, their objective now was not to kill but to prevent the wild people from aiding their king, thus emphasizing the strategic importance of their actions.

Reluctantly, the leading wild people bore witness to the ground being saturated with the blood of their fallen comrades. For nearly a kilometer from the gate, the landscape was marred by the grim remnants of the battle, with human remains strewn across the terrain. Within a mere hour, every wild person and their steed lay lifeless.

Both the judge and Armad vanished, taking the invisible barrier with them. The volunteers, instrumental in executing the operation, erupted in cheers of pride and jubilation. It was an achievement few had believed possible, considering the once-feared wild people who had driven townsfolk to flee or abandon their homes.

Reflecting on the demise of the notorious wild people, it dawned on the volunteers that their success was owed to the potent drink they had consumed. Realizing their role in the victory, they obediently returned through the gate as instructed by Armad.

Following Armad’s directive, they refrained from looting the spoils, understanding that such actions were to be postponed until after the battle’s conclusion. Armad anticipated that the effects of the drink would dissipate within two hours, even affecting the horses, causing them to succumb to exhaustion and slumber on the battlefield.

From the outset, Armad had instructed them to return within an hour, regardless of the battle’s outcome. As the last of them retreated inside, elite cultivators, specially assigned to the task, secured the door.

Observing this scene from a distance or through the eyes of a stranger would provoke a mix of fear and curiosity, prompting questions about who was responsible for the carnage. Flesh and body parts lay strewn across the ground, some indistinguishable from those of the horses, painting a grim picture of devastation.

For the fallen victims, their fate had been sealed, their journey into eternity already set in motion.