CHAPTER 152 – THE NEW SKYSOLDIERS
HIRAYA MISTELTEIN
The moment Arthur declared his claim, an obsidian orb shimmered into existence on his forehead, casting an eerie glow. Those who had faced Gazelle Lockwood in battle knew the dire significance of that orb. Among us, only Lysander, Johnny, Meike, and I grasped its meaning. Our eyes widened in shock, breaths caught in our throats.
"W-Why do you possess the orb of Exceria?" Lysander stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
While we grappled with this revelation, the other world leaders remained fixated on Arthur’s proclamation. He had just named himself the King of Humanity, vowing to rule the world.
“What do you mean by ruling the world forevermore, Arthur?” I stepped forward, my hand instinctively clutching my chest.
Arthur’s lips curled into a smirk. “Let me ask you a question first, Vice-Prez—No, Lord Hiraya Misteltein. What is the prerequisite of ruling the world?”
“It is the protection of love and peace,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.
“Good answer, Lord Misteltein. You speak with wisdom and heart. There is no doubt that you are the reincarnation of the Goddess Exceria.” Arthur’s smile broadened, a cold glint in his eyes. “However, I have a different answer.”
“And what would that be?” I asked, my curiosity tinged with dread.
“The will to keep on moving forward...” Arthur paused, raising his hand slowly. His index finger pointed skyward, a gesture laden with menace. “…until I exterminate all my enemies!”
Suddenly, the ceiling of the new imperial castle shattered with a thunderous roar. Debris and dust rained down, filling the throne room with chaos. As the smoke cleared, our eyes were drawn upward, where human soldiers with obsidian eyes hovered, their wings made of light illuminating the wreckage. They aimed their rifles at everyone in the room, save for the King of Humanity.
“These are... skysoldiers!?” Lysander gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper.
A sense of dread settled over us like a shroud. We exchanged glances, wordlessly agreeing on our course of action. As one, we moved to our battle positions, hands pressed to our glowing chests, the power of the Vesryn Pulse thrumming beneath our fingertips. We might have to fight our way out of this chaos.
The civilians, however, were another story. The leaders of Kraghelm, Nocturnia, Onishira, and Yggdra stood frozen, unprepared for the sudden turn of events. This was supposed to be a peaceful celebration, marking the inauguration of the human empire. Most attendees were unarmed, caught off guard by the violent shift.
Now, every person in the room was a hostage to Arthur’s will.
“Don’t do anything funny, Five Lords.” Arthur rose from his throne, spreading his arms wide in a gesture that demanded obedience. “One wrong move, and this will be a bloodbath.”
“What stupidity is this, Arthur?” Lysander roared, his voice echoing through the hall. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you declaring war against the whole world?”
“Precisely.” Arthur’s laughter was a chilling sound. “This world shall be destroyed and birthed anew under human leadership. Once the world is free from impurities, the true revolution of the planet shall come.”
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“This is madness!” Lysander’s fury was palpable.
I scanned the room, my mind racing for a solution. If we activated our Vesryn Pulses, the skysoldiers would open fire on the leaders of the races. The only ones who could move swiftly enough to make a difference were me, Lysander, Johnny, and Meike. Even so, we could only hope to save a few hostages with our speed.
Gaeun and Earvin could cast a magical barrier to protect some people, but many would still be left vulnerable. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on us. With five hundred civilians in the palace, our options without activating our Vesryn Pulses were severely limited.
Kate, Mariko, Gaeun, and Darlix could engage the skysoldiers, providing cover while we initiated a rescue operation. The uncertainty of the plan gnawed at me, knowing it would unleash even more chaos.
Arthur’s voice cut through the tension. “Since all the Dragon Lords and the leaders of the races are here, it is only proper that I show you the hospitality you deserve. I shall give you a gift.”
This was our moment. I exchanged a resolute nod with the Dragon Lords, and we prepared to unleash our ultimate power—the power of the Vesryn Pulse.
“Activating Vesryn Pulse!” We roared in unison, the air vibrating with energy.
In an instant, transformations occurred. Lysander became the Trailblazer Dragon, his form radiating fiery determination. Meike morphed into the Tachyon Dragon, surrounded by a whirlwind of temporal energy. Kate transformed into the Warflame Dragon, her scales burning with an intense heat. Gaeun emerged as the Kyubi Dragon, ethereal and mystical, while Charlotte, became the Panzer Dragon, armored and impenetrable.
Earvin and the Kyubi Dragon acted swiftly, their combined magic creating a shimmering barrier. “Grand Bubble Barrier!” Earvin’s voice rang out, and a shield of mana enveloped the bottom part of the throne room, offering protection to many.
Just as we prepared to initiate the second and third phases of our plan, a tremor shook the ground. The center of the crowd split open, revealing a figure emerging from the depths. A human with long black hair and piercing red eyes, sclera as black as night, stepped forward. He wore the armor of a dragon knight, but his pale white skin was marred with deep cracks, as if he were made of cement.
“Yggdrasil Fall.” The mysterious man’s voice was a cold whisper as he spread out his hand. Nine planetary orbs materialized around him, glowing ominously. With a muttered spell, an explosion erupted from the orbs, blasting through the room.
The bubble barrier shattered under the force, unable to withstand the explosion from within. The throne room was instantly transformed into a scene of devastation, black smoke filling the air and obscuring the chaos.
As the smoke began to clear, my heart sank at the sight before me. Hundreds of civilians lay dead, their bodies torn apart, blood flowing like rivers across the red carpet.
My eyes found Gaeun, heavily wounded and bleeding from her throat. Nearby, Earvin writhed in agony, his right arm blown off, blood pouring from the wound.
“Gaeun! Earvin!” I cried out, my voice cracking with desperation. I started toward them, but the massacre had already begun.
Skysoldiers opened fire, their rifles and spells cutting down the unarmed civilians with merciless efficiency. Dragonoids, elves, onis, vampires, and dwarves fell, lifeless, with every bullet and blast.
Amidst the carnage, we had no choice but to fight back. The air was thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder, the cries of the dying and the roar of battle filling my ears.
My Trailblazer Dragon unleashed its nuclear breath, a searing beam of light that vaporized the approaching skysoldiers in an instant. Johnny and the Tachyon Dragon darted through the castle with blinding speed, their claws and fangs slashing through skysoldiers in a flurry of motion. Mariko and the Warflame Dragon hurled fireballs and missiles, each explosion sending adversaries flying. Meanwhile, Darlix and the Panzer Dragon’s cannons roared, obliterating any skysoldier who dared harm the unarmed civilians.
“Hiraya, go!” My Trailblazer Dragon's voice echoed in my mind. “Save Earvin and Gaeun!”
Activating my Wings of Light, I soared toward the center of the blast radius where Gaeun lay bleeding. The brilliant wings carried me swiftly, cutting through the smoke and debris.
Earvin, being an immortal vampire, had begun regenerating his blown-off arm. “G-Gaeun…” he muttered, his voice weak as he crawled toward his love.
Suddenly, the mysterious black-haired man with the Eye of Deus intercepted Earvin. In his hand, he wielded a silver sword that gleamed menacingly. With a swift, brutal motion, he stabbed the sword straight into Earvin’s chest. Not satisfied with this grievous injury, the man twisted the blade and, with a cruel smile, slashed it across Earvin’s neck, severing his head in a spray of blood.