Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 864 - 742: Death and Celebration
Slash——
The cold gleam of the blade flashed by, and the bright red blood broke through the confines of the arteries, spraying out like a blossoming flower of death on the ground.
As the young Hilus soldier clutched his neck and fell down in despair, his gradually dimming pupils reflected only a dim figure with blue-green skin, bare-chested, barefoot, holding two short swords.
The next moment, he had completely vanished into the air.
"Ghost..."
In his last moments, the soldier recognized the attacker as the "Ghost Lizard Shadow Thief," who had been haunting the battlefield lately, appearing and disappearing at will. But having had his artery severed by the opponent's signature [Mirage Sword Technique], he was no longer able to warn his companions.
Clang! Clang! Clang!...
Soon after, sounds of bodies hitting the ground and the clamor of short weapon clashes came from the camp behind him; it was uncertain which side would have the last laugh.
In this battlefield, which could be described as the Empire's quagmire, there wasn't just the presence of assassins from the organization "Vulture's Nest." Besides the Blood Hand Gang, which initially had intent but was removed by Aiven, there were corrupt wizards, unconventional transcendents, cultists, the Prophetic School, and mercenary forces licking blood from the blade... It had it all.
Bankers who believed in gold and the "Master of Gold" perhaps had even more faith than the [Libra Balance Holy Sword] in the saying that [Wealth is Power].
Guided by the mindset of "not being unable to buy it, just not having enough money," bankers were lavishly handing out funds, and numerous transcendent forces moved at the news. Even someone as strong as Aiven had to occasionally run around for wealth, let alone them?
Two months prior on that day.
Just as William Orange estimated, as the ancestor of the Hilus Royal Family and also the former king, the "Supreme Knight" who was leading the development of the current situation.
Ultimately did not make the decision to gamble the national fortune to fight the three Title Knights seemingly having the upper hand against the other side's three Tier 4 Transcendents.
Because even if he could wipe the enemy out with the trump card in his hand, if things went wrong and evolved into a one-for-three scenario, it would only lead to winning the war but losing the Empire—an unbearable scenario for him.
There were others with covetous eyes on the Hilus Overlord position besides Tulip. Sak, Heimar, and Atlant were all hungry wolves.
Instead, a large number of transcendents, mainly composed of Imperial Knights and Military Chaplains, were put into battle.
Considering that the "Curse School" suffered backlash and found it hard to join the battle, the Empire's high command started intensively contacting the "Elemental Breathing School" on Celebes Island as an ally.
In these two months of blood and fire, the border had become a genuine death pit for Low-tier Transcendents and ordinary soldiers, where even a Tier 2 Peak could perish instantly.
They were no longer blood and flesh humans, but just numbers in their respective officers' eyes.
However, every situation has two sides.
Seizing this opportunity, the Hilus high command not only found an excuse to entirely default on the large national debt owed to the Netherlands Bank Group.
They also began to learn from the Anti-Hilus Alliance of the past by issuing "Privateering Licenses" in large numbers, kicking off a legal looting spree against the Lowland Republic's merchant ships, with a good number of them being unmistakably Imperial warships.
Clearly pushed by living conditions, even Overlord Hilus had finally become what he once despised.
Even three days ago, as the first batch of prisoners released by the Galliot Duchy returned across the sea and were again thrown into battle, Philip II dispatched a [Legendary Battleship: Divine Grace].
This battleship blocked the open sea of the Lowland Republic, completely cutting off supplies to this trade-rich yet resource-poor small country, preparing to catch them like turtles in a jar.
Victory on the mundane battlefield was still a victory.
Whether it would thus "accidentally injure" masses of civilians, causing a bleak scene of famine, was not in their consideration.
Until today, there was finally a turn of events.
Whoosh!
A ship with a high towering, fierce dragon head, equipped with both sails and oars, like an oversized version of the ancient Icelandic dragon-headed pirate ship, appeared like lightning on the sea outside Antwerp City.
Following the Pope's orders, without a word, it launched an attack on the stationed [Divine Grace].
"Ha! Ha! Ha!..."
It was as if countless berserkers released angry roars from their chests, and a vast illusion of intertwining blood and divine sense loomed over the warship, serving as an imposing metallic palace.
The palace's four walls, composed of brightly polished, sharp long spears, made it radiant; the palace roof, laid with shields of pure gold, made it impregnable.
Soon after.
Countless berserker illusions holding golden long spears appeared at the palace entrance, shouting in unison, fiercely hurling their radiant javelins seated in their hands towards the [Divine Grace] five kilometers away.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!....
Countless gleaming sharp spears transformed into a golden rainstorm, about to completely engulf that Legendary Battleship belonging to Hilus in the next moment.
The giant dragon-head ship of the ancient pirates, the Legendary Battleship: Valhalla, had boldly launched its strongest attack, the Legendary Battleship Skill: War Divine Hall, right from the start. This was a manifestation of part of the power of the "God of Black Wings."
It contained the forces of the War of Injustice and Violence.
Screeech!
The opposing Divine Grace was evidently not slow to respond either.
A robust female figure, wearing a golden helmet and silver armor, with a blood-red cloak, wielding a gleaming spear and shield, rode a large battle horse composed of something like fiery clouds, soaring into the sky.
Without a trace of fear, she charged headlong into the countless spears, letting out a low shout: "Break!"
The fiery clouds behind her suddenly rose up, sweeping away the golden rainstorm, as the female knight raised her spear and transformed into a blazing meteor, plummeting from the sky.
Boom——!
She struck hard against a golden shield wall formed by countless golden shields in mid-air, with a teeth-gritting crash, the entire Legendary Battleship was pushed back dozens of meters.
This was already the strongest showdown on a mortal level below Peak Transcendents in this war.
Legendary Battleship Skill: Valkyrie: Within a thirty-kilometer radius of the battleship, grants a female Great Knight combat power equivalent to Tier 4 Title, giving Hilus an additional Kingdom Guardian out of nowhere.
It is also one of the few examples among the nations of openly exhibiting the prowess of a Legendary Battleship, certainly an immense deterrent as well. (Chapter 595)
In fact, for that plan prepared for many years, the "God of Black Wings" had far more trump cards in hand.
Just like what Aiven and Olivia previously encountered.
Half sailing on the sea, half in the dream realms of creatures, composed of countless ghosts, resentful spirits, evil spirits, and even malevolent spirits, alongside some sort of high-tier Spiritual Origin, forming the nightmare — Deceitful Dream.
Its image arises from the memories of all the spirit bodies composing it, pieced together seemingly from the concept of every ship throughout history. The awake cannot see it, yet those reluctant to see it may board it in their dreams.
This ship is certainly of Legendary Battleship class, and among the Legendary Battleships, it's one of the top tier, already having a tinge of the taste of the Clock Tower, hiding multiple small worlds.
However, just like the Source of Nightmare, Hypnos, without a suitable captain to unify the wills of all the spirit bodies, it is impossible to command.
There's also the Sea Soul, originally constructed by the Black Wing Order providing materials to Hawkins and the Black Sea Goddess Hipponeo. Although they regarded it as a trophy, by fate's twist, it eventually benefited Aiven.
Yet there's a thought-provoking situation, with the "God of Black Wings" continually accepting Ancient and Evil Gods, perhaps the Black Sea Goddess Hipponeo herself could be one of their potential targets.
...
While the western coastal regions of the Old Continent were engulfed in a vortex of death none could escape, the Galliot Duchy on the New Continent was in a joyous celebratory atmosphere.
As the most significant celebratory event since the establishment of the Duchy, the wedding of the Grand Duke and the Duchess was indeed exceptionally grand. Nearly half of the administration system in the duchy, the Wizard Tower, and White Swan Castle were engaged in preparing for this lavish wedding.
And a week ago, the wedding of Milan and Apsuya had already taken place.
Although Aiven and Milan had initially planned to hold a joint wedding ceremony, the specifications differed, and Aiven didn't mind the extra cost of the festivities, so they decided not to trouble the ceremonial officials and held separate weddings for himself and Milan.
The reason Milan and Apsuya's wedding took place first was because, even if they could wait, the seven-month-old child could not.
A week later would be the wedding of Aiven and Olivia.
At this moment, Aiven, wearing a crown and dressed in a black, crisp military uniform, stood at the entrance of White Swan Castle, personally welcoming the most important guests to him.
Whoosh——
Accompanied by dissipating light-quality butterflies, three figures, two tall and one petite, suddenly appeared before Aiven. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
The two tall figures, one in a Major General's uniform and the other a Major, were none other than Uncle Gel and the now much matured Elante whom he hadn't seen in years.
Standing between them was a woman who appeared to be only about twenty, with brown hair and black eyes like Aiven, looking even younger than Elante.
Upon seeing Aiven, she immediately beamed and lunged forward to embrace him, standing on tiptoe to gently touch cheeks with him.
"My little Aiven! You've really grown up!"
"Hahaha, Auntie, you now look just like my sister!"
At such an important moment, how could it be without family?
