Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 421: Great Array of Forgotten Era

Once the relentless assault of elemental arrays ceased, the army of the Empire unleashed a barrage of attacks upon the border wall from every direction.

The arrows shot by the archers were halted by the barrier protecting the country, while the attacks infused with Soulforce were directly absorbed into the array.

"There is something wrong with that array," Kharos muttered, frowning.

Suddenly, his eyes widened as realization struck him.

In a loud, desperate voice, he commanded,

"Stop the attac—"

It was already too late. The energy barrier began glowing, and in the next moment, all the attributes it had absorbed were released outward, their lethality doubled compared to the soldiers' original attacks.

Chaos and confusion erupted through the ranks of the soldiers as their own skills struck them.

Their newly found morale wavered before the absolute defense and offense of the array.

"Th-that is the Mirror Detonation Mandola, one of the seven great arrays of the Forgotten Era. How did the Banes acquire such a technique?" Kharos gasped, his eyes wide with shock.

After a few seconds, he muttered, clenching his fists, "Order the army to retreat."

"But Father, if we do that—"

"We will only increase the loss of our soldiers if we push the army any further," Kharos said before Hector could finish.

Now that the Emperor had given the order, Hector had no choice but to obey.

In a loud voice, he commanded,

"Retreat!"

The confused army heeded his order and began withdrawing. Until now, it had only been the Banes army attacking the Empire's territories, whether it was Ironvale or Thornwall.

It was the first time the Empire had launched an attack on the Banes, and not only did they suffer terrible losses, they failed to make the Banes soldiers lift even a finger.

It was an utter humiliation for the Azure Sun Empire that would be remembered in the history of the Western Continent.

"Hahaha! Is that the great Azure Sun Empire? It is more like the Dying Ember Empire."

"Look at them running away after attacking us first."

"Aren't you ashamed of yourselves, Empire dogs?"

"Hahaha, if I were in their place, I would never show my face to the world again!"

The soldiers of the Banes army laughed and mocked the retreating imperial soldiers, which only added salt to their wounds. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and endure the humiliation.

An army of over one million three hundred thousand had been mobilized to attack the Ironvale Duchy. Three hundred thousand had fallen, two hundred thousand suffered critical injuries, and fifty thousand bore bruises, deep wounds, or broken bones without even managing to land a single successful attack.

It was an overwhelming victory for the Hundred Sky Mountains.

The moment the Empire's army retreated, the soldiers on the fortress walls erupted in cheers of victory.

However, the key figures of the Banes army wore serious expressions as they hovered high in the air.

Their eyes were fixed on the distance where dark abyssal clouds had gathered.

"Lord Aurelion, this Soulforce pressure I am sensing... is that really him?" Aethon asked, standing beside Aurelion in the air along with the other sect leaders.

Aurelion nodded. "Yes, the Prince is fighting someone in the Jungle of Pines."

"H-has he already reached the level where he can command the heavens?" Tartaglia murmured, shock and respect evident in his voice.

"Reached?" Barbatos chuckled, as if amused by the foolishness of the question. "He is a God. He was born as one."

As they spoke, an ear-deafening thunder echoed, startling most of them. The soldiers below did not hear it due to the distance, which made it even more shocking. If it could be heard from such a distance, how powerful must the attack have been at its origin?

While the others could only hear it, Aurelion, thanks to his demi-god senses, could also see the pillar of lightning descending from the heavens.

"Whoever the Prince's opponent is, they would not have survived that attack," Aurelion said.

Turning to Barbatos, he continued, "Lord Barbatos, I entrust you with the safe return of the Prince."

"You need not say more, Lord Aurelion," Barbatos replied with a playful smile.

A gust of wind swept through, and Barbatos vanished completely.

---

"Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this?" Erik demanded, his eyes burning with fury.

"Compose yourself, Lord Erik," Ned Stormhold muttered, glaring at him.

Erik ignored the warning and continued, "Please tell me why the army surrounded the entire country instead of focusing on the fortress."

"Lord Erik, I understand your anger, but you must think logically instead of letting your emotions cloud your judgment," Kharos replied, massaging his wrinkled forehead. "The citizens of Ironvale have betrayed the Empire. They are producing weapons and armor that the Banes army will use against us."

"Your Majesty, they are being threatened. How could they refuse the Banes knowing they would be slaughtered like animals?"

"It did not appear to me that they were being forced," Hector interjected. "You must have recognized the soldiers pointing their weapons at the Empire's army from the walls. All of them wore the armor of House Ironvale."

"They are only trying to protect their people," Erik muttered, veins bulging on his forehead in frustration.

"They were already stationed on the walls even before our army surrounded the country," Hector countered. "That suggests they had already decided to raise their weapons against the Empire."

"But Your High—"

"Lord Erik, I have ignored your transgressions for long enough," Kharos's deep voice echoed. "Do not test my patience."

The air inside the meeting room turned heavy as Kharos released his murderous intent upon Erik.

Erik's breathing grew labored, and beads of sweat trickled down his face.

"I-I apologize, Your Majesty," Erik muttered, struggling to steady his breath.

"The citizens of Ironvale are traitors to the Empire. They will pay for their sins. This is my command," Kharos declared in a booming voice.

"I understand," Erik replied through gritted teeth before silently walking out of the meeting room.