Superhumans of the Dome City-Chapter 1425 - 26: Army at the Gates (Part 2)

The archangel in orange armor appeared behind Will, swinging his staff to break the agent’s bones. Agent Will lost his strength and fell into boundless darkness, like a silver swallow descending into the sea. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

·

At the moment the anomaly was detected in front of the city gate, the arrays within the city were fully activated, and the elite from Yiji Hall poured out, carrying Liu Zhongwu’s token to activate the defensive array. A pure white protective shield appeared in the sky above the city, a massive iron wall formed a second layer of defense, and thick beams of light swept from the cannons on the city walls towards the Divine Army and skeletons outside, triggering a sunrise-like blaze with just one sweep.

This ancient city, established two thousand years ago, came alive, facing another crisis alongside its citizens.

Toxic water and fierce flames were blocked by the giant barrier, sulfur and mud fell along the barrier, like murky rain flowing down a window. The mighty force of the Rainbow Winged Lord triggered an earthquake-like terrifying vibration, lights dimmed from the impact, documents and porcelain bottles fell from the table, and people watched everything trembling and moaning before them, feeling their own spirits were trembling as well. Reality felt like a nightmare, as if opening their eyes would bring about the end of the world.

The still rational people followed the government’s instructions to take refuge, while many more citizens had already lost the ability to think. Children hid in their parents’ arms crying, while adults themselves were at a loss, standing numbly at home, offering hollow comfort to those beside them: "Don’t be afraid, the Emperor... the Emperor will protect us...!"

They didn’t know that the Empire’s Emperor had long lost consciousness, asleep alone on the distant moon. Now, the world’s oldest Empire could only rely on others for protection, on foreign reinforcements, and on his loyal ministers.

"All arrays in Divine Capital City are operating at full capacity, make sure to withstand the first wave of attacks. Everyone in Yiji Hall must cooperate with the Yao Guang Guards, the Left and Right Guards are deployed in batches, focusing on calming the public’s emotions and maintaining confidence in disaster resistance. Announce externally it’s a large-scale Dragon Disaster arrival, start actions immediately."

"Yes, my lord!"

Even in this terrifying environment, some remained steady as a mountain. Liu Zhongwu strode through the headquarters of Yiji Hall, issuing orders in a booming voice. His close subordinate, Li Jun, followed beside him, quickly reporting intelligence from below: "Lord Zhang and the Gun of Punishment regained their consciousness moments ago, they’ve gone to the front line!"

Li Jun spoke with overwhelming excitement, not yet understanding the severity of the situation, not knowing how dire the state of those two was, nor comprehending the implications lurking behind this action. Liu Zhongwu remained calm: "External situation."

"Large batches of Dragon Disasters have simultaneously appeared in major global cities, the real world is on the verge of collapse, powerhouses from various countries are temporarily unable to aid... "

"Good." Liu Zhongwu glanced at the ink-colored mountain and river map, beyond the black jade-carved territory were densely packed white dots, errors and crises were ubiquitous, like a swarm of insects surrounding the land. He felt increasingly heavy-hearted, though he maintained a composed exterior: "Connect me to the Dawn Knight."

Li Jun handed over a white phone, the female knight’s voice was clear and bright.

"The results of the True World investigation are as follows, the forces attacking the Divine Capital this time include three individuals. ’Rainbow Winged Lord’ Celeste Hadrian, Hidden Law Master, ’Ming Guest’ Qin Ming. The first two’s combat assessments are at the peak of the Creation Realm level, Qin Ming exceeds predictive limits, unassessable."

The worst prediction had occurred, three Creation Realm peaks arrived on the same day. Especially on the day of the lantern festival celebration, and at the moment when Gongsun Ce was still out of contact. Liu Zhongwu replied dryly: "Understood."

The Dawn Knight continued without pause: "I cannot participate in the battle for the Divine Capital City, I am sorry, Mr. Liu."

"I understand, at this point we can only take a gamble."

Liu Zhongwu didn’t concern himself with his subordinate’s shocked expression beside him, tossing the white phone to Li Jun: "You will take full command of Yiji Hall next, hold on until the last moment."

Li Jun had a belly full of words he wanted to say, blinking forcefully, swallowing them back down his throat, saluting Liu Zhongwu’s broad back: "Understood!"

These young people he personally mentored, their way of speaking and acting being as uninteresting as Liu Zhongwu himself. Normally, Liu Zhongwu might have expressed a touch of sentiment, but right now he had no time for thoughts. He ran through the shaking hall, rushing into the deepest room of Yiji Hall.

Upon entering, the world turned abruptly silent, the cables and steel wires on the ground were orderly, and the array of gold and mercury was still running smoothly. In the midst of the cataclysmic Divine Capital City, only this place remained intact, because this was the array hub through which Gongsun Ce traversed. Two haggard-looking young ladies sat by the ring in the center of the room, Shiyu Ling and Qiluo had been researching here for three consecutive days without rest, using all means to try to establish contact with the disconnected Gongsun Ce.

At this moment, Qiluo was shouting something at a blurry silhouette, the shadow stood at the center of the array, behind it were scorch marks that seemed familiar. Liu Zhongwu’s heart tightened with tension: "Contact established?!"

Shiyu Ling turned around, unexpected ecstasy in her tired, dry eyes: "Can maintain for thirty more seconds, quickly!"

Qiluo made way, Liu Zhongwu rushed to the communication array, his eyes bloodshot: "Yan Qi just lacks the Desolate Form to complete it! Give and take makes it fair—"

Then, a strong earthquake hit, the new attack disrupted the fragile array. The barely-established communication channel was about to collapse from the quake, but Liu Zhongwu hadn’t finished his instructions, he had only a moment to speak, knowing the fate of the Empire hinged on his words.

"You must help him!" he shouted hoarsely, "Gongsun Ce, lend him a hand!!!"

The barely repaired communication completely broke down, they lost contact once again. No one knew how long it would take for the Jihui Bureau to return to the Divine Capital, perhaps one minute, perhaps ten minutes, maybe never at all.

At this moment, Liu Zhongwu hated his own clumsiness immensely, he ought to have relayed something more useful. What kind of suggestion was "lend him a hand"? Could he expect Gongsun Ce to grasp it from this? Rely on such an extremely emotional plea?

It was always like this, lacking adaptability, without any flash of brilliant strategy, repeatedly placing hope onto others. He couldn’t measure up to his classmates nor his juniors, he never became the truly relied-upon figure.

Liu Zhongwu clenched his fist, looking at the weary young women: "You all first..."

His voice abruptly stopped, he saw an inch of dusk-colored blade. The blade tip hung from the ceiling like a drop of water on a stalactite. Liu Zhongwu stood aside at the time-space array’s center, the gold and mercury flowing at his will into a net, the mysterious celestial web of fate instantaneously activated, forming a night sky densely packed with stars. All the anomalies were simultaneously cut by that inch-long blade tip, shattering into scattered rain along with the ceiling.

A man in blue clothes descended from the rain, holding long and short blades, standing amidst the ruins, smiling at an old friend and schoolmate.

"Wanna have a fight?"

Liu Zhongwu advanced step by step forward, unexpectedly feeling a strange calm in his heart at this moment. He recalled long ago after class when everyone stepped out of the classroom for a break, the pugnacious young ones sparred under the shade of pine trees.

"Go to the city gate first." Liu Zhongwu said, "I’ll fight him."