Seated on his throne, Oli the Third gripped the hilt of his sword and growled, "Baili, my daughter, what nonsense are you spouting? Since when has your father become muddle-headed?"
Baili raised her sword and said, "The invaders from the Central Continent have circled around Poplar Valley and White Horse River. They've been besieging White Horse City on White Horse Plains for three days and three nights now. Now, the main city wall has been destroyed, and the inner city wall has been destroyed as well. Those invaders have already reached the royal city, and yet you're still indulging in wine and women? Are the tens of thousands of living beings in White Horse City really that insignificant in your eyes?"
"What?"
Oli the Third abruptly rose to his feet and glared at Baili angrily. "God dammit, how did those invaders get here so quickly?
Where's Deputy General Dioro? Why didn't you tell me about your military intelligence? Why didn't Baili's Redstone Legion stop the enemies? "
A thin general among the crowd fell to one knee and said, "My king, I … I underestimated the invaders' strength. I didn't think that they would be able to defeat White Horse City's garrison in such a short time, and I certainly didn't think that the Redstone Legion that dominates the continent would be so weak …"
Baili immediately flew into a rage. She raised her eyebrows and growled, "You shameless scoundrel, Dioro! My Redstone Legion only has about ninety thousand soldiers, but the enemy has a million elite soldiers and plenty of siege weapons. How do you expect us to stop such a ferocious army?
You have two hundred thousand soldiers under your command, but you're only focused on conquering foreign lands. Now, your army is stuck at the borders of White Horse City, but you can't mobilize them to save you. What's worse is that you've blocked all military intelligence while I'm defending the city with my army, so my father doesn't know anything about the war. Let's see how you're going to take responsibility for this delay.
"You … you're lying!"
Dioro hurriedly turned around and knelt on the ground. He said, "My king, this lowly general has only fought to expand White Horse City's territory and drive away those filthy beastmen from our fertile lands. They do not deserve the northern territory of the White Horse Plains. This vassal has served the country wholeheartedly, but I have ended up as a treacherous vassal. My king, please understand. If this is the case, I, Dioro, would rather commit suicide before Your Highness to show my loyalty!"
Clang! Dioro unsheathed his sword and pressed it against his neck.
"Wait!"
Oli the Third was shaken. He extended a hand and sighed. "Dioro, you are the greatest contributor to my kingdom after Baili. I will not erase your contributions. Now that the enemy has entered the city, what we need to think about is not how to punish them, but how to expel these ambitious bastards!"
Di Oro rolled his eyes and a hint of viciousness flashed through his eyes. He said, "My king, please allow this general to lead the elite cavalry out immediately and catch them off guard!"
Oli the Third nodded. "Very well. I will give you the five thousand elite cavalrymen of the Imperial Guard. Go, and do not betray my trust in you!"
"Yes, my king!"
Baili said angrily, "Father, I can't believe you still trust this despicable man so much. Leave the five thousand cavalrymen to me. I can lead them all the same!"
"Baili!"
Oli the Third growled, "Don't be arrogant just because you are my daughter. Please respect General Dioro. Hmph, don't doubt him anymore!"
Baili's shoulders were trembling, and her eyes were bloodshot. She said, "Father, if White Horse City falls, you will be the one to blame for it!"
… …
Dioro happily accepted the commander's tally and walked out of the hall. When he saw us, he immediately circled around to the side and summoned his army from the horse field. Holding the commander's tally in his hand, he shouted, "Five thousand Brave Cavalrymen, go to the palace's treasury and take all the valuables out of the city with me!"
A general asked, "General, the capital is surrounded. What will happen to His Majesty if we leave the city with the treasures?"
"His Majesty is protected by Princess Baili and the Redstone Legion, so he will be fine. We will take our belongings and leave the city. Once we leave White Horse City, we will head to the border and rebuild the fortress with the soldiers we have stationed there. White Horse City will not be destroyed!" Dioro declared proudly.
The cavalrymen unsheathed their weapons and said, "As you command, general!"
And so, the cavalrymen charged into the treasury and forced their way out of the encirclement. There was no telling if The Monarch Descends and Blazing Hot Lips would let them go.
… …
A guard stumbled into the palace and yelled, "Bad news, Your Majesty, bad news! That Deputy General Dioro has ordered five thousand cavalrymen to loot our palace treasury and charge out of the west gate after taking all the valuables. They seem to have given up on defending the city. They're running away!
Also, the enemy has appeared in the guard station, and they'll break into the hall in a few minutes … "
Thud …
The golden goblet in Oli the Third's hand abruptly fell to the ground, and he slumped into his throne in a daze. He looked like he had aged many years in the blink of an eye. He murmured, "Dioro really did betray me. He … he betrayed even the strongest general of the kingdom. Is White Horse City really doomed?"
Baili raised her sword and said, "Father, don't be discouraged. Please take the royal sword and head to the borders. Our 200,000-strong army is still there, and the generals there are extremely loyal. They will definitely obey your orders. I'll protect you and help you leave the city. Once you leave, you'll have a chance to rebuild White Horse City. Father, the fans of the book love to read:!"
Oli the Third, on the other hand, was lying on his throne, powerless. He shook his head and said, "Forget it, Baili. White Horse City's fate has come to an end. I, Oli the Third, have failed my ancestors. White Horse City, a city that has existed for two thousand and three hundred years, is about to be destroyed. This is the will of the heavens.
"What fate?"
Baili raised her sword and said, "I refuse to believe it. Men, take my father and retreat! I'll cover you with the remaining warriors of the Redstone Legion!"
A group of personal guards tried to help Oli the Third to his feet, but the king couldn't even withstand a single blow. He collapsed to the ground and shook his head in tears. "It's over, it's over. I've failed my ancestors, and I'm too ashamed to continue living in this world. Baili, I'll pass the throne to you immediately. I hope that you can rise again!"
Baili's eyes were bloodshot, and tears were swirling in them. She said, "Father, I don't want to become king. If you die, I won't live any longer!"
However, Oli the Third still refused to move.
… …
"Crash!"
I cut open a personal guard's shoulder and was the first to break out of the encirclement. There were almost ten thousand guards outside the palace, but they couldn't hold us back for long. Lin Yixin broke through the defense with an Ice Flame Slash, and the silver bell jingled at the same time. Gui Guzi, Chaos Moon, Li Chengfeng, Purple Marquis, Zi Chuanyu and the others followed.
Baili abruptly unsheathed her sword and shouted angrily, "Warriors of White Horse City, the final battle is upon us! Protect the king and fight with me even if you have to bleed to the last drop of your blood!"
The last few hundred guards immediately charged toward us. Baili had 15% HP left, but she gritted her teeth and charged toward us. It looked like she was going to fight to the death.
… …
Swhoosh!
I used God Binding Art, and this time, I miraculously hit my target. Even Princess Baili, a Level 200 Immortal Rank boss, could only stand there in a daze with anger in her eyes.
"Little Cheat!"
Lin Yixin dashed past Baili Li, Moon Gaze, and Extreme Break + Ice Flame Slash were about to explode. I reacted quickly and executed Pardon + basic attack + Universe Break at almost the same time, hitting Baili Li's shoulder at the same time. My timing was perfect, and I knew that Double Flight had succeeded!
Chiang chiang!
Two explosions later, two energy storms exploded on Baili's chest like a thousand arrows piercing her heart. At the same time, she let out a muffled groan as two shocking damage numbers rose above her head — "298773!"
“318375！”
The boss lost a huge chunk of HP in an instant. At the same time, we heard Lian Xin's Dimensional Storm raging behind us. The sharp wind blades cut through the armor and bodies of Baili and the dread-rank guards, but even worse, a sky-blue rune array appeared beneath Baili's feet. The next moment, the Ice Spiral Matrix exploded and bombarded Baili with ice blades, dealing over 70k damage.
"OMG, that northern girl's Magic Attack is so powerful …"
Stranger of Three Lifetimes stood at the top of the stairs and stared blankly at Lian Xin's back. She pursed her lips and said, "I can't believe she's standing next to Lu Chen. Ptui! Lu Chen is picking up a new girl again!"
… …
Baili's HP dropped at an alarming rate under the barrage of attacks.
"Uuuu, I'll never give up on White Horse City …"
Covered in blood, Baili charged me with her sword and dealt over 80k damage to me. Thankfully, Murong Mingyue wasn't far behind me, and she healed me back to full HP with a Greater Heal and an Instant Heal. Fans of the book loved to read this story.
Lian Xin waved her scepter and said, "Attack her from afar! I'll hold her down!"
Magic energy surged as the twelve Origin Force Fields fell from the sky and surrounded Baili, preventing her from escaping.
"You idiots …"
Baili rammed her head against the walls of light and shouted angrily, "Ayrin, you idiots! Take father and leave already! How much longer do we have to wait? Do you want father to watch me die?"
Oli the Third simply sat on the ground and said nothing.
Baili slammed her sword into the Origin Force Field again and again, leaving ghastly wounds all over her body. Her HP kept dropping, and her armor was falling to pieces, revealing the girl's outfit underneath. Her skin and flesh were exposed, and it was a painful sight to behold.
… …
"Big bro, are we really going to … kill her?" Beiming Xue looked back at me.
Lian Xin also stopped attacking and said, "I … I don't have the heart to keep hitting her …"
… …
Swhoosh swhoosh swhoosh...
The Origin Force Fields vanished one after another, and Baili's HP was at 1%. She knelt to the ground and looked up at me. Her eyes were filled with helplessness and longing for this world. Suddenly, she murmured, "Warrior from afar, I know that you have your mission, but I … I don't want you to spare me. I only want you to spare my father. Please spare the last of White Horse City's bloodline. I … I'm willing to give up my life right here and now. Just kill me!"