Ekatoe City...
Eilish and the other experts of the Astros gathered around the portal. It was the time of the arrival of the reinforcement from Athen's Champion. Souta and Alice were away so Eilish was in charge of Astros for the time being. She would welcome the warriors from the legion.
Soon, the portal lit up and exuded a dim light. The next moment, several people walked out of the portal. All of them were doned with various types of armor. The undulating aura around them was quite scary.
They were all elites that experienced thousands of battles.
Eilish walked forward and introduced herself, "I'm Eilish, a member of Astros Squad from Tenth Grain War."
A tall man with a scar on his left eye smiled and shook her hand. "I'm Veimu, Squad Leader of Dice Squad from Eight Grain Wisdom."
A total of three squads had arrived. The first squad had four members, the second squad had seven members and the third squad had six members. A total of seventeen warriors. The number was small but all of them were Shackled Realm experts. Veimu was even at Three Shackles Realm. If he advanced, he would be qualified for the position of Grain Leader as only an expert at Four Shackles and above could gain this position. The other two squad leaders were also strong. They were at Two Shackles Realm while the rest were at One Shackle.
It was a powerful force considering the state of Hall Plains. But they had to come here since the threat of the Blood Sacrifice wasn't small. They had to investigate it and only someone at Three Shackles Realm would lead them.
The numbers were small and it was enough in case the Large Country or Holy Lands discovered them. It would be a great deal if there was a hundred Shackled Realm.
Although the warriors have read the mission, Eilish still explained to them where they've found the Blood Sacrifice. She also didn't forget to tell them the current state of Mine Valley and other regions of the Hall Plains.
"We will head out tomorrow. If I'm not wrong, Grain Leader Carmel is still currently looking for available squads to dispatch. So you should expect one or two squads to arrive here in the next few days." Veimu said. They would head out tomorrow to start their mission to investigate the Blood Sacrifice. "Also, if Squad Leader Souta came back, tell him to write a report and send it to the headquarters. His report will decide if we will receive more reinforcement."
...
Ten thousand meters above the Heiro Kingdom. Several dozens of people were floating while staring down at the strongest faction of the Spring Land.
An old man wearing a brown shirt with a scarf around his neck was leading the group of experts. His aura surpassed the rest of the people behind him. With just a single look, everyone could see that he was the strongest among them.
"Our job is to capture the princess and buried the entire kingdom." The old man said in a low voice but everyone could hear his words. "With the princess's personality, she will try to run and announce that she left the kingdom but I've made my preparation. She will not be able to escape."
"We understand, Lord Dramus." The people behind him said at the same time.
"Then, let's commence the operation." The old man, who was called Lord Dramus, said. He pointed his palm at the Heiro Kingdom and gathered his mana.
...
Princess Yaniesvyl knocked out Iris. Iris was her maid that accompanied her for five years. She didn't have the heart to kill her. She just knocked her out.
Cough!
Princess Yaniesvyl pulled out the sword on her back and spat a mouthful of blood. She sprinkled her wounds with health potions before she drank another potion. She felt better but she hasn't completely recovered. The damage that the red grade sword dealt to her was considered lethal.
"Just like I thought, they want to capture me alive."
She stood up and hung the sword on her waist. She opened the door and wanted to leave as soon as possible but the ground shook heavily.
BOOM!!
A high magnitude earthquake assaulted the entire kingdom. The palace was built using high-quality materials so it wouldn't collapse easily but... The other structures in the kingdom weren't.
Buildings and houses collapsed under the powerful earthquake.
"This...!!"
Princess Yaniesvyl widened her eyes as huge energy fluctuations erupted above the kingdom.
"They wanted to eliminate the entire kingdom?"
She realized what the enemy wanted. Capturing her was just one of the goals. Even if she wasn't here, those guys would still attack the Heiro Kingdom.
"Dispatch all the units!!"
"Evacuate the civilians!!"
The King of the Heiro Kingdom quickly assembled his royal guards. The knights of the kingdom were dispatched one by one to help the civilians. The whole place was under attack by a group of unknown people.
Heiro Kingdom wasn't called the strongest of the Spring Land for nothing. They had several powerful experts. They were all elites that experienced brutal battles in their lives.
Princess Yaniesvyl could hear the voices of the knights and royal guards in the palace. She took a deep breath before she run into the hallway.
"The battle has started and I don't think that we stood a chance."
She muttered to herself. The enemy wouldn't attack them if they weren't confident in taking the kingdom. They must have thoroughly prepared for this invasion.
BOOM!!
A deafening sound erupted outside the palace along with a small sound of explosions. She knew that the royal guards and knights were trying their best to repel the enemies. She could also feel the aura of several Shackled Realm experts.
Princess Yaniesvyl couldn't help but glance at the windows. What she saw shook her to the core, the bustling kingdom was now full of flames and black smoke. Buildings have collapsed and corpses were scattered on the ground. Several people were fighting in mid-air.
She gritted her teeth before she continued to run. Soon, she arrived at the throne room. She didn't even knock or announce her arrival. She just slammed the huge door open.
"Father!"
She saw her father standing with his back facing her. There were two royal guards beside him who were helping him wear crimson-colored armor. That armor was the national treasure of their kingdom, the Red Steel Armor.
The King turned around and said, "You're still here, Yaniesvyl. I thought that you already left."
"Father, I can't... They..." Princess Yaniesvyl bit her lips. She couldn't tell him that Iris betrayed him as she knew that once her father found it Iris would be executed immediately.
"You can go now," The King said to her. He then glanced at the two royal guards and said, "Leave the kingdom, take her with you."
Before the two could respond, he spoke once again, "It's the order of the king! Take her out of the kingdom!"
"Father, I still..." Princess Yaniesvyl wanted to say something but something interrupted her.
Bang!
A loud noise echoed as the front part of the palace collapsed. Something powerful smashed and shattered the tough walls. It revealed a clear bright blue sky.
The two royal guards supported the injured princess. The King didn't even look at them as his attention was on something else. His expression was gloomy as his aura started to boil.
"It's too late..." The King said in a low voice.
Princess Yaniesvyl and the two royal guards heard the voice of their king. So they turned their heads and saw an old man suspended in the air looking at them with a faint smile.
What shook them was the head on the old man's hand. The eyes were still open and blood was coming out of its mouth.
They recognized the head. It was the Captain of the Royal Guards, one of the strongest experts in the entire kingdom.
The Captain of the Royal Guards was dead!
Lord Dramus opened his lips and said, "It seems that I'm on time. You are still here, Princess Yaniesvyl."
"What do you want from me? You've captured Dream, right?" Princess Yaniesvyl forced herself to ask these questions.
"Yeah, and he told us everything but we need to know if his story is the same as yours. That's why I'll capture you." Lord Dramus said.
"If I come with you, will you cease your attack?" Princess Yaniesvyl asked as she stood up and tightly grip the sword on her waist.
"It's impossible. We could still capture you even if you want it or not. This kingdom will fall today. It's been decided." Lord Dramus said slowly.
"Yaniesvyl, Run!! RUNNNN!!!" The King shouted as his energy flared up. He would fight this guy until he was sure that his daughter was safe.
"RUN!!"
The King screamed once again. He knew that he wouldn't be able to defeat this old man. The difference in their power was clear as sky.
