Observing this unfolding scene, Neal couldn't help but crack a sly grin. He discreetly patted the side of his cloak to ensure his trump card was safely concealed. Then, he gripped his dagger once more.
Despite his unwavering confidence in their victory, Neal decided to wait for the armoured knights to draw nearer before launching his assault. He intended to dispatch them with quick and decisive strikes, conserving his energy for the impending battle with the Queen herself.
Although facing these knighted warriors might have been a formidable challenge for most, considering their armour appeared to enhance their speed, Neal remained unperturbed. To the Gemheart Clan, that armour was little more than a flimsy piece of paper he could effortlessly shred with his prodigious strength.
"WHOOSSSHH!!"
Neal acted swiftly, his dagger piercing into the gap in the armour of one of the Starforged Knights. He activated an intermediate speciality of the Gemheart Clan.
Gleaming Heart Scale!
As he did, Neal's skin underwent a startling transformation, becoming covered in a set of dark grey scales. With a ferocious scrape, his dagger clashed against the armoured surface, shattering it into two with a resounding crack.
Undeterred, Neal clenched his hands into fists, driving them forward like a battering ram.
The result was an explosive "Bang!" as he punched through the helmet, leaving his opponent reeling and sent flying backwards, helmet crushed inwards, and landing some distance away from the royal carriage.
As Neal initiated his attack, the other members of the Gem Shroud Legion promptly joined the battle, taking their opponents by surprise and quickly gaining the upper hand.
"Baannggg!"
"Booomm!"
"Banng!!"
However, these skirmishes proved to be brief, lasting only a matter of seconds to a few minutes before the Starforged Knights members were hurled backwards, landing at a distance from the royal carriages.
Queen Selene's eyes widened in shock as she beheld the lifeless bodies of the fallen Starforged Knights before her. Three formidable members of the fourth division from the twelfth division of the Crystalforge Clan had been slain with alarming ease.
"CRAACCCK!!" "CRAACCKKK!!"
She glanced upward, her gaze fixated on the Crystal Shard Dome that was beginning to crumble. It started with subtle spiderweb-like cracks that quickly spread, branching out in various directions.
Then, abruptly, the dome shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into the air like scattered specks of dust.
"Swissshhh!!"
"Swisshhh!!"
"Your Highness!!!" The voices of the two remaining Starforged Knights echoed in her ears, their backs facing her, their hands clutching their greatswords tightly in anger at the sight of their fallen comrades.
"I know," Queen Selene replied, her eyes narrowing in the direction of the battle. She had caught glimpses of the entire skirmish and could already discern their opponents. After all, the only group capable of defeating the Starforged Knights, one of the top-ranking divisions of the Crystalforged Clan known for their exceptional training and prowess, would likely be another top-tier division. A division of such calibre could only belong to one of the major clans.
Queen Selene commanded, "Protect the royal carriages. It seems they are stronger than any of you can handle." She entrusted the remaining two Starforged Knights with the task. Her gaze bore forward with a hint of coldness as she strode ahead, stopping at a distance from the royal carriages.
With a raised hand, she cast "Barrier Stance," before activating another speciality of the Crystalforged Clan, known as "Armour Weave." Immediately, bluish scales of rough crystal manifested on her skin, spreading across her entire body.
Her exotic dress disintegrated, replaced by a bluish crystal armour-like bodysuit that covered her entirely.
…....
Orion, who had been inside the carriage for several minutes, furrowed his brows uncomfortably as the sounds of battle reverberated through the air outside the royal carriage.
He turned his head and saw King Brylon with his eyes closed, resting his head against the seat's foam. Sensing Orion's gaze, King Brylon abruptly opened his eyes and turned to look at him.
"You don't need to worry about anything," King Brylon reassured him. "Apart from the royal guards, we also have an elite warrior division protecting us from the shadows. And even if they are defeated, which I highly doubt, the Queen alone would be more than capable of handling any escalation."
As King Brylon finished his sentence, the atmosphere around them immediately grew quiet. "Humph! You see, there's no need for you to worry. This will be taken care of soon, it will end shortly," he added with a smile, his eyes focused on Orion.
Orion raised his eyebrows at King Brylon's words.
Was he really that confident in the Queen's capabilities?
Back when he had first arrived, he might have readily believed in the Queen's strength, equating it to that of the Village Chief, or perhaps Strong Leader Zogar or Drakar. But now, he had doubts about whether she could handle the current situation.
After all, if there was an enemy bold enough to attack her despite her status and strength, didn't that suggest they had the means to restrain or, worse, eliminate her?
Orion remained cautious about Queen Selene and the royal family's intentions, but it didn't mean he wished for a coup or her death. Such events would surely lead to instability in the kingdom, endangering Saria's safety and causing him unnecessary trouble – something he wanted to avoid at all costs.
"If you're still worried, why don't you take a look for yourself? I'm sure they're wrapping things up by now," King Brylon suggested, letting out a sigh as he noticed Orion's sceptical expression.
Although he had been quite impressed by the young man's abilities, especially after his battle with the Clan Heirs, perhaps it was time for him to witness the strength of the royal family firsthand.
Orion nodded in agreement with King Brylon's suggestion and leaned closer to the window. Swiftly, he reached out and tugged at the curtains, creating a narrow gap that allowed him to peer outside and get a glimpse of the ongoing situation.
