Shadow Slave

That first salvo was devastating. Countless vessels of the King of Nothing were destroyed, painting the Lake of Tears red. Pieces of flesh, bone, chitin, and glass flew in all directions like shrapnel. Tall geysers of foaming water rose high into the air, as if immense payloads of powerful explosives had detonated in the depths of the lake.

Looking at the impact of the cataclysmic assault, Seishan could not help but admit that humanity had grown significantly more powerful than it used to be.

It was not just about quantity, either. Yes, there were far more Awakened now than there had been in the past, including those of higher Ranks — but those Awakened were also stronger and far more seasoned than they had been before.

The warriors of humanity had been honed and tempered by the Chain of Nightmares, the Realm War in Godgrave, and the subjugation crusades ever since. Their prowess had undergone a qualitative leap under the whetstone of those calamities, making them more skilled, more experienced, and in better control of their Aspects.

Not only had they learned to wield their Aspects with greater finesse and level of understanding, but they had also accumulated greater soul arsenals. Each Awakened possessed more Memories than before, and those Memories were more potent.

Their years of slaughtering powerful Nightmare Creatures had not been for nothing.

Apart from that, Awakened mostly operated in small units before the Chain of Nightmares. By now, however, they were used to large-scale warfare and even excelled in it, having learned bitter lessons in cohesion and cooperation across the numerous battlefields in the waking world and the Dream Realm.

So, this ranged barrage was truly stunning.

Countless Awakened were unleashing their arrows, various projectiles, and Aspect Abilities. There were plenty of Masters among the contingent stationed atop the towering cliffs, as well, and more than a few Saints. Silent Stalker was there, wielding her bow with deadly intent. So was Moonveil, Helie, and Siord, the latter having partially assumed the form of a radiant harpy.

Of course, no one was more deadly than the Dragonslayer.

Standing close to Kai, Seishan could appreciate his bowsmanship up close. The dark bow in his hands was a weapon forged for him by the Lord of Shadows in the depths of Ariel’s Game. The enchanted arrows he used seemed dreadfully potent, as well, and at least a few of them seemed like Memories of the Supreme Rank.

Far more deadly than his weapon and arrows, though, was his aim. Nightingale seemed to see everything and react to the smallest movements of his targets instantly. Due to the great distance separating the archers from the lake, most of them simply aimed in the general direction of the enemy — he, however, never failed to sink his arrows in the weakest points of his prey.

His voice flowed over the battlefield, instilling confidence and power into the hearts of the warriors.

”Draw your bows! Strike true! Stay strong!” His words were like a magical song that lulled people into being stronger and braver than they were.

The warriors of the Human Domain were fearsome, and the barrage of their arrows was devastating...

And yet, it was of no use.

No matter how many of Mordret’s vessels they destroyed, it was like a drop in the ocean. And no matter how disciplined and cohesive the human army was, it could not compete with the flawless unity of the countless vessels — after all, they were all controlled by a single wicked mind.

Mordret made it to the shore in no time.

Seishan’s expression darkened.

“Send forth your Echoes. Tell Beastmaster to unleash her thralls, as well.”

The first line of defense, which was going to suffer the most damage, could not consist of humans. Instead, numerous Echoes rushed forward to sap the momentum from the charge of the royal swarm, followed by the Nightmare Creatures controlled by Beastmaster. At the same time, winged abominations plummeted at them from the sky, aiming to tear the enemy apart.

Siord and other defenders capable of flight were with them, wreaking havoc among the neat, eerily precise formation of the attacking swarm.

The vessels of the King of Nothing were bogged down in the defensive line of Echoes and enthralled abominations, suffering greatly from the unceasing barrage of arrows and the devastating attacks of the flying defenders.

Mordret’s harrowing advance seemed to slow down, at least for a few brief moments.

But, of course, it wasn’t without a cost.

The powerful Echoes simply melted under the attacks of his vessels, exploding into a maelstrom of dancing sparks. The thralls of Beastmaster were being butchered with terrible speed. A swarm of strange crystalline wasps rose from the surface of the lake, colliding with the winged defenders of the Human Domain and slaughtering scores of them in an instant.

Seishan sighed.

“How long do we have to hold him back, exactly?”

Drawing the string of his bow with a focused expression, Kai answered in an even tone:

“As long as we must in order to allow the rest of the people to flee toward Ravenheart. A day? Perhaps two.”

Her scarlet lips twisted into an amused smile.

“Two days? I am not even sure that we can hold on for an hour.”

Kai released the string, sending a menacing arrow flashing toward the lake, and glanced at her briefly.

“Perhaps you can appeal to his conscience. Weren’t you two quite close, back in the Song Clan? Maybe he’ll listen.”

Seishan stared at him for a few moments.

“Oh, my. I did not know you had such a biting sense of humor, Saint Kai. Where have you been hiding it?”

Nightingale smiled.

“It’s gallows humor. Naturally, I developed it when it felt like there was a noose around my neck.”

Far below, the King of Nothing had already torn apart the first defensive line and was on his way to clashing with the human defenders of the Lake of Tears.

Seishan inhaled deeply.

”I guess this is my signal, then.”

Stretching her shoulders, she jumped onto the parapet gracefully, glanced down from the great height upon the terrifying battle below, and spent a brief moment to appreciate the awesome majesty of the Weeping Goddess.

”I’ll try to buy us two hours, at least.”

With that, she took a step forward and plummeted toward the distant ground.

She had a feeling that the Goddess was going to weep blood tonight.