Chapter 989: Shut Out
Mm...
Just as they had expected.
Meng Zhang was indeed deliberately trying to piss them off.
But General Prolos and the other generals were helpless.
"If you don't open the gates, we'll force our way in!"
In desperation, one of the generals couldn't help but shout, trying to pressure the defenders into opening the gate.
However, the guards just burst out laughing.
They laughed brightly.
But it was a cold, mocking laughter.
"Then you will be treated as enemy forces!"
"General Meng Zhang has ordered: during the lockdown, anyone who dares to attack the city will be deemed a spy of the Demon Arrival Organization!"
"We will activate the strongest defense array of Heavenly Demon Capital to repel your assault and wipe you out!"
"I advise all generals to remain calm! The best option is to wait for General Meng Zhang's orders!"
As the guard finished speaking—
he lightly waved his hand.
Buzz!!
The massive magical defensive array of Heavenly Demon Capital instantly activated.
Terrifying and powerful magical energy surged through the veins of the formation, and a myriad of starlights bloomed in the sky.
More crucially...
A raging surge of azure thunder elements coursed across the formation, forming an elemental Azure Dragon coiled above Heavenly Demon Capital, its eyes glaring with hostility at the legions stationed outside the city walls.
Everyone knew that at this point, if anyone dared make a move, this elemental Azure Dragon would launch a full assault.
Treating them as sworn enemies.
"Damn it..."
"Meng Zhang even personally intervened to reinforce Heavenly Demon Capital's magic formation!"
Although General Prolos wasn't a world-class powerhouse, his strength was nothing to scoff at.
Even so, the magical array before him was putting immense pressure on him.
He didn't dare to make a single reckless move.
"Meng Zhang is dead set on denying us any share of the merit!"
"Sigh! Honestly, if we had known, why didn't we trust him back then? Let's just go back, there's no point humiliating ourselves further."
"Yeah, let's head back..."
These were all prominent figures.
And now, there was no chance of entering.
Staying here any longer would only worsen the humiliation.
Better to retreat now.
Accept this defeat and the lingering regret.
"Hmph! I will report this to the Holy Council!"
"They treated us as enemy forces!"
"This is completely counterproductive to unity!"
"Is this even a Joint Professional Army anymore? Might as well make it a Dragon Kingdom dictatorship!"
Prolos was quick to throw blame.
And he wouldn't just accept this outcome.
This incident had cost him both merit and face.
The other generals merely shook their heads silently.
Heh!
Reporting to the Holy Council?
It probably wouldn't change anything!
They'd previously agreed with Meng Zhang.
If Heavenly Demon Capital was taken, they weren't entitled to any credit!
Too late to regret now.
Even if the old geezers at the Holy Council wanted to support Prolos, they'd be powerless.
Hearing them say all that, the guards on the walls just smiled faintly.
They weren't nervous in the slightest.
"Move! Head to the northern wall!"
"Try our luck there!"
Of course, General Prolos wasn't going to give up so easily.
"I advise you not to bother. General Ling Zhan likely issued the same lockdown order."
"You'd be making a trip for nothing."
"We locked down the city solely to prevent any Demon Arrival remnants from escaping."
The guards' reasoning was flawless.
Not even slightly in violation of alliance agreements.
Prolos's face turned red with fury, like pig liver.
Even the general from the Holy Light Empire looked resigned now.
He...
Should've trusted Ling Zhan.
After all, Ling Zhan had once defeated the so-called peerless prodigy Princess Saint Luni from their empire.
Now, Princess Saint Luni was part of Ling Zhan's legion.
He should've believed, and now it was too late for regrets.
"Set up camp!"
"We'll wait until the gate opens."
The Holy Light Empire's general had resigned himself.
The other generals also sighed and ordered their legions to make camp.
They waited for five full hours.
Wiping out the Demon Arrival remnants was troublesome—Heavenly Demon Capital was too vast, and those demons knew how to hide, some even burrowing underground.
To completely eliminate all remnants, both Meng Zhang and Ling Zhan had given the order:
Dig three feet if needed, but leave no demon alive.
No survivors.
Also, all energy control rooms were to be taken over.
As the frontline stronghold of the Demon Arrival Fortress, Heavenly Demon Capital had immense strategic importance and had to be fully secured.
Of course...
That also meant the merit for occupying this place would be much greater than expected.
Mm...
The Demon Arrival side probably never imagined Ling Zhan, who initially split off in three directions, would suddenly cross such a vast distance and plunge straight into the frontlines.
Such an unexpected move... and it worked.
Meanwhile, the ambush in the Nether Forest came up empty.
As they say, war changes in the blink of an eye.
The less you stick to predictable tactics, the greater your chance of success.
The enemy never saw it coming.
The key was—those two incredibly powerful Demon Sovereigns couldn't even stop this non-specialist.
That's just insane.
Thus—
The battle for Heavenly Demon Capital was officially concluded.
Under Meng Zhang's orders—
The gates of Heavenly Demon Capital finally opened.
The stationed legions outside began pouring in.
But to their disappointment—
As expected, not a single shred of merit was left; all the Demon Arrival forces had been exterminated, every stronghold, turret, and control center completely occupied.
The merit was entirely swept clean—none left for them.
"Sigh!"
Seeing this, the legions of every nation let out deep sighs.
They felt helpless—and a bit resentful toward their own generals.
After all—
They'd come to the battlefield ready to risk their lives for merit.
Now, they had nothing to show for it.
Seeing the joyful faces of Dragon Kingdom and Amethyst Empire's legions only made it worse.
General Prolos stormed into the central tower of Heavenly Demon Capital—the Wàn Mó Tower.
It had been turned into a conference hall.
Meng Zhang and Ling Zhan had been waiting.
"Meng Zhang! What's the meaning of this?!" General Prolos bellowed the moment he barged in, face full of fury.
Trying to seize the initiative.
But Meng Zhang wasn't the least bit intimidated. He simply asked calmly, "General Prolos, may I ask—what exactly did I do wrong?"