Chapter 290: The Last Mercy
On the wilderness, the massive encampment of the Empire's vanguard legion began to move like a waking behemoth.
Rhodes and Serie were examining the captured Holy Sword, surprised by the peculiar anti-magic laws contained within, when the ground beneath their feet suddenly began to tremble violently.
They both looked up at the same time.
The Empire's vanguard legion, which had previously maintained a distance due to the battle between mages, was now advancing slowly toward their position like a black tide.
Heavy footsteps, the friction of metal armor, and the neighing of warhorses converged into a suffocating wave of sound that rushed toward them.
More notably, in the sky above the legion, dozens of Court Mages dressed in magnificent robes had already cast flight magic.
Holding staffs, magic circles unfolded before them. Powerful mana fluctuations interwove in the air, faintly forming a magical barrier covering the entire area.
It was a type of restrictive barrier. But unlike a barrier defending against external attacks, this one seemed designed to imprison everything inside, even prohibiting flight magic.
The mages' goal was obvious: prevent Rhodes and Serie from using flight magic to escape.
Because flight magic was disabled within the battlefield domain, these mages also descended to the ground, charging toward the two along with the entire army.
"It seems our Emperor has exhausted his last shred of patience," Rhodes said calmly, looking at the spectacular sight of the approaching army. His tone betrayed no emotion.
"Perfect!" Instead of fear, Serie's golden eyes burned with surging battle intent. A cold arc curled at the corner of her mouth. "I have wanted to teach that guy a lesson for a long time!"
Rhodes's gaze swept over the well-equipped soldiers, then passed over the mages waiting in formation. A trace of complexity flashed in his eyes.
These were the elites of humanity, one in a hundred. Yet now, because of an Emperor's ambition, they were about to be destroyed by him and Serie.
The strongest human legion didn't fall on the battlefield against demons, but at the hands of the heroes who once saved the world. Was this not ironic?
However, reality gave him little time for lamentation.
The Imperial army was clearly well-trained. The advance, the encirclement, the construction of the barrier by the mages—all steps proceeded simultaneously with extreme efficiency.
In the blink of an eye, the two were surrounded with no way out.
Rhodes sighed softly, completely discarding the last trace of reluctance in his heart.
Since the Emperor had chosen this path, Rhodes wouldn't mind killing him personally.
Even if it meant humanity would fall back into a state of divided nations, so be it.
He turned to Serie. "Do you want to deal with the mages or these elite soldiers?"
The battlefield would inevitably be divided into two zones.
In a battle between mages, rashly sending ordinary soldiers onto the field would only result in them dying miserably from the shockwaves.
If Rhodes were the opposing Commander, he would separate the mages and the elite soldiers. The Court Mages would deal with Serie, while the ten thousand elite soldiers would deal with him.
"Either is fine. But I want to cut down that Legion Commander. His attitude earlier annoyed me."
"Alright. I will leave him to you, if he survives." Rhodes had already prepared his Divine Strike magic. "Then these mages are yours to deal with."
"Mn. Okay."
Although dealing with such a number of mages would be a headache, Serie agreed immediately without hesitation.
But clearly, Rhodes had already considered this.
With a flip of his hand and a flash of light, three Holy Swords, different in form but all radiating vast power, appeared in his grasp.
Org, Athos, and The Light of Ersten.
"Take these, just in case."
Rhodes stuffed all three Holy Swords into Serie's arms.
Holding the three heavy Holy Swords, Serie froze for a moment, then pouted, looking very dissatisfied. "I am very strong, you know!"
"Mn, I know. Be obedient." Rhodes's tone seemed gentle, but it was incomparably firm.
Looking at his eyes that brokered no negotiation, although still reluctant, Serie curled her lip. "...Fine."
She weighed the Holy Swords in her arms. Her confidence, originally at fifty or sixty percent, instantly soared to nearly one hundred percent.
With the enhancement of these three legendary artifacts, dealing with those Court Mages would be as easy as chopping melons and vegetables.
But simultaneously, she looked at Rhodes, worry flashing in her eyes.
Rhodes giving the mages to her meant he would face the ten thousand wolf-like elite soldiers alone.
No matter how strong he was, he was still human.
"Will you be alright?" Serie couldn't help but ask.
Rhodes gave her a reassuring smile. "Do not worry. Take care of yourself. If there is a problem, deploy Athos's barrier immediately. Do not be careless."
Just then, the massive restrictive barrier above the Imperial formation finally took complete shape.
A light dome flowing with countless runes completely shrouded the area for several kilometers around. Any teleportation or flight magic would be severely restricted or even disabled.
Even Serie couldn't use flight and teleportation magic as freely as before.
This kind of barrier imprisoned the entire space. Unless the magic itself was shattered, even the strongest mage would be affected to some extent.
The Commander's order resonated across the battlefield via magical amplifiers: "All units, heed my command! Targets—Serie and her apprentice Rhodes. Kill without mercy!"
The battle was on the verge of erupting!
The battlefield naturally split into two parts.
Knowing the terrifying aftershocks of magical combat, the elite soldiers wisely aimed their main spearhead at the "weaker-looking" Rhodes.
Meanwhile, under the command of the strongest among them, the Court Mages began gathering mana, locking onto Serie, who held the three Holy Swords.
Looking at the soldiers surging like a tide, Rhodes took a deep breath.
His voice, amplified by magic, spread clearly throughout the entire legion, even drowning out the roar of the advancing army:
"Soldiers of the Empire!"
At Rhodes's sudden speech, all the charging soldiers involuntarily slowed their pace.
"I will give you one last chance!" Rhodes's gaze swept over their faces, young and weathered alike. "Your true enemy is the Demon Race, not your human brethren."
"Turn back now and head to the northern battlefield. I guarantee on the honor of the God-slayer Rhodes that no one will be held accountable for the past!"
His words echoed across the battlefield, carrying sincere admonition.
However, the response he received was unbridled mockery from the high-ranking officers of the legion:
"Hahaha! Still boasting when death is imminent!"
"All units, advance! Kill this fool who doesn't know death!"
"Soldiers! Kill him! His Majesty will reward you heavily!"
In their view, even the legendary Saint Serie couldn't escape now.
And Rhodes, ostensibly just her apprentice, what right did he have to speak such words?
Did he really think he was the historical God-slayer Rhodes?
Encouraged by the officers, the soldiers' brief hesitation was instantly replaced by fanatical battle intent. They launched their charge at Rhodes once again.
Looking at these obstinate soldiers driven by an ambitious man, the last trace of pity in Rhodes's eyes vanished completely.
He raised his hand, his fingertip pointing at the thousands of troops rushing toward him.
"Since that is the case... let this farce end early."
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