With trepidation in their hearts, Court Mage Larson and Royal Guard Captain Forgen, each leading their most elite troops, slowly stepped into the canyon—ahem, the gates of the Demon Country Federation's Central Capital.
"Everyone, maintain vigilance! Shield Knights, take the front, protect the mages and archers in the rear!"
"Rear mages, be ready for support, healing, and long-range attacks at all times!"
"Scouts, keep a close watch on enemies in all directions!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
Under Larson's command, the entire unit advanced in an orderly fashion.
The scouts responsible for reconnaissance also activated skills that allowed for farsight, night vision, and even mist penetration.
Looking out from a high vantage point, a scout instinctively flew towards the roof of a tall building.
But the next second, the scout crashed headfirst into an invisible wall, exceptionally hard-headed.
"Enemy attack!"
"Alert!"
Swish, swish, swish!
The clang of swords and shields, and the chanting of mages, rang out one after another.
But after several seconds, not a single enemy was seen.
The scariest thing is when the air suddenly turns quiet!
Everyone looked at Commander Larson and Forgen, both of whom were equally embarrassed.
After some reconnaissance, they awkwardly came to a conclusion:
Apart from the main road they were currently on, all the other buildings in this city were merely "decorations."
That's right, just decorations!
Aside from this main road, other areas were impassable, indestructible, and untouchable, like a mirage.
What incredibly advanced craftsmanship this must be!
Although he had only just stepped in, Larson's heart was completely filled with unease.
He had a faint premonition that this time, the Falmus Kingdom's invasion of the Demon Country Federation might be the biggest mistake since the kingdom's founding!
To be honest, designing all the city's buildings as non-attackable units—such unimaginable craftsmanship—had completely intimidated the Falmus Kingdom's "pioneering" vanguard.
Therefore, everyone was exceptionally cautious, and the air was eerily quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps on the ground.
But this, in turn, exacerbated everyone's nervousness!
Just then, a mechanical-sounding female voice suddenly rang out.
"Welcome to Summoner's Canyon. Enemies will arrive on the battlefield in thirty seconds. Crush them."
Clang, clang, clang!
Swish, swish, swish!
The hearts of the knights, mages, and scouts all tightened, and they instinctively stood back-to-back.
"Who?"
"Who's speaking?"
"Come out!"
"What kind of hero hides behind others, sneaking around?"
No one answered.
The scariest thing is when the air suddenly turns quiet!
Many soldiers swallowed hard, their hands gripping their swords now sweaty.
Not to mention others, even Larson and Forgen became nervous.
Demon Lord Rimuru is truly unfathomable. Before the two sides even clashed, he used strange war mist and sudden voices to terrify their soldiers.
This Demon Lord who suddenly appeared is indeed not someone to be trifled with!
Everyone looked towards Larson and Forgen, who were at the front.
Forgen's fingers twitched on the hand gripping his shield. He straightened up and walked to the very front.
"Brave warriors of the Falmus Kingdom, maintain formation and follow me!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
Seconds later.
The Falmus Kingdom's pioneering team finally reached the vicinity of the defense tower.
Click, click!
Accompanied by a series of mechanical sounds, the defense tower slowly rose, and the magic crystal, which had been heavily protected, was now fully revealed.
And with it, a large amount of the surrounding war mist was also dispelled.
"This is a defense tower?"
Everyone instinctively looked up. The defense tower, now elevated, was truly magnificent.
Especially the vast magic crystal's eerie blue glow, which was even more awe-inspiring.
"Make way, everyone. I've read the information His Majesty gave me earlier. As long as we're close enough, the defense tower can be destroyed!"
Court Mage Larson raised his staff, his expression exceptionally solemn, dignified, and sacred.
As the Court Mage, deeply trusted by His Majesty, he had the responsibility and duty to pave the way for His Majesty's future with magic.
Though he didn't know why this defense tower had no enemies guarding it, it was time to show loyalty to His Majesty.
Accompanying a lengthy, profound chant, a vast amount of magic power began to permeate the air.
A massive, bright, and vast divine sword appeared in mid-air, its brilliant divine radiance captivating everyone.
Seeing the grand magic Larson unleashed, the surrounding mages all showed expressions of admiration.
As expected of the Court Mage, the amount of magicules he could manipulate was astonishing.
Larson: "Descend."
With a wave of Larson's hand, the vast divine sword descended from the sky, instantly illuminating the entire canyon.
On the other side of the canyon.
Gobta and the others were getting a bit impatient.
Gobuzo said with a solemn expression, "What an exaggerated magic. It seems the human side is not to be underestimated at all!"
Gobta nodded.
Gobu Ball looked puzzled, "Brother Gobta, why are they casting such a powerful magic on their own defense tower?"
Gobta: "I don't know. Perhaps the humans are trying to show off to us!"
Gobuzo: "Is that so? As expected of Brother Gobta, he's starting to understand how to read people's minds!"
"Not at all! Not at all! Hehe, compared to Benimaru and Souei, I'm still far behind!"
Gobta scratched the back of his head, his cheeks flushed, saying with embarrassment.
On the other side.
Larson's grand magic, Oath - Sword of Judgment, struck their own defense tower, but the defense tower remained completely unmoved!
Larson's body couldn't help but tremble, "Even Oath - Sword of Judgment can't even touch the defense tower. How could this be? How could this be..."
The most elite Court Mage Regiment, Royal Guard Knights, and archers all began to tremble.
Is this Demon Lord Rimuru's method?
This is too powerful!
Can they really win?
At once, morale dropped to its lowest point.
Royal Guard Captain Forgen's face showed a solemn expression, and the hand gripping his sword and shield trembled slightly.
As expected of Demon Lord Rimuru, he is truly skilled at manipulating people's hearts!
But, but he was a great knight who had distinguished himself from the Falmus Kingdom's most elite knights, fortunate enough to guard His Majesty.
According to the Freedom Association's classification, he was already an A-rank hero, so how could he flee here?
Forgen raised the longsword in his hand, "Noble knights, we are the pride of the Falmus Kingdom, how can we retreat here? We are deeply blessed by His Majesty, and on the day we swore allegiance to His Majesty, we resolved to die for the kingdom and for His Majesty. Is our resolve truly only this much?"
Listening to Forgen's words, the knights all mustered their courage once more.
"The Captain is right!"
"How could our resolve be so little?"
"Captain, give the order!"
"For Falmus!"
Not to mention ordinary people, even Court Mage Larson felt his blood surge.
"Really, how can this old man be outdone by a bunch of young whippersnappers?"
Larson turned, facing all the mages behind him, and solemnly and sacredly raised his staff.
"For Falmus!"
"For Falmus!"
"For Falmus!"
Every mage became highly spirited.
Several minutes later, the Falmus's elite vanguard finally met the Gobta army, who had been waiting so long that their patience had run out.
Gobta, riding a Storm Fang Wolf, had already drawn his katana, his expression solemn and grave.
"Strong ones of humanity, even if you cast powerful grand magic on your own defense tower, you will not intimidate us!"
"For Rimuru-sama, we will absolutely not surrender!"
Gobu Ball, Gobuzo: "Brother Gobta is right, for Rimuru-sama, we will absolutely not surrender!"
Larson: "???"
These Goblins said he had just cast magic on his own defense tower—his own?
Pfft!
Larson felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of old blood spurted out.