Chapter 692: Chapter 69 If we were to set up an ambush here…
Palermo Palace.
Blood slaves poured into the court like a tide, clashing with the troops of the Northern Horn stationed there. Splattered blood and the overflow of cold air were everywhere.
“The enemy seems to be prepared, Your Excellency.”
All members of the Otwell Family who had agreed to the rebellion, including Geta, had already dispatched all their forces into the battlefield. As they watched the still-stalemated front lines, everyone hesitated and looked anxiously towards the three demigods.
“Hmph.” The three demigods of the Pure Blood Monastery didn’t say a word, only Commodus coldly snorted.
Their thoughts were as clear as day to the demigods—it was nothing more than worry about the casualties of their own troops.
However, for the three demigods, their agreement to intervene was ostensibly for revenge with The Azure Longsword, but in reality, it was a scheme to secure Sicily.
The Otwell Family, the guerrillas, and the Lixini Family formed a delicate balance on Sicily. By severely damaging the Otwell Family, the Pure Blood Monastery could break the current balance, thereby throwing the island’s political order into chaos.
A tumultuous Sicily would conveniently allow the Pure Blood Monastery to set up a hidden Blood Clan lair, which was the ultimate strategic goal. As for the reserves of Spiritual Material of the Otwell Family and the Divine Artifact “Navian Bone Tooth,” those were merely bonuses for the demigods’ involvement.
From this perspective, of course, the greater the damage to the Otwell Family, the better. Whether it’s the forces held by The Azure Longsword or these rebel forces, it was all the same.
“Let’s wait until their demigods can no longer restrain themselves and come out,” Commodus said coldly in response to the pleading looks of the others.
The crowd: …
Of course, they couldn’t question the decision of a demigod, not to mention that this conservative technique of “troop against troop, general against general” was flawless. If your demigods entered the fray before theirs, what if the enemy suddenly launched a sneak attack from the outside?
So all they could do was painfully watch their own troops being torn apart and continuously fall on the battlefield, silently praying for the enemy demigods to make a move soon.
Perhaps the prayers had an effect… Before long, two figures suddenly rushed out from the corridors of the opposite court.
One was tall and fair-skinned, while the other was cloaked in black, wielding a magic wand—it was Sherry and Derek, the two demigods.
“Good timing!” Upon seeing the opposite demigods coming at them, the three demigods from the Pure Blood Monastery immediately entered the fray. Both sides activated their domains, instantly clearing a large open space on the battlefield. Those who were trapped within either got devoured by the blood sea or exploded into countless tiny particles.
Soon, the blood sea of the Pure Blood Monastery began to overwhelm the opponent, steadily pushing back the other’s domain.
With no significant differences in level, having just one more person on one side constituted a critical weight that could tip the scales of victory.
With the appearance of the three Blood Clan demigods taking the upper hand, the momentum of the blood slaves also picked up sharply. For a while, they actually managed to suppress the counterattack of the Northern Horn Army, easing the minds of the residing Otwell Family rebels behind them.
No matter the losses, at least this war was likely a win for them.
As their domains were gradually crushed by the opponents, Derek and Sherry could only battle while retreating, with the three demigods from the Pure Blood Monastery relentlessly pressing in, displaying a ruthless stance that allowed no breathing room for their enemies.
It was only when they had chased the two to an empty neighboring courtyard that they suddenly realized something was amiss.
This environment… it was a bit like an open pouch, too suitable for setting up an ambush.
“If I were them, I’d arrange a few demigods to set up an ambush here,” Commodus joked, “Cut off the retreat, then launch a pincer attack from both sides, leaving us with no way out.”
“That’s if they can even muster enough demigods to pull it off,” the demigod beside him sneered coldly in derision.
After all, demigods were not cabbages; there had only ever been a little over 200 recorded in the history of the world, and this number already included those who had lost control, fallen, or retired to hide away in the three great planes…
As the three of them pondered this, they noticed Derek and Sherry ahead had stopped and were looking at them with a strange, pitying look.
“An ambush? Indeed, that’s a fine idea,” a graceful figure emerged from the right colonnade, accompanied by Marquina—the Enchanting Demon Queen—”I’ve heard that the demigods of the Pure Blood Monastery are mostly arrogant and brainless. Now it seems the rumors are not entirely baseless.”
“Commodus… who would’ve thought, you’d have a day like this!” The palace doors on the left opened, and Apilius and Agrippina walked out slowly, the latter’s eyes filled with vengeful, venomous flames, coldly watching the three former colleagues in the center of the scene.
It was them who had passed the resolution within the Monastery that labeled her a “traitor” and executed an extermination order. Now, the tables had turned.
“Ahem, sometimes it’s best not to speak too assuredly, right?” Flames rose on the path behind them, and Red-haired Otto emerged slowly, speaking with a gentle smile.
————————
“I wonder how they’re doing out in the outside world.”
In the Research Institute, Mia spoke a bit boredly.
“Perhaps they are trying to rescue us,” Miel consoled her.
“Or maybe they’re shaking with anger,” Mia suddenly quipped with a mischievous smile, “thinking that you’re quickly winning over the Squad Leader’s affection and sneaking off while they’re powerless to stop you.”
“Th-, that’s not sneaking off…” Miel stuttered, her face blushing.
“What are you two talking about?” Aske had just come back from outside.
“We were…” Miel started, but Mia quickly interjected excitedly:
“Aske! Let me ask you, if we were trapped in the Abyss for life and could never return, would you marry Miel?”
“Mia!” Miel exclaimed, both angry and annoyed.
“What kind of question is that…” Aske was speechless for a moment before replying, “First of all, whether or not to get married has nothing to do with where you are. Secondly, asking that question in front of me and Miel makes you seem quite thoughtless.”
Mia was stunned for a moment, then boldly called out:
“Fine then, since I’ve already embarrassed myself, you have to answer the question, otherwise wasn’t that a wasted question?”
Ah, this girl has learned to advance by retreating… Aske was somewhat surprised, but then he patted her head and employed his most skilled Topic Shifting Technique:
“Let’s not talk about that right now. We’ve got work to do.”
“Work?” Both girls, their attention successfully diverted, asked in unison.
“The energy supply room on the lower level has been sealed off by something,” Aske explained, “There appear to be traces of some mutation; looks like we’ll get to use our extraordinary powers to deal with it.”