After seeing Rich off, Axel continued onward with the Holy Light Clerics. They crossed several mountain trails and slopes before finally spotting a large city ahead!
"Commander Axel, we're here. What do we do next?" Kumata asked beside him.
"Tell the Holy Armored Ones to get ready. We'll charge to within a hundred meters of the walls, then blast the gates open with the Holy Light Armor-Piercing Cannons!"
"Yes, Commander!"
"All Holy Light Clerics, charge with me!"
Gozo was feeling rather miserable that day. He had wanted to leave the city with the main force to suppress the rebellion, but two days earlier, he had said the wrong thing while drinking and accidentally offended General Tetsui. As a result, he was stuck guarding the gates for the next few days!
His expression darkened further as he imagined Daniu, a fellow commander of a hundred men, returning after putting down those lowborn wretches and flaunting the great lord's reward in front of him!
"Ugh! Once the general returns, I'd better go to the Sake House, buy two flasks of their most expensive wine, and send them over with an apology! This damned big mouth of mine!" Miserable at the thought, he raised his hand and gave himself two hard slaps!
His enclosed iron helmet blocked them, however, making two loud bangs instead!
He sighed helplessly and gazed beyond the walls at the gloomy sky and persistent drizzle. His spirits sank even lower, and he muttered, "This damned weather!"
Suddenly, he made out a large force riding toward the city at tremendous speed!
That was fucking quick. Which reckless bunch of lowborn wretches dared defy the lord this time?
He silently watched the rapidly approaching force and was about to order his men out to welcome them when he realized something was wrong. Those... those weren't horses!
"Quick! Quick, close the gates! They're enemies!" Gozo shouted himself hoarse! Only then did the warriors on the battlements, who had been slacking off and whispering among themselves, react. They scrambled to the gate mechanism and hurriedly cranked the ropes, raising the drawbridge inch by inch!
Suddenly, several streaks of light shot through the air and slammed into the drawbridge as it was closing!
Boom! Boom, boom!
The wooden drawbridge collapsed with a crash! Looking down from the gate tower, Gozo turned pale with fright! "Prepare to engage!"
"Charge! Pick up the pace and get inside!" Axel shouted from atop his Holy Light Wolf!
"Stop them!"
"Holy Light Cross Slash!" A huge cross-shaped slash swept through the warriors blocking the gateway! Torn flesh scattered in all directions and fell to the ground, clearing more than half the entrance in an instant.
"Activate Holy Knight Group Charge! Crush them!" Like a giant arrow glowing white, the formation shot straight through the gateway! The warriors blocking the rear half of the entrance were all sent flying into the air!
"Aah! Aah!"
The Holy Light Clerics surged through the gates like a tide, split into two groups, and raced up the stairways on either side of the walls.
"Hold them off!"
Gozo drew the warrior's sword at his waist and shouted, preparing to rush forward and fight!
Protected by a shield cast by a Priest, Axel hacked left and right. With the Priests behind him occasionally firing Holy Light Bullets, he quickly cleared the stairway!
The moment Axel reached the battlements, he saw a warrior coming toward him with a sword! He was just about to swing his greatsword and finish off the fool!
But the warrior threw down his iron blade and dropped to his knees. "Spare me, my lord!" Cold sweat poured down beneath Gozo's helmet! Where had these terrifying fighters come from? In mere moments, only a handful of the warriors on the walls remained alive!
Axel checked his swing and pointed his sword straight at Gozo's head. "You. Do you know where the lord's residence is?"
At the enemy's cold question, Gozo began trembling slightly. He struggled inwardly for a moment, feeling the greatsword press harder and harder against his helmet! Just as its tip was about to pierce through, he hurriedly cried, "I know! I know! Please don't kill me, my lord!"
"Lead the way!" Axel said in the same cold voice!
"Yes! Yes, my lord! I'll take you there right away!"
"Kumata, leave a squad to guard the walls, and send another to take over the city's defenses. Kill anyone who resists! Everyone else, follow me!" Axel ordered.
"Yes!"
The Holy Light Clerics then split into three groups. One hurried into the city to maintain order. Another swiftly set up Holy Light Cannons and other siege weapons along the walls, taking over the defenses from the warriors who had surrendered.
By then, the streets were already deserted. Hearing the violent crashes from the gates and the brutal sounds of fighting, the common people had hurried home in terror, anxiously preparing for whatever fate awaited them!
Following Gozo through a series of twists and turns, Axel arrived at a magnificent mansion!
"My lord, this is it!" Gozo said, pointing with a trembling hand!
"Surround this place!"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Go knock!" Axel turned and fixed Gozo with a stern look.
"Yes, my lord!"
Gozo shuddered, hurried over, and pounded hard on the door!
"Who is it? Do you have a death wish? Don't you know whose residence this is?" A servant struggled to open the door, which was over two meters wide, leaving a gap just large enough to poke his head through! At the sight of Gozo's black armor, his expression darkened, and he snapped, "A mere commander of a hundred men! Are you tired of living? Hasn't your general taught you any manners?"
Gozo awkwardly retreated a few steps and turned toward Axel behind him! Axel gave a small forward wave, and several Holy Knights dismissed their mounts and walked up!
Angered by the rude warrior's silence, the servant moved to slam the door and report him to the Earl!
Suddenly, a tremendous force shoved the door inward, knocking the servant to the ground. Furious, he was about to get up and curse when several warriors in imposing silver-white armor pushed the door wide open!
"Who are you?" the servant hurriedly asked!
The Holy Knights ignored him and roughly shoved him aside to let the main force enter!
The servant gaped in shock as the Holy Light Clerics marched through the entrance in orderly ranks!
The other servants spotted the Holy Light Clerics as well and panicked briefly. But since the newcomers neither killed anyone nor smashed anything, everyone was merely somewhat bewildered.
Only then did the warriors guarding the place react. One jogged over and asked, "Which unit are you warriors from?"
Axel punched the warrior in the stomach! Clutching his belly, the man crumpled to the ground!
Only then did the servants realize what was happening and begin screaming in panic!
"No one is to harm the servants here. As for the armed warriors, kill anyone who dares resist!" Axel ordered calmly.
"Yes!"
"You, take me to where the lord rests!" Axel said, turning his indifferent gaze on the servant who had opened the door!
The servant felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, leaving him unable to breathe!
"Th-this is the Earl's residence!" he said in a trembling voice.
"Lead the way!" Axel raised his voice!
The servant shuddered in terror and cried, "Y-yes, my lord!"
Dill had just finished with a maid and was lying comfortably on his two-meter bed, leisurely stroking the lovely back of the beautiful young woman sprawled over his fat body!
"Something terrible has happened, my lord Earl!"
The panicked cries ruined his pleasant mood, filling Dill with anger! He was about to push the girl off him when the closed door was suddenly flung open!
He swore he would kill that servant and teach him the price of spoiling his lord's mood!
Just as Dill was about to act, the breathless servant ignored the beautiful naked body on the bed and blurted out in panic, "My lord, enemies have broken into the residence!"
"What? Who dares?" Already furious, Dill grew even angrier and shoved the maid off him! He got up and reached for the fine sword beside his bed!
"Aah!" The servant at the doorway screamed as someone kicked him into the room! Several fully armed warriors walked in!
Still naked, Dill hurriedly drew his sword. "Who are you? Do you know who I am? I'll kill you!" With that, he angrily heaved his bulky body forward and slashed at the unfamiliar warrior by the door!
Axel dodged the fat man's sword and drove a vicious kick into Dill's belly! Dill felt a wrenching pain in his stomach, spat out a mouthful of blood, and crashed heavily to the floor.
Axel slowly walked over, grabbed Dill by the hair, and slapped him across the face! Dill's head spun and his ears rang!
"Aah..."
The maid still on the bed grabbed the covers in terror and shrieked!
"Clearheaded now, great lord?" Axel asked mildly!
Dill shook his dizzy head, feeling a fiery pain in his left cheek!
"Who are you? Let me tell you, I'm an Earl personally invested by the daimyo! You'll pay for what you've done to me today!" Accustomed to being above everyone else for so long, Dill still failed to understand his predicament and continued making threats!
Seeing the hatred still written across Dill's face, Axel slammed his head against the floor! The impact split his skin and sent blood flowing!
"Is there a Priest here? Heal him!" Axel stepped back and spoke in a low voice!
A flash of white light washed over Dill. His aching body suddenly felt comfortable, and his wounds no longer hurt. Feeling emboldened again, he arrogantly declared, "Don't think I'll let you off just because you do this!"
Axel ignored Dill's bluster and gave a small wave of his hand. "Beat him," he said calmly!
Several Holy Light Clerics surrounded Dill!
"What are you going to do?" Dill asked, a little frightened.
"Aah! Aah! Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me!" Screams like those of a pig being slaughtered poured from Dill's mouth.
"That's enough! Everyone, stop!" Axel said mildly! Then he looked at Dill, who lay curled up on the floor. "Now do you know how to speak properly?"
Dill raised his head, which had swollen like a pig's, and sobbed through tears and snot. "I do! I do! Brave warriors, whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"
"See? These high and mighty people are nothing special! Ha ha!" Axel suddenly burst out laughing, and the other Holy Light Clerics joined in. Remembering how these privileged parasites had once oppressed them, they found this truly satisfying!
"Take him away! Once the boss lady arrives and the Holy Church is built, we'll hold a public trial. Let the people of this city see what these nobles look like with their masks stripped away!" As Axel finished speaking, two Holy Light Clerics hauled Dill off the floor and carried him toward the door!
"Please, I'm an Earl! I'm an Earl personally invested by the daimyo! Let me go, and I'll give you anything you want!" Dill howled, refusing to accept his fate!
Before you continue