For three consecutive days following the end of the Demigod war, the Barcelona forces failed to launch any effective attack on Saint Petersburg. [ ]
To prevent a sneak attack from Zenit experts, the area around the Barcelona camp was also set up with a void array Fist Intent Spiritual Imprint by Demigod- level experts. Each camp set up a protective magic array, with various magical flames flashing and releasing a powerful aura.
As time went by, the number of Barcelona's troops outside the city also increased.
[ Red Beard ] Granero, as one of the main figures of the Second Prince's faction, was entrusted with an important task and was one of the main persons in charge of the city's defense. Every day, he looked out and counted the enemy from the watchtowers of the four city gates of the capital. By the evening of the third day, the number of enemies was initially estimated to have reached about 300,000.
"The good news is that in the Western Region, the Barcelona people are suffering a counterattack from their arch-rival Real Madrid Empire, and are not in a favorable position. Furthermore, the elven race that has appeared in the Western Region has recently been restless and has shown unusual activity. Therefore, the Barcelona people cannot spare more resources to invade Zenit. Leo Messi, hailed as the continent's number one Young Supremes, is unable to spare the time to come to the Northern Region; otherwise, Saint Petersburg would truly be in danger!"
Reflecting on the information he had received from the military and other sources over the past few days, Granero relaxed slightly.
Watching the blood-red sunset slowly disappear behind the mountains, the arrival of night added to the oppressive atmosphere for the soldiers defending the city. Although the people of Barcelona had been lying low for three days, everyone knew that this was merely the calm before the storm; once the next wave of fighting began, it would be a fight to the death.
Just as Granero was about to leave the city walls, a commotion suddenly arose from the west gate in the distance, and lights began to shine brightly.
"What's going on?" Granero was startled.
Immediately, elite soldiers from the Imperial Capital Public Security Office were dispatched to investigate. After a while, the soldier returned, kneeling on one knee, and reported, "Sir, His Highness Prince Christo, the Fourth Prince, has been ordered to replace General Di Santo, the former commander of the West Gate. The handover of defenses is currently underway. According to protocol, the commanders of the other two major gates, the East and North Gates, have all gone to pay their respects to His Highness the Fourth Prince. Sir, would you also like to go and pay your respects to His Highness Christo?"
"The Fourth Prince has taken over the defense of the West Gate? How is that possible?"
Granero was greatly puzzled.
In the capital city today, even beggars on the street know that the Fourth Prince is a hollow shell, all talk and no action. He is obsessed with power struggles, arrogant and conceited, but lacks the ability to judge character. When the Ten Empires Allied Army invaded Zenit, he had the opportunity to lead an army, but unfortunately suffered a crushing defeat in the Southern Frontier battlefield. Since then, he has lost the favor of Emperor Yassin and has been basically relegated to the cold palace, becoming a useless Human Emperor.
How could such a mediocre person be given the authority to oversee the defense of the city walls at this crucial time?
Have the Military Department and His Yassin become confused?
This time, they were facing the Barcelona Empire, hailed as the strongest military power on the continent. The city walls were of paramount importance; even the most seasoned elite generals of the empire would stand on the walls with trepidation, never removing their armor at night. To leave a mere incompetent like the Fourth Prince to guard the city meant that if he made a mistake and the Barcelona forces seized upon it, the entire capital would be turned into Hell, and millions of its citizens would perish.
"Let's go and see His Highness."
Granero was a favorite of the second prince, Dominguez, so it was understandable that he didn't pay much attention to the fourth prince. However, after some thought, he decided to go and take a look.
This is really too strange.
Imperial Palace in the capital.
The Emperor's Palace.
"Your Majesty, are you really comfortable with the Fourth Prince guarding the West Gate?"
Clad in black, tight-fitting armor, with sharp, piercing features and a burly physique, Grand Knight Commander Akinfeev of the Knights' Hall stood motionless like a javelin, a look of confusion flickering in his sharp eyes.
At the head of the main hall.
Emperor Yassin, dressed in a white imperial robe, turned his back to look at the map of the empire's territory hanging on the wall. On it, a half-section, which accounted for about a quarter of the entire empire's territory, had been marked in bright red. This was the Southern Frontier that had been invaded by the Barcelona people.
After staring at the map silently for three or four minutes, he sighed softly, slowly turned around, looked at Akinfeev, and asked irrelevantly, " Igor, how long have you been following me?"
Akinfeev didn't need to think, "It's been fifty-six years, seven months, and twenty-nine days. I've been His Majesty's companion since His Majesty was a prince of a first-class vassal state."
"Yes, fifty-six years, seven months, and twenty-nine days. Looking back now, such a long time seems to have passed in the blink of an eye..." Emperor Yassin rarely showed a hint of weariness and dejection. "Do you still remember when I, you, and the brothers Doumbia, Dzagoev, Sidi, Zagormo— nine of us in total—were like brothers, practicing martial arts and studying together since childhood, fighting and killing enemies together as we grew up. The world says that I, Emperor Yassin, single-handedly conquered the territory of Zenit, but they don't know that without the support of you eight brothers of different surnames, how could there be the Zenit Empire today?"
"Your Majesty possesses unparalleled talent and is invincible in the Northern Region. Doumbia and I were all honored to fight alongside Your Majesty." Recalling the golden years of the past, Akinfeev couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. It was a pity that those brothers who were as close as family were now all resting beneath cold tombstones.
"Fifty-six years have passed. Doumbia and the others have all shed their last drop of blood for the Empire and returned to the embrace of the stars." Emperor Yassin sighed, "Only you remain by my side. From childhood, you resembled me greatly, and you were the most outstanding among my eight companions. Over the years, I have trusted you more than even my newborn son. You have served in the Knights' Hall, overseeing all the officials and nobles of the Empire, and your contributions are immeasurable."
"I am willing to serve Your Majesty." Akinfeev showed no sign of taking credit.
"Let's just talk about the past today, don't be so formal." Emperor Yassin gestured to a chair and said, " Igor, sit down and talk to me. Twenty years ago, Julie passed away, my third son went missing, and I... I almost perished because of that incident. To recover my strength, I've been cultivating almost every moment. It's been a long time since I've had the chance to sit down and chat with you about the past."
Akinfeev didn't know what to say. Empress Julie was the only woman Emperor Yassin ever truly loved in his life. They were childhood sweethearts, growing up together with Emperor Yassin and eight other companions. She was an absolutely stunning and exceptionally intelligent woman. Although everyone secretly admired this extraordinary woman, only a genius like Emperor Yassin, who appeared only once in a century, was worthy of her.
Originally, it was a beautiful love story between a hero and a beautiful woman. For a long time after their marriage, Emperor Yaxin and Empress Julie lived in harmony and affection. Empress Julie was kind and gentle, and treated her officials well, winning the support of all the upper-class nobles and lower-class commoners. She was known as the " Empress of Light ".
She bore only one son for Emperor Yassin, who was the third prince.
Unfortunately, not long after giving birth, a great upheaval occurred in the empire. Emperor Yassin fell from the pinnacle of his power and nearly perished. Empress Julie also died tragically, and the only prince disappeared in this terrible upheaval, never to be seen again.
This matter remained a scar and a source of deep sorrow for Emperor Yassin.
First update