Interception
Although the griffin is not slow, it is no match for the dragon elder.
Before long, the shadowy figures of the Divine Covenant Faction's fleeing group in the night sky came into view of the pursuing forces.
Due to concerns about the anti-aircraft weapons of the Final Bone Mad Machines, the nearly one thousand people fleeing the enemy spread out as much as possible, forming a rather loose formation that covered a large airspace of about five kilometers square.
On the horizon ahead, a faint light appeared—the surface of Lake Guz.
Flying over the lake would cut off any possibility of pursuit by ground troops.
Flying in this direction for another five hours will take you to Brandon, the largest military base in the Radiant Jurisdiction, which is also the time when the Griffins need to rest and resupply.
Therefore, this was the escape route that Su Ming and Katharine identified as the most likely choice for the enemy during their pre-battle simulations, and it proved to be accurate.
Yise picked up the communicator and said briefly, "Beianqi, we can begin."
"Received." The response came quickly.
On one side of the Pansy, as the attack order was given, three sets of launch units were activated simultaneously, and one hundred and eight vertical launch units successively spewed flames.
Missiles pierced through the clouds one after another, passing over the dark, thick cumulonimbus clouds, and ascended to the star-studded sky.
Each one of them trailed a flame, as if vying with the stars in the sky for brilliance.
Since the distance wasn't very close, it took about five minutes before Yise saw a large string of flashing lights enter his field of vision on the wrist screen.
The air grew increasingly damp, and the clouds pressed lower and lower. When these missiles pierced through the thick rain clouds again and appeared overhead, it was as if thunder had struck!
Boom boom boom boom -
The explosions occurred almost simultaneously.
Hundreds of missiles exploded in the air, their flames briefly illuminating the entire night sky.
The fugitives were immediately gripped by terror, raising their shields in disarray. Layers of different colored halos lit up in the air, creating utter chaos.
But after a few seconds, some people even expressed surprise, as the explosions had not caused any casualties.
But in the darkness, the real attack had already begun.
The explosion in the sky just now was merely the scattering of the terminally guided projectiles carried by the missile.
Each missile carries approximately sixty submunitions. In this salvo, over six thousand terminally guided munitions were released into the air, engulfing the crowd below.
Although the terminal velocity of these missiles was "only" Mach 3, it was still too fast. Therefore, almost all of the terminally guided missiles deployed their deceleration parachutes after being ejected, falling while spinning, thus forcibly prolonging the originally rapid descent.
This gives the internal radar of the terminally guided munitions a brief scanning time. They locate the nearest target, then aim and detonate one by one, sending supersonic self-forging fragments hurtling toward their respective targets.
Some people survived the first shrapnel shot, but the second and third followed in quick succession.
The lively scene in the sky was like fireworks during the Spring Festival, bursting and surging across the heavens.
After all six thousand or so terminally guided munitions detonated, only a lucky few remained capable of maintaining flight.
Numerous figures plummeted to the ground. Many griffins were also caught in the crossfire, flapping their wings and sinking uncontrollably. Some fell silent after landing, while others stubbornly survived, struggling and groaning in agony on the ground.
Three giant dragons approached the desolate scene from above. The three people on the dragons' backs looked down calmly at the two hundred or so people still hovering in the air.
There were simply too many targets, and the distribution of the terminally guided munitions was random. Those who remained in the air were either lucky enough not to be selected as targets, or they were strong enough that they hadn't taken enough hits.
"Good evening, everyone!" Yise began, "Long time no see!"
Cardinal Chancellor Bulameike clutched his shoulder, where a shrapnel had pierced through, leaving the edges of his armor charred black.
He stared at the three men and three dragons, who were acting with impunity, clearly not understanding why Su Ming had sent out such a small number of pursuers.
The sudden thunderbolt from the sky had terrified everyone, leaving them utterly Soul·Scatter of any will to fight.
Bulameike didn't even have the strength to utter harsh words at this moment, let alone reorganize the strong members of the surviving group to turn around and kill the pursuing troops.
"Go!" He managed to utter just that one word before urging the griffin to fly swiftly towards Lake Guz.
A dozen or so griffins broke away from the fleeing group, turned around and charged towards Yise and his companions, their faces blank with resolute determination.
This was the last remaining elite guard that the Divine Covenant Faction could command.
Yise drew his greatsword, Ruixiuli raised his bone blade, Jielusi twirled his staff halfway in his palm.
"Let's go."
The three of them leaped out and charged into the enemy ranks alongside the three dragon elders, instantly engaging in fierce combat with the rearguard assassins.
In the darkness of night, blood splattered continuously, shattering into blurry dark fragments in the wind.
****
However, Bulameike and his companions were unable to successfully make their way away.
Just as they were trying to disengage from the battlefield, a new force appeared in the airspace ahead.
It was an air battle group with a neat formation, also riding griffins, with a very clear military characteristic.
Bulameike initially thought they were a support force from Brandon base, but his expression changed immediately when he saw who was leading the team.
"Zhapulai — the Star Empire!" he gritted his teeth and spat out the name.
Sure enough, as the distance closed, the troops behind Zhapulai revealed their neat Stars- patterned uniforms and insignia.
The leader at the very front was none other than Zhapulai, the Executioner, a Saint Rank warrior of the Star Empire.
"Cardinal Speaker, how have you been?" Zhapulai said expressionlessly. "The Imperial Sky Pivot Chapter has been waiting for you!"
Since last night, this force has taken advantage of the chaos of the war between the two countries to forcefully break into the Radiant Jurisdiction, and has used its speed to shake off its pursuers and rush here.
This was undoubtedly an extremely risky military operation.
The Tian Shu Battle Group, which had invaded the border alone, was able to completely shake off the pursuit of the border troops and finally arrive at this interception point on schedule only after the attack of the Final Bone Mad Machines on the Radiant Holy City caused the military deployment in the Radiant Jurisdiction to fail.
"You Star Empire, how dare you kick me when I'm down?" Bulameike's voice was hoarse, filled with resentment.
Now that things have come to this, he already knows there's little hope; he just wants to understand why he lost.
"How dare you ask that!" another cold voice rang out, and the speaker appeared beside Zhapulai.
It's the Stars Emperor, Xialike!
Bulameike's expression turned ashen. Given Xialike's consistently cautious and prudent nature, the fact that he not only dispatched the Empire's elite troops on such a risky mission but also personally led the army to this location clearly indicated that he was extremely angry!
"The Star Empire's royal family." Xialike's voice wasn't loud, but it was as cold as ice. "When did it become your place, scum whose every pore oozes filth, to insult us!"
Bulameike struggled to defend himself, "The matter of Queen Samanya was merely Augustus's personal fault—now, with a formidable enemy at hand, it is the Bone King, this invader from another plane, who is the true enemy of our Western Continent, no, of the entire Taya!"
"So what?" Xialike's lips curled into an almost mocking smile. "You high-ranking officials shouldn't be completely unaware of what happened in the Stars Emperor's court thirty-four years ago, should you?"
Bulameike trembled slightly but remained silent.
"When I was little, I had two younger sisters and a younger brother," Xialike began to recount, "We attended classes with court tutors together, hid toys that adults weren't allowed to touch, and while we weren't particularly close, we were among the few playmates we could get along with."
"But one day, Lorenzo killed one of the younger brothers and sisters!" He smiled bitterly. "Their mother, Bogcia, was discovered by Lorenzo to be having an affair with one of his guards. In his rage, Lorenzo had the woman and her two children executed—even though those two children were his own flesh and blood!"
As Xialike spoke, his voice trembled slightly.
"That was the first time I realized that even someone of my noble status as an imperial prince could die at any moment. That fear enveloped me; I had no idea whether the executioner's blade would fall on my head the next moment!"
He paused for a moment in the night breeze before continuing.
"Fortunately, Princess Samanya's daughter Janet, survived alongside me. She was too young then to understand what had happened, and within a few days she was laughing and playing as usual." A flicker of reminiscence crossed Xialike's eyes, but his tone suddenly turned sharp. "But not me! I have nightmares every day, and I only dare to breathe deeply when I see my sister Janet alive."
Actually, during that time, Chloe stayed by his side to comfort and guide him, which gradually helped him overcome his inner fears and emerge from that darkness.
Chloe told him that fear was pointless; you can't control someone else's murderous intent. Only by taking your destiny into your own hands can you avoid being manipulated!
From that moment on, Xialike began to work hard, which led to his later success in overcoming the chaos.
His thoughts drifted slightly, but Xialike shook his head to bring them back down.
"So, when I learned that the support I'd been relying on all this time was actually your shameless scheme—I didn't need a second choice!" Xialike stared at Bulameike, his expression even bordering on madness. "What country, what continent—you bastards, just die!"
Bulameike lost even his last shred of hope; he lowered his head and remained silent. The other escapees also landed one after another, giving up the struggle.
On the other side, Yise and his men had already killed most of the rearguard assassins, and the situation was firmly under their control.
The remaining rearguard, knowing they were doomed, continued their suicidal attacks, even though they were utterly pointless.
"The Divine Covenant Faction's brainwashing methods are indeed quite sophisticated," Zhapulai said calmly.
Throughout history, in conflicts between the two forces, the Star Empire has consistently suffered losses due to the stubbornness of the opposing forces in combat, repeatedly incurring setbacks in close-quarters combat.
However, given the current situation, this sliver of persistence is now insignificant.
The members of the Celestial Pivot Chapter quickly scattered and began searching the ground for the living and the dead. Soon after, reports came in one after another—Pope Augustus had not been found.
Upon hearing this, Xialike's face immediately darkened. He abruptly drew his sword, ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, and went straight to Bulameike, asking almost word by word, "Where is Augustus?"
Bulameike raised his head, and a self-deprecating smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Augustus is Saint Rank being. He abandoned us burdens long ago and ran away first."
Upon hearing this, Xialike, enraged, swung his sword and sent Bulameike flying more than ten meters away.
The latter fell heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with bits of flesh.
Zhapulai stepped forward, his voice still steady, "Your Majesty, if Saint Rank being like Augustus is determined to escape, it is indeed extremely difficult for us to stop him."
"How could I not know?" Xialike let out a long sigh, but his expression still betrayed his disappointment. "But the world is so big, if he gets away this time, where will we find him next?"
The three of Yise finally finished fighting, put away their weapons, and came to Xialike.
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Stars," Ruixiuli and Jielusi greeted.
Yise hesitated, remembering that Katharine and Xialike had not yet officially severed their ties, and could only bow and say, "Your Majesty, good night!"
Xialike nodded slightly to the three of them.
"How has Chairman Su arranged things for us?" he asked directly.
"A temporary encampment has been set up near the Radiant Holy City for your rest tonight," Jielusi replied. "A supply shipment will arrive later."
"Please thank Chairman Su for me," Xialike said, then raised another question, "So, how should the spoils be divided?"
Ruixiuli and Jielusi glanced at the ground instinctively. Corpses were scattered all around them. Even though this group of nobles had fled "lightly," they still carried a large amount of valuables, and their weapons and equipment were also very expensive.
This cooperation with the Star Empire came extremely hastily. After the agreement was reached, both sides quickly entered the action phase, and many specific details were not discussed in time.
"Give them all the dead ones, consider it a greeting gift," Su Ming's voice came through the communicator. "The living ones, half on each side."
Xialike didn't stand on ceremony and immediately ordered Zhapulai to have people clean up the battlefield.
He came here personally, partly to confront that scoundrel Augustus, and partly to meet with Su Ming at his invitation to discuss some important matters.
Goodwill and trust are reciprocal. Su Ming was generous, so he accepted it.
Upon receiving orders, the soldiers of the Tian Shu battle group quickly began to put the corpses back in their places and collect the valuables. For those who were too badly injured, the soldiers conveniently gave them a final blow, turning them into corpses before disposing of them.
This was actually a bit of a "gray area" situation, but Jielusi and the others didn't take it to heart.
It was just a matter of who owned the broken and worthless things. They would take them in themselves, and they were too lazy to treat these people either, choosing instead to kill them to keep things quiet.
Upon seeing the horrific scene of them being slaughtered and divided like livestock, Bulameike suddenly burst into laughter.
His laughter was extremely unpleasant, as he coughed up blood and vomited fragments of internal organs, yet his expression revealed a sinister, gleeful glint. "Tell Su Ming —we also left him a generous gift in the Holy City!"