Amandla wanted to fly away. Before these people could make a move, it would be no problem for Amandla to leave, but the words of Ironhammer echoed in her mind, making her hesitate in mid-air. Should she stay or go?
Angelina didn't know why the black dragon hadn't left despite seeing so many people. Based on this composure alone, if she hadn't known the full details, Angelina would have suspected that Li Xi was not dead. However, having received orders, she was certain that this black dragon was bluffing. How could such a powerful figure make a mistake?
"Lord City Lord, go and have the crossbows aimed at the evil black dragon. We are about to slay the dragon, and we absolutely cannot let her escape. The chance for Cado City to become famous is right before us. If we succeed today, Cado City can add the title of 'Dragon Slaying City' to its name in the future."
With so many people united against the black dragon, Monton's trembling fear from earlier had long vanished. The moment to surpass family glory was today. From now on, when the Gadoro family was mentioned, it would be known for having slain a dragon. "I will send people immediately and absolutely will not let the evil black dragon escape."
For humans to slay a dragon, besides higher-level professionals, they could also employ large-scale siege equipment. These devices, crafted with the collective wisdom of humanity, were the best choice for dealing with large creatures.
"Go and keep an eye on those people from the Wood Leaf Merchant Group. If this evil black dragon escapes or attacks humans, kill all the people from the Wood Leaf Merchant Group."
Anyone could tell that this black dragon was definitely closely related to the Wood Leaf Merchant Group, otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed under such immense pressure. This weakness had to be exploited to the fullest, even if it only increased the chance of slaying the dragon by a fraction.
"Crawler, you think you can threaten my great Volcanic Dragon Amandla with a few humans? Watch me burn you all to death."
The guards had already placed their blades against the necks of Sinis and the others. Amandla inwardly prayed to the dragon gods who had never answered her pleas, hoping her choice this time was not wrong. If she chose incorrectly again, changing masters wouldn't solve the current predicament.
Taking a deep breath, her chest expanded as if to suck all the air from the sky.
"Breath, dodge."
Angelina activated her magical shields and simultaneously warned those around her. Those who had never fought a dragon had no concept of the power of a dragon's breath. An adult dragon unleashing its breath could incinerate an entire city.
Obscure and winding magic spells began to resonate within Cado City. The clanging of swords being drawn was incessant. The moment Amandla took a deep breath, it signaled the start of the great battle.
Amandla didn't naively believe that the enemy's mercy would extend to the dwarves just because she surrendered. At this moment, it was a battle of willpower; whoever was more ruthless would win. Besides, if what Copperbeard Ironhammer told her was true, then why should she worry? With someone to clean up the mess, she could fight with all her might.
A pillar of red, high-temperature flame erupted from Amandla's mouth. The guards roared with fierce laughter, raising their blades against Sinis and the others' necks. Angelina's incantation reached its final stage, and many who vowed to slay the dragon raised their shields to defend.
Berros and many others fled the battlefield in disarray. Seeing that this place was about to turn into a slaughterhouse, a battlefield involving dragons and Archmages was like an epic war to ordinary people. Those below level three could not withstand even the residual energy; if they didn't run, they would only die.
Just then, a pair of orange-yellow hands, capable of treating Amandla like a toy, emerged from space, tearing it open with the casualness of ripping bread.
The space, traversable only by peak experts, was toyed with like torn burlap by these hands. With a pull in opposite directions, accompanied by the tearing sound of space, a ten-meter-wide spatial rift appeared. Pressure, heat, and a terrifying aura emanated from the rift, like a gravitational force ten times stronger, instantly crushing the hearts of everyone in Cado City.
"Quick, quick, close the doors!"
"Madness, utter madness!"
"Quick, pray for divine protection!"
This was happening in various temples. The bishops, with their knowledge, felt the fiery aura and in their terror, quickly ordered their subordinates to close the temple doors, all kneeling before the statues of the gods, praying fervently, lest these hands brush against them.
Angelina felt as if she had been punched heavily in the chest. The final incantation of her spell was swallowed back before it could be uttered, her mouth unable to open.
The magic, on the verge of completion, was interrupted, causing a backlash. Angelina grunted, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. Mages feared being interrupted during spellcasting the most, as it could cause backlash, resulting in minor injuries or even death. Fortunately, the magic Angelina was preparing was not of Archmage level or higher due to the haste; otherwise, this would have cost her half her life.
Angelina's backlash injury was not severe, but the less powerful mages behind her were not so lucky. Their control over magic was far inferior to Angelina's. When this aura appeared, the magical shields on many mages shattered directly. Their already weak bodies were slapped to the ground like swatting flies, their faces cut by the rough gravel. Yet, they couldn't get up to tend to their wounds, trembling like wriggling caterpillars seeking suitable green leaves to hide from before the coming rain.
Magistrate Deek, at his level, could only remain kneeling. The abundant magic within his body felt like gears jammed with screws; no matter how he tried to drive them, they wouldn't move even a bit. In an instant, he plummeted from a revered Archmage to the level of a cripple.
The pillar of flame Amandla spat out, the moment those giant hands appeared, vanished as if stomped out like a cigarette butt. The twenty-five-meter-long dragon body, flying in mid-air, suddenly lost its ability to fly, plummeting like a lead weight into Li Xi's courtyard. It took a long time for Amandla to struggle to its feet, but it could no longer fly. The arrogance it displayed moments ago, dominating Cado City, was now replaced by utter humiliation. If not for its external appearance as a dragon, one might have mistaken it for a cheap imitation.
Berros and the ordinary people who were trying to escape the battlefield were pressed to the ground without any dignity, unable to move, like live fish thrown ashore, gasping for air. Many timid individuals, unable to move, were forced to endure the humiliation of sharing their space with their own excrement.
As for the professionals who sought the title of dragon slayer, they all grunted and staggered, their weapons clattering to the ground. They lay prostrate, gazing at the torn spatial rift with a gesture of utmost respect.
The Cado City guards, who were preparing to attack the Wood Leaf Merchant Group, seemed to be specifically targeted. No one knew what they had suffered, but they all vomited blood like fountains. Within a few breaths, they all collapsed like limp noodles, their breathing shallow, with no telling how long they could hold on.
Among everyone present, only Angelina, an Archmage, managed to remain standing. It was unclear why no one from other temples had appeared, making her the sole high-level survivor.
Everyone looked anxiously at the massive spatial rift. Beyond the flames filling the rift, nothing else was visible in the mysterious void; it was as if flames had become the sole theme of the world.
Those giant hands moved along the spatial rift, smoothing the uneven edges like building a wall, and leaving the flames to continue burning the space, ensuring the rift wouldn't close after their departure.
After a moment, the spatial rift stabilized. The hands that could toy with an adult dragon retracted into the rift, and then the distinct sound of horse hooves approached.
All eyes were fixed, fearing they would miss an important sight.
As the sound of hooves drew nearer, a warhorse covered in heavy armor emerged from the spatial rift. Its six legs, clad in skirt-like armor, each step left a crescent-shaped indentation in the ground. The rider on the magnificent horse appeared, clad in golden armor, a pure cotton cloak with a black and white bear clan emblem on his shoulders, a scimitar at his waist, a lance strapped to his side, a quiver filled with rune-etched armor-piercing arrows, and a hard bow that even a level three warrior couldn't fully draw. From head to toe, even his eye sockets were protected by thin crystal lenses, leaving no gap. The rider's heavy armor and the horse's barding were suffused with magical aura, indicating enchanted equipment.
In the sunlight, the golden-armored rider shone brilliantly, like a walking sun, blinding many who dared to look directly.
One fully armored rider appeared, making no sound other than the clatter of hooves. A second identical rider followed, then a third, a fourth, a fifth...
Like a flowing river, riders emerged from the spatial rift and lined up in an orderly fashion before it. Their silence and disregard for anyone else projected an arrogance to the core.
Yet, no one present dared to accuse them of arrogance or rudeness. In fact, they considered it an honor to witness this unit's appearance.
This unit had fought against orc armies on the Doluo Grasslands, bravely engaging in a desperate battle against orc elites several times their number, refusing to retreat.
During that dark era that no one wished to recall, this unit had repeatedly stood bravely before the enemy, defending humanity's dominance with the blood of generations.
This unit had fought dwarves, elves, demons, evil gods, and all enemies who opposed humanity, shattering the skulls of invaders with their weapons.
Their honor was forged in the blood of countless fallen enemies. How many times had they fought to the last soldier for the sake of humanity's greater cause? How many times had they been completely annihilated only to be rebuilt? How many times had they suffered grievous injuries and setbacks, yet their sacrifices had greatly contributed to humanity's current status as the continent's foremost power!
"Royal Guard!!!"
Many present cried out in hoarse, hysterical voices. This unit, whose military banner bore the royal family crest, was the dream of many in their youth.
Four hybrid warhorses with scaled hides, pulling a carriage shimmering with magical light, emerged from the spatial rift. An old man in a gray mage robe drove the carriage and stopped before the crowd of prostrate individuals.
This driver was naturally Adler, who had been ordered to protect Philin.
Adler surveyed the surroundings, seeing the black dragon Amandla struggling to stand but unable to fly, the "country bumpkin" commoners prostrating themselves on the ground, and Angelina, who was forcing a smile and looking at him. He couldn't help but mutter, "The power of this Flame Lord is truly terrifying. If not for its significant drawbacks, even the gods would be clamoring to seize it."
"Ahem."
"Her Highness Princess Philin has arrived. Kneel and pay your respects."
Adler finished speaking with a sneer. The people scattered on the ground could barely stand, let alone pay respects.
Philin pulled back the curtain of the carriage and looked at the impending conflict in front of Li Xi's house, her beautiful eyes almost spitting fire. "I am Li Xi's fiancée. What is your purpose here? Speak!"
"Speak!"
The three thousand Royal Guards let out a cold snort in unison, their killing intent making everyone prostrate on the ground shiver.
Under the backdrop of the three thousand Royal Guards, even a goblin would appear imposing. Moreover, with Philin's pure princess lineage, her questioning rendered everyone present speechless.
At critical moments, one's emotional intelligence would be revealed. Just as Monton was too terrified to speak, and Berros wished he could bury his head in his crotch, Sinis wailed heartbrokenly, "Madam, you must uphold justice for us!"
"Speak, what is going on?"
Sinis pointed at everyone present, especially Monton, whose face was ashen, and Berros, who wished he could bury himself in the ground. "They took advantage of Lord Li Xi's recent passing to forcefully seize and occupy Lord Li Xi's estate. We were powerless to resist. If not for Madam's timely arrival, we would not be here to see you."
"You deserve to die." Philin was already like an erupting volcano due to Li Xi's situation. Hearing that these people were here to seize Li Xi's property, she clenched her fingers until they cracked. "Guards, let none of these people go."
"Yes!"
The Royal Guards' unified response made many on the ground cry out in protest of their innocence.
"Your Highness Princess, we are here to offer condolences to Lord Li Xi. What is happening here has nothing to do with us."
"Your Highness Princess, spare us! It truly has nothing to do with us."
Monton looked at the approaching horseshoes and wailed, "It was Berros who deceived me! I didn't want this! I am the City Lord of Cado City, Viscount Gadoro."
The Royal Guards did not hesitate for a moment due to his title as a viscount. They directly used their spear tips to lift Monton. They had killed princes before, let alone a mere viscount.
The sound of Monton's tragic pleas echoed in his ears. Berros kowtowed incessantly, knowing that death was inevitable but unwilling to wait for it. "I was wrong, I was wrong! I am willing to contribute all my assets and beg Your Highness Princess to spare my life."
Berros's plea received no response. A silver flash passed, and half of Berros's face was blown off, revealing his white teeth. The intense pain caused Berros to roll his eyes and faint.