Were they supposed to pass this difficulty level one more time?
No!
This wasnât a level in a game! This was a city, the city of Battle Heaven! The enemy was at the city gates and flouted the rules. They challenged the city defenders again and again. It was blasphemy against the greats!
Above the city.
Three Silver Armors convened. They commanded thirty bronze centurions and three thousand defenders. The city and army of Battle Heaven!
Light glinted out of the Silver Armorsâ eyes as they considered the supernaturals milling around below. This went beyond the pale! The defenders only protected Battle Heaven, but today, the enemy was bullying them on their doorstep!
âKill!â A word spoken with ancient flair rasped out of one of the Silver Armorâs mouths. It rang with a dense mechanical sensation.
Boom!
A black torrent descended! Charge! Slay enemies! The Battle Heaven Army could still take the field after countless eons!
......
Outside the city.
Supernaturals were still squawking over why there were Black Armors again. Some were proclaiming, âThis is great! The armor is valuable. Look at the Silver Moon Guardsâone suit of armor is more valuable than a piece of mysterious power stone. Weâll be rich if we get our hands on several...â
BAM!
Countless Black Armors jumped down from the walls and began a furious slaughter. Spears, swords, blades... An army formation assembled as thirty Bronze Armors formed an assault formation and advanced in the array of a blade.
Rumble!!
âAHH!!â Ghastly shrieks rose and fell, startling those deep in discussion. Even the powerhouses jerked out of their conversations.
âHurry and kill the enemy!â roared the heavyweights.
âDamn it, arenât we supposed to be safe after taking the second passageway??â shrilled those in front.
âWhy is this happening?!â
âWhy are there so many soldiers? Werenât they all eliminated??â Shouts, yells, and general pandemonium reigned.
This particular expedition was comprised of many different organizations and factions. Too many were present this time. More than two thousand were already inside and more trying to enter. Some walked through the plaza, some traveled the second passageway.
A handful supernaturals panicked when the army descended upon them and shot into the air. Those who hadnât taken the second passageway were blown out of the sky. Those who had were almost no better off because three Silver Armors soared through the air and engaged them in battle!
âExterminate!â called out the mechanical voice. These soldiers were enraged that someone dared challenge Battle Heaven!
Rumble!
Fierce fighting erupted as Black Armors rivaled Sunflares when they operated within the city. Three thousand of them working in tandem meant that they could scythe through Solars just as easily. Some Novas looked on with unpleasant expressions, they were losing the first encounter! It was unfathomable that such a mishap had occurred as soon as they reached the city gates.
âHou Xiaochen, this is a Night Watcher scheme, isnât it?!â someone roared.
Off in the distance, Hou Xiaochen didnât reply as he quickly withdrew with his people. Scheme your ass! This has nothing to do with me! He was indeed ready with certain plans, but they werenât meant to commence here. Who knew that Battle Heaven would suddenly be reinforced with three thousand defenders? It went without saying that the troops of the four directions must have congregated on the eastern gate.
âWe need to get rid of them,â shouted the Parity King of Yama. âThese Black Armors are worth a fortune! We have many heavyweights among us and these Black Armors are just Darkmoons wearing armor. No matter how many there are, they are still ants!â
There were many Black Armors, but the Bronze Armors were the equivalent of peak Sunflare and the Silver Armor just Solar when they were not awakened. How many Solars and Novas were on this expedition? It was an easy task for them to join forces and eliminate all three thousand Black Armors.
However, the various organizations and heavyweights were quickly retreating. No one wanted to be the vanguard. The first retreat led to many more. Those who were originally holding up beneath the brunt of the wave swiftly backed away when others did so as well.
The Black Armors charged without a sound, their killing intent so dense that it was almost tangible. Large numbers of supernaturals were slain on the spot. Even those strong enough to put up a fight were soon defeated when faced with so much killing intent.
Grim wails rang loudly in the ear!
......
To the rear.
Manager Yu looked at Hou Xiaochen. The directorâs face was calm, as if he didnât see anything.
âWho wouldâve thought that thereâd still be so many Black Armors?â Kong Jie crossed his arms with a smile. âOle Hou, looks like your Silver Moon Guards will be fully outfitted after this expedition.â
Three thousand Black Armors!
Hou Xiaochen remained observing. âWhy do you think the cityâs army has suddenly attacked us? They wouldnât provoke us before if we refrained from the same after taking the second passageway. But now... do you think these dead soldiers are more alive?â
âDo you mean to say that... someoneâs directing them?â Kong Jie blinked.
âYes.â Hou Xiaochen looked at the towering city gates. He seemed to peer through them, toward the back. suddenly rising into the air, he looked into the city. There... appeared to be some light somewhere.
Or it might be a reflection of golden armor. Had the Gold Armor awoken again?
Hou Xiaochen frowned, very startled by the change. Did it have something to do with Li Hao and the others? Were the eight families really so tightly interconnected countless many eons later?
It was all very strange!
......
Inside the city.
Li Haoâs trio also heard the disturbance. The young man was climbing up the rooftop of an open house and peering out into the open. He could vaguely see outside the city as this was a tall building just a little shorter than the turtle pagoda.
As Li Hao stood on the roof, he watched with great amusement. He Yong and Hong Yitang followed him up.
âThere... are so many Black Armors, why are they attacking the expedition? Donât they say that the soldiers wonât attack after we go through the second passageway?â
âThere are so many supernaturals down there, itâs a complete mess,â Li Hao replied calmly. âMaybe someoneâs done something to provoke them. This is a group of soldiers that abide by logic and rules. Maybe someoneâs broken the rules and displayed a combative position. Maybe someone flipped over the city walls. Maybe someone attacked the gates. This will all elicit the armyâs enmity and be viewed as provocation!â
âYou seem more relaxed than last time.â Hong Yitang glanced at Li Hao.
âIâm stronger than last time, so Iâm naturally more at ease. Also... Iâve realized that Battle Heaven is an interesting place. Itâs a place that follows the rules. In that case, we wonât run into any major danger if we follow their rules. Thereâs no reason for them to attack guests.
âI treated last time as simple exploration and didnât have many reflections. I thought this was a ruined city and came to look for treasure!â
âAnd this time?â
âThis time... I feel that this is a city with a soul,â Li Hao chuckled. âCompared to those outside, perhaps these dead soldiers are possibly more endearing. Although theyâre long dead and are just lingering obsessions, they give me the feeling that theyâre true flesh and blood! Iâm thinking that these are the true martial masters and soldiers, not the ones of modern day that set up regimes by force of arms to dominate an area!â
âSo you think that the current Ministry of Armed Forces is not to your liking?â Hong Yitang raised an eyebrow.
âThatâs not it.â Li Hao shook his head. âTheyâre decrepit... and close-minded! Perhaps such are the drawbacks of an incomplete reformation. When the royal family abdicated and the nine ministries took up the reins, the reforms werenât thorough enough. I find that whether itâs the nine ministries or the official institutions of the various provinces, everyoneâs focused on themselves.
âThey donât care whether war rages or if the people are dying. They donât care if transportation is inconvenient or if thereâs enough food to eat. They donât care if the cities are in disarray, they donât care about any of it!â The young man smirked. âTheyâre consumed by their petty desires and little military cliques to raise their own powerhouses. All they want is to install themselves as lord of a territory.
âUp till now, the only military unit that Iâve met in the true meaning of the phrase is Demon Hunters of Silver City! They drove back the darkness under Captain Liu Longâs leadership! They are very weak, but they focus on how to let the people of Silver City live at peace and enjoy their lives.
âSilver City may be a small place, but it is very safe. Apart from the problems created by Red Moon because they are too strong to be handled, no violent crime has occurred in this small place for the last twenty years.
âAfter entering White Moon City, I find that despite possessing the four institutions and countless powerhouses, the thirty million of this sprawling metropolis do not seem to lead better lives than Silver City denizens.
âDo White Moonâs three military divisions act the same as these Black Armors when facing enemies? Do they charge out without concern of life or death just so they can land one stroke on their foes?â
Emotions suddenly gripped Li Hao as he watched the charging Black Armors, then at the empty city behind him.
âLook, they are still willing to unsheathe their swords to protect this city endless eons after they have perished. Martial Uncle Hong, where do you think their faith comes from? That pride, composure, willingness, and unceasing desire to fight. What kind of faith is it that lets them persevere to this step?â
It was incredible!
Hong Yitang thought silently for a long while before sighing. âMany reasons, I suppose. Strong enemies, a charismatic leader, a beautiful home, united conviction, same goals, confidence in their nation... All of this will fill one with fighting spirit!
âWarriors like these still exist, theyâre just not that apparent anymore! You say that the three military divisions of the Silver Moon wonât act the same, but that may not be true. However, do you know why these soldiers donât seem to have any faith or fighting spirit to speak of?â
âPlease enlighten me, martial uncle!â