TGS - Chapter 146
Chapter 146: Protective Divine Power
A light morning mist filled the air, not too thick, as if draping the mountain forest in a hazy, delicate veil.
The Xitings Mountains were vast and continuous. Looking east along their sprawling range, one could see the silent silhouettes of overlapping peaks against the sunrise clouds at the edge of the horizon.
The cavalry troop led by Alyuin galloped along the wide road. After riding for half the night, they arrived at the mountain pass at dawn, just as expected.
There were several valleys within the mountain range, but this was the only mountain path that offered the most convenient and safest route to Etrich City.
Alyuin believed that for the Sanur Tribe to dare enter the mountains, they must have some knowledge of the terrain and roads.
Obtaining a detailed map wouldn't be easy. The most likely scenario was that they had coerced local residents to guide them. Those who spent their years traversing the mountains were living maps themselves—under their guidance, the Sanur would only exit the mountains from this pass.
Lotus used her avatar to sense the whispers of the water.
The morning mountain mist and dewdrops were a great help. She knew that dew had dripped from leaf veins onto iron helmets before sliding down the metal surface. She also knew that mist had dampened the manes of horses, parted by branches scouting the path, only to close again.
Based on these traces, the Snow Goddess constantly determined the enemy's position, relaying it to the Princess in real-time.
Alyuin listened, her expression unchanging, as she gave orders for the cavalry to split up and lie in ambush.
"The mounted archers will follow me to the gentle slopes on both sides. The rest will hide in the rear and await my command."
The squads equipped with bows and arrows immediately split into two groups. They rode their horses up the gentle slopes, using the shrubs, weeds, and trees to conceal themselves. The lancers, meanwhile, waited behind the mountain pass, in a position that the foreign army emerging from the mountains could not spot.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
The insects and birds fell silent for only a moment before resuming their chirping and calling from all around. They treated the motionless soldiers as part of the natural scenery, causing no alarm.
Looking out from within the mountains, everything appeared peaceful and calm. Unless one had witnessed what had just transpired, who could imagine the killing intent hidden beneath such a tranquil scene?
One side remained motionless, while the other, completely unaware, continued to advance.
Lotus floated beside Alyuin, her gaze distant. She had focused more of her consciousness of "sight" on her avatar and whispered the results of her perception.
"Ten li remaining."
"Five li."
"...They're here."
At that moment, a troop of riders came into view. The valley path widened near the pass, allowing several riders to advance abreast in formation. They appeared to be in good condition and high spirits, making no effort to conceal the sounds of their conversation.
It was clear the Sanur army was quite confident in their plan for a flanking surprise attack, showing no concern about being discovered or their plan being seen through.
In truth, this confidence was not entirely unfounded. With reinforcements concentrated at Seaton City, even if the cities in the rear were on alert, they would be more focused on news from Seaton City and would plan their defenses based on that information.
Even if there were troops guarding a mountain path like this, it would only be a handful of men. It would be impossible for them to escape and carry the news back to the city.
Of course.
Even if the news did get back, what could they do?
Not even if the Wolf God himself descended or the Vulture God lent his aid would the Sanur have imagined that a troop of cavalry lay in ambush nearby.
The Sanur King, riding his warhorse forward, turned his head and shouted loudly:
"We're almost out of the mountains! The main road is ahead, and beyond that is Etrich City! The valiant Sanur warriors will break down its gates and take the heads of the Solancians—so rouse yourselves!"
"Of course!"
"Look at us, Your Majesty! We're more spirited than vultures waiting to devour their prey!"
The Sanur soldiers responded with a chaotic but energetic roar. Their voices echoed through the valley, instantly silencing the insects. The birds perched on the treetops took fright, flapping their wings and flying away one after another.
This gave the foreign soldiers more to boast about. "I bet the Solancians are more cowardly than these birds! The vultures and eagles on our plains wouldn't be like this!"
Just then, the front of the column was gradually approaching the mountain pass.
On the slopes on both sides, the archers, lined up in a row, were already in position, bows in hand, arrowheads aimed at the enemy below.
Alyuin was on the side closer to the pass, her face hidden behind the shadows of leaves and trees, her golden eyes locked on the Sanur King at the head of the column.
In an instant, a cold glint flashed.
With the twang of a bowstring, a sharp arrow cut through the lingering morning mist, flying like lightning straight for the Sanur King's throat!
This arrow was like a signal. The moment the sound of it slicing through the air was heard, the mounted archers lying in ambush on both sides loosed their arrows simultaneously.
A rain of arrows, like a dense net unfurling from the sky, enveloped the unprepared Sanur army.
The Sanur, who had been brazenly mocking the Solancian army just seconds before, were caught completely off guard.
Some were pierced through a vital spot before they could even react. Others were hit in non-fatal areas and let out horrific screams. Warhorses were struck by arrows, rearing up on their hind legs in pain and throwing their riders to the ground.
But at the very front of these men, the Sanur King was completely unharmed.
Ignoring the Kasnie envoy beside him whose face had turned pale, he roared in fury, "It's the Solancians! They're on the slopes!"
—But how is that possible?!
Indeed, how was it possible?
Realizing the Sanur King had not died, Alyuin's eyes darkened.
The distance was within range, and the target was unprepared. To miss under such circumstances was a first for the Princess.
Yet she knew—the moment she released the string, Alyuin knew whether the arrow had hit its mark. It felt like a direct hit, but why...
Her thoughts raced, but it didn't stop her from nocking another arrow to her bow.
Lotus reminded her, "It's divine power. He has the power of a Sanur deity on him."
When the Sanur army appeared in the Solancian cavalry's line of sight, the shield affecting Lotus seemed to lift. Both her Snow Goddess avatar and her true self could simultaneously see the troop of riders.
It was abrupt, yet felt perfectly natural, as if they had been there all along.
Secretly raising her guard against this unknown shielding method, Lotus lowered her gaze and saw a flash of violent, piercing red light. The arrowhead that was about to pierce the Sanur King's throat was deflected by a strange force.
It was protective divine power bestowed by a deity.
Alyuin's brow twitched slightly as she fired another arrow. This time, the Sanur King was prepared. He swung his saber to block the arrowhead, narrowly avoiding death. Even so, the formidable power behind the arrow sent a numbing shock through the web of his hand.
Using this attack, the Sanur King confirmed the Princess's ambush position. With a roar, he ordered his soldiers to spread out. The gentle slopes were easy to climb. Once they got close, these archers would be nothing but lambs to the slaughter!
After a few volleys of rapid shots, waiting for the enemy to charge up the slope would offer no advantage.
Alyuin gave a cold smile, raised her left hand, and pointed down.
"Kill them—"
The cavalry hidden behind the pass charged out at her command, brandishing sharp spears and long sabers as they rushed the enemy.
The Sanur army roared and met the charge. The deaths of their kinsmen seemed to have ignited their ferocity; they wanted only to see the blood of their enemies.
The sound of hooves thundered, echoing and amplifying within the valley.
Thousands of soldiers clashed, weapons raised high.
The Solancians wore uniform black and silver military armor, a stark contrast to the brownish-red armor of the Sanur.
Viewed from the sky, the two cavalry forces were like torrents of black and red, crashing violently into each other. Each ant-like individual fought desperately against the foreign enemy opposite them, determined to cut them down even if it cost them their last drop of blood.
Alyuin unslung her bow and arrows, handing them to the personal guard behind her. She then drew her longsword and spurred her warhorse into a charge down the slope.
The Princess's presence alone was like that of an entire army. With no one riding beside her, no one heard the soft words that escaped from her red lips beneath her helmet.
Alyuin said, "The power of the gods."
Lotus: "Mm—it didn't work when I tried before."
But if the two neighboring pantheons had a way, it made no sense that the gods of Solancia couldn't do it. Was it some undiscovered method, or was it because of the divine war?
Would Suojia and the others know?
Alyuin seemed to smile. "You've already given me the best protective power... Well then, let's talk about it after this is over, Lotus."
As the last syllable of her sentence faded, her steed's front hooves landed on level ground, and Alyuin joined the fray.
Many of the Sanur people didn't actually know what the Solancian Princess, who had once made them afraid to cross the line, looked like.
After all, most of their kinsmen who had met her face-to-face were dead.
But the Sanur King knew.
Having just cut down a Solancian cavalryman, he turned to see the black-armored enemy charging down from above. The armor couldn't hide the woman's slender and well-proportioned figure; the Princess was like a swift leopard leaping from the forest.
Though her figure had changed somewhat, and her weapon was different, those eyes, those brilliant golden eyes—
"It's you..."
"Alyuin!"
This cry reached everyone's ears.
No matter how much the Sanur boasted of their tribe's bravery, martial prowess, and fearlessness, they all knew in their hearts that the Solancian Princess was a terrifying enemy. This was a shadow cast by the past, one that would not dissipate just because the tribes had unified.
Parrying a Solancian soldier's long saber, the Sanur King gritted his teeth. "What are you hesitating for?"
"We are one! Whether wolf, vulture, wild bull, or rock sheep, with so many warriors, what are you afraid of?"
"Raise your sabers!"
"Slaughter the Solancians and their Princess!"
The Sanur let out bestial, meaningless roars and attacked with reckless abandon. One man was pierced through the chest by a spear, his body tumbling from his horse, only to be trampled into a bloody pulp by the warhorses of his own kinsmen behind him. But no one cared.
Alyuin didn't look back to check on her own forces.
Although the Sanur had the advantage in numbers—over twenty thousand of them to the Solancian cavalry's five thousand.
But it was enough. She trusted her cavalry, just as they had absolute faith in her.
Alyuin's objective was crystal clear: kill more Sanur, and kill the Sanur King. One of the two goals had to be achieved. The blood of Digebia's garrison, its civilians, and Lord Hephit must be repaid a hundredfold!
Layer after layer of Sanur soldiers stood in her way. Alyuin slashed, pierced, parried, and reaped lives. No one could remain clean in such a battle, and she was already bathed in blood.
Amidst the enemy ranks, the Princess tore open a bloody path—a path leading to the Sanur King.
The Sanur King's saber was also covered in blood. He faced the Princess, unwilling to admit to the fear lurking in the corner of his heart, and so he let the flames of rage and battle consume his expression.
"Come on!" he shouted, raising his saber to meet her charge.
Sword and saber crashed together violently. With the impact, the blood of both peoples staining the blades splattered everywhere.
In mid-air, Lotus paused.
Her gaze fell near the foreign king. There was a fellow there whose physical features clearly didn't belong to the Sanur. He was also fighting, but he seemed more inclined to self-preservation... and looked ready to flee at any moment.
Tucked inside his clothes was a box.
A certain intuition—perhaps a unique divine sense—made Lotus realize the moment she saw the box that it was something related to the gods.
Just like the Sanur King's wolf-fang necklace, and just like the blue chalcedony bead she had once given the young princess.
Lotus snatched it with her divine power.
Enveloped by the goddess's power, the box quickly vanished from mortal sight. The Kasnie man only realized this a second later. Heedless of the fact that he was still on a battlefield, he began to search frantically for the box, looking for all the world like a religious fanatic.
Lotus chose not to open the box. She sealed the strange object with her divine power, deciding to study it properly after the ambush was over, preferably with other gods present.
At the same time, the battle between the two commanders was nearing its end.
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