Chapter 138 The fight inside the palace
Chapter 138 The fight inside the palace
While chaos unfolded throughout the Dark City, the imperial soldiers continued their desperate struggle to repel the enemy forces that had infiltrated the palace.
Because the invaders were using portals to bypass the palace defenses, the imperial guards were struggling to manage the overwhelming number of enemies.
Many soldiers had fallen into a deep slumber, incapacitated by the sleep magic deployed by the Irish Empire—a tactic that proved devastatingly effective in turning the tide against the palace defenders.
"Hurry! Move the sleeping soldiers to a safe area!"
Amidst the pandemonium, the imperial guards could no longer stop the Irish soldiers from breaching the various offices within the palace.
Due to the vast number of corridors and the fact that most guards were stationed at the Emperor and Empress’s palace, many other areas had been left defenseless.
"We must protect the consorts!"
The soldiers scrambled to reach the administrative departments, arriving at the Office of Preparation and Music. However, the scene that greeted them was far from what they had expected.
"Wait... what happened here?"
Every single Irish soldier lay collapsed on the ground, being relentlessly beaten by Orla’s staff.
Orla noticed the soldiers and smiled. "Thank you for coming. My people panicked, and they couldn't help but fight back."
Orla’s companions were also Orcs, possessing immense physical strength. Their enemies stood no chance in a hand-to-hand fight against them.
Vanilla rushed in, shouting, "Hey! Lady Orla, are you alright?"
Even she was shocked by the scene. "It looks like you're doing just fine."
"Oh... I apologize for worrying you, but I am perfectly fine," Orla replied.
"What? Wait, who said I was worried about you? It just so happens that your office is near the Imperial Treasury," Vanilla retorted, trying to hide her concern.
Orla laughed at Vanilla’s attempt to mask her true feelings. Nevertheless, she gently reminded her that there was nothing wrong with worrying about those who are part of one's family.
"Stop smiling like that. Honestly, I'm just following the Emperor’s orders to protect the imperial harem."
Orla took Vanilla’s hand and pressed it to her cheek. "In that case, thank you very much for your protection."
Vanilla immediately pulled her hand away and pushed Orla back, her face flushed with irritation at Orla’s affection. "Stop it. You don't need to do that. Come on, let's get out of here."
She felt uncomfortable with Orla's intimacy, especially after holding a grudge against her for so long. She remarked that they weren't close enough for such displays of affection.
Vanilla began to walk away, pulling Orla along toward the Emperor’s palace. "It's safer if I escort you to the Emperor’s palace before I go to fight the invaders."
Orla was surprised and asked what her plan was and why she intended to fight the invaders.
"What kind of question is that? I consider this palace my home ever since my father cast me aside, and I won't stand by and watch it be destroyed."
"Besides," Vanilla added bravely, "the Emperor is out there fighting right now to defend us. I won't just stand in a corner and wait."
The captain of the guards panicked. "Wait, Lady Vanilla, you cannot do that. We have to ensure the safety of the consorts. You are not to engage in combat."
Vanilla stopped and glared at the captain for trying to forbid her from fighting.
"Do you not know who I am? Do you think I am just a weak woman who was taken as a wife by the Emperor?"
Vanilla unleashed a terrifying aura, boasting that she had lived for a hundred years as one of the most powerful vampires in the world.
Orla suddenly grabbed Vanilla’s arm, insisting on joining her. "In that case, I will come with you. I will also fight to protect this palace."
"Huh? Wait, Lady Orla, please, you cannot disobey the Emperor’s orders," the captain pleaded.
Orla sighed, understanding the captain’s fear, but for her, it was not wrong to take action to protect their home. She hugged Vanilla from behind and begged to be taken along.
"Please, Lady Vanilla. I may not look like it, but I am strong."
Vanilla, annoyed by the clinginess, tried to shake her off. "Let go of me! You don't need to hug me," she snapped.
Vanilla knew Orla was strong—having passed the Empress’s trials—but she warned her that she didn't want any dead weight.
"Don't worry. You can count on me."
"If that's the case," Vanilla said, "then just escort your people to the Emperor’s palace, and leave the two of us to fight and defend our home."
"Lady Vanilla, Lady Orla. You both know the Emperor will punish you if you break the palace laws," the captain said.
Vanilla acknowledged that they knew the rules, but argued that if they failed to protect the palace while the Emperor was away, their sin would be far greater.
The captain’s hesitation was evident, but he knew he could not stop them. "In that case, please be careful, Lady Orla, Lady Vanilla. I’m sure I’ll be punished for this as well, so before I face the executioner, I hope you succeed in saving the palace."
Minutes after the three thousand men under Orla’s command were moved to the Emperor's palace, Vanilla and Orla moved to support the remaining soldiers. The imperial palace grounds consisted of two palaces and ten offices, spanning over a hundred hectares—a vast area with countless entry points for the enemy.
Unable to decide where to go first, Vanilla and Orla decided to head toward the other consorts. "We should check on Lady Ivy in the palace kitchen," Vanilla suggested.
As they made their way, she suddenly felt a powerful presence, causing her to stop dead in her tracks.
"Wait! Something’s wrong. I sense an extraordinary energy."
"What do you mean?" Orla asked.
Vanilla looked toward the western gate. "You don't need to hide. Are you waiting for us?"
A man walked out from the side of the gate, dressed in the white vestments of the Knight of the Cross.
"I didn't think you would notice me. I intended to reach the Emperor’s palace without being seen," he said.
Orla and Vanilla immediately prepared for battle. Based on the man's presence, they knew he was much stronger than the other Irish soldiers.
"Tell us who you are. Are you one of the leaders of the Irish?"
"I am Kael, a member of the Knight of the Cross. A chosen warrior of the Irish Kingdom with a mission to end the darkness in this world," he replied, full of arrogance.
Kael looked at them and belittled their abilities, mentioning that he had no time to waste on the weak, as his goal was to reach the Emperor’s palace and destroy it to complete his mission.
"Destroy the Emperor’s palace? How ambitious. Do you think we’ll just let you do that?" Vanilla challenged.
Vanilla released a powerful aura, her eyes glowing. Red energy swirled around her arms as her nails elongated. "You'll have to get through us first."
She lunged at Kael, attempting to claw him, and effortlessly severed his arm. However, she was stunned to see that not a drop of blood fell from the stump. "What is happening?"
Kael just smiled, and his arm began to re-form, moving like wet clay.
"You're quite aggressive. You know, I have a weakness for beautiful women like you, and I'd hate to kill you. Why don't you come back to the Irish with me, live in peace, and become my wives?"
"Tch, no thank you. I am quite satisfied with my life here. Besides, I am the wife of the Emperor, and I believe that is a title worth more than any honor you could offer," Vanilla snapped.
"Lady Vanilla is right," Orla added. "We belong to the Emperor, and I see no qualities in you that would make me accept such an offer."
Kael sighed with feigned regret, mentioning that the two were wasting their chance to live a happy life. "If you refuse, I have no choice. Since you choose to die alongside your Emperor, I will grant you your wish."
Kael released an immense aura, and white clay began to manifest behind him. Four limbs emerged from the mass, the tips forming into giant hands.
"I’ll play with you a little before I kill you," Kael sneered.
The four limbs lunged at Vanilla. She managed to dodge, but the clay limbs stretched, pursuing her relentlessly. She was shocked by their ability to extend, but she didn't show fear, slicing through them with her claws.
"Do you really think these things can defeat me?"
Kael just smiled, admiring the sharpness of Vanilla's nails. "Your hands are quite dangerous. That's not very becoming for a lady."
Kael raised his right hand, causing the severed pieces of clay around Vanilla to lift. To her shock, the clay latched onto her arms, the sheer weight forcing her to her knees.
"This clay is so heavy! What is happening?"
"Oh... I forgot to mention. My clay has the ability to apply fifty kilograms of weight for every piece that touches you," Kael boasted.
Vanilla tried to pull them off, but they were like magnets, snapping right back onto her arms.
"Don't bother. You'll only tire yourself out. They won't come off unless you cut off your arms or kill me."
Kael explained that his weapons were special; once severed, the pieces were designed to seek out and attach themselves to the person who cut them.
The limbs attacked again. Vanilla had no choice but to dodge, but because she was weighed down by nearly a hundred kilograms of clay, she was significantly slowed. Moments later, as she dodged, one of the limbs grabbed her leg and slammed her into the palace wall.
"Hahaha! If you only dodge, you’ll never win. Why don't you try attacking?" Kael gloated.
Vanilla, furious, erupted with massive energy. "Do you think a thing like this can stop me?"
Bats made of red energy swarmed around her and dived toward Kael. "Vladimir Strike!"
The attack pierced straight through Kael’s body, but to Vanilla’s horror, Kael didn't even flinch.
Kael laughed at her. "Hahaha! My body is made of special clay. You can't kill me simply by damaging it."
A body made of clay? Physical attacks have no effect on him. I need to find another way to defeat him.
While Vanilla was distracted, she was caught off guard by the limbs, which quickly coiled around her body, trapping her.
"Damn it! Let me go!"
"Hahaha! What an easy fight. It's a waste of time to struggle," Kael mocked.
Vanilla struggled to break free, but the substance felt like quicksand, and parts of it kept re-forming every time she tried to tear them away.
"No... I've never seen a weapon like this. This is bad," Vanilla whispered.
Kael’s weapon continued to wrap around her until she was completely encased in white clay.