Chapter 52: Bonds and Freedom |
The sinners’ orderly formations continuously assaulted the God-Given City. All the monsters were so quiet they didn’t make a single sound, let alone any shouts.
But that terror and oppression hidden behind the silence far surpassed a roaring cry.
As for the city walls above, the voices of the defending soldiers rose one after another.
“Kill! Kill them.”
“Hurry, I can’t hold this side any longer.”
“Throw the stones down, crush these God-Forsaken sinners to death.”
“Where’s the reserve guard? Where did the reserve guard go?”
“Where is the priest? Where is the priest?”
After a night passed, there were corpses all over the city walls, and even a corner of the wall had collapsed.
But the God-Descended City had held on.
King Eli didn’t let the Ruhe beast directly charge into the God-Descended City for a massive slaughter. He only wanted to stall the Ruhe beast in Star’s hands. After all, in his view, this was his capital.
Moreover, he had tens of thousands of sinners in hand, enough to break through the God-Descended City without the assistance of Ruhe beasts guarding it.
Both sides ceased fire simultaneously at ten in the morning.
The sinners retreated into the sea to lick their wounds and regroup for battle.
The God-Descended City also hurriedly repaired the city, while also assessing the wounded and dead, preparing for the upcoming battle.
King Eli was waiting for the sinners to defeat the guards and break into the city after resting.
While Star was waiting for reinforcements, she had sent a message through special channels when the sinners attacked yesterday. At the fastest, the Ruhe beasts could arrive today.
“It’s King Eli.”
“Someone saw him, that tyrant has returned.”
An injured soldier came to report, describing the situation he saw on the city wall.
Star already had a guess: “I know.”
“You all go down and rest! The reinforcements will arrive today.”
Several soldiers brought a group of people over, detaining them below the palace. “Queen, these people were caught trying to attack the city gate,” they reported.
The Sky Temple had been opened by internal traitors. How could Star not be on guard?
She walked down the steps and looked at them.
“Is this how you are loyal to the King you swore allegiance to?”
But the noble kneeling on the ground said, “You are not our King. You are the King of those low-born people.”
Star was not angry. This wasn’t the first time she heard these words: “Then what oath did you make back then? Are the promises made before God just empty words?”
She didn’t wait for a response. Or rather, at this time, arguing and defending had lost all meaning.
Queen Star pointed her scepter at them: “You will face the judgment of death and pay the price for your sins and evil.”
They were taken away. The arrogance these people had just mustered instantly vanished, collapsing into a heap.
However, the reinforcements and three major royal bloodline families that Star had been waiting for never arrived. Instead, she received the devastating news that the Sky Temple and the God-Servant City had been occupied.
“The Sky Temple is gone?”
Star felt her body tremble. This was the second time she had lost the Sky Temple.
“What about the Samo family?” She hurriedly asked about her ally.
“The Samo lord was killed. Now there is a new lord,” the messenger replied.
Hearing that her most important and loyal partner had died, Star momentarily swayed. She had to lean on the palace pillar to steady herself.
“Betrayal.”
“Betrayal again.”
“Is this what King Redlichia’s descendants have become after leaving the God-Given Land?”
“They want Eli to kill me, then seize the throne of the Yinsai King.”
Star calmed down. She knew she had to start preparing an escape route.
Tens of thousands of sinners attacked the city walls again and again. The defenders finally couldn’t hold on any longer.
The city fell, and the monsters poured in.
The former King led the God-Forsaken people of old to attack this place called the God-Descended Land, this sanctuary.
The palace was in chaos. The retreating royal guards protected the Queen as they withdrew towards the city gate on the other side of the coast.
“My Queen, we must flee at once!” they urged her.
At the same time, many slaves Star had pardoned and the commoners who supported her followed Star and escaped through the opened city gate. They knew that staying behind would not lead to any good end.
The sinners, like wild beasts, climbed over the city walls and passed through the city gate passage.
King Eli stood on the head of the Ruhe beast as he entered the God-Descended City.
Standing on high, he immediately saw the retreating group in the distance, among which Star, wearing a crown and holding a scepter, was so conspicuous.
And Star also felt his gaze, turning her head back.
Their eyes met.
King Eli was high above, his gaze cold and domineering.
This scene was so familiar.
In Star’s mind flashed the image of her father being killed by King Eli. At that time, King Eli had this exact same look in his eyes.
That nightmare she had personally defeated had returned.
The anger and hatred in her heart surged: “King Eli.”
Eli was the same as her: “Star of the Xilong family.”
“I once told you that a true king is never weak. Even in failure, they can still make a comeback.”
His voice turned icy. “But this time, there will be no comeback for you.”
Star left with the slaves, a large number of commoners, and the guards loyal to her, while those ministers and nobles went to welcome the return of the old king.
Just as they had once welcomed Queen Star.
—————-
God-Given Land.
In the blooming sea of flowers beneath the golden pyramid temple, the largest Sun Cup flower unfurled a dreamlike bubble. The dream spirits roamed freely in the realm of dreams, emitting whispers like sleep-talking.
Suddenly, in his slumber, Polo, the ruler of dreams, heard Star’s voice.
Her voice was tinged with despair. “Polo, that tyrant we drove away together has returned. Unfortunately, I’m not as formidable or as strong as I thought. The moment I saw him, my first feeling wasn’t hatred, but fear. I… lost.”
In the dream’s illusion, he saw the fallen city, the frenzied monsters, the slaughtering and wailing people of Yinsai.
Polo opened his eyes.
The golden Sun Cup retracted, the flower cup flipped down, transforming into a figure wearing a golden robe.
Polo anxiously floated up to the divine hall, prostrating in the center of the hall.
“God, I must leave the God-Given Land once more,” he implored.
Yin Shen seemed to have long predicted this scene. He had already seen through Polo’s heart and choice.
“Will you abandon and give up your freedom?”
Polo nodded, “In these few years, I’ve probably come to understand some things.”
“I also understand the meaning of what You said back then, God.”
“Loss and gain are mutual. People constantly grow old, but while losing youth and years, they also gain experience and wisdom.”
“To grow up, one will lose their former innocence. Because one has received parental love, one will also be bound by love.”
“When people gain companions, they have bonds and are no longer free.”
“Because freedom is lonely.”
Polo looked at God, revealing a smile.
His smile in the past was innocent and naive, like the summer sun.
But now, it was more like the winter sun.
Warm and more amiable.
“I fear being unfree, but I fear loneliness even more.”
He took a deep breath. “I want to be with Star.”
Polo left the God-Given Land. God didn’t ask him when he would return.
He knew that when the time came to return, the child wandering outside would naturally come back.
The first time he left, Polo was confused yet expectant.
This time leaving, he was determined and confident.
He knew what he wanted and what he should do.
