Chapter 436

Chapter 436: Questions

Darkling Stalker had no intention of speaking to these two “daughters.” After binding the Imperial soldiers Hanno, Youke, and the remaining five Royal soldiers with shadows and disarming them, she dumped them unceremoniously before Stealth 3000 and Stealth 3001. Maintaining her icy demeanor, she departed with a contingent of her soldiers.

“My lord, who were they?”

Her lieutenant finally couldn’t restrain himself and asked hesitantly.

They had just succeeded in slaying the commander of the Duchy of Donelas within the city, crushing and capturing his soldiers, when unexpectedly, his superior seemed to sense something and fixed her gaze on a distant location. Without a word, she galloped off alone, forcing her soldiers to exhaust themselves keeping pace.

Upon reaching the battlefield, she immediately intervened on behalf of two masked women, effortlessly defeating the small squad of Imperial troops.

Though the Imperial Army was indeed their current enemy, could those masked women have some connection to their leader? Why else would she rush to their rescue?

“Ask no questions beyond your station.”

The officer beside him merely cast a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable as she spoke.

Meeting the frost in her eyes, the lieutenant shuddered and promptly fell silent.

He now regretted his curiosity—after all, having betrayed the Principality of Reba, he and his comrades were irrevocably tied to this officer’s fate.

…

Gazing at Darkling Stalker—who had abruptly aided them, then left without a word, her retreating figure etched in their minds—Stealth 3000 and Stealth 3001 momentarily forgot the moaning Imperial soldiers at their feet.

Reluctantly tearing their eyes from the silhouette they couldn’t decide to call “sister” or “mother,” the two women turned their attention to Hanno and the seven Kingdom soldiers.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!! How could that wretched woman from the Principality of Reba be this powerful! What sinister magic was that?! How did she crush us instantly? Impossible!!”

Youke, still clutching his spear, realized his limbs had gone numb from the shadows’ earlier constriction. Excruciating pain at his joints confirmed his bones had shattered into fragments.

Hanno fared no better than Youke. His potent spell interrupted, magical backlash wracked his body. He vomited blood, his face bleaching deathly pale as his spirit faltered. While Youke could still rant, Hanno lacked even the strength to speak.

If their leaders were in such states, the five Imperial soldiers beneath them fared far worse.

Stealth 3000 viciously kicked the disrespectful, raving Youke, sending him sprawling. After his howl of pain, she stomped her shoe on his head.

“Hmph, such a filthy mouth!”

She ground his face hatefully under her sole before turning to Stealth 3001 beside her.

“You were handling them. Finish it.”

“Mm.”

Without another word, Stealth 3001 swiftly ended the lives of the wailing captives.

The two women exchanged a glance before sprinting toward the next source of anguished screams.

…

…

The scene shifted beyond the royal capital.

Where the Imperial reinforcements had stood had become stretches of scorched black earth. The dragons’ searing breath had reduced everything—even the metallic scent of blood—to ash.

Against five winged, Class S Earth Dragons, the number of human soldiers was meaningless.

Yet, whether influenced by the “Mark’s” effect or not, these Imperial troops refused to retreat. To shield the Rollo Kingdom—already under the ant tribe’s control both within and without—the Earth Dragons had no choice but to eliminate them on the plains outside the city walls.

Unlike high-Class B Hanno and Youke, however, the commanders leading these tens of thousands of Imperial reinforcements possessed considerable strength. The strongest among them had even reached mid-Class A level.

This group of reinforcements might indeed be the main force of the imperial army.

The other imperial generals were nothing special, but that Class A mid-level general truly possessed remarkable skills. Enhanced by certain abilities, his speed and strength increased significantly, particularly his velocity.

“Earth Dragons… I never anticipated the Rollo Kingdom having such powerful reinforcements.”

The general named Armand murmured while gazing up at the five colossal Earth Dragons soaring overhead.

The imperial troops were now scattered by successive dragon breath attacks. Though soldiers launched spells and arrows at the airborne Earth Dragons, their aim proved woefully inaccurate, and the attacks themselves barely affected the mighty creatures.

“Armand, this is untenable! We stand no chance against these monsters!”

The deputy general’s voice snapped Armand from his trance.

“They fly. Even if we flee, we cannot escape. We must make our last stand.”

Armand declared gravely, yet his eyes flickered with fierce excitement as he studied the dragons above.

Dragons… This marked his first encounter with such legendary monsters in his lifetime. The opportunity to battle them was rare enough—but if he could slay these beasts, tales of his dragon-slaying might spread across the entire continent!

“A last stand? What do you propose?”

The deputy general asked, bewildered.

“Simple. I need you all to assist me. When those Earth Dragons descend closer to earth, propel me upward.”

“You—you can’t be serious?!”

The deputy general’s expression turned incredulous.

“Enough talk. Prepare immediately.”

Armand barked, though his attention remained fixed elsewhere.

His eyes locked onto the nearest Ice Dragon circling above as he gripped his massive spear.

Unlike standard infantry spears, this weapon appeared custom-forged—not only longer but several times heavier than ordinary iron spears.

Perfect for dragon slaying. If driven through their hearts or skulls… The thought flashed through his mind.

The deputies fell silent. Seizing their moment, they hurled Armand toward the airborne Ice Dragon.

Armand shot spear-first toward the creature, thrusting his weapon at its head!

Yet the dragons spotted this blatant assault instantly.

A shriek of steel echoed as the spear failed to pierce the Ice Dragon’s skull, instead lodging between the scales on its neck.

Though thwarted, Armand refused to yield. Leveraging the impact, he vaulted onto the dragon’s neck.