Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Xi Wei’s expression turned grim as he glanced at the ghost dragon legion rapidly approaching the horizon. The ghost dragons were incredibly fast. In barely a breath, a faint shadowy silhouette transformed into a clear view of the mottled patterns on their dragon wings.
“Retreat to the fortress!” Xi Wei, standing on the back of a giant pink dragon, raised his longsword. The golden blade was resplendent against the pitch-black clouds. His roar, amplified and echoing through the sky, drowned out the sounds of battle.
“Retreat to the fortress! Quickly!” Xi Wei bellowed, repeating his command.
Clemon also spotted the ghost dragon legion diving toward them. He immediately sounded the retreat horn, wheeled his mount around, and led his knights and soldiers back towards the Emerald Fortress. The ghost dragons’ Withered Dragon Breath was terrifying. On the open battlefield, they had no cover and would only end up frozen into ice sculptures by the breath. Only by retreating into the Emerald Fortress and defending from the city walls was there any hope of survival.
The appearance of the ghost dragons acted as a shot of adrenaline for the demoralized undead legion. Perhaps it was the influence of Ghost Dragon Angus, but the remaining undead swarmed forward like a frenzy, blocking the path of the steel tide. They charged forward relentlessly, even as large numbers were obliterated by Bai Yao’s lightning.
With the retreat path obstructed by the frenzied undead and the ghost dragons growing closer, Clemon analyzed the unfolding situation and ordered his troops to consolidate around him. “Ruo Yi, please escort Bai Yao and You Ye back to the Emerald Fortress. We will do our best to clear a path for you and hold off those ghost dragons.” Clemon’s expression was grave, his tone resolute, as if he had already made up his mind.
“No, I can use my time abilities to delay those ghost dragons for a moment, and I can also teleport many soldiers. We can all leave here…” Ruo Yi trailed off, unable to continue. Before her stood an old knight, his hair and beard white, his body stained with blood. For the first time, his murderous gaze conveyed a sense of unwavering resolve. Ruo Yi knew she couldn’t change Clemon’s decision.
“Go!” he roared, like a beast stirring from its slumber. “All troops, turn around and form ranks!”
“Yes—!” The cheers were deafening. No one questioned Clemon’s command. The soldiers raised their shields, forming a circle around Clemon, their spears bristling. A steel bulwark slowly unfolded on the battlefield, with the flesh and blood of soldiers forming its rear. Behind them were members of the maid corps and the path blocked by the undead tide.
“After this battle, perhaps no one will remember your names. You are just soldiers of Winter City, nothing more. Are you… afraid?” Clemon planted the banner of Winter City on the rocky ground and turned to face his soldiers, speaking loudly.
“Not afraid!” the players and soldiers exclaimed in unison.
“Very good. These are the soldiers I brought out.” The old knight smiled with satisfaction. “There is nothing in this world to fear. After all, we only live once.” Time had etched its marks on his face, but his eyes remained as bright as they were in his youth.
“For the King of Winter!” he shouted, raising his sword.
“For the King of Winter!” The soldiers, brimming with killing intent, roared. In their gazes, the figures of the approaching ghost dragons loomed larger. But they no longer felt fear.
The horn and war drums sounded again.
“Kill—!” Falcons soared high into the overcast sky. The black flag with the golden eagle fluttered and snapped in the fierce winds whipped up by the ghost dragons. Wherever the ghost dragon legion passed, necromantic energy spread, awakening more undead from millennia of slumber. They surged towards the steel bulwark formed by shields in the center of the battlefield.
“Smoke signals rise, blades grow cold, rain falls colder, the King’s banner stands in the wind, horns sound in unison. Though the body dies, the spirit remains. Our decaying bones shall defend the nation!”
“Hah—!” The old knight let out a long cry. A blood-red Qi Slash tore through the sky. Just as the ghost dragon legion arrived above the troops holding their ground, just as they prepared to unleash their Withered Dragon Breath, a lightning spear shot from the horizon. This spear, over a hundred meters long, possessed a destructive momentum that engulfed the entire ghost dragon legion and continued towards the edge of the horizon, shrinking into a tiny point of light before vanishing completely.
Whether it was Xi Wei, Ghost Dragon Angus, or Clemon’s soldiers, they were all stunned by what they witnessed. The formidable ghost dragon legion had simply vanished in a furious surge of lightning, leaving not even a trace behind.
“What… what is this?” Ghost Dragon Angus looked utterly bewildered. Where had his massive ghost dragon legion gone? Over a dozen ghost dragons, just like that? Was this a joke?
While filled with doubt and apprehension, he also felt a deadly killing intent. The moment he sensed this prickling sensation on his back, he immediately moved. But it was too late. A colossal, bluish-green arm emerged from the clouds behind him, seizing his neck as if he were a chicken being prepared for slaughter. Angus struggled with all his might but could not break free. After a dizzying spin, he saw a pair of eyes smoldering with golden lightning and fire, hidden within the dark clouds, like two blazing suns.
“Thunder Titan!?” Angus exclaimed. As if in response to his shout, a massive green face emerged from the sea of dark clouds. Mist curled around its features. Its purplish-blue lips were like rows of thunderclouds streaking across the heavens. Its two dark nostrils resembled volcanoes on the verge of eruption. Hot steam spewed from them, sizzling onto Ghost Dragon Angus’s dragon head. The undead ghost fire in his eye sockets flickered, and his mouth let out a tragic dragon roar.
“Angus!” The giant’s roar was louder than thunder. Both players and Winter City soldiers staggered, clutching their heads and crouching on the ground. “How dare you desecrate the remains of my Titan God Race?!”
“Die!” A punch was thrown, stirring up wind and clouds. The blue iron fist tore through the ghost dragon’s chest. With a “boom,” the glass of the Emerald Fortress shattered. Even Connie couldn’t withstand the terrifying impact, tumbling head over heels towards the battlefield. She was close to the giant and had been knocked unconscious by the shockwave. Fortunately, Xi Wei was beside her. With all his might, he managed to catch the incredibly heavy Silly Dragon.
“Undead Emperor, Your Majesty!” Angus wailed. The iron fist of the Thunder Titan, embedded in his body, pulsed with violent lightning, slowly pulverizing him. He could barely hold on. “Your… Your Majesty, save… save me…” His massive body was being dismantled piece by piece by the Thunder Titan, like breaking apart a toy. His mottled, decayed dragon wings were torn off and casually tossed aside, landing on the ramparts of the Emerald Fortress. His ribs were snapped one by one and thrown in all directions, scattering across the battlefield and piercing the earth like several-meter-high white bone cliffs.
Just as a legendary ghost dragon was about to be toyed to death by the Thunder Titan, a sickly green teleportation array appeared in the sky. Around this array, black, ominous winds swirled, and the wails of the undead echoed. Following this, the teleportation gate opened, and from a boundless, gray-green mist of the undead, a skeletal hand, rivaling the Thunder Titan’s, emerged. It instantly grabbed Angus’s body and, with a forceful yank, tore most of his dragon form into the teleportation array. After this was done, the teleportation array vanished in an instant. Only the Thunder Titan remained in the sky, gripping the dimming skull of the ghost dragon. Its sun-like eyes stared blankly into space.
