Chapter 192: Under the Burning Sky

　　In recent days, Princess Mona’s sudden emergency evacuation order baffled most of the populace and even the military, with many privately grumbling and slandering her. However, Ahybern, with his legendary keen senses and foresight, had a different insight.

　　He knew firsthand that the ability to dismantle a poacher group that had plagued Demon Town for hundreds of years overnight, and to take control of the situation with such a commanding presence, while imprisoning Tyler Tuls, reflected a far more profound capability than the reckless rumors suggest about the princess’s whims.

　　Even under such immense pressure, her immediate order to evacuate the populace indicated that any wise person would detect the hint of something ominous. Though Ahybern was uncertain about what would happen next, he remained alert and cautious, refusing to let his guard down.

　　To be honest, he didn’t resent Princess Mona for her friendly attitude towards magical beasts. His opposition to foreign beings stemmed from a desire to protect humanity. After all, magical beasts were notoriously brutal, viewing humans as prey, leading to numerous conflicts at the kingdom’s borders, as well as various incidents where residents had been harmed.

　　However, Princess Mona’s current policies seemed to significantly alleviate the tensions between humans and magical beasts, leading to a peaceful coexistence. As long as this situation persisted, Ahybern was more than willing to support this young yet resolute princess.

　　Anyway, as a legendary strongman, political power struggles hardly affected him.

　　Today marked the third day of an unexpected heavy snowfall. Despite Princess Mona’s allocation of substantial manpower and resources to deal with the snow disaster, the thick snow still caused many inconveniences across various trades.

　　However, there weren’t many people left in Demon Town; millions of civilians had already relocated south to larger cities, leaving behind only essential facility maintenance workers, over two hundred thousand elite soldiers, adventurers, mercenaries, and others with sufficient combat abilities.

　　Clad in the full armor of “The Great Sword,” with a large sword strapped to his back, Ahybern walked atop the thick snow-covered city wall, observing the warriors, their faces blue from the cold but still standing firm.

　　This year’s weather had been exceptionally bizarre, starting with over a week of heavy rain followed by continuous snowfall, alongside the royal family’s inexplicable evacuation order—everything created a sense of impending disaster in Ahybern’s mind.

　　“Stay sharp! Do not slack off! This is a critical period, keep your eyes peeled!!”

　　“Yes!!!”

　　Though he thought about it, he could only loudly motivate the soldiers, as Ahybern remained in the dark regarding what might unfold next.

　　After his routine inspection of the city walls, “The Great Sword” was ready to leave temporarily.

　　To be cautious, he had been staying in a vacant house near the northern city gate these past few days, making several rounds daily, but each time had been uneventful, leading to a temporary sense of relief amidst the uncertainty and pressure.

　　But this time seemed different.

　　“Great spirits! Look! What is that!?”

　　“?”

　　A panic-stricken shout pierced through the air from somewhere, and as Ahybern turned to scold the startled soldier, he froze in place.

　　The sky split open, unleashing a rain of flames like meteors.

　　It wasn’t aimed at Demon Town; instead, the fiery rain set the sky ablaze, cascading down to the earth, accompanied by a series of rapid and intense explosions!

　　“Enemy attack!!! It’s an enemy attack!!! All units alert! Fire signal flares!!!!”

　　After a brief moment of shock, as a legendary strongman, Ahybern reacted first. His roar instantly jolted the soldiers out of their stupor caused by the apocalyptic scene, and bright bursts exploded above the city walls, though they appeared small and insignificant compared to the raging firestorm.

　　“Prepare for battle!!!!”

　　With his great sword drawn, Ahybern assumed a battle-ready stance as the surrounding soldiers, inspired by his presence, raised their weapons, ready to confront the imminent enemy.

　　Then, massive fireballs plummeted from the sky, crashing into the walls of Demon Town.

　　“Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!!!!”

　　The solid granite shattered in the explosions, and some fireballs, crashing directly onto the wall, sent dozens of soldiers flying, crashing into the walls, blood spilling from their mouths, while the unluckiest were thrown off the wall entirely.

　　“Aahhh!!!!”

　　The soldiers’ screams echoed in the air. Although Ahybern felt pain for them, he couldn’t afford to lose focus, as the real threats began to emerge from the burning fireballs.

　　Before him stood a terrifying creature he had never seen before, its insides rocky and its exterior engulfed in unquenchable crimson flames. Its body unfolded from a charred pit, radiating intense heat as it expanded outward, rapidly melting the snow and chill surrounding it at an alarming rate.

　　“What… what kind of monster is this?!”

　　“Have the magical beings turned on us again?!”

　　“Calm down!!! Everyone stay calm!!! This is not a magical beast! This is a dimensional enemy from beyond the sky! It’s precisely because she foresaw their invasion that Princess Mona ordered the evacuation and organized our defenses!”

　　With a bellow, Ahybern quickly quelled the panic among the soldiers and immediately initiated a temporary mobilization.

　　“Now that we have taken up arms, we are the first line of defense for the kingdom! Behind us are our defenseless families and children! Stay composed, unite! Humanity is invincible! Hold the line!!! Eliminate the invaders!!!!”

　　Among the commanders, someone immediately responded loudly.

　　“Lord Ahybern is right! Who’s afraid? Let’s kill them!!!”

　　“Kill!!!!!!!”

　　The defenders left in Demon Town were the cream of the crop chosen by Mona, with weaker soldiers already escorting civilians to safety. With Ahybern, “The Great Sword,” leading them, they lost their fear and charged forward despite the terrifying enemy ahead, rallying with fierce cries!

　　“Roar!!!!”

　　The towering stone giant wreathed in flames did not falter; after a thunderous roar, its massive hand lashed out wildly, sending several soldiers flying, leaving no one able to stand against it.

　　“Monster! You shall not act so arrogantly!!!”

　　Ahybern’s figure soared into the air, his great sword like a waterfall, and seizing the opening as the fire giant wreaked havoc, he cleaved through its hasty defense with one blow, severing its left arm and splitting it in two, straight down from its head!

　　“Bang!”

　　The dismembered flaming stone figure crashed heavily, shattering into countless fragments, and the enveloping red flames gradually extinguished, eliciting excited cheers from the surrounding soldiers.

　　“Lord Great Sword is mighty!!!”

　　But Ahybern, sword in hand, glanced at the debris beneath him and then upwards at the sky, which was nearly ablaze, with flames still pouring down, concealing his trembling hands from the backlash, his expression grim.

　　“This… seems a bit… bad.”

   

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