Chapter 43.1

The sand ghost appeared once again. The sight of it caused the people in the hall to recall a similar incident that they had experienced before.

For a moment, they felt a chill run down their spines, and their hands and feet began to feel numb.

However, this feeling only lasted for a brief moment. The Wujin iron cavalry who were present in the hall quickly overcame their fear and rushed forward. They did not allow the sand ghost to deter them from their objective.

The Wujin iron cavalry's desperate attack was not directed at the sand ghosts themselves, but rather at the sand ghosts' path of retreat. They seemed to be driving the sand ghosts toward the throne.

As Oswald removed his disguise, he glanced overhead. A white eagle that he had released when Theodore entered the palace hall had just flown out of the palace gates. By now, the eagle should have returned with its echo.

The young emperor squeezed the scroll in his palm, then threw it away without looking at it. He sat on the Wujin Throne with a blank expression. Instead of moving away, he raised his hand and untied the cloak buttoned on his left shoulder.

Simultaneously, they heard a faint command echo throughout the hall, "Unlatch the gate!"

Four colossal water jets forcefully sprayed down from the four corners of the dome, directly aiming at the throne. The scarlet cloak draped atop it instantaneously became drenched, resembling a thick curtain that abruptly halted the ongoing assassination scheme.

The five swirling whirlwinds of sand and debris congealed under the cloak, causing their momentum to abruptly stagnate.

Subsequently, the four water jets struck the mass of gravel directly.

It is widely known that sand goblins, fearing water, annually avoid the rainy season due to the debilitating effects it has on them. Water renders them burdensome and immobilizes them, proving to be their greatest hindrance.

With water impeding their advancement, the nearly impervious Sand Goblins became less formidable.

Although numerous variables exist on the battlefield, making it impossible to exploit this strategy freely, within Xuangong, one's territory, it served as an exceedingly convenient attack enhancement!

Seizing the opportunity, Oswald swiftly unsheathed the emperor's saber, evading the throne as the water jets descended, and plunged the blade into the cloak!

"Do you honestly believe I would employ the same tactic twice? How foolish!" Oswald sneered at the sand goblin concealed beneath the cloak before rolling to the side, propelling Kevin and Ben away.

In that instant, catapulted by the emperor, Kevin narrowed his eyes, hurling the dagger in his hand with such precision that aiming became redundant.

Within the cascading water's symphony, two faint muffled "Puchi" sounds resonated. Kevin raised half of his mouth, emitting a brief chuckle.

Indeed, he had slain two birds with one stone.

The Wujin cavalry stationed within the hall instantly formed a barricade, brandishing their longbows and peppering the cloak-enshrouded sand goblin stronghold with a volley of arrows. A voice boomed from the dome above, "We are running out of water!"

As Kevin rose from the ground, Oswald forcefully urged him forward, "Leave! The vultures are waiting outside!"

Before his words could fully sink in, the sound of hooves abruptly ceased at the entrance of the hall, mingling with the neighing commotion.

"Retrieve the arrows! Retreat to the back cliff of the suspended palace!" Oswald bellowed, swift to depart. In his arms, he cradled Sinia, who had been carried by a servant, while Kevin and the accompanying Wujin cavalry promptly mounted their vultures. With a flick of the reins, they rapidly evacuated the suspended palace.

This plan had been devised before Theodore entered the palace, having been discussed between Oswald and Kevin. They had momentarily dispatched a white eagle to the cavalry soldier, Peter, instructing him to make two preparations simultaneously. They reinforced temporary waterproofing in the four corners of the skylight on the dome in the hall, a precautionary measure. The second instruction entailed urgently informing all comrades to evacuate.

Although the five Sand Goblins impersonating Theodore and his entourage had met their demise within the hall, they posed no significant threat. However, their presence signified the proximity of the main force.

Sand Goblins had always been excessively confident, believing that their surprise attack would undoubtedly succeed. Consequently, they had not made extensive preparations, rendering the water assault an unforeseen obstacle. Dealing with such a large troop proved to be a far greater challenge. The success of the water attack now rested primarily on luck.

On the battlefield, casualties were deemed inevitable. However, within the city, ordinary citizens, including the elderly, frail, and women and children, filled the streets. It was inconceivable to gamble the lives of so many individuals on luck alone. In the absence of certainty, a swift withdrawal was the only logical course of action.

Oswald led the inhabitants of the suspended palace to rendezvous with Peter, the commander of the cavalry army, at the cableway.

"How is the city's evacuation progressing?" Oswald reined his horse, raising its hooves high.

"We have relocated them to the basement storage room," Peter said, turning his horse's head as soon as he reached Oswald. "I will return to disperse the rangers to various households for safety."

Peter spoke quickly, his words clipped and efficient. He knew that time was of the essence, and he wasted no time in conveying his orders. Oswald nodded in understanding, and Peter urged his horse forward.

In the blink of an eye, the two vultures had sprinted off in different directions, not wasting a single second.

As Peter rode away, he could see Oswald and the other rangers moving quickly.

Such a scene had rarely been seen on the Road of Gods. Almost all the base camps of the major legions had been dispatched, the dust kicked up by the horseshoes was scattered like a cloud, the eight giant pillars of the Road of Gods were filled with smoke, and thunder continued to rumble.

The two vultures were like two streaks of light, disappearing into the distance in an instant. The air was filled with the sound of their wings flapping, and the ground shook with the force of their passage.

The scene was one of chaos and urgency, but it was also one of beauty and power. It was a reminder of the vastness and danger of the Road of Gods, and the determination of those who traveled it.

They knew that the enemy was close, and they were determined to protect the people they had sworn to serve.