NOVPUBChapter 82: Chapter 82 Paladin Has Arrived
Chapter 82 -82 Paladin Has Arrived
Alchemy City boasts a towering gate, thirty meters high, built entirely of steel and weighing more than a thousand tons. This gate is not only a symbol of the city but also its most formidable defense. Carved upon it are various mysterious magical symbols, capable of withstanding almost any type of attack.
Overcoming this gate would first require depleting all of Alchemy City’s stored mana, otherwise, all attacks would be nullified by the magical defenses above.
Although alchemists might lack personal combat prowess, their alchemical creations were sufficient to close that gap. Even if Gareth launched an all-out charge, he couldn’t shake the gate.
But now, this impregnable gate was slowly opening, the rotation and collision of numerous gears ringing out like the tolling of a large bell.
James Watson, with his Paladin Legion, entered through the city gates, his face stormy.
He knew he had been betrayed. By the time James Watson returned to Alchemy City after scouring the Life Caskets around Amberser’s lands, he found the gates closed, and the city’s magic defense system activated.
Looking at the dozens of Magic Conduction Cannons on the gates, James Watson dared not approach.
Even for a Legendary Rank Light Priest, storming the city now would be suicide, likely to be blasted to pieces under a barrage of cannon fire.
They had agreed to exchange the Life Caskets for the release of their captive paladins, including his son, Allen. Yet, those alchemists had shut the gates, clearly intending to go back on their word.
But James Watson still couldn’t understand why the alchemists would do such a thing.
Was there any downside to this deal for them?
Though not privy to the specifics like Amberser, James Watson had served as Supreme Judge for many years; an idiot couldn’t manage the legal system of such a vast empire.
There must be some internal trouble within Alchemy City, likely plunging it into extreme chaos, which was why they had sealed the city.
Realizing this, James Watson ordered all his subordinates to start praying.
They weren’t praying for the Lord of the Dawn to descend and slap the alchemists dead, they were simply creating a strong Holy Light effect outside the city through their prayers.
A beam of light that pierced the heavens appeared, morphing as they chanted their scriptures.
Then, there was a lengthy wait.
James Watson awaited a response from those paladins within the city.
Allen and the other ten members of the Conviction Knight Order had been taken into Alchemy City. Perhaps they were being held captive, unlikely to see the Holy Light signal, but this was James Watson’s only hope.
And James had bet correctly, as, at the opening of the gates, his son Allen Watson knelt before him, respectfully welcoming his arrival.
Behind Allen stood another nine paladins, along with a special military unit of less than a hundred people.
“Father…” Allen managed to say just one word, then fell silent.
Allen was lucky. At Amberser’s castle, he hadn’t suffered much harm, just a beating from Gareth that hadn’t caused any serious damage, quickly healed with a simple healing spell.
Aside from Masstar, the injuries of the other captured paladins weren’t severe and were within the healing scope of Divine Arts.
Because they were ostensibly being rescued, Alchemy City hadn’t thrown them in jail. After being brought into the city by airship, the group of paladins was taken to an inn and even provided with some healing potions, speeding up their recovery.
So upon seeing the Holy Light signal outside, the paladins discussed how to seize control of the gate and let James Watson in.
Though all their gear had been stripped by Amberser, reducing their combat effectiveness substantially, even unarmed, the paladins remained a force to be reckoned with. In a successful surprise attack, Allen knocked out two Governing Officers, seized their Magipuppet Automatons, and thus began the paladins’ counteroffensive.
After bursting out of the inn, the group of paladins hit the streets, first targeting a shop selling armor and weapons. Although the store was closed, the paladins broke in to arm themselves without paying a dime.
Now equipped, they grew bolder and captured Alchemy City’s Governing Officers as hostages to extract information about the city. Although these officers knew little, they still provided a crucial piece of intelligence to the paladins.
It was the undead, laying siege to the city, and most of Alchemy City’s forces were tied down by them, leaving other areas vulnerable.
At this point, the paladins split into two factions. One insisted the undead were the class enemy and must be eliminated first, while the other believed the waters of Alchemy City were too deep and they should unite with James Watson first before considering how to deal with the undead.
With his limited experience and being partly to blame, Allen had little to say until Masstar, despite his weakness, commanded everyone to focus their efforts on taking the gate, preventing a split among them.
Then came the daring assault by ten paladins who overtook the gate’s control and opened the impregnable portal from within.
Allen fought valiantly in the battle, suffering multiple injuries. Even after receiving treatment, he still looked a sorry sight, his armor torn and face smeared with blood.
James Watson, faced with his son covered in scars, didn’t show a trace of pity; he simply said indifferently, “Paladin Allen Watson, you should address me as Supreme Judge. Your rash actions have led to heavy losses for the Empire, and you will face trial upon our return to the country.”
Allen lowered his head, offering neither objection nor explanation, only loudly responding, “I am willing to accept judgement, Supreme Judge Sir.”
Only then did James Watson turn to look toward the bizarrely outfitted army behind Allen, who looked more like civilians.
“Tell me the situation in the city, and who are these people behind you?”
Allen hurriedly explained, “Alchemy City encountered a massive undead siege, leading to a state of chaos. As for these civilians behind me, they are all followers of the Lord of the Dawn; we had promised them entry into the Empire, to become our Laine’s people…”
These hundred or so individuals were precisely the civilians and serfs Masstar had previously recruited. However, after Masstar was ambushed and the Conviction Knight Order was captured, these people were no longer anyone’s concern.
Fortunately, Masstar had paid in advance when settling them, preventing them from running out of food that very day. But after the Paladins were taken prisoner, the majority of these people still fled. With no chance of reaching the Laine Empire, they had to find another path.
Some returned to their former lords to scrape out a living, while others tried to establish themselves in a place like Alchemy City.
Only a few were willing to wait for the future that Masstar had promised.
Geronimo was one of them. Having witnessed the power of the Holy Light, he could no longer be content as a serf, despite Masstar’s capture, and he was not prepared to give up.
So when pillars of Holy Light appeared outside the city and chaos reigned within, Geronimo organized the remaining people. Whether to fish in troubled waters or protect themselves, staying together was certainly the right choice for the time being.
As a result, they encountered Allen and the other Paladins on the road—the Holy Light’s power was so familiar. Geronimo quickly led his people to follow them. They were on the same side, and Allen wouldn’t refuse their help.
However, the imitation Divine Artifacts they brought were stolen by Amberser. During the battle, this group of mortals couldn’t help much—they could only serve as cannon fodder or as a morale support.
There were significant casualties along the way; people died, and others, frightened, chose to run away.
Less than sixty individuals managed to follow Allen and rendezvous with the main army.
Allen endeavored to inform James Watson about the events in Alchemy City in the most succinct language possible. But he was unaware of the Sewer Ritual Magic, so he still thought it was a straightforward undead siege.
James Watson, however, sensed something was amiss.
“If the undead have already penetrated the city, why waste mana to activate the city’s external defenses? And to deal with the undead, why haven’t those Alchemists sought our help? This is illogical.”
After a moment of contemplation, James Watson now faced two choices.
The first was to lead his men out of Alchemy City directly, no matter the state of chaos inside. With his powerful Paladin Legion, nobody could stop them from leaving. After all, his mission was accomplished with the rescue of Allen and the other Paladins—returning now would be a victory march.
The second option was to muddle into the unknown undead siege, where he could only take a stand against the undead, essentially working for Alchemy City.
Between the two choices, there seemed little reason for hesitation—the rational choice was clearly the first.
But those were undead!
Although Alchemy City was a city mixed with various races, there were still many humans inside. Allowing the undead to slaughter humans did not align with the teachings of the Lord of the Dawn.
When belief conflicts with interest, most people choose to flexibly adapt their standards of faith.
But from James Watson to any ordinary soldier in the legion, they were all zealots of the Lord of the Dawn; to ignore the undead was not an option.
No, it was unbearable.
So, knowing full well he was making a foolish decision, James Watson could only clench his fists and loudly declare, “Holy Light, please protect us, dispel all darkness! Everyone, follow me and purify those filthy undead!”
Brilliant platinum light bloomed upon these Laine people, like the sun touching the mortal realm.
The Paladin Legion began advancing toward the area within the city where the undead presence was thickest, regardless of whatever schemes or traps Alchemy City might harbor—the undead were there!
At that moment, from atop a high tower, Amberser loudly inquired where James Watson and his Paladin Legion were.
Then, the intense Holy Light, so profound it could be felt without sight, resolved his doubts.
These religious fanatics were charging toward him, loudly proclaiming the Holy Light, glory, and so on.
Amberser made a swift decision—to flee immediately, to take refuge in the sewers first.
