The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 147: The Speeding Figure

Vol 2 Chapter 147 The Speeding Figure

Under the night sky, Sylutia rode her horse forward. The fortress not far away was burning amidst the night fires, and figures locked in combat were everywhere on the city walls.

"Ahead is Split-Axe City, my lady," a man of Regas cavalryman riding close beside her informed the young girl.

"What's the situation there?" Sylutia inquired.

"We received a report from the messenger hawk. The garrison within the city is numerous at this moment and has occupied many commanding heights. We are fighting with great difficulty and fear we cannot hold out much longer."

"I understand."

Sylutia leaned down, took out a fragrant carrot, and fed it to the Windtrust horse beneath her. She then took out several red currants and placed them in its mouth.

Leaning close to the Windtrust horse's ear, the young girl whispered instructions.

"There will be much to do tonight, requiring us to face it together. Run with all your might. I believe your potential far exceeds this."

Chewing the food in its mouth, the white Windtrust horse neighed into the night wind. Its four hooves continuously lifted and fell, its speed growing faster and faster until it finally transformed into a white comet, breaking away from the ranks and charging towards the distant cliffside fortress.

On the open plain, nearly a thousand cavalrymen spurred their horses in a rapid charge. They followed closely behind this young girl, pursuing her silhouette as they charged towards the burning fortress city.

These cavalrymen came from various towns across Regas. Some were men of Regas resisting Anty, some were cultists of the Hundred-Eyes Sect following the Arrival, and a small number were Anty soldiers subdued by Sylutia.

Although Sylutia had shattered their frontline suppressing the men of Regas, she had also rescued them from the encircling hatred and slaughter by numerous men of Regas.

"I know you do not wish to die in a foreign land, and I am also aware that you truly have little freedom of choice. If you still wish to live, follow behind me and fight for me. I can promise you that you will all return alive to your homeland."

Amidst the burning firelight, surrounded by men of Regas holding spears and blades, their eyes filled with hatred and fury, this group of cornered Anty soldiers could only kneel on one knee, begging for the protection of this powerful being.

The charisma of a person is a difficult thing to describe. Perhaps exquisite beauty can captivate most hearts, but the figure wielding a blade on the battlefield, effortlessly tearing through enemy formations time and again, is also something people yearn to follow.

That strength, simple and unadorned; that glory of victory, like the most dazzling gem in the night, attracted countless figures to follow.

In the darkness, that young girl ascended the city wall. Her figure lightly swept across, the blade in her hand constantly flipping, flashing, and vanishing, severing lunging steel spears, piercing through sturdy heavy armor. Sparks shattered, iron fragments disintegrated, and one enemy after another blocking her path fell.

The knight defending Split-Axe City wore black heavy armor, wielded a great two-handed sword, and strode forward. The gaze from within the helmet's slit locked onto the young girl charging up the wall.

The mighty greatsword cleaved down vertically, the air current it stirred making the cheeks of surrounding soldiers sting.

For the first time, this young girl halted her steps. Gripping her sword with both hands, she parried the descending greatsword. Sizzling sparks flew, the blade scattering fragments. Then the two engaged once more. The two-handed sword held by that knight shimmered with a silvery, cold light, a dangerous aura overflowing.

This time, the longsword in Sylutia's hand shattered. The broken blade grazed her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

Dodging aside, Sylutia discarded the broken sword. Gazing at this powerful heavy-armored knight, starlight swirling and flickering within her eyes, she slowly raised her wrist from within her black sleeve. A golden long blade materialized from the void, falling back into her grasp.

Then the young girl moved again. The golden blade followed her figure, flipping and dancing in the night wind like flowing golden light, appearing amidst her black skirt and sleeves. Golden blade marks also fell upon this heavy-armored knight, one after another.

Until a certain moment, these golden cracks all shattered in yet another cleaving strike, scattering down from the city wall.

With a heavy thud, the heavy-armored knight knelt heavily on the ground, his head bowing, slowly losing his breath. Only then did a trickle of dark red blood slowly flow down from between his brows.

After the most powerful defender in Split-Axe City died, the remaining Anty soldiers lost all will to fight and began to flee and retreat.

At this moment, the image of the black-haired young girl standing on the city wall, blade in hand, was deeply imprinted in everyone's mind.

The city gates slowly lowered. The cavalrymen charging across the wilderness rushed into Split-Axe City, shouting loudly.

"Surrender and you will not be killed!"

"Now, we men of Regas will take over this city. Any Anty people who lay down their weapons and raise their hands high will not be harmed!"

Their voices spread and diffused through the city. The galloping hoofbeats pierced the night, ending the remaining fighting within the city.

Half an hour later, the flag of the Kingdom of Ante on the city tower slowly lowered, and the dark-colored flag belonging to Regas slowly rose.

Afterwards, surrendered Anty soldiers were escorted out one by one, gathering in the square. Along both sides of the road here stood figures holding weapons, standing straight. Among them were men of Regas, unfamiliar cultists in black and red robes, and even Anty warriors who had not changed their armor.

At this moment, they seemed to have shed distinctions of nation and faction, holding their heads high as they stood. After all these captive Anty soldiers arrived at the square, a black-haired figure hurried over. She ascended the high platform in the square. At this moment, the soldiers in the square uniformly knelt on one knee, paying homage to this ruler.

This scene shocked the captive Anty soldiers. Even many onlooking residents within Split-Axe City looked towards the figure on the high platform with immense surprise.

From any angle, she was a young girl with delicate, gentle features who did not appear imposing. However, the still-bloodstained golden long blade in her hand silently spoke volumes.

In the pale golden firelight, she sheathed her blade. Her clear, pure blue eyes slowly swept across the entire assembly. Her voice was clear and soft, causing people to unconsciously calm down.

"Now, you must make a choice. Follow me to liberate more towns, or accept due judgment and atone for your crimes."

"If you follow me, I promise that when everything is over, you will return safely to your homeland."

"However, not everyone will have this opportunity." Sylutia looked towards the soldier who had run over to her side.

"My lady, this is the list we verified by inquiring with the city's residents."

Taking the list, Sylutia glanced over it, then handed it to a Scholar standing to the other side. He was also someone who had been rescued just a few hours earlier.

"I shall announce the judgment on behalf of Lady Sylutia," this Scholar spoke.

"Those named on this list have all committed unforgivable atrocities. You will be handed over to the local residents for punishment." After his words fell, the onlooking residents nearby loudly cheered in approval, some even raising their weapons and fists.

Then names were read out one by one, and those individuals were detained by the soldiers of Regas. Soon after, these people were executed by executioners appointed from among the local residents.

Witnessing this scene, many Anty soldiers turned their heads away. Fear and relief simultaneously rose in their hearts.

In the following two minutes, the Anty soldiers on the scene, unable to bear the angry gazes of the surrounding residents, lowered their heads one by one and declared their willingness to follow and pledge allegiance to this new ruler.

Sylutia knew they held little loyalty, and she did not care about that. What she needed to do was merely end this utterly rotten situation.

If these people fled, Sylutia would not pursue them, as long as they no longer appeared within her sight. If they were willing to follow her, even better. She would have more ample strength to solve problems, and she also had the confidence to finally provide these soldiers who had turned from evil a place to settle down.

Seeing these people swear their oaths, Sylutia nodded. She instructed her followers beside her to re-issue weapons and armor to these surrendered Anty soldiers and provide them with warhorses.

This immediate bestowal of trust left the Anty soldiers on the scene somewhat at a loss. Fortunately, there were already some veterans among them setting an example, telling them what to do next.

"Now, everyone mount up. Follow me to the next city."

The city gates opened once more. A vast contingent charged into the night again, heading towards the surrounding towns. The entire process of capturing the city and integrating the troops took no more than forty minutes, unbelievably fast.

But, that galloping figure possessed just such a special charisma that made people willing to follow behind her, constantly advancing.

In the night, town after town was ignited, then extinguished. The flags atop the towers changed one by one.

Even an illusory ideal, as long as someone believes and acts upon it, has the possibility of becoming reality, does it not?

The galloping contingent continuously expanded, also rapidly developing rapport and discipline through repeated surprise attacks and operations, until the last town in the southern territory of Regas regained peace and changed the color of its flag.

At this moment, on the distant night sky's canopy, the obscuring layers of dark clouds spread apart. A conspicuous silver-blue luminous mist beacon rose, and a strange, eerie aura slowly descended upon the world.

Sylutia rode out from the small town behind her, gazing into the distance at the rising beacon's luminous mist between the far mountains, sensing the faintly calling aura of the 'alien star' that beckoned to her.

That was the headquarters of the Hundred-Eyes Sect, and also the final battlefield of this night, Sylutia silently recited in her heart.

"Now, we advance towards the direction where that beacon rose."

"Yes!"

The sound echoed through the pitch-black night. One long blade after another was drawn from its sheath, pointing towards the sky.

These figures once again whipped their reins and followed this young girl as she charged into the night.