novelraw Chapter 94: National Defense Corps
Chapter 94: National Defense Corps
Everyone wanted to flatter this new generation of Celestial Destiny Emperor.
However, Helena, being the one involved, was completely indifferent.
She merely swept her gaze coldly across the crowd, and then spoke words that no one expected.
"Those guilty of capital crimes should surrender to receive a whole corpse."
"Those guilty of lesser crimes who willingly admit their guilt shall have their sentences reduced by one year."
"There’s no need to wait any longer, proceed!"
As Helena’s icy words fell, squads of soldiers appeared out of thin air around the open viewing platform.
They seemed to have been hidden here all along, just awaiting Her Majesty the Empress’s command.
Though these soldiers’ individual prowess didn’t appear outstanding, not even comparable to the Royal Guard trained under the Late Emperor, the bloodlust emanating from them was absolutely not something that the idle soldiers living in the Imperial City could match.
"It’s the National Defense Corps! Aren’t they supposed to be on the anti-demon frontline? How are they here!"
Someone in the encircled crowd exclaimed, immediately recognizing the soldiers’ identities as a former general stationed at the border.
The Celestial Destiny Empire’s National Defense Corps — the only army capable of combat, holding the frontline against the Demon Race for years. While a single soldier’s level may not compare to the nobles’ private troops who enjoy access to greater resources, their teamwork and combat ability are far beyond what ordinary warriors could achieve.
They can concentrate together and form a military formation, drawing on its power similar to a Magic Array, yielding miraculous destructive force.
If the army numbers less than a hundred, a High-tier Warrior or High-tier Mage could easily break them.
But once the army forms a hundred-man team, they can contend against opponents whose average level is 100 levels higher, although the chances of actual victory are not great.
And when they form a thousand-man battalion or even a ten-thousand-man army, defeating enemies in unexpected cross-tier battles becomes feasible.
If they can mobilize a corps exceeding one hundred thousand troops, even a High-tier Saint would have to tread carefully.
Of course, the Celestial Destiny Empire’s current weakened state means even after exhausting all resources, at most only three regular corps can be assembled.
Before the Late Emperor ascended the throne, the Celestial Destiny Empire was a superpower boasting millions of troops and tens of billions in population, even the Light Empire had to show them respect.
But now, even after exploiting all the empire’s strength, at most three hundred thousand regular troops could be mustered, among which only the National Defense Corps maintains a complete structure.
Lynn himself knows well the might of a structured army, albeit not nearly as mighty as him...
Yet excluding figures like Lynn near godhood and demigods, even a Peak Saint Tier would be hard-pressed to escape encirclement by a corps.
Even if the ordinary soldiers might be just over level 200, as long as the enemy’s defense isn’t sufficient to utterly ignore the soldiers’ tenfold output, even if each soldier can only force 1 point of blood loss on them, concentrated fire from the corps could instantly kill a High-tier Saint or severely wound a Peak Saint Tier.
Certainly, powerful Saint tier warriors aren’t exactly fools waiting to be targeted for concentrated fire; the corps’ most crucial role beyond deterrence is aiding top-tier warriors in combined assaults.
As seen at this moment, Helena mobilized over ten thousand troops to encircle the viewing platform; if it were only them, the Celestial Destiny Empire elites could muster enough force to break out.
But now it’s different...
"I... I can’t move! Mercy, Your Majesty! I’ve served the empire well! I’ve been loyal to you!"
"High-tier Saint Tier! Has Her Majesty truly ascended to High-tier Saint Tier!"
"Let me go! I’m rich, exceedingly rich! Any crime I’ll pay for with my wealth!"
"I... I’ll offer double penance gold coins to spare me..."
"I’m innocent, Your Majesty! An old servant who’s never committed an evil deed!"
"Hahaha, it’s Celestial Mandate’s Imperial Might! We’re burdened by the Empire and can’t escape!"
Within a minute, the cries in the crowd never ceased, but Helena, high on the Divine Altar, ignored them completely, channeling all her power to suppress the Celestial Destiny Empire’s subordinates with Imperial Vein and Imperial Might.
With her present level reaching 720, her emperor’s intimidation was terrifying, anyone tied to the Celestial Destiny Empire’s veins couldn’t escape her intense oppression.
Originally, to suppress the elite required cooperation from Lord Lynn, but now it was unnecessary; she alone could minimize everyone’s ability to resist.
Even the strongest few Dukes of the Empire, under her imperial might’s suppression, would be inferior to mere elite soldiers, unable to produce the strength to resist no matter their determination.
"It appears His Majesty here won’t need this old man’s hand, hahahaha..."
From the National Defense Corps’ crowd came a hearty laugh, making any remaining hopeful in the crowd turn pale and collapse.
"It’s Lord Armand, the National Guardian War Saint!"
"Has he returned too! Does Her Majesty truly intend to annihilate us completely?"
A stir rippled through the crowd; after the laughter settled, a burly figure in heavy armor descended from the sky, shattering several paving tiles in the Imperial City.
The individual appeared still in his middle years, though his hair was already gray, standing over two meters, enveloped in fine steel heavy armor, wielding a two-handed giant war axe looking immensely threatening.
He was the Celestial Destiny Empire’s National Guardian War Saint, having served Helena, over three reigns, only kept long at the front by the Late Emperor who feared his immense power, combating the Demon Race on the frontline, never summoned back even when battles steadied into trench warfare.
His presence now in the Celestial Destiny Imperial City surely suggests a prior call from the new emperor; the reason for his summons is now clear.
"Lord Armand, don’t shirk; among these, some may possess unique means to save themselves, and your men alone may struggle to capture them."
Helena on the Divine Altar watched the crowd below; she sensed some with signs of movement. Though she could suppress with imperial might, among the empire’s elite who’d held high positions for so long, some might possess treasures for self-preservation. Should she or the National Defense Corps slip up, some may slip through.
Though Lord Lynn stands as the final safeguard, ideally, Celestial Destiny Empire matters should remain efforts by its own people.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, with this old man here, not even a fly will leave the Imperial City!"
Saying so, the National Guardian War Saint Armand thrust his giant axe into the ground as the National Defense Corps soldiers charged into the crowd.
Ordinary noble officials were left for soldiers to arrest; the notable Dukes and Marquises were handled personally by him.
The crowd swiftly fell into chaos with the National Defense Corps soldiers’ intrusion, only about ten percent of the empire’s elite were named by Helena for release—ceremoniously escorted out by soldiers—while the rest, without exception, were apprehended.