Bang!!!
A heavy fist, brimming with power, slammed down from the sky, effortlessly tearing the earth apart and kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
Spinning, leaping, and then…
"Flying Kick!!"
Quetzalcoatl soared into the air, channeling mana to envelop her fist in flames and light, striking directly at the Demon God Pillars.
Amid the swirling dust, six towering pillars of flesh, glowing with eerie light, unleashed torrents of terrifying mana, targeting the blonde figure charging toward them at breakneck speed.
"Incineration Ritual!!"
"Incineration Ritual!!!"
Countless blinding, terrifying lasers shot from the countless eyes of the Demon God Pillars, locking onto Quetzalcoatl as she sped across the ground.
"Careful!"
"Neigh!!! What kind of attack is this?!"
Seeing the endless purple beams erupting in the sky, Li Shuwen and Red Hare, tasked with escorting the group alongside Quetzalcoatl, widened their eyes and shouted warnings.
Boom!!
Before their voices could fully carry, a deafening explosion roared in their ears.
The violent shockwaves from the immense mana made Li Shuwen grimace, while the Ur soldiers behind him were stunned by the terrifying spectacle.
This was a realm beyond their reach, a battle between gods and monsters.
Though they were still far from the battlefield, Li Shuwen and Red Hare could easily sense that each laser from the Demon God Pillars carried power rivaling at least a B-rank Noble Phantasm.
And they were firing so many at once?!
To unleash such devastating barrages, each Demon God Pillar's strength was at least on par with theirs, if not greater.
Locked onto by multiple high-powered Noble Phantasm-like beams, even Uruk's two warriors, aware of Quetzalcoatl's divine status, couldn't help but worry.
"Rider, stay here and help Ur's soldiers fend off the demon beasts. I'll go assist her."
"Got it."
Red Hare nodded.
Concerned about the battle, Li Shuwen instructed Red Hare before rolling up his sleeves, ready to join the fray and support Quetzalcoatl.
He wasn't sure if his martial arts expertise could affect these bizarre entities, but he couldn't just stand by while Quetzalcoatl faced them alone.
Even if his strength fell short, he had to try and ease her burden.
The migration had started smoothly.
An hour after Karna and Roy set out on the air and sea routes, their land migration began.
To ensure success, the three strongest members led separate routes.
Originally, their duo would have sufficed, but when they heard about flying, both Li Shuwen and Red Hare refused outright.
For Li Shuwen, a martial artist needed solid ground to maintain balance and leverage for combat readiness. Flying, strapped to a pterodactyl, was like binding his hands and feet. If trouble struck in the sky, he'd be useless, only hindering Karna.
Red Hare was even more adamant. A four-hooved terrestrial creature, it questioned whether it could fight in the air, let alone whether Quetzalcoatl's pet pterodactyls would even carry such a beast. If it joined Karna in the sky, it'd be a liability. Though it expressed a desire to try the "rider" role, Quetzalcoatl vetoed it.
With neither Li Shuwen nor Red Hare going, and Quetzalcoatl indispensable as a high-end combatant, the air route was left entirely to Karna.
Fortunately, Karna was reliable, powerful and meticulous. Entrusting Ur's soldiers to him gave Quetzalcoatl and Roy peace of mind.
The sea, land, and air migration plan, devised by Gilgamesh and led by Roy, had initially proceeded smoothly.
They encountered no major threats, only occasional stray demon beasts on the plains, which Red Hare and Li Shuwen swiftly dispatched.
Until,
They were halfway through, just half a day from Uruk.
At this critical moment of near success, countless strange demon beasts emerged from nowhere.
Vast in number, ferocious in demeanor, and joined by terrifying entities called Demon God Pillars, they ambushed from all directions.
Even Quetzalcoatl found the sudden situation daunting.
Their appearance here meant the enemy was prepared. Caught in the middle of the journey, retreating to Ur was no longer an option. Success or failure, they had to press on to Uruk.
Roy had foreseen this risk before departure, informing Quetzalcoatl and Ur's soldiers of the necessary dangers.
It was only a possibility then, but now the worst had come to pass.
Reaching this point, Quetzalcoatl, the team's strongest asset and linchpin, made a decisive call. She tasked Li Shuwen and Red Hare with leading the soldiers to break through, while she handled the Demon God Pillars.
Ur's soldiers didn't disappoint her. Despite the sudden peril, they didn't panic or lose their will to fight.
Worthy of being her chosen warriors, they were exceptional humans, deserving to pass down their spirit and lineage.
"Kill!!"
Brandishing their weapons, they followed Red Hare's lead, engaging in fierce combat with the demon beasts on the plain.
Blazing lasers lit up the night sky, their terrifying heat and kinetic energy scorching the Mesopotamian plain under the Demon God Pillars' gaze.
"Oh? Six against one? You're quite enthusiastic~"
"But Onee-san already has a chosen king, so I'll have to pass!"
Facing the six Demon God Pillars sealing the space with their Incineration Ritual, Quetzalcoatl remained unfazed, deftly countering with agile movements.
Whoosh!
She spun the shield adorned with strange patterns in her right hand, raising it to block the pillars' attacks, while her left hand gripped a serrated sword, following up swiftly.
"Take this! Monsters without limbs can't wrestle for a clash of body and soul. So try my slicing technique!"
Boom, boom, boom!!
Thunderous roars erupted as her shield blocked the magical cannons, and the serrated sword's terrifying energy tore through the beams, illuminating the night sky.
With Quetzalcoatl's immense power, her sword effortlessly shredded the pillars' beams. The clash of opposing mana created a blinding white light, drawing all eyes.
After the fierce explosion, the surrounding landscape was transformed by their clash, crimson flames on one side, charred earth on the other.
Quetzalcoatl stood amid the rising sea of fire, her serrated sword pointed at the Demon God Pillars, her eyes blazing with fury and resolve.
The pillars fell silent.
After the exchange, they had gauged Quetzalcoatl's strength.
She was strong, absurdly so.
Without even using her Noble Phantasm, she overpowered six Demon God Pillars, holding a clear advantage.
Compared to Gorgon, this blonde goddess was unbelievably powerful.
As expected of the Aztec chief god, Quetzalcoatl…
Her speed and strength were flawless, even with her Saint Graph constrained, her power was unreasonably immense. Six pillars working together couldn't inflict meaningful damage.
If she weren't protecting the nearby migrating mortals, unable to act freely or use her Noble Phantasm, they might have been torn apart by her hands.
Retaining Rider's high mobility, her strength was more akin to a power-focused Berserker than a typical Rider.
A single punch could deform even the indestructible bodies of the Demon God Pillars, followed by a dazzling combo from her serrated sword, sending them back to the Temple of Time.
Seven pillars had appeared, but now only six remained.
The one instantly killed by her opening combo was proof of her prowess.
This served as a warning: against this outrageously powerful Divine Spirit, brute force was futile, and carelessness was fatal.
Barring the confirmed Grand Berserker, Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl was likely Chaldea's strongest ally.
The Demon God Pillars shifted tactics, summoning more specialized demon beasts from the Mesopotamian plain, instantly surrounding the migrating Ur army to slow them and hinder Quetzalcoatl's combat.
"Assassin, don't worry about me! Go protect the soldiers and get them out of here!!"
Seeing Li Shuwen break from the group to aid her, Quetzalcoatl frowned and shouted.
She cared more about Ur's soldiers than her own foes.
These were her chosen humans, treasures of humanity. She had promised her king to deliver them safely to Uruk, and she had to keep that vow.
"But you…"
Li Shuwen tried to protest, but Quetzalcoatl cut him off sternly.
"Don't mind me! They're just the King of Magecraft's lapdogs. I can handle them alone. Get out of here; I'll catch up."
"Alright, be careful."
Seeing her resolve, Li Shuwen didn't argue, retreating to Red Hare's side to assist.
Ignoring a comrade wasn't his style, but this wasn't the time for bravado or indecision.
Without trust and coordination, people would die.
They'd been ambushed, and their priority was to break through quickly.
No time to waste on these Demon God Pillars and beasts, they had to escape now.
"Rider!"
Seeing the growing number of demon beasts, Li Shuwen called to Red Hare ahead.
"Got it, Assassin. Let's lead the soldiers and break out!"
Red Hare didn't hesitate, letting out a whinny to signal understanding.
Though not a true strategist or general, it had fought countless battles alongside its heroic masters.
Even without formal military training, its experience far surpassed Li Shuwen's, a mere martial artist, making it the best choice to lead the breakout!!
"Neigh!! Soldiers behind me, follow my lead and charge!!"
Mimicking its former master, Red Hare rallied the army's morale. The crimson steed shot forward like lightning, charging into the demon beast horde, wielding its spear to slaughter enemies.
"Kill! Kill!! KILL!!!"
Shedding its usual playful demeanor, Red Hare's aura turned razor-sharp, tearing through the beasts like a wolf among sheep.
One slash sent flesh flying.
Two slashes sent heads rolling.
Three slashes made enemies tremble.
Its valor inspired the soldiers behind.
The able-bodied Ur soldiers gripped their spears, bravely following the blood-soaked path Red Hare carved.
"Hahaha, is this the thrill of ancient heroes slaying enemies on the battlefield? Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!! I'm fired up!!"
Following Red Hare, Li Shuwen picked up a fallen spear, wielding it like a lance, twirling it with flair. He kept pace with Red Hare, laughing as he fought.
Swoosh!!
One thrust pierced a demon beast's skull, flinging it aside as blood sprayed.
Then a second thrust, a third, a fourth, and more…
More beasts fell to the spear of this elderly master, becoming mere ghosts.
Li Shuwen felt his blood boil on this perilous battlefield.
Together with Red Hare, he led the soldiers in a frenzied assault.
"Neigh!! Get out of my way, or die!!"
"Come on, beast cubs, let's spar with this old man!!"
Two battle-crazed warriors, on this deadly field, led the soldiers to tear open a gap, forging a perilous path of blood and slaughter.
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