"What in the Goddesses' names?"
I could not help but whisper those words as my eyes laid upon the towering walls of Tsuchi.
Stationed atop each of the four walls beyond us were Jherendal soldiers. Tens of thousands of them in total. Perhaps the entirety of their army.
[Human Knight Lv.13 x8,881]
[Human Soldier Lv.11 x18,794]
Given how quick they were all mobilized and stationed at the battlements, the Jherendal army must had planned to spread the disease in the first place.
Though it did not seem the Jherendal was the sole faction to be blamed for this tragedy.
Accompanying the soldiers on each walls were robe-cladded mages. Numbering in hundreds on each layer of the walls. Thousands in total.
Some of the mages wielded serpent-shaped staffs. Some wore necklaces with the insignia of a coiling serpent. And some wore robes embroidered with the symbol of a six-winged silver lizard.
[Order's Mage Lv.18 x208]
[Order's Apprentice Lv.14 x607]
[High Mage Lv.??? x20]
[Senior Apprentice Lv.??? x410]
[Anashta Sorcerer Lv.??? x100]
Together, all of those mages formed a shining barrier atop the battlements, extending straight upward which added another height to the walls.
The barriers were set on all four walls beyond us. Caging the city with four-layered magic barriers.
"I knew the roads are too dangerous. So I originally planned to infiltrate the other districts by climbing through the walls like I did to get to the Tamelan Square in the First Wall district. But I doubted I could get past those mages even with my stealth skill."
Devisha said while eyeing the walls.
"You'll die if you try to get past them. There are many strong mages on those walls. They would be able to detect your presence."
I replied her.
That meant we could not rely on Devisha to reach our escape point ahead of us so I could create a shortcut by making dimensional portals.
Of course. The Quintal Trial would never make it that easy for us.
I went on.
"If we're going to escape the city, we'll have to tread through underground, avoiding both the surface roads and the walls."
"There's more, Serafina. Look outside the city. I think there's something surrounding Tsuchi on its eastern border. It's too dark for me to see clearly, but maybe you can see it with your spell."
I did as Devisha said and turned my gaze beyond the outermost wall. Toward the grand plains east of Tsuchi.
"Dear Goddesses…"
I could not help but whisper such reaction again.
Fielding themselves outside Tsuchi's walls were legions of soldiers. Banners of four-horned purple bull were flying among their ranks.
Also cruising the clouds above the mighty army were a dozen battleships bearing the symbol of a golden tortoise.
[Farista Knight Lv.??? x8,121]
[Farista Soldier Lv.??? x50,977]
[8th Fleet of Tadosin Patrol Cruiser]
An overwhelming army was awaiting us on the plains outside the city.
That was assuming we could get past the magic-fortified walls of Tsuchi first.
"The way east is blocked. We won't be leaving the city through land."
I stated to Devisha.
I turned my gaze to the Fourth Wall district and inspected the landing port.
[High Mage Lv.??? x5]
[Senior Apprentice Lv.??? x60]
[Anashta Sorcerer Lv.??? x30]
[Human Knight Lv.13 x806]
[Human Soldier Lv.11 x2,973]
Another magical blockade was raised on the facility's perimeter.
Any infected trying to break through was immediately decimated by the mages.
There was no way we could infiltrate the landing port and leave with an airship without being noticed and blasted out of the sky.
"The landing port is a dead end as well."
I stated.
"That leaves the harbor. There it is."
The Tsahanam mercenary pointed out to the west side of the watchtower.
I turned around and laid my gaze toward the Third Wall district, to the west.
The Great Katcha Lake glimmered beautifully under the moonlight.
The contrast between the lake and the plague-infested Tsuchi made such a disturbing panorama.
I redirected my eyes toward the harbor which we marked as an escape route.
The sky above it was clear. No flying battleships cruising around.
There were plentiful of regular vessels mooring themselves around the harbor. We could use them to escape.
However, a huge robust wooden barricade was raised around the harbor. It was manned by the Jherendal soldiers and black-armored knights bearing the symbol of a single-horned crimson bear.
[Human Knight Lv.13 x115]
[Human Soldier Lv.11 x1,794]
[Viulan Knight Lv.21 x15]
The barricade prevented the infected from getting in. Both the structure and the arrows sent down by the soldiers made sure the creatures stayed outside.
A great number of surviving civilians tried to evacuate to the harbor but was immediately killed by the archer knights.
"It won't be easy getting into the harbor with how guarded the place is."
Devisha said while observing our destination.
"Even so, it's the least fortified area out of our three escape routes."
I said.
Though I went on with a slight agreeing nod.
"There is still the great task of reaching the harbor in the first place, while making sure the prince is safe. We will need more time to plan our escape and--"
A loud whirling sound suddenly interrupted me.
Devisha quickly pointed above.
"There! In the sky!"
Descending toward the city from the star-glittered evening sky were two of the largest battleships I had ever seen in my life.
The sight of them completely overwhelmed me that I was turned speechless.
Great cannons and other gigantic artillery armaments were installed on the two ships. The insignia of the golden tortoise was painted on their specially-fortified hulls.
Peak designs of magic engineering.
[Tadosin Heavy War Cruiser, Raodan]
[Tadosin Heavy War Cruiser, Gelledin]
Each of those battleships could level the entire city if they were to empty their artillery ammunition.
But I was even more astounded by what the two flying ships were carrying.
Attached with harnesses connected to the monstrous ships' hulls, an ivory pillar as thick as the watchtower we were on and as tall as Tsuchi's walls were hanging between the battleships.
The pillar was carved into a design of a dragon coiling from the base to the top. At the peak, the dragon was devouring a smooth silver ball the size of a small house.
Devisha and I watched the two airships carried the ivory pillar past the barriers erected by the mages on the walls, to the First Wall district, toward the center of the city.
The battleships then released the harnesses strapping the pillar and dropped it on the Tamelan Square.
Dun!
A loud booming sound echoed across the city as the ivory pillar landed and rooted itself on Tsuchi's grounds.
Having delivered the pillar, the two massive battleships swiftly flew away from the city and vanished into the distant sky.
It was then that the smooth silver ball at the peak of the pillar, by the dragon's mouth, shined brighter than the moon itself.
[Divine artifact 'Dragon Dome' has been activated!]
[Time remaining until the decimation of the city:]
[02:59:59]