Exhaling, he took a step back and lowered his body. He braced himself for the inevitable recoil and shockwave. The soldiers flinched and panicked, as they felt the threat of death! They dropped their weapons and tried to flee, but it was too late. Protector Avin flipped his palms to face the army and released his spells. The orb of lightning and fire morphed and swelled until… the world was welcomed by a blinding flash of white and black and an ear-shattering peal of thunder! Boom! An enormous beam of lightning and fire, larger than the gates, shot forward. It made Protector Avin look tiny in comparison. The recoil pushed him back and dragged his feet through the soil. And that was with the protection of his barrier too! To have such an effect on a Rank 3 King's barrier, this spell was already terrifying. The beam accelerated and tore through the sound barrier. Boom! As it did, everyone could hear a loud lion's roar! The spell quickly transformed into a humongous lion! Lightning and fire covered its body, giving it an otherworldly appearance, as it raced towards the enemy army. Its aura was so powerful that everyone froze in their tracks. They accepted their deaths.
There was no pain nor suffering. The lion simply charged through them like air. It did not deign to attack them. However, that was not a mercy, because the residual lightning and fire from its body was enough to vaporize them! Thousands of soldiers died in an instant. Nobody could resist! It was not over yet. The lion kept its speed, as it cut into the enemy formations. It continued in a straight line directly to the Quiton Gates. The generals and officers atop the walls paled, praying the lion would stop. Sadly… the lion slammed into the gates with titanic force. A huge explosion of dust and stone followed, as a powerful shockwave rippled through the land. It was so potent that everyone near the gates was killed. Their bodies became nonexistent. People who were further back were thrown away like dolls and almost killed by the shockwave alone. Nobody in the three hundred thousand strong army could stand anymore. The tremors travelled to the rest of the province!
A thick dust cloud covered the landscape, making it hard to see. Buzz! Lightning bolts streaked, while fires burned. Roar! A valiant roar blasted away the dust to reveal the lion, fully unharmed. Of course, it was hard to say whether a spell could be 'harmed' in the conventional sense. The lion shook off the rocks and debris on its body, as though it were exiting a shower. However, those rocks were the size of carriages. It was a frightening display of scale! The beast then stomped down and reaccelerated. At the same time, its body released a blinding white glow. When it finally reached the center of the enemy army, Protector Avin snapped his fingers. Boom! The lion suddenly exploded in a humongous storm of lightning and fire. The lightning bolts then bounced from soldier to soldier through their metal gear, and the flames scorched the land, burning clothes and melting metal to skin. The damage quickly spread to a vast area. It looked like the end of the world! This was Protector Avin's newest and most destructive spell, Roaring Storm Devastation!
That said, this was an army of three hundred thousand. It was a scale hard to imagine for most people. His spell looked impressive, but it failed to impact most of the Li Family's army. This was unsurprising. Protector Avin was an immature Rank 3 King, and he was 'free casting' or casting a spell without any tools. Although it was a convenient technique, it severely restrained his Magic Energy output and control. It was the same if the Sword King fought unarmed. That was one of the reasons why the Featherwind Sect appeared so strong. Their armaments matched their strength! A Rank 3 King, equipped in Monarch Grade armaments, was a true one-person army! Yet, Protector Avin was unbothered. His main goal was destroying the Quiton Gates and intimidating the Li Family. Looking at the carnage, he considered this a success. He flicked his hands, dispelling the remaining lightning and flames. A spell later, he was gone.
In the south, Anqin Line. A similar scene played out between the Jian and Jun Families, and the Featherwind Sect's elder birds. The army of two hundred thousand was also stopped! They had been preparing for this day, but so was the Alzar Kingdom. News reached Elizabeth one week later. She had expected this. Queen Samanthie must have intentionally leaked the details of the enthronement ceremony and antagonized the entire empire, so she could crush their hopes through overwhelming force. She wanted to show everyone that the times had changed, that the Alzar Kingdom had the qualifications to rule the world now! It was a tyrannical display of power from the new queen that brokered zero resistance. Even the various riots and rebellions throughout the empire quieted down, upon learning that the Four Great Nobility Families had failed. After the situation settled, Queen Samanthie sent another message. Either the Four Great Nobility Families comes to Yongtein and negotiates in good faith, or they risk destruction! It was her final warning!
One month passed. Delegates from the Li Family, Jun Family, and Jian Family arrived in Yongtein. Among the Li Family was Lady Hong-Lan, the current matriarch of the Li Family, Lord Fengji, the leader of the elder council, and Lord Foshan, the patriarch from three generations ago. Xiuying and Ming felt conflicted. Their great-aunt, Lady Hong-Lan, usurped their uncle to become the new matriarch. Their great-great-uncle, Lord Fengji, used them as pawns in the Battle of Liguang. And finally, their great-grandfather, Lord Foshan, should have died, yet here he was, leading the elder council again. This was supposed to be their family, except they never felt more foreign. Xiuying and Ming did not want to see them anymore. For the Jun Family, Minister Keigon arrived with his aides. Likewise, the Jian Family had General Fuwu representing. Together with Minister Daiyuu, that would mean the Four Great Nobility Families would be in attendance! All eyes pointed to Yongtein. The coming meetings would decide the fate of the world!
Elizabeth could not participate since they blocked her at the door. She figured Queen Samanthie was behind this without even asking. These would be important meetings at the highest level. They could not have Elizabeth muddying the waters. She shrugged her shoulders. Although it irked her, she was not about to force her way through. So be it. Walking out, the suns blazed hot in the sky, while cicadas sang. It was July now, at the height of summer, four months after the Siege on Yongtein. For once, she had nothing to do. She had no responsibilities. It was a strange feeling. Ever since she left New Havens two years ago, she was constantly running… First, it was Emperor Lianghu and Lord Korogin. Then, it was the inheritance race and the Whispering Shadow. Next, it was her teacher, Rena, and rebuilding her Core. Finally, it was the Second Great Kingdom War and becoming the Royal Army General… She never had a chance to stop and rest. It was like a constant race, where the slightest pause would kill her. Therefore, she had to keep running. But now? Elizabeth felt the sunlight on her face. It seemed like, for the first time in two years, she could finally relax. This was all she needed to confirm that… failing to become the next queen was the correct result. This was the best outcome!
During this time, she toured the capital with her friends. They visited many places, such as the Shinyang School, the Lanwai Garden, and the Four Winds Monastery. As the capital city of the Xingyuu Empire, it was steeped in rich culture and deep history. It was a completely different world from the Alzar Kingdom or the Zino Kingdom. Practically everything was new to their eyes! They could explore for a long time and never get bored. And thankfully, the atmosphere in the city had improved greatly in the past four months due to Xiuying, Ming, and many others. It was not perfect, but people came to accept the kingdom's occupation. It was not as bad as they thought. That sentiment was the most important thing. It might take generations, but it was the first step towards lasting peace. And hopefully, one day, this Second Great Kingdom War will disappear into the annals of time… never to return. Elizabeth prayed.