Chapter 144: Battle of Demigods
The sky rumbled as dark clouds circled around the figure that floated in the sky. The city, jolted awake, sprang into action with soldiers and mages taking up positions around on the walls and some evacuating the citizens to the castle.
A single watchtower then sounded the alarm. Appeared before them was 18 giant bright yellow circles 7km in the distance to the north, the 18 giant bright circles in the distance continued to grow larger until to the point where the garrison could see them clearly.
The mages in the garrison didn't take them long to recognize the spell, it is something that could transport large numbers of troops, a 10th tier spell known as {Gate}.
What came out of the 12 of those portals were 120 thousands of Knights and Mages between <D–> to <B+> ranks(Lv.7-70), 12 <A> ranks(Lv.81-90) as their Generals, each of them leading 10,000 of men and women strong came out of each of these {Gates} and tens of 10 meter large figures known as Golem Knights who are all at the level of peak <C+> rank(Lv.40), and at the same time dozens of Battle Airships came out the 5 more {Gates} on the air. There was no doubt what was about to happen, the enemy had already arrived.
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Artemis was completely taken aback. He took the words of the messenger to heart, thinking that they still had two more weeks before the fight.
Artemis had no choice but to try and fight this battle with his strength and on-the-go plans.
Reinhard led the northern section of the wall, Jord took it upon himself to head the evacuation of the outer district into the inner district and Toby amassed whoever mage he could find.
The drums of war sounded from afar. They were being taunted. The enemy army sang a song with lyrics that taunted the defenders.
"🎶Imperial might!🎶" They sang.
"🎶Our enemies shall fall with our swords in fright!🎶" They continued.
Their voices echoing in the dark night.
"Enough of this," Artemis charged up his two palms once again and aimed them at the figure floating above.
With his night vision on, he saw the figure was a man. A man dressed in a white and yellow Choir Dress with a red cape fluttering behind him.
He then saw the man's face, he was smiling. Belittling Artemis' abilities to fight back since he was in the high ground.
Or so he thought.
Artemis activated his thrusters and lifted himself into the air. This came as a surprise to the man but he was still smug.
"So you can fly as well, quite an achievement for a man without magic, are you under those Evil Gods? Let me guess, was it Monolith? Or is it that Regina Goddess?" The man was straightforward before he recalled something, he began to bow.
"Oh, my apologies, I go by the name of Pope Lincoln, the current Pope of the Church of the Rising Sun. I know it kinda sounds overkill to be part of this battle but I don't have any much choice," The man by the name of Lincoln said.
In response, instead of replying to anything, Artemis had no time to chat.
With his eyes glowing against the darkness of the night, his palms glowed red and after a short wheezing sound, a pillar of energy escaped from his palms.
Lincoln was confident in the magical barrier around his entire bodt that could negate the effect and power of whatever magic the man in black was casting. Unlike their first attacks against one another, he didn't answer Artemis' attack with another beam.
But he was wrong, dead wrong. What Artemis fired upon him was not any kind of magic manipulated to form a pillar of energy shot from his palms, instead, it was a combination of charged particles infused into a sort of cylinder that he shot using a combination of kinetic, chemical, and mostly Argent energy.
His barrier, designed to negate even the most powerful 10th tier magic attacks, got easily bypassed. Much to his shock, the pillar of energy hit his abdomen and he was sent flying across the sky before crashing down.
The entire fight was witnessed by the people on the ground, they were awestruck that the man in black seemingly defeated a Demigod in just one single attack.
Morale skyrocketed.
Cheers rang out across the city as they themselves began to taunt the invading army.
"Do you hear the drums?
Do you hear the hums?
Of the people who will fight!
Against the tyrants with their might!
Do you hear the storm that looms?
Walk against the Man in Black and you shall meet your doom!"
The song rumbled along the taunts of the enemy who seemed to be fading.
"The Imperial army has stopped!" A watchman shouted.
Indeed, the imperial army stopped marching. They were remaining stationary in the distance, 5 kilometers away from the northern wall.
With Artemis high up in the air, he could sense the magical energy of all powerful mages within the enemy and the magic they casted.
But before he could focus on them, the man he had just seemingly defeated with one strike was back in the air, albeit more serious.
"You are an interesting fellow," Lincoln said, his voice was raspy. Probably because of his injuries. Artemis then used his xray vision, the man had two broken ribs, a dislocated left arm and several fractured limbs.
But his magic is healing his injuries as fast as it could.
"You talk too much," Artemis said before firing another pillar of energy at him.
Pope Lincoln, being wiser than before, dodged Artemis' attack but barely since Artemis knew he'd dodge.
Because what kind of idiot would not dodge the same attack knowing full well of the consequences it would bring?
And so, Artemis made sure to speed up the energy beam.
Lincoln was obviously having trouble.
The man in black he was facing seemed as if he was such an invincible foe but if he took the time to test out his skills, he'd be surprised at just how vulnerable the man in black actually was.
Artemis himself wasn't aware of his weakness while in the air. Lincoln could maneuver in the air as if he was used to it. Artemis on the other hand let his thrusters could only do so much as gravity and physics allowed it.
Maintaining equilibrium whilst in the air already took such a toll on Artemis' focus and so he needed to end the fight one way or another.
He began charging up his palms again but the man was doing the same by casting his own powerful magic spell.
Then, large multiple layers of magic circles manifest around the Pope, engulfing his body with magic circles as his mana grew to the point that everyone in the entire battle could feel the mana and wind around them getting sucked.
Artemis then immediately observes and analyzes the large magic circles around Lincoln in an instant, judging by the magic circles, it might be another high tier magic spell.
Or probably a Super Tier Spell.
"I have never tried this spell since the last time I tried this 500 years ago!"
Above him, the sky began to darken more, covering the beautiful stars and two moons in everyone's view as the air started shifting.
Little by little, the wind picked up more and more speed. At this point, the buildings in the Fortress city began to shake while nearby trees were lifting off the ground due to the gathering wind and mana in the air getting more and more intense.
"Interesting," Artemis muttered.
According to his scans, the wind and the mana in their surroundings was being pulled and gathered in the sky above the Demigod.
Both the citizens of the Fortress City and the Imperial army in the ground below could feel the effects of massive severe redness in weather.
In Artemis theory, if that spell went on a continental size level, it might be able to destroy countless kingdoms and lift countries off the ground.
"Very interesting, if the Demigod breakthrough another rank, the spell might've boosted and may be able to easily take control of the planet's rotational force."
Very interesting this is, Artemis knew magic can be a very powerful ability and this one he is witnessing is one of them.
At this point, the entire sky above everyone turned into a bright yellowish light that made looking indirectly at it impossible. Although the sun had already set just 6 hours ago, it now looked as bright as the hottest day of the summer solstice.
And the brightness only kept on testifying.
Artemis and Lincoln were 20km on the sky and at the center between the City and the imperial army which they are 5km apart, the diameter of the super tier spell is only affect around Artemis and Lincoln which is approximately 15 kilometres, so it means any friendly fire or collateral damage is no problem. According to Artemis' calculations, Lincoln is gathering all of the winds and mana particles only located within the radius of the diameter and concentrating it into a single spot to create high-intensity Plasma alongside with magic.
Thinking about it, Artemis' inner humanity couldn't help but smile to himself.
He was about to face a worthy opponent.
As the sky brightened even more, the heat also increased.
In the sky above, the concentrated magic energy had begun to take shape.
Though it was hard to tell, possibly due to its brightness rivaling the sun itself, but if you looked at it closely, you could surely see its undefined oval shape.
The spell is now finally ready.
Fun fact, if it's a non-Demigod who casted the spell, then it will take only 2 minutes to cast it unless using Cash Items to activate it immediately.
However, Lincoln, being a Demigod himself could easily cast Super Tier spells like any ordinary spells without Activation Period.
It means in reality, his whole casting only has been for less than 4 seconds the whole time!
Immediately, Artemis powered up his weapons further, channeling more Argent Energy to his weapons to create an attack equivalent to the Super Tier Spell he is witnessing and prepared to fly straight towards the Pope just as the explosion between their attacks cleared so that he could bring him down to the ground with him.
Then, immediately the two powerful beings unleashed their destructive potential against one another and their extremely powerful energy beams met in the sky like two shooting stars colliding in the celestial sea.
A massive explosion erupted, sending another wave of force that shattered the entire city's windows and ruptured nearly everyone's eardrums.
Even the two were 20-25km in the air and their attacks collided which affected the people down below making it how powerful the two were.
Pope Lincoln's Super tier spell could single handedly obliterate the entire City of Diadel out of the map but Artemis prevented it with his own powerful energy beam containing an immense amount of Argent Energy.
And just as a black cloud of smoke obscured Lincoln's vision for a few seconds, he sensed Artemis flying towards him.
Just as the smoke cleared, Artemis emerged from the cloud and tackled him. Lincoln could dodge him but the only thing that is difficult is that Artemis is too fast, Lincoln could easily reach the speed of more than 300,000km/h but Artemis is even more. The man lost his balance and Artemis redirected power to his foot thrusters.
Together, they plunged into the sky just above the city and the army
Not before long, Artemis and the Pope crashed down onto the wheat fields, creating a large City Block size crater as the two landed just outside of the northern wall in full view of Reinhard and his men.
The Pope immediately casted several magic circles in his palms and his back and whatever magic he was about to do, but before he could cast another powerful spell, Artemis raised his right hand, instead of red energy, blue energy emitted his palm aiming towards the man who felt a force of his body pushed towards the ground so suddenly.
Not just him but the area around him was also being pushed towards the ground so hard as the trees, the rocks and the insects around him were instantly crushed to death underneath the strong gravity.
The only living creature in the area affect by the strong force was Lincoln himself, being a Demigod, he is still pushing and living.
He was confused at first until he immediately realized it was none other than the Man in Black who is casting some strange unmagical power.
And that power Artemis is doing is none other than…
Gravitational technology.
One of the upgrades he and Caitlyn built in his body, manipulating the gravitational pull of the area Artemis chooses, he could even increase and decrease the gravity and the range of the diameter he wants.
Right now, he is putting the gravitational pull at 9200 m/s2, or 1000 stronger than the average gravitational pull of the Earth.
'Is he using {Gravity Malstrom}? No, it can't be, he doesn't have any mana to begin with!'
Lincoln thought, he tries to speak but couldn't because of the gravity that Artemis intestify.
But before he could move, Artemis, wasting no time raising his other hand, shoots five energy beams out of his fingers containing Concentration of Argent Energy.
Pope, pushed back a few meters after getting shot by the beams, while it didn't kill him yet, it felt like five bullet ants bit his chest at the same time.
Artemis spared no time in the fight, he instantly went in front of the down man and began pummeling the man with his fists, channeling energy into his fist and began to beat the shit out of him.
With a left and right jabs, he punched the man's face, knocking out some of his teeth before proceeding to kick him in the groin.
Lincoln was unable to react fast enough, he could beat powerful foes with just one action but Artemis, on the other hand, is ridiculously faster.
He landed more than a thousand punches in less than a split second and he showed no signs of stopping.
To prevent the man from casting any spells or magic, Artemis broke his two hands by twisting the wrists into terrifying angles before emitting his own energy to push the mana off in his surroundings, also preventing Lincoln to send out his mana out of his body.
Meanwhile, Lincoln, the latter screamed in agony, he was helpless.
If Artemis didn't send out his energy out of his body to push the mana further out of their range, then Lincoln would have a slightest chance to escape, but when Artemis did it, then there is no hope for the man.
This man that Artemis beat the shit out of, who was in fact a crony of the famed Demigod Pope Lincoln, he underestimated Artemis just enough to the point that he just held back too much and didn't use 200 of other magic spells in his pocket.
And this was his undoing.
"AUGHHHHHH!!!" His screams echoed in the night.
The soldiers from the other sections of the outer wall ran to the northern half to watch the ongoing battle.
But when they arrived, they saw not a battle, but what could he described as the equivalent of torture.
Reinhard and his men were all frozen in their place as they watched the man in black mercilessly pummel the man whose magic was enough to shit their pants.
When Artemis began repeatedly hitting the man, even the groin, the men on the walls that were watching it all felt the pain in the man's screams for help.
The evacuated peasantry that were now cramped inside the inner district also heard his screams, some didn't because their ears continued ringing because of the shockwave caused by Artemis and Pope Lincoln.
The night was silent. Although there was supposed to be a battle taking place, there was only this one distinct voice that cried for help.
"Ma, who is that?" A curious child asked his mother as they huddled together in the middle of the crowd.
"I don't know, sweety," The mother told his son.
"Are we going to be okay?" The child asked, hugging his mother tightly.
"We will be," King Wart appeared in the midst of the crowd, shocking the people therein.
"You're majesty! What are you doing outside?" Jord ran towards him with some knights.
"Take all of these people inside the castle and secure the halls! I am your King, I know many of you do not trust me or believe in me yet, I am determined to prove myself to my people!" King Wart announced as he pulled out his signature axe from his back.
"Pandora, go check Erik," Wart ordered.
A lone elf was standing on one of the rooftops, she smiled as soon as she heard Wart's orders.
As she leapt into the air, she was accompanied by her friend, a human mage.
Silvanna, who was heavily injured by the enemy Demigods just ten minutes ago but thanks to her magic healed her for some short time. Those four assailants she fought were her old friends who were demigods but just Transcendence level ones. While the construct-type avatar, almost identical to her. created by a spell known as {Einherjar} takes care of them, it will give her time.
"Uhm, Pan, what are you doing?" A confused Silvanna leapt alongside her. A scratch on her cheek has finished healing.
"I overheard your conversation, I know there is something inside me that you're trying to prevent from coming out but I can't stand by in the sidelines while people like him are trying to make a difference in this otherwise stagnant world," Pandora said.
Silvanna could not bring herself to tell her dear friend that Erik was actually a metal demon who had destroyed the Senadate Theocracy to ruins.
But thinking deeper, were those reports actually true?
Were the Metal Demon really the monsters the Imperial and Republican authorities said they were?
If so, then why is such a powerful Metal Demon such as Erik risking his life to defend this otherwise useless human settlement from the encroaching Imperial army?
Surely he would've just abandoned the people the moment he heard of news about the retaliation.
But instead, he actually uplifted the lives of the peasantry. Gave them work, gave them new meaning in life and placed a new monarch that was benevolent and wise.
And now her mission was going to put herself into harm's way just so she could repay the same Metal Demon that was feared by billions.
She sighed. Confused as she was, she did not want to destroy the delicate bond that had formed between the Metal Demon and the people he had interacted with.
She was an idiot, yes, but she was smarter than what she let on at times.
They leapt towards the northern wall where most of the garrison was.
There, they too were awestruck with the scene that was still unfolding before them.
While Silvanna was still lost in mind, she sensed multiple familiar presences flying towards her.
'Wait, they're here already? That was fast'
"Silvanna, you can't run from us!"
The same silver-haired man landed in front of the two, the other three figures with him hovered in the air in all of their directions, they were surrounded.
"Fine Wesley, y'all always love doing round two with me… even in bed," Silvanna said with a cheeky grin.
Wesley frowned, not taking the joke seriously.
"Were friends Silvanna, we all know that didn't happen"
Silvanna signed.
"You have no sense of humor, that is one of the reason why you and I aren't friends no more"
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Artemis was still not finished with the man.
After tearing out his joints, Artemis then stripped his cloak and began breaking the rest of his ribs.
"P-Please have mercy! Spare me! I giv-... I give up! I surrender!!" He exclaimed, while he has an insane regeneration ability, Artemis kept beating him before his cells even regenerated.
In response, Artemis materialize the Crucible Blade and replied.
"No"
With one single strike, he could permanently kill the Demigod.
Demigod Lincoln, for more than 900 years of his life, he immediately regretted himself for being naive.
As Artemis was about to take the final blow, he heard an explosion in Fortress city, he stopped.
He first thought it was the Imperial army besieging the city but they were still far from it.
He looks at the Demigod again with a mischievous grin.
Artemis dislikes the look, he punches him hard, cracking the ground and enough to knock him out.
He then activated his thrusters then without wasting no time, flew towards the northern wall.
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As he arrived at the garrison, the area he witnessed were dozens of people got injured, some died, some got crushed by debris, Knights and mages started to help and heal the wounded.
Artemis saw Wart and Reinhard in the distance with Silvanna who looked to be heavily injured, he instantly sped right in front of them.
They gave a surprised look, but seeing it was Artemis, they calmed down.
"What happened?" He asked.
"We don't know, the Imperial army didn't invade the city yet but Silvanna has the answer," Reinhard said.
He looks at Silvanna looking like he needs the point already.
Silvanna looks at Wart and Reinhard, her expression says they need to be alone first.
They nodded and went out.
As they were gone, Silvanna faced Artemis and said, "Some Demi-assholes took Pandora to Lord Rism's Airship, behind the Imperial army"
"I thought you could take them on, you're a Demigod. I knew you are just stupid but I never you were that weak."
"Oi! Both of them were Demigods as well, Transcendence Level, while I could take them on just myself, the only downside was that they were geared with multiple magic artifacts that made it easy for them!"
"I see…"
Artemis began to ignore her existence and walked past her without saying a word.
Seeing that, Silvanna gave a 'Wait' look.
"Hey, is that how you say goodbye to a lady?"
Artemis stops and looks at her.
"Pandora is taken, I have no time for that, where is your head anyway?"
Realizing that, Silvanna looked down on the floor and gave an 'Oh'.
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