章 268: Chapter 264
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....
After the Sovereign King of gluttony's appearance, the whole structure and leisure dynamic of the holy city changed dramatically.
On the second day after Sovereign King of gluttony's entry, a heavily injured Aegnis, and with her their plight about an even more terrifying news came about— mad beasts contaminated by gluttony had appeared near the holy city!
Even if the Snake Dowager had already discovered this and carried out her purification, with Beelzebub's disruption her schemes clearly could not succeed.
However, her earlier purification still had some effects. At the very least, Aegnis still managed to retain her life, but she had suffered severe injuries, which filled many serpent guards with endless fear.
According to Aegnis' report, a group of giant serpents contaminated by gluttony had already broken through into the holy city. The neighbouring half snake people had suffered enormous losses.
The members of the squad that was with her had all unfortunately perished, and even their corpses had been swallowed up by those insatiable beasts, until there was nothing left.
After all, compared to ordinary food, snake flesh of a superior species was abundant in energy, especially those snake people who were of high rank. It was even easier for them to become the targets of the gluttonous beasts!
Gluttonous beasts! This description had come from Aegnis, and was very quickly widely adopted to distinguish them from other giant serpent species.
No matter what creature it was, once it was contaminated by the power of gluttony, it would enter a horrifying state of hunger where it didn't mind what it ate. They were all called gluttonous beasts.
The holy city and the Stewart family attached great importance to this report, They prepared both the city defence soldiers and a great number of reserves. They declared that the holy city was imposing martial law, and even released a large number of tasks for mercenaries and adventurers to target the gluttonous beasts invading the holy city.
In a short while, the entire Serpent Plains seemed to ripple unpredictably with activity, and this chaotic scene seemed to spread ceaselessly in the Hail Continent.
What the ordinary citizens of the holy city didn't know was that this situation would continue for a very long time. Furthermore, in a short span of time, the gluttonous beasts would replace all the previous natural and manmade calamities to become the primary threat to their survival.
...
Time seemed to pass in a flash, and years went by before anyone knew it.
The Calamity of Gluttony has gotten even more serious! Aegnis fighting with many garrison squads have suffered heavy losses, and the frontline reached the Crescent Moon Lakeside for a while, which isn't far at all from the holy city.
There are still lots of giant serpents that have been contaminated, and even rank 6 Serpent families cannot escape. Over half of the Serpent Plains are now occupied by gluttonous beasts…
The entire Serpent Plains already does not have many places for them to live, and recently even a lot of the holy city residents are beginning to flee, which complicates things for the higher ups.
Soon after the calamity hit both Belinda as well as Freya joined the guards under the leadership of Aegnis to fend off the enemies, they kept on accepting missions, helping to maintain security. Obviously Aegnis didn't want Belinda to be involved in such a turbulent times with high mortality rate but seeing how her friend was returning with various degree of injuries repeatedly Belinda cannot stop herself and with her Freya also volunteered.
Well Freya didn't have much choice, because if she backed out at such a conjuncture she would lose all favours from both which may implicate her plans. Well this was a good chance for herself too, she get to acquire various high-grade resources for her merits at a very cheap rate, these items are directly targeted to be used by serpent bloodline which made things better.
Ever since the Calamity of Gluttony broke out, the entire Serpentes Plains was not how it used to be.
War, hand-to-hand combat and gluttony spread with incredible speed, leaving the plains covered in blood.
Even the Snake Dowager's radiance could not move those savage gluttonous beasts, because they were also protected by an Exemplary.
The Sovereign King of Gluttony– Beelzebub. Although it had not been a lot of time since Beelzebub's descent into Purgatory World, his name was known by everyone. It was to the extent where it could immediately make little snake children cry.
In this situation, because of the gluttonous beasts' terrifying consumption, food shortages had broken out in the holy city. In the past, this would have been an absolute joke, but now it was something that had really happened.
In fact, the gluttonous beasts were facing the same food shortages, which were even more serious for them than the snake people. They were already at the stage where they were killing each other for food, otherwise they would have already invaded the holy city.
It was different from previous calamities. Freya had a feeling that once the gluttonous beasts had occupied a territory under the Sovereign King of Gluttony's command, it wouldn't easily be relinquished ever again.
The Snake Dowager's large-scale purification that had happened in the beginning could never happen again.
In order to contain the wave of gluttonous beasts, the holy city had already arranged campaigns against them several times. Battles generally grew more intense, and things had almost gotten desperate.
Even the Snake Dowager herself had sent out a clone, but in the face of Beelzebub's huge army of gluttonous beasts, they yielded tiny results. Several of her clones were even destroyed. The bloody loss of life caused the holy city to be in an extremely unstable situation.
A few months later, after several attempts to meet the beast wave, the battle line was pushed to the edges of the holy city. The city walls, and the triumphal arch that used to be filled with holy light, had now turned into the last line of defence for the snake beings.
Furthermore, compared to the spread of gluttony itself, the Gluttonous Army had Beezlebub himself in charge. Even the Snake Dowager would not be able to deal with them easily.
It could be said that the holy city was now in a desperate state of emergency and on the brink of life or death.
There were many residents within the holy city, and they would often hear the roars of the gluttonous beasts as they slumbered. They had no choice but to contribute and help with the holy city's defences
....
"The end game seems to draw closer." Inside a lavish villa, a beautiful white figure sat glancing at the darkness outside. Although her figure seemed young but her disposition as well as voice sounded strained and too heavy similar to an old person. This beautiful figure was none other than Freya herself.
Ever since Freya found out that many resources beneficial for the growth of her soul force, she had offered her services on the front line but more importantly also acted secretly and committed a few alarming crimes, gathering large amounts of soul force increasing and used bloodline growth items to push her advancement forward.
Freya had always acted with caution and did not leave any traces behind. Since they were at war, their intent to hunt down criminals was weaker than usual. With this as a cover, she had been able to hoodwink them easily.
At a few months of service Freya was ultimately 'seriously injured' under the siege of various gluttony monsters, this incident was a momentary elapsed on Aegnis judgement which caused Freya to fall into such a situation. Due to this Aegnis was very remorseful and personally acted to help Freya get some duties off to recuperate for a period of time.
After months of fighting together even if Aegnis didn't view Freya in the same light as Belinda but she still regarded this newly befriended mix-blood too much and her injures caused by her fault filled her with immerse amount of grief.
Freya herself showed great benevolence and forgave her for this 'mishap' and took her leave from the front line, slowly but surely Freya body has started to fail her and she would reach a dangerously weak state not so far in the future.
"Thankfully the wait is not going to be very long... "
The frightening part of the Allsnake Curse was that it was essentially fatal for all of the descendants and Warlocks who made use of the Dowager's serpent bloodlines. It was already an incredible thing that Freya had managed to hold on for so long without losing much strength in fact she kept rising her powers.
*Roar!* *Awoo!* *Rumble!* *Clatter!* Load roars, multi-coloured flames and the cries of many snake beings could be seen and heard. The ground shook underneath them all continuously. This was another attack from the gluttonous beast wave outside towards the holy city.
The Snake Dowager and Beelzebub had yet to act, and seemed to have come to some tacit agreement, handing down the responsibility of victory to their subordinates. Thus, these attacks happened a few times everyday, resulting in many sacrifices and refugees.
There were various cries the likes of— "No!" "I don't want Father to go!" "Please, don't send me to the battlefield! I don't want to die!" "Help!" "Bless us Matriarch!" which ranged on a daily basis throughout the Holy City.
Noises could be heard from the streets, and the moans and cries of wretched souls travelled into Freya's ears.
The entire holy city is now under a strict curfew. There are even plans to gather all the residents and manage them all together.
"This is the very personification of chaos and fear!" Freya shook her head and returned to her room, narrowing her eyes as if tired.
From what she knew Aegnis was about to prepare for a huge counterattack. Even the disciplinary corps will be moved.
"It has finally come to this! It seems like the big decisive battle is approaching soon, it's about time to start my plans. Although this place isn't bad I still rather be with him....No matter I would meet him soon anyways!"
...
Night had fallen. Aegnis was wearing her crystal armour as she stood on the walls of the holy city. Her line of sight extended past the triumphal arch, fixed on the dense army of gluttonous beasts outside.
They had already been contaminated by the law of gluttony, and it was difficult to make out what their original bodies looked like. The only similarities they shared were their terrifying and powerful energy undulations, as well as their desire for food. Aegnis shivered in fear at this sight.
Days were short in the Purgatory World, which was why many beasts were more active at night. These gluttonous beasts rarely rested, and when their physical strength declined they would feed on their own kind that had died in previous sieges, which was why they seemed even more full of vigour than ever. What this meant was that their appearance was even more frightening at night than during the day.
Watching this uproar at the frontlines by the nearby beasts, the experienced Aegnis knew this was a signal for them to attack.
She abruptly turned to watch the soldiers on the city walls with her. They were mostly the troops that the Stewart Family were in charge of. Some of them were volunteers, and some were labourers who were forcefully conscripted.
Aegnis took a deep breath, her voice spreading through the frontlines. "Mighty Matriarch! My blood brothers, can we allow those filthy and despicable beasts to set foot in the holy city and pollute the glory of our dignitary, the holy mother?"
"No!" "No!" "No!" The residents in the holy city were now so loyal that they were ready to die for the Snake Dowager, and they naturally howled loudly in denial.
"Very good. Tear them apart for me, our holy city must be victorious!" Aegnis brandished the nine-tiered whip in her hands that had a snake head, thundering.
"To Victory! "To Victory!" "Long Live Stewart!" "Long Live Stewart!" Many soldiers shouted loudly, the atmosphere heated to the extreme.
Seeing that she had taken care of the soldiers' morale, Aegnis sighed in relief and retreated from the city gates.
"You did very well, Aegnis!" Belinda walked over in martial attire.
"Is that so? I feel that it's far from enough though," Aegnis smiled wryly and draped an arm around Belinda's shoulders, "How are the second elder and the disciplinary corps?"
"Preparations are complete. We are prepared for battle anytime!" Belinda did not struggle against her and sounded calm, "If all goes well and this operation is a success, we can probably push the battle line close to the Crescent Lake…"
"Hah… if it goes smoothly?"
Aegnis chuckled, pressing her lips close to Belinda's ears, and spoke to her in a low voice, "Belinda, leave! Take Sophia and Freya. Leave this place; go as far as you can!"
"Why?" Belinda was stunned, Aegnis' warm breath tickling her ears as they flushed red, "Do you have no faith in the holy city?"
"If my enemy is an army from another dignitary, I wouldn't be afraid even if they surrounded us, but…" Aegnis shook her head, "You know how the gluttonous beasts work. Belinda, what's most terrifying isn't their strength but that they are infectious! 14 of our own family have been infected by the power of gluttony in battle. In order to prevent the infection from spreading, we had no choice but to obliterate them."
"So that's what happened!" Belinda's eyes widened, extremely shocked.
"If that damned Sovereign King of Gluttony isn't eliminated, there will never be a victory over those gluttonous beasts. Do you get it now?" Aegnis coquettishly lifted Belinda's chin.
"Then come with me! Sister Freya and me didn't fight together with you to leave you for death!" Belinda gritted her teeth. After all, she had treated Belinda, Freya and Sophie quite well, and Belinda wasn't willing to watch her die here.
"Hehe… you can all leave, but I can't." Aegnis laughed, though this gave a bad feeling.
"For your family?" Belinda's expression was complicated.
"Yes. Our Stewart Family has been protecting the holy city generation after generation. As the next in line, how can I leave now?"
Aegnis pushed Belinda while laughing maniacally, "Go! Pursue your freedom!"
"This is giving me an ominous feeling! Let's talk this through with Sister Freya she is very smart, you have seen her ability these months maybe..." Belinda's eyes reddened, on the verge of tears. So many things had happened recently, and even this strong girl could not really endure it. Although she was speaking but her word held no conviction, when the gap was too big no amount of planning would amount anything.
'Mighty Matriarch, please show mercy and save us all!' Belinda looked towards the statue erected at the heart of the holy city and could not help but kneel piously, making a silent prayer.
The mighty statue watched everything expressionlessly, as if it had seen through everything with a slight smile. It seemed like everything was guided by her hand, but nothing really changed. The wind blew, and Belinda felt a chill come on, a sense of terror rising within her.
Outside the holy city, the great war was on the verge of beginning. Freya was sitting leisurely like the whole situation is none of her concern, her beautiful attractive and previously a bit childish face had a few wrinkles and her demeanor had the serenity of an old person.
'Isn't it almost time?' Freya didn't bother with security situation anymore, but looked at the position of the triumphal arc of the holy city.
Just as the Holy City seems to regain a momentary tranquility, a violent earthquake began to shake, and the villa roof nearly fell.
With a great rumble, a loud sound came from the city gate. With the cries of countless gluttonous beasts and the sound of killing, a violent commotion began to spread within the city. The sounds of fighting at the city gate gradually grew weaker, and even began to spread inside the city. The sound of blood-curdling and surprised cries could be heard in response.
"I really hope you can tide through this storm because from now I don't have the ability to take care of you." Freya looked a bit remorseful as she remembered her companions through the years Belinda, Sophie and even Aegnis who regularly came to her villa to spend time with her. Although at that time she felt that they were very annoying she still enjoyed the company in this foreign cold world.
"-*sigh*-The city gate has been broken at last! The gluttonous beasts murdering their way in, and Snake Dowager would now confront Beelzebub!" Freya looked down from her villa gazing at the abandoned roads of Holy City, her eyes filled with pity.
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