Chapter 419: Battle of the Holy City (Part 1)
The vast central plains of Feanso, outside the former capital of the Sacred Fadlan Empire, Teotihuacan.
Towering 100-meter-high white walls stretched endlessly across the land, magnificent and awe-inspiring, with large golden sun emblems carved into their weathered surfaces.
But even such lofty walls could not obscure the "Eternal Sun God Tower" within, nor block the view of its towering spire that pierced the sky.
It was a colossal three-tiered, pentagonal spire, reaching skyward and towering 68 stories above ground level, crowned with a golden dome at the top—allowing observers anywhere on the central plains to gaze upon the sun disk of Ammanata.
Once, during the summer solstice, the sun disk atop the tower would radiate endless light, filling the city with warmth and serenity.
This was the "Sunlit City," Teotihuacan.
Any traveler or merchant who visited here was awed by its grandeur and majesty, marveling at the unparalleled national strength of the Sacred Fadlan Empire.
Even though the "Eternal Sun God Tower" now appeared dim, and the once-glorious Sacred Fadlan Empire had fragmented, the city still bore witness to its former splendor and glory.
The ground outside the city was riddled with scars.
Smoke billowed everywhere.
Dried blood, heaps of corpses, and even the bodies of fallen demigods with wings.
Such scenes were common on this devastated battlefield, and even the walls themselves were covered in cracks and holes—after all, the city had been fought over in dozens of wars among the three major kingdoms.
On the thick white walls, flags of Kassande flew, and warriors clad in heavy golden armor raised their weapons, shouting in unison.
Spellcasters in bright, luxurious robes embroidered with the sun emblem stood alongside them. Holding staffs, their magic crystals glowed, creating a golden protective shield beyond the walls.
Rows of massive golden ballistae were aimed outward, and Kassande soldiers strained to load them with blazing, oversized arrows.
Cheers resounded one after another.
"Praise the Sun!"
"For the Kingdom of Kassande!"
"Long live His Majesty Otis, the true emperor! Kill the traitors!"
"It's those traitors who cost us the protection of the Great Sun God! Only by eliminating them can His Majesty Otis bring back the god's return!"
On the walls, a towering man in golden armor, wearing a heavy horned helmet and eyes glowing with fiery light, raised a longsword in one hand and roared.
He was Eli Gianvito Velazquez, the demigod duke of Kassande and a favored general of Aragon I—one of the first legendary warriors to receive the Sun God's blessing.
Feared throughout the land, he had fought alongside the old emperor in countless campaigns and personally slain a Balor Flame Demon.
"Marshal Eli!"
"Victory!"
"Fight for His Majesty Otis! Fight to restore the Sacred Fadlan Empire!"
With the duke's rallying cry, the soldiers on the walls erupted in fervent cheers, their morale surging.
The demigods of Kassande were known for their towering builds, pale skin, and flawless physiques, resembling living statues clad in heavy armor.
Blessed by the Sun God, they possessed powers akin to the celestial beings of the upper planes, known as the "Exalted Titans," earning them the title "Titan Demigods."
—And their king, Otis Aragon, was the same.
"Silence!"
"This is utter rebellion!"
Hovering high above the city walls, a female warrior with radiant wings and a giant sword infused with explosive divine power pointed her blade at Eli from above.
"Eli! You are the true traitors! You're the reason the emperor has left us!"
"You've abandoned the faith!"
Her fiery eyes burned beneath a helmet adorned with the sun emblem at its center and wing-like metallic decorations on the sides.
Her radiant wings shed sparks with every beat.
This angelic warrior was Tyrena Sta Angel, a demigod duchess and legendary Oath Paladin, also blessed by the Sun God.
Like the Exalted Titans of the upper planes, she possessed powers akin to celestial beings, leading many to call her an "Angel Demigod."
—And their king, Wilhelm Aragon, was the same.
Behind Tyrena flew hundreds of winged light-armored soldiers, darkening the skies outside the city.
However, their wings were far less magnificent than Tyrena's.
Tyrena's radiant wings flapped as she raised her divine sword, calling out passionately.
"Kassandians, your arrogance blinds you!"
"Everyone, reclaim the Holy City!"
"Restore Fadlan's glory! Take back Teotihuacan!"
Her golden wings shimmered behind her, making the scene even more sacred.
"Restore Fadlan's glory! Take back Teotihuacan!"
Both the winged demigod army in the sky and the Thracian soldiers on the ground shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the clouds and overpowering their enemies.
On the ground, the allied forces weren't just made up of mortal troops; the Seleucia Kingdom's demigod reinforcements were also present. These warriors had received powers akin to the "Gedin Celestials," with some bearing horse heads, deer heads, or even dragon heads atop their human bodies.
Ammanata often manifested his favor or displeasure through extraordinary beings like emerald dragons, sapphire dragons, steel dragons, solar hawks, brown dogs, ivory cats, snow-white wolves, and pure white stallions.
The Seleucia demigods, blessed by these beings, often exhibited physical traits akin to them, earning them the title "Holy-Blessed Demigods."
—And their king, Iloti Aragon, was the same.
It was said that this king had a dragon's head atop a human body.
The flags of the various kingdoms flew over the battlefield, all bearing the sun emblem but with three distinct variations.
Kassande's emblem featured the sun with crossed swords and shields, Thrace's showed the sun with outstretched wings, and Seleucia's depicted the sun alongside a dragon's head.
"The Holy City... will belong to Kassande alone."
"Once His Majesty Otis conquers Thrace and Seleucia, the empire's glory will be restored—allowing Emperor Aragon to rest in peace."
Eli narrowed his eyes, staring at the allied forces occupying the ground and skies, and murmured to himself.
With that thought, he swung his longsword with all his might, shouting, "Soldiers of Kassande, defend the Holy City to the death!"
"Slay the traitors!"
"Swoosh—"
A crescent-shaped slash of fire and searing heat soared skyward, aimed directly at Tyrena.
"Kill!"
"Slay the traitors! Defend the Holy City!"
The commanders on the walls echoed his battle cry.
Simultaneously, massive bolts from the ballistae rained down like a storm on the allied forces outside.
The Kassande arcane corps raised their staffs, unleashing waves of light, fire, lightning, and even hurricanes from the walls.
Kassande's offensive was nothing short of a natural disaster.
The battle had begun.
This was just another of the countless wars fought over the Holy City.