Chapter 694: Enemy At The Gate

Duna's words quickly made Aria tongue-tied without being able to refute.

Nevertheless, Leon shortly clapped his hands with a sigh and said, "Alright, we have seen enough here. Let us get going before we fall behind the group any further." 

"Fine by me."

"Alright."

"Understood."

After receiving the ladies' responses, Leon nodded and took the lead towards the other end of the village. 

However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly paused upon sensings a faint breath before his eyes eventually fell on a young demon boy, who was bleeding out from his pierced chest. 

Sensing Leon's footsteps approaching, the young demon boy strained his eyes weakly to look over before asking unjustly, "Are we being punished for doing something wrong….?"

As if the words had sapped all his life, the young demon boy eventually took his last breath and died like the rest of his villagers. 

He was lucky to escape a quick death due to his heart being positioned differently, but he still could not escape his fate. 

Leon felt heavy-hearted after the young demon boy died. 

Perhaps he could have saved the demon boy, but there was also a chance that he would be leaving behind a seed of hatred that would one day bite back at humanity.

He never thought he would sympathize with the demons, but he felt like it was a mistake for the Battle Masters to have slaughtered the demon village. 

Even so, it was already too late to reverse what had already happened. 

'Let's go," Leon said with a soft sigh.

…

…

…

Wildlands

"Everyone, just a bit further, and we will be home!" Lord Jorn informed the group as they were fast approaching the tribe in the distance.

"Yes, Lord Jorn!" the elite clansmen responded.

The Desolate Crow Clan was just within sight. 

Clan Leader Lidoran, Lady Lilliana, and the elders all had heartfelt relief upon seeing the familiar outward appearance of their clan, although much of it had been changed. 

They did not think that they could see it again. 

Swish~!

Suddenly, a sharp whistling in the wind immediately causes a quick change in Lord Jorn's expression, forcing his fast footsteps to come to a grinding halt. 

"Lord Jorn…?" 

The elite clansmen all followed suit and came to a stop, casting questioning glances over to Jorn confusedly for a moment before they, too, picked up the sharp whistling sound of something fast approaching them at incredible speed.

"The enemy has caught! All of you, quickly get the clan leader and elders back to the clan and prepare the defenses! I will stay back and stall the enemy here!" Jorn instructed solemnly.

"Lord Jorn, let us assist you!" an elite clansman requested. 

"Go!" Jorn immediately bellowed, "None of you can offer me any form of support against this sort of opponent without getting yourselves killed!" 

"Yes, Lord Jorn…!" 

Hearing the urgency and anger in Jorn's voice, the elite clansmen no longer hesitated and quickly took the clan leader and elders back to the clan to rally the clansmen for defensive measures.

"Jorn! Be careful!" Clan Leader Lidoran warned as he was being carried away.

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Within a few moments, Lord Havoc quickly arrived like a sonic boom before Jorn shot up to confront the opponent in the sky. 

"Oh?"

Lord Havoc's flight halted midair with a mighty flap of his black-feathered wings, causing two gusts of strong wind to billow against Jorn's face intensely.

Even so, Jorn remained unflinching with a grave look while his hair danced wildly in the wind

"When did the Desolate Crow Clan have another Mid-rank 2 Transcendent? No wonder you guys have the audacity to sneak into Nethergrass city and rescue the hostages from right under our noses."

As Lord Havoc scrutinized Jorn with narrowed eyes and fully gauged his strength, he added, "Since you are this strong, then it is most likely that Bahlzacs is dead."

"However, it is impossible for you to become stronger so suddenly. Speak! Who is your backer?" Lord Havoc interrogated with a commanding tone, not in a hurry to attack after realizing his opponent's strength.

"Our backer, huh…?" Jorn muttered softly and slowly, taking his time to respond to buy time.

…

…

…

Inside the Desolate Crow Clan, still unaware of the situation, Lilith arrived at an open field in the eastern corner of the clan where the Blue Luan was currently resting before she called, ""Soft Feather, breakfast is ready!" 

"Great! I am starving!"

Soft Feather's lazed look was immediately energized as her head shot up instantly with eagerness and anticipation. 

"Come to the square," Lilith smiled slightly, but her mind was evidently elsewhere, thinking about her parents in Nethergrass city. 

If everything went according to plan, Jorn and the others should be returning soon with her parents and the elders.

As Lilith brought Soft Feather to the big square where breakfast was being distributed throughout the clan, the aromatic scent of braised meat infused with local spices whetted everyone's appetite

Plop!

A slob of heavy drool quickly dropped on Lilith's head, startling her with surprise before she subconsciously touched the slimy fluids and gazing back up at Soft Feather with a blaming look. 

"Hehe, sorry. I couldn't help myself. The smell is too appetizing!" Soft Feather apologized cutely. 

Suddenly, the rush of hasty footsteps drew Lilith's attention away with a frown before she quickly pulled over passing clansmen and inquired, "What's the rush for?"

"Ah, Your Highness! The Clan Leader, Lady Liliana, and the elders have returned from Nethergrass city with Lord Jorn and the others! But, unfortunately, the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince still found out and sent a powerhouse, pursuing them to our doorsteps!"

"Right now, Lord Jorn is confronting the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince's right-hand man, Lord Havoc, just outside our clan to buy us time to prepare our defensive counterattack move!" the clansman reported urgently.

Lilith was surprised for a moment, wondering why she was not informed immediately, but the situation had been anticipated and prepared for, nonetheless. 

Perhaps, that was the reason why the clansmen forgot to inform her.

"Lilith!"

"Lilith!"

Two distinct yet very familiar voices suddenly called out to her before Lilith turned around with surprise and sheer joy.