Rise of The Demon General

Three days later, the citizens of Venal Virtuous City looked upon the North with trepidation. An announcement had been made that informed everyone in the city about the Cryanid horde, so they knew what was coming.

Hai Di ordered the city to be barricaded. Engravers installed and erected a barrier that encapsulated the city. The official word was that the barrier was to block the incoming horde from entering the city, but the true reason was to stop the citizens from fleeing.

Unlike the protective barrier that normally protected the cities in Aetheria’s surface world, Hai Di employed a barrier that prevented any side from crossing to the other side. Unable to leave, the citizens had no choice but to join the militia to protect their families, who also lived in the city.

While the citizens looked at the distant mountains, they noticed that they were moving. They rubbed their eyes because they thought their eyes had become blurry. When they noticed that almost everyone was doing the same thing, they understood that there was nothing wrong with their eyes.

They looked again. The impression that the mountains were moving remained. But after they paid attention longer, they realized what was truly happening. It was not the mountains that moved. It was a mass of something alive that covered the entire mountain. It was as if witnessing a moving carpet large enough to cover mountains.

Once that realization sank in, they knew what those moving things were. They were the things they had dreaded for three whole days. As they lamented the notion of fighting a mass of something that could cover mountains, their faces went paler when they noticed dark clouds in the distance that covered the red sky.

Clouds were rare in the lower world. The sky at some places did have them, but they were rare. Hence, the citizens of Venal Virtuous City already knew that the dark clouds they saw in the distance were not normal. Not to mention, these clouds were heading toward them at a worrying speed.

When they were close enough, everyone could see that the clouds were composed of countless large insects.

”Tho–Those are the Cryanid horde...? We... We are doomed...!!”

Panic began to set in. Many citizens ran in the opposite direction, trying to flee from the southern part of the city. The barrier prevented them from leaving. They were trapped!

The enforcers of the Devotion Faction stationed around the periphery of the city approached them. ”What the hell do you people think you are doing? If you are unwilling to defend this city, then just die right here!”

The enforcers attacked the terrified citizens without mercy, killing many. In the end, they were forced to accept their fate. They either die protecting the city or die a meaningless death. A majority returned to the northern part of the city to get ready for the inevitable battle, some sneaked away and hid when the enforcers weren’t looking, and a few fought the enforcers, hoping that their act of rioting could incite the others to follow their lead. Unfortunately, not many came to their cause. These rebellious citizens were the ones who died a meaningless death.

*

A field command center had been set up in front of Hai Di’s ruined castle. Hai Di and the others gathered there reviewing the reports.

”I can’t believe it... Their number is even more immense than I thought,” Hai Xuang remarked as he gazed at the moving carpet and the dark clouds in the distance. The others wore similar expressions of disbelief.

”They are certainly more numerous than what was reported when they invaded the Mercy Domain,” Xin Lie said.

”No wonder the settlements along here and the northern border fell so quickly,” Li Jing said. ”Without an army, we can’t stop a horde as massive as that.”

”How far away is Hai Lao?” Hai Di asked.

Xin Lie answered, ”From my last communication with him, he and his force should arrive in around four more hours.”

They gazed again at the horde in the distance.

Hai Xuang said, ”I think those Cryanids will arrive in an hour or so...”

”We will defend until Hai Lao returns,” Hai Di stated. ”The three of you stay here and organize our force. Coordinate with Hai Lao once he arrives.”

”Father, do you want to go to the front line?” Hai Xuang asked. His face showed concern.

”Hmph! I will show them that having a large number means nothing to me. I will make those insects regret ever leaving the misty border.”

”Have your wounds recovered?”

”Don’t worry. I am fully healed.” With those encouraging words, Hai Di flew away. Many armored soldiers followed him. These were the royal guards who always stayed in the capital. They were all Supreme and Mammoth Stage cultivators. Their number had suffered after the recent battle with the Mercy Faction, but they were still around four hundred strong. Hai Di took half of these royal guards with him while the other half remained at the command center to protect Hai Xuang and the others.

Hai Di and his royal guards stopped their advance above the militia stationed at the northern part of the city. The sight of him bolstered the militia. If the domain lord fought with them, they didn’t need to worry, even when the enemy vastly outnumbered them.

Hai Di didn’t say anything. He simply floated in the sky in silence. He was not the type who bothered to inspire others, nor did he need to. His presence was all his followers needed.

The Devotion Faction members who stood behind the militia uttered a rallying cry upon Hai Di’s arrival. Their battle cry further improved the militia’s morale. They no longer felt that this battle was hopeless.

*

As estimated, around one hour later, the first wave of the Cryanids finally arrived. Those who laid eyes on the beasts for the first time winced at the sight. Most humans loathed bugs. To see the creatures at such a gigantic size and in such an enormous number made everyone shudder involuntarily.

Hai Di had crossed paths with Cryanids before, but never at such a massive scale. He could identify most of the Cryanids in the incoming swarm.

A majority of the swarm consisted of the Cryanid Soldiers and Cryanid Flies. Larger Cryanids were mixed in among the sea of those two types. Cryanid Knights, Cryanid Whales, Cryanid Juggernauts, and Cryanid Tarantulas were among the swarm on the ground. Cryanid Wasps, Cryanid Ticks, and Cryanid Moths were inside the clouds made by the Cryanid Flies.

The Cryanid Tarantula was a giant spider with long legs. Unlike normal spiders with furry bodies, the Cryanid Tarantula was covered in plates of armor like other Cyranids. It was classified as a Higher Mythical Beast and could spit a stream of acidic liquid that melted armor and poisoned flesh.

The Cryanid Tick was a flying Cryanid, smaller than a Cryanid fly but more dangerous. It was a Lower Mythical Beast. It was faster, stronger, and was protected by sturdier armor. When it was killed, it released poisonous gas.

The Cryanid Moth was a Cryanid resembling a giant moth. Its wings were wide and colorful. It constantly released pheromones that turned nearby Cryanids into a frenzy, but lulled all non-Cryanids in the vicinity into a feeble state. It was categorized as a Mid Mythical Beast.

Aside from those, Hai Di also spotted a few Cryanid Hiveminds and Cryanid Burrowers at the rear of the Cryanid swarm. He gazed at them with a scowl. For the Cryanids to grow to this size, it should take at least a few centuries. He wondered how these mindless spirit beasts could have kept themselves hidden inside the misty border without spilling out. The suspicion that someone was controlling the Cryanids became stronger with this fact. He looked around but couldn’t spot the human-Cryanid hybrid that was rumored to be the culprit.

’Never mind,’ He thought. As soon as he wiped out this swarm, the perpetrators would show themselves.

The Cryanid swarm finally arrived. Without slowing down, they banged themselves into the barrier. The swarm continued forcing its advance despite the barrier. Many frontmost Cryanid Soldiers and Cryanid Flies were crushed to death by their brethren, which continued to push from behind.

Hai Di observed his force’s formation. Everyone was ready. He gave the signal to the warlord in charge below. Upon that signal, the warlord let out a cry, telling everyone to be ready. He then did something to the words of power that controlled the barrier.

A hole opened in a small portion of the barrier. This hole was directly in front of the militia. The amassed Cryanids poured through the hole.

The prepared militia and faction members immediately sent ranged attacks once the hole was opened. The Cryanids that burst inside were greeted with a fierce torrent of assaults. Almost the entire first wave was obliterated as soon as they entered.

Nevertheless, the Cryanids were unfazed. Their number was as if endless. They continued to pour through like a disaster-level flood.