Chapter 987

“The North Gate! Wizards and Imperial Defense soldiers are currently engaged in a standoff!”

“There was an attempt to breach the city wall—we’ve stopped them!”

“What? They actually climbed the walls?”

“These bastards are really throwing caution to the wind!”

“Any casualties?”

“No reports yet.”

While the battle raged outside, a different kind of fight was underway within the palace walls.

Romandro rolled up his shirt sleeves and busily dragged tables and chairs to block the entrance to the Magic Department.

“Let’s wrap this up quickly! Once we finish here and secure the doors tight, we need to move to the main palace!”

“Yes, understood, Romandro!”

“Everyone, try not to worry too much!”

Romandro’s encouragement drew only forced smiles from the staff. They all knew what gathering in the main palace meant—if things went south, they’d have to fight to the death against the invaders trying to seize the palace.

Sigh.

Romandro looked up at the Magic Department building with a troubled expression. The wizards were maintaining the protective barrier, but their opponent was Kroni. If that bastard unleashed the power of the underground god or dragged the deity itself outside Gaia, no one could predict how quickly things might spiral out of control.

No matter how strong Ian is…

The worst always comes when you least expect it. To prepare for any eventuality, each department was sealing their buildings and regrouping at the main palace where the emperor was. Not only because the emperor couldn’t move, but also because the palace guard was stationed there, making defense safer and more efficient.

Creak!

Click!

“The doors are locked!”

“What about the annex?”

“All done!”

“Good work. Now, let’s move!”

Romandro led the staff as they rushed toward the carriage. The employees climbed aboard wherever they could—on the driver’s seat, in the cargo hold, even balancing on the footboards. Still, there wasn’t enough room, so Romandro waved them off.

“I’ll walk. Drop off the others at the main palace and come back for me.”

“Romandro, then I’ll walk with you.”

“No, no, I’m heavy enough for two. Let’s go!”

“Alright, we’ll go ahead. We’ll come back for you soon!”

“Got it!”

As the carriage struggled forward, Romandro took one last look at the Magic Department before glancing toward the North Gate.

Boom. Thud.

Amid the rain, faint but unmistakable thunderous sounds echoed. What on earth was happening out there? Please, let no one from Ian’s side or the wizards get hurt.

“Ugh!”

Romandro steeled himself and started running after the carriage. His breath came hard, but he couldn’t stop running through the empty palace grounds—it was too terrifying. Had he ever seen the palace so silent? The fear that soldiers might be chasing him from behind made his throat dry.

Tap tap tap!

Thud!

Was that a hallucination? The sound of hooves began behind him. Romandro tried to ignore it and kept running, but the noise grew louder, chilling his heart.

“Romandro?”

“Kyah!”

Startled by the sudden shout, Romandro screamed and spun around. Standing there, looking utterly bewildered, was a woman.

“Viviana!”

“What are you doing running alone out here?”

It was his lover, Viviana. As Romandro approached, voice trembling, she dismounted and scanned him from head to toe.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. Just finished securing the Magic Department and heading to the main palace. But why are you out here?”

Viviana belonged to the Disaster Management Division within the Administrative Department. She was returning from a patrol to check if the annex was fully sealed, if anyone was left behind, or if there were any suspicious movements.

“I was just finishing patrol. Was there not enough room on the carriage?”

Viviana’s words hit the mark perfectly, and Romandro gave a small laugh.

“If I were slimmer, I’d just squeeze in without a second thought. But this is how it is.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve lost so much weight lately. Let’s go. The curfew means no carriages are coming back in.”

The two mounted their horses and rode toward the main palace.

“Is the cleanup almost done?”

“Probably the Magic Department is the last. It’s bigger than the others but has fewer people.”

If the Magic Department had evacuated, the others were likely finished too. Viviana glanced back and asked quietly.

“Any unusual incidents?”

“Not yet. How about the main palace?”

“Captain Hertzi and two soldiers are staying, but the rest are being sent to support outside the walls. Everyone’s in an uproar over Captain Merni’s death.”

“In this situation?”

“Exactly. Shouldn’t that kind of thing wait until after this is over?”

Romandro frowned deeply. The administrative leaders were apparently questioning Captain Hertzi’s summary execution of Captain Merni.

Without knowing the full story, it was understandable, but did they have no sense? Or were they just assuming this was a fight between Ian and Kroni?

If they thought it was a standoff between Bariel and the underground god, things would be different.

Then—

Kraaaang! Kraaang!

“…!”

The sky flashed, and thunderous booms erupted repeatedly. The horses reared in fright, and Romandro and Viviana screamed, crouching low.

“Whoa, whoa! Whoa!”

“What’s going on?”

Romandro looked up. The transparent protective barrier shimmered and vibrated.

“The barrier… it’s shaking.”

Viviana urged her horse forward again.

“That was from the North Gate, right?”

“Yeah. It came from behind us.”

“Something’s definitely wrong.”

Doooom. Boom.

As if answering their fears, the barrier trembled again and again. It had been their strongest shield, but now it felt like fragile glass ready to shatter.

When Romandro and Viviana reached the main palace, staff waiting outside greeted them.

“Romandro!”

“Viviana!”

People from the Administrative and Magic Departments kept a close watch on the barrier. With so many gathered outside, the chatter was chaotic.

“Reinforcements have arrived from the outer units. Luckily, it looks like this might be resolved internally by the Imperial Defense. The Administrative Department wants to issue a statement—Viviana, they just need your approval.”

“Is there any way to get outside? My elderly mother is home alone.”

“No way! Leave outside matters to the guards and rest easy. What if the doors open and soldiers flood in? Can you take responsibility for that?”

“What about news from the North and South Gates? Any updates?”

“Not yet. But I heard Kroni used some strange magic. Ah! You’re from the Magic Department, right? Can you confirm? What exactly is Kroni—”

“Wait, I’m busy. Palace Guard! Palace Guard!”

“The palace guard is inside the main palace quarters.”

“The wizards say no one from the palace should approach the walls. Kroni seems to have used some kind of strange magic.”

“Strange magic?”

“They say it’s mind control. Especially the magic swordsmen might get confused, so focus only on guarding the palace.”

“What? Mind control?”

Kraaaang! Bang!

“Ahhh!”

“Eek!”

“Duck! Duck!”

A deafening explosion cut through the noise. People screamed and dropped low. Romandro and Viviana clung to each other, holding their breath.

Crack.

Crack?

It was faint, but Romandro sensed a strange tearing sound.

“Ah…”

It broke. The wizards’ protective barrier shattered into shards of light, scattering like raindrops dissolving into thin air.

The sky returned to emptiness. But Romandro knew—there was truly nothing left. The shield that had protected them was gone.

“What the hell…?”

What was happening? Why had the barrier broken? Were the wizards okay? As Romandro rose, Viviana grabbed his arm tightly.

“Uh, over there—”

Soldiers were charging fiercely from a distance. No cavalry, just running on foot. It looked pitiful, yet surreal. Someone muttered.

“Isn’t that the South Gate?”

Right. The South Gate.

Those who understood the situation turned pale and rushed into the main palace.

“Everyone! Get inside!”

“Grab your weapons! Defend the palace!”

“Vi-Viviana! This way!”

Romandro pulled Viviana along and dashed inside. At the same time, palace guards rushed past them, followed by Barsabe and the palace guard with grim determination. Someone shouted from inside.

“We’re closing the gates! Block the inside with furniture!”

“We must hold the line at all costs!”

The guards were shutting the palace doors.

Viviana tugged on Romandro’s arm, urging him to come in quickly. But he didn’t budge. His face was set. Viviana thought she knew what he was thinking.

“Romandro, no. Come inside with me!”

How could someone who couldn’t even kill an ant pick up a weapon? But Romandro forced a smile and gently pulled his hand away from hers.

“We need to take care of the Ministry of Magic’s people. Viviana, you know how it is. Without me, they’re helpless.”

“Lord Romandro! Wait!”

“Just wait inside. We’ll talk later.”

“Lord Romandro!”

“The door’s closing! Step back!”

Viviana was pulled back by the guards and those inside, blocked from advancing.

Boom!

The main palace gates were sealed shut, guards standing shoulder to shoulder to block the way. Inside, the clatter of furniture being dragged around added to the chaos.

Romandro wiped cold sweat from his brow with a heavy sigh, when someone approached.

“Romandro.”

“Ah, Miss Barsabe.”

“Didn’t the wizards go through the south gate too?”

Barsabe tapped his shoulder, not with comforting words, but with a gesture meant to reassure.

“They definitely went, but… why the gate was open, I don’t know.”

“Ha.”

Barsabe tied her hair back tightly and nodded, her eyes flashing sharply.

“Yeah. Something’s definitely going on.”

At this point, there was no choice but to capture and interrogate.

“Everyone.”

Barsabe called her royal guards, their eyes steely and resolute, clearly ready for battle.

“Let’s move.”

This was the last line of defense. Summoning her magic sword, Barsabe steeled herself. Behind her stood His Majesty the Emperor and her father. As a loyal subordinate and a daughter, she vowed not to let the enemy’s footsteps be heard inside these walls.

“We are the heart of Bariel.”

“We are the heart of Bariel.”

The guards bumped fists and sprinted up the palace steps. A dozen or so royal guards against hundreds of soldiers. Around them, wind and rain whipped fiercely.

Snap!

Romandro turned away, silently praying to the gods. He decided to check the south gate wizards. If the gate was open, someone would have to close it again.

Whoooosh!

Avoiding the main battle, Romandro circled behind the palace. While the royal guards held the front line, he planned to make a wide arc and reach the south gate safely.

His legs trembled, on the verge of collapse, but Romandro didn’t stop running.

“This is what I have to do. Just stay alive, everyone.”