Chapter 638: Chapter 638. The Conflict Outside the Council Pylon

Outside the Council Pylon, the rioters formed a barricade. After some time, they saw a large group of armored soldiers approaching. In the lead were Wai Kung, Wai Ling, and Zue Du.

“Halt!” Hong Zi told the incoming troops. He and Ha Velet led the rioters out here. Lin Xiaolong accompanied them.

“Out of the way!” Wai Kung exclaimed. “You civilians are violating the rules by gathering here. Return to your home, and we will consider overlooking this transgression. Otherwise, you will all be branded traitors!”

“Hahaha!” Hong Zi laughed. The other rioters laughed with him. Their number far surpassed the troops Wai Kung brought.

“You government dogs think we are afraid?” Hong Zi exclaimed. “You back a tyrant who overthrew our high council, and you dare to call us traitors? You are the real traitors…!”

“That’s right!” Ha Velet joined in. “We dare assault this place means we are determined to restore the High Council. This is the will of the people! Stand in our way, and you will be the people’s enemy!!”

The rioters clamored to show their resolve. They would not back down from this uprising.

“Wait! We are all Khode’s people. We are on the same side,” Zue Du declared. He approached Wai Kung and whispered, “Brother Wai Kung, didn’t we also plan to do something to the Supreme Councilor? We might have lost the army that can make that possible, but if we join these people, we may have a chance.”

Before Wai Kung could reply to Zue Du, Wai Ling had responded to the rioters.

“I don’t care what you people want. The ones I’m looking for are Echos’ commander and his spirit beast bitch! I know he came this way. Where is he?!”

“Echos’ commander is our ally!” Lin Xiaolong exclaimed. “He risks his army to give us this chance. He even risks his own life to face the Supreme Councilor. Do not try to trick us! We know you are just making excuses to try to save the Supreme Councilor!”

“That’s right,” Ha Velet remembered Amon’s warning. Amon did mention that these Khode’s troops would use this excuse. “We have seen you serve the Supreme Councilor. We don’t trust you!”

“If you truly consider yourself on our side, stand back and do not trouble us!” Hong Zi said.

“So, he is inside there?” Wai Ling asked. “Are you going to stand in my way?”

“Ling, do not be rash…,” Wai Kung warned.

“You are not allowed to pass!” Hong Zi exclaimed in response to Wai Ling’s question.

“If you are going to stand in my way, then die…!!!” Wai Ling thrust her sword at Hong Zi.

Her thrust was quick and sudden. Hong Zi didn’t expect his opponent to dare act first, considering they had far superior numbers, so his response was late. The tip of Wai Ling’s sword was almost upon him when another sword came to the rescue. The one who saved him was Lin Xiaolong.

Both Lin Xiaolong and Wai Ling stepped back from the clash. Wai Ling was at the Beginning Spirit Stage, and so was Lin Xiaolong. He managed to break through into this stage thanks to Amon’s Aetherium Fruits and Spirit Pill.

“Ling, stop!” Wai Kung ordered.

Wai Ling was angry that her attack failed. She didn’t hear her father. She yelled, “You will all die for protecting those foreign scums…!!”

“Crazy bitch! I will teach you a lesson!” Hong Zi exclaimed. He brandished a weapon that resembled a broom. The broom’s shaft was made of steel and had a pointed tip hidden inside the broom head. This made it more like a concealed spear.

He swept his broom at Wai Ling. Wai Ling staggered back from the clash. Hong Zi was stronger than her. He was at the Intermediate Spirit Stage. He almost lost earlier because he was careless.

The rioters didn’t stay back after those three exchanged moves. Ha Velet shouted, “Friends, attack these government dogs…!!”

“Fuck!” Wai Kung cursed. He had no choice but to fight now since the situation had devolved to this stage. He turned to his troops and ordered, “Use it!”

His frontline soldiers brought out the rifles they carried on their backs. These rifles were Zee Whang’s gift to Wai Kung. He copied the design based on the one rifle stolen from the First Demon Army.

Khode’s soldiers fired the rifles, which killed many rioters. This took everyone aback.

“Back off or die!” Wai Kung exclaimed.

Instead of getting intimidated, this drew the rioters’ anger instead. “Kill these traitorous dogs…!!” Ha Velet yelled.

The rioters charged forward. Khode’s soldiers fired again, but that didn’t stop the rioters.

Even though Wai Kung equipped his troops with rifles, neither he nor his soldiers were experienced in using firearms. The rifles were most effective if used from a sufficient distance. The rioters were close to them. Hence, they could only fire it twice before these rioters forced them into a melee. By then, the weapons were nothing but a long stick.

The two forces tussled with each other. Wai Ling continued trying to break through to get to Council Pylon, but Lin Xiaolong was steadfast in blocking her advance. Wai Kung, who was an Intermediate Spirit Stage cultivator, fought Hong Zi, while Zue Du clashed with Ha Velet.

The battle lasted for some time. As time continued to pass, it became apparent that Wai Kung’s troops were in trouble. In terms of equipment quality, training, and cultivation level, Khode’s soldiers fared better. However, the rioters had more numbers. Additionally, they were more determined. They were fighting for their future. Khode’s soldiers, on the other hand, comprised people who enlisted to repel the invaders. They didn’t want to fight their own people. Hence, they were less motivated.

Khode’s soldiers continued to get pushed back. Each soldier had to contend against multiple rioters. Many of them fell after being ganged up on by too many opponents.

“Wai Kung, we must retreat!” Zue Du called.

“No! Keep pushing!” Wai Kung insisted. “They are but civilians! We can win!”

He demanded this not out of loyalty to the Supreme Councilor, but out of fear for his daughter. He could see that even when it was clear that they would lose, Wai Ling refused to back away. She had been completely consumed by rage and vengeance. If he issued a retreat, she would remain, and she would be overwhelmed. He couldn’t have that, even if it meant sacrificing the Khode soldiers under his command.

At first, Khode’s soldiers didn’t give it their all since they were fighting their own countrymen. As their comrades fell, they realized that their lives were at stake. They fought more vigorously, but it was too late. They were fewer than they started with.

Many started to think about fleeing. That’s when they heard a commotion from behind.

A group of battle puppets came from behind them. These battle puppets threw themselves at the rioters. These battle puppets bore the emblem of the Supreme Councilor on their bodies, which allowed Khode’s soldiers to identify them as part of the Royal Puppet Army. They must be the group that managed to break through the blockade of Amon’s battle puppets.

The Royal Puppet Army considered the registered Khode’s soldiers as allies, while the rioters were foes because they were not supposed to be in this district. With the help of these battle puppets, Khode’s soldiers could fare better.

“Do not let them pass! We must buy those who fight inside the Council Pylon as much time as possible!” Lin Xiaolong exclaimed. He fended off two battle puppets that lunged at him. As he did, he realized something.

“Shit! Where does that crazy woman go?” He looked around but could no longer see her. He wasn’t given the chance to search for her because the two battle puppets had returned.

As time passed, more enemy battle puppets arrived. Slowly, it was the rioters’ turn to be pushed back. A few battle puppets with flight units managed to break through and were about to enter the Council Pylon. Before they did, something fast shot at them.

In a flash, these battle puppets were sent flying back. Levitating before the Council Pylon’s entrance was a woman in mechanical armor.

“Khode’s soldiers…! What are you doing? This is the chance to take down the tyrant who usurped our nation! Why do you fight your own countrymen…?!”

“Ge… General Zee Min!!” The Khode soldiers immediately identified the woman.

“Our enemy is the Supreme Councilor! He plans to turn us all into his human puppets! He is an evil person who can never be allowed to rule our nation. Join me! Fight his Royal Puppet Army! We have a chance to win today. Fight!! For we will never have this chance again!”

If she were any other woman, the Khode soldiers would simply ignore her, but Zee Min’s reputation among veteran soldiers was similar to Xuang Feng’s. Her words carried weight.

Many soldiers promptly switched sides and joined the rioters in fighting the battle puppets. A few, who were loyal to Wai Kung, turned to him for guidance. Wai Kung was not paying attention to them. He was frantically searching the battlefield for his daughter. He, too, had lost sight of her.

Zue Du, who was fighting Ha Velet, jumped away and said, “Hold! I will help you.”

Ha Velet was skeptical. Zue Du proved it by sending his flying mechanical gauntlet to smack the nearby battle puppets.

With the Khode soldiers changing sides, the rioters were able to hold the line again. They stopped any battle puppet that tried to get to the Council Pylon.

As the battle progressed, a strange scene drew their attention. A large gold-furred ape cruised through the air at high speed while riding a giant sword. The giant sword cleaved through any battle puppets in its way, and the golden ape smacked away any that were at their flanks.

Their speed was so fast that no one had the time to react as this duo flew past them and entered Council Pylon’s large entrance.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep