Chapter 287: Traps

A deliberate preparation started. All the knights and guards geared up. The formation masters were already outside the Empire border. The distance was huge, but the royal family had transportation crystals. Though those were very precious, using them in a moment like this was worth it. They started setting up mana traps.

Those who were good with bows, spears, and other long-range weapons, and those who had mastered long-range fighting techniques took positions at the center and around the border in two groups.

Close combat experts stood in the middle. Many beast tamers occupied locations fixed by Logan.

Within just two hours, everyone was ready.

Logan stood with Lilith and Mercer. "They will arrive any moment now," Lilith said.

"Our men are ready," Mercer said.

Suddenly Spade came. "Papa? What’s going on?"

Mercer looked at him. "Nothing, Spade. You go inside and stay with Luna."

"No. Can I please stay? It’s exciting outside."

"No, Spade. You should go inside now. Or someone may try to steal your chocolates and toys."

"Again, bad uncles?"

"Yes."

Spade huffed and was about to leave when he saw Logan and remembered something. "Uncle, that pool was filled with those glowing balls. Should I start filling another pool?"

Logan, who was busy observing the formations, and the people taking positions in different locations froze for a moment. He looked at Spade. Then blinked once.

"Wait! What did you just say?"

"That pool. It’s totally full now. Should I start attracting those glowing balls in another place?" He asked innocently. Only if he knew how absurd what he just said was.

Logan was almost at a loss for words. He stayed silent for a while before speaking. "You really filled that pool?"

Spade nodded excitedly. Logan took a few more seconds to control his emotions. "Yes, start gathering in another place."

Mercer and Princess Lilith shared a glance, not knowing what was going on.

"Okay," Spade said before turning around and leaving in skipping steps. ’He awakened the first Planetary cell in just one day? How???’

"What all was that about?" Lilith asked.

But before he could speak...

Boooooooooooooooom!

A loud explosion erupted.

Everyone’s gaze snapped toward an orb. It was showing what was happening outside the Empire. In the northeast direction, a trap had just activated, blowing up instantly.

"They are here," Mercer said.

They continued to observe the orb.

In that particular area, a red orc had just run forward before stepping on a trap. It was a fire explosion trap. The moment it was detonated, the orc’s body was blasted into nothingness.

Then the orb showed what was behind. A sea of monsters. Orcs, minotaurs, golden yatis, dragons. There was no end. Up to the distance the eyes could follow inside the orb, they could only see monsters.

Due to the detonation, the swarm of monsters had stopped moving forward. Even the dragons had stopped advancing.

"Grrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Suddenly, one of the beasts roared.

Instantly, one of the dragons whistled through the air. It moved forward. No detonation. No trap. Or that’s what everyone had thought. Just before the dragon was only one hundred meters away, something whistled through the air.

The dragon collapsed to the ground like a corpse, with three gaping holes in its body. One through the head. One through the chest. And one through one of its wings.

A silence fell for a second before chaos erupted. Instead of being intimidated by the traps, the monsters stormed forward. Lights flickered as artifacts exploded into action.

Some monsters’ fur was covered in hardened scales. Metallic armours wrapped around others.

A golden yati bolted forward, its every step leaving behind a small crater.

Whoooooosh!

Suddenly, fire erupted. The yati didn’t even flinch and continued moving forward. Fiery waves slammed against its body, desperately trying to set the skin ablaze. But the golden monster moved like a mountain.

Multiple arrows struck a green orc, only to clatter on the ground the next moment. The beast was wearing metal armour.

Not all monsters could move forward easily, though. But no more monsters fell like the first two.

"Kill anyone on sight." Suddenly, a yati roared while advancing forward.

Boooom!

Whoooosh!

Clang!

Clang!

Under the heavy effect of mana traps, the monsters kept moving forward.

Just when they crossed half the distance...

Whoooosh!

An arrow whistled through the air. At its tip, fire was billowing dangerously.

It struck the armour of a minotaur. The minotaur had tried to stop it with his warhammer but failed. The metal armour lasted only a second before the striking point melted and the arrow pierced through the skin.

Schlk!

The minotaur froze for a moment before collapsing face first.

Thud!

Dust and debris erupted outward.

The horde of monsters didn’t stop. Many started to fall.

One black lion jumped forward. A fiery sphere struck its head. A protective barrier shimmered, only to shatter the next moment. The fireball struck the lion’s head before it was blasted into nothing.

A dragon was streaking through the air.

Whoooosh!

Whoooosh!

Two swords whistled through the air. Both of its wings were split apart. The dragon started to fall, but before it could land...

Boooooooooom!

A lightning bolt struck it.

The whole place was a mess. One after another, monsters fell. Yet their number seemed limitless. The monsters continued to close in toward the border area.

The knights and guards placed near the border were slowly retreating.

One hundred meters. Eighty meters. Fifty. Twenty.

Finally, a minotaur crossed the border. A knight with a spear came into its view. The monster lunged forward, ready to tear apart the spear wielder.

Whoooooosh!

As the monster swung its arm, the weapon in its arm raked through the ground.

The knight twisted his body and dodged the attack. His spear moved. Like a flash of lightning, the spearhead whistled upward.

Clang!

Metal met metal as both were pushed backward.

Just when the knight thought he had the monster before him under control, the monster vanished and appeared behind his back.

Schlk!

The monster didn’t even move, but three deep, raking wounds appeared on the knight’s throat. And then...

He collapsed.