Chapter 1610 (2/2)

“...I suppose that is correct,” Jieu said quietly. Then he looked up with sharp eyes. “Then the moment that the Lancers arrive… we make our move.”

All three nodded. Commander Shilling crashed to the ground, but quickly reformed its body and leapt back to the sky with an even stronger electromagnetic field.

The Nether Herald didn’t remain idle in the face of these new threats. It raised its grey-green stone claws and threw out a dozen blades of dense Nether that targeted the approaching force. But from the core of the Lancers formation came a resounding screech that cut through even the thunder of their hooves.

A massive eagle bearing a Lancer streaked out with that same dual aura around his weapons and body. Around his neck hung twenty-eight gleaming fangs. With another screech, the eagle accelerated to meet the ominously silent blades of Nether.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

BOOM! BOOOM! BOOM!

The Eagle Lancer emerged from the repeated clashes against the Nether Blades looking extremely bedraggled and slightly singed, but it had defeated the Nether Herald’s attack. The gargoyle narrowed its glowing eyes and roared again as it slapped Commander Shilling away. But its roar couldn’t rival the thunderous hooves of the approaching Lancers.

In the next moment, the formation of Lancers hit the rapidly expanding army of Nether Beasts. Waves of bodies were sent tumbling through the air as the Lancers moved their weapons in perfect synchronicity. They were like rowers on top of a smooth lake, dipping their implements into the water and thrusting themselves forward.

Their charge was like a force of nature.

Even Charlotte couldn’t believe how smoothly the Lancers ripped through the Nether Beasts. She had seen their powerful teamwork just a few hours prior, but that couldn’t hold a candle to this carnage. In the past, they had efficiently cut down their foes. Now, it didn’t even seem like the Lancers were slowing down as they mowed through the Nether Beasts.

The Nether Herald grew incensed to see its minions being slaughtered, but it was the Nether Gatekeepers that moved first. While half of them had already been killed already, the other half were only being pinned down by other members of the Vulpis Squad. However, the challenge of the Lancers started a chain reaction.

The Nether Gatekeepers broke out of the harassment by releasing dense waves of Nether. Then they pounced forward and moved to stall out the Lancers’ charge.

In a flash, a Lancer riding an enormous spider hopped out in front of its peers. Instead of the single lance that the others possessed, this one wielded two. It met the first Nether Gatekeeper and skittered gracefully to the side, lashing out quickly and leaving a trail of wounds across its torso. The Nether Gatekeepers quickly gathered to suppress the Lancer, but its fleeting movements only accelerated. And by the time they finally managed to pin that Spider Lancer down, its fellows arrived.

The Lancers weren’t powerful enough to face the Nether Gatekeepers directly, at least not yet. But in that initial charge, they were able to inflict several deep wounds with the force of their momentum. And in the frantic minutes that followed, they simply used numbers to drown the remained of the Nether Gatekeepers.

Immediately, Charlotte’s expression brightened. Without the Nether Gatekeepers, all of the Vulpis Squad was freed up. Those additional numbers-

ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!

Finally, it seemed that they had pushed the Nether Herald too far. In a very familiar fashion, Commander Shilling was sent tumbling to the side after being repelled by the Nether Herald. Its eyes now radiated a red mist as it beat its wings and flew up into the air. Blades of Nether seemed to naturally form around its body and cut sharply downward. The golden light around the Lancers seemed powerful, but a single Nether blade shattered it and left the Lancers with deep gashes across their torso.

“It’s time,” Vizzeret growled.

Charlotte cast an annoyed glance over toward him, wondering when he had decided that he was in charge of the mission. But looking at the ragged figure of Commander Shilling, Charlotte couldn’t help but agree. She, Jieu, and Vizzeret each focused on their inherited images from the Ghosthound. Each image was a variant, but they still contained a hint of their Head Drill Sergeant’s capabilities.

And part of that was allowing the three images to coexist in the same space without weakening each other.

As Commander Shilling recovered his energy, the three leapt forward with blazing eyes. There was a shriek from the sky as the Eagle Lancer streaked downward to spear the Nether Herald from above. Out of the corner of her eye, Charlotte could see the Spider Lancer skittering back and forth, rapidly approaching the Nether Herald from below.

But the closer they approached, the more Charlotte had to grit her teeth. Even though they had been exposed to Nether during their training, it was nothing like this. This aura was raw and hostile, seeking constantly to smother the Aether in the surroundings. The Nether Herald roared again, releasing a wave of Nether blades in every direction.

Its army had been thoroughly slaughtered, but the dignity of the Herald was still inviolable. Above them, the beam of Nether pulsed into the sky, assisting in the battle against Commandant Wick. Until they managed to shut off that beam, they were losing.

And Charlotte Wick desperately wanted a win.