The Conquerors Path

The whole ground started to shake like never before. It was as if a reckoning was nigh, and the truth wasn't far from it.

Plant life burst from the underground, rushing to the skies. Each of the plants looked as vicious and dangerous as they could be. Hundreds, if not thousands, of spikes rose up from the ground, while the earth itself broke down at places where the majority of beasts were concentrated.

It was as if a spell was cast within the whole battlefield as everything froze for a moment, and then chaos ensued.

Vines burst from the ground, powerful ones that trapped the even more powerful beasts, making them unable to move. Meanwhile, the more dangerous plants began their slaughter. It was as if an entire forest had grown from the ground to battle the beasts that wished the students harm.

Soon, within seconds, the tide of the battle had changed. Of course, there was extreme resistance from the beasts, but the power of nature was too much for them to overwhelm easily. A time that every exhausted and hurt student used to get back to the city safely. With the plants at bay, soon everyone had retreated into safety, leaving behind dozens of beasts too powerful to be taken down easily, but they were indeed caught up for now, which gave the city the opportunity that they needed.

"Isabella, do it," Austin spoke as he gazed at the lost battlefield, making sure that everyone was safe.

"Confirmed," Isabella replied, and soon a quake filled the entire city, a rippling mana like no other suffocating the weak. The especially strong mages felt the tremor all around, a sense of mana poisoning making their bodies weak, a trepidation filling them as they came to realize what kind of monster Isabella truly was.

Austin calmly took the change in mana, his eyes placid as he turned to look to the skies, his eyes coming upon Isabella who was floating above. Above her, a tree made of fire bloomed, a beautiful tree taking the breaths of everyone away.

'The lost spell, tree of burning death,' Austin thought as he gazed at the gigantic tree now covering over the entire city. Its red leaves produced a heat that easily raised the entire temperature in the city, its sheer presence providing extreme pressure on everyone in the city and on those outside watching the spectacle with wide eyes.

"Go," It was a small whisper of command from Isabella, but it brought forth extreme destruction. The entire tree burst forth into beautiful burning petals that flew toward the remaining powerful beasts, and just like that, they were burned to ashes.

There were no screams, no cries of pain, no resistance, only death. The entire battlefield became scorched. No more bodies filled the grounds, no more blood could be seen, and only the scent of ashes filled everyone's nostrils. It was then that the reality started to set in for everyone. They had won.

Just as those thoughts entered their minds, all the tensions from their bodies became free as their entire guard became relaxed. And just as that happened, a new set of enemies broke forth from within certain people's blindsight as their weapons aimed to reap lives.

The assassination was perfect. The enemies waited for the correct time when the guard of these people was completely relaxed, and it was then they struck. The most important people within the entire city were targeted - Olivia, Nora, Ron, Isabella, Angelina, Marlene, Catherine, Ella, Jacob, Carmel, Rina, Emily, Austin, and more.

Everyone that seemed to be extremely talented or with a great powerful position was targeted. It was a perfect move that was completely planned, and there was no escaping it. It was then that a voice was heard.

"Stop!"

The man's voice called out and just as it did a stop button was placed on those attackers, all of them just froze for about 0.1 seconds but it was more than enough for the second partner to do her job, single pinpointed bees seemingly arose from within the shadows of all that was targeted and within that 0.1 second time frame the bees stinger drilled through the attackers head and killed them.

And just like the assassin from before who broke the orb at the tent, these people who were killed soon turned to nothing but goo, melting away. And along with it, time seemed to have resumed.

"What!"

"Princess!"

"Are you alright, miss?"

"You, lady!"

"Master!"

Several calls of comfort were made as the subordinates rushed towards their leaders to check up on them. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and everyone was saved. The leader's eyes soon turned toward Austin as they all looked at him, recognizing the voice that had spoken.

Austin stood there at the top of the wall, looking at the person who was turning to goo, his eyes flashing with a certain intent as his voice traveled to where it should.

'Alex, are you okay?'

'I'm...fi-fine.'

A weak voice responded, seemingly extremely tired.

'You did a good job. I will take it from here. Take that potion and have a good rest. This is an order,' Austin spoke through the connection.

'Okay,' Alex replied, seeing Austin focused on the next helper.

'Emma, are your beasts all right?'

'Yup, they are fine!' Emma's cheerful voice responded. Seeing this, Austin smiled.

'Good, you have done well.'

'Hehehe,' in return for his talk, he got the sound of Emma giggling. Austin then turned towards the main connection as he spoke.

"You're welcome."

That was more than enough to earn him several favors from powerful family leaders. Perhaps not all of the attacks might have succeeded as these cunning future rulers would have something up their sleeve that will save their life, but it doesn't change the fact that Austin's people had saved their lives in a way, something which Austin will definitely be using in the future.

"Sabrina, are you good?" Austin asked, knowing that she might not currently be in the best state.

"Huff....Huff....I'm okay," she replied in a calm voice.

"Was there an attack on your side?" Austin asked, knowing that even with all the precautions taken to keep her at a secure location, she might still be found.

"Thanks to you, it was dealt with," Sabrina replied.

"Good, do you have him?" Austin asked.

"Yes," Sabrina replied.

"Then we are all set," Austin spoke his final words before turning to the whole crowd gathered there, his voice spreading far and wide to everyone.

"We've won," he said.

It was two simple words, but they were more than enough to change the entire atmosphere. Everyone turned to look at each other with disbelief before bursting out in happiness.

"We won!"

"Yahooo!"

"We've won!"

"Thank the gods!"

"I can return home!"

The sighs of relief and tears of happiness flowed from every corner of the city. Just like in the past, this city once again held a celebration. Unfortunately, it didn't last long as a humongous pressure descended upon the city.

An Imperial had come...

The great pressure focused on everyone, breaking the budding atmosphere as everyone stared at the scene above with trepidation. Austin's eyes narrowed as he looked up at the three figures floating above, each one displaying a certain power of the law, a power well-known to all.

"Looks like we need to take this into our own hands," one of the cloaked figures spoke, raising his hand high and starting to wave down. His mere actions suffocated everyone, causing them to kneel. Only a few could withstand the pressure, but no matter what, everyone's end seemed inevitable.

"Is this the end?" several people thought as the gigantic hand settled down on them, intending to finish their lives. Then a voice was heard.

"I guess it's time to end this," the woman's voice rang out. Just as her words were heard, the hand froze, and space split apart as a woman appeared.

Mira Lionheart had descended.