fantasy novels Chapter 59 Sealed Rift: Black Crow Vanguard
Chapter 59 Sealed Rift: Black Crow Vanguard
The setting sun, like blood, dyed the broken trees and branches of the northwestern forest a crimson hue, as if the earth had been torn apart and was bleeding profusely. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, blood, and lingering malevolent energy. The shattered remains of array pillars lay scattered across the ground like silent tombstones. The corpses of the Wang family's assassins and the evil warriors lay piled upon each other, a gruesome sight. Blood seeped into the scorched earth, emitting a nauseatingly sweet stench. The surviving students collapsed to the ground, a mixture of relief at their survival and grief at the loss of their comrades. Many sobbed softly, their cries piercing the deathly silence of the forest.
Zhao Lei leaned against a charred tree trunk, a military medic bandaging a deep, bone-revealing wound on his arm. He gritted his teeth, large beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and dripping onto his blood-stained clothes, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant direction of Qingyang City, his eyes burning with resentment and hatred. In the fierce battle just now, to protect three younger students, he had taken three blows from a demonic warrior. If Lin Chen hadn't arrived in time, he would have been dead.
Su Muyue, dressed in a blood-stained white dress, was kneeling on the ground tending to the wounds of her injured classmates. Her face was still pale; the exhaustion from the array had left her weak all over, and her fingertips were trembling slightly, but her eyes were unusually firm. After bandaging each person, she would whisper a word of comfort, her gentle voice like a spring breeze, soothing the fear in everyone's hearts.
Su Qingyue, longsword in hand, stood at the edge of the battlefield, her sharp gaze sweeping across her surroundings. Her skirt was torn in several places, revealing her fair skin, and her arms were wrapped in bandages, yet her posture remained as upright as a pine tree. The prisoners of the Wang family and the evil race were guarded by military soldiers, each one dejected and ashen-faced. Wang Hao, his dantian destroyed, slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant, his former arrogance gone. Zhou Yue, his limbs chained, lay on the ground groaning in pain, awaiting the harshest judgment of the human race.
Holding a battle report, Jiang Chen solemnly reported to Su Zhennan: "Elder Su, in this battle, we killed 327 Wang family assassins, 214 evil warriors, and captured 156. Our side suffered 27 student casualties, 54 seriously wounded, and 123 lightly wounded. The military suffered 18 casualties and 32 seriously wounded."
Su Zhennan stared at the list of casualties in his hands, his trembling slightly, his eyes filled with grief. These children were the hope for the future of humanity, yet they remained forever in this cold, desolate forest. "It's all my fault," Su Zhennan sighed, his voice hoarse. "If I had discovered Zhou Yue, the traitor, sooner, if I had made preparations in advance, they wouldn't have died."
"Elder Su, this is not your fault." Lin Chen walked over, his face still pale, but his eyes were incredibly firm. "The Wang family and the evil clan have been plotting for a long time, and they've been hiding it for too long. It's already quite an achievement that we were able to win this battle. The most important thing now is to get to Qingyang City as soon as possible and reinforce the Demon-Suppressing Array."
Jiang Chen nodded, his expression growing increasingly grave: "Lin Chen is right. We just detected that the energy fluctuations of the demon-suppressing array beneath Qingyang City are abnormally violent, and the cracks in the seal are expanding at an alarming rate. The detonation of the Heavenly Fiend Array dealt a fatal blow to the seal. If the reinforcement is not completed within twelve hours, the main force of the evil race will break through the seal and massacre Qingyang City."
"Furthermore," Jiang Chen paused, taking out the black skull token, "we have verified that this is indeed an exclusive token of the Black Crow Legion of the Evil Clan. The Black Crow Legion is the most elite vanguard force of the Evil Clan, skilled in infiltration, raids, and sabotage, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. Liu Kun is the Black Crow Legion's top spy planted within the human race. After his escape, he will immediately contact the main force of the Black Crow Legion to coordinate a full-scale attack in response to the breaking of the seal."
Su Zhennan gripped his longsword tightly, a resolute glint in his eyes: "There's no time to lose. We'll set off for Qingyang City immediately. Jiang Chen, you lead a group of soldiers to stay behind and escort the injured students back to Tianlan City. At the same time, notify the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters and request emergency support."
"Yes!" Jiang Chen replied respectfully.
"Su Qingyue, you will lead the Su family's Exorcism Assault Team as the vanguard to Qingyang City to seal the entrance to the sealed land and prevent Liu Kun from causing damage with his men."
"Understood!" Su Qingyue nodded, turned around and led the assault team away at high speed, their figures quickly disappearing into the twilight.
"Mu Yue, take the array team and prepare all the exorcising artifacts and array flags. We need you to repair the damaged array patterns."
"Okay, Grandpa." Su Muyue finished packing her things, walked to Lin Chen's side, and looked at him with concern. "Lin Chen, are you alright? You were too exhausted from forcibly breaking the formation just now."
"I'm fine." Lin Chen smiled and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I can still hold on. Reinforcing the formation is inseparable from my Star Martial Core."
Zhao Lei struggled to his feet and limped to Lin Chen's side. "Lin Chen, I'm going with you. I'm injured, but I can still fight. I want to avenge my fallen classmates!"
Looking at Zhao Lei's determined eyes, Lin Chen nodded: "Okay, let's go together."