Chapter 24: Olivia vs. Hederson
On the 54th day of the year 10009 in the Lan calendar, this late night was destined to be an extraordinary one. Many residents did not sleep but instead came to the outskirts of the city. On this deep night, there were no stars or moon in the sky; instead, thick dark clouds shrouded the heavens.
Many residents of the imperial capital lit bonfires in the suburbs, gathering in small groups to await the arrival of the day of battle.
"Hey, Third Brother, where do you think Lord Olivia and Lord Hederson will fight? When Lord Olivia issued the challenge back then, he didn't specify clearly, only saying it would be outside the city. Is it outside the East City Gate, the West City Gate, or the South Gate, the North Gate..."
"Who knows? We can only wait here slowly."
This dilemma troubled many people, quite a few of whom had traveled from other cities. Apart from those who were indifferent to such matters or some mages, over half of the imperial capital's residents had come out to watch, along with people from other cities, totaling several million.
Now, crowds had gathered outside all four city gates of the imperial capital.
No one knew exactly where the battle would take place.
A large group from the Earl's estate naturally came out as well, but Linley and the others easily discovered the location of the impending battle. Because... the Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson' was intentionally radiating his aura.
The Rock Sword Saint and Olivia had not specified the battle location.
So, the Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson' himself chose the skies above the 'Crimson Flame River' channel north of the imperial capital. The Crimson Flame River was also a major river, hundreds of meters wide in some places, though its length was far less than the Yulan River. Moreover, the source of the Crimson Flame River was also the Yulan River.
Saint-level experts were particularly sensitive to auras.
If a Saint-level battle occurred somewhere, Saint-level experts hundreds of miles away could sense it. Linley didn't need to transform because Hei Lu and Bebe both clearly sensed the aura.
...
"It's on the Crimson Flame River north of the city. Hurry over, that's where the battle is. Lord Hederson is there." This news spread like the wind, quickly reaching the south, east, and west of the city.
The millions of people from the other three locations surged like a flood toward the north.
The vast majority traveled directly from the wilderness along the desert paths. After all, with so many people, walking through the imperial capital would be far too crowded.
"There really are a lot of people." Linley, Wharton, Barker, and the others were stunned by the scene before them.
Over a million people had gathered on both banks of the Crimson Flame River. Back then, the eighty thousand spectators in the arena had already felt like a sea of people. A million people... that was terrifying.
Both sides of the Crimson Flame River were packed with people, densely crowded.
And the worst part was—
More people from the south, west, and east were continuously pouring in, like three torrents merging into this crowd. The numbers kept growing.
"With so many people, that Olivia really picked a three-month deadline for the decisive battle. If it were half a month, people from other provinces wouldn't have been able to make it in time. Three months... even those with good information from the Northwest Province could rush over." Hillman shook his head and said.
Sessler, however, cackled with laughter. "The more people, the better. How spectacular!"
Sessler seemed to think of his undead army—an army of over a million, equally awe-inspiring.
"The most important thing is, how do we get to the front now? Are we just going to watch from far away?" The butler, Hiri, looked at the densely packed crowd ahead and lacked the courage to push through.
Gates said smugly, "That's simple. The five of us brothers will clear the way and charge straight in."
With the physiques of Barker and his four brothers, they were definitely confident in pushing to the front.
"Don't rush. Haven't you seen His Majesty Joan's army arriving?" Linley said with a smile. Indeed, at that moment, the army was also marching in orderly formation.
Although there were millions of ordinary residents, the army numbered less than a hundred thousand.
Yet, the neatly arranged, armored soldiers overwhelmed the commoners in sheer presence.
"Roar~" "Howl~"
Among the millions of people were also a large number of magical beasts, tamed by various experts. The beasts' cries rang out from time to time, mixed with the constant chatter of the crowd.
It was utter chaos.
"Silence!"
A loud shout echoed through heaven and earth. "All those on boats on the Crimson Flame River, get ashore immediately! Hurry! If you remain on the river during the battle between Lord Hederson and Lord Olivia, you could easily be caught in the crossfire. Everyone on both banks, step back ten meters. No one is allowed near the riverbank... The city guard will maintain order."
The empire's army quickly and orderly began to restore order.
The empire's high officials dared not be careless. With millions of people here, any disturbance could lead to a major disaster. The battle between two Saint-level experts was a great occasion, and they didn't want it to turn into a catastrophe.
"Lord Wharton, Lord Linley, please follow us to the front." Two soldiers approached.
Linley and Wharton exchanged smiles.
His Majesty Joan had already arranged everything. He had ordered everyone to step back ten meters, while the empire's nobles were to go to the very front. As long as no one went onto the river, the Crimson Flame River's width of several hundred meters was enough for the two Saint-level experts to fight.
Moreover, both experts would be fighting high in the sky.
The nobles, following the arrangements, took their places on both sides of the Crimson Flame River, in the best positions to watch this unprecedented battle. The empire's residents, seeing this, were not angered.
The divide between nobles and commoners was vast.
To become a noble, one had to achieve great merit or be an outstanding individual. If you had the strength, you could become a noble. The residents of the imperial capital actually revered the nobles and dreamed of becoming nobles themselves.
********
The night wind was very cool, especially near the riverbank. The night breeze caused many nobles to drape themselves in robes.
Torches were planted on both sides of the riverbank, their reflections shimmering on the surface of the Crimson Flame River, making it bright. However, above the Crimson Flame River, only the Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson' stood alone in the air. Olivia had yet to appear.
"Master Linley, why hasn't Olivia shown up yet?" His Majesty Joan asked Linley, who was seated beside him.
Having Linley sit next to him was Joan's own request. First, to win Linley over. Second, having a Saint-level expert nearby at least made him safer.
"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry," Linley said with a slight smile. "Lord Hederson isn't anxious, so Your Majesty only needs to wait quietly."
"That's true." His Majesty Joan nodded with a smile.
Above the Crimson Flame River, the Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson', dressed in a simple gray robe, stood in the air with a heavy earthen-yellow greatsword strapped to his back, his eyes closed.
Suddenly—
Hederson's eyes snapped open, gazing into the distance to the east. A flash of light streaked across the sky, and in an instant, another figure appeared in the air above the Crimson Flame River's bank.
It was Olivia, carrying the Lightshadow Sword and the Blackstone Sword on his back. Today, Olivia wore a black robe, making him appear mysterious. His graying hair fluttered in the wind.
"Lord Olivia has arrived!"
The millions who had been waiting anxiously erupted in cheers. The sound surged like a tidal wave, sweeping across heaven and earth, even causing the waters of the Crimson Flame River to tremble slightly. The roar of millions of people was unimaginably loud.
"When there are this many people, it's truly terrifying," Wharton exclaimed in awe.
Linley just smiled.
Above, Olivia and Hederson were completely unaffected. They faced each other in midair, Olivia's battle intent higher than ever before.
"Hederson, in today's battle, I won't hold back. If I accidentally kill you, don't blame me," Olivia said coldly.
The Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson' glanced at Olivia with a faint smile. "If you can kill me, then do it. I certainly won't blame you."
...
The first exchange between the two Saint-level experts excited and thrilled the audience below. Good heavens, were the two Saint-level experts going to fight to the death?
These two Saint-level experts today were no ordinary ones. One was hailed as the number one Saint-level, the Rock Sword Saint; the other was the Genius Sword Saint. The Genius Sword Saint carried the shame of six years ago and came seeking revenge. This battle was even more anticipated.
After a few gasps of surprise, there was silence!
Millions of people, yet not a single sound could be heard—only the noises of animals in the grass and the constant howling of the wind.
"Today, I need to carefully observe these two," Linley thought. His eyes were like lightning, and the wind around him seemed to become his eyes. In the darkness, he could 'see' the movements of the two figures hundreds of meters above with perfect clarity.
According to the War God, if Linley defeated Hederson, he would be qualified to learn the secrets of the Yulan Plane. Moreover, Hederson also comprehended the Laws of the Earth, so Linley naturally wanted to watch closely.
As for Olivia... Linley had a feeling that Olivia would also be a troublesome opponent for him.
Linley wasn't the only one.
Brummer, Kenyon, Casro, Lanco, and several other direct disciples of the War God's temple had also come to watch this battle. After all, Hederson's strength was such that even within the War God's temple, only a few disciples from thousands of years ago could defeat him.
...
"Six years ago, I was no match for you at all. But today..." Olivia smiled coldly and drew the pitch-black Blackstone Sword from his back.
"Starting with the Blackstone Sword right away?" Hederson smiled slightly, then his expression gradually turned serious. But he remained motionless, not drawing his sword.
Olivia's expression grew even colder.
"What, six years ago you didn't draw your sword, and now you still don't want to draw it to defeat me?" Olivia said coldly.
"If you have the skill, force me to draw my sword first," Hederson said calmly. At the same time, a wave of earthen-yellow aura naturally spread around Hederson's body, enveloping him like a shroud.
The two were speaking hundreds of meters apart, so their voices were naturally loud.
Nearly half of the millions below heard them clearly, and they were shocked. The Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson' was so arrogant that he wouldn't even draw his sword.
"Hederson probably doesn't know that Olivia's Blackstone Sword, besides normal attacks, also has soul attacks," Linley thought silently.
Hederson, daring to do this, must have his reasons. Linley secretly hoped that Hederson wouldn't be killed by Olivia with a single sword strike—that would be too ridiculous.
...
Dazzling, dreamlike white light flickered. With each flicker, another figure of Olivia appeared in the sky. In the blink of an eye, 108 figures of Olivia filled the air.
"Using such tactics? Olivia, don't you know these tactics are useless against me?" Hederson stood calmly in the air, surrounded by the earthen-yellow aura, like a god.
"Really?"
Olivia's cold laughter rang out. Strangely, all 108 illusions moved at once, each wielding the Blackstone Sword as they charged at Hederson.
Hederson stood in place, occasionally taking a step.
A step forward, a step back, a step left, a step right... Just simple steps, but each one seemed like teleportation, covering dozens of meters, easily dodging any of Olivia's attacks.
In terms of speed, Hederson was no slower than Olivia.
"Are you just going to dodge?" Olivia roared in anger.
"I'll fight you head-on, and what can you do to me?" Hederson's calm voice rang out. Then he stood still, and the earthen-yellow aura around him contracted, clinging close to his body.
"Whoosh!"
The 108 illusions merged rapidly in midair into one. Olivia's entire body was surrounded by a cold, dark light, as if he were devouring all surrounding light, making his face or anything else impossible to see.
"Hmm?" Linley was also surprised.
The wind elements could no longer approach Olivia.
"Swish!"
A black light that seemed to devour everything streaked across the sky, shooting straight at Hederson. Hederson stood still, then simply punched forward with his right fist—
"Bang!" A sonic boom erupted.
That punch felt like a mountain crashing down, naturally locking and suppressing the space around it.
"Pfft!"
Olivia's figure finally became visible. His Blackstone Sword had struck Hederson's fist. With Hederson's punch, the Blackstone Sword had no choice but to meet the fist. The terrifying impact traveled through the Blackstone Sword to Olivia's right arm. With a crack of breaking bones, Olivia's right arm twisted grotesquely, and the force from that punch sent him flying backward.
As for Hederson, he stood there motionless.
"Hederson doesn't seem to be in a good state," Linley thought, carefully observing Hederson.