Chapter 1005 Hundred Ballistae
Arthur's powerful punch tore through the cell's iron bars, creating an explosion that reverberated through the prison. Debris flew everywhere as Ramiel shielded himself from the chaos. Jonathan and his soldiers struggled against the force, trying to maintain their footing. After the dust settled, they found Arthur standing amidst the destruction, his resolve evident in his eyes.
The Knight of the Silver Rose, Jonathan, wiped dust off his armor and locked eyes with Arthur. "You could have at least given us a warning before causing such a commotion!"
Arthur's grin remained intact. "Wouldn't have been as fun, would it?"
Awe-struck by the display of power, Ramiel glanced at Arthur and then Jonathan. He could hardly believe that he was part of this unfolding madness. The chaotic scene had transformed into a battleground, with soldiers and inmates alike watching the events unfold in disbelief.
Sarohan, Haldor, and Whisker, observing from a distance, exchanged glances. Sarohan spoke with a smirk, "Looks like Arthur's making his exit with a bang."
As the chaos intensified, Arthur's power seemed boundless, tearing through walls and structures, and sending shockwaves across the city. People fled in panic, trying to escape the destruction. It was a calculated display, meant to divert attention and sow confusion.
Seizing the moment, Ramiel joined Arthur's side. "This is insane, but I'm with you," he said with a mixture of fear and determination.
Arthur nodded, his confidence infectious. "Hold on tight."
With a burst of energy, Arthur launched himself and Ramiel skyward, crashing through the ceiling and emerging into the open air. The city's chaos was visible below them, and they soared above the destruction.
Jonathan, watching from below, raised an eyebrow at the spectacle before turning to his squad. "Time to give chase, but don't actually catch them."
Arthur and Ramiel rushed through the city, kicking away soldiers as they rushed at them. The half-demon seemed even more capable than Arthur had imagined, with each fist striking like a cannonball. Giving a laugh, he dashed forward with Jonathan and the rest in pursuit.
True to their plan, the entire city of Xeloria witnessed their escape. The duo never hurt the citizens, but they still fled in panic given the sheer destruction. Chaos echoed throughout Xeloria as the soldiers kept chasing after the two.
Arthur jumped from another building, reaching the next with ease. Ramiel followed after him as the soldiers gave pursuit on the ground. Those with mounts rushed to intercept them, but Arthur struck them down using his black lightning.
Then, all of a sudden, Arthur snapped his neck to the side and stopped atop a certain building. He was looking toward a certain inn at the end of the street, where his three comrades were sitting. The three seemed to be relaxed and even waved at him. Then, they beckoned for him to come their way.
"Follow me."
Arthur jumped toward a closer building to get a better look. Then, he saw what the three were pointing at, right across the street from the inn. Despite the chaos and panic, a certain man was still building a giant structure on his own at lightning speed.
"What is this?" muttered the half-demon with confusion as he looked at the worker.
"…the man with the [Build] skill," muttered Arthur with surprise as he looked at the spectacle. "I can erect such buildings with ease, but this man is not creating them out of nothing. He is building them brick by brick at lightning speed."
"The famous [Build] skill gives its users the ability to create anything at astronomical speeds. I heard it is one of the rarest and most expensive skills inside the tower. Even in battlefields, their work is desired to build fortresses and trenches." 𝐧𝑜𝐕𝑬𝒍𝐔𝓈𝒷.𝑐𝗈𝐌
"They are over that rooftop!" shouted someone from a distance, giving them the signal to resume their escape. Arthur gave the three a thumbs-up before bolting and escaping from the scene, trying to divert the soldiers lest they disturb the worker.
The duo reached the walls of Xeloria, and they had to stop below them. The ballistae that were used to shoot down the dragons with their giant bolts were aimed toward them. They were infused with runes, making them look threatening as they aimed at them.
Arthur and Ramiel stood on the ground, surrounded by a hundred or so of these deadly weapons. The citizens escaped the scene, leaving them in the open. However, Arthur seemed to be unbothered as he stood there with his eyes scanning the weapons.
"Say, Ramiel," began the mystical man. "Would it be cool to withstand a hundred of their bolts?"
"As cool as it is impossible, so don't even think about it," said the half-demon. "I used to work for the lord of Xeloria as an assassin. A single bolt of these could injure a dragon, not to mention a human body. Even if you had ten more arms to strike them down, each volley has a hundred bolts!"
"Thank you for explaining how impossible it is," said Arthur with a grateful nod. "I now understand how amazing it would be to pull off such a feat. Look, they loaded the bolts! Step back behind me, Ramiel Pureheart!"
"You can't be serious…"
"As serious as I can be," replied Arthur with a grin as the hundred ballistae aimed at them. Arthur did not wait for the half-demon to respond and instead pushed him back with a single tap, sending him flying and rolling on the ground.
Ramiel was shocked by how easily he was sent flying but was not hurt in the least. He rolled on the ground before he managed to stop himself and gaze at the man. A mixture of lightning and golden mana rose from around him, giving the half-demon two distinct feelings of dread and nostalgia.
"Watch me defy the impossible," muttered the man in black robes as he relaxed his body and spread his arms. The black lightning roared as golden flowers blossomed around him. "The unison of creation and destruction always produced the strongest destruction. It was thought to be impossible, too."
"Get ready!" shouted a voice penetrating the battlefield from above the walls. A knight stood between the soldiers, looking at the escapee with cold-killing intent. "Aim!" He raised his arm to command the hundred lethal weapons before swinging it down. "Fire!"
The air trembled with anticipation as a hundred ballistae took aim, their massive torsion springs creaking in unison, a symphony of tension. A low, ominous hum built in the atmosphere, like a giant's growl rolling across the battlefield. The warriors nearby could feel the vibrations in their chests, a heartbeat of impending destruction.
Then, with a collective release of pent-up energy, the ballistae roared as their triggers were pulled. The bolts, each the size of tree trunks, surged forward like angry thunderbolts being hurled by the gods themselves. The ear-splitting twang of the bowstrings mixed with the groans of wood and the grinding of gears, creating a cacophony that drowned out all other sounds.
The impact was a cataclysmic eruption of power. The bolts tore through the air, their passage marked by a deep, echoing whoosh that seemed to suck the very breath from the sky. The shockwaves produced by their speed caused the very ground
to shudder, sending shockwaves through the earth like ripples on a disturbed pond.
The runes lit with blinding light as they shimmered over the giant bolts, all heading toward the same target. As for that target itself, he gave them a smirk of defiance, not an ounce of fear visible on his face. The golden mana wrapped itself around the bolts of black lightning, creating a disturbance in space itself.
"Let's see if yours are stronger," muttered Arthur as he threw his arms forward toward the raining bolts. The combination of creation and destruction roared as the thunderbolts flew from his hands, exploding with a powerful blast.
Lights covered the world as a hundred bolts struck a hundred thunderbolts. Each explosion shook the city like an earthquake as dust rose from the ground. Arthur stood in their midst with the grin never leaving his face.
Ten seconds later, with continuous world-shaking explosions, Arthur still stood in the same spot without even budging an inch. The explosions died down without even dusting his clothes. Then, he stared toward the soldiers with disdain as his voice echoed louder than any explosion. "Is that… all?"
The sentence fell like thunderclaps on the soldiers' ears as their mouths could not remain closed. This man withstood an attack that almost killed a dragon, and they could not even scratch his skin. As for the knight leading them, he was no different as he stared with a pale face.
Arthur sighed, seeming disappointed as he looked back toward Ramiel. The half-demon stared at him while on his knees, his stony lips trembling at the incredulous scene. Seeing him, Arthur gave a smirk. "I told you it would be cool."
"…this is more than just that," said Ramiel as he gulped. "This is outrageously absurd. A single man…"
"…should not wield this much power?" continued Arthur, finishing his sentence before he laughed. "We should make an escape before they regain their senses. I doubt anyone would try to stop us now."