Chapter 36: Home and Glory

What is the noise about? Are you itching for a beating, Wicerus?

The knight legion in the sky suddenly parted to both sides, revealing a luxurious carriage pulled by eight unicorns.

The carriage frame was crafted from platinum and mithril, and decorated with various rare gems. Before the great cataclysm, it would have undoubtedly caused a global sensation.

Of course, after the cataclysm, such materials had lost their previous financial value, yet they were still far beyond the reach of ordinary people. A young maiden clad in knightly plate armor stepped down from the carriage.

Her delicate facial features were as exquisite as a porcelain doll. Combined with her long golden hair, slender figure, and the sacred aura emanating from her entire being, she was breathtakingly peerless.

Zhang Xiao smiled at the corner of his mouth and thought to himself, "No wonder this fellow Wicerus is so completely infatuated. She truly is a stunning beauty."

Upon seeing Paulina, Wicerus, a strapping man standing eight feet tall, actually blushed. Paulina slowly descended from the carriage, her eyes fixed firmly on Zhang Xiao. She quietly sent a telepathic message to Wicerus beside her, "What is the meaning of this? Why is this fellow here as well? Do you want to be hunted down by the Holy See?"

Although it was Paulina's first time meeting Zhang Xiao in person, she had long since seen his full appearance through the magical crystal Wicerus had given her years ago. It was hardly surprising that she recognized him. Upon hearing Paulina's words, Wicerus let out a cold laugh.

"The Holy See? Hmph! Who knows what corner your Holy See is cowering in right now. Paulina, I can let you act willfully in other matters, but you had better not provoke this person. And certainly do not cross the Easterner beside him. Their strength is simply beyond anything we can contend with. To deal with them, it would at least require bringing out those old monsters from the headquarters of the Guild."

Hearing this, Paulina's expression shifted. Though she was a woman, she possessed a fiercely competitive personality. Upon hearing Wicerus compare the two men to the ancient monsters of the Guild headquarters, a look of defiance instantly flashed across her eyes.

Fortunately, Paulina also knew that this was not the time for reckless behavior, so she refrained from challenging Zhang Xiao or Zhou Fang to a duel. However, the gaze she directed at Zhang Xiao was filled with an unconquerable fighting spirit.

Zhou Fang coldly swept his gaze over Paulina and the knight legion nearby, his eyes brimming with disdain. He could not help but ask Zhang Xiao via telepathy, "Are we really going to bring these people along?"

Zhang Xiao shrugged helplessly. "I would love to shake them off, but they are the only ones who know the location of the base. There is no help for it; just treat them as backup."

Hearing Zhang Xiao's words, Zhou Fang said nothing more and stood coldly to the side. Wicerus called out to Zhang Xiao, "Now that everyone has gathered, we will soon have Garick open a portal at the other end of the base."

Nodding in response, Zhang Xiao and Zhou Fang descended from the sky.

At that moment, Bai Shunuan, who had long been unable to restrain herself, quickly stepped forward and asked Zhou Fang, "What was up with those shells? How did you compress the spiritual energy? And the purple laser you fired—was that some kind of particle weapon?"

Facing Bai Shunuan's rapid-fire questions, Zhou Fang's expression tightened. He glanced at Zhang Xiao, and seeing that Zhang Xiao was looking up at the sky, Zhou Fang replied with a blank expression and a cold voice, "No comment."

"What?! Have you lost your mind? He takes seventy percent! That's impossible. Our Holy See is dispatching so many Level 8 Gem Knights, and we only get ten percent? I won't do such a losing business." Not far away, upon hearing what Wicerus had said, Paulina immediately flew into a rage.

Yet this time, Wicerus did not lower his head and speak submissively to placate her as he usually did. Instead, his face darkened, and he said coldly, "If the Holy See dislikes doing unprofitable business, then you don't have to come."

Hearing Wicerus's words, Paulina was stunned for a moment. By the time she reacted, she found that Wicerus had already turned and begun to walk away. Seeing this, Paulina hurriedly chased after him and demanded coldly, "What do you mean by that?"

Wicerus drew the scimitar from his waist and held it before him. "Our homeland is destroyed, our kin slaughtered. At a time like this, the Guild remains silent and the Holy See calculates. But as a warrior, I will not live on in such cowardly submission. If you help me, I will be grateful to you. Yet if you approach this with the mindset of doing business, then you cannot be a part of this deal, for this is destined to be a losing enterprise."

Never having seen Wicerus speak to her with such severity, Paulina was momentarily at a loss for words.

*Boom! Boom!*

Explosions suddenly rang out in the distance, a fierce glint flashing through Wicerus's eyes. He shouted to Zhang Xiao and the others, "Let's go. The battle has already begun, and that fellow Garick will open the portal over there immediately."

With that, Wicerus brandished the scimitar in his hand and walked toward the garden behind the old castle, where a teleportation array had already been constructed, surrounded by three hundred gathered warriors.

Watching Wicerus's retreating figure, Paulina felt a pang in her heart, unsure of what to say. This time, the Holy See had sent her with the strict condition that they must monopolize half of the spoils of war, or else refuse to participate.

Yet now, looking at Wicerus's back, a wave of bitter sorrow welled up inside her. What was this? A threat, or...

With that thought, Paulina turned to the cavalry legion behind her and commanded, "You all go back."

Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the knights shifted drastically. The lead knight said with a bitter expression, "Is the Saintess not returning with us?"

Paulina produced a crystal staff and declared, "No, you must go. Since the Pope does not permit losses, I can only participate alone."

Without another word, Paulina turned and walked deeper into the garden. Seeing this, the lead knight gritted his teeth, turned to the knight order behind him, and shouted, "Our homeland is being destroyed! As knights, where is your honor? Come! For honor and homeland, let us fight!"

With a unified roar, the hundred-plus knights behind him simultaneously drew their longswords and shouted, "For honor and homeland!"

Immediately following the cry, the hundred-odd knights stepped into the garden as well.

Seeing Paulina and the hundred-plus Gem Knights approaching from outside, a sharp glint flashed in Wicerus's eyes, though he remained silent.

One of the knights behind Paulina stepped forward and announced to Wicerus, "The Radiant Holy See, commander of the Gem Knight Legion, bringing forth the Gem Knight Legion to join the battle."

Paulina merely waved the staff in her hand and said indifferently, "Do not misunderstand. Their participation has nothing to do with me."

Upon seeing this, Wicerus could not help but burst into laughter. He drew his scimitar and shouted to the surrounding warriors, "For our homeland! For the honor of our homeland! For honor—fight! Fight! Fight!"

The surrounding warriors pulled out their longswords, raised their shields, and roared in unison.

Witnessing this scene reminded Zhang Xiao of the millions of soldiers on the Crimson Blood Ridge. His heart stirred, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, though he could not quite grasp what it was.

At that very moment, the previously calm portal suddenly flashed, and a spatial gateway slowly began to open. Seeing this, Wicerus let out a great shout and charged into it at the head of the three hundred warriors. Paulina, too, followed closely behind with her hundred-plus Gem Knights.

"I will provide suppressive support. Finding my sister is up to you." With that, Zhou Fang stepped into the portal first, followed naturally by Bai Shunuan.

Zhang Xiao smiled faintly and stepped into the portal just as it began to close.

Nestled within the mountains on the eastern edge of District 10, a base illuminated day and night was rapidly taking shape, with countless fleets flying in and out every day. This was the supply base of Atlantis and the central command post for the entire District 10 battlefield.

Inside the command room at that moment, a man in a blue military uniform stared intently at the map before him, his handsome face betraying deep impatience. He shouted to another heavily built man nearby, "Baturu, are you defying orders? Why are you refusing to participate? You know the old monsters of the temple have reprimanded me several times already, demanding that I capture this region in the shortest possible time!"

The man addressed as Baturu flashed a look of disdain. He replied coldly, "I will not raise my hand against those weak animals; it would only insult our werewolf identity. You can have the temple send those stinking bats instead—they love this sort of work."

Upon hearing Baturu's words, the young man's body slumped slightly. He had cursed this damn werewolf a thousand times over in his heart.

Were it not for the three thousand elite werewolves under Baturu's command, and the fact that he was no match for Baturu himself, he would have long since yielded to the urge to draw his pulse rifle and blow this damn werewolf's head off multiple times.

The young man was named Lakuv. Achieving his current position was largely thanks to the influence of his uncle in the temple. Lakuv desperately needed a victory to solidify his position; as long as he could persuade the werewolf chieftain before him, this battle would undoubtedly proceed toward victory without obstruction.

Just then, an adjutant walked in and reported, "Respected Commander, that strange girl refuses to reveal any information regarding the origin of her technology or any other details. I suggest we employ heavy hypnosis and use—"

*Boom!*

Before the adjutant could finish speaking, a series of explosions erupted from outside, immediately followed by a barrage of alarm klaxons. Incredulity painted across his face, Lakuv turned to the adjutant and barked, "What is the meaning of this? How could we possibly be under attack?"