The leader took out a whistle and blew into it, sounding throughout the marketplace. In a few moments, the rest of the assassins scattered gathered. All together, there was around twenty. Twenty Perception Realms! This was a staggering number of battle strength, even among the Royal Guard! In terms of quality alone, few could be their rival. Of course, in this world, quantity triumphed over quality. Unless someone could slay the heavens themselves, they could not defy this! They were not foolish enough to clash with the military head on. Horses were swiftly brought over as they knocked out and tied up Elizabeth and the others. Everyone mounted and galloped toward one of the city's exits.
With the chaos in the marketplace, the streets were thoroughly empty as people hid in buildings, making it easier for their group to charge through. As expected, before they left the marketplace, the military was starting to converge on them. Despite their efforts to hurry along, they were destined for a fight! Three fully armed squadrons showed up and attacked. Their individual strength was nothing to talk about, but thirty soldiers was still a fair number. Furthermore, in the distance, more squadrons and platoons were arriving, bringing along High Knights or Great Knights.
The leader spared no expense in these small fries. Together, all twenty of them fully exerted their bloodlust and indomitable auras, transforming this simple charge into an unstoppable spear! The soldiers paled in fear, much like Benedict and Shirley. They could instinctively feel the overwhelming gap in strength, like a lion roaring to show its dominance over all life! With their morale shaken, several assassins charged out and using their swords or sabers, they slaughtered soldiers left and right. Blood and body parts rained about, only intensifying the fear in the remaining soldiers. In the moment of life and death, who cared about their duty? They fled!
The three squadrons may be fodder, but the platoons and knights ahead were not. The Great Knights alone could delay them, just as Lorenzo did. Needless to say, if a hundred soldiers from the platoons teamed up on them, it would take precious time. If they delayed any longer, then Grand Knights or Royal Guards would show up. A fight between Perception Realms would undoubtedly be disastrous. Regardless, the biggest threat was a combined effort from the commanders and generals! Once the leaders took control of the battlefield, the assassins would be like a caged insect, forced to watch the guillotine fall! No matter what, they had to escape before then!
However, this was a plan carefully thought out by them. How could they not think of this? Sacrificing twenty Perception Realms would be a big joke! The leader had memorized the layout of the city beforehand and decisively led them into a narrow alleyway. Perfectly organized, the horses flew through the tight space. Faced with the number of enemies, this was the wisest decision. If the platoons and knights chose to go after them, they would be restricted by the space. The leader snorted, after leaving the platoons behind before another round of enemies appeared. At this point, the commanders were still left in the dark. Who would expect twenty Perception Realms to attack in the center of their headquarters? It was absurd! Therefore, their enemies were organized at the squadron or platoon level. They were not pinning them down and cornering them yet.
The leader was very calm and considered risks heavily. If the blockade seemed weak, then they would burst through. If the blockade seemed strong, then they would detour through the alleyways. Through this manner, they managed to swiftly approach the city perimeter. But time was ticking down and as news of Lorenzo's defeat made its way to the top, the military was furious! Before the assassins could escape the city, they were firmly surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, Grand Knights, and even Royal Guards! Every route was sealed off by them. Facing fellow Perception Realms, their intimidation tactics were futile!
Contrary to their enemies' expectations, the assassins were unfazed. The captains and commanders were intrigued, but that did not stop their actions. The act of invading Port Silic was treason! By now, they were thoroughly convinced that they were from the Xingyuu Empire. There was no other force capable of mobilizing twenty Perception Realms. As such, there was no mercy. With a wave of their hands, crossbowmen took their mark. All in all, there were over a hundred aimed at the invaders! Not only were they behind lines and lines of soldiers, many were perched on buildings or at windows, allowing them to freely rain down death. Sparing zero hesitation either, the assassins decide to charge forward to break through!
The captains and commanders respected their bravery but mocked their stupidity. On their command, hundreds of crossbow bolts pelted them. Despite being Perception Realm, there was a fundamental limit in human mobility. To avoid every single one from every single angle while on horseback was impossible! The leader gritted his teeth and ordered them into a very close formation. The five inside were himself and the ones holding the hostages. The ones on the outside tried their best to defend against the onslaught, but they were mercilessly slaughtered, their bodies riddled with dozens of bolts. Just like that, ten Perception Realm experts died! Quantity triumphed over quality. Unless one could step on the heavens and ascend, such was the way of the world.
However, their efforts were not in vain. In the short time, they reached one edge of the encirclement and intended to forcefully push through! The soldiers swiftly held their spears forward in a formation to impale the horses. Once dismounted, then no matter how many lives the assassins had, it would not be enough! The leader had no choice but to use his trump card. On his call, the remaining ten assassins fetched a pouch and threw it ahead. The ten pouches exploded, filling the air with a pink smoke. The soldiers were momentarily dazed and tried to refocus. But their body betrayed their wishes and their muscles slackened. The impenetrable wall weakened!
The captains and commanders realized it was a potent poison. Surely enough, the prowess of the Xingyuu Empire could not be underestimated. To create a powerful airborne poison with such immediate effects was not simple. Nevertheless! There was a limit to everything. A few of them may have fallen, yet the overall situation was the same! The assassins forced their horses through the line of spears, dying the streets crimson red. If they were dismounted, they used all their strength to pave the way forward. With the antidote in hand, the assassins cut through the waves like butter. But they were not faultless either. In this sea of chaos, casualties pilled up.
At the final junction, there was a dozen Grand Knights and Royal Guards ready to cut them down. Each of them released an invincible aura of the Perception Realm! Their might was unshakable! On the other hand, a meager six remained of the assassins and the battle strained heavily on their energy. Against a dozen fully armed, peak strength Perception Realms, their side looked like a dying flame. No matter what, they were destined to die! The commanders felt reassured of their victory when the enemy leader snickered. This was the moment!
As soon as the crossbowmen reloaded their crossbows, they shot them without mercy. However, a small fraction of the bolts strayed toward the Alzar Kingdom's side! The knights were scared out of their wits and hastily executed their defensive arts, dodging or parrying them. Inevitably, several were knocked out of the fight. While the knights were fuming with anger, the assassins pounced on them! Unbeknownst to them, the hostages were transferred from four horses to two. Four of the assassins rushed forth and their determination and killing intent surged. They were prepared to die! If it were before, against twelve Perception Realms, it would be impossible. But it was different now. The knights had a range of injuries, with some even being fatally hit! A split second was all it took for two horses to burst out of the encirclement. Although the four assassins died soon after, under everyone's gazes, the two barely escaped and left Port Silic!