Imperial Crown.

Chapter 593 Bloody Slaughter
"Damn Raven!!!"

"He murdered our loyal ally!" "He murdered our province's viscount!"

Hyde slammed Dalton's body to the ground with a thud, stood up, and roared hysterically, "This crossbow... Raven sold it to me many years ago! I never imagined he'd hidden it so well, planning all this all along! Tell me, shouldn't Raven pay the price with blood and fire?!"

His roar was like a tiger's roar and a thunderous roar. Everyone was still reeling from the sudden turn of events. Hearing this, they could only stammer and repeatedly agree.

"Goodness gracious!" "A bunch of blatant liars and opportunists!" "Today they dare to slander Raven to my face, tomorrow they'll dare to slander the Slater family to others!"

The moment Dalton fell, a large number of soldiers in gleaming armor rushed in from outside. Hyde waved his hand: "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

"what???"

At this moment, the nobles of Hippocrates finally realized that Dalton was not Hyde's only target today, but that he harbored the malicious intention of wiping them all out!
But it was too late to say anything then!

Although many of these nobles possessed extraordinary abilities, their years of extravagant and pleasure-seeking lifestyle had long since rendered them incapable of fighting and demoralized them. Their only thought was to escape.

But where could they escape to? Leaving the castle meant certain death. If escape were possible, they would have fled Hippocrates long ago!
A bloody massacre ensued!

One by one, the castles of nobles were trampled, their gold coins were looted, their treasuries were ransacked, their women were raped, and their men were dismembered...

The entire Hippocrates was like a powder keg, completely ignited and exploding! Flames, screams, blood... wails everywhere. It was a scene of utter carnage! Far more terrifying than the bandit attack on the Bloody Heights! After all, with bandits, there was always the fear of reinforcements. But with this bloody massacre, there was no such worry. They were, after all, a regular army! So these soldiers began their unbridled, cruel killings, their leisurely, debauched rapes in the streets, and their greedy, greedy looting!

"Hyde!" "Has your Slater family gone mad?!" "How dare you slaughter civilians in such a massive way?!"

The slaughter continued into the night. Marantosh, a second-rank priest from the Binziman territory, ran over from afar, pointing angrily at Hyde on horseback. His once pristine white priestly robes were now filthy, stained with blood and bits of flesh. Clearly, he had endured countless battles to reach Hyde. The internecine warfare among nobles had long since become a tacit political violence, one that even the Holy See could hardly change. But the slaughter of commoners and serfs was something the Holy See could not stand idly by.

On the continent of Middlesex, serfs were regarded as a "commodity," a kind of "livestock" that could be traded.

Therefore, most wars do not involve the massacre of serfs, which is perhaps another form of "protection" for the lower classes. As for free citizens and merchants… they are naturally also protected. Only armies, soldiers, knights, and nobles are the targets and objects of mutual slaughter!
Hyde, riding a tall warhorse with demonic beast blood, whose weight of around 250 pounds could no longer be supported by an ordinary warhorse, glanced down at Marantosh with a dismissive look, narrowed his eyes, and said with a forced smile, "Your Excellency, war is merely a matter for the common people; it won't affect those of us who manipulate the situation." With that, Hyde gently spurred his horse forward, lowering his voice, "If Your Excellency is interested, I can arrange a wonderful and unforgettable night for you."

Although he had received Duke Ferdinand's order to exterminate everyone in Binziman, the territory had been plundered by Raven for so many years; what profit was left? Therefore, after discussing with his father, Tyrone, Hyde slightly expanded the order, changing the target from "Binziman" to "Hippocrates." This was also the reason he had just ordered the killing of all the nobles present. These foolish fellows, even in death, thought they could be satisfied with just a few scraps. Little did they know, he had long been eyeing everything they had! However, Hyde was still somewhat hesitant to act against the papal priests. Although Duke Ferdinand's order clearly stated that this massacre was backed by the papacy, Hyde was still unwilling to easily execute the priests. What if the Holy See later sought revenge? Wouldn't his Slater family have needlessly offended the Holy See?

"Hmph!" "Stop with your disgusting tricks!"

As a priest of the Papacy, Marantosh would never stoop to colluding with them, especially after such a horrific massacre! At this critical juncture, if he stood idly by, even if the Papacy didn't hold him accountable, the ostracism from his colleagues would be enough to make him suffer! "Stop the massacre immediately!" "I can clean up the mess for your Slater family afterwards!" "Just say that a noble in Hippocrates rebelled, which is why you had to send troops to suppress it!" Marantosh was still racking his brains for a way to whitewash the Slater family's insane actions.

Marantosh would never have imagined that the priests of the entire Hippocrates County had already been abandoned by the new bishop of Ferdolo County who had succeeded Thomas.

The phrase "shall be executed" already clearly demonstrates the new bishop's attitude.

Compared to Cardinal Thomas, the new bishop, though of a lower rank and title, is far more ruthless and extreme in his conduct.

"Then you should just die!"

Hyde was too lazy to say another word. With a swing of his longsword, his fighting spirit surged, and a blade of light bloomed with extreme brilliance in the night sky, slashing down towards Marantosh!

Before arriving, Marantosh had already expended a significant amount of his battle qi. He couldn't have foreseen that Hyde would be so ruthless as to dare to kill him, a priest from the Holy See in public. He could only instinctively raise the Holy Word in his hand, squeezing out the last of his pitiful remaining battle qi in an attempt to withstand the attack.

The outcome has already been determined.

With a bang, the thick book of sacred words turned into countless scraps of paper, scattering in the air like funeral paper falling from the sky, holding a silent funeral for this massacre.

Thump. The next moment, Marantosh also knelt on the ground, blood flowing continuously from his bowed head, his arms sliding naturally to his sides, lifeless. He had, in a way, achieved his goal, becoming a martyr for the doctrines of the Holy See.

"Pass down the order!" "Kill everyone in Hippocrates! Burn them all! Loot them all!" "Then rest for three days!" "Depart for Mansa County!"

Hyde shouted.

"Yes!" The attendant accepted the order and left.

The massacre lasted for seven or eight days. Of course, not everyone was completely wiped out, as the majority were serfs. And there was absolutely nothing to be gained from them. Killing them was a waste of energy. It was a losing proposition. But the more wealthy free citizens fared much worse. Most were killed. As for the merchants, their fate was even more dire. Their end was only slightly better than that of the nobles' families.

After resting for three days, the army headed towards Mansa County.

Between Hippocrates and Mansashire lies another county—Wiltshire.

Such a momentous event naturally leaked out long ago. After all, staying meant a fate worse than death, so everyone in Hippocrates fled in a frenzy. With tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, fleeing together, some were bound to escape. Thus, news of the Slater family's inhumane and mad behavior spread.

……

"Father!" "You were wrong back then!" "That's what led to the disaster our family is in today!"

Mansa County, Newsnow County.

Inside the castle's crypt, Jonathan knelt on the ground, gazing at the stone statue of his father, John, and cried out in anguish.

Regret! Regret!! So much regret!!! He regretted it to the core… He shouldn't have heeded his father's dying wish and stood firmly by Raven's side. Even a fool could understand that the Tyrone army, instead of attacking Snowmaple County, turned towards Wilt County, clearly targeting him! Raven's previous madness was nothing but petty cleverness! It might have been somewhat useful against Bloodstained Heights and against Eivor, a small state among the five city-states of Felton… But against the behemoth that is the Keynes Empire, his true colors were immediately revealed. He was utterly defeated like withered grass. Today he ceded a piece of land, tomorrow two cities, constantly cutting off his own tail to survive. He was as frightened as a stray dog.

With his family on the verge of destruction, it's no wonder Jonathan is crying so bitterly.

The wailing gradually subsided. Jonathan, having vented his anger, stood up and took the spear from the hand of the John statue. "Father, everyone advised me to flee." "But..." "As your son..." "I know what you would choose if it were you!" Wiping away tears, he brandished the spear, shaking off the accumulated dust to reveal its original sharp blade. Jonathan sheathed the spear, stood firm, and roared with all his might, "Victory or defeat, we must fight!" His voice, like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger, echoed endlessly in the cold tomb passage!
“Father.” “Your son will not flee without a fight!” “I will not be a coward and disgrace you!” “You are right.” “A true man spends his entire life pursuing a grand finale!” Jonathan bowed deeply to the statue, raised his spear, and walked resolutely out of the tomb.

"Pass on my orders." "Scorch the enemy's defenses and clear the fields." "Fight to the death."

Once outside the tomb, Jonathan gave orders to the old butler who was guarding the outside.

"..." Kent hesitated for a moment, then let out a long sigh. Although he hadn't said anything, it was as if he had said everything.

“Don’t try to persuade me.” Clearly, Jonathan also sensed the underlying meaning in that sigh and immediately retorted, “My mind is made up!”

In about ten days, the army arrived in front of Newsno territory.

The tragedy in Hippocrates struck, and in just ten days, not only Newsnorshire but the entire County of Mansa was gripped by fear, resulting in a massive exodus! Newsnorshire was even more horrific! Serfs, freemen, merchants… not to mention the rest. Even soldiers and some of the elite troops began to desert. Jonathan's forces, including some local militia, could originally muster over ten thousand men. But now, they couldn't even hold onto 5000. More than half had fled. Those who remained were people unwilling to abandon their family wealth or become refugees or serfs; most were descendants of Jonathan's 'Luke' family, who had served them for generations! Although they stayed, they lived in constant fear and dread, not with a death wish.

4000+ vs 10+.

The outcome of this battle is self-evident.

Fortunately, Jonathan did not sit idly by during this time. He ordered his men to dig trenches and build mud-brick walls, which, taking advantage of the terrain, could hold out for a day or two. After all, the enemy's 100,000 men had made a long march and could only set up camp and rest for the time being.

Jonathan wrote a letter detailing that he was not Raven's accomplice and offered his terms, including a willingness to surrender and negotiate. But Hyde had long considered all of Jonathan's family's wealth his own possession; how could he possibly negotiate with him? He immediately burned the letter without even reading it.

Three days later, the war officially began.

As volleys of arrows rained down, the first wave of defenders perished instantly. Once the main force charged, Jonathan's painstakingly constructed trenches and mud-brick walls quickly became largely ineffective, barely holding off the cavalry. The two sides engaged in close combat, fighting hand-to-hand, until the world seemed to turn upside down.

Despite Jonathan's extraordinary bravery in charging through enemy light infantry seven times, as a third-tier transcendent, it couldn't change anything. The entire battlefield quickly crumbled. In just one hour, over 2000 died, and nearly a thousand fled. Only a few hundred remained, still putting up a desperate fight. But defeat and death were inevitable.

"kill!"

Jonathan had long been prepared to die here, and charged into the enemy ranks once again.

Minsk spurred his horse forward. His warhorse was no ordinary steed; it leaped over towering mud walls and wide, deep trenches with ease. As a fourth-tier transcendent being, Minsk's strength was beyond question. Even without activating his martial spirit, the mere radiance of his battle aura made him appear like a war god descended to earth, furious and ferocious.

"Mirror Shield!!"

A roar erupted from Minsk's mouth, and an intense silver light burst forth from the longsword in his hand, causing countless steel elements to tremble and groan in submission.

Jonathan had noticed Minsk long ago, but when Minsk unleashed his combat technique, he still couldn't help but momentarily lose his focus. Suddenly, a "Radiance of the Angel" appeared before him, reflecting his furious features, the blood on his hands, and the swift, dragon-like thrust of his spear with exquisite detail. The spear that should have been aimed at Minsk seemed, at that moment, to be thrust at himself by the "Jonathan" reflected in the mirror!

Boom! !
The two combat techniques collided, and the two battle energies attacked each other, unleashing terrifying energy!

The next moment, Jonathan was like a lone boat adrift in a deep abyss, swept away by the deep waves. He tumbled to the ground with a series of loud thuds and continuous howls.

Minsk, however, remained unmoved.

Even though Minsk didn't activate his Martial Soul, Jonathan was still no match for him!
"A farce." "It's time to end this."

Minsk rode up to Jonathan, said something calmly, then raised his longsword and slashed down fiercely!
hum! !

hum! !

However, at that moment, a terrifying whooshing sound suddenly came from above Minsk.

Minsk immediately swung his sword, turning to thrust it overhead! A deafening boom followed, accompanied by a massive dust explosion! What had attacked him was a huge rock! "Not good!" Minsk thought to himself, quickly activating his Martial Soul and Battle Aura Armor, and swiftly raised his left elbow to smash into a second boulder. Another deafening boom, and Minsk was thrown from his horse. Startled, the horse neighed and fled forward.

Ouch——

A clear, young wolf howl suddenly resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

Minsk looked up and his expression changed drastically. Suddenly, the sky was filled with countless eagle-men. These eagle-men carried werewolves and goblins on their backs. The giant rock they had just seen was thrown from above by the goblins!
"Brave and fearless orcs!"

"Judgment of the wicked!" "Kill them all!"

The little wolf girl, Bai Yue, stood atop an eagle-man. Her once pristine white wolf fur was now filthy, and her small face was filled with exhaustion. Yet, the color of her pupils remained incredibly resolute. She drew a slender longsword from her waist, pointed it diagonally to the sky, and shouted loudly.

As soon as she finished speaking, the ground began to tremble.

Countless werewolves and goblins surged forth from behind Hyde's army like a tidal wave! That unparalleled, ferocious aura terrified Hyde's soldiers in less than half a minute. They were thrown into chaos, each fighting their own battle.

However, as boulders continued to fall from above, the heavy cavalry, heavy infantry, light cavalry, and light infantry on the ground were utterly powerless to resist and were all turned into mincemeat.

"Don't panic!" "Don't panic!" "Deploy the hippogriffs immediately!"

Hyde roared loudly, trying to reverse the tide.

……

(End of this chapter)