Chapter 1528: Blood And Fire!
Archer spent the night alongside the three women who were guarding Pluoria for him. Now he was standing on the balcony watching the soldiers and survivors climbing onto the 1st Fleet's ships.
The sailors ushered soldiers and civilians on board without looking. His eyes narrowed while scanning the crowd for anything out of place, and he sensed several strong auras that were trying to hide themselves.
Without waiting, Archer teleported to the closest human, who happened to be a woman who gave off the foul stench of Terravians. He plunged his claw through her chest, causing her to yelp as blood splattered over her companion's face.
His evil smile grew wicked as his tail pierced the man's face, prompting both bodies to drop dead. Once that was done, he teleported to the other spies and killed every single one of them before doing the same for the fully loaded vessels.
Archer's senses flared as he detected similar signals, each one flickering briefly before being extinguished by the sheer force of his overwhelming mana. Like a wave, his power surged into the souls of the enemy, extracting every fragment of their knowledge.
Their memories unraveled before him, revealing a chilling truth: the Alliance was plotting to obliterate the castle in a calculated strike against Avidia. A cold resolve settled over him as the weight of this revelation sank in.
Wasting no time, Archer sent an urgent message using the dragon tattoos. 'Begin a full lockdown of the empire immediately,' he commanded, his voice steady but laced with urgency. 'Place all castles, forts, and outposts on high alert. Reinforce defenses and double the patrols. The Alliance is preparing to attack, and we must be ready.'
The Dragonkin woman answered instantly in a worried tone. 'It's already underway, handsome. A famine has overwhelmed the northern continent and causing waves of refugees to hit Verdantia.'
When Archer heard this, he sighed before replying. 'They will use this opportunity to get the northerners on their side in the war.'
Following that, the days went quickly, and by the time the Draconians fled Pluoria, the Alliance was pushing them back. One of the legions offered to hold them off in a last stand, but he waved them away and summoned an army of Chull Warriors.
Archer stayed behind and watched the enemy clamber up the walls, only to be torn apart like nothing. Blood sprayed the stone as the giant lobster-like creatures used their claws to tear the soldiers apart.
The Alliance didn't stand a chance as the battle went on, thanks to some powerful soldiers managing to overwhelm some of the Chull, but that wasn't bad at all as Venomwings swooped down, picking up dozens of Novgorodian knights.
His monsters moved like a locust swarm, destroying everything in their path just before a barrage of Mana Shells landed in the middle of their ranks. Explosions shook the empty fortress as buildings crumbled and the wall collapsed.
Archer was amused and dismissed his creatures and the corpses, leaving the enemies confused. Without waiting, he took a deep breath and let out a stream of violet fire that washed over the battlefield.
The streets roared with crackling flames and the searing wail of destruction, as waves of Novgorodians charged into the fray, their war cries swallowed by the inferno. But from the flickering shadows, a sinister force emerged.
Nightmare Assassin Ants, their obsidian forms glinting with malevolent purpose. Like specters of death, they struck, cutting down the brave with merciless efficiency. Their mandibles snapped through armor and bone, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake.
Amid the chaos, a wicked grin spread across his face. The air grew thick with the acrid stench of ash and blood, the cobblestones slick with the lifeblood of the fallen. Above, the sky churned with storm clouds.
Archer, perched atop the shattered remnants of a watchtower, surveyed the battlefield with a predator's gaze. His heart thundered, not with fear, but with the primal thrill of dominion and bloodlust.
The Chull Warriors, their massive forms looming like titans, continued their assault, crushing Alliance stragglers with earth-shaking force. Yet it was the Nightmare Assassin Ants, those relentless harbingers of doom, that turned the tide into a rout.
They skittered through the shadows, their eerie chittering a death knell to all who dared stand against them. Just then, Archer got an idea and dismissed all the monsters that were still alive.
The enemy horde was no more; their remnants scattered like ash on the wind. He rose from his perch atop the ruined watchtower, his silhouette a towering monolith against the blood-red horizon.
He drew a deep breath, the air crackling with the weight of his unspoken fury. Then he let out a primal roar that shook the very earth. Violet flames erupted from his mouth, a torrent of otherworldly fire that surged like a vengeful tide.
The unearthly blaze washed over the fallen enemy soldiers, consuming their lifeless forms in a radiant inferno that painted the ruins in hues of amethyst and shadow. The air shimmered with the heat of his wrath, and as the flames faded, only silence remained.
Archer chuckled before teleporting back to Draconia, where Ella and Olivia were about to give birth thanks to the babies being stubborn. The harem joked that his new daughters didn't want to make an appearance thanks to his chaotic nature.
But that was proven wrong when Ella's water broke hours ago, and the white-haired admiral followed soon. Moments later, he reappeared in the room but was ushered out by a panicking Meredith.
''Out husband! You're covered in blood and smell of fire!'' she barked.
Archer chuckled before stepping out as he bumped into Teuila and Nefertiti, who were pacing outside the room. When the Succubus spotted him, her big pink eyes widened as she embraced him.
The blue-haired beauty giggled while rubbing her belly. Seconds later, his eyes landed on the duo's bellies, and he realized the two little girls were growing big and alive. Nefertiti's daughter was alive as she bounced around in her mother's stomach.
''Arch! We're glad you're back,'' the succubus said happily. ''We came as soon as we heard that Ella's water broke.''
Archer grinned softly, leaning down to kiss the radiant young woman, who trembled with delight. Their moment lingered until he turned to Teuila, who unexpectedly wrapped him in a tight embrace.
''I've been distant, I'm sorry,'' she murmured, her voice heavy with guilt. ''The pain's been harder to bear."
When Archer heard this, he wrapped his arms around teuila, who melted against his chest. He ran his fingers through her light blue hair, making the brown-skinned beauty shiver in delight as he whispered. ''I'm here for you, Teu. Never forget that, my Ocean Princess.''
The young woman's face lit up as she cupped his cheeks and gave him a passionate kiss, making Nefertitit huff as she stepped into the room when a nurse appeared to inform the ladies about joined the expectant mothers.
Archer's eyebrow rose at the young woman, who grew nervous as an unseen force slammed against her, but Teuila suddenly smacked his arm. ''Don't use your aura on people, husband, it's rude!'' she revealed.
He chuckled before apologizing to the nurse. ''Sorry about that.''
The blue-haired beauty slipped into the room after Nefertiti, with a lingering, passionate kiss, left Archer alone in the corridor. He sank into a chair across from the door, waiting for the nurses to call him in.
Hours dragged by until his pointed ears perked at the sound of two little girls' excited squeals from the other side of the door. Teuila emerged, her face lit with a radiant smile. ''They're here, handsome,'' she announced warmly.
Archer jumped and carefully entered the room to see Ella and Olivia on the beds cradling a little bundle. The Half-Elf's big blue eyes lifted to meet his as a radiant smile appeared on her exhausted face.
''Come meet your fifth daughter, Arch,'' Teuila said softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion but warm with joy. ''She's adorable.''
Archer didn't hesitate, stepping forward to find a pair of luminous violet eyes gazing up at him. His heart melted at the sight of the tiny white-haired beauty. Leaning down, he gently booped her nose.
The baby wriggled in Ella's arms, her squeaky giggle sparking smiles all around. As the nurses slipped out of the room, Archer gently scooped up his daughter. The half-elf grinned, his voice warm. ''You name her, my love. I'll pick the next one.''
''Elise,'' he muttered while staring into his new daughter's eyes. ''It suits her.''
Ella's face glowed with a radiant smile as she nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with affection. ''That's a beautiful choice, Arch. I love it,'' she said, her voice soft but brimming with warmth.
Archer, still cradling the tiny Elise in his arms, felt a wave of tenderness wash over him as he gazed at her delicate features, those vivid violet eyes, and wisps of snowy white hair. Careful not to jostle her, he stepped quietly across the room to where Olivia lay, her chest rising and falling with slow, weary breaths.