Chapter 238: Within Arm's Reach

"Hmph." Facing Charles's reproach, Olyana merely sneered, "Cut the nonsense. Today I'm giving you a chance—surrender now, and it's not too late!"

Fifty palace guards radiating killing intent drew their swords.

Besides swords, some carried shields, while others held crossbows!

The nobles and aristocrats on Olyana's side said nothing, retreating to safe positions, their glances at their comrades filled with mockery.

You simply don't understand how powerful Her Majesty the Queen is!

On the royalist side, those brought in as "death warriors" and "axe-and-sword men" also drew their swords.

But the only weapons they could bring in were these single-handed swords.

Naturally disadvantaged in equipment, and besides, their numbers were only thirty-something.

Even adding the possibly combat-capable royal nobles themselves, they still couldn't match Olyana's dispatched "axe-and-sword men."

"Surrender?" Charles's roar echoed in the hall, "Even if you surrender today, you must die!"

Saying that, he directly threw the sword in his hand!

He actually had one sword on each side—throwing one out was no problem.

A guard beside Olyana stepped forward with his shield raised.

A sound far exceeding everyone's expectations echoed in the hall.

That guard was like being struck by a heavy object—his shield instantly shattered into pieces, and he himself was flung backward.

Before Olyana, an arc-shaped light curtain appeared, blocking that guard.

The guard fell to the ground; his chest armor was visibly deformed, blood continuously gushing from his mouth and nose—clearly, he was done for.

Charles's power had already reached a terrifying level!

The battle thus erupted!

The sounds of blood, roars, clashing weapons, and wounded cries echoed in the hall.

Corpses fell one after another.

Someone accidentally stepped on blood on the ground, slipped, and his somewhat heavy armor prevented him from getting up, instantly becoming a death omen.

One, or several swords pierced through the gaps in the armor, taking a life.

Not long after, the scales of victory began to tilt.

But the winning side was not Olyana's guards, who held advantages in equipment and numbers.

It was the "axe-and-sword men" brought by the royalists.

As the last guard fell.

The hall filled with the pungent smell of blood, the floor nearly covered in flowing blood, merging with the red carpet in the middle.

Two of the royalist nobles were wounded, three dead.

But the axe-and-sword men they brought still stood—ten of them, three wounded.

Seven were unscathed, not only that, they weren't even breathing heavily.

These seven, who had entered discreetly, almost hiding their faces, were the true main force that slaughtered the guards.

Oh, and add Charles, whose strength was immense and awe-inspiring.

Among them was the swordsmanship master Robert.

Also two others—Li Huan and Luo Bu—eyes gleaming with delight and vigilance.

Delighted that they currently held the upper hand, vigilant that their greatest enemy—Tang Xuanzang—had not appeared.

Another three men and one woman also bore extraordinary demeanor.

Their identities, like Robert's, were all swordsmanship masters!

Yes, all five of Tawisent's greatest swordsmanship masters had appeared here! And they all stood opposed to Olyana.

But what truly caught Olyana's eye was the gray-clad elder who had shed his disguise, revealing his white hair.

"I never thought even the famed Sword Saint would become someone's lackey."

Olyana looked at the gray-clad elder and said, "I thought you were already dead."

The gray-clad Sword Saint Edmund, Tawisent's greatest swordsmanship master, transcending the master realm as a Sword Saint.

Possessing a terrifying record of single-handedly breaking armies.

At this moment, Tawisent's five swordsmanship masters could only be considered his juniors, with many more having received his guidance.

Including Robert.

This is the royalists' greatest reliance, and also the surprise Li Huan brought to Tang Luo.

No one knew that Li Huan, before meeting Robert, had encountered this gray-clad Sword Saint and exchanged blows with him.

The other party was also interested in his martial arts techniques.

Half a month ago, Li Huan and Luo Bu, after painstaking effort, finally found this Sword Saint, appealed to his emotions and reason, added the royalists' various promises, various righteous causes, grand trends, and great interests, and finally persuaded Edmund to act, assisting them in jointly slaying the demon queen.

Just how strong is this gray-clad Sword Saint?

Setting aside his previously legendary feats of single-handedly breaking armies, just Li Huan and Luo Bu, before him, were like children with no power to resist.

Only Li Huan's Little Li Flying Knife could make this Sword Saint take some notice.

Li Huan guessed this old man's strength might even surpass Rudolf's!

Later conversations also confirmed this.

Edmund's reason for seclusion, disappearing from everyone's sight, was to avoid Rudolf.

In his words: "The king wants to fight me, I can't refuse, nor can I bear to defeat him. But as a swordsman's dignity, I cannot deliberately lose, so I had to run away and play dead."

Because of Edmund's connection, they also found the remaining four swordsmanship masters to assist.

Thus, the royalists' strength greatly increased.

And Charles's growth was an unexpected delight.

No one expected that a short-tempered bear child would become a bear child with infinite strength and explosive temper.

Yes, great strength still cannot change the fact that Charles is a bear child.

In these two months, Charles has killed more than five servants in anger.

Some royalists are muttering, won't they end up killing the demon empress and creating a tyrant?

But the arrow is on the string and must be released, and after all, he's just a bear child—will he not ultimately be played with in the palms of these old foxes?

The dawn of victory has already shone upon them.

Facing Orianna's mockery and questioning, Edmond merely shook his head lightly and said: "Such words need not be spoken; since I have appeared here, it means I must uphold justice."

"Justice?" Orianna laughed, "Nothing more than a power struggle—do you even deserve to call yourself just?"

"The regicide." Edmond spoke concisely.

"And Xuanzang! Why hasn't he been told to get out!" Charles's roar interrupted their conversation.

Orianna's supporters have already been cornered, their faces fearful.

Moreover, there are about twenty palace maids holding various ritual items, standing far away.

Orianna has already lost; as long as everyone rushes forward together, they can chop this demon empress into minced meat.

It's just that Xuanzang hasn't appeared, and Charles's thoughts are not clear.

These two people—neither can be missing; both must die!

"Someone looking for me?"

Behind a cylindrical pillar, Tang Luo walked out, not knowing when he had appeared there.

"Ha! Excellent." Charles revealed a pleased smile, "All are gathered."

Li Huan and Rob also breathed a sigh of relief.

Not fearing Xuanzang's appearance, but fearing he does not appear!

"Don't look at me." The appearing Tang Luo pointed at Orianna and said, "The culprit is there; you must distinguish the primary contradiction from the secondary."

A scene of each fleeing in panic at the imminent disaster made some people unable to help but spit.

Orianna, meanwhile, glanced wordlessly at Tang Luo and said: "You all really think you've secured victory?"

"Justice shall prevail." Edmond held his sword in one hand, "If you surrender, I can grant you an honorable death."

Li Huan felt somewhat weary, saying, this gray-clad sword saint is also quite hypocritical.

What truly moved him to come was not some great righteousness, but the various "great benefits" promised by the royalists.

This is also human nature; perhaps one cannot always avoid putting justice on one's lips?

Li Huan apparently still has some youth, looking at the nobles behind the gray-clad sword saint, each wearing an expression of deep approval, as if each of them were the embodiment of justice.

"Unfortunately, I cannot grant you an honorable death." Orianna said, "Sisters, take action."

With her words, the female sorcerers disguised as maids emitted a charming, alluring laugh.

Yet it was like demonic sound pouring into the ears, a knife stabbing into the mind.

Li Huan and others' faces turned pale, they covered their heads.

Those nobles, including those on Orianna's side, were even worse—many fainted outright, blood flowing from their ears.

This is only just the beginning.

Inside the palace, flames suddenly burst forth, mysteriously burning in midair, firelight illuminating every face.

All roads were sealed shut.

Strangely, beneath their feet, the blood had congealed into crimson ice blocks, spreading upward along the feet of those still standing.

More than twenty female sorcerers attacked simultaneously, their power astonishing.

"Female sorcerers!"

Edmond's eyes widened, anger surfaced on his face, his body moved, and the ice shell covering his ankles shattered.

His body trailed a gray shadow, the sword in his hand flashing with dazzling light, thrusting toward Orianna.

Orianna did not dodge—she could not dodge—layer upon layer of arc-shaped transparent shields appeared before her, blocking her front.

The sword's force was like splitting bamboo; the shields shattered layer by layer, able to offer only slight resistance.

The sword tip aimed at Orianna's skull, howling as it pierced inward.

Orianna's head tilted slightly back, mouth open, revealing two rows of extremely sharp teeth, and she actually bit down on Edmond's sword.

With a "crack" sound.

This true iron-cutting-like-mud divine weapon was bitten through by Orianna.

"Surprised?" Orianna revealed a bewitchingly charming smile.

Edmond's eyes momentarily lost focus, then instantly sharpened again.

What Orianna wanted was merely this moment—lightning, fire, ice cones, wind blades, shockwaves!

All spells, unreservedly, bombarded Edmond.

Their power was enough to turn the entire palace into ruins; now, Orianna condensed them together, all blasting toward the gray-clad sword saint.

The gray-clad sword saint raised his hand; even with his sword broken, relying on this broken blade, he could still block this terrifying strike.

Moreover, after blocking it, in the very next breath, countless sword lights would engulf the female sorcerers before him.

Close at hand, all are enemies of the nation!

This is the gray-clad sword saint Edmond.

However, at the instant Edmond raised his hand, a heavy, immense pressure descended from heaven, his originally agile hand becoming as heavy as a mountain.

The ground beneath his feet simultaneously sank downward.

Restriction descended in an instant, taking effect only for that instant, just like enchantment.

But it was already enough.

Edmond only had time to spit out: "Lu..."

The spell landed on him, without a great roar, and even without any firelight.

The gray-clad sword saint's body fell, and as it landed, it kicked up a cloud of dust—dust he had turned into.