Chapter 152: MEB
BOOM!
The explosion rattled the very foundations of the throne hall, jolting Queen Jolie to her feet. The two royal guards stationed at the entrance were equally stunned.
"What was that?!" she yelled, her voice echoing with a regal fury.
BAM!
A third guard, breathing heavily and covered in dust, skidded to a halt and dropped to one knee before the Queen.
"My Queen! We are under attack!" he shouted, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Attacked?! Who dares to attack us?!" Jolie’s voice was low, laced with a lethal intent that sent a shiver down the kneeling guard’s spine.
"We don’t know yet! They’re attacking from both the front and back entrances!" he stammered.
"From two entrances? How many enemies are there?" she asked, walking slowly toward him.
"We don’t know... some guards are saying there’s only one at the front gate, but he or she is too fast... they can’t even see their figure. As for the guards at the back gate? There’s been no report from them," he replied, his voice strained with worry.
Jolie’s brow furrowed in thought. After a moment, she gave her orders. "Call the reinforcements. They should use the secret passage—it’s the shortest route to the castle and it won’t attract attention. And you," she pointed to the kneeling guard,
"take all the soldiers in the castle and head to the front gate. I will take care of the back."
"I’m coming with you, Mother!"
Jolie and the guard turned to see Prince Frederick striding into the hall. He was clad in a majestic grand-class armor, a golden sword strapped to his waist.
"Alright," the Queen nodded, her own body shimmered as a high-grand-class silver armor materialized over her clothes, and a powerful spear appeared in her hand.
"Let’s keep them occupied until the reinforcements arrive."
With that, she strode out of the hall, with Frederick right behind her.
____
Josephine landed on the castle grounds, her eyes immediately drawn to the enormous ship hovering before her.
"She was right... the World Destroyer really can withstand all physical attacks," Nioh muttered, landing softly beside her.
"The World Destroyer is indeed a powerful ship," Josephine agreed, her voice a low hum. "Even my blade’s energy couldn’t destroy it."
"Get away from that ship!"
WHOOSH!
The two reacted instantly, leaping backward as a spear struck the ground where they had just been standing. An electric current coursed through the earth, making their hair stand on end.
"What the?!"
Josephine and Nioh landed several meters away, their gazes fixed on Jolie and Frederick, who were now walking towards them.
"Josephine? Who would have thought such a child would have the guts to attack my nation, and without any army at that," Jolie said with a condescending smirk.
"Army? You want to see our army?" Josephine asked, a small frown on her face.
"Even I don’t want to see my army; they are simply too much. If I unleashed them on this small city, no one would survive."
"Stop bluffing! Do you think I don’t know your tricks?" Jolie snapped, pulling her spear from the ground and pointing it threateningly at Josephine.
"Your mercenaries, they are just robots. Before an MEB, they are simply trash to be destroyed."
She spat the last words with disgust.
"MEB? What is that?" Josephine asked, turning her head to Nioh in confusion. "Have you heard of any MEB?"
"No..." Nioh shrugged.
"Ignorant fools. Your nation is the smallest, so it’s not a surprise you haven’t heard of such a valuable thing," Frederick said, drawing his sword.
"I’ll let you in on a secret," Jolie said, spinning her spear with a flourish.
"Your husband, God Wolf... he will be ambushed by my five hundred thousand soldiers. I was planning on using him to threaten you and your nation, but I didn’t expect you to deliver yourself to me." She let out a scoff.
"If that plan fails, I will have you to bargain with, so I won’t kill you today."
She shifted her gaze to Nioh, a venomous look in her eyes. "I so want to kill this boy... He is a thorn in all my plans, and he just can’t seem to die. Maybe Jade is just too kind."
"I don’t understand. First this MEB, and now me... I don’t even know which one I should ask about," Nioh said, staring at the mother and son before him.
"I was the one who ordered your mother and father’s deaths."
"What?" Nioh was stunned.
"Yep... it is all your mother’s fault," she hissed at him.
"My mother? What are you saying?!" Nioh asked, a look of confusion etched on his face.
"Your mother is of royal blood, you fool! She had influence in the kingdom and the military—a lot, I will say. And then, all of a sudden, your father joined the military. One day, she might set her eyes on the throne, or maybe your father... So I had to take them both out," Jolie said with a cold smile.
"After getting the news of their deaths, I sent people to get rid of you. And that uncle of yours rushed to your house and chased you out on the pretense of taking over the properties. Truth be told, he took nothing. All the lands, factories, marketplaces, and even some planets are still under your name." She continued:
"Haven’t you ever wondered why, the moment you were chased out, someone picked you up and disappeared from this nation? I’m guessing he always reminded you to take your revenge."
She shook her head with false pity. "Go after Jade, she killed your parents," she chuckled darkly.
"So... all along, you were the one who killed my parents?!" Nioh’s body tensed, his voice filled with killing intent.
"Of course. Jade is just a pawn on my chessboard. She helped me kill them, and in return, I gave her your father’s and mother’s positions for her to manage alone! That is a huge glory, right?! Hahaha." she asked with a booming laugh.
"I will kill you!"
Before Nioh could lunge forward, Josephine’s sword appeared before him, stopping him in his tracks.
"Calm yourself. She is a Celestial Rank, Stage One Warrior. You are not her match. Take on Frederick. I will deal with her." Josephine’s voice was calm and steady.
"Really?! Are you seriously going to fight us without any of your mercenaries?" Frederick asked, a disappointed expression on his face. He waved his hand, and a red grenade appeared in his palm:
"I wanted to test out this bomb."
"What is MEB again?" Josephine asked, her tone flat.
"Mercenaries Extermination Bomb," Frederick answered with a grin.
"Okay... it seems everyone is laying down their trump card. I should also lay down mine."
Josephine snapped her fingers, and a golden-armored mercenary materialized before her.
"Kill him," she commanded.
WHOOSH!
Without hesitation, the mercenary drew its golden sword and lunged at Frederick.
"You fucker!" Frederick pulled the pin from the grenade and threw it at the charging mercenary.
"Shut down!" he yelled.
BOOOOOM!
The grenade exploded, sending a wave of electromagnetic pulse all over the castle grounds.
".....?!"
Everyone watched in surprise and shock as the mercenary stood still, its body unmoving, not even an inch.
"Hahaha! It worked!" Frederick yelled, bursting into laughter.
"What do you think about that now, Bitch?!"