968 Abyssals' Nightmare

Under the unexpected and unprecedented invasion of fairies, the abyssals were crushed. One province after another fell.

Tens of Billions already died. Entire cities were painted with blood and reeked of death.

Despite the frantic evacuation, nearly 25% of all abyssals died!

But more alarming was the death of the high awakeners. 40% of Sovereigns, 50% of level 9s, 55% of level 8s, and 60% of level 7s died in the soil they tried to defend.

No one, absolutely no one was prepared to face such a catastrophe.

In just over two months, Abyss underwent a horrifying change.

The lively cities were now filled with a silent, heavy, and exhausting depression. Schools no longer had laughing children.

Every day, someone belonging to a student would die and the news would break the student into tears.

The bustling streets were filled with an eerie atmosphere. People didn't talk loud, they whispered. As if they didn't want their pain to be heard, they spoke in low voices.

The emergency buildings constructed to house the refugees were already full. Now, these refugees were sheltered in the homes of many kind-hearted fellow abyssals.

The hosts took good care of the guests but every day, they feared they too would end up in the same condition.

The abyssals who had the opportunity hurried to the capital. But the capital could take in only so many. As a result, transport between provinces and cities was restricted.

Even though the newspapers and the officials told them, again and again, that's it for their own safety, many abyssals began to feel they were abandoned by the empire to rot in their own city.

For the first time in decades, resentment began to breed against the Emperor. With the news of every falling province, this resentment only rose.

"Why are we losing?"

"Didn't Emperor say we'll be safe?"

"He promised to keep us! He said it even in this year's speech! What happened now? I came here for a business trip and my province was destroyed! My parents and my children are gone! All gone!"

The silent streets slowly turned violent. Law and Order began to break down and chaos ensued.

The army was fully focused on the fairies and had no time to care for the ruckus on the streets. The officials tried to appease the masses and failed.

The only one that could make them listen—the Emperor—was stalled by Fairy Emperor. As a result, violent means were used to oppress the rioters and a very strict military law was placed on the cities.

But things only got worse.

Fairies continued to march onward. The reserve forces were long since inducted.

Now, the able-aged men and women in the nearby provinces were induced into

the army, given quick training, and thrown into the battlefield.

It was problematic.

Most of the mid and high level abyssals already joined the army by this point.

Almost all of the new recruits were low awakeners with a small percentage of mid and high awakeners.

Children and the Elderly were taken to the refugee camps in the inward provinces if possible.

If not, they were slaughtered by the marching fairies.

Yesterday's hosts became today's guests and the refugees marched inward into the empire, seeking safety that was fast disappearing.

They also carried with them the scary stories of the marching enemy. Of death, destruction, and…defeat.

Fear spread. Then came panic. And finally, despair.

These three elements were already present since the fall of Blood Province. But the endless stream of refugees, tales of death, and increasingly strict rules flared up everything wrong with the situation.

Every time she returned to the capital to recuperate from her injuries, the Empress could sense the obvious changes.

Hope was waning fast. It's understandable.

After all, to destroy half of the Empire Abyss would take years for any comparable foe. But fairies did it in little over two months.

The military didn't want to reveal the real reasons for such a tragedy. If the public learned that Zions were so hellbent on destroying them that they were throwing such precious treasures, then there'd only be despair. But choosing to remain silent didn't make it any better.

And Empress didn't really have time to appease the masses either. She had a gigantic task herself—

"Lord, the Zions broke the laws and are using high ranking materials to invade us! I implore you, please stop them immediately!" The Empress bowed her head and pleaded.

"I understand your concerns, Lady Beatrice" The virtual silhouette in front of her, a silver body outline with no facial features, nodded lightly. "But please trust our officers. We are doing our best to verify your claims. You're aware that we can't just intervene in wars without proper evidence. So, I request you to maintain patience and wait for our results."

"P-Patience?" Beatrice looked at him with a chilling gaze. "Lord, we'll be dead if we remain patient! Almost half of my people are already dead! We can't be patient!"

"You have no choice." The silhouette's voice grew deeper and indifferent. "Your claims must be verified before we act. Whatever might happen before that isn't my problem."

The Empress bit her lip so hard they started bleeding. The slightly salty and iron taste on her tongue calmed her roaring rage.

Taking a deep breath, she asked. "What you say is completely correct, Lord. But we submitted the complaint two months ago. Wouldn't the verification be finished in a day at least or a week at most? It's two months already!"

"There are circumstances, Lady Beatrice." The silhouette said in a casual tone.

"Circumstances?" Empress repeated those words and her eyes glowed with hatred. "I understand Zions must've bribed you. But soon, the news will reach the Kingdom's officers. Fairies will face suffering for their mistakes. So will the Zions. And so will you!"

"It'll take two months to reach them, unfortunately." The silhouette shook his head as if it were a pity.

"Wh—" The Empress' eyes widened as she stared at the silhouette in shock. "N-No way! Even the messengers are bribed?"

"They can't be bribed, it seems. But they can still be stalled." The silhouette said lightly. "And by then, the job will be done."

The Empress clenched her fists and her nails dug into her palm. "Job done? My race will be over in two months? Big words! I'll see you in two months, bastard! Abyssals won't die! Even if every single one of this empire's citizens is killed, as long as my husband is alive, he'll recreate this empire! He'll become your nightmare! Your death! You'll regret everything! Everything!"

"…" The silhouette remained silent for a few moments before sighing. "He is indeed a problem. Fairy Emperor cannot kill him. And after so much expenditure, I doubt even Zions have any treasure that can directly destroy him. Injure him greatly? Likely. But kill him? Probably not.

But Zions and especially Fairies know he's the biggest obstacle. Their last challenge. And your last hope. That's why they'll not miss killing him."

The Empress' eyes grew red with anger and blood began to leak out of her lips. "My husband can't be killed by these puny things! Not by a dog of Zions! And not by a pimp who calls himself emperor."

The silhouette regarded her with an amused gaze. "We'll see."

And the silhouette vanished, leaving a soft but mocking voice.

"Soon."