Holy City Osiris.
At this moment, the military exercise in the Holy City was proceeding in an orderly fashion, and the streets were practically deserted, a spectacle that drew tens of thousands out to watch.
Luo Xiya stood shoulder to shoulder with her mother, Grand Duke Veronica, watching the various national troops slowly pass by and occasionally commenting.
“Has the army of the Kingdom of Turing been fully equipped with magical technology now?”
“Yes. They’ve developed a group of weapons called ‘Mecha.’ As long as the pilot has enough skill, even a lower-ranked Extraordinary can sometimes defeat higher-ranked ones. What’s passing by now is the Kingdom of Turing’s fourth-generation Universal Glorious Iron Cavalry.”
“Interesting. I should find a chance to ask the ladies of the Kingdom of Turing for one to try out.”
Luo Xiya looked up at the grand and ornate magical mechanical soldier with a click of her tongue.
Veronica shook her head and reminded her, “These things have very limited potential. Their greatest use is simply raising the lower limit of power for lower-ranked Extraordinary. Even the specialized Steel Knights above the Universal model are only for mid-level and the weakest high-ranked Extraordinary. Their improvement to those who are already gifted is negligible.”
“Most importantly, these machines are extremely costly. I’ve heard the Kingdom of Turing is already facing numerous complaints over producing them.”
“Well, since this technology is still developing, perhaps one day they’ll create Mecha that can significantly enhance even the high-ranked Extraordinary.”
“Who knows,” Veronica said casually.
After all, despite their imposing appearance, their fully armored Gryphon Knights stationed in their territory could easily overturn an entire squad from the Kingdom of Turing, which made Veronica hard-pressed to take their technology seriously.
One delegation after another passed by.
There were the White Dove Knights from the Kingdom of El, clad in light armor with a white dove perched on each shoulder; the Lionheart Knights from the Kingdom of Shinra, each dressed in dazzling and magnificent heavy armor; and the Blossom Knights from the Kingdom of Bourbon, elegant and beautiful with their rapiers and crossbows.
There were also the Ring Tower Mages from the Arcane Ring Tower, wearing pointed hats, accompanied by floating towers in the sky as they came to pay homage to the Holy Throne.
“The Holy Throne is truly remarkable to have tamed those arrogant, haughty Ring Tower Mages into submission,” Veronica marveled.
“A bunch of cowardly cowards. When faced with an unbeatable force like the Holy Throne, their knees naturally go weak. What’s so surprising about that?”
Luo Xiya said indifferently.
At that moment, a troop exuding a sinister and eerie aura appeared before them.
They were the only group that caught Luo Xiya’s eye.
Unlike the earlier troops who were either magnificent and elegant or disciplined and capable, this unit was gloomy and mysterious.
Luo Xiya looked curiously at the group behind and asked, “The Black Knights of the Kingdom of Lensa?”
In contrast to the Kingdom of Turing, the Kingdom of Lensa had no interest in magical technology.
They placed their faith entirely in Extraordinary abilities.
Through their own researched potions, many of their Extraordinary had undergone ‘mutation,’ meaning they had fully awakened their body’s potential.
This resulted in their nation’s Extraordinary being, on average, stronger than those of other countries.
What was even more terrifying about this several-hundred-strong Black Knight unit was one fact:
Every single one of them was a high-ranked Extraordinary without exception.
They were clad in armor forged from obsidian, their faces all hidden beneath helmet visors, making it impossible to see their expressions, only feeling the murderous aura radiating from within.
At the front was a female knight riding a tall, powerful steed, her hands gripping the reins, her tall figure silently exuding an air of contempt for everything.
“That’s Captain Scarlet Rose Maria of the Black Knights,” Veronica said softly as she looked over.
“Her, huh…”
Scarlet Rose Maria was officially the most powerful Extraordinary in the Kingdom of Lensa.
Her ability was quite strange—simply put, she could absorb life energy from killing, continuously boosting her combat performance and endurance on the spot, making her a terrifying force on the battlefield.
Not to mention, she was originally a Domain-level Extraordinary.
Every war led by her ended in victory.
On the surface, her style seemed like a reckless madwoman, but the nobles of various countries gradually realized that her undefeated streak came mostly from never engaging in unprepared or uncertain battles.
Though she appeared rough and reckless, she was in fact meticulous.
This caused the other delegations to subtly show wary expressions.
The Black Knights commanded by Maria were arguably the most feared army on the continent.
They were all powerful madmen, utterly fearless of death.
They were essentially a band of desperadoes.
Luo Xiya looked at Maria’s scornful aura with a hint of admiration in her eyes.
Like a fan unexpectedly meeting their admired idol.
“Mother, could you beat Captain Maria in a fight?”
Luo Xiya asked casually, glancing at her mother.
Grand Duke Veronica’s expression immediately darkened.
Her abilities were somewhat better than Lady Catherine’s.
She had barely crossed into the edge of the Sanctuary and could be considered among the continent’s top Extraordinary.
But to fight bloody Maria?
Better not.
Some members of the delegations couldn’t help but reveal faintly schadenfreude smiles.
These bloodthirsty maniacs actually dared to attend the audience ceremony with the Holy Throne.
Didn’t they fear their aura would disturb the Holy Throne?
Many were waiting to see them suffer, even hoping the Holy Throne would deal with Maria directly.
At that moment, the Holy Throne herself, who was in the highest seat, seemed to notice the Black Knights passing by and finally lifted her somewhat distracted head.
Yet, even as the Black Knights passed, she made no reaction.
Only the nuns beside her could tell that Sylvia had naturally shown a look of admiration, accompanied by clucking sounds of amazement.
Compared to the other troops passing earlier, she hadn’t even glanced at them.
Clearly, the Black Knights’ style suited the taste of the Divine’s spokesperson.
Finally, after the Black Knights had passed, the army of the continent’s most powerful human empire, the Aingloran Empire, arrived.
But by then, Sylvia’s attention had long shifted far away, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, showing no interest in the military display of the Violet Sakura.
“Next up is Captain Rosetta, right?” Sylvia asked.
The Rosetta she spoke of was the Captain of the Holy Light Church’s Saint Key Knight Order—just, honest and straightforward in character, strict and impartial in managing her troops, and polite and equal to those around her.
Because of her noble nature, she was hailed by outsiders as the Knight among Knights.
She was also one of Sylvia’s commissioned knights, a Domain-level Extraordinary titled the ‘Silver Knight’ and trusted as Sylvia’s right hand.
“I have some business to attend to and will leave first. After Captain Rosetta passes the ceremony, have her preside over the following activities,” Sylvia said, like a carefree handover, temporarily passing the Holy Throne’s ‘authority’ to Rosetta.