CHAPTER 157: STOP!

Sean Perez was still young, yet already a general in the Farrel Kingdom, making him arrogant in everyday life and dismissive towards most people.

After Carlotta snatched the Life Source from him at the auction house, he ignored all warnings and came straight here with his men, blocking their path.

"You blocked my attack, an early tier Listener? Doesn’t matter. In the Farrel Kingdom, the Farrel Army is absolute and cannot be defied."

Sean’s expression was cold. He put away his longbow, drew out a long spear, and advanced with numerous men behind him.

At this moment, Carlotta had stepped out of the carriage. She glanced at the broken arrow on the ground, then at the people ahead.

"The Farrel Kingdom’s army attacking us?"

Carlotta murmured softly.

She immediately thought of those people from the auction. Did these guys really dare to ambush and kill over a failed bid?

A flame instantly ignited in her heart, and she glared menacingly at Sean.

Sean strode forward haughtily, coldly stated, "Do you know who you’re facing? If you do, respectfully hand over the Life Source. I might be magnanimous and pretend the earlier incident never happened."

"Go to hell!"

Carlotta cursed directly. Just because he was part of the kingdom’s military, did he think he could act so high and mighty in front of her?

"What did you say?"

Sean stared fixedly at Carlotta, clearly not expecting her to curse him outright.

She looked like a mere girl, yet spoke so vulgarly, darkening his expression.

Carlotta didn’t feel like wasting words. Activating her Card Battle Art, concentric circles of blue light instantly appeared around her as she drew out her Judgment Card.

Although it had been some time since returning from Sky Island, the ferocity she’d cultivated there hadn’t been dissolved yet, back then, she lived today amid blood and fire.

"Attack!"

Sean immediately shouted.

Seeing Carlotta activate her Card Battle Art, he knew she intended to fight, shocking and angering him in equal measure.

This was within the Farrel Kingdom’s territory, and his side represented the Farrel Army. How dare this girl attack so brazenly? It was utter lawlessness!

Around Sean, soldiers instantly rushed forward.

But Carlotta was faster.

In the sky, a golden scroll emerged, followed by a dazzling golden blade that transformed into brilliant golden light slashing downward.

"Stop!"

A voice came from afar.

But Carlotta ignored it completely, continuing to activate the Judgment Card.

In that instant, golden light rained down upon the area where Sean and his soldiers stood, covering them all in an instant.

Not even a single scream was heard. The soldiers who had tried to rush forward each wore expressions of shock before completely splitting apart, scattering across the ground.

Blood burst open, organs shattered and scattered, white bones exposed.

In just a flick of a finger’s time, the scene before they became horrifying.

Sean stood dazed. Because he hadn’t moved earlier, he didn’t split apart immediately, but within just a few breaths, he was too shattered.

"How... could this happen?"

Sean looked at Carlotta in disbelief before instantly crumbling to death.

This scene caused his subordinates to break into cold sweat, not believing that Carlotta’s first strike could be so brutal.

"Whoosh!"

A figure flew rapidly over from afar.

On the distant road, more soldiers were approaching.

The newly arrived man was middle-aged, clad in black armor, with a solemn expression, imposing even without anger. Yet seeing the current scene, even he seemed momentarily stunned.

"I told you to stop!"

The middle-aged man looked at Carlotta.

"What are you?"

Carlotta recalled, "They came to attack me, and you expect me to just stop? Are you people so self-centered? Does the world revolve around you?"

The middle-aged man fell silent, clearly not expecting her to speak to him this way. Didn’t she notice he flew here? That he was a Resonator?

"General Shepard."

The numerous soldiers finally arrived from behind, glanced at the many corpses on the ground with shock, then looked towards the middle-aged man and called out.

Shepard was the middle-aged man’s name. Within the Farrel Kingdom’s army, he held a prominent position.

"Sean Perez and the others were actually killed like this? General Shepard, please deliver justice for them."

Someone stepped forward, shouted loudly.

"Although they disregarded advice and tried to seize the Life Source, they ultimately did it for everyone. Please, General Shepard, stand up for them."

"General Shepard!"

One after another, officers stepped forward, kneeling on one knee and shouting, unable to accept that army personnel had been casually slaughtered on the road.

Shepard fell somewhat silent, seeming to be pondering something.

Carlotta coldly said, "I recognize your voice. At the auction house, it was you bidding against me for the Life Source, right? Since you couldn’t win it there, you decided to seize it outside? Is this the Farrel Army’s conduct?"

Shepard shook his head. "I never intended to steal the auction item. If I didn’t win it at auction, it’s not mine. I wouldn’t risk the army’s reputation for such a thing."

Here he sighed.

Although he hadn’t planned to take the Life Source, his subordinates had taken matters into their own hands and come here. Upon hearing the news, he rushed over immediately to stop them, but it was already too late, Sean and the others had already been killed.

"Since you don’t want to seize anything, then take your people and move aside."

Carlotta coldly stated.

Hearing this, many officers from the army couldn’t help but speak up again, urging Shepard to take action.

"Do you really think I’m so patient? Right in front of me, asking someone to strike me down?"

Carlotta’s gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over those officers.

One officer coldly said, "You killed our men. Even if you pay with your life as compensation, it’s only fair."

Carlotta said grimly, "How shameless. Your men attacked first, yet now it’s somehow my fault?"

The officer ignored Carlotta, continuing to shout at Shepard, "Please, General Shepard, deliver justice."

Justice?

What is justice?

"Whatever benefits you is called justice; whatever doesn’t benefit you cannot be justice."

Carlotta’s tone dripped with ridicule. "The Farrel Kingdom’s army truly broadens one’s horizons."

In the opposing army, many soldiers glared angrily at Carlotta.

If they hadn’t already witnessed Sean’s fate, they would’ve charged forward themselves. Now, they could only rely on Shepard.

"Stop dawdling. One word, will you let us pass or not?"

Carlotta rudely demanded of Shepard.

Did a Resonator really think they could intimidate her? Back on Sky Island, she had directly attacked Resonators herself.

Shepard’s gaze settled on Carlotta, his emotions stirred. This girl truly showed him no respect whatsoever. And could she really not tell he was a Resonator? How dare she speak to him in such a tone?

He forced himself to calm down and asked, "What are your identities?"

"You’re asking this because if our background turns out ordinary, you’ll feel free to attack us? But if we do have status, you’ll claim it was all just a misunderstanding?"

Amelia also stepped out from the carriage, speaking bluntly.

Shepard was momentarily speechless. People refusing to give him face just kept coming one after another.

After a brief silence, he said, "I truly don’t intend to seize the Life Source. But now, this matter has nothing to do with the Life Source anymore. You’ve killed members of our army. Regardless of the reason behind this outcome, I can’t just pretend I didn’t see it. You... come back with me to the military camp."

"So in the end, you still want to fight."

Carlotta once again retrieved the Flight Card and the Speed Card from the blue aura of Card Magic.

Shepard’s eyes twitched. Did this middle tier Listener really intend to personally fight him?

He continued, "I truly don’t wish to bully you with power. It’s just that this isn’t an appropriate place to talk, and our situation is rather complicated. I hope you’ll come to the military camp with me so we can properly discuss this."

Carlotta would never follow this guy to a military camp.

That kind of place likely had alchemical tools capable of dispelling illusions like the Illusion Mask. If her true appearance were revealed, it would be troublesome.

Furthermore, a military camp contained far more supernaturals. She might not be able to handle it, going there was no different than walking into a trap.

Most importantly, was she in the wrong?

She wasn’t. Someone attacked her, and she counterattacked. She had done nothing wrong. So why should she follow anyone?

"Stop wasting words. If you want to fight, then fight!"

Carlotta attacked directly.

She raised her hand, controlling the Judgment Card still hovering high as a golden scroll. Countless golden rays abruptly emerged, forming an uncountable number of blade-like projectiles that rained down, enveloping the numerous commanders standing in front of the army.

These commanders had kept pleading with Shepard to take action against her, long making her feel annoyed. Naturally, she wouldn’t hold back.

Seeing this, Shepard flashed forward and appeared before the commanders. Spreading his hands, a longsword materialized in midair before him. He swung it upward, instantly releasing streams of sword energy.

He wasn’t actually trained in the Sword Aura Knight Path. But at the Resonator stage, supernaturals could freely release sword energy.

Back then, Amber, who trained in Sword Aura Knight Path, merely released sword energy earlier due to the specialty of her knight technique.

The numerous sword energies shot toward the sky, colliding with the golden blades. Explosions erupted instantly between them.

"Hmm?"

Shepard frowned, sensing something was off. Although he had blocked all the golden blades, he still felt uneasy. The killing power of these blades was too strong, this shouldn’t be the strength of a middle tier Listener.

Carlotta remotely controlled the Judgment Card again, pouring exceptionally refined magical power into it from a distance. The card erupted with chaotic golden light, resembling golden lightning, which crashed down with a thunderous boom.

"High-rank card?"

Shepard finally realized the issue.

He was stunned. For card mages, high-rank cards were practically dreamlike treasures. How could this girl possibly possess one?

But that still didn’t make sense. Even if she held a high-rank card, the destructive power of a middle tier Listener shouldn’t directly leap to near-Resonator levels.

"Wait, high-ranking card... Did you go to Sky Island before?"

Shepard suddenly thought of this.

It was well-known that many materials for high-rank cards simply didn’t exist in the world and could only be found on Sky Island.

And coincidentally, Sky Island had recently reappeared.

Could this girl have been to Sky Island?

Seeing the look Shepard cast toward her, Carlotta whispered, "We need to seriously eliminate them now."

Amelia nodded beside her.

Carlotta didn’t want anyone linking her to Sky Island. Her rank was middle tier Listener, and she used card magic.

There were many rumors about Moon, who was said to have obtained Stellar Workshop. Many claimed Moon was merely a mid-tier Listener, though many ridiculed this as impossible, the rumor still spread.

Combined with other characteristics... Carlotta felt there was still a chance people might connect her to Moon. So, for caution’s sake, she decided to silence all these people permanently!

Amelia launched her attack. Waves upon waves of sword energy emerged like flowing rivers, pouring forward.

Without the magical power purification granted by a Sky Ranking, she lagged one step behind Carlotta in rank, remaining an early-tier Listener. Yet her strength was still formidable. The moment she attacked, Shepard’s expression changed.

If this sword energy flooded into the army, even with hundreds of soldiers, they would likely be slaughtered to the last man.

Just as Shepard moved to stop Amelia, Carlotta flashed forward and blocked his path.

"Hmm? When did she get here?"

Shepard was startled.

He remembered Carlotta had just been in another position. How could she have suddenly appeared right before him?

One unexpected situation after another made Shepard feel an intense sense of foreboding.

He could no longer be careless. Even though he faced only Listeners, his expression turned serious. Bloodthirsty energy immediately emanated from his sword as he slashed toward Carlotta.

In an instant, battlefields appeared in Carlotta’s senses. She saw armies clashing, soldiers falling one after another into pools of blood, cries of slaughter piercing the clouds.

This was an illusion, a fleeting moment of distraction in combat could be deadly without question.

Even Carlotta was momentarily disoriented, unable to break free from this state in time.

Yet Shepard’s face showed astonishment, because although Carlotta clearly lost focus and fell under the illusion’s influence, she still raised her sword and slashed toward him, violently colliding with his own blade.

Had her sword been in her hand since the moment she arrived?