Swish... The perfectly synchronized sound made everyone shudder. In the next instant, the archers lowered their bows and stood up, retreating blankly as they swiftly merged into the ranks. The other troop types also stowed their weapons one by one and moved back to their assigned positions.
The Ghost Soldiers retreated on command!
The atmosphere on the field changed instantly, as if the battlefield had turned into a training ground. These Ghost Soldiers suppressed their killing intent and edge, standing quietly in place, waiting for new orders.
For a moment, Serena felt she wasn’t commanding a horde of Ghost Soldiers, but directing thousands of living troops on a battlefield…
One command, one movement—these 'soldiers' before her were the finest warriors she’d ever seen, comparable to a nation’s elite special forces. Unfortunately, they could no longer be called soldiers; no matter how powerful, they could no longer fight on a real battlefield or reveal the Phoenixfield Clan’s true military spirit.
Serena felt a pang of regret deep down. She slowly exhaled, determined not to dwell on impossibilities. The Ghost Soldiers were under control now, and that was the best outcome for them.
A person shouldn’t be too greedy.
Serena breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Sean and told him to go in and help Prince Nolan.
Prince Nolan’s martial arts were formidable, but the Ghost General’s strength was also extraordinary. On top of that, his body was unique—no weaknesses anywhere. Even if his head was cracked and bleeding, his combat power wouldn’t diminish in the slightest, nor would he lose any stamina or strength, no matter how long the fight lasted.
No matter who faced such an unkillable, unfeeling, tireless opponent, they’d be at a disadvantage. Serena’s plan was to have Sean and Prince Nolan work together to temporarily pin down the Ghost General.
"Let’s fall back first." Serena took one last look at the Ghost Soldiers, then strode out with firm resolve.
Even if it meant acting as executioner, she was determined to destroy these Ghost Soldiers and the Ghost General. Even if all that remained were bodies, she would send them back to where they belonged.
"Awoo... awoo!" Snow Wolf darted past the Ghost Soldiers. Seeing they didn’t move, it yelped excitedly. If Serena weren’t watching, it would have dived right into their midst to bully them.
Once outside the encirclement, Serena ordered the Eighteen Riders to plant the thunder-blast grenades.
She was going to blow up these Ghost Soldiers and the Ghost General, granting them peace at last.
The encirclement was vast, but manpower and grenades were limited. Serena took out eighteen thunder-blast grenades and handed them to the Eighteen Riders: "Use the grenade thrown skyward as the signal. When you see it explode in midair, light your fuses."
Even the severely wounded were mobilized, showing just how desperate Serena’s situation was.
There were simply too many Ghost Soldiers and too few thunder-blast grenades—there was no way to kill them all.
"Understood." The Eighteen Riders had no objections. After estimating the blast radius, the eighteen men quickly spread out and waited silently for orders.
Serena and Snow Wolf waited outside, standing side by side in the backlight. Prince Nolan and Sean stepped out, immediately spotting Serena and Snow Wolf silhouetted against the light.
Snow Wolf’s pure white fur shone even more brilliantly in the halo of light, dazzling so much that people couldn’t open their eyes. The sparkling golden glow completely enveloped Serena beside it, and from a distance, she looked like a phantom, as if she might vanish at any moment.
Prince Nolan’s heart lurched. He instinctively pressed his hand to his chest and broke into a run, quickly outpacing Sean.
"Serena." Prince Nolan stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Feeling Serena’s warm body, Prince Nolan’s heartbeat finally returned to normal. The inexplicable anxiety and unease faded away.
"What’s wrong?" Serena was startled. When Prince Nolan didn’t answer and only hugged her tighter, she didn’t dare push him away, letting him hold her while she gave Sean a questioning look as he hurried up.
Prince Nolan was never the type to flaunt affection in public.
Sean shook his head, indicating he didn’t know either. Prince Nolan had suddenly seemed startled while walking—who knew what he was thinking?
Once Prince Nolan calmed down, he released Serena. His cold, stern face showed no emotion, but he gripped Serena’s hand tightly, as if afraid she might disappear.
Prince Nolan knew his actions were out of character, but he had no intention of explaining. He skipped over it and said, "We’ve temporarily subdued the Ghost General. We need to leave as soon as possible."
Leaving was the best option. After fighting for a full day and night, everyone was exhausted—they didn’t have the strength to go on.
"Alright. Let’s blow this place up before we leave." Serena, considerate as ever, didn’t press for answers—she just assumed Prince Nolan was affected by the mausoleum’s oppressive atmosphere.
"Blow it up?" Prince Nolan glanced at the Ghost Soldiers standing motionless like wooden stakes. For a moment, he almost thought he was looking at terracotta warriors.
These Ghost Soldiers could no longer be called 'human.'
"Blow them up. Living like this is both torment and humiliation." Serena was resolute, signaling Snow Wolf to hand the thunder-blast grenade to Prince Nolan. "I’ve already told the Eighteen Riders—when the grenade explodes in the sky, they’ll light their fuses and blow up the Ghost Soldiers and the Ghost General together."
"Blowing them up is for the best—better than running into them again." Prince Nolan reached for the grenade, revealing his injured right hand. He didn’t notice, but Serena’s sharp eyes caught it and grabbed his hand: "You’re hurt?"
The skin between his thumb and forefinger was split, and the blood had already clotted—a dark color, meaning it wasn’t a fresh wound.
"Just a scratch, it’s nothing." Prince Nolan brushed it off and pulled his hand back, ready to light the grenade. Serena frowned, about to stop him, but Sean beat her to it: "Let me do it."
Without waiting for Serena or Prince Nolan to protest, Sean took the grenade, lit it, waited until the fuse was nearly burned down, and then tossed it into the air. His movements were so smooth and natural that Serena was left speechless, mouth agape as she watched the grenade explode above the Ghost Soldiers…
Boom... Like a firework, the thunder-blast grenade erupted in midair, sending a burst of flame and thick smoke in all directions. Shrapnel rained down, but the Ghost Soldiers didn’t move an inch—even when shards pierced their brains, they showed no reaction, not even pain.
Moments later, the Eighteen Riders detonated their grenades too. Eighteen thunder-blast grenades went off in quick succession, the sheer force shaking the ground and blasting the Ghost Soldiers’ bodies into fragments, scattering them everywhere.
No cries, no screams, no sounds of fleeing footsteps. Even facing total annihilation, the Ghost Soldiers remained motionless, letting the grenades tear them apart…
Serena watched... watched, and tears streamed down her face.
These Ghost Soldiers wouldn’t retreat or dodge without orders. Even in death, they could only stand there, enduring it all…