bookpower Chapter 285 285: Song of Justice
Chapter 285 285: Song of Justice
Clang!
Kaguya's blade intercepted, her strike slicing across the enemy's wrist with surgical precision. The weapon clattered to the ground. She spun gracefully, slipping behind her foe, smashing the back of his neck with the flat of her sword, and kicking up gravel to blind the next attacker.
"Ryuu! Take her back! Leave this to us!" She shouted.
"That's right!" Alise roared as she stormed into the enemy ranks, her crimson aura blazing like a wildfire.
With every swing of her sword, enemy steel shattered. Blades bent and broke, and armored men fell screaming into the dirt. But not all foes went quietly.
From the rear, Lyra spotted it, the twitch of a soldier's hand reaching for a self-destruct trigger. Her eyes sharpened.
Shhhk!
A volley of blades spun through the air, piercing his arm before he could activate the magic. His scream was drowned as he collapsed.
Asta charged from the flank, her massive battle axe cleaving the air with a sound like thunder. The sheer force of her swing hurled bodies backward, creating space for her comrades.
Neze and Iska moved as twin storms. The werewolf and Amazoness crashed into the fray with fists like boulders, knocking soldiers to their knees with bone-crushing strikes.
Above them, Ryana and Celty unleashed devastating magic. Fire and lightning erupted in bursts, vaporizing those who dared attempt a sneak attack.
Even the usually quiet Noin stood firm, shield and sword raised. Though unremarkable in appearance, her stalwart defense blocked every stray enemy who slipped past the vanguard, ensuring the Astraea Familia's rear line remained untouchable.
And behind them all, Maryuu raised her staff. A gentle wind swept across the battlefield, wrapping allies in warmth.
Green light rained down, restoring vitality to the wounded Hermes Familia. Soldiers who had been faltering suddenly straightened, their strength returning.
There was no hesitation now. No confusion. The knot that had plagued their hearts was undone. Their eyes blazed anew.
For the first time, the Astraea Familia realized the truth. Even if they had not yet found the final answer to what justice truly meant, even if they were still wanderers groping toward the light, they were still adventurers walking forward beneath the guidance of the stars. And with that, they roared together.
The onslaught of Ryuu and her companions was unstoppable. Their momentum surged like a tidal wave, smashing through the evilus ranks. Slashes flashed, explosions of magic echoed like drums of war. Enemy soldiers fell screaming, forced back, their morale shattering under the ferocity of the Astraea Familia's charge.
From the sidelines, citizens stared, breath caught in their throats.
"Everyone..." Falgar's voice rang out, breaking the silence.
He stood tall despite the blood soaking his body. He had finally broken free of the enemy's cordon, and now his words struck like thunder. "The Astraea Familia is fighting for you!"
The people flinched, eyes wide.
"Standing there and watching is not worthy of citizens of the City of Heroes!" His roar shook them awake.
"They're shedding blood for your sake, so lend them your hands! Your voices! Your courage!"
Despite the wounds that covered him, Falgar's smile shone with pride and conviction. That smile drew tears from even the young and weak.
"Come on!"
The very next second, Falgar used all his strength to force open his clogged throat, roaring out the words he had swallowed all along.
"Come on!!!!"
His voice, raw and unrestrained, broke through the suffocating air.
And as if his courage lit a fire, other young men followed. Then others. Soon, the voices multiplied.
"Come on! Come on!"
"Don't lose to them!"
Regardless of gender, age, or status, the citizens of Orario raised their voices as one. The voices of the powerless, yet no longer silent. Their cheers surged like a tidal wave, crashing down upon the battlefield.
"Aaaaahhh!"
A sharp sword cleaved through the air with terrifying speed.
Ryuu's strike landed upon the trembling Olivas.
"Gah!?"
The sword that Olivas hastily lifted to block shattered into pieces. Ryuu's wooden blade crashed into his chest with brutal force.
The gust of wind summoned by her skill, exploded outward. The blow was strong enough to crack bone, forcing Olivas to spew blood as he was flung backwards.
"Olivas-sama!"
The high-ranking evilus soldiers rushed to their commander, who lay sprawled in rubble.
"Please, order a retreat! If this continues—!"
"Impossible! Impossible...!" Olivas spat blood and denial in equal measure.
His eyes, red with frenzy, glared forward. "Why... Why is there such a gap in power...!?"
Among the radiant figures of the Astraea Familia, Ryuu stepped forward.
She calmly declared, "We believe that the will of justice prevails over yours. That is all."
"Dammit!! DAMMIT!!"
Olivas's expression twisted into something inhuman, his teeth grinding until they nearly shattered.
The order finally ripped from his throat—
"RETREAT!"
The roar, filled with humiliation and venom, spread among the ranks. Evilus soldiers scattered in panic.
"Chase them?" Kaguya muttered, but then shook her head. "Forget it."
Her hand trembled violently, and beside her, Lyra's knees wobbled as she clenched her teeth, refusing to collapse. They had rushed from the Eighth District, torn through enemy lines, reached the city walls, and even forced their way to the Seventh District for support.
The girls were beyond exhausted, yet still standing.
"But... we succeeded."
Alise sheathed her sword, her smile blooming like the sun.
"Ooooooooooooh!"
The people erupted. Cheers burst forth, drowning the battlefield in thunderous applause.
Some cried. Some laughed. Some simply shouted until their throats tore.
Adventurers raised their arms, voices overlapping with gratitude, "Well done!"
They shared the afterglow of victory with the girls who had bled for it.
"Asfi... are you okay?"
Falgar rushed toward Asfi, panic in his voice but when he saw her expression, he froze. Asfi was smiling.
"Falgar... I finally understand what I must do." Her voice trembled, but her eyes were steady.
"Understand... who should raise their voice now. Who is the one that can truly banish Orario's despair."
"Not Finn. Not the strong. Not even first-class adventurers."
Her gaze lifted to the sky, golden light of dusk painting her features.
"Since the enemy calls themselves evil, then the only ones who can shout out hope... are those who hold justice in their hearts."
Falgar's breath caught. Shock shuddered through him. And as if the world itself responded to Asfi's words—
"That's right!" Alise's cry split the sky.
"Let's sing it together!"
"Right here! Let all of Orario hear us!"
Voices rose like flames. Songs, chants, hymns, an overwhelming chorus filled the dusk sky. It echoed through every street, every ruined corner of Orario.
On West street, Ais tilted her head toward the sound, her ears twitching. Beside her, Riveria allowed a rare, gentle smile to grace her lips.
"Let them hear the glorious song that tears despair apart." Shhe whispered.
On Northwest Street, Gareth stroked his beard while Shakti's eyes narrowed, and Adi's lips curved into a radiant smile.
"Let them hear the cry of hope for justice!"
High atop the Guild headquarters, Raul stood dumbfounded while Finn, with admiration, spoke softly, "A hymn of justice..."
Alise, red hair blazing like fire, lifted her arms high.
"Mission accomplished! Correct the scales! Until the day they fall and become stars!"
Their song tore through the sky.
A hymn of justice.
A vow to keep walking the righteous path.
"Order is the fortress! Integrity, the crown! Light the lamp that destroys evil! Protect our friends, link our hopes, this is the wish for justice!!"
"Justice will continue!"
The anthem engraved itself into the hearts of every citizen. Into the city itself.
Even if shadows fell, even if darkness smothered the skies, the stars of justice would never vanish.
"By the name of the goddess, we march with the heavens! Until the earth itself is carved with starlight!"
Adventurers shouted until their voices bled.
Tears fell freely.
When Ryuu and the rest of the Astraea Familia raised their fists high, another figure quietly joined them—Akira. His eyes reflected a mix of regret, relief, and joy but his voice joined theirs.
"I swear upon the sword and wings of justice!"
Their overlapping voices shook the entire city. And the cheers of hope, born from the people of Orario, resounded into the heavens—unending, unstoppable.