Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 501: Am I allowed to enter now 2

The chief of defense still did not invite her.

And that hesitation cost them.

The empress did not sigh, did not frown, did not show even the slightest trace of impatience, because she simply lifted her hand again, almost lazily, as though continuing a task she had already committed to finishing. Another pulse of celestial qi flowed outward, precise and controlled, striking yet another section of the already weakened formation grid, and the result was immediate as a cluster of runes flickered violently before collapsing, their connections severed as if they had never been properly anchored.

A segment of the outer barrier dimmed.

Then cracked.

Then vanished entirely.

Below, the chief’s jaw tightened, but still he did not speak.

So she continued.

Another section.

Then another.

Each strike was not explosive in appearance, yet the effect was devastating, because she was not attacking randomly, she was unraveling the structure itself, targeting points that sustained the integrity of the entire defensive system. The massive dome that once stretched across thousands of miles began to show visible instability now, faint distortions rippling across its surface as energy struggled to redistribute itself across missing nodes.

On the walls, the remaining guards no longer held firm lines, because many of them were staring, their weapons lowered without realizing it, their expressions caught somewhere between disbelief and dawning terror.

From within the inner provinces, the reaction was even more profound.

Citizens had begun to gather at vantage points, rooftops, open courtyards, distant balconies, all drawn by the repeated flashes of failing formations and the thunder of collapsing stone. What they saw shattered something deeper than the walls themselves, because for generations they had believed in the absolute security of these defenses.

Nothing penetrates Blackmare.

That belief had been unquestioned.

Until now.

A woman hovered in the sky.

And everything they trusted was falling apart around her.

"She’s... destroying it," one man whispered, his voice barely audible as he watched another segment of the barrier fail.

"That’s not possible," another said, though his tone lacked conviction, his eyes fixed on the fading glow of runes that had once been considered unbreakable.

A woman clutched the edge of a balcony, her knuckles pale. "Those formations were built to withstand celestial attacks," she said, her voice trembling. "Even the elders said nothing could break them so easily."

Yet there it was, being broken down effortlessly.

Another collapse echoed outward as a reinforced node deep within the structure failed, sending a ripple across the dome that caused entire sections to flicker like a dying flame.

On the wall, the chief of defense finally reacted, his face twisting, not just in anger now, but in something far more complicated, a realization he could not deny even as he fought against it.

"This... this isn’t right," he muttered under his breath.

Because what stood before him did not match what they had prepared for.

Not a siege.

Not an attack.

Not even a celestial-level assault.

This was something else entirely.

Above him, the empress remained unmoved, her expression calm, her posture relaxed, as if the destruction unfolding beneath her required no effort at all.

And in that moment, the thought began to spread, unspoken but shared across every witness.

If this was beyond what their defenses could handle...

Then perhaps the one standing above them...

Was beyond a celestial.

The Chief’s jaw tightened, the hesitation in his eyes betraying the storm within him. Around him, the elders and guards stood frozen, each of them acutely aware that the woman hovering above their city was not someone they could afford to provoke any further. The air itself felt strained, as though the world was holding its breath, waiting for his decision.

The Empress did not move from her position in the sky. Her presence alone pressed down on everything below, a silent threat more terrifying than the destruction she had already unleashed. Her voice came again, calm and unhurried, yet carrying a weight that made it impossible to ignore.

"Must I repeat myself," she said, her gaze fixed on the Chief. "Or shall I continue until there is nothing left for you to protect."

A murmur rippled through those gathered below. The Chief closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if searching for an answer that would not cost him his pride. When he opened them again, the resistance in his expression had dulled, replaced by reluctant acceptance.

"You are... invited," he said, the words heavy on his tongue. "You may enter."

For a brief second, nothing happened. Then the pressure in the air shifted. The Empress gave a small nod, as though she had expected nothing less, and slowly began her descent. Yet even as she lowered herself, her eyes never left the Chief.

"That will not suffice," she said once her feet touched the ground, her voice now softer, but far more dangerous. "You will inform your king that I require a formal royal invitation. Not this hurried concession born out of fear."

The Chief stiffened, a flicker of anger rising despite himself. "You have already been granted entry. Must you push this further."

Her gaze sharpened, and for a fleeting moment, the ruins around them seemed to echo her intent.

"Yes," she replied simply. "Because what you have given is not respect. It is desperation."

Silence followed her words, thick and suffocating.

"Tell your king," she continued, her tone steady, leaving no room for argument, "that if I and the King of Valerion are not properly invited as is befitting our station, I will return."

She took a step forward, the faintest trace of a smile touching her lips, though there was no warmth in it.

"And when I do," she added, her voice dropping just enough to send a chill through every soul present, "it will be far worse than this."

The Chief did not waste another heartbeat questioning her words. He had seen enough, felt enough, to understand that this was not a display meant to intimidate alone. It was a promise, one that would be fulfilled without hesitation if ignored.

"Send word to the king immediately," he ordered, his voice sharp as he turned to one of his aides. "No delays, no alterations. Every word she said must reach him exactly as it is."

The aide bowed deeply, urgency written across his face before he rushed off, disappearing into the inner corridors.

The Chief exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting to the shattered remains of their once impenetrable defenses. Sections of the wall had been reduced to rubble, the gates twisted and broken as though they had been nothing more than brittle wood. The sight stirred a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Mobilize the rebuilders," he continued, his tone regaining its authority as he addressed the guards and officials around him. "I want every available hand working. Reinforce the walls, restore the gates, and seal every opening. We cannot afford to remain exposed."

"Yes, Chief," several voices responded at once, and the tension that had paralyzed them moments ago gave way to frantic movement. Orders were relayed, teams were assembled, and within minutes, the inner province was alive with desperate activity. Stone shapers, formation masters, and laborers surged toward the damaged sections, already assessing what could be salvaged and what needed to be replaced entirely.

Even as the work began, the Chief remained where he stood, watching. He knew it would not be enough. Not truly. If she returned, these walls would mean nothing again. Still, leaving the city vulnerable was not an option he could accept.

Far above, the Empress had already turned away.

With a single, effortless motion, she ascended higher into the air, the winds bending subtly around her as though guided by her will. Lucas followed closely behind, his eyes lingering on the destruction below for just a moment before he tore his gaze away.

Neither of them spoke at first. The distance between them and the city grew quickly, the noise of frantic rebuilding fading into silence.

It was only when they approached Valerion’s encampment that the Empress allowed the faintest hint of satisfaction to surface. Her lips curved ever so slightly, her expression calm, composed, and utterly assured.

"They will comply," she said, more to herself than to Lucas, her voice carrying quiet certainty.

Lucas glanced at her, studying that expression. "You are certain the king will not refuse."

She did not look at him as she replied. "He may hesitate," she said. "He may even resent it. But he will not refuse. Not after what he has just witnessed."

They descended toward the camp, the guards below immediately straightening at their approach. The Empress touched the ground with the same effortless grace she had shown when she arrived, her presence commanding attention without a single word.

Lucas landed beside her, still watching her closely.

There was no arrogance in her expression, no need to boast or revel in what she had done. Only that quiet, undeniable satisfaction of someone who knew that every piece had moved exactly as she intended.

And now, all that remained was for the king to respond.