The Witch Hunter System

Matriarch Laelana listened to Emperor Varan's threat before sneering with contempt once again.

"Since we have already reached this point, why speak so much nonsense, Your Imperial Majesty? I don't believe you've brought all these troops to merely 'search' our land!" Matriarch Laelana replied with ridicule.

Once activated, a grand magic barrier protected the entire Delarosa Household from outside threats. No one could enter or leave the dome-shaped transparent barrier unless it were deactivated or destroyed.

However, there were some exceptions – if the gates were opened, it was tantamount to creating a hole in the barrier, giving Emperor Varan's troops the chance to storm inside.

Matriarch Laelana was not so foolish.

"If you weren't feeling guilty, why would you even be afraid of a little search? Since you defied my orders, be prepared to face death. You and everyone with you will have to die for resisting imperial orders," Emperor Varan indifferently stated.

"Bring forward the siege weapons and fire at will! I want this bubble shattered!"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty! Do it, men! Blast this barrier open for His Majesty!"

Following Emperor Varan's orders, the imperial soldiers quickly pushed large magitech cannons forward under the lead of their superiors.

"Heh," Matriarch Laelana snickered coldly before boasting, "Do you think my barrier is something you can easily break? I'm not trying to shatter your hopes, but even a witch at the Transcendent Rank won't be able to break this barrier easily. You are wasting your time—!"

Boom, boom, boom!

The Delarosa's magic barrier faced several rounds of testing shots from Emperor Varan's magitech cannons, and the deafening impacts seemingly shook both the ground and air.

Matriarch Laelana's proud dome-shaped barrier quickly suffered numerous cracks across its surface. Still, it also repaired itself just as quickly.

Even so, the firepower demonstrated by Emperor Varan's magitech cannons was enough to wipe the smugness off Matriarch Laelana's face.

"Rank 5 Magitech Cannons!? Impossible! The Great Ratholos Empire had never openly traded with the Holy Knight Empire or Freedom Federation! When and where in Pangea did you find such powerful anti-magic siege weapons?!" Matriarch Laelana barked with a nasty expression.

"Heh, I don't need to explain anything to you," Emperor Varan replied uncooperatively before admitting, "Still, I must acknowledge your bubble is quite sturdy. I am unwilling to expend so much resources to shatter it entirely."

"Gather the siege weapons here and focus your fire on a single point! I want these gates blown open!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is wise!" the commander-

ranked imperial soldiers complied and praised, wiping their cold sweats.

Each cannon shell easily wasted away tens of thousands of mana stones. Even if the empire was unbelievably wealthy, they couldn't waste their precious resources like this.

After all, they still needed to attack the Sacred Tirtha, and god knows if that place also had such a powerful barrier set up.

Meanwhile, Matriarch Laelana's expression turned grave when she heard Emperor Varan's orders outside. She knew the magic barrier wouldn't last long under the concentrated barrage of Rank 5 Magitech Cannons.

So long as the magic barrier was compromised for a split second, the next cannon shell would easily blast away their front gates and leave a permanent gap in the magic barrier!

But at the same time, Matriarch Laelana understood where Emperor Varan got his Rank 5 Magitech Cannons.

"I see," Matriarch Laelana scrutinized Emperor Varan from the top of the wall and said with enlightenment, "These Rank 5 Magitech Cannons were secretly developed under your will!"

"Furthermore, it shouldn't have been done recently! Even the wise would take at least a hundred years to develop these on their own! It seems you have been wary of us since long ago!"

"Oh?" Emperor Varan smiled and said, "As expected of Matriarch Laelana, you've figured it out so quickly. That's right! These Magitech Cannons were developed to guard against your kind!"

"I knew allowing witches to develop themselves was a double-

edged sword, but alas, it was my father's decision that permitted your growth! I could only prepare for the worst while making use of your medicines to develop the country."

"Even when I realized the threat posed by your growing influence, I've only ever suspected the Delarosas and the Sacred Tirtha were only trying to create a matriarchal society like the witch kingdoms."

"Who knew you all were actually aligned with the demons of Gehenna?" Emperor Varan said self-mockingly.

"You could say we both played our parts in developing a strong nation. However, we were never united; we were only using each other. And now, it is time for it to end," Matriarch Laelana coolly stated.

"We will lead the new world under the guidance of our master, while you, who condemn and resist the grace of the Great Devils, will fall without understanding anything."

"Prepare to face the enemy!" Matriarch Laelana barked as she retreated from the wall.

Throughout the conversation between the two leaders, Emperor Varan's Rank 5 Magitech Cannons continued their barrage on the barrier, whittling away its defense with each shot.

Finally, with the previous shot exposing the vulnerable front gates, the following cannon shell tore it apart, sending shattered stones and metal fragments flying everywhere.

The rune-engraved sea monster bones hidden within the stone wall were also destroyed, causing a section of the grand circuit that shaped the magical dome to disappear.

"The magic barrier has been breached! Apprehend all these fools for the suspicion of treason and sins against humanity! Kill anyone who resists!" Emperor Varan roared, drawing his silver sword, radiating terrifying sharpness.

"Charge! Do not give these Delarosas a chance to reform their ranks!" the commander-ranked imperial soldiers thundered as they led the assault.

Meanwhile, Matriarch Laelana stood behind rows of Delarosan Shamans and Witch Doctors, each of them equipped with numerous small totems made from high-quality beast and sea monster materials.

Everyone was decorated from top to bottom in totem-like accessories.

"Go! Show these barbarians the true might of our craft!" Matriarch Laelana commanded with a wave of hand.

"Kill!"

The Delarosan Shamans and Witch Doctors cried with frenzied desperation as they engaged in their first battle of life and death.

As the imperial soldiers poured into the Delarosa's territory, a group of Shamans with skull necklaces at the front stepped forward, screeching in an unknown yet seemingly ancient language.

"Alik, zhe, eruk, kui, fahli-fah!"

In that instant, the empty eye sockets on their skull necklaces lit up with powerful green light that seemingly resonated with nature as they formed sturdy light barriers.

The imperial soldiers thought they could steamroll over these weak-looking men and women with their powerful bodies. However, the moment they slammed into the newly erected barriers, they were actually repelled!

"What!" Countless imperials exclaimed.

Numerous pairs of eyes from Emperor Varan's side widened in shock and disbelief as they witnessed the might of Delarosan Shamans' totem power. It was the first time they had seen such strange magical powers, let alone fight against them and fail.

Matriarch Laelana coldly smiled as she found their reaction natural.

After all, the Shamans and Witch Doctors have only ever used the power of their totems to heal wounds and treat illnesses and curses.

Now, they will witness the true terror of their totem power!