"Alright, enough of your squabbling. Whether Julius becomes prince or not, you'll find out tonight," Elijah said impatiently, waving his hand. He ordered his men, "Bring these rebels in and keep a close eye on them!""Yes, sir!" A squad of guards promptly approached, tightly binding Atticus and Ignatius."Elijah! We're all sovereigns here. It's disrespectful to treat us like this in public," Atticus protested."Disrespectful?" Elijah sneered. "Both of you are now prisoners. What respect are you talking about?""Elijah! The outcome is still uncertain. Have you considered the consequences if Grand General Rhys ascends the throne, and you've treated us like this?" Atticus frowned."He's right! You're in power now, and that might not last forever. It's wise to leave room for future interactions. Don't go too far!" Ignatius chimed in."Whether you two will live through tonight is questionable. Don't dare to rant in front of me. Gag them! I don't want to hear any more noise," Elijah
After the command was issued, Draven's soldiers dropped their weapons. "And you! Tell your men to drop their weapons!" Eloise turned her attention to Mortimer, her blade now pressed against his throat. "Drop your weapons!" Faced with her fierce gaze, Mortimer shouted for his men to surrender.The metallic clatter of weapons hitting the ground echoed as Mortimer's soldiers followed suit. Approximately 60% of the battlefield had yielded. Meanwhile, the remaining 40%, though still armed, displayed a palpable sense of unease and confusion. In warfare, diminished morale posed the greatest risk. Upon witnessing their comrades surrendering, it left them hesitant to initiate an attack. Furthermore, the absence of their lord added a critical dimension to the situation. With tens of thousands of soldiers left without a leader, the lack of command left them uncertain about their next course of action."Soldiers, your lord has abandoned you. Will you still fight for him?" Eloise's powe
The echo of "Those who surrender will be spared" lingered in the airspace above the castle, casting a shadow over the panic-stricken rebels who now seemed utterly devoid of any fighting spirit.A symphony of clattering ensued as an increasing number of soldiers dropped their weapons. Even the most tenacious were swiftly subdued, rendering the once defiant castle defenses feeble.The capture of the four sovereigns, along with the remaining rebels scattering for their lives, left the besieged forces with limited options. Either surrender or face imminent demise. In the face of an unidentified adversary, they were unwilling to lay down their lives in a futile struggle."I will honor the promise I just made. Anyone who willingly surrenders will be pardoned," Eloise assured. Her tone was now gentler, devoid of the earlier imposing aura.The surrendered soldiers were both relieved and embarrassed. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy!" Many military officers humbly kneeled on
Now, Draven and Mortimer's only hope rested on Julius leading the Black Dragon Army to their aid."Though you two may not be the masterminds, you are accomplices. Capital punishment is avoidable, but you won't escape judgment," Eloise declared coldly. She went on, "Take them away and guard them closely. No one should approach without my orders.""Understood!" Several guards approached, forcefully taking the bounded Draven and Mortimer away."General Steele, handle the surrendering forces. Too many lives have been lost today, and I don't want to see more casualties," she instructed, looking at Jaxon."Understood!" Jaxon nodded solemnly."Your Highness, your compassion is admirable!" Four figures emerged from the army, creating a path as they walked. They were the Southern Four Sovereigns—Elijah, Lincon, Tyrus, and Wyatt."We arrived late to the rescue. Apologies for startling you, Your Highness," Lincon humbly greeted."Sir Blaze, no need for apologies. Without your timely
"What? Kill to cover it up?" Wyatt's face instantly darkened. He added, "You're not joking, are you? The Northern Four Sovereigns are all Julius' people. How could he possibly indiscriminately slaughter them?""Those who achieve great things must be ruthless. For someone like Julius, with extensive military experience, sacrificing some soldiers is nothing," Elijah said calmly. He went on, "Of course, this is the ultimate plan. Suppose the Northern Four Sovereigns successfully seize power and retrieve the Marshal's military insignia. In that case, he won't need to take such risks. He can ascend directly."He concluded, "However, if the Northern Four Sovereigns fail, for the sake of his grand ambition, I believe Julius will resort to any means necessary."The more ambitious someone was, the more unconventional their actions could become. Previously, under Rufus' rule, Julius concealed his true intentions, patiently biding his time. Now, with Rufus gone, Julius was free from co
"While the idea has merit, there's a drawback," Elijah said. He went on, "For a new prince to ascend, we need the king's approval and officials' testimony. Without it, convincing people is challenging."He added, "Also, obtaining the king's consent and officials' testimony would take at least three days. In our current situation, we simply can't afford to wait that long.""Really? Is it that complicated for a new prince to ascend?" Wyatt frowned. He added, "Everyone knows Austin is Prince Rufus' son. It should be a natural choice for him to become the next Prince of West Lucozia.""Yeah! They say desperate times call for desperate measures," Tyrus chimed in."Do you two think ascending the throne is like choosing a mountain king? Just planting a flag, having a few drinks, and saying some bold words will get the job done? Don't be ridiculous!" Elijah said, somewhat exasperated. He went on, "The position of Prince of West Lucozia is not just about the people of West Lucozia. It
Jaxon's announcement immediately captured the attention of everyone present. Eloise hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something.After all, he was the captain of the royal guards and someone she trusted. Hence, she didn't want to see him risking his life in this situation. However, given the circumstances, there didn't seem to be a more suitable candidate."General Steele's strength is unquestionable, and his loyalty is unwavering. There's indeed a chance of successfully assassinating Julius with him." Wyatt nodded. As the captain of the royal guards, Jaxon's strength was beyond doubt, and his loyalty was unwavering."General Steele, I don't mean to underestimate you, but relying solely on you might not be enough," Elijah suddenly said."Wait! What about that legendary Executioner?" Tyrus asked suddenly. He added, "The name Executioner is famous far and wide. In terms of strength, he should be no less than General Steele, right?""No, Sir Albe
"No way! This is too risky!"Upon witnessing Dustin's inclination for a dangerous undertaking, Austin swiftly stepped in to stop his brother. Austin acknowledged Dustin's formidable strength, but Julius had gathered a considerable number of skilled individuals. Facing multiple challenges or opponents was always challenging. If the assassination failed, Dustin could find himself surrounded by those formidable adversaries. As the prospective Prince of West Lucozia, Austin couldn't permit such a hazardous venture."Your Highness, sometimes risks must be taken. In crucial moments like this, sacrifices are inevitable," Tyrus remarked casually. "Besides, he's just a guard. Why are you so uptight about it?" "I said it's not happening!" Austin almost shouted.A formidable wave of intimidation surged, prompting Tyrus to step back in shock. It wasn't just Tyrus. Everyone looked at each other and was baffled. No one anticipated such a strong reaction from Austin.Seemingly aware that
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
Austin's expression also turned serious as he saw the doubt in Dustin's eyes. He knew Dustin wouldn't worry over nothing.There were many strange beings in Streuqua, including vampires, werewolves, and the like. These supernatural species were notoriously hard to kill. Even after being decapitated, they weren't necessarily dead.Austin wasn't sure if Poseidon had that kind of ability. After all, the Hall of Gods and its so-called royal gods were still a mystery to most people in West Lucozia.To play it safe, they needed to recover Poisedon's head for their own peace of mind.Out on the water, Jaxon led a team of soldiers and ship crews to comb the sea in search of Poisedon's severed head.At the docks, all eyes turned to Warrick, Mulder, and the others. They had been tied up and were now being dragged before Dustin and Austin one by one.Warrick looked pale, but there was a certain defiance in his eyes. He knew his fate was sealed. After Dustin killed Poseidon, Warrick knew his