"Who goes there?"
"May blood and glory imbue your soul, my kinsman."
Hearing those words, the Blood Warrior immediately relaxed. He then looked up to see the squad led by Faide emerging from the shadows.
"I am Faide, one of the captains chosen by Lord Holuf. Take me to your commander."
"My apologies, but I am currently on duty and must remain at my post. I cannot escort you personally. You will have to proceed on your own; Lord Kazim is currently in the cave just behind us."
"Understood. May blood and glory imbue your soul."
"May blood and glory imbue your soul."
Faide quickly led his men into the cave where Kazim was stationed.
"Lord Kazim."
"Ah, Faide."
The man addressed as Kazim was a knight clad in silver armor adorned with crimson patterns. His gear bore a striking resemblance to the style of House Hoslow, differing only in the specific heraldry and the design of the helm. Kazim wore a standard Western-style closed knight's helm topped with a vibrant red plume.
Kazim and his group were part of the second wave sent to Caelid, arriving after the initial detachment as reinforcements. However, Kazim was the most powerful among them and a veteran of several conflicts, which was why he had been appointed commander of this Caelid expedition.
In terms of raw strength, he might have been slightly inferior to the likes of Holuf, but the gap was narrow. He was also one of those who had received the blessing of Mohg.
"May I ask, Lord Kazim, what is our next objective?"
"Hmm... a fortress to our west known as Fort Gael. I'm not entirely sure where the name comes from... but that is irrelevant. Our goal is to seize that fortress and establish it as our first base of operations."
"I see. Was this a decision made by the Lord of Blood himself?"
"Indeed. Our Lord requires us to take this fort so we can secure the nearby tunnel. The ore extracted from within will serve as the foundation for the Dynasty's growth."
"Understood."
Faide nodded. He had simply wanted to confirm whether this was the Sovereign's command or a decision made by someone else—such as Kazim himself.
Mohg's choice of Fort Gael as the first foothold was a calculated move. His primary goal was to establish a connection with the Storm Dynasty forces to the north. This location was very close to their sphere of influence, making it ideal for diplomatic overtures. Furthermore, Mohg believed that once the Storm King realized he had chosen this site, the King would not take hostile action.
Mohg was an overt, potential ally with significant strength. Rather than leaving the area to the volatile Caelid natives or spending a heavy price in blood for the Storm Dynasty to take it themselves, it was better to let the Mohgwyn Dynasty hold the line.
However, this wasn't Mohg's ideal endgame for a Caelid base, as it was ultimately too close to Limgrave. Once the Storm Dynasty fell, the Golden Order's expeditionary force would eventually occupy Limgrave entirely.
Yet, even then, they would have a window of opportunity. By that time, his "dear old dad" and the heroes under him who had not yet become Tarnished would be banished from the Lands Between. Although the recently stabilized Lands Between wouldn't descend into immediate chaos, enough problems would arise to ensure they lacked the energy to manage the complex situation in Caelid—at least until Radagon returned to the Golden Order to take the reins.
Regardless of the circumstances, this position would eventually be the first to face the Golden Order's front lines. Consequently, Mohg did not plan for long-term development here. His intention was merely to strip the minerals from the tunnel and later establish a second base near Sellia, Town of Sorcery. He even planned to select a site near the Dragon Communion ruins, though that base would not be suitable for Lansseax to appear in her true form.
"When do we move?"
"We wait until the other squads are in position. For now, go and rest. You've had a long journey; it's best to get yourselves back into peak condition."
"Are the other squads not here yet?" Faide asked, a look of confusion crossing his face.
"No. A few squads had business to attend to before coming here. They needed to establish contact with our colleagues in Sellia."
"Understood."
Faide nodded and took his leave. Since there was nothing immediately required of him, he decided to follow orders and rest for a while.
"My King, a letter has arrived from Prince Godwyn."
"Oh?"
Godfrey turned his head to look at Ordovis. At that moment, Godfrey was bare-chested, exposing a massive scar that spanned nearly his entire torso. The dark red scabs and seeping blood indicated that the wound was quite fresh.
"Give it to me."
Godfrey reached out with a hand as large as a palm leaf. To be honest, he was curious about what his son had to say to him—especially since Godwyn knew exactly what kind of war Godfrey was currently fighting. To send this Cipher Letter via the clerics, consuming a significant amount of holy power, meant it was no trivial matter.
Ordovis handed over the letter and immediately retreated from the tent. As the King's personal guard, he knew what should be heard and what should be ignored. Knowing too much was often the most dangerous position of all.
Once alone, Godfrey broke the seal on the Cipher Letter and began to read in silence. As he processed the contents, his expression didn't change much, but his grip on the parchment tightened for a brief second. The force was so great it produced a sharp, momentary crack in the air.
"Mohg... sigh..."
Godfrey let out a long sigh and then, with a flick of his hand, reduced the letter to fragments.
He felt a measure of pity and helplessness regarding his youngest son's plight. Compared to his second son, he actually admired this third son who pursued power so relentlessly. If one were to ask if he loathed this son now... the answer was no. On the contrary, he felt a sense of pride and interest.
Since the boy had chosen his own path and sought out his own strength, it meant he possessed the "measure of a King."
What Godfrey was curious about now was just how great that measure truly was, and whether the power his son wielded made him worthy of the title. In other words, he wanted to fight Mohg. If Godfrey won, he would find a way to bring his son back and educate him properly. Unless the boy was truly beyond redemption, Godfrey would not deal a killing blow.
But if they fought to a draw... then Godfrey would give his absolute all to slay him. That was the highest form of respect for a fellow King, even if that King was his own son!
And if he were to lose... then his third son possessed power and a destiny that surpassed his own—a destiny that could even eclipse his eldest son, whether by inheriting the Dynasty or carving out a new one!
"My King."
Ordovis showed no curiosity toward the sounds coming from the tent, standing quietly to the side as he waited for Godfrey's instructions. Godfrey had already donned his armor and gripped his double-headed greataxe. Wisps of white steam rose from his body—a sign that his injuries were rapidly healing.
"Let us go. We continue the conquest. They are merely putting up a final, futile resistance. This last territory—let us take it in one fell swoop!"
Godfrey looked up toward the mountain that pierced the clouds and the massive iron cauldron at its peak.
A sudden gale blew through, and the snow that had obscured their vision finally cleared, revealing the vast army surrounding Godfrey. There were heroes from all lands, the elite Leyndell Knights and Tree Sentinels of the Golden Order, the Black Knights left behind by Messmer, the Crucible Knights, the Zamorians, the clerical corps, and more.
All of them stood in perfect formation, awaiting Godfrey's command.
As Godfrey raised his battle-axe toward the mountain peak, the iron tide of the Golden Order surged forward, charging toward the domain of the Fire Giant.
"My King, only the final stretch of the Mountaintops remains, and it is the most treacherous."
"Marika..."
Godfrey turned his golden eyes toward Marika as she approached his side.
"Let me grant you my blessing and fight by your side. In this battle, we may face their god directly—the Fell God of Fire."
"Very well. Come."
Godfrey nodded and opened his arms.
Marika slowly closed her eyes. In the next heartbeat, a dense golden light flowed into Godfrey's body. For a moment, it looked as if Godfrey were wreathed in pale gold flames, his eyes shimmering with brilliant radiance.
After absorbing the power, Godfrey exhaled a long breath, venting a golden mist.
"Let us go and meet this Fell God. The blood in my veins is already beginning to boil!"
Clink!
"A toast to the Ancient Dragons and the Golden Order turning foes into friends!"
"Cheers!"
Meanwhile, within the capital of Leyndell, the people were still celebrating the end of the Dragon War and the subsequent alliance. Though some time had passed since the event, it didn't stop the citizens from continuing the festivities. The pressure they were under was immense, and they desperately needed an outlet.
After all, they were still engaged in two other major wars: the War of the Giants and the Liurnia Campaign—especially considering the recent setbacks in the latter. A victory significant enough to bring joy was vital for morale.
The Ancient Dragon Priests in the capital naturally didn't refuse the invitation; it was a perfect opportunity to spread the faith of the Ancient Dragons. There were already quite a few converts within the city, though most were Leyndell Knights; the common folk were less enthusiastic.
However, thanks to the image projected by the priests, much of the previous animosity had faded. This was especially true after Godwyn and Fortissax worked together to modify the Dragon Cult incantations, transforming the red dragonbolt into golden lightning. While some Ancient Dragons were displeased, most expressed understanding. Godwyn hadn't forbidden the teaching of traditional incantations; he simply insisted that the slightly weaker, modified versions be taught first.
With the strongest representatives of both Godwyn and Fortissax's factions backing the move, no one was foolish enough to oppose it.
"Radagon has stopped asking for reinforcements? What is he thinking?"
Capess Haug frowned, looking toward Gippel Laru in confusion.
"Who knows what's going on in his head? Besides, the Daen family is incredibly tight-lipped. They haven't said a word."
Gippel shook his head, squinting as he took a sip of red wine.
"Daen..."
Capess muttered the name. He had a nagging feeling that the Daen family was plotting something they weren't privy to, but since he didn't know the specifics, he couldn't formulate a plan.
As for why Radagon had stopped asking for help—he had requested reinforcements from the capital once before, which was when he informed them of the defeat against Caria and the existence of the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
After reviewing the situation in the capital, Godwyn had agreed to send some troops to support Radagon, even dispatching one of his twelve Golden Greatshield Knights. One must remember that there were only twelve such knights, each a paragon among heroes. This alone proved how much Godwyn valued Radagon's campaign.
However, the actual number of troops sent wasn't high. Leyndell's current military strength wasn't exactly overflowing, and sending more would compromise the city's patrols and defenses. Therefore, if Radagon wanted more boots on the ground, he had to rely on the private armies held by the nobility.
This was exactly what puzzled Capess and Gippel. Radagon had previously hounded them for support multiple times, and now that he had suddenly ceased, they were left scratching their heads.
The primary reason was that Radagon no longer wanted to deal with these troublesome nobles. He knew he would eventually have to reconcile with Caria anyway. Since those two families were unwilling to provide more support, he decided to simply hasten the arrival of that day.
Regardless, under Caria's tacit approval, many Churches of Marika had already been established within the Lakes. Now, only the Carian territories and the vicinity of the Academy remained. He could understand why the Carians wouldn't allow a Church of Marika on their doorstep, but the Academy was different; one had to be built there.
Thus, he estimated that once the Academy issue was resolved, relations with Caria would gradually thaw. This would lead to a series of rituals, atonement, reflection, the construction of Proselytization Towers, and finally, a marriage alliance.
Under Mohg's influence, that day was set to arrive much sooner than originally intended.
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