Kassandra and Detra joined Archer, their boots sinking into the muddy ground thanks to the rainstorm that had just ended. The shark beauty's eyes sparkled with admiration. ''That was incredible,'' she said, her earlier frustration replaced by awe.
The kraken beauty smirked, nudging his shoulder. ''Show-off. But you've helped them now."
She gestured to the soldiers, so of whom saluted from their posts.
Archer grinned faintly, his chest heaving from the exertion. "Let's get back inside before we're all soaked through," he said, leading the way toward the tower. As they walked, another peal of thunder rumbled, but the fortress stood firm, its walls glowing faintly with his protective magic. Inside, the fire still blazed warmly, and the trio settled once more.
Just then, howling echoed across the land, setting off alarms all over the wall. He jumped up and made his way toward the balcony, stepped outside, only to see a horde of monsters heading in their direction. Cannons roared to life as mana shells sliced through the sky and hit the new threat.
Explosions rocked the ground, sending creatures flying just as the Draconian Air Force passed over them. Giant blimps dropped barrals full of volatile mana that detonated on impact, destroying the stronger monsters. When Kassandra saw the fleet of airships, her eyes widened in shock.
''Are these the things you and Dellah created?'' she asked.
Archer nodded. ''Yes. We thought they would give us the advantage, but the Alliance loves to target them,'' he revealed.
As he stood atop the command deck, his arm extended toward the horizon, an ominous glow flickered across the distant hills, casting an eerie light over the landscape. The enemy had zeroed in on his fleet of airships, their arcane cannons charging. Suddenly, brilliant beams of mana erupted into the night sky, streaking toward the crafts.
The airships, gleaming under the moonlight, reacted with discipline, their formations splintering as each vessel turned in a different direction to dodge the incoming onslaught. The pilot's maneuvers were a proof of their skill and training, weaving through the air to confuse the enemy.
Then, seizing the mont, the airships regrouped and descended in a group strike, unleashing a barrage of bombs that rained down upon the enemy's fortified positions, lighting up the hills in a cascade of fire and thunder. Archer watched with wide eyes as he witnessed the air force entering the war.
While doing this, Aisha's voice echoed in his mind, causing him to walk inside, thanks to the wind getting worse. 'My love. The Alliance wants a eting, the Emperor Anatoly and Pope Jeremiah want to speak, without any fighting.'
This caught his attention as he replied. 'When?'
'They want it in a few days on the southern coast of Verdantia,' she revealed. 'If you return now, the 1st and 2nd fleets will be escorting the royal yacht.'
'I'll be there in a few hours,' Archer said. 'Just spending ti with Kass and Dem.'
'Have fun, handso,' her cheerful reply made him smile.
''Who just sent you a ssage?'' Detra comnted from the side.
Archer turned to the beautiful shark princess and inford her of the news. ''The enemy wants to et, I'm guessing to try to pause the war so they can regroup their armies for a new attack.''
''Would you accept peace?'' Kassandra inquired, her black eyes full of concern.
''Most likely, there's no point in continuing to conquer the world at this point,'' he said, pulling out so ale and taking a sip. ''If we take out ti and wait for them to break the ceasefire, it will make them look bad to their people, who are also witnessing the other side of the wall living in luxury.''
''That you provide,'' Detra added, giggling.
''Well, the Chuch of Light and the many lost realms did,'' Archer retorted.
With a steady hand, he gently pressed a finger against the forehead of the shark woman, Detra, her sleek, iridescent skin cool to the touch. A surge of arcane energy pulsed from his fingertip, transmitting a vivid vision directly into her mind: his vast horde of treasures, glittering like a sea of stars beneath the sprawling treehouse in the heart of the Domain.
Piles of gold coins, jewels, and ancient relics shimred in the mana light. Detra's luminous yellow eyes widened, her pupils dilating in a mixture of shock and awe as the scene unfolded within her mind. The vision grew, revealing the hoard expanding until it could blanket the entire continent of Pluoria in a layer of coin.
When the image faded, he withdrew his hand and stood in silence, his gaze fixed on her, awaiting her response to the overwhelming display of wealth. Detra giggled. ''Well, no wonder you invest so much into Draconian, there's so much.''
She glanced at Kassandra. ''Have you seen it, Kass?''
The Kraken shook her head just as Archer touched her forehead, revealing the sa scene Detra saw. By the ti he was done, the dark-haired woman was grinning ear to ear as she spoke. ''That's why you give us so much.''
''That's not all, I have so much in my Item Box, I may have to empty it,'' he muttered.
''Arch, can you create gold?'' Kassandra questioned.
''Huh? Yeah, maybe, I've never tried,'' he answered.
''Why don't we go back to Draconia and create a massive gold vein near Dragongheart City, the shark woman suggested. ''That way, we can give the people around it a second job while the empire gains more wealth.''
''Wouldn't that flood the market?'' Kassandra said. ''Maybe if we traded with the rest of the world, then it wouldn't be so bad.''
As the Kraken woman spoke, her voice a low hum, her black eyes suddenly widened, glinting with a mix of surprise and intrigue. She turned to the Demon Shark, whose sharp, toothy grin stretched wide across her face, radiating a mischievous confidence.
''That's the plan,'' Detra declared with satisfaction. ''If peace dawns on Thrylos and the Alliance seeks to rebuild, they'll co crawling to trade. That's when we unload Draconia's stockpiles, flood the markets beyond the empire with our surplus, and cent our influence.''
Archer had been listening intently, his mind piecing together their words. But when the shark princess laid out the strategy so plainly, a jolt of realization hit him like a thunderbolt. His eyes widened, and his breath caught as the gravity of her plan sank in. The enemy, battered and broken, would have no choice but to rebuild their realms.
And to do so, they would need resources, resources that only Draconia, the mightiest power on Thrylos, could provide in abundance. By opening trade routes, the empire could not only profit imnsely but also weave its influence deep into the fabric of the recovering nations, binding them to it, thanks to needing its resources to survive.
His mind raced, marveling at the cunning of the strategy and the opportunity it presented to solidify their dominance across the continent. He shook his head and finally interrupted their debate. ''You two will be coming with , alongside Aisha, and Elara, who will have command over the Imperial Guards.''
When the duo heard this, their faces lit up as Kassandra asked, eyes glowing with excitent. ''Can we swim in the ocean?''
Archer was confused as he responded. ''Why are you asking that? Of course you can, I'm not bothered.''
They got even more excited, causing Detra to give him a sudden cuddle. ''Thank you for not leaving us out. Can we ask Lucrezia? She's been bred guarding the island.''
Without answering, Archer summoned the Death Witch, who appeared with a shocked yelp. She turned to face them, and a big smile stretched across her pretty face. ''Husband! Next ti, tell when you summon like that, it scared .''
''Sorry, Luce,'' he apologized and greeted the blonde by cuddling her. ''It's good to see you, gorgeous. I've missed you loads.''
Lucrezia's lips curved into a bright smile, her red eyes sparkling with warmth as she nestled closer, pressing her face gently into the crook of his neck, her breath a whisper against his skin. With a thought, he teleported them back to the holand. They reappeared just outside the bustling city of Southfire in Draconia, the air alive with the hum of activity.
The city, once reduced to a death zone, now stood gloriously reborn, its towering spires and sturdy walls gleaming under the setting sun. Archer was surprised at the sudden coback. Traders and people passed through the large gates, guarded by the Hoguards that patrolled the ramparts above.
When the four of them approached the entrance, the people and soldiers were shocked before quickly kneeling. A commander appeared with a worried expression, but Archer waved him away. ''You aren't in trouble, we're here to stay in your best hotel or inn while waiting for the Imperial Guard and Empress Aisha.''
The older man's eyes widened as he replied. ''Co this way, we just got word of the eting and hope the war can co to a standstill. With the Long Winter here, it would be horrible to fight during a snowstorm.''
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