Ember Dragon Novel Chapter 316: Pre-Battle

Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Pre-Battle

Chapter 316: Pre-Battle

On the vast, flat snowy plains, two wide rivers converged, flowing gently and nourishing the fertile black soil.

It was September, and though the weather had turned cold, the rivers had yet to freeze over. Instead, patches of ice floated on the surface.

These were the Inaki and Olyr Rivers. After the Skanians migrated to the Anzeta Wasteland, they built cities along these two rivers, eventually forming the Northern United Kingdom. Thus, the rivers were regarded as the "mother rivers" of Skanian civilization.

A peculiar legend circulated that tens of thousands of years ago, the Winter Goddess Olyr coupled with a massive stone giant nad "Inaki," giving birth to the Anzeta Wasteland—a land perpetually shrouded in cold winds and dotted with rocky mountains. The two rivers were nad after them, and the story endured through the ages.

Of course, this was rely the fanciful imagination of ignorant mortals.

In the southern part of the Okagral Plain, the coalition’s fortifications and bustling soldiers were visible everywhere, including many players.

As the soldiers worked, a familiar voice echoed once more. The elegant, handso visage of a man appeared as a phantom among the ranks.

"In truth, you have no reason to fight for them, to sacrifice your lives for their sake."

"And as the King, as Cassius, the Ember King..."

The voice resonated, and the soldiers instinctively put down their tasks, drawn to the speech. The phantom and its voice seed to possess a certain magical allure.

"Oh my, he’s so handso..."

"I’m going to defect."

"So this is Cassius’ human form? I’m in love. This face is a masterpiece—the developers really know their stuff."

"Sorry, Duke Leo, you’re a good man, but His Majesty Cassius is just irresistible."

"I’ve decided. I’m surrendering later!"

"Ahhh, I’m already Cassius’ prisoner."

"The kingdom’s players have it way too good."

Female players, and even so male players, openly expressed their admiration, barely bothering to conceal their feelings.

Hearing such blasphemous remarks, Count Trelishka’s lips twitched slightly. But he was used to treating the words of these "Starfallers" as re drivel.

When the players arrived en masse, the Bosk Duchy, desperate for strength, had taken note of these "unexpected variables." Duke Leo began recruiting these undying "Starfallers," and now over 5,000 of them were integrated into the coalition forces.

Even with the kingdom’s propaganda, nearly half the players had not chosen Northwind Fortress as their starting point.

Trelishka strode forward and drove his sword through the magical crystal, shattering the bewitching phantom. He had done this countless tis before; those wyverns frequently dropped such devices.

"Do not listen to the dragon’s lies!"

"Anyone caught hoarding these crystals will be executed!"

Trelishka stomped on the fragnts and declared loudly.

"No! My dear Cassius!"

"Ugh, no more eye candy."

"Happy monts are always so brief."

"This NPC is so annoying. Can’t he just go away?"

"Next ti we find one of these goodies, let’s grab it and sneak it back to the base to watch in secret. Heh heh."

Disappointed voices rose from the players, utterly disregarding Trelishka’s presence.

Veins bulged on Trelishka’s forehead as he fought the urge to execute the few offending Starfallers.

"Forget these insolent fools."

"I must report to the Duke and discuss counterasures."

He thought grimly.

A frantic courier arrived from the frontlines, bringing grim news. The eastern and western defenses had collapsed completely, and Loren’s coalition had been annihilated. The situation was dire; they were the North’s last hope.

Fortunately, their current allies were more reliable than ever.

In the command tent, Duke Leo’s deep, somber voice rang out.

"What?"

"The Holy Fadlan Empire has erupted in a massive rebellion? And Count Fabric has disappeared?"

"My lord... it appears so."

"Their spellcasters opened a portal, likely retreating to Fadlan territory. They won’t return anyti soon."

"Damn it! How could this happen?"

Duke Leo slamd the table in frustration but was powerless to change the situation.

Count Fabric was a divine-born noble of legendary strength. Combined with the legion he brought from Fadlan, his forces were crucial to the "Anti-Red Dragon Alliance."

In Leo’s eyes, their importance exceeded that of all the Northern duchies combined.

Yet with this rebellion, the count and his legion vanished without warning, leaving the coalition severely weakened.

Duke Leo stared intently at the parchnt map on the table, clenching his fists as he muttered:

"Fortunately... we still have the Silver Dragon elder and Asmo from Mount Celestia."

"The Battle of Straffburg... that damned red dragon will undoubtedly appear."

"If we can slay him, there’s still hope."

"The North’s thousand-year legacy can be preserved."

Once the Duke had cald himself, Count Trelishka spoke up: "Your Grace, I have intelligence to report."

"Enter."

Duke Leo looked at him with weary eyes and asked:

"Speak. What is the situation at the frontlines?"

Trelishka hesitated, observing the Duke’s expression before softly answering:

"The situation is dire."

Surprisingly, Duke Leo did not show anger, only continued:

"How dire?"

"Loren’s ’First Line’ coalition has been completely annihilated. The Carter Duchy’s and Fano Duchy’s flanks have both collapsed. This is all the intelligence we have."

The Duke seed unsurprised, rely nodding. He showed no grief over his son’s death.

To him, offspring were expendable.

Such was Leo Bosk: a ruler who had led the Bosk Duchy to revival, a hero who fought against monstrous invasions, and a pure political being. None of this was contradictory.

"A bunch of useless fools."

"But at least they served their purpose, delaying the Ember Kingdom’s forces. Their sacrifice was worthwhile."

Leo gazed down at the map, drawing his longsword to point at the Okagral Plain at the center.

"Next, the fate of the Northern United Kingdom and all of Anzeta will be decided by the coming battle."

"You will be victorious..."

"As you always have been."

Trelishka stood beside him, murmuring in agreent.

But Duke Leo shook his head and said, "Victory in this war may not be decided by us, but by those greater beings."

He lifted the tent flap and gazed at the overcast sky, where a latent power seed to be gathering...