Erald Dream Realm, Red Moon Valley.
Since the ground was already blanketed by a thick layer of ice and snow, Lumi only needed to maintain its thickness in this area to fend off most invading enemies.
For this reason as well, the snowfall in the Red Moon Valley area wasn't particularly heavy.
Despite this, Red Moon Valley still drew a group of prying enemies.
A whirlwind swept in, carrying snowflakes, and halted in mid-air. Gustalon's form erged from within.
"Hey, how have you been, Lumi!"
"Enemies?"
Gustalon nodded. He gazed at Lumi, who allowed the ice and snow to settle upon her and rge into her body, his curiosity piqued by this elental life form.
Gustalon wondered how Lumi had broken through her bottleneck to ascend to the Legendary level.
Logically, as a fellow elental being, Gustalon should have advanced quickly as well after obtaining Legendary-level resources and territory.
However, that wasn't the case. Gustalon was stuck, and had been for a long ti.
"Your heart is in turmoil!"
Seeing Gustalon didn't answer, Lumi withdrew her gaze from the distant horizon, observed him for a mont, and then uttered those words.
"I may enjoy exploring various landscapes, but that doesn't an my mind is scattered."
Lumi raised her hand. A whirlwind surged forth, sweeping towards the horizon and whipping up a flurry of snow.
Gustalon could sense countless wind elents coalescing around Lumi—elents he knew intimately, his friends.
Gustalon had the distinct impression that Lumi was even closer to the wind elents than he was.
"You still haven't said why you're here."
Lumi retracted her gaze, her expression calm and cool.
"Enemies have appeared in the distance—a flock of monsters with human heads and avian bodies. They're flying towards Red Moon Valley."
Getting down to business, Gustalon gathered his thoughts and relayed the intelligence he had gathered.
With Orion absent, the Legendary-level Lumi was their pillar of strength, the one to make the decisions.
"Harpies? Or flying dark creatures?"
No matter how thick the ice and snow, it could only hinder land-based dark creatures.
As for enemies from the sky, they would have to be t in battle.
"Keep an eye on them. We'll have everyone prepare for battle."
Gustalon nodded, transford back into a gust of wind, and swept off into the distance.
Lumi gazed for a mont in the direction Gustalon had vanished, then turned and walked deeper into Red Moon Valley.
Monts later, a horn sounded. The Skeletal Knights, cave spiders, and cannon fodder troops garrisoned in Red Moon Valley responded, and everyone sprang into action.
...
Titanion Realm, Whitecliff.
"The combat prowess of the Dragonblood Warriors is truly extraordinary."
Orion caught a storage pouch tossed over by the white dragon Frostsire, sothing similar to Bagbird pouches.
Inside were rare items Orion had never seen before, all part of the white dragon Frostsire's collection.
"Giant King, your judgnt is sharp. I concede defeat."
Orion could tell that although the white dragon Frostsire had lost the bet, he was actually in high spirits.
This was because, in the arena, it was the Dragonblood Warriors of the dragon race who had triumphed over the rfolk.
"Giant King, would you be willing to play another round?"
"We each put forward one subordinate. The winner takes triple the supplies."
Orion remained silent, not imdiately accepting the white dragon Frostsire's invitation.
The atmosphere shifted from relaxed to tense. Even Dain, Richard, and Lireesa, seated nearby, said nothing.
"Thundar is willing to fight!"
Orion glanced at Thundar, who had stepped forward with eagerness, and waved him back.
"These supplies are more than enough for . Thank you for the invitation."
Orion declined the white dragon Frostsire's offer, not because he feared battle, nor because he was afraid Thundar would fall in defeat.
Disrupting the white dragon Frostsire's rhythm was precisely what Orion intended to do.
"Hahaha... No matter, it's just a show anyway!"
"My recent invitation extends to you all as well. I'll take on anyone who steps up."
The white dragon Frostsire turned to look at Dain, Richard, and Lireesa. Triple the rare resources—many of which were ores and equipnt—was a very tempting offer for Dain the Dwarf and Richard the Human.
"Your Majesty, are there any restrictions on the contestants?"
It was Grand Duke Richard who spoke. As a human, greed was in his nature, and Richard couldn't resist the temptation.
"None. As long as they are of the sa level. No restrictions on equipnt or mounts."
As an Arch lord at his peak, the white dragon Frostsire understood clearly that any ans one could bring to bear was a manifestation of strength.
Therefore, the arena performances he presided over had few restrictions.
The consequence of this was that the battles were exceedingly violent, filled with blood-pumping excitent, and prone to sudden reversals.
In the end, Dain the Dwarf Prophet, Richard the Human Grand Duke, and the white dragon Frostsire each engaged in a wagered duel.
Orion and Lireesa watched quietly from the sidelines, having no intention of participating in the wagers.
Half a day later, the results of the wagers were in: the white dragon Frostsire had one win and one loss, breaking even.
The human participant, leveraging various items, secured victory.
The more straightforward Dwarves, however, lost their duel and sacrificed a clansman.
The rules of the arena were relentless: to the death. It was brutal.
"Everyone, we shall continue our discussions tomorrow."
With the arena's performances concluded, the white dragon Frostsire bid them farewell and returned directly to his Ancient Castle.
This surprised Orion and Lireesa, who had been anticipating a turn of events.
Both Orion and Lireesa had assud that after the exhibition matches in the Colosseum, the white dragon Frostsire would surely use the wagers as a pretext to discuss the agenda for the Five-Race Conference, perhaps even bringing up the Sea Race directly.
As it turned out, Orion had miscalculated, and so had Lireesa.
"Interesting!"
Orion picked up his goblet and drained the remaining wine.
The white dragon Frostsire's actions and thoughts were unpredictable, unfathomable.
Such a domineering style, an inscrutable way of operating—this Archlord being redefined Orion's understanding.
"Everyone, I shall retire for the night. We can continue our discussions tomorrow if anything arises."
"Giant King Orion, we're headed the sa way. Let's go together!"
Grand Duke Richard's face was alight with joy; he had just won his bet, making a handso profit, and was in excellent spirits.
Orion nodded and led the way out of the Colosseum.
"You were blinded by greed. What the Dwarves should be doing is staying grounded."
Lireesa glanced at Dain, the Dwarf Prophet. He had lost the wager, forfeited materials, and sacrificed a strong clansman.
That is the price of greed!
It wasn't that Lireesa was complaining, but rather that the Dwarves and Blood Elves simply couldn't outmaneuver the formidable Dragons or the cunning Humans.
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