With the montum on their side, the Ratn swept through the various settlents of the Lizardn with one goal and one goal only.
Total annihilation.
The Lizardn fought bravely. However, disadvantaged by the current state of the swamp, they were unable to implent their original plan, as those who dared to swim in the water would imdiately feel as if their throats were burning.
They might be able to hold their breaths for a long period of ti, but the corrupted waters carrying fast-acting pestilence and diseases could seep through their scales.
This weakened the Lizardn’s tough bodies, preventing them from performing at their peak potential.
The Lizardn resisted with everything they had, but the march of the Ratn was unstoppable.
Step by painful ter, they were slowly being pushed back, leaving only the dead and dying behind.
The Ratn who died in battle only strengthened the pestilence that was spreading through the water, for their very blood carried these diseases.
They were walking and breathing biological weapons, so it didn’t matter if they killed their opponents with their weapons or with their dead bodies.
They would win either way, sealing the fate of anyone who opposed them.
All the Lizardn fought bravely. Unfortunately, bravery alone was not enough to overco their current situation.
In the end, a mass evacuation was initiated all across the Slarka Swamp as the proud Lizardn fled from the invading Ratn, whose shrill cries reverberated across the land.
This battle lasted for seven days and seven nights. By the end of it, the entire Lizardn Race abandoned the Slarka Swamp because they no longer had any future living in it.
News of the battle between the Lizardn and the Ratn spread like wildfire.
The Human Kingdoms that bordered the Slarka Swamp imdiately went on high alert as they hastened to raise their defenses against a possible Ratn invasion.
The Thornguard Kingdom, the Skogarholm Kingdom, and the Wallenbirg Kingdom had dispatched their emissaries to the Ratn.
They were hoping that they could use diplomacy to prevent their Kingdoms from suffering the sa fate as the Lizardn, who were forced to move to the Reaver Coast.
The Human Kingdoms believed that the Lizardn planned to swim across the sea to reach the Jombsborg Isle, which they would make their temporary ho.
If the Lizardn continued to flee northward, even the Ratn wouldn’t be able to catch up to them because they weren’t proficient in seafaring.
This ant that their next targets would be the three Human Kingdoms, who had formally ford an alliance to resist the Ratn’s race territory expansion.
After securing the Slarka Swamp, the Ratn regrouped as their Commander, Kharirr, pondered on their next course of action.
Although they had great numbers, the Lizardn still managed to kill a quarter of their army.
This would pose no problem if they were to only attack the Duchy of Morgau, which belonged to the Kingdom of Wallenbirg.
His people might be victorious and feeling very happy now, but it didn’t change the fact that they also felt exhaustion after the week-long battle against the Lizardn.
“Tell everyone to restsss for three daysss,” Kharirr ordered. “After thatsss, we shall attacksss the Human landsss!”
The Ratn cheered and executed their Commander’s orders.
While this was happening, Ethan had just arrived at the Duchy of Morgau. Along the way, he had not seen a single human, only abandoned villages and towns.
There had been signs that a massive army had passed through these lands, but seeing that there were no signs of battle, the young man assud that the people managed to escape before the Ratn invaded their lands.
Following the trail left behind by the Army, Ethan arrived at the borders of the Slarka Swamp.
‘The swamp here has been corrupted.’ Sebastian frowned. ‘If left alone, this entire swamp will beco the breeding grounds of those Rats, as well as any foul creatures who are immune to plagues and diseases.’
‘It's also possible that it will spawn new abominations that will spread a deadly plague in the Lands of Alastor, wiping out every living thing in this land,’ Ethan’s Other Half comnted.
Ethan frowned because this was sothing that he didn’t want to happen.
Although he felt a bit sympathetic toward the Ratn, that didn’t an that he approved of their intention to devastate the surrounding lands until only their race was left.
He would not be able to sit still, knowing that there was a possibility that the Ratn would head southward, past the Mangrave Forest and into the Magdar Kingdom, where Princess Ramona lived.
There was no way that he would let a threat like this continue after he returned to the future.
Using the water of the swamp as a dium to locate the Ratn Army, Ethan was able to find where they had set their camp.
He didn’t hesitate to fly in that direction, observing the Ratn from the sky.
The Ratn naturally sensed his presence, and so of them even shot arrows in his direction.
However, Ethan simply flew higher until their arrows couldn’t reach him anymore.
Summoning his wand, Ethan magnified his voice and addressed the one commanding the Ratn in the swamp.
“Who is your leader?” Ethan asked, his voice booming in the surroundings like thunder, making the Ratn on the ground narrow their eyes.
“Who’sss askingsss?!” Kharirr asked back.
He felt enraged after hearing soone dare to address them in this manner after they had just driven out their mortal enemy, the Lizardn.
However, Ethan’s next words made him pause and wonder if he had heard his reply properly.
“The Tidebringer.”
“You speak liesss,” Kharirr replied. “And even if yousss are the Tidebringerssss, so whatsss? Where were yousss when our race was being killedsss?
“Where were yousss when our kind wassss being hunted downsss? Where were you when we needed you the mostssss? Tidebringer, your na ans nothing to ussss!”
All the Ratn screeched in anger towards the young man, who was out of their reach.
“I know that all of you have suffered and been forced to flee in desperation,” Ethan stated. “But I cannot allow you to spread your pestilence all over the land. Can’t we reach a compromise? Is there a way for your kind to live with the other Kingdoms peacefully?”
Kharirr laughed out loud after hearing Ethan’s words.
The Tidebringer was the spiritual support of all the races in the Lands of Alastor. But for the Ratn, this Deity was soone who had turned a blind eye to their suffering.
Since then, the Ratn changed the object of their worship to the Lord of Pestilence, Erra.
This was the Deity who had lent a hand to the Ratn during their darkest monts. It was thanks to him that they gained the power to rise once again.
Even if they were facing the Tidebringer, none of the Ratn were afraid.
They knew that even if they perished in battle, their Deity would avenge them by turning the Lands of Alastor into a corrupted land.
And only those who worshiped Erra would be allowed to live in it.
“The ti of the Tidebringer is oversssss!” Kharirr shouted. “It is now Lord Erra’s turn to rule the Lands of Alastorsss! He will prevailssss! Glory to Lord Errasssss!”
““Glory to Lord Errassss!””
““Glory to Lord Errassss!””
““Glory to Lord Errassss!””
““Glory to Lord Errassss!””
The shouts of the Ratn reverberated across the Slarka Swamp, making the spies of the Human Kingdoms who had co to monitor their movents shudder. A chill ran down their spine as the Ratn’s eyes glowed yellow in preparation for a battle to the death.
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