Chapter 119
Chapter 119
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 119
Step—.
Lunaria, having emerged from the audience chamber, stood on the balcony and looked down below.
The vast plaza filled with suffocating heat and madness.
Dragon-human soldiers and the allied forces of the five clans undulated like a black tide, waiting for the order to march.
"……."
The tribesmen gripped their spears and swords, silently looking up at her.
The quiet rage she felt from them seemed to represent the grief that had accumulated for so long.
Lunaria could not help but empathize with their feelings, but she had no intention of being swayed by them.
If she truly felt compassion, she wouldn't have drugged them into slavery or converted them into dragon-human soldiers.
However, after His return, all Sea Folk would become equal under the Sea Dragon's rule.
At the very least, the hereditary inequality and discrimination between races could be severed in this generation.
That would be the minimum atonement she could offer to those who had been exploited in this war.
'This is the only way to break the long chain of inequality and hatred.'
Absolute deterrence and the order that stems from it—that was Lunaria's answer.
What was needed for this was not empathy and compassion, but thorough reason and logic.
Even if it meant joining hands with outsiders, even if tens of thousands of Sea Folk had to be sacrificed. Even if it meant her own death.
She had to complete this task.
Because that was the sole purpose and destination of all the evil deeds accomplished through innocent bloodshed.
"……."
Even if this expedition failed by some chance, there was still a way left.
Even if it meant sacrificing her own life, she would complete His resurrection.
'Phew.'
Having finished her thoughts, Lunaria opened her mouth and raised her voice.
"My beloved brothers and sisters, for hundreds of years we have lived groaning like worms beneath the feet of those arrogant beings. They stole our homeland, trampled our pride, and left our children with nothing but poverty and despair. All that remains for us is a heavy yoke and helplessness."
Her voice possessed the power to penetrate to the very bones of everyone gathered in the plaza.
"Meanwhile, they have lived leisurely on high hills, exploiting our blood and sweat for their own prosperity. When we starved, they enjoyed banquets, and when we groaned with illness, they held festivals. This is... the true nature of the harmony and unity promised by the evil god Pontos."
Lunaria paused to catch her breath while scanning the faces of the soldiers one by one.
Confirming the flames of anger beginning to burn in their eyes, she cried out in an even more passionate voice.
"But now the time of that humiliation and oppression is over! Today, this Lunaria will repay alongside you, all the pain we have endured! We will reclaim our stolen glory, wash away our wounds with their blood, and clearly show who the true masters of this sea are! In the name of the great Leviathan, we will destroy their city and build our kingdom!"
"Waaaah!"
Her speech incited hatred and revenge while promising victory and glory.
The soldiers responded with frenzied cheers, each raising their spears and swords high into the sky.
Lunaria watched such soldiers with cold eyes and raised the staff in her hand upward.
"Advance."
***
Atlantis Temple Plaza.
High Priestess Leila stood before the citizens trembling with anxiety and fear, and the hastily conscripted soldiers.
"Dear citizens of Atlantis, and brave soldiers who have willingly taken up spears to protect our precious homeland. Those who were our brothers have been deceived by evil external forces and now point their swords at us. This tragic and devastating history is repeating itself once again."
Her voice trembled faintly, but the earnest plea contained within it was conveyed clearly.
"How could we not know the pain and sorrow they have experienced over the years? Their anger at inheriting long discrimination and inequality is natural. We have turned away from their suffering for far too long."
She closed her eyes briefly, then continued speaking to the citizens.
"But the tragedy where hatred begets hatred and blood calls for blood must end here, so we cannot retreat. This place is everyone's home and the only homeland where our children can swim and live in peace. We must fight. To protect our homeland, to protect our families, and for the day when they will break the chains of hatred and return as brothers once again. Please, everyone, have courage."
"……."
Though the soldiers trembled with fear, they leaned on each other's shoulders, reaffirming their resolve by remembering once more what they had to protect.
And they raised their eyes to meet the great army of dragon-human soldiers gradually advancing from beyond that dark sea.
***
The Sea Dragon Tribe's stronghold. The Black Strait.
Since the outbreak of war, most of the guard forces had headed to Atlantis, leaving the fortress's defenses lax.
Chug-chug-chug—.
Taking advantage of this gap, a submarine quietly infiltrated the Sea Dragon Tribe's fortress.
A man disembarked from the submarine that had safely docked at the pier.
It was Nam-gung Cheon, dispatched under Seo-jin's orders. Though he himself thought of it as a request rather than an order.
Near the dock, Francesca was waiting with the hostages she had rescued.
"Hey, you made it?"
She waved her hand as if pleased to see him, but Nam-gung Cheon scowled deeply.
The last time he had met Francesca was when he was trying to escape from the underground prison.
If things had gone slightly wrong, he could have died tied up without even being able to escape.
Though they were now on the same team, there was no way he could have good feelings about her.
Nam-gung Cheon asked in an irritated voice.
"Did you bring them all?"
"If you're suspicious, go ahead and check."
The hostages loaded haphazardly onto the cart, sleeping.
Nam-gung Cheon examined the faces of the hostages who seemed to be unconscious and asleep, comparing them one by one with the list.
From Prince Kshtra who had been imprisoned in the opposite cell, to key figures from opposition tribes who had opposed the alliance with Lunaria.
They were representative figures who would lead inter-tribal harmony after the war ended.
Francesca had followed Seo-jin's orders and extracted them from the underground prison.
"They're all here. Let's load them up."
Having finished his confirmation, Nam-gung Cheon loaded the hostages into the submarine together with Francesca.
Clap-clap—.
Having loaded all the hostages, Francesca dusted off her hands as if tired.
Then she looked at Nam-gung Cheon and suddenly held out her hand.
"The hostages are done, now give me the item the client sent."
"Right."
Nam-gung Cheon, having loaded all the hostages, took out the suitcase he had received from Seo-jin.
Blood samples from the seven tribal chiefs of Atlantis, and samples containing High Priestess Leila's divine power and blood.
What on earth was this going to be used for?
Before handing the bag to Francesca, Nam-gung Cheon gripped it tightly and didn't let go as he asked.
"First explain what you're planning to do with this."
Even if he was going to hand it over, he should at least know what it was for.
At this, Francesca covered her mouth with her hand and smiled sinisterly.
"Oh my, didn't the client tell you the plan? Is there a lack of trust?"
"Shut up. I just left without hearing an explanation because there was no time."
"Hmm, what should I do?"
Francesca, who had been playfully smiling and drawing out the moment, began her explanation.
"Fine, I'll tell you. First, you know that Lunaria is trying to revive Leviathan, right?"
"Yeah."
The purpose of this war was not simple rebellion against the royal family or tribal unification, but to revive Leviathan.
If that thing were to be revived, this underwater city would be thrown into great chaos, so it was known that this must be prevented at all costs.
However, the next words that came out of Francesca's mouth were the complete opposite of what Nam-gung Cheon knew.
"Our purpose is to help with its revival."
"……?"
Not only failing to prevent Leviathan's revival, but helping it?
This was information that Nam-gung Cheon's mind couldn't comprehend, but Francesca continued her explanation regardless.
"What's needed then is the bloodline of Atlantis's royal family. Among them, the essence made by melting the upper altar of the High Priestess with the highest divine aptitude is needed. Using that, even someone who isn't of royal bloodline can freely control the Tears of the Sea God, making it possible to summon the sealed Leviathan to this land."
Lunaria's purpose was to occupy Atlantis, then kill High Priestess Leila and use the power of the essence made from her to break Leviathan's seal.
The Sea Folk of Atlantis were preparing for war to prevent this and the destruction of the city by the rebels.
However.
"Then, then why are we voluntarily offering this up? What are you planning to do after reviving it?"
Nam-gung Cheon asked, glancing at the bag in his hand.
Though this wasn't the essence made by killing Leila, it was a sample containing her blood and divine power.
It would be used advantageously for them in some way.
At this, Francesca shrugged.
"Actually, if we leave it as is, Leviathan won't be revived. The corporate side helping Lunaria doesn't want that. So we're helping her instead."
"So why……"
Just as Nam-gung Cheon was about to say something, Francesca blocked his mouth with her finger.
"Shh. According to the client, that's the only way to heal the conflicts of this land. Instead of the tribes fighting each other, they'll turn their arrows of anger elsewhere or something like that? I'm just doing what I'm told."
Snatch—.
With that, Francesca snatched the sample bag from Nam-gung Cheon's hand.
"Well then, I have important work left to do. Take good care of the hostages on your way back."
Having received the bag, Francesca waved at Nam-gung Cheon and melted into the shadows.
"Hey, hey!"
Nam-gung Cheon shouted belatedly and tried to chase after her, but Francesca had already disappeared.
He stared blankly at the spot where she had been and let his shoulders droop.
"Phew."
What on earth was going on?
Nam-gung Cheon sighed with complicated feelings and boarded the submarine.
He didn't know exactly what that Nova guy's plan was.
Not only failing to prevent its revival, but helping Lunaria to aid in the revival.
But saying that this was the only way to heal Atlantis's long-standing conflicts.
He didn't understand it at all, but he shook his head to dismiss his thoughts.
'Whatever. I'll just do what I'm told for now.'
Since the seven tribal chiefs and Leila had agreed to the blood sample collection, the natives were also participating in his plan.
Nam-gung Cheon couldn't step forward and ruin this plan.
Though he didn't want to admit it, that guy was actually moving while looking further ahead than himself.
"Tch."
He stamped his foot once for no reason, then drove the submarine back toward Atlantis.
Vrooooom—.
Nam-gung Cheon's submarine cutting through the water currents.
And some time after that.
Whiiiiing—.
Along with reports that important hostages had disappeared, warning sirens echoed throughout the Sea Dragon Tribe's fortress.
***
Boooooo—!
The huge horn sound coming from far away shook all of Atlantis.
The signal announcing the start of war.
Nam-gung Rin, standing on the castle walls, unconsciously swallowed saliva.
Beside her, thousands of Sea Folk soldiers holding spears and harpoons watched the horizon with pale faces.
"They're coming……!"
Finally, with someone's shout, a black tide began surging from the dark depths of the sea in the distance.
Massive bodies covered in dragon scales, empty eyes devoid of any reason.
At the forefront of that wave were those who had once been Sea Folk but were no longer Sea Folk—the dragon-human soldiers.