Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Impending Revival of the Earth Dragon
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“……!!”
A single sentence from Paon.
That one sentence brought silence sweeping through the audience chamber.
Had they… misheard?
The commanders exchanged glances, confirming with each other that they had indeed heard it right.
No, that couldn’t be.
If they had, then all the commanders wouldn’t be wearing the exact same expression right now.
If anyone else had said it, they would have scoffed and told them not to spout nonsense.
But they couldn’t.
Because the one who said it was none other than—
Martial King Paon Lichtenauer.
The emperor of martial arts, whose equal couldn’t be found anywhere across Bestrika in the Southern Continent, or even the entire continent of Agera.
If Paon said it… then the revival of the Earth Dragon was truly imminent.
“…Patriarch, may I ask just one question?”
“Permission granted.”
As someone requested to speak, Paon slowly nodded.
“If what you say is true, Patriarch, it means the Earth Dragon could return to this land to wreak havoc once more… May I ask why you’ve given no prior warning about this matter until now?”
It might have seemed like an interrogation of Paon, but in truth, it was the shared curiosity of all the commanders.
The Earth Dragon’s revival was an enormous event tied to the very survival of the entire Southern Continent.
Why hadn’t he mentioned something this grave until now?
“To borrow Ian’s words, the matter is what it is.”
Paon answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“This issue is not so trivial that I would speak of the revival of an Earth Dragon that hasn’t even awakened yet based on my mere hunch. If I were to say this, how would you handle the massive chaos that would engulf the kingdom? My original plan was to discuss it once my hunch turned into certainty. But with the Great Curtain so brazenly scheming amid the Great Calamity… I simply sensed that my instincts were correct.”
“…Indeed.”
The commanders had no choice but to accept Paon’s explanation.
The Earth Dragon Karaktus was nothing less than a mythical nightmare to the humans of the Southern Continent.
If word leaked out that this being was awakening to recreate that nightmare… the chaos in the kingdom would spread uncontrollably.
And that chaos crashing upon the kingdom would be just another opportunity for the monsters of the Great Calamity.
Stopping the Great Calamity was the sacred duty of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan, after all. Paon’s choice was hardly unreasonable.
Swoosh!
“Your insight is most convincing, Patriarch. But… may I ask one more question?”
Bihar Hawk, commander of the Azure Dragon Unit, raised his hand and spoke.
As Paon nodded lightly just as before, Bihar Hawk bowed in respect and opened his mouth.
“This may be presumptuous… but just now, Commander Ian didn’t seem particularly surprised by your astonishing words, Patriarch. Earlier, when he strongly insisted that we must prevent the clash between Golden Heaven and Turbid Flow… yes, to be honest, I didn’t quite understand it. But after hearing your words, I now see why Commander Ian made that argument.”
Why must they stop the fight between Golden Heaven and Turbid Flow?
Thinking about it, the logic was exceedingly simple.
In the face of a greater and stronger enemy, weaker forces temporarily joining hands was something that had always happened throughout the long history of Agera.
Stop the battle between Golden Heaven and Turbid Flow, and unite forces to block the revived Earth Dragon.
Powerhouses like Golden Eye or Sea King would be immensely helpful in opposing the Earth Dragon and the Great Curtain.
That raised a question here.
How exactly had Ian arrived at that conclusion?
“In other words, Commander Ian anticipated the Earth Dragon’s revival in advance. If you hadn’t told him first, Patriarch, I don’t believe he could have known about it.”
Smooth!
Bihar Hawk met Paon’s eyes directly and asked point-blank.
“Have you… designated Commander Ian as the future heir, Patriarch?”
“……!!”
At Bihar Hawk’s blunt question, a silence entirely different from before descended upon the audience chamber.
When the revival of the Earth Dragon was discussed, it had been a shocked hush at the startling fact. Now… it was a strange silence where everyone watched each other warily.
Most of the upper strike team commanders had, each in their own way, aligned themselves with the clan’s lesser stars.
But if Paon had chosen Commander Ian as the future patriarch…
It could trigger a massive tectonic shift in the clan’s internal power structure.
“…Bihar Hawk.”
Paon called the Azure Dragon Unit commander in a sunken voice.
“Yes, Patriarch.”
And then he declared.
“You… have become a politician, unlike in the past.”
The Azure Dragon Unit commander was no longer a true warrior.
“……!!”
“I clearly spoke of the Earth Dragon Karaktus’s revival. An unprecedented crisis that could jeopardize the clan—no, the kingdom itself. In the face of that crisis… was whether Ian is the successor more important to you than devising countermeasures?”
“I don’t wish to hear more.”
Creak!
Paon rose from his chair and intoned coldly.
“Well, since you’re a commander, I’ll answer. I told Commander Ian about this right before he departed for Western Heaven. Does that suffice?”
At Paon’s words, the commanders began calculating in their heads.
Right before departing for Western Heaven…
That was when all the other lesser stars were away on missions.
In other words, it wasn’t because Ian had been confirmed as heir; it simply meant he could later inform the other potential successors as well.
To put it plainly, it was as good as declaring that Ian hadn’t been finalized as successor yet.
As a subtle sense of relief washed over the commanders’ faces, Paon sneered inwardly.
Still playing tug-of-war, are they…
Better this way, perhaps.
This could be a chance to refresh the clan’s atmosphere.
“I declare here and now.”
Paon proclaimed before the commanders.
“All strike team commanders, arm yourselves fully with your subordinate teams and prepare for the Great Calamity’s advance. After regrouping at Western Heaven, I intend to personally meet Golden Eye and Sea King to ‘persuade’ them.”
““We receive your command!!””
“This could become an unprecedented crisis for the Southern Continent. As such.”
As the commanders unanimously acknowledged Paon’s order, his words continued.
“I will be watching the candidate who achieves the greatest merit in this affair.”
“……!!”
The commanders’ fists clenched tight.
Stand out in this event… and the path to the core of power would finally open.
As various thoughts tangled in their minds, Paon addressed Ian.
“Commander Ian, prepare thoroughly as well. You’ve just returned and must be fatigued, but it was you and the Latent Dragon Squad who captured the dark elf. Be ready to be summoned at any moment if needed.”
Ian, who had been kneeling silently, bowed his head at Paon’s words.
“I receive your command.”
Golden Heaven and Turbid Flow.
If words failed to persuade them… then they would have no choice but to crush them by force.
Sky Mountain.
A sacred peak where clouds clung to the midway point, as if truly floating in the heavens.
It was also the stronghold of Golden Heaven, one of the lords of the Great Calamity.
On the plateau midway up that mountain, countless orcs stood in formation.
Black clouds, yellow flames, gray mists…
The orcs of Golden Heaven’s massive great tribes gathered together in ranks—an imposing and magnificent sight.
And at the forefront of all those tribes.
The few surviving remnants of the Blue Lightning Tribe, who had perished in the Beast Fields, took their place.
Before them lay a flag and coffins emblazoned with white wind… and one more coffin marked with blue lightning.
“…….”
Even as the wind atop the mountain grew fiercer by the moment, not a single orc opened their mouth, maintaining silence—until then.
Step!
Three orcs slowly approached the coffins.
Silver Fang, Copper Fang, and Iron Mask.
Golden Heaven’s unparalleled warriors.
Holding their respective weapons, they paid solemn warrior’s respects before the coffins.
And shortly after.
The three orcs turned toward the warriors and shouted in unison.
“Golden Eye emerges!!”
Thoom, thoom, thoom…!!
At the three orcs’ cry, the silently arrayed orcs began stomping their feet all at once.
A rite to revere their king.
As a heavy momentum spread across the plateau, as if the mountain in the sky might crash to the earth.
…Clank!
The sound of metal grinding against metal rang in the orcs’ ears.
It was strange.
The orcs’ stomping echoed massively enough to shake this sacred mountain.
Yet somehow, this sound was as clear and vivid as if it came from right beside them.
…Clank!
One step, another step.
The small sound of metal meshing only ceased once it reached the two coffins.
Light armor covered the shoulders, legs, and below the elbows.
On his sturdy back, two massive double-bladed axes crossed.
Unlike the fierce visages of ordinary orcs, this orc had an utterly ordinary face—so much so that, but for his skin color, he could pass for a human warrior.
Shing!
The orc drew his axes and slammed one down before each coffin.
Then he bowed his head in respect.
A warrior’s rite.
The greatest mark of tribute among orcs.
At last, as the orc who had finished paying respects opened his eyes, they gleamed gold.
Yes.
This orc of plain appearance was one of the absolute rulers of the Great Calamity, the unparalleled warrior who dominated the southwestern reaches.
Golden Eye.
“ ‘White Ghost’ Turka, ‘Blue Wolf’ Jorg. Both were truly great warriors.”
Golden Eye murmured quietly, eyes fixed on the coffins.
“After forging the faction known as Golden Heaven and dominating the southwestern Great Calamity… I believed that protecting Golden Heaven’s territory was the path for the orcs. That it was the surest way to our prosperity.”
Thud!
He pulled up the axe he had slammed down before the coffin.
“But these two warriors taught me!”
Veins bulged on the hands gripping the twin axes, brimming with power.
“That we orcs do not shy from battle, but exact bloody vengeance!! That is who we are!!”
“Kreeeeeh!!!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The orcs stomped in response to Golden Eye’s declaration.
“Let us go and show them plainly!! How foolish and idiotic it is to touch Golden Heaven!!”
“Kreeeeeeeeh!!”
With Golden Eye’s proclamation, the orcs charged down from the Sky Mountain en masse.
Golden Heaven’s northward advance had begun.
Southeast of Haspel, the sixth tributary.
This waterway, known as the Six Roads, was one of the gateways connecting Golden Heaven and Turbid Flow.
As one of the shortest routes to Haspel and a strategic point extending eastward toward the Five Roads, it was vital land that Golden Heaven absolutely had to seize.
The Great Calamity was already dim under the massive overgrown trees, and when night fell, it was pitch black as ink.
“Kerruk! It’s especially cold today.”
Tap, tap!
A lizardman, unable to bear the chill, rubbed his shoulders before striking flint together.
“Kerruk?! You mad bastard, why light a fire!”
Fire was poison to the moisture-craving skin of lizardmen, so the surrounding lizardmen freaked out and scolded him, but…
“Kerruk! Who said I’m lighting it close by? Let’s just work a bit warmer, that’s all.”
They were shivering nonstop from the cold themselves, so their scolding was half-hearted.
In fact, the other lizardmen were cold too, so while they grumbled, none stepped up to stop him.
“…Kerruk! Just for a bit, then. Septimus will warn us if he finds out.”
They smacked their lips and gave a perfunctory caution. But they all knew. Septimus wouldn’t personally check such a remote outpost.
“Keruk! Then why grumble pointlessly.”
Snorting, he kept striking the flint until flames gently caught on the gathered leaves.
As the air warmed slightly, the lizardman who lit it crowed triumphantly.
…Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
“Keruk! See, much warmer than before…”
Krunch!
No, he tried to shout.
But the lizardman couldn’t finish his words.
It was only natural; no living being could speak with an axe blade buried in their skull.
…Spurt! Spurt!
“…Kerruk?!”
The lizardmen momentarily lost their wits at the blood fountaining from their comrade’s body before screaming in horror.
“Ke, Kerrrruk!! Enemy attack, enemy attack!!”