Chapter 1354: Everlasting Camp, Middle Domain, and Decision III
Chapter 1354: Everlasting Camp, Middle Domain, and Decision III
Henry smiled and shook his head. "You’ll understand eventually. The significance of those titles is something you’ll come to appreciate once you’ve spent enough time in Everlasting Camp. They are the rulers of the Everlasting Kingdom."
Feber and the other villagers exchanged confused glances. They still couldn’t fully grasp what Henry was telling them, but judging from his tone, those titles must belong to people of tremendous authority and power.
Henry and his squad continued guiding the villagers around the camp. Before the day ended, he led them to their assigned accommodations and explained that they would be staying there temporarily.
"Once you pass the screening, you’ll be transported to the Everlasting Kingdom in the Blood Realm. That’s where you’ll begin your new lives."
The villagers were once again left speechless.
Everything they had experienced since leaving their village had been a first for them. Every place they visited, every person they encountered, and every structure they saw was something they had never imagined existed.
It felt as though an entirely new world had suddenly opened before their eyes.
...
On the top floor of the castle, where only the higher-ups of the Everlasting Kingdom resided, a young man with long black hair sat at the head of a rectangular table. He wore a simple black shirt and white pants, his appearance seemingly unremarkable.
This young man was none other than Angus, the Crown Prince of the Everlasting Kingdom and the Light Oracle.
Angus tapped his finger against the table before shifting his gaze toward the others in the room.
"What is happening on the frontline? When can we push those people back? And how many are willing to join the Everlasting Kingdom?"
"Your Highness, exactly ten thousand nine hundred and eighty-three locals are currently staying in the camp. Once they pass the screening, they will become citizens of our kingdom," a middle-aged man wearing silver armor adorned with draconic designs reported.
"The day we claim this land is drawing near. Our only problem is that the major factions of Ironwood Ridge have been spreading slander about us, claiming that we’re capturing the creatures of this land and enslaving them." A beautiful woman with short black hair sneered. "If the Realm Lord hadn’t specifically ordered us not to force anyone to join the kingdom, I would’ve already taken my elite soldiers and crushed those fools."
Angus closed his eyes and listened to his subordinates.
The Realm Lord had specifically forbidden them from forcing anyone to join the Blood Realm. Angus didn’t know the reason behind this restriction, but his father did. Unfortunately, his father had refused to tell him anything.
He had only said that those who had reached the rank of Dark Oracle were qualified to learn the truth.
’I’m still too weak... Being a Light Oracle isn’t enough. I need to become a Dark Oracle, or perhaps even ascend to the rank of a Blood Saint.’
Among all those under the banner of the Blood Realm, even becoming a Light Oracle was an achievement most could only dream of. Those who reached this rank were granted their own territory within the Blood Realm and access to its numerous resources.
Although Light Oracle was the lowest of the three ranks, its members weren’t entirely ignorant of the Blood Realm’s inner workings. They were privy to matters that ordinary inhabitants could never hope to learn.
Angus had his own suspicions about the reason behind the restriction. He believed it was related to the parasites implanted in the bodies of all Light Oracles, Dark Oracles, and Blood Saints.
Those parasites were likely the key to dealing with the traitors within their ranks. However, they were only implanted in individuals who had reached sufficiently high levels of strength. The Blood Realm wouldn’t waste such a measure on just anyone.
"Your Highness, should we set a trap and lure those people into attacking us? If they’re the ones who strike first, we’ll have every right to retaliate. Once that happens, we can use the opportunity to seize control of the entire Ironwood Ridge."
Angus snapped out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes and glanced at his subordinates.
"We could do that, but... Tell me, what’s the current situation on the frontline?" Angus asked, looking at each of his subordinates in turn.
"That’s..." The expressions of the ten people seated across the table turned grave.
The woman with short black hair spoke up. "The frontline has become a battlefield. We’ve lost more than ten elite squads. Other factions, such as the Bodam Kingdom and Tarrant Nation, have also joined the war. Rumor has it that they’ve already conquered an entire territory. Although the situation isn’t looking good for us, the battles have so far been limited to the Third and Fourth Shackle Realms."
Angus frowned upon hearing her report.
More than ten elite squads... That meant they had lost a considerable number of Second and Third Shackle Realm experts.
The Everlasting Kingdom didn’t have many experts to begin with. The previous calamity had claimed the lives of numerous powerful individuals, leaving their forces severely weakened. Their Fourth and Fifth Shackle Realm experts were already few in number, let alone those who had reached the Sixth Shackle Realm.
Although some of their people had made breakthroughs since then, their numbers remained insufficient.
"Accelerate our plans. We need to seize control of Ironwood Ridge as soon as possible."
Many factions within the Blood Realm were eyeing the Middle Domain. The Everlasting Kingdom couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity. According to the rules, any land they conquered would become their territory, and they would only need to pay a small amount of tax to the Realm Lord. In return, the Realm Lord wouldn’t interfere with how they governed their newly acquired territory.
The Middle Domain, however, was an enormous landmass. Ironwood Ridge didn’t even account for one percent of its total area. Countless powerful entities lurked throughout the region, and many of them were far beyond what the Everlasting Kingdom could handle.
But Angus wasn’t afraid.
He was a Light Oracle, and his father was a Dark Oracle.
The Blood Realm was an enormous force composed of several factions and kingdoms. The Everlasting Kingdom was merely one of them, and it wasn’t even among the strongest.
Blood Realm
Amanda knocked on the door of the smithing station.
The door soon opened, revealing a dwarf holding a massive hammer.
It was Gragas.
"What do you want, Amanda?" Gragas asked as he stepped aside to let her into the smithing station.
Amanda looked around the vast workshop, observing the apprentices scattered throughout the place. They were busy learning the fundamentals of smithing under Gragas’ guidance.
"Well, I’m going to the Middle Domain," Amanda said.
"You’re going there?" Gragas raised an eyebrow.
The Middle Domain was an enormous landmass comparable in size to the Blood Realm. According to the information Franklin had gathered, it was home to many powerful beings, though not all of them were particularly formidable. He and Kessa had explored parts of the region in the past, fought some of its inhabitants, and obtained valuable resources to strengthen themselves before eventually leaving.
"Franklin and Kessa were only there for a few days, so they didn’t have time to gather much information about the place. Since Souta wants to expand into the Middle Domain, several forces from the Blood Realm have already gone there. They’ve conquered a few territories, but they’ve also encountered resistance from the local forces," Amanda explained.
"Middle Domain... So a war is about to break out, huh?"
"Yes. I want to use this opportunity to hone my strength. Besides, it seems Souta has also ordered everyone not to bring people into the Blood Realm too easily. The locals have to undergo some kind of screening before they’re allowed to enter. As for those who are forcibly conquered, they’ll remain in the Middle Domain without ever learning the coordinates of the Blood Realm."
"I see... The parasites. They’ll only be used against powerful experts, then." Gragas nodded as he stroked his thick beard.
"Yep. He’s taking a different approach compared to what happened in the Depths of Banquet. The ordinary people there still resent the Blood Realm because of its actions. Well, they don’t dare show it openly because they’re afraid of being killed," Amanda said.
"Ordinary people can only bury their resentment because they’re too weak to do anything about it. But if someone powerful is born among them, they’ll eventually find the courage to rebel. That’s where the parasites come in. It’ll take a great deal of effort and time before those people change their minds about us."
Gragas paused and glanced at Amanda, who was standing beside him.
"If you’re going to the Middle Domain, why bother telling me? Are you worried that no one will take care of the fake graves you made for your clansmen?"
"They aren’t fake!"
"Yeah, yeah. They aren’t fake." Gragas waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry. I’ll make time to clean them and offer some incense. I won’t leave it to anyone else. I’ll take care of it myself."