Aurdis' words echoed through the room. Erend and Eccar understood the risks that lay ahead. But then again, they couldn't disobey King Gulben's orders—he was, after all, the ruler of this place. Even when his decision seed wrong.
"We can only wait for now," Eccar said calmly. "However, if we see that this palace is in grave danger and many Elves are dying, I think Erend and I will have to act, regardless of the king's orders."
Erend and Aurdis glanced at him.
"I agree with that," Aurdis said.
Erend simply nodded. He could only hope that when the ti ca for them to act, it wouldn't be too late. Because even now, Laston had already positioned his army, ready to strike. Who knew how many forces he had prepared and just how powerful they truly were?
---
In the Skyreach Tower, Dredge just stepped out of a silver colored talic chamber where he already had various enhancents installed in his body.
The chamber was his private augntation room, a bright space filled with the hum of high-tech machinery combined with Magic.
Rows of robotic arms lined the walls, each equipped with precision tools designed to implant cybernetic upgrades with chanical accuracy.
The air carried the faint scent of sterilized tal and coolant, and the floor was marked with dried stains from previous procedures.
Dredge enhancents were handled entirely by machines. The automated systems worked with ruthless efficiency, scanning his body, adjusting components, and replacing outdated implants without hesitation.
Suspended monitors displayed real-ti diagnostics that detailing the upgrades being integrated into his skeletal fra, neural pathways, and reinforced muscles. But he didn't know if its all was enough already.
This was also the place where Dredge beca more than just a soldier in the first place. Where he shed his organic limitations and embraced the cold perfection of machinery fully.
Now, after stepping out of the chamber for hundreds of ti until now, he flexed his fingers, feeling the raw power coursing through his enhanced limbs.
His modifications were complete for now.
After finishing his own enhancents, Dredge wear his clothes and sprinted toward the place where Veyna's chamber was located. She had already inford him that the fight between Laston and Erend was over.
The tal sliding door hissed open, and Dredge stepped inside, finding Veyna staring at a large monitor in her private chamber. From what he could see, she was also preparing enhancents to further strengthen herself.
Dredge let out a snort. "So now you admit that I was right?"
Veyna didn't turn to face him. She simply kept her eyes on the monitor, adjusting so settings with swift finger movents. Dredge couldn't see her expression, but he could tell she was deep in concentration.
"Hey, you hear ?" Dredge said, half annoyed.
"I hear you damn clear because you're shouting right behind my ear, Dredge. But shut up for now," Veyna replied.
Dredge let out a chuckle, seemingly satisfied with her reaction. But then, his expression grew serious. His gaze beca unfocused, lost in thought, as the mory of his battle against the Dragonborn resurfaced in his mind.
Dredge clenched his fist for the dozen ti since his fight with the Dragonborn. That mory unsettled him—the strength he had built up until now still wasn't enough to defeat him.
Veyna glanced at him, pausing her work for a mont. "You've fought that beast before, right? Why don't you start telling what you learned from that battle?"
"I don't think it'll be enough," Dredge replied. "Back then, I don't think he was using his full strength."
Veyna studied him. She wasn't surprised that Dredge had failed to gain anything useful. The Dragonborn—that creature—had been strong enough to fight Lord Laston on equal footing earlier, and Veyna knew that even then, he hadn't shown his full power.
That ant he had an even easier ti defeating Dredge and cutting off his hand.
"Alright then. I just need to install the strongest enhancents I have," Veyna said, turning back to her monitor and continuing to adjust the settings for her desired upgrades.
---
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In his own chamber, Laston was also busy crafting his own enhancents and fine-tuning his settings. He needed to embed more runes into his army, his generals, and his lieutenants.
Erend had grown far too powerful, even much stronger than before. Laston couldn't fathom how a Dragonborn like him had gained such strength, nor how he had trained himself to reach such a level.
If he managed to defeat him, he wouldn't kill him imdiately. Instead, he would force him to reveal the secret behind the source of his power.
Laston nodded after sending the final tuning adjustnts and magical rune formulas to his technicians, ordering them to craft everything as quickly and precisely as possible.
Aerchon's party had managed to destroy a significant portion of his army and power sources earlier. But that didn't matter—Laston had anticipated it. Producing more soldiers wasn't a major issue, thanks to the technology in this world known as the 3D printer.
He walked toward a device in the corner of the room, channeling his own magic energy into it. Monts later, the machine ca to life.
He stared at the holographic monitor, waiting. After a few seconds, the screen flickered, and the face of a crimson-skinned, horned creature appeared.
Laston smiled. "How are you doing over there?" he asked in a relaxed manner.
"We're ready. When do we start?" asked Morvakar, the Daemon of Calamity's king. His tone was impatient.
"Patience, Morvakar. I still have a few more preparations to make. But it won't be too much longer," said Laston.
"Grrhh… what exactly are we waiting for?!"
"Sothing that will ensure our victory."
Morvakar nodded, though he still seed eager to begin the assault.
"Then why contact now?" Morvakar asked.
"We may not be launching the attack just yet, but that doesn't an you'll stay idle. I want you to send small squads of your forces to the outskirts of the Elf Palace, little by little. Have them hide there until further orders."
Morvakar nodded. "I understand."
With that, Laston cut the communication and imdiately contacted the Ogre King to issue the sa order.
---
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