"Apton, did you say the lord of Erald Castle went to the Blazeblade Kingdom?"
Inside the lavishly decorated royal palace, Grand Duke Opriston sat high upon a throne inlaid with massive gemstones. His brow was furrowed as he stared down at the figure kneeling before him.
That figure was a Hero Unit...
Specifically, a Hero Unit from the Murloc Deeplurker race—an 8th-Tier special hidden unit. As one of the rarest and most elusive units, the Murloc Deeplurkers possessed a unique innate ability called Oceanflow Sense.
Oceanflow Sense: (Every current in the ocean carries its own aning and language. The Murloc Deeplurkers can interpret these flows. With this ability, they can detect movent and activity up to 300 nautical miles away—without being noticed.)
Honestly, that ability was insanely powerful.
If Ethan ever found out about it...
He’d definitely want it for himself.
Because this was basically the ultimate surveillance tool on the open sea. Whether on land, at sea, or even inside a dungeon, intel was everything.
Controlling the Murloc Deeplurkers ant controlling a vast, living intelligence network. Once that network spread across the seas, the strategic value and influence it could generate would be enormous.
It could shift the balance of power.
Even tip the scales in war, or redefine a nation’s overall strength.
That’s exactly what Grand Duke Opriston had done once he got his hands on the Murloc Deeplurkers.
He deployed them across the Five Sea Kingdoms, scattering them like shadows beneath the waves. Quietly, they ford a massive web of surveillance, spying on the secrets of every kingdom.
It was one of his trump cards.
Not even Astharel or Fiesto knew about it.
"The Erald Castle folks definitely went to Blazefang Castle—the capital of Blazeblade Kingdom," the Murloc Deeplurker Hero, Apton, said, head bowed. "But as for what exactly happened there... we’re not sure."
"Why not?" Grand Duke Opriston’s brow tightened. "Why don’t you know?"
Apton shook his head, letting out a bitter chuckle. "Your Grace, if we got any closer, we would’ve been spotted by the Crimson Ultimate Hero from the Kirin clan. The Kirin... they’re the true rulers of the sea. Compared to them, we’re like infants."
"And?"
"And..." Apton hesitated.
"What is it?"
"Your Grace, truth is... that Kirin Hero probably already noticed us. He just didn’t care, since we didn’t make any suspicious moves. That’s the only reason we’re still breathing," Apton said with a wry smile.
Sure, the Murloc Deeplurkers’ ability was powerful—but it all depended on who they were up against. And a 13th-Tier Legendary Unit from the Kirin race? A Crimson Ultimate Hero?
A Kirin Hero like that could wipe the floor with them.
They weren’t even in the sa league.
"..."
Grand Duke Opriston fell silent, his expression darkening as he processed the news.
After a long pause, he finally shook his head and said coolly, "Alright, Apton. You’re dismissed. If anything else cos up, report to imdiately."
"Yes, Your Grace." Apton rose and quietly left the hall.
A few monts later...
Grand Duke Opriston stood up abruptly, his gaze shifting toward a shadowed corner of the room. His voice was low, but firm.
"Sea King Maelthorak... do you think this developnt could affect our plans?"
"Vrrrmmm..."
The air shimred as water surged, releasing a deep, suffocating pressure like the depths of the ocean.
A massive Kirin, its body a dark, stormy blue, erged from the swirling current.
It stared coldly at Grand Duke Opriston.
And just like before, it didn’t speak right away.
Only after a long, tense silence did it finally respond—its voice cold, arrogant, and laced with madness.
"Opriston, stick to the plan. No matter what, I must obtain the Primordial Force of that Crimson Ultimate Kirin. If the Blazeblade Kingdom wants to die trying to stop ... so be it. I’ll gladly grant them that wish."
"Understood."
"I hear you loud and clear, Sea King Maelthorak..."
Grand Duke Opriston gave a slight nod, then turned and walked away.
...
Not long after, a handwritten ssage from Grand Duke Opriston of the Umagral Kingdom arrived in the hands of The Jewel King, Astharel, in the Gemspire Kingdom.
"He’s already getting antsy, huh..." Astharel muttered, a cold smirk flickering in his eyes as he read the letter.
"My Lord..." he then looked up respectfully at the man standing across the room. "It’s a ssage from Opriston. He wants to lure you and Prince Kyros to the Umagral Kingdom as soon as possible. What do you think?"
"Then let’s give him exactly what he wants," Ethan said with a calm smile. "Let’s go pay the Umagral Kingdom a visit. One way or another, this thing between Erald Castle and Maelthorak ends here. For good."
"This ti, it’s either him or us."
"But I believe—no, I know—he’s the one who’s going down. Erald Castle will win."
"We will win!"
Astharel’s blood was pumping now, his face flushed with excitent as he shouted in agreent.
It was finally happening...
His mont had co.
Astharel knew that once this was over, once this whole ss was resolved, it would an he’d be fully accepted into Erald Castle’s inner circle. And when that happened, he had no doubt Ethan would make good on his promise.
He would beco a king—one of the rulers of the Five Sea Kingdoms.
And more than that, he’d beco one of Erald Castle’s official representatives across the seas. For him, this was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity to rise above everything he’d ever been.
He couldn’t wait.
...
Soon after, led by Astharel, Ethan arrived at the Umagral Kingdom’s capital—a massive oceanic fortress-city known as Dobanion.
"My Lord, this is it. Dobanion—the capital of the Umagral Kingdom," Astharel said, his eyes gleaming as he stared up at the towering steel monstrosity of a fortress.
"Hmm... Astharel, doesn’t this place feel... different from a normal city?" Ethan asked, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the structure.
"You’re right," Astharel nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Dobanion was originally a high-tier ocean fortress purchased from the Tower faction by the Tidesworn. But after years of war and repeated destruction during faction conflicts, the damage was so extensive they eventually abandoned it."
"You can buy fortresses?" Ethan blinked, clearly surprised.
"Yeah, you can. As long as you’re not part of the Dark Alliance, you can buy fortresses from the Tower faction. But... you need the right clearance," Astharel explained.
"Clearance?"
"Mhm," Astharel nodded again. "For example, you’re part of the Light Alliance now, right? I’ve heard that if you hold a marquis title within the Light Alliance, you’re eligible to buy a low-tier fortress. If you’re a duke, you can even purchase a mid-tier one."
"As for high-tier fortresses like this one... I’m not sure what kind of clearance that takes. But judging by this place, it’s probably sothing even higher than a duke’s title."
"I see..." Ethan nodded slowly.
A Light Alliance title, huh?
He figured he probably qualified to buy a low-tier fortress himself. He didn’t have a duke’s title, but he’d long since earned the right to claim a marquis rank. He just hadn’t bothered to go pick it up.
Still, that thought only lingered for a second before he pushed it aside.
Right now, none of that mattered.
Not when a war was about to break out.
"My Lord, Opriston’s coming out..."
Astharel’s voice dropped to a whisper.
Ethan’s eyes sharpened, a faint smile curling on his lips as he turned toward the approaching figure.
"You must be the lord of Erald Castle," Grand Duke Opriston said with a warm smile as he stepped forward. "Welco, welco."
"It must’ve been a long journey. I’ve already prepared a grand banquet for you at the palace. Please, co with ... Oh, right—allow to introduce myself. I’m Opriston, Grand Duke of the Umagral Kingdom."
"First ti eting, sure," Ethan replied with a polite smile. "But Grand Duke Opriston, I’ve heard your na more tis than I can count."
Then, without missing a beat, he asked bluntly, "So—where’s Maelthorak?"
The mont the words left his mouth, Opriston’s pupils contracted ever so slightly.
But then, a cold smirk crept across his face.
He looked at Ethan with a mocking glint in his eyes.
"As expected of the lord of Erald Castle... you ca prepared. In that case, let’s not waste ti."
He turned his head slightly and called out, voice sharp.
"Everyone—co out!"
...
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