Starting as a Prince, I Don’t Even Know How I Could Lose Chapter 133 : Chapter 133

Chapter 133. Kroll II’s Fury, William Heads to Iron Skull Fortress

At that mont, Irene finally caught sight of the outline of Komoro Fortress as she carried Keli in her arms.

On the city walls, the magic arrays were already beginning to light up. Allies were waiting there to receive them, along with a temporary haven of safety.

But she knew that safety was only temporary.

Once those Domain-level Hydras truly charged over, Komoro Fortress would never be able to hold.

In the distant sky, the murderous aura of the Hydras had dyed the horizon a strange dark purple. A catastrophe that would sweep across the surrounding kingdoms had only just begun.

Inside the main hall of the royal palace in the Kroll Royal Capital, the Communication Crystal still retained the last trace of magic fluctuation Irene had sent through it. Kroll II’s hand trembled slightly as he gripped the communicator, and he stood there motionless for a long ti.

“Madn. A pack of madn.”

He suddenly smashed the communicator onto the floor. Crystal shards flew in every direction as he cursed furiously.

“Those idiots from Silver Oakleaf—do they really not understand that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold? If they release the Hydras, do they think they can stay out of it?”

The Palace Knights in the hall were so frightened that they did not dare make a sound. None of them had ever seen their usually composed king lose control like this.

Kroll II took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He strode over to the map, his fingertip moving across the territory of the Eastern Frontier before coming to a heavy stop at the location of Komoro Fortress.

“Pass down my order. Komoro Fortress is to be abandoned imdiately. All troops are to continue withdrawing and make their stand at Iron Skull Fortress.”

“Your Majesty, but that is an entire frontier’s worth of living beings. Could this not...” the ssenger officer said hesitantly.

Kroll II cut him off, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“Once magical beasts that have slumbered for a long ti awaken, their first instinct is to hunt for food in a frenzy. Let the living beings of the Eastern Frontier delay them for us. We must buy ti.”

He paused, his voice as heavy as iron.

“In addition, imdiately send urgent communications to the surrounding Seven Kingdoms.”

“Tell them that because the allied forces of the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom and the Reinhardt Kingdom, driven by their own selfish desires, have released a Hydra clan with several Domain-level beasts among them, the Kroll Kingdom is desperately trying to hold them back and hopes that Domain-Level Powerhouses from every kingdom will co to provide support.”

The ssenger officer quickly withdrew.

The king looked out toward the direction of the Royal Capital beyond the window, and there was a trace of complicated emotion in his voice.

“What a pity...”

What a pity that none of those Hydras were at the Demigod level.

If even one had been, he would have had the proper justification to request aid from above—from that ancient council that ruled the entire continent.

The appearance of a Demigod magical beast was no longer sothing a single kingdom could stand against. The council would never sit back and ignore it.

But now, the highest among them were only at the Domain level... and the council would not concern itself with them. They could only rely on themselves.

Without anyone noticing, ti slipped by, and in the blink of an eye it was already deep into the night. Only then had Kroll II finished coordinating everything and speaking with the Ancestor.

He then had an Attendant summon William and told him about what had happened at Magic Serpent Fortress. William also fell silent for a long ti before looking at Kroll II.

“Father King, what do you an?”

Kroll II nodded.

“William, it is exactly what you are thinking. Only you can move the Grand Elder of Dragon Island. Leave for Iron Skull Fortress at once. Ancestor Fenlilan will arrive shortly afterward.”

William nodded in acknowledgnt, gave a solemn bow, and turned to withdraw.

But just as he reached the door of the Study, Kroll II’s voice rang out again.

“William, wait.”

He turned back and saw his father removing a ring from his hand.

The ring was ancient in style and entirely dark in color, with no gemstone set into it. It looked completely ordinary, except for the fine circle of Runes carved along the inner band.

“Take this with you.”

Kroll II held out the ring, his fingertips trembling slightly.

“This is the protective Divine Artifact passed down through our Kroll Family, and it is also the symbol of the heir to the throne. At a critical mont, it will keep you safe.”

William received the ring with both hands. It felt cool to the touch, and the Runes seed to carry a faint pulse, as though they had ford so kind of connection with his bloodline.

He closed his hand tightly around the ring, bowed once more, and said in an even heavier voice than before, “Yes, Father King. Your son will return safely.”

Kroll II watched his departing figure until it disappeared at the end of the corridor. Only then did he slowly turn around, gaze into the deep night beyond the window, and murmur softly,

“My child, the future of this kingdom is in your hands now.”

Only the sound of flickering candlelight remained in the Study. Reflected beside the king’s temples, the strands of white hair that had quietly appeared made the atmosphere even heavier.

After leaving the palace, William secured the ring on his finger and turned toward Vivian’s palace.

Under the night sky, the palace was brightly lit. When the maid saw him arrive, she quickly led him inside.

Vivian was sitting by the window reading. Though she was sowhat surprised to see her son visiting so late at night, she still greeted him gently and asked him to sit down.

The mother and son talked for a long ti, from childhood anecdotes to his recent studies. Every word William spoke was calm and gentle, as though this were rely an ordinary visit.

Vivian listened quietly, occasionally adding a sentence or two, but deep in her eyes there was a trace of worry that was difficult to detect.

Only when William rose to take his leave did she grasp his hand and softly say, “Be careful in everything.”

William nodded and turned to leave. The mont the door closed, Vivian could no longer hold it back, and tears stread down her face.

She understood her son too well. If sothing major were not happening, he would never have co to keep her company and chat so late into the night. It was clearly a farewell before departure.

After leaving Vivian’s palace, William went to Mary’s palace as well.

By the ti the maid announced his arrival, Mary had already gone to bed. But upon hearing that William had co to visit, she hurriedly put on her clothes and got up. The two sat down in a side hall, and William spoke of what he had seen on his travels and of the customs and scenery along the borderlands. The conversation wandered from one topic to another, carefully avoiding the real matter at hand.

Mary listened attentively and occasionally laughed, thinking only that he had rarely found the ti to visit.

An hour later, William rose to take his leave.

Mary walked him to the door. Looking at his back, she suddenly asked softly, “Are you going sowhere very far away?”

William paused, turned back, and smiled.

“I’ll be back soon.”

After leaving the palace, William looked up at the night sky and called silently in his heart, “Darwin.”

A mont later, a deep dragon’s roar tore across the heavens, and a massive shadow blotted out the stars and moon.

Darwin spread his wings and slowly descended into the plaza, his Dragon Scales gleaming with a tallic luster beneath the moonlight.

William leaped onto the dragon’s back. Once he was seated firmly, he said in a deep voice, “Darwin, our destination is Iron Skull Fortress. Let’s go.”

Darwin let out another dragon’s roar that shook the surrounding lands. With a beat of his wings, he carried William straight into the clouds.

The night wind howled past them. The Royal Capital below gradually shrank, until at last it beca nothing more than a silhouette dotted with lights.