Chapter 134. Arrival at the Fortress, the Conference of the Eight Kingdoms
Standing on the dragon’s back and looking into the pitch-black night ahead, William took out the Grand Elder’s Dragon Scale, glanced at it for a mont, then put it back into his Spatial Ring. The dragon’s massive form wove through the clouds as it sped toward Iron Skull Fortress.
On the afternoon of the third day, the outline of Iron Skull Fortress finally ca into view.
The enormous fortress had been built against the mountains. Interlocking magic arrays shimred along the walls like a golden belt wrapped around the mountain range, giving off the imposing air of an unbreachable stronghold.
“Darwin, land.”
Darwin let out a dragon’s roar that shook the fortress. Then he folded his wings and slowly descended toward the fortress plaza.
The dragon’s enormous shadow covered half the square, stirring a wave of commotion among the soldiers below. But once they saw that it was William on the dragon’s back, that commotion quickly turned to awe.
William leaped down from the dragon’s back. The mont his feet touched the ground, the Legends who had already been waiting nearby gathered around him.
When they saw William, these battle-hardened powerhouses all let out sighs of relief without even realizing it.
Everyone knew that this Fourth Prince held the Grand Elder of Dragon Island’s Dragon Scale in his hand. It was a token capable of intimidating High-Tier Magical Beasts. With him here, Iron Skull Fortress undoubtedly had far greater confidence.
“Your Highness.”
Everyone saluted in unison.
William gave a slight nod, swept his gaze across the crowd, and imdiately asked, “How is Archmage Keli’s condition?”
From the crowd, Irene stepped forward.
“Your Highness, Keli was escorted back to the Royal Capital the day before yesterday.”
He nodded, then turned to the others.
“Everyone, the situation is urgent, so I will spare the formalities. What is the latest on the movents of the Hydras?”
A Legendary Knight stepped forward.
“Your Highness, we just received a report from the scouts. The Hydra clan has already crossed the ruins of Komoro Fortress and is hunting in all directions. So have already gone toward the borders of the other kingdoms, while the rest are slowly advancing this way.”
“And those Domain-level ones?” William pressed.
“There has been no movent from them for the ti being. They seem to still be lingering near Magic Serpent Fortress,” the knight replied.
William frowned slightly, and a trace of unease rose in his heart.
The fact that the Domain-level Hydras were not moving was definitely not a good sign. Could they be laying eggs?
But at this point, he had no other choice. He could only hope that his father would consolidate the surrounding kingdoms’ strength as soon as possible.
His duty now was to steady the morale at Iron Skull Fortress.
After all, there were quite a few Legendary-level Hydras among them.
He understood clearly that what the soldiers and knights inside the fortress needed most right now was reassurance. Even if it was only an outward appearance of calm, it would still buy his father ti to consolidate their strength.
At that sa mont, inside a vast conference chamber, eight Communication Crystals floated in the air, lighting up one by one with a soft glow as they projected the figures of the kings of the eight kingdoms.
The light cast by the crystals was sowhat indistinct, but it was enough for everyone to see the expressions on one another’s faces.
Kroll II’s gaze fell first upon the crystals of Silver Oakleaf and Reinhardt, and his voice carried undisguised coldness.
“The two of you—at a ti like this, do you have nothing to say?”
Odyssey V of the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom let out a cold laugh. In his projection, he lounged against his throne with an arrogant posture.
“What is there to say? Those Hydras clearly broke the seal and escaped on their own. For all we know, it was your Kroll Kingdom’s negligence that let them out.”
“Do not try to muddy the waters.”
Kroll II cut him off, his tone firm and decisive.
“Odyssey V, does anyone here not understand what you were planning? My demand is simple. Your two kingdoms will imdiately dispatch all of your Domain-level combat power to take part in the encirclent and extermination.”
“Heh, are you joking?”
Odyssey V sneered.
“Domain-level powerhouses are old ancestors who have lived for centuries. Do you think I can command them?”
Not only did Kroll II fail to grow angry, he smiled instead. Then he turned toward the kings of the other six kingdoms, his voice carrying through the crystals and filling the chamber.
“In that case, let tell you the strength of the Hydra clan. There are six Domain-level Hydras, two hundred and thirty-eight Legendary-level ones, and more than eight hundred Sky-level ones.”
The mont those words fell, the crystal projections around the room all visibly trembled, and gasps along with shocked murmurs rose uncontrollably from behind the various kings.
A force of that size was enough to trample any one nation flat.
“My Kroll Kingdom has William holding Iron Skull Fortress. The Hydra clan will never get in.”
Kroll II’s voice rang out once more, carrying a faint but unmistakable pressure.
“But those Hydras are starving. If they cannot enter Iron Skull Fortress, will they turn and pay a visit to your lands instead?”
After saying that, he sat back down and said nothing further.
The conference chamber instantly fell into an eerie silence. Only the hushed voices of ministers and attendants from the various kingdoms drifted through the crystals.
The king of the Dwarf Kingdom had gone pale. His nation bordered the Eastern Frontier, and if the Hydras broke through the line of defense, they would be the first to suffer.
The King of the Dragon Kingdom frowned deeply, his fingers tapping against the armrest as he clearly weighed the costs and benefits at high speed.
Even Odyssey V’s expression darkened. He had originally believed the number of Hydras was limited.
As long as he dragged things out until the Kroll Kingdom could no longer hold, he could simply reap the benefits. Yet he had not expected the other side to possess such precise intelligence—six Domain-level Hydras. That was already beyond what any single nation could stand against on its own.
The projection of the King of the Reinhardt Kingdom suddenly spoke, his voice weary.
“Kroll II, what do you need us to do?”
That sentence was like a stone cast into water, instantly breaking the deadlock.
The other kings all turned their eyes toward him. Clearly, no one wanted to beco the Hydras’ next prey.
Kroll II slowly raised his head, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
“It is very simple. Each kingdom will send half of its Domain-level combat power to assemble at Iron Skull Fortress within seven days.”
“And anyone who wishes to stand by and do nothing...” He paused, his gaze sweeping across all the crystals. “Afterward, the rest will unite and attack them.”
The silence in the chamber continued for a few more monts before the King of the Kadiya Kingdom was the first to break it.
His voice ca through the crystal.
“Kroll II, half of our Domain-level combat power is too much. I can only send one.”
“One?” the King of the Dragon Kingdom imdiately cut in, his tone urgent.
“The Dragon Kingdom is separated from the Eastern Frontier by only a single mountain range. If the Hydras circle around, we will be the first to suffer. I will send two, but William of the Kroll Kingdom must take command.”
The kings of the various kingdoms all began stating their positions. So bargained, while others emphasized the difficulties facing their own nations.
Only Odyssey V of the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom remained silent the entire ti, lightly tapping the armrest of his throne with one finger, clearly calculating sothing.
Kroll II listened patiently. Only when everyone had more or less finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth again.
“In that case, the human kingdoms far from the Eastern Frontier will send one Domain-level powerhouse, while the kingdoms near the Eastern Frontier will send two. Command authority will belong to William.”
He looked at Odyssey V, and his tone turned cold.
“And Silver Oakleaf? Surely you do not intend to contribute nothing at all?”
Odyssey V lifted his eyes, a cold smile curling at the corners of his lips.
“I will send one. But I have a condition. After the war, the mineral veins around Magic Serpent Fortress will belong to Silver Oakleaf.”
“In your dreams.”
Kroll II slamd his hand down on the table and rose to his feet.
“If not for you releasing the Hydras, would we even be in this situation? And you still want the mineral veins?”
“That is not how you should put it.”
Odyssey V spread his hands.
“If we had not ‘drawn out’ the Hydras, who would have known that such an enormous hidden danger lay beneath that seal? Now that it is being dealt with, taking a share of the benefits is hardly excessive.”
“You—”
“That is enough.”
The King of the Reinhardt Kingdom interrupted him sharply.
“This is not the ti to argue about that. Odyssey V, one is too few. Send two. As for the mineral veins, we can discuss them after the war.”
The other kings imdiately voiced their agreent as well. Seeing that public anger was too great to resist, Odyssey V said sullenly, “Fine. Two it is.”
Kroll II took a deep breath and forced down his anger.
“Then it is settled. Within three days, all combat power is to assemble at Iron Skull Fortress. Whoever arrives late, or breaks this agreent, becos the enemy of all eight kingdoms.”
After saying that, he was the first to cut off the communication, and the crystal light dimd.
Inside the chamber, Kroll II rubbed his brow.
This negotiation had drained far too much of his strength, but at the very least, the frawork of the alliance had been established.
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