Chapter 148. The Loss of Control Begins
Kroll II cut him off.
“Ancestor Fenlilan said that this helm carries a power of backlash. The more it is used, the easier it becos for it to take control of its wielder.”
Kroll II’s voice ca through the crystal, carrying a trace of fatigue that was hard to detect.
“Silver Oakleaf insisted on using it. That was their own choice. You only need to do your duty and stay far away from that helm.”
“If an irreparable disaster truly breaks out, then we can only ask the Ancient Council for help.”
William’s brows drew tightly together, and he could not help pressing the matter.
“But Father, if it really reaches the point where the Ancient Council has to intervene, how badly will this entire region rot?”
Silence fell on the other end of the Communication Crystal. Only after a long while did a soft sigh co through.
“William, I have already inford the surrounding kingdoms, but none of them took it seriously.”
Kroll II’s tone carried a hint of helplessness.
“Originally, I intended to take advantage of Silver Oakleaf’s severe losses and annex their territory. But with that Divine Artifact there, the plan can only be set aside for now.”
He paused, and his tone turned solemn.
“Do your own part well. Once this purge is over, return to the Royal Capital.”
“I am preparing to hold a coronation ceremony for you and make you Kroll III, so that your talent can be fully released.”
“Yes, Father,” William replied, but his heart felt unbearably heavy.
After ending the communication, he lifted his head and looked toward the distant Silver Oakleaf Royal Capital. Above those ruins, the red light still flared from ti to ti, brightening and fading like an eye lying in wait in the dark.
A few months later, the legions of Silver Oakleaf’s Western Frontier, Southern Frontier, and Northern Frontier arrived at the Royal Territory one after another and joined forces with the Gold Legion to clear out the remaining Hydras.
The sounds of slaughter across the wilderness gradually thinned. The vicious beasts that had once spread like a plague were now reduced to scattered remnants, barely clinging to life in remote mountains and forests.
It was at that mont that a strange change caught William’s attention. The red light of the Divine Artifact, which had not ceased for two straight months, suddenly disappeared.
The glaring blood-red pillar above the ruins of the Royal Capital vanished, and even the lingering chill in the air faded considerably.
What was more unsettling was that the old man who held the Helm of Dominion had disappeared as though he had evaporated from the world.
Even the Shadow Guards could not find the slightest clue, as if he had never existed at all.
William imdiately reported the matter to Kroll II, his tone laced with suspicion.
“Father, the red light of the Divine Artifact has disappeared, and its wielder is gone as well. Could it be...?”
A long sigh ca from the other end of the Communication Crystal, and Kroll II’s voice carried an indescribable weariness.
“I know. Do not investigate it any further. Finish clearing out the remaining Hydras as quickly as possible and return to the Royal Capital at once.”
“Yes,” William answered, but the weight in his heart only deepened.
Half a month after the red light vanished, an order suddenly arrived from the Silver Oakleaf Royal Capital. Odyssey V formally commanded that all troops of the Kroll Kingdom withdraw from his lands imdiately.
The news took William by surprise.
What puzzled him even more was that during those sa two weeks, Kroll II and Odyssey V had held several secret communications. Afterward, a concession had been made that left William stunned.
All of the previously occupied Eastern Frontier of Silver Oakleaf was returned, with the sole exception of the strategic stronghold Iron Skull Fortress.
“Your Highness, Silver Oakleaf’s envoy is outside the camp urging us to withdraw.”
Tos reported in a low voice, his tone full of confusion.
“That Eastern Frontier was such excellent territory, and we’re just giving it back?”
William looked at the area of the Eastern Frontier marked out on the map. Its soil was fertile, and it controlled three major trade routes. It had originally been the perfect springboard for the Kroll Kingdom’s expansion.
But his father’s order had already been given. Clearly, so kind of agreent had been reached with Odyssey V.
“Pack up and prepare to withdraw.”
In the end, he still gave the order.
“Tell Silver Oakleaf’s people that we will leave within three days.”
Though the envoy was dissatisfied, he did not dare disobey and could only leave resentfully.
The camp imdiately beca busy. The soldiers dismantled tents and packed supplies, while the banners of the Gold Legion snapped loudly in the wind, about to bid farewell to the land where they had fought for nearly three months.
William stood on a high slope, looking toward the distant Silver Oakleaf Royal Capital, and the doubts in his heart only grew stronger.
Why had Odyssey V suddenly taken such a hard line?
And why had his father willingly made concessions?
What exactly had happened during those two weeks?
He unconsciously touched the Tree of Life Leaf at his chest. The leaf rested quietly inside his robes without the slightest movent.
Yet the calr it was, the more uneasy he felt. Silver Oakleaf’s retreat, followed by this sudden show of strength, felt exactly like the stillness before a storm.
Three days later, the army of the Gold Legion slowly withdrew from Silver Oakleaf’s territory and marched toward the Kroll Kingdom.
On the walls of Iron Skull Fortress, the banner of Kroll still flew proudly, like a wedge driven into the throat of the border between the two kingdoms.
When William arrived at Iron Skull Fortress, the sight before him left him completely stunned.
The fortress that had once stood there was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a colossal stronghold expanded to more than five tis its original size.
The towering walls were covered in faintly glowing magic runes. Dozens of enchanted ballistae were aid into the distance, and the defensive works were so dense that the fortress’s original outline was almost impossible to make out.
The soldiers of a second Gold Legion, clad in brand-new armor, moved back and forth on patrol inside and outside the fortress. Their formations were orderly, and their presence carried a killing chill.
What surprised him even more was that the fortress was not only garrisoned by the Gold Legion, but also by the Kroll Kingdom’s royal elite Knight Orders. He could even see several royal Legendary Powerhouses patrolling the top of the fortress.
“Little William!”
A booming voice rang out as Xilan strode over, a hearty smile on his face.
“We’ve finally been waiting for you.”
William hurriedly returned the greeting, though his eyes were still roaming over the fortress.
“Lord Xilan, this is...?”
The smile on Xilan’s face gradually faded. He led William deeper into the fortress, lowering his voice.
“This is all trouble caused by the Silver Oakleaf royal family.”
He paused, and his tone grew grave.
“That old Domain-level man who held the Helm of Dominion has lost control.”
William’s heart tightened. “Lost control?”
“That’s right.”
Xilan nodded.
“They say things started going wrong half a month ago. He beca deranged, and his eyes were filled with violent fury. Fortunately, the people he had arranged things with beforehand discovered it before he completely lost control, so it did not cause too many casualties.”
He looked at William.
“That was when Odyssey V frantically sought out your father. The two of them held long secret talks.”
“I do not know the exact contents, but after those talks, your father ordered the Eastern Frontier returned. At the sa ti, he had us expand Iron Skull Fortress overnight and transferred the Royal Legion and the Knight Orders here to garrison it.”
“Clearly, the trouble on Silver Oakleaf’s side is even worse than we imagined.”
Xilan patted William on the shoulder.
“Little William, once you return, you can ask your father about these matters. He may tell you the details.”
“Our task now is to keep reinforcing this fortress and prevent Silver Oakleaf’s ‘trouble’ from spreading over here.”
“Oh, right. Kroll II told you to leave the First Gold Legion behind.”
William nodded, but his heart sank lower and lower.
A Domain-Level Powerhouse had lost control...
In the end, the backlash from the Helm of Dominion had finally erupted.
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