Royal City.
Military War Departnt.
In front of the oversized Fog Disk, stood the King, Dalin, Horus, and Ando— the four most critical figures of the Trolians.
And unusually, behind them stood all the Elders of the Supre Council.
Due to the agreent between the King and Ando, during the expansion war, unless Troli faced an ergency situation, the Elder Council would not interfere with military operations.
Yet now, as the situation in Troli improved, it was highly unusual for the Elder Council, who usually stayed within the Supre Council halls, to appear here in full force.
Ando’s face was somber, and the atmosphere among the Elder Council was oppressive; no one opened their mouths to speak, and the hall was dead silent.
After a long while, Dalin attempted to break the silence, "First Elder, we are evaluating our strategy..."
Elder Palos shouted angrily, "First Defense Chief, please do not insult our intelligence! From the beginning, your strategy had a clear purpose! If it were just about expansion, about seizing more living space for humans, we wouldn’t have ended up in this state!"
Dalin was silent for a few seconds, "This is a misunderstanding, we..."
Elder Bulroan coldly interrupted, "First Defense Chief, if you refuse to admit it, then please explain why you are pushing forward so urgently? Why do you continue to fight despite the disturbances to Spiritual Energy? Why not choose an easier direction like Sword Bay?"
With a bang.
His finger jabbed forcefully into the Fog Disk, disrupting the fog used for simulation.
"Why do all your strategic directions point straight to Storm Pass, which has been lost for hundreds of years? What are you really trying to do?"
In the hall, a death-like silence flowed.
Dalin opened and closed his mouth several tis, but no sound ca out.
The Holy Fire project was originally planned to be revealed only after taking over Storm Pass, turning it into an irreversible fait accompli.
Dalin had considered crafting so concealnt, but the crushing pressure left him no strength to spare, only hoping the Elder Council would not notice.
Unfortunately, luck was not on his side, and the Elder Council ultimately noticed their anomaly.
Dalin was well aware that the Elder Council would never agree to the Holy Fire plan, unlikely to risk attacking another Fire King City subrged in the Black Fog for 1500 years.
Even if humans might never recover.
In their eyes, survival itself was a stroke of luck, and any price paid for it was deed worthwhile.
The Holy Fire was not only their totem but also the eternal symbol of Troli. If the structure of the Holy Fire couldn’t support its power, then they would reduce the power.
As for how many would die or to what extent human power would shrink, that was beyond their concern.
Dalin racked his brains, trying to co up with a convincing explanation.
But the Elders, old and cunning as they were, would not be fooled by a defense full of holes, becoming even more certain that they were up to so nefarious plan.
Just as the situation worsened, the King suddenly spoke.
"Yes, you are right, we must take Storm Pass within forty days."
A thunderous noise erupted from the Elder Council, and Elder Palos raged, "I knew it! There is indeed a conspiracy! Storm Pass controls the largest canyon entrance to the Dead Ash Mountain Range, are you planning to attack the Dark Great Plain to the north?"
The King answered directly, "Yes!"
A more shocked outcry arose from the Elder Council, a mix of fear, doubt, anger, and other emotions were clearly visible on the Elders’ faces.
Dalin, Horus and others were extrely anxious, failing to understand why the King would choose to be so candid at this ti.
After the mont of shock, a loud wave of protest erupted from the Elder Council.
"Your Majesty! This is not what we agreed upon! We were only expanding the living space, not trying to recreate human glory!"
"Attacking the Dark Great Plain at this ti is courting death!"
"North City is so far from us, it’s impossible to incorporate it into our territory, that exclave drowned in the Black Fog should have been abandoned long ago!"
"Blind expansion! Overweening ambition! We shouldn’t have chosen you in the first place! You’re only leading humanity into the Abyss!"
After the wave of protest cald down, the King said indifferently, "I do not plan to bring North City under the protection of Troli."
The faces of the Elders eased a bit, but they still opposed.
"That’s not acceptable either, the Great Destruction began with the fall of Storm Pass, and back then, the most powerful Troli was destroyed in its assault on the Dark Great Plain!"
"Yes, Storm Pass still harbors the Fallen of the Dusk Legion from those days, road by countless Soul Devouring Ghosts and Ghouls, it is extrely dangerous with no output, and facing the Dark Great Plain, if we do not attack the north, taking it would be aningless with great consumption."
"We have better routes, the living space for humans can and should be expanded, but we should not take risks!"
The King said calmly, "I plan to attack Tasnia Star City."
In an instant, the hall beca so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, everyone stared at the King in stunned silence.
Seconds later, a huge roar exploded, almost blowing off the roof.
The Elders were like a boiling pot, nearly leaping onto the King, only to be stopped by the First Elder Ando, avoiding a tragic case of regicide by Elders.
"Your Majesty."
Ando’s voice wasn’t loud, but it suppressed all the Elders’ voices.
"Please explain why, after biding your ti for years and taking such a big risk at such a cost, you would attack the capital of the now-fallen Starry Kingdom from 1500 years ago."
The King revealed a smile, "You are truly the First Elder, you realized so quickly that this is a plan I’ve long harbored."
Ando said expressionlessly, "When I heard your answer, I quickly connected it with a series of your incomprehensible actions, and the puzzles that troubled for years were suddenly solved."
The King smiled, "That’s right, I have been preparing for this plan for over a decade, the hardships and difficulties are beyond words, but fortunately, it finally has a glimr of hope for success."
Ando watched him with an icy expression, "King, you need an explanation."
The King nodded and inford them of the anomaly with the Holy Fire, which was on the verge of extinguishing.
It was at this mont that the Elders finally understood the whole cause and effect of everything.
No wonder the Trolians had suddenly slowed their aggressive advancents, no wonder the King, in his pri, had suddenly taken permanent residence at the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground, no wonder the King, who hadn’t approached a woman since his Queen’s death, suddenly beca infatuated with an ostentatious woman who was rely a facade.
However, the reaction of the Elders was exactly as anticipated.
What did the death of people matter?
What did the abandonnt of human glory matter?
What did a setback matter?
As long as the Holy Fire could be sustained, they would rather waste all the efforts and sacrifices of over three hundred years. It wouldn’t be a problem for the Trolians to give up all outer areas and retreat deep into the recesses of the Dead Ash Mountain Range.
Dalin’s face was overcast with shadows, veins bulging on Horus’ forehead. The two exchanged a glance and saw the sa thought in each other’s eyes—the idea of killing all the Elders here and forcefully implenting the Holy Fire plan.
Of course, this horrendous thought was fleeting; neither of them moved. The consequences would have been imasurable, possibly even triggering a major split in Trolian.
But what to do with the current situation?
The two rapidly racked their brains, but could not co up with any solution. In Trolian, no Elder had served longer than the reigning King; over centuries, the Elder Council had beco an unshakeable existence.
If they were all opposed to sothing, then that thing was bound to fail.
But the King remained calm, as if he didn’t care about the current situation, his gaze fixed on Ando.
Ando was looking back at him.
The fierce arguing around them seed like nothing more than a noisy backdrop, ignored by everyone.
After a while, Ando asked, "Where is our chance of winning?"
The First Elder didn’t raise his voice, but when he spoke, the entire hall fell silent.
All eyes were on them.
The King said, "At the mont when the stars sparkle, we can bring Star Town and Star City into our domain. By the ti of the Bright Festival, we will lay siege to Tasnia Star City."
Ando shook his head, "Not enough."
The King said, "Using Storm Pass as a base, we can project the power of the Holy Fire right before Starry Sky City, where we can fight within the field of fire."
Ando shook his head again, "Not enough."
The King said, "The First Knight, Alan, has lit the twentieth Fire Spark."
Ando was silent for a few seconds, still shaking his head, "Not enough."
The King said, "The Sun Knight, Kai, has taken the Soul Holy dicine and is about to awaken from his decline. Pure Radiance, the Moonlight Knight Olivia, and Dawn Light, the Holy Sword Knight Viheler, have accumulated enough strength."
The King paused for a mont, then continued, "The seven Fire Sons have all entered the highest combat sequence."
Ando was completely silent now, yet still noncommittal.
The King smiled, "Do not underestimate the power of humanity, miracles and hope, they do exist, right?"
Suddenly, an image flashed before Ando’s eyes.
To be fair, his achievents couldn’t rank among all of mankind, but his uniqueness lay in his ability to create the greatest victory with the least resources and the most inconspicuous strength.
This was a miracle, this was hope.
"Fine."
Ando suddenly spoke.
"First Elder!" "Lord Ando!" Nurous shouts of alarm rose, but Ando remained unswayed.
His next sentence silenced the exclamations.
"But I have one condition."
Dalin and Horus’s expressions imdiately darkened again.
Only the King remained calm, smiling as he said, "Please speak."
Ando said, "Seize Storm Pass within 30 days; otherwise, the Holy Fire plan is aborted, and humanity will turn to contraction."
"Agreed!"
Without hesitation, the King extended his hand.
"For the Holy Fire, for Trolian."
Clap, clap, clap.
Four hands ca together.
"For us, whose torches pass from one to another, for the human destiny that stands firm in this Dark World!"
----
----
Ti spent frantically busy is always fleeting; Rod wished he could go without sleep, devoting himself entirely to the pursuit of Divinity.
Twelve days passed in a flash.
At last, the eagerly awaited mont when the stars sparkle had arrived.
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