Chapter 187

Chapter 187. The Storm... Is About to Break

Storm ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍City, the central lord’s hall.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍flames in the hearth leaped and flickered, casting shifting light and shadow across Iman’s rugged face, which was twisted by rage.

His ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍massive body sank deep into that overly ornate throne. His rough fingers gripped the armrests tightly, the knuckles turning white from the force.

Before ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍him, Hammer knelt on one knee. His iconic horned helmet had been set aside, revealing his chest wrapped in thick bandages.

His ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍face was pale. The usual brute arrogance about him had vanished completely, leaving only the miserable pain of a man who had narrowly escaped disaster.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was reporting the crushing defeat on Dragonbreath Plain with tears and snot.

“...My lord, that is what happened. We... we failed!”

Hammer’s voice carried a sobbing tone, and together with his heavy injuries, it made him look especially pitiful.

“Failed?!” Iman abruptly half-rose from the throne, his roar making the hall buzz.

“How could you fail?! I gave you three thousand men! Three thousand! You useless trash, you could not even accomplish a small matter like receiving a group of defeated remnants back into the city?!”

In his fury, he habitually raised his iron-gloved fist, about to smash it down hard on Hammer’s unprotected head.

But when his fist reached midair, he looked at the blood seeping through the bandages on Hammer’s chest and at the man’s truly weakened state. In the end, he forced himself to stop.

His fist slammed heavily onto the throne’s armrest instead, producing a dull thud.

Hammer secretly let out a breath of relief, knowing he had gambled correctly.

There was no way he could say the truth: that he had underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, then been defeated by an elite force with fewer numbers.

Enduring the pain, he continued weaving his lie in a voice full of grief and indignation.

“My lord! It was not that we did not do our best. Our plan was completely exposed! We encountered... at least five thousand Western Frontier troops lying in wait for us!

“Not only did they far outnumber us, they also had several Gold-Tier powerhouses among them!

“Especially that brutal Wolf-kin. My injury was caused by his sneak attack!” He revealed a pained expression at the right moment and pointed to the wound on his chest.

“But we Hofgard warriors did not retreat! We fought bravely and killed countless enemies!

“But there were simply too many of them, as if they could never be killed! I... I barely managed to risk my life and bring back our Hofgard main brothers!

“As for those other Federation bastards and the Wanliu prisoners... we truly could not look after them!”

Listening to his explanation, the rage on Iman’s face eased slightly.

He slumped back onto the throne, his brows locked tight, his voice murmuring.

“The plan was exposed? Damn it... I said from the beginning that taking the initiative to attack was too dangerous! We should not have gotten involved! But you... but you insisted on persuading me!”

His tone carried blame, as though he had completely forgotten that he himself had been the one who made the final decision.

Standing nearby, the military adviser Byrne and Hammer, who was kneeling on the ground, quickly exchanged a look. Both saw a trace of helplessness in the other’s eyes.

Byrne secretly sighed. Knowing this was not the time to argue about responsibility, he stepped forward and took the blame upon himself.

“Lord Iman, this matter was entirely my fault. I misjudged the situation, was too careless, and underestimated the cunning and preparations of the Western Frontier men.”

“Fortunately, however, under such unfavorable circumstances, General Hammer still preserved Hofgard’s core strength.

“Those who were lost were only Federation soldiers who already harbored divided loyalties, and Wanliu prisoners. They are of little importance.

“The situation... is not too terrible yet.”

Iman waved irritably. “Enough, enough! What use is there in discussing who is responsible now?”

He leaned back in the chair, deep worry appearing on his face.

“I fear... the Western Frontier men will soon gather all their forces and storm Storm City. What should we do?”

Byrne pondered for a moment. A struggling look appeared on his face, but in the end, he hesitantly voiced the suggestion he had been considering for a long time.

“My lord... why not... retreat? Abandon Storm City and find a way to cross the Great Set Desert and return to Hofgard.”

“Return?!” Iman’s brows immediately twisted into a knot. “Return in such disgrace? Then I, Iman, may as well die here in battle!

“Besides, we killed Paul Botticelli! Sessen, he was the beloved grandson of a Great Smith, yet he died outside because of my order as well.

“Looking like this, how would we still have the face to return and confront the Federation? To confront the Great Smith?”

“Lord Iman!” Byrne’s tone became urgent. “None of that matters!

“We can find all sorts of excuses to gloss over it. Face and glory mean nothing compared to survival!

“What we need most right now is to preserve our lives, to preserve the seed of our Hofgard warriors! As long as we are alive, there is still hope!”

“Military Adviser!”

Although Hammer was wounded, he could not help objecting roughly when he heard the proposal to retreat. He glared fiercely at Byrne.

“I think you just want to save your own life! Do not forget how the Western Frontier men treated your hometown, and how they treated you!

“Lord Iman, I do not agree to retreat! We must take revenge!

“Even if we are to die in the end, we must die like true Hofgard warriors and drag enough Western Frontier bastards down with us! We absolutely cannot let them have an easy time!”

Iman looked at the two men arguing and felt only endless irritation. He sighed heavily, overcome by a deep sense of powerlessness.

“Those groups we sent to Hofgard for aid... still have not sent any news back?”

Byrne shook his head, his expression grave. “No, Lord Iman.

“The environment of the Great Set Desert is harsh, and there are too many uncertainties... Please make a decision quickly.

“The weather is growing colder day by day. Once winter truly arrives, the desert will become even more deadly. By then, even if we want to leave, I fear we may no longer be able to.”

Iman remained silent for a very long time. His gaze swept across the vast, luxurious hall before finally fixing on the leaping fire.

The struggle on his face gradually gave way to ruthlessness. He suddenly straightened and made his decision.

“Enough! There is no need to argue anymore!”

“Hammer! Send men at once to reinforce all the city defenses! Mobilize every soldier who can still move, inspect the weapons, and stockpile materials for defending the city!

“We are not finished yet! They want Storm City? Then let them pay for it with blood!”

Hearing this, Hammer’s spirits lifted. Ignoring his injuries, he accepted the order loudly. “Yes, General Iman! We swear to live and die with Storm City!”

He struggled to his feet, grabbed his horned helmet, and staggered out of the hall to carry out the order.

Once Hammer’s footsteps faded away, only Iman and Byrne remained in the hall.

Iman looked at this military adviser, who had always seemed out of place, and lowered his voice. There was a complicated emotion in it.

“Military Adviser... you go as well. Aside from assisting Hammer in reinforcing the city defenses... make some... secondary preparations too.”

He looked meaningfully at Byrne. “Even if we fail in the end, we absolutely cannot... leave those Western Frontier men an intact Storm City...”

Byrne’s body trembled almost imperceptibly. His brows furrowed, and some color drained from his face.

He hesitated, his voice dry as he confirmed, “My lord, you mean... fire?”

Iman looked at him and slowly nodded, his eyes cold and cruel.

Byrne lowered his head deeply, concealing the extraordinarily complicated expression on his face.

He was silent for a long while before answering in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Yes... Lord Iman.”

In his heart, he silently added one sentence.

May the gods... forgive the sin I am about to commit.

After saying this, Byrne did not linger any longer. He turned and quickly left the hall. Under the leaping firelight, his back seemed somewhat stooped and panicked.

Inside the vast palace, only Iman remained.

The crackling of the burning hearth sounded especially clear.

He slowly raised his hand and used his rough palm to stroke the cold, luxurious “throne” beneath him again and again.

“Fine throne...” he laughed softly to the empty hall. That laughter was hoarse and dry, as though scraped by rusted iron.

“You are... quite comfortable to sit on, and quite solid too...”

The laughter gradually faded, becoming a long and weary sigh.

“A pity...” he murmured, his eyes hollow. “In the end... you were never mine...”

......

At the same time, at the edge of Dragonbreath Plain, the atmosphere in the Western Frontier allied camp was entirely different.

Marquess Mellon Winterbourne had finally led the other half of the southern route army and successfully joined Viscount Armand, Eli, and Marquess Claire’s forces.

The vast camp stretched endlessly, banners fluttering, morale soaring.

After listening to Viscount Armand’s detailed report on the brilliant results of the earlier blocking battle, as well as the key roles Eli and Marquess Claire had played,

Marquess Mellon’s face, which usually wore a gentle smile, revealed undisguised admiration and joy.

He especially praised Eli heavily, clapping his shoulder and calling him “a model of the Western Frontier’s younger generation.”

Soren also received his praise for some of the achievements he had made.

Even more encouraging news followed one after another.

Advance scouts sent by Marquess Marcus’s central route main army and Marquess Kola’s northern route army also arrived at the rendezvous point on fast horses.

They brought clear news—

The main forces of the two armies had completed the clearing and consolidation of the towns and cities along their routes.

They were now marching day and night toward Dragonbreath Plain and would arrive before long.

The scales of victory had completely tipped.

Everyone understood that Iman’s remnants in Storm City had become beasts trapped in a cage.

Now, all the Western Frontier allied army needed to do was patiently wait for the final two main forces to arrive.

When the time came, the three armies would encircle Storm City. That would be the moment to launch the final war of vengeance against the unfallen fortress that carried both the glory and humiliation of the Western Frontier, and recover it in one stroke!

The military camp was filled with the unique tension and excitement before a great battle. Soldiers sharpened their weapons and inspected their armor, while the officers repeatedly rehearsed siege tactics.

The storm... was about to break!

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