Novel Full Chapter 678: A New Way to Defend
Chapter 678: Chapter 678: A New Way to Defend
After leaving the Serpent Empress’s chamber, Charles gathered everyone for an emergency meeting.
“Even though the Empress has awakened,” Charles began, “she won’t be able to help us in the coming battle. From here on, we can only rely on our own strength if we want to win the final fight.”
He said it straight, without any hesitation.
No one’s expression changed much—they all knew that the newly awakened Empress couldn’t really offer any support right now.
Taking the chance to speak, High Priest Kent said, “I’ve already completed the initial setup for the defense of Serpent’s Eye Lake Oasis. The outer Wall has been fully reinforced.”
“Good work,” Charles said with a brief nod of approval, before shifting his tone. “But I think we need a completely new defense strategy.”
Kent and General Sost exchanged a quick look.
From each other’s eyes, they could see the same worry.
There were only twelve days left until the final battle.
If they changed their defensive approach now, wouldn’t all their previous work be for nothing?
“I know what you’re both worried about,” Charles said calmly, noticing their hesitation. “But I think those worries are unnecessary.”
“The next wave from the Stellar Empire and the Ancient Academy will be far stronger than we expect. We may have badly hurt them in the Battle of Withered Tree Fortress, but I believe their recovery will be fast—faster than we imagine.”
He said it in a casual tone, but everyone could feel the weight behind his words.
Kent frowned deeply.
Sost managed to stay composed.
As for Zara, she simply believed that Charles would come up with something brilliant—as always. She just needed to follow his lead. So throughout the meeting, her face stayed calm and relaxed.
“That’s why I believe that without a brand-new defensive plan, we won’t stand a chance in the upcoming war,” Charles continued, his voice steady under everyone’s gaze.
Kent and Sost stayed silent.
At that moment, Zara stepped forward and asked, “Then what exactly is this new way to defend?”
Hearing her question, Charles smiled faintly at her.
Charles didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he reached into the swirling time-space rift and pulled out the Dark Gem.
The moment the gem appeared in the real world, all light around it vanished—swallowed whole by its darkness.
High Priest Kent and General Sost both jumped to their feet the instant they saw it.
They could clearly feel the overwhelming curse energy radiating from the Dark Gem.
“Don’t panic,” Charles said calmly. “This gem—this source of cursed power—is the key to my new defense plan.”
He used Mousie to create a field of shadow around the gem, sealing its power inside.
That way, the curse wouldn’t spread freely and endanger the surroundings.
Under everyone’s doubtful gaze, Charles began to explain his full idea.
“This Dark Gem holds immense curse energy. I plan to bury it deep beneath Serpent’s Eye Lake Oasis. Down there, I once found a lake filled with curse energy. If I place the gem on the lake’s edge, I can release both the gem’s power and the lake’s curse at any moment.”
He paused for a moment, then asked quietly,
“You understand what that means, don’t you?”
General Sost was the first to respond.
“It means everyone around Serpent’s Eye Lake Oasis will be swallowed by the storm of cursed power. Even those strong enough to survive won’t escape its heavy influence.”
“Exactly,” Charles said, nodding in approval. “No matter how strong our enemies are, they won’t withstand a curse storm like that.”
After saying this, he sealed the Dark Gem back into the time-space turbulence.
“As long as we handle it carefully,” Charles continued, his tone calm but firm, “the gap between us and the enemy will disappear. Then it’ll all come down to our willpower and determination to win.”
He ended his explanation in an almost casual tone.
Kent still frowned deeply.
To him, Charles’s plan seemed far too dangerous.
“Your new strategy has its merits,” Kent said slowly, “but if you really unleash such a terrifying storm of curses, how can we make sure our own people aren’t affected?”
“There’s no way,” Charles answered bluntly.
“None at all.”
A look of surprise crossed High Priest Kent’s face.
He didn’t even know what to say.
Just as Kent stood there, unsure how to respond, General Sost suddenly spoke up.
“I think it’s worth it,” he said firmly. “We’re already weaker than the enemy. If we keep hesitating and worrying about everything, we’ll never win.”
Those words made it clear—Sost was fully on Charles’s side now.
Zara quickly followed.
“He’s right! Things are already this bad. We don’t have the luxury to keep hesitating.”
With both Zara and Sost standing behind Charles, Kent realized there was no point in arguing anymore.
He sighed softly.
“In that case, let’s go ahead with this new defense plan. But I still want to remind you—don’t take unnecessary risks.”
With that, Kent turned and left the room.
He knew that whatever came next no longer had much to do with him.
Charles watched him leave.
Even though Kent had opposed his plan from the start, Charles felt no hostility toward him.
He understood the man was just being overly cautious.
“High Priest Kent isn’t trying to go against you,” Sost said quietly.
He was worried Charles might hold a grudge.
Charles nodded calmly.
“Whether he meant to or not, his hesitation did slow us down a little. But it doesn’t matter. My plan is simple to prepare anyway.”
He spoke lightly, his tone relaxed, as he turned to Zara and Sost.
Then he ordered Sost to return to training the Serpent soldiers,
while he and Zara headed once more toward the underground area.
Before leaving, Sost gave a final warning.
“The curse energy underground might be useful, but be careful when you use it. It’s easy to lose control.
If that happens, all of us could face a terrible end.”
“I understand,” Charles replied with confidence. “I know the risks of losing control better than anyone. I’ll make sure everything stays under control.”
He sounded certain—and with good reason.
By now, the curse power had little effect on him.
When he first controlled the Dark Gem, his body had already been heavily exposed to the curse’s influence.
In a way, his body had built up a resistance to it.
That was the reason Charles could personally hold the Dark Gem—a thing filled with pure curse energy.
Anyone else, the moment their hand touched it, their body would twist under its power, and their mind would be completely devoured by the curse.
After saying goodbye to General Sost, Charles and Zara immediately began their mission.
Once they entered the underground area beneath Serpent’s Eye Lake Oasis, they followed the traces they had left before, heading straight toward the lake saturated with cursed energy.
By the time they reached the edge of the lake, Zara was already in bad shape.
“I can’t keep going with you,” she said weakly. “The curse energy is affecting me.”
There was guilt in her voice.
Charles reached out and gently patted her head.
“You’ve already done enough. I brought you here only so you could see how powerful curse energy really is.”
Zara blinked in confusion.
“Shouldn’t everyone see it? If only I’m prepared for this kind of power, it won’t be enough when the curse breaks loose.”
Charles smiled softly.
“The others can die in the coming battle if they must—but you and the Empress are the only ones I can’t let die.”
The moment he said that, Zara’s eyes filled with tears.
Her face showed both surprise and deep emotion.
“I didn’t think I meant that much to you,” she said, her voice trembling. “I thought you only cared about Her Majesty.”
“How could that be? You’re just as important to me,” Charles said warmly. “Alright, stay here. I’ll place the Dark Gem by the cursed lake.”
With that, he turned and rushed toward the lake as fast as he could.
Even though Charles had built up some resistance to the curse, the energy coming from the lake was overwhelming.
Each step forward grew heavier, slower.
It took him a full half hour to finally reach the lake’s edge and set the Dark Gem in place.
Then, with careful precision, he began drawing the magic array that would trigger it.