Chapter 467: A Long Night

Hovering right beside him were three bodyguards whom Leone personally handpicked.

They were none other than Gundar, Astravor, and Lord Azar.

These three powerhouses ensured Otto’s safety.

Since Otto’s strategic value was immense, Leone didn’t dare send him alone, especially against an opponent who once fought the Great Shaman of the Borderlands to a draw.

"The Wind Guardian can fly."

When Leone heard that from Gundar, he knew that letting Otto fight alone was out of the question. As such, he had sent three powerful bodyguards to protect his vassal.

Also, if the Wind Guardian ever made his move, it would be easier for Gundar to fight him if he had strong helpers.

This was a strategy to terrorize the enemy, as well as lure their most powerful warrior into a night battle.

As for the scouts that the Aurelion Empire sent out earlier?

All dead, except for the Black Hawks that Gundar, Astravor, and Lord Azar had knocked unconscious.

The Gryphons of the Kingdom of Britannia were also there to assist since they promised to fight against the Aurelion Empire if their riders were not harmed.

Those same monsters were now guarding their captives inside the city of Eden.

"Give it up," Zephira said to one of the Black Hawks, who still had a look of defiance in its eyes. "You’ll soon understand that any form of resistance is useless."

The Black Hawk screeched, and then screeched some more. However, the Gryphons only looked at it coldly.

Although they wouldn’t admit it, they saw their former selves in the Black Hawks that they had captured.

After spending a few days with the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe, the Gryphons now understood that he was actually a very simple man.

They knew that Leone would be overjoyed if they brought back slaves—errr, new flying mounts to the Aslan Tribe.

And since the Gryphons refused to let other riders ride them, these hawks would certainly be forced to work for Leone, whether they liked it or not.

Zephira then looked in the direction where she believed Otto and his three escorts were.

Right now, flames were spreading across the camp of the Aurelion Army, while a few of their soldiers died after getting pierced by an arrow in the neck.

Just as Evander was giving orders to deal with the fire that was spreading in his camp, the flames suddenly died down completely.

"All of you are so noisy." The Wind Guardian emerged from his tent, looking very irritated. "How can I sleep when all of you are shouting like pigs about to be slaughtered?"

The Wind Guardian of the Aurelion Empire, Zepharion, casually raised his hand and caught a crossbolt the size of a spear that was aimed at his head.

"What a cheeky fellow." Zepharion glanced in the direction from which the attack came.

A second later, he shot up toward the sky, and then flew in the direction where Otto and his bodyguards were waiting.

"He’s coming," Otto said as calmly as he could.

Gundar, who was riding on the back of his hawk, stood up and held his staff firmly.

"Back away, Otto," Gundar said. "He still doesn’t know about you. It would be best to let it remain that way."

"Yes, Great Shaman," Otto replied as he urged his Sky Drake to retreat.

This was a battle he couldn’t possibly join and survive.

Staying would only make him a liability, for his allies would prioritize his safety.

Astravor and Lord Azar could already sense how powerful the approaching enemy was.

"He’s stronger than the Monster King," Astravor said with confidence.

"Humans are really scary," Lord Azar commented. "To think there will eventually come a time when even Dragons would have difficulty fighting them. Just a few thousands of years ago, they were so terrified of us that we became their object of worship. Now..."

Lord Azar could feel it in his bones that the Wind Guardian had slayed a True Dragon before.

A True Dragon was a fully formed adult, not a fledgling.

"Indeed," Gundar replied. "It’s like a tradition among humans and the other races to slay a True Dragon to prove they have transcended into the realm of superhumans."

"What a nasty rite of passage." Lord Azar clicked his tongue. "When Leone becomes King, I’ll ask him to abolish that tradition."

A moment later, the Wind Guardian hovered a kilometer away from where Gundar, Astravor, and Lord Azar were currently at.

"So we meet again, Gundar," Zepharion said. "You look older and frailer since the last time I saw you."

"And your arrogance remains the same, Zepharion," Gundar replied.

The Wind Guardian shrugged before glancing at the two monsters hovering beside the great shaman.

He could tell at a glance that the two were very strong monsters. Although he was stronger, he didn’t underestimate them, especially since the Great Shaman of the Borderlands was standing before him.

If these three worked together to attack him, he might even lose his life if he wasn’t careful.

"I see that you’ve brought helpers with you." Zepharion sneered. "What’s wrong? Are you not confident in fighting me in an honorable battle?"

Gundar smirked as if finding his words quite amusing. "As you said earlier, I am old and frail. As such, I’ve decided to bring some friends to help me deal with you.

"There’s nothing honorable in fighting an old man who already has one foot in the grave, you know? Let’s even out the playing field a bit."

"They say that as someone grows older, they become more shameless." Zepharion spat back. "It seems those words hold some truth."

After saying those words, a tense moment passed between the two powerhouses.

Suddenly, and without warning, Gundar disappeared from the back of his hawk, while Zepharion retreated in haste.

The moment Gundar moved, Zepharion didn’t hesitate to flee.

If this was a one-on-one battle, he would have stayed.

However, this wasn’t a duel.

The Wind Guardian could sense that the monsters that were with Gundar would not hesitate to attack him, preventing him from escaping.

He wasn’t a fool. He understood that this battle could not be won by words alone.

"It seems that he has also grown smarter since the last time we met." Gundar, who had disappeared on the back of his hawk, hovered at the same spot where Zepharion was earlier.

His hawk then flew to his side, allowing the great shaman to once again stand on its back.

"This is going to be a long night." Lord Azar sighed.

Astravor nodded in agreement. Their mission was to harass the Aurelion Army with Otto’s help.

But for now, all attacks were put on hold. As long as the Wind Guardian was active, Otto’s attacks wouldn’t reach the enemy camp no matter what he did.

While this was happening, Leone’s clone teleported to the plaza of Eden and looked at the thirty-six Black Hawks with a smile.

"Daedalus, can you temporarily open the gate again?" the clone asked.

"Of course," Daedalus replied.

The grimoire then unstrapped itself from the clone’s waist and opened its pages.

Soon, the materials used to build the teleportation gate flew toward the center of the plaza until it manifested a teleportation gate.

"Well, then. Time to get to work, Boris," the clone said as he looked at the teleportation gate.

A moment later, the Drake Sovereign walked through the teleportation gate with a smug look on its face.

It was now looking at his new playmates with delight.

"That one is the most uncooperative of the bunch." Zephira pointed its claw towards one of the Black Hawks, who still had the will to rebel against her.

Boris looked at the hawk that Zephira was pointing at. It then reached out to grab its head before casually tossing its entire body toward the teleportation gate.

One by one, the pitiful hawks had been thrown into the gate as if they were pieces of trash.

When all the new slaves—errr, prisoners had passed through the gate, Boris left without another word.

It was already eager to see how Leone would break the defiant hawk earlier, which thought that there was still a chance for it to escape its fate.

Unfortunately, the moment it was captured, its fate was already sealed.

"Welcome, friends," Leone said to the hawks that conveniently fell into his hands. "I’m sure all of us will get along very well from now on."

The Black Hawk, who had a defiant attitude earlier, flinched the moment it saw all the monsters standing right behind Leone.

The place where they had been sent was none other than the Hidden Valley, where the monsters who had undergone Beast Synthesis were staying.

Hundreds of monsters eyed the Black Hawks from every direction.

The sheer pressure they were releasing was enough to make the hawks feel as if their lives could be snuffed out at any moment.

It didn’t even take half an hour for Leone to make the Black Hawks agree to sign their slave—err, "partnership" contracts.

And just as Lord Azar had said, this was going to be a long night. Not only was war upon them, but they also needed to make the Aurelion Army suffer a bit before they claimed Eden as their own.