Chapter 837: The Firmament Front

Chapter 837: Chapter 837: The Firmament Front

Three months had passed since the necrotic tide set foot on the territory of the Divine Wind Empire. In that time, Ethan had advanced like a plague, devouring dozens of border fortresses and securing the military districts of cities.

Under Crul’s management, Ethan’s force had reached disastrous proportions: he commanded a fleet exceeding thousands of warships and integrated millions of undead into his ranks. The aerial convoy set its course toward the Pass of the Two Gorges, the last defensive stronghold before the Capital. There, General Vane—a veteran in Dao Transcendence—had fortified every corner of the canyon, preparing a massive assault to crush the invasion before they could breach the pass.

While Ethan’s tide approached the decisive crossing, thousands of kilometers away, the war bled on a different front.

At the Pass of the Four Empires, the air was thick with the smell of blood and overloaded mana. The past three months had been a hell for Aurelius Golden XI, Emperor of the Golden Dragon Empire.

Aurelius observed the tactical map from the command tent, his face worn with exhaustion. The combined forces of the continent’s other three empires had deployed their primary armies, led by their three Emperors and backed by their Guardian Beasts.

Thus far, the enemy rulers had maintained a cautious level of engagement, refraining from involving themselves directly on the frontlines. However, that constant war of attrition had cost Aurelius dearly: he had lost key battles and over hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the trenches of the pass. To make matters worse, throughout that time, he had received no news regarding the whereabouts of his General, Ethan, nor the status of the Golden Eye Army.

Beside him, Vorian’s shadow stepped forward, bowing his head with frustration.

"Your Majesty... I have returned," said Vorian.

Aurelius raised his gaze, hoping to find a glimmer of relief.

"What news do you bring of Ethan’s family?" asked the Emperor in a heavy voice. "Did you manage to extract them from the Phoenix Empire?"

"I returned empty-handed, Your Majesty," admitted Vorian, clenching his fists. "I searched every corner of the jurisdiction within the Phoenix Empire, but they were not there. It is as if they vanished into thin air prior to my arrival."

The Emperor took a breath, his face unreadable as he stared at the map.

"And what of the Golden Eye Army?" Aurelius asked with quiet calm.

That single question made Vorian’s heart skip a beat. He had laid his trap, ensuring that Ethan and his forces would be trapped within the enemy stronghold. Yet, for three months, there had been silence from that fortress. No distress calls had been logged, no emergency transmissions had reached the high command, and not a single soul had attempted to establish contact.

Driven by anxiety, Vorian had dispatched one of his personal aides to inspect the site—only for the man to vanish without a trace. Over the past few weeks, he had sent several elite combat squads to investigate, but none had returned. It was like casting stones into an ocean, failing to produce a single ripple.

What Vorian did not know was that Crul maintained control over the fortress from thousands of miles away. The moment an unsuspecting vessel approached, Crul’s systems allowed them to enter the docking bay undisturbed before annihilating them with heavy defense turrets or hijacking their navigation arrays to execute the crew.

Not a single messenger, spy, or scout sent by Vorian had survived setting foot inside the fortress to bring back the truth.

"I will send men to inspect the fortress," declared the Emperor, resting both hands on the tactical table. "Summon Dorian to travel immediately. I want to know what happened to them."

The Emperor’s words caused a wave of sweat to run down Vorian’s spine. A nervousness seized him: he needed to halt that order. If Dorian traveled to the base and discovered that things had not gone according to plan—or worse, if the Emperor himself decided to march with his power—all his schemes would be ruined.

Aurelius narrowed his eyes upon noticing his subordinate’s flinch.

"Is something the matter, Vorian?" asked the Emperor in a slow voice. "You look strange."

Vorian forced a smile of composure, swallowing his panic and bowing his head with devotion.

"No, Your Majesty, not at all," answered Vorian. "I was merely reflecting on what might have happened to Ethan. Could he have lost a battle? Or perhaps he is attempting to claim part of the enemy empire on his own? He is an impetuous boy..."

The Emperor stared at the tactical map for a few long seconds before forming a subtle smirk.

"It could be...", muttered Aurelius, crossing his arms over his chest. "That brat might have tried it... Maintain the front, I will go personally. I want to know what happened over there."

Vorian felt like slapping himself right then and there. In his attempt to talk him out of it, he had motivated him to go check in person.

The situation was spiraling out of control, and panic threatened to shatter his facade. If the Emperor marched to the base with his power, he would uncover the trap, the disappearance of the Golden Eye Regiment, and the execution of his envoys. Vorian needed to think of something urgent before Aurelius set a foot outside the command post.

Before the Emperor could take a step toward the exit, the entrance flap burst open and a bloodied messenger collapsed to his knees, gasping in desperation.

"Your Majesty! It is urgent!" shrieked the messenger, clutching a runic transmission scroll.

"What happened?" demanded Aurelius in an icy voice, halting immediately.

"Sir... wreckage from one of General Ethan’s ships has been discovered," reported the soldier, his face pale. "A border patrol found them outside the protective array. Right now, they are transporting a survivor toward the nearest garrison. He has requested to speak with you and only with you. He claims that General Ethan was ambushed, that the fortress was a trap, and that the Golden Eye Army was exterminated the moment they arrived."

Vorian felt the world come to a standstill around him. The air seemed to drain from his lungs as a surge of panic gripped every inch of his body. The news had arrived at the worst possible moment. He never anticipated that anyone could have survived a hit from the capital’s protective array to bring back the story...