Chapter 1657: The Power of the King

Lucas and Lory were engaged in a game of chess in the glasshouse garden, surrounded by the quiet beauty of greenery and the soft rustle of leaves. Sunlight filtered through the glass panels overhead, casting a gentle glow over the garden and illuminating the chessboard between them.

Neither of them appeared particularly invested in winning. Their postures remained relaxed, devoid of any sense of urgency, as though the game were merely a pleasant way to pass the time rather than a contest demanding their full attention.

Lory sat comfortably in her chair, a folded blanket draped neatly across her lap. She lifted her teacup and took a leisurely sip, savouring the warmth of the tea before lowering it to its saucer.

Her gaze returned to the chessboard, where the pieces stood in their carefully arranged positions. After a moment of consideration, she reached forward and moved one of her pieces.

"Theodore must be furious because of what Li Xin did," she remarked casually, her attention fixed on the board.

Lucas studied her move for a brief moment before reaching for one of his own pieces. With a measured motion, he moved his knight to counter her advance, his expression remaining composed.

"And Alexander will be panicking because Jade managed to purify the land." He settled his hand back beside the chessboard, his gaze following the arrangement of the pieces. "Their saintess has been losing her value by the day. Soon, she will be rendered useless."

Lory paused, her fingers resting lightly against the handle of her teacup. She looked up at Lucas, a faint crease forming between her brows. "What do you think will happen to her?"

Lucas glanced at her before returning his attention to the board. He reached for one of his pieces and moved it forward, capturing one of Lory’s in the process. "It won’t be good for her, that’s I know for certain."

He lifted his eyes to meet hers, his expression calm but thoughtful. "Are you worried?"

"A little." Lory lowered her gaze to the chessboard, studying the position of the remaining pieces. "I’m still not sure whether she willingly became involved in this or simply stumbled into it."

Lucas regarded her for a moment, his fingers resting lightly against the edge of the chessboard. His expression remained composed, betraying little of what might have been passing through his mind.

"We know about her Ashen Gift," he said, his voice steady. "And we know what happens to the people who become her sacrifices."

Having spoken, Lucas leaned back in his chair, settling into the cushions with an unhurried ease. Yet, despite his relaxed posture, there was an unmistakable authority in the way he carried himself.

A kingly aura seemed to emanate from him, sharp and weighty, commanding attention without the need for deliberate effort. Even in the tranquil surroundings of the glasshouse garden, his presence possessed a certain heaviness, as though the world itself were expected to yield to his judgment.

"Alinna has been with the S.A.I.N.T. organization for far too long," he continued, his gaze resting on the chessboard. "She should have noticed that something was wrong by now, just like Olivia and Jessi did."

His fingers tapped idly against the armrest of his chair before he continued, his tone carrying a quiet certainty. "It’s impossible to remain oblivious for so long."

Lory fell silent, considering his words. Her gaze lingered on the chess pieces, though her attention seemed to have wandered from the game. There was a certain logic to Lucas’s reasoning, one she could not easily dismiss.

Alinna had spent considerable time within the organization. Surely, she must have encountered something that ought to have aroused her suspicions.

"I suppose you’re right," she conceded at last.

"They’re already losing their patience, Lory." Lucas’s voice broke the silence, his expression turning grim as he considered the situation. "More and more people are getting infected by the seeds, and many of them are Gifted."

He paused, his gaze darkening with concern. "And I have a feeling the war..." He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing, his tone growing heavier. "...is getting closer."

"And we’ll be ready for that, as always." Lory placed her chess piece on the board, her expression calm and resolute. Whatever awaited them, they would face it together, just as they always had.

Fredhardt strode into the greenhouse, his long strides carrying him swiftly across the room. The tranquil atmosphere was broken by his sudden arrival, and the urgency in his movements immediately drew their attention.

"There’s a Bael horde attacking our border. Fargo and the boys have already gone to deal with them," he reported.

His voice remained calm, almost unnervingly so, but beneath its steady tone lay an unmistakable sense of urgency. Whatever was happening at the border, it was serious enough to demand their immediate attention.

Lory lifted her gaze from the chessboard. "How big is the horde?"

"One hundred, perhaps two hundred Baels. All sizes." Fredhardt delivered the answer without hesitation, or anxiety in his face. Even though, the sheer number alone was enough to make the situation concerning, especially with the creatures coming in such a variety of sizes.

Lucas pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. His expression remained composed, betraying little of what he thought of the news. He glanced briefly at Lory before turning toward Fredhardt.

"I’ll check on it." He spoke with the same measured authority as always, as though the sudden threat at the border were merely another matter requiring his attention.

Without wasting another moment, he started toward the door, Fredhardt falling into step beside him. Before leaving, Lucas cast Lory a pointed look.

"You stay here, and don’t do anything... reckless; remember, you’re pregnant." The warning was firm, leaving little room for argument.

He knew her well enough to anticipate that she might want to do something herself, but he had no intention of allowing her to put herself in danger.

"As you wish Your Majesty" Lory give playful smile to her brother.

However, her smile disappeared as she watched them leave, uneasiness settling in her chest despite knowing there was little she could do to help from the greenhouse. However, they were right; given her condition, she was nothing but dead weight.

Not long after, Zhao Li Xin entered the greenhouse. His usual cold expression softened almost imperceptibly the moment his gaze landed on Lory. It was a warmth that rarely surfaced in front of others, yet came naturally whenever he looked at her.

He crossed the room without haste and stopped beside her chair. His eyes lingered on her face for a moment before he reached down to adjust the blanket draped around her, carefully tucking it into place as though the small gesture alone could ease whatever was troubling her.

"Worried?" The question was brief, his voice low and gentle.

Lory looked up at him and offered a small smile.

Between them, there was a quiet understanding that had grown beyond the need for explanations. Sometimes, a single glance was enough to reveal what the other was thinking. There were things they no longer needed to put into words, feelings that passed between them as naturally as breathing.

Zhao Li Xin seemed to understand her concern without needing her to say anything more. He pulled out the chair Lucas had occupied earlier and sat down beside the chessboard. Rather than continuing the conversation immediately, he studied the pieces for a moment, taking in the unfinished game Lucas had left behind.

Then, with unhurried movements, he reached for a piece and continued Lucas’s chess game, as though resuming the interrupted match were the most natural thing in the world.

"Worry not," he said, his attention still on the board. "They’re stronger than you give them credit for."

His tone carried a quiet confidence, the sort that came from knowing the people they had sent to the border. He had faith in their abilities, and he saw no reason to doubt that they could handle the situation.

Still, Lory’s gaze drifted back toward the chessboard without much focus. Her fingers rested lightly against the edge of her blanket, but her thoughts remained with the people who had just left.

"I know," she murmured. "Still, I can’t help but worry."

She understood that Fargo and the others were capable fighters. She knew Lucas would not hesitate to intervene if the situation demanded it, and Zhao Li Xin’s confidence should have been enough to reassure her.

Yet knowing they were strong did not make the thought of them facing a horde of Baels any less unsettling.

Zhao Li Xin turned his head to look at her. Seeing the concern that lingered in her eyes, he offered her a coaxing smile, his expression gentle in a way few people ever had the privilege of witnessing.

"But you help them by staying here. Stay safe by my side," he said softly.

There was no reproach in his words, only reassurance. He was not dismissing her worries or telling her that she had no reason to be concerned. Rather, he wanted her to understand that there was a reason for her to remain where she was, and that trusting the others was also a way of helping them.

Lory held his gaze for a moment before lowering her eyes. "I know."

She drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to settle the uneasiness gathering in her chest. Then she turned her attention back to the chessboard, watching as Zhao Li Xin moved another piece across the squares.

For the moment, there was nothing else she could do but wait and trust that everyone would return safely.

_______________________________________

From the aircraft, the battlefield unfolded beneath them like a scene from a nightmare. A horde of Baels surged toward the border gate, their monstrous bodies resembling twisted trees wrapped in thick vines and tangled branches.

They hurled themselves against the protective shield, each impact sending ripples of light racing across its surface. The barrier held firm, refusing to yield beneath the relentless assault.

But the sight was far from reassuring.

Below, soldiers moved in disciplined formations, fighting to keep the horde at bay. Fargo, Jay, and Clifford had already brought down several Baels, yet their fallen bodies did little to slow the advance. More monsters emerged from the distance, their numbers seemingly endless.

Lucas watched in silence, his gaze sharpening.

The shield would not break so easily. However, allowing the Baels to continue battering it was another matter entirely. There was no reason to let the enemy exhaust their defenses when the threat could be dealt with directly.

"Soldier, fly us outside the shield." The command was calm, leaving no room for hesitation.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The pilot immediately adjusted the aircraft’s course, steering it toward the edge of the protective barrier. Beside Lucas, Fredhardt glanced at his king and understood his intention at once.

Without asking a question, he reached into his spatial ring and drew out his twin swords. The blades flashed beneath the light filtering through the aircraft windows. Soon after, the aircraft crossed the barrier, and the moment it cleared the shield, Lucas moved.

"You leave after we land," Lucas said to the pilot.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the pilot replied.

Lucas leaped from the aircraft. Wind roared past him as he plunged toward the battlefield, the ground rushing closer with every passing second. Yet there was no trace of panic in his movements. He descended as though the terrifying distance meant nothing to him.

His boots struck the earth. Dust burst outward around his feet, but Lucas remained perfectly steady, his posture unshaken by the tremendous drop.

Fredhardt followed moments later, landing beside him with equal ease. His twin swords were already in hand, their edges catching the light as he turned toward the approaching horde.

Then Lucas raised his hand, and immediately, a surge of power stirred around him. From that force, one of the Seven Gods’ Swords materialized—the legendary Calamity.

The gigantic broadsword appeared in his grasp, its silver-steel blade etched with luminous white markings. Light coursed through the engravings, illuminating the weapon’s immense edge. It was a weapon built for devastation, yet Lucas held it with effortless command.

Ahead, the Baels continued their charge, their monstrous forms shaking the earth beneath their feet. Vines writhed across their bodies, and twisted branches scraped against one another as they pressed forward, oblivious to the danger that had just descended into their path.

Lucas lowered the Calamity, its massive blade gleaming with cold, white light. One swing was enough to slaughter dozens of Baels, yet he advanced without haste, his movements calm and unhurried.

"Ready for another round, brother?" he asked, glancing at Fredhardt with a faint smirk.

"Lory will be jealous," Fredhardt replied with a grin, shifting into his fighting stance.

"She certainly will." Lucas chuckled.

In the next instant, the Bael horde surged toward them, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Lucas’s violet eyes gleamed with delight, while Fredhardt’s grin widened with barely contained excitement. It seemed they were both looking forward to this.