Chapter 68 The Last Hope

Chapter 68: 68 The Last Hope

68

The Last Hope

"I have a possibility of saving your people while keeping your territory."

The princess took a step toward him.

"What possibility? Tell me quickly, and don’t play games with me."

Yun Che did not answer immediately. He simply stared at her through the white mask.

"I never play games. If I’m saying it, it’s because I truly can. But for this to happen, there is a condition."

She frowned.

"What condition?"

"You will have to obey me completely and follow my arrangements regardless of the risks."

Because his cultivation had fallen to the lowest level possible, he could no longer summon his Apocalypse Knights and therefore had neither subordinates nor a combat force.

As weak as he was, anyone could take his life, and he did not want to be turned to stone by a Medusa. Unfortunately, he would only have the princess to carry out his arrangements.

The princess remained silent.

"Obey you in what? What do you have in mind?"

"Everything I order. You will be my temporary servant."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Your servant? Is that what you want me to be for you, and my people will be saved?"

"Yes."

Yun Che answered without hesitation:

"Even if I ordered you to do something that could kill you, would you still be willing to follow my arrangements?"

The silence between them grew heavy. The princess did not retreat or ask again. She simply took a deep breath.

"If this can truly save my people..."

She raised her eyes.

"I would do it."

Yun Che remained motionless.

"Even if I have to sell my own soul."

Those words made Yun Che observe her for several seconds.

She was not joking. There was no fear in her expression, only a strong and unshakable determination.

Yun Che finally understood how far a Medusa was willing to go for her people. If at least most of them possessed this kind of resolve, then he could use them in his plans.

He could trust them and rely on them to carry out the plans he had in mind.

Not because they were strong. Rather, because they would be loyal warriors, and when the moment came to choose between her own life and the survival of her people, the princess had not hesitated.

"Then it’s decided."

Before the princess could ask what he intended to do, a voice came from the distance.

"Princess!"

The two looked toward the passage. Two Medusas came running along the mountainside, both of them panting.

One of them stopped several meters in front of them.

"Princess!"

She tried to catch her breath.

"Your Highness needs to return immediately."

The princess frowned.

"What happened?"

"The messengers have returned."

Yun Che narrowed his eyes behind the mask as the warrior continued:

"The envoys of the Earth Elementals have arrived."

She took a deep breath.

"And the envoys of the Fire Elementals as well."

The wind swept through the mountains again. Yun Che remained silent, his expression hidden behind the white mask.

But inside his mind, a new possibility was beginning to take shape.

He had one day left before his death.

The doors to the council hall opened before the guards could even finish announcing the arrival of the messengers.

Two groups entered almost simultaneously. One of them wore clothing made from earthy materials, simple and heavy, without any unnecessary ornamentation.

The other wore clothing in reddish tones, and even the presence of those representatives seemed to carry a different kind of pressure. Their humanoid bodies were covered in living flames.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

Everyone in the room knew why those envoys had been summoned. They also knew that their words could determine the fate of thousands of Medusas.

Ariselle remained seated at the head of the table. The small serpents that formed her hair moved slowly, reflecting the tension she was trying to keep under control.

"I will begin this meeting. You may speak."

The envoy of the Earth Elementals stepped forward, his rocky body exuding simplicity and calmness.

He showed neither arrogance nor compassion. His expression was simply neutral.

"I bring the answer of our people."

The room fell silent.

"The words of our leadership are simple. The Earth Elementals will not participate in this war."

Vaelra immediately narrowed her eyes.

"They will not participate? You came here only to tell us that you won’t participate in the war?"

The envoy nodded.

"No."

Thesira placed both hands on the table.

"Do you know how many enemies are marching toward this territory?"

"We do."

"Do you know that there are tens of thousands of warriors?"

"We do."

"Do you know that there are cultivators at the same level as the territorial leaders?"

"We are also aware of that. We possess the corresponding intelligence."

Thesira took a deep breath.

"Then why are you refusing our request for help? Is it really too much to ask for a few Earth Elemental soldiers?"

The Earth Elemental answered without changing his calm tone.

"Because we do not enter wars between races."

Vaelra let out a short laugh without any humor.

"A convenient rule."

The envoy did not react.

"It is not a rule created for convenience. It is a position maintained for generations. The Earth Elementals do not interfere in territorial conflicts between other races. We would only fight if our own people were directly attacked."

Nysara watched attentively.

"So you don’t intend to do anything at all? You simply left your rocky body here waiting for my territory to fall, is that it?"

"I did not say that."

The envoy looked at Ariselle.

"We recognize the seriousness of the situation. We regret the losses suffered by the Medusas. We hope that you manage to survive."

For a moment, no one answered. Those words were polite, but they meant nothing.

We hope you manage to survive.

The true message was simple.

We will not help you.

Ariselle closed her eyes for several seconds. When she opened them again, her expression remained controlled.

"I understand."

The envoy slightly inclined his head.

"Then that is our answer."

He stepped away, without a promise, a soldier, or reinforcement.

The first source of possible hope had disappeared, and then the envoy of the Earth Elementals left the hall.

Silence remained.

Zhao Ming was the first to break it.

"That was exactly what I expected."

Lian Yue looked at him.

"You expected them to refuse the Queen’s request for help?"

"Yes."

Zhao Ming crossed his arms.

"A people that avoids wars won’t send thousands of soldiers just because the Medusas asked."

Su Meilin did not respond. She simply looked at the second delegation. The Fire Elementals were still there.

And their presence seemed to announce that the second answer would be different.

Ariselle turned toward them.

"And you?"

The representative of the Fire Elementals stepped forward, and this time, there was no attempt to soften his words.

"The Medusas have lost control of their own territory. That fact has reached us."

Vaelra immediately stood up.

"What do you mean?"

The representative continued, paying no attention to the Queen’s question.

"You were unable to protect your mountains. Your defenses were destroyed. Your enemies are gathering a force far greater than yours. And now you seek help from other races."

Thesira clenched her fists.

"Choose your next words carefully. You are not in your own home. Wash your mouth before speaking to our Queen like that."

"There is no need for threats."

The representative looked directly at her.

"We came to present a proposal that will save your people. Therefore, you are the one who should wash your mouth before speaking to me."

Ariselle gestured for Thesira to remain silent.