Chapter 238 Chapter236-A Rendezvous Once Again
With the ongoing development of Dark Lord City, its power continually amplified.
Apart from Mia and her allies, whose strengths steadily escalated, a significant number of summoned monsters had now amassed, forming the foundation for a formidable army.
The primary force consisted of these summoned monsters.
Requiring merely basic resources to summon, their individual strengths might be modest, but they made up for it in sheer numbers.
An estimated count of fifty thousand made them the principal military asset of Dark Lord City.
Additionally, there were the monsters of the sandworm lineage.
The sandworms were the most abundant, followed by the Thunder Wyverns, with the Thunder Three-Headed Wyverns being the rarest.
However, a single Thunder Three-Headed Wyvern could decimate all the sandworms.
It was an immensely powerful creature with a plethora of abilities, virtually devoid of any weaknesses.
[Name: Thunder Three-Headed Wyvern (Rare)
Intelligence: Adult Male
Strength: 5 Stars
Soaring Dash: The Thunder Wyvern possesses the ability to fly. Its robust exoskeleton grants formidable resistance against impacts. It can achieve high-speed flight, charging at its enemies with great velocity.
Thunder Strike: The Thunder Wyvern can unleash thunderous bolts, striking its foes and inflicting paralysis.
Dragon Mighty: As a creature of the Dragon lineage, the Thunder Wyvern naturally exudes Dragon Mighty. This presence intimidates beings with a Bloodline purity below 'Rare,' causing a fifty percent reduction in all their attributes.
Three-Headed: The Thunder Three-Headed Wyvern boasts three heads, each endowed with unique elemental capabilities, allowing it to unleash various potent magics. The creature only meets its demise once all three heads are destroyed. Should a head suffer significant damage or obliteration, as long as one remains, the Thunder Three-Headed Wyvern can slowly regenerate.
Thunderbath: Upon death, the Thunder Wyvern can be reborn amidst thunder, though the process takes a considerable amount of time.]
Attributes: HP 120000, Spirit 3000, Strength 910, Constitution 1400, Agility 1350
Enhancement Direction: Flame, Frost, Venom, Space...]
Such overwhelming attributes left Ethan utterly astounded.
Moreover, aside from its incredible traits, the Thunder Three-Headed Wyvern seemed almost immortal.
Unless all three of its heads were destroyed simultaneously, it wouldn't succumb, not to mention it had the Thunderbath ability.
"Oriel has truly gifted me a surprise," Ethan murmured softly.
Just then, Victor entered the room.
A relaxed demeanor graced his face as he greeted Ethan with a smile. "Lord Ethan, according to our intelligence, the armies of the Azure Empire have set forth. Furthermore, Lana Mokos herself leads this expedition. The soldiers in their ranks aren't mere fresh recruits but veterans from the empire's countless battles over the years."
"Understood," Ethan nodded, then turned his gaze to Victor. "Victor, if the command of this battle were entrusted to you, would you be confident in securing a victory?"
Victor didn't respond immediately, instead falling into deep contemplation.
Although he often prided himself on his vast knowledge, being well-versed didn't necessarily imply omnipotence.
Importantly, Victor had no intention of frequently revealing himself to the masses, aware that it might attract unwanted attention.
Moreover, why would Ethan entrust him with command?
This notion left Victor perplexed.
Dark Lord City was built directly under Ethan's guidance, and within its walls, Ethan held unparalleled prestige.
If Ethan were to lead the army, he could undoubtedly ignite an immense combat power within the troops of Dark Lord City.
As for Victor, even though he served as the steward of Dark Lord City – or rather, now the Grand Commander overseeing various affairs both big and small within the city – his influence was nowhere near as profound as Ethan's.
Seemingly sensing Victor's thoughts, Ethan voiced directly, "We might not win this battle."
"We might not win?" Victor exclaimed, taken aback.
In his eyes, while the Azure Empire's forces were indeed formidable, Dark Lord City wasn't without chances.
What could he have possibly overlooked?
Despite racking his brain for a long while, Victor couldn't discern a specific reason.
At that moment, Ethan further elucidated, "Victor, have you considered the price we would have to pay if we were to emerge victorious from this war?"
"A price?"
"Lord Ethan, every endeavor comes with its price."
"Moreover, this war has already garnered the attention of countless eyes. Our Dark Lord City has come under the scrutiny of many. If we fail in this conflict, our city will inevitably become the laughingstock of the masses. Such a reputation would severely hamper our future endeavors," Victor implored.
Ethan nodded, saying, "Victor, I understand everything you have said."
"No one knows better than I do the blood, sweat, and tears that went into establishing the Dark Lord City, or the vast resources it consumed. But this war could very well shatter the newly-formed Dark Lord City into pieces, and that's not what I wish to see."
"The cost is too great."
Victor fell silent.
What Ethan said held truth.
Yet, oftentimes, not everything can be measured in terms of material losses.
Wars aren't solely determined by the might of weaponry; they are also about the faith of an army, the loyalty of each soldier—intangibles that are hard to discern.
However, admitting potential defeat in this war...
Hearing such words from Ethan's lips was a blow to morale.
Noticing Victor's expression, Ethan suddenly let out a hearty laugh and handed Victor a transparent crystal ball.
Then he said proudly, "Victor, take a look. What do you think this is?"
Victor instinctively caught it.
The moment his fingers brushed the crystal ball, it erupted with a burst of blue radiance, conjuring a luminous blue screen in the mid-air.
Clearly inscribed upon it were several lines of text.
[Heart of the City (Bound to Dark Lord City)
Level: Divine Artifact
Affiliation: Ethan
Description: The Heart of the City is an essential relic for elevating a city to a divine realm. The bearer of the Heart gains absolute control over the city and experiences a tenfold increase in strength within its boundaries. Soldiers and monsters loyal to the city will see a significant enhancement in their abilities. Furthermore, upon their demise, their souls will be absorbed by the Heart of the City.
[Current Status:
Dark Lord City
Level: 1
City Size: 6,000 square kilometers
Prosperity: 5
Population: 233
Unlocked Areas: Factory Zone, Residential Zone, Dungeon Zone]
"It's actually this artifact!" A look of astonishment painted Victor's face.
To Ethan's surprise, he asked, "Victor, have you encountered this artifact before?"
You see, this was the prize Ethan received for completing a hidden quest.
That hidden quest was the creation of a city of his own.
In addition to this hidden quest, he had also claimed rewards from previous quests on his path to deity.
This added even more treasures which were in his Space Ring.
However, it seemed that Ethan had indeed reached the peak of his capabilities, unable to advance any further.
Only upon successfully ascending to deity could he continue his progression.
Meanwhile, hearing Ethan's query, Victor shook his head, saying, "I have never laid eyes on this artifact, but I have heard tales of it, intertwined with the secrets of countless ancient kingdoms."
With a chuckle, Victor seemed to relax completely.
When it came to understanding the histories of ancient kingdoms, no one was more knowledgeable than him.
"In the usual hierarchy of nations, there are distinct disparities. At the bottom are the kingdoms, numerous and often minuscule. Even realms with merely a few hundred or a couple of thousand inhabitants can label themselves as kingdoms. Such domains hold little significance."
"Above these kingdoms, we have empires."
"Mighty nations like the Azure Empire, which commands vast territories, legions of elite warriors, and an arsenal of weapons that send chills down one's spine, can rightfully be called empires."
"But that's just it — merely an empire."
"Above these empires lie even more formidable realms."
"The very name of such realms signifies a class in itself. They typically control entire continents, reigning supreme. With the strength of just one of their cities, they can erase any empire from existence easily. Most crucially, within these supreme kingdoms, true deities reside."
"And the ultimate realm is..."
Suddenly, Victor ceased to speak, leaving Ethan hanging on with boundless curiosity.
After a moment, Victor exhaled deeply, a weighty look in his eyes, and pointed upwards.
Above him, the sky was reflected by a space mirror.
"The ultimate realm," he began, "is beyond any description of vastness. They dominate the stars. In their eyes, our wars are as insignificant as ants skirmishing."
"The stars?"
Ethan murmured in quiet awe.
He had always believed that the people of this world had no knowledge of the cosmos.
It seemed his perspective was the one that was limited. And from Victor's words, it was clear that life thrived beyond the starry skies above.
Who could they be?
A profound curiosity enveloped Ethan, almost leaving him breathless.
But there was a pressing question that Victor hadn't addressed, prompting Ethan to inquire, "Victor, how does what you have said relate to the Heart of the City?"
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