The once snowy lands of the northern glacial continent turned into a dark and desolate wasteland, far too different from its former glory. It seemed to have switched sides with the sky which was now bright and clear with the Morning Star's ray of light shining on Elder Flock's stressed face.
He shook his head and went down. It will take years of effort to restore the devastation that the Otherworld has wreaked upon this place.
The entire northerner army has already woken up from their long slumber. The warriors hugged each other after surviving such a dangerous ordeal.
Emilia and Eluard were stacked on one another, unconscious with blood leaking out of their mouths. Elder Flock attended to them and casted a healing spell to reduce the severity of their injuries for the time being.
Xerga approached from nearby and stood behind him.
"How okay are they?"
"Still alive. Their muscles were stressed out, including their organs. They will be fine after a few months' rest.", Elder Flock sighed.
Thankfully, their internal magic system remained intact. Otherwise, he would be worried that his student would end up crippled after closing the rift.
A second later, the ground shook. Several magical beasts arrived on the scene, causing panic amongst the warriors.
"Wh-what is this? We're suddenly surrounded by enemies?", Xerga readied his axe with a complicated expression.
"Halt, they're not enemies!", a loud familiar voice echoed over the small valley, stopping their actions. Everyone raised their heads and saw the high king up in the air before landing on the ground near Xerga. Harrtugg Naaw and Arahon followed behind.
"Brother!"
"Xerga, finally you're awake!"
The brothers hugged each other, "I'll talk to you later, Xerga. For now…"
High King Garron parted ways and asked, "What the hell happened to those two? Why are they in a bad shape?"
"Closing the rift was harder than expected, but still under our hands. It must have retaliated not only to me but to my student and Mr. Kai through their heads.", Elder Flock explained, "But that doesn't matter now. We are ready to go as soon as your army finishes its preparations. I can carry a lot of people around."
"Also, you should realize that the entire northern glacial continent is devastated by that blast earlier. I'm telling you in advance in case you wanted to know of it."
"I-Is that so?", High King Garron's spirits lowered. No one but them and some other lucky ones who weren't here survived.
To have their entire population lowered into hundreds of thousands on a single day, the blood of the frostal polar war bear inside him boiled in anger, livening his spirits once again, "Then I thank you in advance, elder.", High King Garron bowed, swearing to the heavens that the Otherworld will pay dearly for what they have done.
"What about the magical beasts? Will they be quick enough?"
Harrtugg Naaw took a while to answer. He was wondering whether the five other king-level beasts who didn't make it in time were still alive or died in the blast.
"Some of my ground units will arrive later. However, my king-level beasts will suffice. They are swift and can deal with a lot of things you require them to.", Harrtugg Naaw offered.
"Someone should protect Mr. Kai and Miss Emilia, right?", Arahon added.
Before Elder Flock could say something, the frost dragon quickly responded, "My ground units will carry them over. And don't worry, they will have a safe ride if that is what you're so worried about."
"I see.", Elder Flock nodded. He had planned for Haera and the five children to protect Eluard and Emilia, but the magical monsters were more powerful and versatile than them, making it much safer than his original plan.
"If there is nothing else, High King Garron, please.", he gestured.
The high king turned around and faced his lined-up army in front.
"The magical beasts are with us now! They were under the spell of the demonic creatures earlier such was the reason for their havoc!"
The warriors let out gasps one after another. High King Garron let it run for a while before continuing, "The demonic creatures are our true enemies! They have devastated our lands with their powerful demonic beams! They have ravaged our homes and left nothing but ruin in their wake!"
Anger welled up in the army. Many were gripping their weapons tightly and shivering in place. Thoughts flashed in their minds in the blink of an eye.
The demonic creatures did such a thing? Did they destroy and killed everyone but us? The magical beasts were used by them as well?
Their ears perked up as they continued to listen to their high king's speech.
"But do not worry, my dear men! Together with the magical beasts, and an elder from the League of Wizardry, we will march back to our capital, the Arsolo Stronghold, where the damn bastards holed themselves and bring justice to our homeland by killing the interlopers that have come to our lands uninvited!"
At the end of his speech, the warriors valiantly shouted and raised their arms into the air.
High King Garron stared at his men, 'Damn you, demonic creatures! I will not let you off from what you have done!'
"Everyone, prepare yourselves and march!"
…
Arsolo Stronghold.
Erik Siegfried walked to the wooden balcony of their clan's mansion, overlooking the rising smoke in the far distance. His eyes were now devoid of any impurities, yet for some reason, he was emitting a cold and strong aura equivalent to that of a demonic creature.
"Ah, our lords have given us a huge help today. Don't you see it, my dear slave?", he said while dragging the brown hair of a female demi-human whose face was bruised all over.
She was no other than Akane, Emi's big sister.
"You-!"
"It's strange.", Erik drew his face closer to Akane, "You are somewhat resistant to the lord's essence after all this time. I wonder why?"
"It's because I'm not a piece of shit like you!"
Erik chuckled before pushing her away and leaving the balcony. Akane quickly scrambled to the corner, hugging herself and hoping that this nightmare would soon end.
A demon's draconic roar pierced her ears and nearly knocked her out. Akane lay on the floor for a few moments before regaining control of her body and slowly making her way to the railings.
Her head popped out, revealing a massive dark dragon glistening in a scarlet aura, with a pair of similarly colored eyes frantically looking around. This dragon's mouth was open wide, letting out steam fumes and dripping hot saliva.
Akane could tell from the growl that the 'lords' of Erik had summoned a terrifying monstrosity.
It stood hundreds of meters tall and had two sets of black silvery wings as sharp as the tip of a blade. When their eyes met, Akane shrieked and hustled to the inside.
She stumbled on Erik's body on the way and the latter asked, "Have you seen our lord's pet, haven't you? My dear slave?"
"Y-you won't get away with this!", Akane shouted, "Killing innocents, enslaving other people, and cooperating with warlocks or whoever they are!"
"Don't think that the League or the Knights or any other faction would let you get away with it!"
Unbeknownst to her, nobody else but the people inside paid any heed to whatever was happening in the northern glacial continent.
"Why would I worry when there is nothing to worry about?", Erik proudly proclaimed, "Slave girl, you will bow to me sooner or later, and to our lords as well. That strange protection of yours won't last forever. I know it won't."
Even though the undead essence has taken over his mind, Erik still couldn't bring to himself to kill this useless demi-human for some unknown reason. Otherwise, he could have given Akane to Mahiista earlier as part of the ritual's sacrifice.
"Impossible! The scale of this event will surely attract the attention of the higher-ups! Don't act conceited, criminal! Your days are numbered!", Akane stubbornly argued.
Erik had enough of it and slapped her face. The force from a tier 9 knight put her in an unconscious state.
"You don't know how well our lords have planned for this to happen. Even our enemies won't know what's about to hit them."
"As for Norva Assili's throne...", Erik clenched his fists, "It's no longer a major issue. Our alliance with the greater lords will undoubtedly bring me far more than the ruler of a small and disintegrating continent."
"The elders, my father, uncles, and siblings, have passed on the responsibility to me, and I will gladly accept it."
"Sooner or later, Aludia will be entirely in my hands, and mine alone! And Olivia, you bitch! You won't get away from my grasp this time, no matter where you are right now!"
As the situation in the northern glacial continent began to heat up, a large demonic creature crept to the top of a mountain which was facing the border of the volcanic grassy plains and the snowy land of Norva Assili.
When he arrived at the mountain peak, he noticed a humanoid crow gazing peacefully at the scene in front of him.
"Allustro, I don't know what you're trying to do but isn't this a little too early?", the large demonic creature questioned.
He thought that things were supposed to go off at the same time the incident in the Vortex Ascendancy started but this sly crow demon was rushing things ahead?
"This premature execution of the first step is all on Mahiista's impatience, Der Henderral. But it doesn't mean that it won't work as well."
"What do you mean it will work just like any other day, Allustro?!", the man referred to as Der Henderral narrowed his demonic eyes in intrigue.
"I thought I have already discussed it but all the other factions are way too busy to handle whatever is happening here in the northern glacial continent. Each one of them has their problems to attend to and even if they send someone, it will only be a group of nobodies that won't threaten us at all."
The large demonic creature harrumphed, "Such as?"
"The impending civil war in the Sanctuary prevents the elves from acting out despite being neighbors with the northerners."
"The Morning Star Empire is being riddled with that strange disease we have started spreading for a while now."
"Their rival empire, Moonbeam Empire, is on the verge of declaring another war on them."
"The League is busy taking care of other business, particularly on what happened recently in Dulrak's ruins."
"The Knights are busy investigating the cases of disappearances around Aludia."
"The Oriental Oceanic Empire is also busy preparing for the funeral of their deteriorating current ruler."
"The Sandmen are being stressed out by the poisoned water in the desert regions."
"Also, the secular families won't make a move until the League or the Knights asks them for assistance."
"Lastly, the smaller kingdoms and countries won't do a thing, and would likely stay put unless it directly affects them."
The demonic creature interrupted, "Which leaves…"
And Allustro added, "The Heavenly Magic Academy, Der Henderral. Since nobody is looking in this direction, and with such a huge disturbance, our actions here will grab their attention."
"Even if Mahiista fails, it will allow us to glance upon our enemies' strength and the composition of their force."
The demonic creature realized what Allustro has done, "Don't tell me you have planted some of the Broker's experimental tools back at the Dominion?"
Allustro only let out a smile, confirming the large demonic creature's assumptions.
"Mahiista won't be able to handle the Heavenly Magic Academy's strength but that's what I want. Once they are over with him, they won't necessarily seek us directly but rather, liberate our grasp from the nearby regions."
"Now that they know the Otherworld is on the move, they will go to the Sanctuary, insist that a demonic creature is present in the area, and stop the civil war as soon as possible."
The large demonic creature was in doubt, "How come they would go there first? Is it because the civil war is worsening at a quick pace? Or is it because it is the closest to the northern glacial continent?"
"Your answers are part of the truth, Der Henderral. Not only that, I tasked Minjax to curse one of the secular families' prodigies who might still be alive inside the northern glacial continent."
"If I am the Heavenly Magic Academy, I would go in the Sanctuary and ignore the rest, for the time being, giving us a leeway to accelerate or improvise our plans in the other regions as quickly and reliantly as possible.", Allustro concluded.
"You don't want to help Minjax?", the large demonic creature was surprised.
"She is too prideful of herself. She won't last long under the siege of the Heavenly Magic Academy, but ironically, that seems to complement my other plans as well."
The large demonic creature became wary of Allustro. He knew that this guy wasn't blatantly spouting lies.
"Allustro, you crow demon. Just how loyal are you to the Otherworld?"
Allustro chuckled, "With every inch of my body, and every drop of my demonic essence, Der Henderral.", he said before disappearing into the air.
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