Chapter 396: Chapter 395: The Final Battle
Silence followed, Ruk’s expression stiffened, Erel’na’s eyes widened, Varesh nearly stopped breathing, and Vordon’s pupils contracted.
The pressure radiating from the newcomers was terrifying.
Every single one of them was powerful, ridiculously powerful.
Even standing still, they felt like natural disasters disguised as person.
Ruk swallowed, his instincts screamed at him.
Danger.
Danger.
Danger.
The giant minotaur slowly looked from Sorin to Karnessa.
Then to Mhazul, Grathum, and Zurrak.
The more he looked, the more unsettled he became.
Where had Lord Alix found these monsters?
Yesterday, they weren’t here.
Their lord had disappeared for barely a day.
Now he returned with an entire group of terrifying experts.
Only Morgro remained calm.
A smile appeared on the giant’s face.
"Looks like everyone made it."
Gander smiled slightly.
"It’s been a long time."
Morgro nodded.
"It has."
The four immediately noticed something.
Morgro knew them, not only knew them.
He was speaking to them like old acquaintances.
Meanwhile, confusion was growing inside Ruk’s head.
These monsters were far stronger than anything he had expected.
The atmosphere became increasingly awkward.
Fortunately, Alix noticed.
He walked toward the head seat and sat down.
Everyone immediately took their places.
Alix looked at the four confused commanders.
"I’ll explain."
The room immediately became quiet.
Alix calmly continued.
"Yesterday, I returned to my homeland."
Ruk blinked.
"Homeland?"
Alix nodded.
"I recently completed an intercontinental portal."
The four commanders stared.
For a few moments, nobody spoke. Even Erel’na looked stunned.
An intercontinental portal? They weren’t ignorant. They knew what those words meant. Such a thing wasn’t merely expensive.
It was the kind of treasure the top forces would fight wars over.
Yet Alix spoke about it as casually as discussing the weather.
Alix continued.
"The portal is hidden."
"Only a handful of people know its location."
"So keep this information to yourselves."
Everyone immediately nodded.
"Understood, My Lord."
Alix gestured toward the people beside him.
"These are my subordinates from my kingdom."
That answer only created more questions.
His kingdom?
What kind of kingdom could casually produce monsters like these?
He had originally assumed Alix’s kingdom was located on some remote continent.
Perhaps stronger than ordinary nations.
But still limited.
Now that assumption was crumbling completely.
Ruk could sense it.
The black-haired man sitting beside Alix, Gander, though not as strong as the others, he looks dangerous.
Mhazul’s aura felt like a volcano ready to erupt.
Grathum radiated crushing pressure.
Verila’s calm smile somehow felt more dangerous than a drawn weapon.
And Zurrak...
The giant monster looked capable of punching through city walls with his bare hands.
Then there were Sorin and Karnessa.
The two women looked calm and elegant.
Yet their presence alone made the room feel colder.
Even Erel’na couldn’t accurately judge their strength.
Which was perhaps the most frightening thing of all.
Finally, Varesh gathered enough courage to speak.
"My Lord..."
Alix looked toward him.
"Yes?"
Varesh hesitated.
Then asked the question everyone was thinking.
"Exactly how powerful is your kingdom?"
The room instantly became quiet. Every eye turned toward Alix. Even Sorin and the others seemed amused.
Alix thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Let’s just say..."
His gaze swept across the room.
"If I brought my entire army here, this kingdom we’re fighting would probably surrender before the battle even started."
Nobody laughed.
Because the terrifying part was...
They weren’t sure he was joking.
And judging by the calm expressions of Sorin, Gander, Mhazul, and the others...
Their lord might actually be understating things.
----
The meeting continued for several more hours.
Maps were spread across the massive table.
Everything was discussed in detail.
By the time the meeting ended, the plan was already finalized.
Tomorrow would be the final battle. The capital would fall, and nobody in the room doubted it.
The only question was how much resistance the kingdom could still put up.
As everyone stood to leave, Alix gave one final order.
"Get some rest."
His gaze swept across the room.
"Tomorrow, we will conquer this land."
Everyone straightened.
"Yes, My Lord."
One by one, they left the chamber.
The atmosphere throughout Sodon City immediately changed.
Messengers ran through the streets. Officers gathered their troops. Weapons were inspected, armor was repaired.
The entire city moved like a giant machine preparing for war.
Everyone understood what tomorrow meant.
The war that had shaken the kingdom for months was finally reaching its conclusion.
The capital was the last obstacle. Once it fell, everything would be over.
That night, very few people slept.
And when morning finally arrived...
The sky was still dark.
A faint gray light appeared beyond the horizon.
Cold wind swept across the plains outside Sodon City.
Then the horns sounded.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The deep sound echoed for dozens of kilometers.
Countless soldiers immediately moved into position.
The gates of Sodon City slowly opened.
Rumble...
Rumble...
Rumble...
The massive gates revealed a sight that could make entire kingdoms tremble.
An endless army.
Rows upon rows of monster soldiers stretched beyond the horizon.
One million warriors and mages.
A million monsters united under a single banner.
The earth itself seemed unable to bear their weight.
Heavy infantry stood in organized formations.
Massive Minotaurs carried giant war hammers.
Lizardmen warriors held long spears.
Wolfkin soldiers waited with bows and curved blades.
Serpentines moved between the formations. Arachne scouts occupied the flanks. Flying beasts circled overhead.
The army looked endless. Like an ocean made of steel and flesh.
Flags fluttered throughout the battlefield.
The black banner of Alix’s army could be seen everywhere.
At the front stood the elite forces.
Hundreds of thousands of Tier 4 soldiers.
Thousands of Tier 5 commanders. The true backbone of the army. Each one capable of leading thousands of warriors.
Powerful auras filled the air.
The pressure alone was enough to suffocate ordinary soldiers.
At the center of the army stood a massive command platform.
Alix stood at its highest point. His black cloak fluttered in the wind.
Behind him stood the strongest individuals in the entire army.
Ruk.
Erel’na.
Varesh.
Vordon.
Morgro.
Sorin.
Karnessa.
Gander.
Mhazul.
Grathum.
Verila.
And Zurrak.
The moment they appeared, countless soldiers looked toward them.
Many of the Pharanthian monsters had never seen these new generals.
But the pressure radiating from them was terrifying.
Even Morgro couldn’t help glancing at Mhazul.
The two exchanged nods. Neither needed words, both understood.
A powerful battle was approaching.
Mhazul stared toward the distant horizon.
A grin slowly appeared on his face.
"Quasi-Tier 7s."
His fists tightened.
"I hope they don’t disappoint me."
Verila rolled her eyes.
"Don’t be overconfident, that’s still a quasi Tier 7, a higher level than you."
Zurrak cracked his neck.
The sound resembled boulders colliding.
"I agree with you. But fighting one will probably give me joy that those peak tier 6 can’t give."
Even Sorin and Karnessa looked calmer than usual.
There was no nervousness.
Only anticipation.
Below them, countless soldiers watched their generals.
The confidence of their leaders spread throughout the ranks.
Fear slowly disappeared, excitement replaced it.
Then silence gradually spread across the battlefield.
Because Alix had stepped forward.
A million soldiers immediately looked toward him.
The battlefield became completely still. Even the wind seemed quieter.
Alix looked across the endless army. Monsters from hundreds of tribes. Many of them had once been slaves.
Some had been hunted, and lost everything. Yet today they stood together. Not as scattered tribes, or victims, but as an army.
A powerful army.
Alix’s voice spread across the battlefield.
Calm.
Clear.
Yet heard by every single soldier.
"Today is the final battle."
The army remained silent.bEvery warrior listened.
"The enemy’s capital stands before us."
"The kingdom that hunted your people."
"The kingdom that enslaved your families."
"The kingdom that treated monsters as nothing more than tools."
Countless eyes began to burn with anger.
Many soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons.
Alix continued.
"They believed monsters would never unite."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"They were wrong."
The army erupted.
ROOOOOOOAR!
The deafening roar shook the heavens. Weapons rose into the air. A million voices thundered together.
The ground trembled beneath their feet. Even experienced commanders felt chills.
Alix slowly raised his hand, the army immediately fell silent again.
Then he pointed toward the distant horizon.
Toward the enemy capital.
"March."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The war drums exploded into life.
One million soldiers began moving forward.
Like an unstoppable tide. And far in the distance, beyond the horizon...
The capital awaited them.
