Shelly's expression turned grave, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and urgency. "Madam, this is not a personal matter. It concerns an S-Rank danger," she revealed, the weight of her words settling heavily upon the room.
Marinda's annoyance dissipated, her eyes widening with surprise. She set aside her work, her attention fully captured. "An S-Rank danger? Do you even comprehend the magnitude of such a classification?" she questioned, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Shelly approached Marinda, extending the tablet. "Madam, please take a look," she urged, her voice conveying the gravity of the situation.
Marinda's face grew increasingly somber as she perused the contents of the tablet. Four simple words escaped her lips, laden with concern, "How much time remains?"
Shelly's voice held a sense of urgency as she answered, "Approximately 20 hours, Madam."
Marinda's mind raced, her thoughts consumed by the looming catastrophe. "Damn, less than a day...," she muttered, her voice filled with determination. Her eyes turned steely, her gaze fixed on the raindrops cascading down the windowpane.
"What unfolds in our kingdom?" Marinda questioned, her voice a whisper carried away by the pitter-patter of rain.
Shelly hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with concern. "Madam, should I recall all the young Madams as well?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of apprehension and resolve.
Marinda's expression hardened, her eyes blazing with determination. "Yes, and contact the Elf Kingdom as well. It's time for them to honor the debt they owe us," she declared, her voice laced with authority.
"What does this storm brings with it?" she murmured, her voice barely audible, lost amidst the rain's gentle melody.
House of the Dragon Flames...
"Sir, it's an emergency." The door of the family leader's room burst open as a knight rushed in, his breath heavy and face filled with urgency.
Bolge, in the midst of his rigorous sword training, swiftly turned towards the knight, his sword raised, and a deadly serious expression etched on his face.
"You'd better give me a damn good reason to spare your pathetic life, or forget about walking out of here alive," Bolge spoke, his voice laced with a chilling authority.
"M-My lord, an S-Rank danger is approaching the royal capital. The elders of the house are waiting for you in the meeting room. Sir Griffith ordered me to call you immediately. Please, spare me," the knight pleaded, his voice quivering.
Bolge's intense gaze never wavered as he slowly lowered his sword, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"What is your name again?" Bolge asked, his voice demanding respect.
"I am John, Sir," the knight replied, his voice filled with both fear and reverence.
"John, you have shown bravery today. Now tell me, where is the third knight captain?" Bolge inquired, his voice carrying a sense of purpose.
"Sir, Lady Silk has been missing since yesterday evening. We have launched a search, but so far, we have found no trace of her," John answered, his voice tinged with concern.
"Good, John. Stand up," Bolge commanded, his tone unwavering.
John rose to his feet, his gaze meeting Bolge's unwavering stare, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his eyes.
"John, from this moment forward, you are the new third knight captain," Bolge declared with conviction.
"Y-Yes, sir?" John stammered, clearly taken aback by the sudden promotion.
"Yes, unless you have any objections. Speak now, or gather the knights of your platoon," Bolge stated firmly, his voice brooking no dissent.
"But, sir, who would listen to a knight like me?" John questioned, his voice laced with self-doubt.
"Consider this your promotion," Bolge said, his hand igniting in flames. From the flames, he produced a badge adorned with a fearsome dragon emblem.
With a swift motion, Bolge tossed the badge to John, who caught it in awe.
"Do you have any further questions, Third Knight Captain?" Bolge asked, his voice resonating with authority.
"Huh...? N-No, sir," John replied, a mixture of astonishment and gratitude evident in his voice.
"Then go and gather your platoon," Bolge's voice boomed, commanding respect like that of a seasoned army general.
"Y-Yes, Sir," John replied, his voice filled with newfound determination as he promptly left the room.
"Where are you, Silk? You chose the worst possible time to vanish. First, Anon disappears, and now you. What a mess," Bolge muttered to himself as he finished dressing and made his way towards the meeting room.
As Bolge entered the meeting room, he was greeted by a round table filled with elder members of the house, their eyes fixed upon a massive screen displaying millions of undead creatures marching relentlessly towards the royal capital from the depths of the nightmare forest.
"Greetings, grandpas. What is the situation?" Bolge inquired, his voice filled with both curiosity and authority, as he walked in and took a seat in the largest chair in the room.
"An S-Rank Danger is approaching the royal capital," Griffith, an elderly man in his seventies, responded, his voice resonating with experience and wisdom.
"Well, can we annihilate them or not?" Bolge asked bluntly, his gaze fixed on the screen.
"No, these creatures are mindless zombies, devoid of emotions or senses. They feel no fear, no anger, and no pain," a bespectacled man stood up, his voice conveying a sense of concern.
"You call that an S-Rank danger? They are simply mindless vegetables walking towards us. Just cut them into a thousand pieces, and they won't be able to fight back, right? They lack a mind, after all," Bolge scoffed, his expression carefree and confident.
Griffith exchanged a knowing glance with the others before speaking. "Show him."
"Yes, sir," the bespectacled man responded, playing another video on the screen.
The video displayed a zombie slowly approaching an eight-legged arcane spider, its relentless pace undeterred by the spider's presence.
"Is that an eight-legged arcane spider? I've hunted a few before. Their armor is remarkably sturdy, and their legs sharper than any sword," Bolge remarked, his eyes focused on the screen.
"Their body parts are used to craft the strongest armor in the kingdom, sir," the bespectacled man confirmed, his voice carrying a note of caution.
As the video continued, the zombie closed in on the arcane spider, its unyielding determination evident.
In a defensive move, the spider lunged, its sharp legs striking the zombie's body with full force.
To everyone's astonishment, upon contact, the spider's legs shattered into fragments, like glass hitting a stone wall.
Bolge's eyes widened in both surprise and realization, a newfound respect for the undead threat growing within him.
"What was that?" Bolge asked, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and intrigue.
"That's not all, sir. Please, continue watching," Griffith spoke, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
As the video progressed, the arcane spider, recognizing the danger posed by the zombie, attempted to retreat, darting away with impressive speed.
Yet, to everyone's shock, the zombie seized the spider's leg, wrenching it back with a strength that defied its undead nature.
With a savage hunger, the zombie sank its teeth into the spider's thick, resilient exoskeleton, its determination unyielding.
The room fell silent, the observers witnessing the grotesque scene unfold before their eyes.
"What the hell is that?" Bolge exclaimed, a mixture of disbelief and newfound respect in his voice, as the realization of the threat dawned upon him.
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