The sky was shrouded in dark clouds, mirroring the somber mood of the crowd. Grace, her usual cheerfulness absent, stood rigidly serious as she delivered her report to Kael with meticulous precision.
"This morning, our scouts detected traces of the Reynolds Family. They've dispatched a cavalry unit—around five thousand strong—led by their second-in-command, Zev," Grace reported.
"Their objective is clear. They're coming for us, and they're moving stealthily. If not for our constant surveillance, we might have missed them entirely." Her expression was grave.
Five thousand cavalry… with Zev himself leading them?
Kael's brow furrowed. The Reynolds Family was coming in full force, and this was undoubtedly a fight to the death. He had expected them to send at most a Level 10 expert, but now they'd brought an entire army.
Grace hesitated briefly before continuing, "This cavalry is likely the Reynolds' elite force—the 'Black Eagle Guard.' Even in the Kingdom of Mide, their reputation is formidable."
Kael nodded. He would never underestimate his enemy, but neither did he feel the slightest fear.
Now that he'd reached Level 10, he had the power to stand against the Reynolds Family!
"The Black Eagle Guard… Oh, I know them well." Lone Wolf's voice was laced with venom, his eyes burning with hatred. Clearly, he had a deep-seated grudge against them—perhaps they'd even played a role in his clan's destruction.
Baring his teeth in a grin that held no warmth, Lone Wolf growled, "Leave the Black Eagle Guard to me. Just make sure someone keeps Zev occupied!"
At this moment, Lone Wolf radiated a feral, unyielding confidence, every bit the lone predator his name suggested. Vengeance was the only thing driving him now.
Kael considered this silently. Lone Wolf mastered the Ancient Octagonal Formation, and with the elite soldiers and superior equipment of Laphie Territory, taking on five thousand Black Eagle Guards shouldn't be impossible.
Besides, it was time for Laphie's army to be tested in true battle.
An army that has never tasted blood and steel can never truly grow.
"Alert everyone in Laphie City. Civilians are forbidden from leaving the city walls. Military operations will be under Lone Wolf's command, with Finn and Jett assisting," Kael ordered, ensuring all preparations were made.
Lone Wolf was deeply moved. Kael had entrusted him with full military authority—a gesture that stirred gratitude in the hardened warrior. Kael himself was indifferent; military strategy wasn't his forte, but Lone Wolf was a master of it.
Lone Wolf immediately set to work.
Kael turned to Grace. "Little Junior Sister, you should stay in the Tower of Hope. With Master Ethan there, I'll feel more at ease." Ethan's strength was unquestionable, but due to his unique status and certain continental protocols, he couldn't interfere directly in Kael's conflict with the Reynolds Family.
Still, protecting Grace was well within Ethan's purview—Kael simply didn't want her dragged into the fray.
"No!" Grace shook her head vehemently. "Senior Brother, I'm a Level 6 mage now! I want to help you! How can I stand by when you're in danger?"
Her refusal was instant and unyielding, her resolve ironclad.
Kael smiled faintly. He'd never seen this stubborn side of Grace before. She met his gaze without backing down, her chin raised defiantly, her posture radiating determination.
Truth be told, in this moment, Grace carried herself with the regal bearing of a queen—unmistakably the heir of the Empire of Gui, every bit her mother's daughter.
Under her unwavering stare, Kael relented slightly. "Fine, you can join the fight—but only in secure zones. If you're ever in danger, I'll have Master intervene immediately."
Grace's eyes lit up. She nodded eagerly, her earlier defiance melting into sunny enthusiasm. "Don't worry, Senior Brother! I'll be careful!"
Her whiplash-inducing mood shift left Kael momentarily speechless—he couldn't shake the feeling he'd been played.
"This girl…" Kael sighed as he watched Grace skip away cheerfully. She'd outmaneuvered him at his own game.
Yet, Grace's identity was itself a powerful shield. The mere fact of her lineage would give the Reynolds Family pause.
Compared to the Empire of Gui—the Eastern Continent's undisputed hegemon—the Reynolds Family was insignificant!
As tension thickened, Laphie Territory mobilized with disciplined efficiency, every citizen and soldier falling into place without panic. Lone Wolf's leadership was impeccable.
A cold smirk curled Lone Wolf's lips as he oversaw the troops' deployment.
At the same time, the Unicorn Rhino herd—which had been resting underground—was also mobilized by Kael. Over a hundred Unicorn Rhinos and Snow Bear Beastsformed Kael's "First Legion."
The moment Alaric the Unicorn Rhino emerged, he puffed out his chest and swaggered up to Kael. "Kael, time for another fight, eh? Don't worry, leave it to us! But… the roasted meat…" He grinned slyly, his meaning crystal clear.
These gluttons…
Kael chuckled, feeling a pang of warmth at seeing Alaric again. With a grand wave, he declared, "Relax. After this battle, I'll buy a ranch in the Empire of Gui—just for your lamb feasts!"
After all, a ranch in the Empire cost no more than 100,000 gold coins—a pittance for Kael now.
The Unicorn Rhinos and Snow Bear Beasts perked up instantly, their eyes gleaming, mouths nearly watering.
Alaric gulped audibly, nodding like a metronome. "Kael, you're a true brother! I hereby declare that your dream is now the great Alaric's dream! Whoever dares oppose you, we'll trample them flat!"
Kael smiled faintly and began assigning tasks to the rhinos.
"Oh no! These rhinos are shameless flatterers! Now I've got fierce competition!" The little kitten, sensing a threat to her status, immediately scampered to Kael's side, putting on her most adorable act.
"Little kitten, can you still produce that 'Mystic Smoke' from last time?" Kael asked.
During their last encounter with Zev, it was the kitten's Mystic Smoke that had blinded Zev at the critical moment, allowing Kael to escape.
"Of course! This lady's draconic talents are peerless!" the kitten declared proudly.
"Good. Fight alongside me, and I'll reward you with 500 gold coins," Kael said, shamelessly exploiting her greed.
To his surprise, the kitten's eyes lit up like stars. She nodded furiously, overjoyed—500 gold was a king's ransom in her eyes.
With everything in place, the forces of Laphie Territory had completed their covert deployments. The territory currently boasted a garrison of over ten thousand soldiers, though most were green recruits who had only undergone basic training under Lone Wolf's command. Of course, there were also elite units—such as the reorganized mercenary band from Lone Wolf's former days.
The quality of these troops varied widely, and a major battle was exactly what they needed to temper their cohesion. Thus, from Kael's perspective, the Reynolds Family's assault wasn't entirely a bad thing.
Of course, that was only if he won.
Kael exhaled slowly, his gaze steady as he observed the movements of his assembled forces.
There was no turning back now. Victory was the only option.
With preparations complete, all that remained was a waiting game—one where Kael held the advantage of fighting on home ground.
The surroundings fell into an eerie silence. Kael expanded his spiritual sense, scanning the area with hidden precision.
Time passed imperceptibly.
Then—a faint, almost inaudible sound. Kael's brow relaxed momentarily before tightening again.
"Movement detected."
Though the noise was minuscule, Kael's heightened perception caught it.
"All units, alert!" His voice boomed like thunder in every soldier's mind, sharpening their focus instantly.
Yet, the recruits exchanged confused glances. Their untrained ears couldn't detect the distant signs. Still, thanks to Lone Wolf's drills, they snapped into disciplined readiness without hesitation.
Soon, the earth began to tremble faintly. On the distant horizon, a tide of black-armored cavalry emerged, their forms dark against the skyline.
The Reynolds Family had arrived.