Free Web NovelChapter 256: A Different Situation
’This... this is different.’
The thought occurred to White as he rode through the massive gates on horseback.
All around him, a massive crowd rapidly gathered, singing praises of his name, adoration visible in their eyes.
’This is very different.’
It was unlike the first test, when he had been a Royal Guard with everyone looking at him in fear that he would kill one of their own.
This time, from what he could hear, he was a beloved and heroic commander, a man of the kingdom, and even his own soldiers greatly respected him.
It was a significant positive change, but all of it only made White even more wary.
He raised his hands slightly, clenching and unclenching them, his brows furrowing lightly.
’My strength... it’s gone once more.’
He mused to himself.
His current strength was just like at the beginning of his previous test: the Star Realm, barely above the standards of a normal human.
He looked around and noticed many of his soldiers were at about the same level of strength.
There was no essence energy or any sign of cultivation.
Everyone here possessed the strength of an ordinary human.
He picked up on the sound of a horse’s hoof moving slightly faster and turned his head as a hefty man on a black horse rode to his side, leaning forward and whispering in his ear.
"We could take a break and head straight to your Guard Empire first, or we can continue on and answer the King’s Calling."
"Which would you have us carry out first, my Lord?"
He asked, and White only gave it a moment’s thought before replying.
"We head straight for His Majesty."
"Then it’s just up ahead, my Lord. By the tallest castle."
White gazed forward and it was indeed a prominent building.
"Hyaaaah!"
The horses began to gallop forward, dust flying as they rushed onward amidst the excited screams of the kingdom’s people.
’Hopefully, I won’t be forced into failing them this time.’
White thought as the cheers faded into the distance and they arrived before a massive, gold-plated castle that stood nearly a hundred meters tall.
Guards were already waiting, stepping down toward them as they all dismounted.
"His Majesty awaits you... and only you, Commander Mallory."
the guard said.
White’s brow creased slightly, but he understood and reacted quickly. freeweɓnøvel.com
Signaling to the hefty guard, he commanded,
"Settle the men back in my Guard Empire. I shall join you soon."
"Yes, my Lord."
they replied, and their horses continued on, taking a detour.
White followed behind the guard, the two of them entering the palace.
---
"Commander Mallory!"
A thick voice barreled through the throne room the moment White pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.
He immediately spotted the golden-haired, lanky man seated upon the throne, a golden crown resting atop his head.
Around him, arranged in a circle, stood a total of six men, some with frowns on their faces and others wearing neutral yet stubborn expressions.
It seemed he had arrived in the midst of a heated meeting.
"Your Majesty."
he greeted with a bow.
"Please raise your head, Commander. And I pray you find it in your heart to forgive me for my sudden summons."
he said.
"I’m sure it was a necessity."
White replied curtly.
"You could not be more right, Commander. The kingdom is indeed facing a great danger."
he said, and White couldn’t say he was surprised. It was all a test afterall.
"And as the mightiest and most beloved Commander of the Kingdom, I believe it’s best that you’re immediately notified."
He continued before settling back onto his throne.
One of the six men around him then rose to his feet.
"We received this letter by the Hell Eagle just a day ago."
he said, and a scroll came flying forward.
White grabbed it easily, unrolling it and reading as the Chief continued.
"It contains a threat of attack from the Hellwrath Kingdom, the mightiest war kingdom in the Wraith Territory."
"Their reputation as a Conqueror Kingdom is well known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, with the foreboding record of never once failing to conquer a kingdom upon which they have set their sights upon."
White’s brows knitted together.
Another of the Chiefs continued.
"Our kingdom is but a small nation on the outer territory of the Seven Kingdoms."
"We could never have imagined that such a peaceful kingdom would suddenly become the target of the Hellwrath Kingdom, nor do we understand why."
he added.
"But a war is coming regardless of whether we expect one or not. If we do not prepare, we will all face our deaths."
A louder voice came from a muscular Chief with a wild aura.
Immediately afterward, another heated argument erupted throughout the throne room. freewēbnoveℓ.com
As White read the message in his hands for the third time and listened to the arguments of the Chiefs, he came to understand perfectly what was going on.
It could all be summarized in a single sentence:
They were doomed!
The Hellwrath Kingdom was not a kingdom of ordinary people.
It was a kingdom of powerful, man-eating barbarians, and they had a notorious reputation for waging war against other kingdoms, not to seize resources or expand their territory, but to devour them...literally.
Then, after killing and eating every living thing, they would leave with the kingdom’s resources, turning what was once a thriving nation into nothing more than a desolate, blood-soaked wasteland.
Their own kingdom, on the other hand, was a small nation situated on the outskirts of the Seven Kingdoms.
That was both a blessing and a curse.
A blessing because, possessing no territory connected to any of the Seven Kingdoms, they were largely ignored and deemed no threat whatsoever.
Just a small kingdom beyond the concerns of the greater powers...unimportant.
But the curse?
They had no ties whatsoever with any of the Seven Kingdoms, meaning that if they ever found themselves at war with another kingdom, there would be no allies to support them.
And now, they weren’t facing just any kingdom.
They were about to fight the mightiest Conqueror Kingdom among all Seven Kingdoms!
