Upon hearing Elijah's words, Atticus and Ignatius were visibly taken aback, finding it difficult to accept."Impossible!" Ignatius immediately rejected the idea. "Our well-trained and well-equipped army of 100 thousand, surrendering? No way!""You're absolutely right!" Atticus scoffed. He added, "Even if the Southern Four Sovereigns combined their forces, there's no conceivable way they could defeat our hundred thousand troops overnight. You're just trying to make us panic!"The combined military might of the Southern Four Sovereigns hovered around two to three hundred thousand. Even if they mobilized their entire force, swiftly overcoming their substantial force of 100 thousand proved to be a formidable challenge. After all, the defenders had strategically fortified their positions, providing considerable resilience even against odds multiple times their own. Moreover, the Four Sovereigns couldn't afford to deploy their entire military strength, as a portion had to be held in
Hence, Elijah's words lacked credibility. Elijah chuckled, treating them like jesters. "Even in such dire straits, the two of you refuse to give up?"He continued, "Fine, since you insist on seeing the evidence, I'll show you." He raised his hand and flicked his fingers.A golden streak shot into the sky, exploding with a resounding bang. It transformed into a myriad of golden specks, gently descending like confetti.After a moment, rhythmic footsteps echoed from the distant end of the street. Growing louder as they approached, Atticus and Ignatius could feel the ground beneath their feet subtly vibrating.As the footsteps advanced, the ground tremors intensified. Upon sensing this, Atticus and Ignatius felt an unsettling premonition.Before they could comprehend what was happening, a multitude of silhouettes appeared on the horizon. The sheer number covered the entire street, extending beyond their line of sight."How … how is this possible?" Staring at the densely packed so
"Alright, enough of your squabbling. Whether Julius becomes prince or not, you'll find out tonight," Elijah said impatiently, waving his hand. He ordered his men, "Bring these rebels in and keep a close eye on them!""Yes, sir!" A squad of guards promptly approached, tightly binding Atticus and Ignatius."Elijah! We're all sovereigns here. It's disrespectful to treat us like this in public," Atticus protested."Disrespectful?" Elijah sneered. "Both of you are now prisoners. What respect are you talking about?""Elijah! The outcome is still uncertain. Have you considered the consequences if Grand General Rhys ascends the throne, and you've treated us like this?" Atticus frowned."He's right! You're in power now, and that might not last forever. It's wise to leave room for future interactions. Don't go too far!" Ignatius chimed in."Whether you two will live through tonight is questionable. Don't dare to rant in front of me. Gag them! I don't want to hear any more noise," Elijah
After the command was issued, Draven's soldiers dropped their weapons. "And you! Tell your men to drop their weapons!" Eloise turned her attention to Mortimer, her blade now pressed against his throat. "Drop your weapons!" Faced with her fierce gaze, Mortimer shouted for his men to surrender.The metallic clatter of weapons hitting the ground echoed as Mortimer's soldiers followed suit. Approximately 60% of the battlefield had yielded. Meanwhile, the remaining 40%, though still armed, displayed a palpable sense of unease and confusion. In warfare, diminished morale posed the greatest risk. Upon witnessing their comrades surrendering, it left them hesitant to initiate an attack. Furthermore, the absence of their lord added a critical dimension to the situation. With tens of thousands of soldiers left without a leader, the lack of command left them uncertain about their next course of action."Soldiers, your lord has abandoned you. Will you still fight for him?" Eloise's powe
The echo of "Those who surrender will be spared" lingered in the airspace above the castle, casting a shadow over the panic-stricken rebels who now seemed utterly devoid of any fighting spirit.A symphony of clattering ensued as an increasing number of soldiers dropped their weapons. Even the most tenacious were swiftly subdued, rendering the once defiant castle defenses feeble.The capture of the four sovereigns, along with the remaining rebels scattering for their lives, left the besieged forces with limited options. Either surrender or face imminent demise. In the face of an unidentified adversary, they were unwilling to lay down their lives in a futile struggle."I will honor the promise I just made. Anyone who willingly surrenders will be pardoned," Eloise assured. Her tone was now gentler, devoid of the earlier imposing aura.The surrendered soldiers were both relieved and embarrassed. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy!" Many military officers humbly kneeled on
Now, Draven and Mortimer's only hope rested on Julius leading the Black Dragon Army to their aid."Though you two may not be the masterminds, you are accomplices. Capital punishment is avoidable, but you won't escape judgment," Eloise declared coldly. She went on, "Take them away and guard them closely. No one should approach without my orders.""Understood!" Several guards approached, forcefully taking the bounded Draven and Mortimer away."General Steele, handle the surrendering forces. Too many lives have been lost today, and I don't want to see more casualties," she instructed, looking at Jaxon."Understood!" Jaxon nodded solemnly."Your Highness, your compassion is admirable!" Four figures emerged from the army, creating a path as they walked. They were the Southern Four Sovereigns—Elijah, Lincon, Tyrus, and Wyatt."We arrived late to the rescue. Apologies for startling you, Your Highness," Lincon humbly greeted."Sir Blaze, no need for apologies. Without your timely
"What? Kill to cover it up?" Wyatt's face instantly darkened. He added, "You're not joking, are you? The Northern Four Sovereigns are all Julius' people. How could he possibly indiscriminately slaughter them?""Those who achieve great things must be ruthless. For someone like Julius, with extensive military experience, sacrificing some soldiers is nothing," Elijah said calmly. He went on, "Of course, this is the ultimate plan. Suppose the Northern Four Sovereigns successfully seize power and retrieve the Marshal's military insignia. In that case, he won't need to take such risks. He can ascend directly."He concluded, "However, if the Northern Four Sovereigns fail, for the sake of his grand ambition, I believe Julius will resort to any means necessary."The more ambitious someone was, the more unconventional their actions could become. Previously, under Rufus' rule, Julius concealed his true intentions, patiently biding his time. Now, with Rufus gone, Julius was free from co
"While the idea has merit, there's a drawback," Elijah said. He went on, "For a new prince to ascend, we need the king's approval and officials' testimony. Without it, convincing people is challenging."He added, "Also, obtaining the king's consent and officials' testimony would take at least three days. In our current situation, we simply can't afford to wait that long.""Really? Is it that complicated for a new prince to ascend?" Wyatt frowned. He added, "Everyone knows Austin is Prince Rufus' son. It should be a natural choice for him to become the next Prince of West Lucozia.""Yeah! They say desperate times call for desperate measures," Tyrus chimed in."Do you two think ascending the throne is like choosing a mountain king? Just planting a flag, having a few drinks, and saying some bold words will get the job done? Don't be ridiculous!" Elijah said, somewhat exasperated. He went on, "The position of Prince of West Lucozia is not just about the people of West Lucozia. It