Chapter 340
The princess frowned upon receiving the report. "Was it intentional? Is someone trying to lure us out?"
Recalling her father’s advice, she replied with the clan’s motto, "Defense is the best offense." With that, she ended the call. She looked back at the Hologram "If someone is waiting beyond the territory then sending message back to the capital won’t work so that means it can only be done when the attack begins"
The scouts looked at each other before heading back. Just after they left, a group of red-cloaked figures appeared ahead, lowering their hoods briefly as they watched the Apelings retreat. Saying nothing, they pulled their hoods back up, disappearing into the shadows.
The priest received this news and sighed. He had thought he might be overestimating the Apelings, but this only confirmed their caution. Though he wanted to call off the mission, he knew this was his only chance. "Stay alert," he called out, informing everyone. "The Apelings know we’re here."
Back within the walls of the Terra clan, the mood had shifted. No longer interested in the competition, the clan had taken action. Non-warriors and children were promptly moved to a shelter built for them.
Meanwhile, the fighters and the princess donned a strange, rune-like armor. As they put it on, root-like tendrils merged with their bodies, making the armor seemingly disappear as their normal clothing reappeared over it.
The streets were empty, and the princess stood tall, leading an army numbering in the thousands. Some fighters lay hidden in the houses, waiting in silence.
The princess stood silently, her gaze intense as she assessed the empty streets. She could feel the subtle pulse of life hidden within the walls around her, each Apeling warrior connected through the living armor that bound them to the earth itself. This was their home, and nothing would breach it without a fight. The words of her father echoed in her mind: "The earth remembers who it shelters and who it rejects. Trust in it, as it trusts in you."
Meanwhile the priest was staring at the sand clock in front of him waiting for the sand to empty out which means it will be night time. Right as he was waiting the sun slowly went down.