Chapter 43 : Chapter 43
Chapter 43. The Elite Path, Entering the Secret Realm
The army surged into the main city of the Derek Family like a black tide.
Snow at the city gates was crushed beneath horses’ hooves, producing creaking sounds. Only the First Legion through the Fifth Legion did not pause at all.
Under the personal leadership of Kroll II, they marched directly toward the Secret Realm Entrance, the cold gleam of armor forming a continuous wave within the snowstorm.
After bidding farewell to the Old Prince, William took Tos and the others through the streets and alleys of the main city.
The city after the war carried a sense of desolation, yet it also bred a different kind of “prosperity.” The entrances of the Slave Market and Slave Auction House were crowded with people. Many of them were civilians and defeated soldiers captured during the war.
“Your Highness, there are indeed many slaves here.”
Tos followed beside him and said in a low voice, “But most of them are rather ordinary.”
William’s gaze swept across the cages. Among them were quite a few knights with steady auras, and even a few Professionals.
Unfortunately, their aptitudes were ultimately lacking. They were not worth the effort to cultivate.
This time, he intended to take the elite route. He did not even glance at those with Golden Aptitude, focusing solely on selecting slaves with Sky Aptitude.
After walking through the markets, carefully selecting along the way, he obtained a total of two hundred and twenty-nine people. Among them, eight possessed the rare Legendary Aptitude, which caused a hint of brightness to appear in his eyes.
After signing the contracts, William rented a manor with Training Grounds within the city. He settled the slaves there and entrusted Tos and the others with training them strictly. He then turned and returned to the castle.
As soon as he stepped into the castle hall, the Old Prince called him over.
Standing on the steps, the Old Prince swept his stern gaze over the gathered noble youths.
Jessy stood among a group of young nobles who were chatting animatedly. When she saw William enter, she instinctively waved at him.
“Quiet.”
The Old Prince spoke in a deep voice.
“His Majesty has just issued an order. Tomorrow morning, you will follow the Sixth Legion to the Tenth Legion to the Secret Realm Entrance.”
“The First Legion to the Fifth Legion have already cleared out the camp area there. Once you arrive, you can move in immediately.”
He paused, his gaze turning sharp.
“Remember, once inside the Secret Realm, do not act recklessly.”
“The Crawlers inside are ten times more ferocious than the magical beasts outside the Secret Realm. They also know how to cooperate while hunting. One mistake will lead straight to death.”
“The Royal Family will not pay for recklessness. Do you understand?”
“Understood!”
Everyone responded in unison. Many of them looked both excited and nervous.
Jessy leaned closer to William and lowered her voice.
“I heard there are quite a few good things deep inside the Secret Realm. Do you want to form a team? Some of my people are skilled at tracking.”
William glanced at the eager nobles beside her and smiled.
“Third Sister, I am just here to observe. You cannot possibly expect a six-year-old child like me to fight Crawlers, can you?”
Third Princess Jessy was stunned for a moment. Having spent so much time with William, she had subconsciously forgotten his age.
The Old Prince continued explaining some precautions about the Secret Realm before finally dismissing everyone.
After saying farewell to Third Princess Jessy, William walked back toward his room.
He thought about the two hundred and twenty-nine slaves in the manor and about the Crawlers inside the Secret Realm.
It seemed he would have to wait until they broke through to Bronze Rank combat strength before doing anything. Bringing them into the Secret Realm now would simply be sending them to their deaths. Those Barbarian slaves with Sky Aptitude were far too valuable for him to waste so casually.
Before dawn the next day, the assembly horn sounded outside the castle.
The noble youths wore brand-new armor and rode fine warhorses, their faces unable to hide their excitement.
Jessy wore silver-white armor with a gemstone-inlaid longsword hanging at her waist. Seeing that William had brought only two knights, she raised an eyebrow.
“Just this few people? What if we encounter a group of Crawlers…”
“That is enough.”
William mounted his horse and looked toward the advancing Legions in the distance.
“This time I am only here to broaden my horizons. I do not intend to fight.”
Hearing this, Jessy could not say much more. After all, the Shadow Guards arranged by the King were secretly protecting him, so nothing would happen.
By the time the army arrived at the Secret Realm Entrance, it was nearly noon.
The entrance was covered by a golden barrier of laws. Soldiers from the Legions patrolled along the edge of the barrier, frost on their armor glinting coldly under the sunlight.
Soon, Kroll II’s command echoed across the Secret Realm Entrance like the sounding of a horn. One Legion after another entered in formation, the clashing of armor reverberating through the canyon.
William was stepping forward with the crowd when a deep voice stopped him.
Prince Kande, the commander of the Ninth Legion, pulled on his reins. The cold gleam of his iron armor reflected in his eyes.
“Little William, come here.”
William quickly stepped forward, and the prince gestured for him to follow.
“The western side will be advanced by us. Stay by my side and take a good look at what a war inside a Secret Realm truly looks like.”
Before he finished speaking, a figure clad in silver knight armor rode over. It was Marquis Peter. He dismounted and knelt on one knee.
“Legion Commander, the Ninth Legion has fully assembled. We await your command.”
“Advance.”
Prince Kande raised his whip and pointed toward the western forest.
Horses’ hooves stepped onto the moss-covered ground at the edge of the Secret Realm.
William moved within the formation. Beside him were soldiers with steady steps. Their armor still carried undried morning dew, and the tips of their spears gleamed with cold light.
The formation moved like a steel serpent into the dense forest. Branches intertwined overhead, casting mottled shadows. Only the sound of armor rubbing and orderly footsteps spread through the woods.
William tightened his grip on the knight’s sword at his waist and scanned the tense faces of the soldiers.
At that moment, the WHOOSH-WHOOSH sounds in the forest suddenly intensified, like countless invisible arrows cutting through the air.
The Vanguard Battalion of the Ninth Legion almost instantly raised their shields, spears angled forward. The formation tightened like a fully drawn bow.
Just as the noble captain was about to give an order, the treetops above suddenly shook violently.
Dozens of Crawlers dropped down like black raindrops. Their hooked claws embedded deeply into the soil, producing harsh scraping sounds.
At the same time, sharp Bone Spears shot down from between the branches, streaking through the air toward the crowd with piercing whistles.
“Shield formation! Protect the mages!”
The knights roared as they charged forward. Thick shields interlocked to form a wall, protecting the mages of the Vanguard Battalion behind them.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Crisp metallic sounds rang out continuously as the Bone Spears struck the shields, sending sparks flying. Many knights felt their arms go numb from the impact.
The mages quickly steadied themselves and began chanting rapid incantations.
Crimson Fireballs streaked upward toward the treetops with flaming tails, burning the Crawlers hidden among the branches into charred corpses.
Azure wind blades spun through the air, slicing apart incoming Bone Spears.
Ice spikes poured down like heavy rain, striking the Crawlers clinging to tree trunks and forming Bone Spears.
The troops at the rear were not spared either.
Crawlers continuously surged out from the forests on both sides. They charged the military formation one after another. Green blood splashed across armor, producing sizzling sounds of corrosion.
One group of Crawlers fell, and another immediately replaced them. Their movements were so orderly that it was as if invisible strings were controlling them.
William tightened his reins and watched the endless wave of Crawlers ahead, his brows tightly furrowed.
There was no fear in their eyes. No hesitation.
Only pure killing instinct.
Even when their companions were burned into ashes by Fireballs, the following Crawlers still stepped over the remains and continued charging.
“They do not resemble a race.”
William spoke softly to Prince Kande beside him.
“They are more like… weapons that were programmed.”
Prince Kande swung his sword and split a charging Crawler in two. His iron boot crushed the corpse beneath his foot.
“Haha, Little William, your guess is correct.”
“A normal race fears death and knows when to retreat, but they do not.”
His gaze suddenly sharpened.
“They are born as weapons. Their racial hierarchy is extremely strict.”
“It seems we have found a big fish.”
“Messenger! Sound the horn. Increase the speed and push forward!”