Chapter 205 : Chapter 205
Chapter 205. Leaving
An hour later, Fenlilan brought William and the others back to Despair Fortress.
The gates of Despair Fortress slowly closed behind them. The heavy iron bolts fell into place, cutting off the aftershocks from the distant battlefield.
Fenlilan stood on the city wall with his cane, gazing at the energy clouds that had yet to dissipate at the edge of the sky. He let out a long breath.
“The moment Demigods appeared, that main mass of divinity became food on their plates. If we continue getting involved, we will only be courting death.”
He turned around and tossed the Crystal Bottle in his hand to Lynn.
“Although these scraps are mixed and impure, after purification, they will be enough for a few juniors to break through to the Domain level. This trip was not for nothing.”
Lynn caught the bottle with both hands. A faint warmth came from its surface, and he hurriedly put it into a specially made Rune Bag before nodding solemnly.
“Ancestor, rest assured. I will keep it safe.”
Fenlilan’s gaze swept over the Barbarian Tribes outside the fortress.
Most of the tents there were already empty. Only a few of the old and weak remained, cleaning up the aftermath. He then looked at William, his tone becoming grave.
“This upheaval will affect the entire Southern Continent. Despair Fortress can no longer be held.”
“You mean…” William’s heart tightened.
“You will return to the Royal Capital with me.”
Fenlilan interrupted him.
“This place will be temporarily garrisoned by the Noble Legions. I have already sent word to your father and asked him to dispatch several Noble Legions here.”
“The Gold Legions, Monster Legions, and Royal Legions will withdraw with us.”
He paused, then added, “There is no need to remain here.”
William looked at the soldiers patrolling below the city wall. The wolf-head emblems on their armor glimmered coldly beneath the sunlight.
“This is the only choice.” His voice was low and filled with helplessness. The power of a Demigod was enough to overturn a kingdom. If their small force stayed where they were, it would indeed be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Fenlilan patted his shoulder.
“There is no need to regret it. As long as the green hills remain, there will be no lack of firewood. Your father has already begun attacking the Kadiya Kingdom, so let this Northern Frontier serve as a buffer zone.”
The sound of horns gathering the troops came from below the city wall. The soldiers of the Royal Legions had already begun to form ranks, their golden cloaks snapping loudly in the wind.
Lynn followed behind Fenlilan with the Rune Bag in his arms. In his eyes, there was both unease toward the future and a faint expectation for the new situation.
William took one final look in the direction of Zu’Aman City. The energy fluctuations there were still violent, like a giant beast devouring everything.
Soon, the legions within the fortress completed their preparations.
The fortress drawbridge slowly lowered, and the clang of iron armor shook the valley.
The vanguard of the Gold Legions raised their military banners and were the first to leave the city. Close behind them came the Two-Headed Wyvern Riders of the Monster Legions, their wings sweeping across the ground and stirring up dust.
Last were the formations of the Royal Legions. Their golden armor joined together beneath the sunlight like a flowing river of light as they set out toward the Royal Capital.
After receiving their orders, the Noble Legions of the Northern Frontier entered the pass from the other side. Frost still clung to their Black Iron Armor. The family emblems on their banners were all different, yet on the walls of Despair Fortress, they merged into a single defensive line.
When they took over the city defense map, their fingertips still carried the chill of the northern lands, and their eyes were filled with gravity and confusion.
During the march, Fenlilan flew in midair. As he watched the fields passing below, he suddenly spoke.
“William, your aptitude has given the Kroll Kingdom possibilities. Now, the Kroll royal family has already assembled five Sky Knight Orders, and we do not lack Domain-Level Powerhouses either. It is time to expand outward.”
William nodded after hearing this, but he did not say anything.
Half a month of marching passed in the blink of an eye. At last, the outline of the Royal Capital appeared on the horizon.
Towering bronze city walls encircled the city, and at the center, the spires of the royal castle pierced straight into the sky. The Kroll family crest on the banners snapped loudly in the wind.
As soon as they entered the city gates, a Shadow Guard spy knelt before William’s horse and presented the latest intelligence scroll.
William unfolded it and frowned slightly.
The battlefield of the Barbarian Tribes had already become a chaotic mess. Ordinary soldiers fought across the plains, their corpses piling up into small hills.
Domain-Level Powerhouses risked their lives among the ruins, and the aftershocks of their energy overturned half a valley.
The Demigods confronted one another high in the sky, sometimes clashing and sometimes stopping, turning the entire region into a forbidden zone. Even birds flying through would be torn apart by the energy turbulence.
“They are still wearing each other down.”
Fenlilan leaned over to glance at it and gave a cold laugh.
“Demigods are not made of iron either. When they burn their Life Force, they burn through it much faster than Domain-Level Powerhouses. Once they have exhausted themselves enough, the sky of the Ninth Continent is going to change.”
William put the scroll away and looked at the bustling streets of the Royal Capital.
The people here still knew nothing of the bloodshed in the distance. The cries of vendors in the market and the laughter in the taverns formed a strange contrast with the slaughter described in the intelligence.
“Let us return to the castle and meet Father first,” he said in a low voice. “The matter of expansion must be considered carefully.”
The carriage rolled over the bluestone road and headed toward the castle.
William knew that this peace was only temporary.
After returning to the royal palace, William immediately went to see Mary, Zoe, and Selena.
The fragrance of late-spring flowers filled the palace garden. Mary sat on a wicker chair, her hand resting gently on her swollen belly. Sunlight fell through the gaps in the grapevines and landed on her face, outlining her in a soft halo.
Zoe was teasing a canary in its cage, while Selena sat to the side, reading a childcare manual. When the three women saw William walk in, their eyes lit with joy.
“You are back?”
Mary moved a little slowly when she rose. William quickly stepped forward to support her. The moment his fingertips touched the warmth of the back of her hand, the exhaustion from the long march seemed to fade away.
“Was the journey smooth? Were you injured?”
Selena put down the manual and reached out to brush the dust from his shoulder, her gaze filled with concern. Zoe also came over and handed him a cup of warm tea.
“Ancestor Fenlilan did not make you charge into any dangerous place, did he?”
William sat down beside them and briefly described the melee in Zu’Aman City. He concealed the bloody details and only said that they had successfully brought back some gains.
The three women listened, sometimes frowning and sometimes relaxing. Only when they heard that he had returned safely did they truly let out a breath of relief.
“The babies were very obedient today. They did not make much fuss.”
Mary smiled and patted her belly.
“The Court Alchemist said they will be able to meet us in another two months.”
Zoe shook the silver bracelet on her wrist.
“I had craftsmen make three magic artifacts. They can wear them after they are born.”
Selena also smiled and added, “The nursery has already been arranged. The bedding is made of velvet. It will definitely be warm.”
William listened to them chatter about these trivial matters, and warmth surged in his heart.
The blades and shadows of the battlefield and the oppressive confrontation between Demigods all became a distant backdrop at that moment. Only the laughter before him and the faint movements of the unborn children carried real warmth.
As they were chatting, a Palace Knight quickly walked over and knelt on one knee.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you in the Study. He asks you to go over at once.”
William nodded. “Understood.”
He rose and rubbed Mary’s hair, then smiled at Zoe and Selena.
“I will be back soon. I will dine with you later.”
The three women smiled and agreed, watching as he turned and walked toward the main castle.