Chapter 75: The Grand Marshals Interception
After completing his Class Advancement, Liam opened his attribute panel.
Nickname: Frost Monarch
Level: 50 (Pending Second Class Advancement)
Class: Verdant Archer, Warrior (Advancement Pending)
Sub-classes: Blacksmith, Apothecary, Talisman Master
HP: 7,090,000 / 7,090,000
MP: 2,080 / 2,080
Attack: 2,329
Magic Power: 5
Armor: 3
Magic Resistance: 1
Attack Speed: 20
Movement Speed: 45
Physical Penetration: 0%
Magic Penetration: 0%
Special Attributes: Life-Steal +15%, Critical Rate +55%
Free Attribute Points (AP): 780
Luck (LCK): Hidden
Guild: The Solitary Snow Guild (6-Star)
Innate Talent: Hand of Heavenly Punishment (Transcendent Grade)
Mark: God-Slayer
Title: Novice Village Sanctuary of Fellowship
Skills: Burst Slash (1-Star), Rapid Fire (5-Star), Basic Reach (5-Star), Chain Lightning (5-Star), Verdant Rebirth (4-Star), Resurgence (5-Star), Lunar Purge (2-Star), Invincible Aegis (1-Star), Death Cycle (3-Star), Void Blink (1-Star), Blood-Thirsty Dragon Scale (6-Star), Glacial Wings (1-Star), Glacial Gaze (3-Star), Dual True-Strike (Max Rank), Instant Rebirth (Max Rank), Skyfire Meteor (1-Star).
Passives: Compound Interest (Max Rank), Trinity Manifestation (Max Rank).
Equipment: The Ninefold Longbow (Gold Grade), Bloodstained Necklace (Unique), Purifying Jade Amulet (Unique), The Immaculate Eye (Unique), The Tome of Mortality (God-Blessed), The Frost Decree (Unique), Tears of the Life Goddess (Unique), Guardian Aegis-Blade (Gold Grade), The God-Slayer Registry (God-Blessed), Verdant Ring (Gold Grade) x2, Bangle of Fortune (Unique), Camouflage: The Black-Robed One (Unique).
Liam now possessed seventeen skills. Aside from the basic starter skills like Burst Slash and Rapid Fire, his arsenal was formidable.
As for his gear, it was nothing short of prestigious.
His weakest pieces were Gold Grade, while the rest were mostly Unique. He even had two pieces of Divine-Tier equipment. In the current stage of the game, such a loadout was game-breaking. Liam briefly entertained the thought of eventually kitting himself out entirely in Divine Artifacts; if he pulled that off, he would be truly unstoppable.
However, despite becoming a Bladedancer, he lacked high-level Warrior combat techniques. In his past life, he had been an Archer through and through. He knew his way around a blade, but he wasn't a master.
But he knew of a certain sect where the melee techniques were legendary. Their members didn’t even rely on skills; their raw technical proficiency allowed them to easily suppress Elite Grade monsters even when under-leveled. Three of the "Ten Great Sword Gods" from his previous life had hailed from that single sect.
Liam wondered if he could find a way to learn their close-quarters combat style. As for his archery, it was no exaggeration to say he had already reached a pinnacle. There might be room for minor refinements, but he wouldn't see any massive breakthroughs in the short term.
Just then, as Blackwind City fell and the Realm War drew to a close, a message from Monty popped up, vibrating with excitement.
"Liam, I'm absolutely flying! I got over 1,500 AP from this Realm War. With my Innate Talent boosting the gains, my stats just went through the roof!"
A smile played on Liam’s lips. Monty’s Innate Talent, provided he had enough AP, was arguably as strong as a Divine Grade talent. From what Liam knew of Divine Grade attributes, they functioned similarly—allowing for the unlimited stacking of stats.
The only reason Monty’s talent was ranked as Saintly Grade was its reliance on AP. If he only had the small amount of AP granted by standard leveling, he would never achieve true power.
"That’s good to hear. The whole point of this Realm War was to give you guys a boost," Liam replied, revealing his intentions. "Grow as fast as you can. I'm counting on you to stand by my side in the future."
The 1,500 AP Monty had earned was effectively multiplied by his talent into over 70,000 actual stat points. His HP had surged by 150,000 in one go, while his Attack, Armor, Magic Resistance, Attack Speed, and Movement Speed had undergone a total metamorphosis.
In fact, Monty’s Movement Speed and Attack Speed now eclipsed Liam’s. Monty was sitting at 40+ Attack Speed and 70+ Movement Speed.
Liam had been able to toy with a powerhouse like Arthur Thorne using only 45 Movement Speed. A speed of 70 was terrifying to imagine. Currently, the only areas where Liam still held a definitive lead over Monty were HP and raw damage.
Monty’s attack power was in the tens of thousands and his Physical Penetration was respectable, but it still paled in comparison to Liam’s 400,000 damage per arrow. And while Monty’s HP had climbed to nearly 400,000, it was still less than a tenth of Liam’s massive pool.
Still, there was no denying that with Liam’s help, Monty’s Saintly Grade talent was performing at—or even above—the level of a Divine Grade talent. The key was his balance; Monty no longer had any glaring weaknesses.
"Liam, will these Realm Wars continue? I'll definitely rack up more kills next time."
"Hard to say for sure," Liam smiled, "but there's a high probability of at least one more."
With Blackwind City now occupied by the Night-Walkers of the Demon's Den, the pressure on King Abraham would be immense.
Astral Capital
The Grand Throne Hall
The atmosphere in the hall was suffocatingly tense.
Grand Chancellor Kaslow was the first to speak. "Your Majesty, the Night-Walkers have shown intolerable insolence by attacking Blackwind City. If they aren't dealt with immediately, it will be a disaster for the kingdom."
King Abraham’s face was grim. Matters in the Astral Kingdom were spiraling out of his control. He knew the situation better than anyone; he had dispatched three Level 100 Gold Grade experts, including Arthur Thorne. Even with that kind of firepower, they had failed to hold the city.
Arthur Thorne strode into the hall.
"Your Majesty."
Before Arthur could even pay his respects, Alistair Thorne stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, though Arthur is my brother, I must speak plainly. He bears the ultimate responsibility for the fall of Blackwind City!"
Arthur’s eyes narrowed. "You sit here in the capital as Grand Marshal, failing to deploy when needed, yet you have the nerve to point fingers at me? Don't you think that's a bit rich?"
Alistair scoffed. "I remain in the capital by Your Majesty's command. How could I possibly leave without orders?"
"Enough!" King Abraham barked, waving a hand dismissively. He turned his cold gaze toward Arthur. "Arthur Thorne, explain yourself. The Realm War began, so why was Blackwind City lost?"
Arthur gritted his teeth. "Your Majesty... the primary reason we failed was due to a single Archer in the Night-Walkers' ranks. His damage output was astronomical."
"He slaughtered over ten thousand City Guards single-handedly."
"What?" King Abraham gasped. "The Night-Walkers have a player of that caliber?"
Arthur nodded. After a moment of hesitation, he added, "Your Majesty, I suspect that man was none other than the one who has been making waves recently... Frost Monarch!"
"What?!" King Abraham bolted upright.
Frost Monarch. He knew that name all too well. Lately, it seemed the man was involved in every major disturbance in the kingdom.
"It has to be him," Arthur continued. "He was wearing the Black-Robed One camouflage, so I couldn't confirm his identity, but his combat style and damage numbers are identical to the reports on Frost Monarch."
King Abraham’s eyes narrowed into slits. "So, Frost Monarch helped the Demon's Den attack Blackwind City? Unforgivable."
"Grand Marshal, I order you to intercept Frost Monarch. Whatever it takes, do not allow him to interfere in the coming battles."
The Grand Marshal, Alistair Thorne, quirked an eyebrow. This was a tall order. Frost Monarch was currently at the height of his power, and since even Arthur had suffered at his hands, Alistair wasn't entirely confident in his own success.
"What? Is there a problem?" the King asked evenly.
Alistair shook his head. "Your Majesty’s word is law. Even if it costs me my life, I will stall him."
"Good." King Abraham nodded, his gaze shifting back to Arthur. "Arthur Thorne, you will draft a plan to retake Blackwind City. Do you have the confidence?"
Arthur nodded firmly. "If Frost Monarch does not interfere, I guarantee the city will be reclaimed."
"Excellent. Then I hereby appoint you Grand Marshal of the Realm. I grant you an army of one hundred thousand. Retake Blackwind City."
"I shall not fail you, Your Majesty!"
Alistair’s brow furrowed when he heard Arthur being named "Grand Marshal of the Realm." It was a direct challenge to his authority. He remained silent, but Grand Chancellor Kaslow stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, Arthur Thorne has just returned from a defeat. To grant such a high title without punishment—much less a victory—seems... inappropriate."
King Abraham’s gaze sharpened. "Oh? Is the Grand Chancellor questioning my decision?"
"I wouldn't dare," Kaslow said, bowing quickly. "I merely suggest that the title be conferred after Arthur retakes the city. That way, it would be a more legitimate reward."
King Abraham looked at Kaslow with a faint, knowing smile. He was in a rush to promote Arthur because time was of the essence. He knew Kaslow and Alistair harbored primal ambitions, and he needed someone in the military to replace Alistair.
But replacing a Grand Marshal required more than just a royal decree; it required prestige. Arthur didn't have enough of it yet. The King’s plan was to title him now, then title him again after the city was retaken, and a third time after they struck at the Demon's Den. Three consecutive victories would give Arthur the momentum needed to displace his brother.
Alistair and Kaslow saw right through the scheme. However, Alistair couldn't be the one to speak up; it would look like petty jealousy between generals.
The King stared at Kaslow for a long beat before his expression softened into a smile.
"Fine. Since that is the case, we will wait until Arthur retakes Blackwind City before formalizing the title."
Though he was annoyed, the King knew Kaslow’s argument was logically sound. Forcing the promotion now might trigger a backlash he wasn't ready for.
Meanwhile, Liam had returned to Obsidian Lake.
There was no other motive; he was simply there to grind his HP whenever he had a spare moment. He couldn't afford to be impatient; rushing things wouldn't help.
After clearing Obsidian Lake over a dozen times, an unexpected visitor arrived.
Alistair Thorne.
In the past, Liam might have mistaken him for someone else, but now that he was Level 50, he could see Alistair’s name and title clearly.
"What is the Grand Marshal doing looking for a small fry like me?" Liam asked.
Alistair laughed and shook his head. "Frost Monarch, you are hardly a small fry. You've been stirring up quite the storm in our Astral Kingdom."
Liam gave a noncommittal smile. "Blackwind City has fallen. As the Grand Marshal, shouldn't you be out there? Don't tell me you've come to ask for my help in retaking it."
Alistair chuckled. "Enough of that. You know exactly what I'm thinking."
"A single city shouldn't be enough to force King Abraham into a Royal Crusade, right?" Liam asked.
As long as the King didn't lead a Royal Crusade, killing him would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.
"Of course not," Alistair replied. "He suspects you were that black-robed Archer, so he sent me to keep an eye on you."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "He guessed right. So, what’s your plan?"
"To keep an eye on you, obviously. Blackwind City is already lost; I can't let you continue running wild."
Liam laughed helplessly. "Whether you can actually stop me is one thing, but let's talk about the King. Are we killing him or not?"
"He must die, yes. But he is killed for the sake of the Astral Kingdom. Those Night-Walkers from the Demon's Den, however, want to destroy the kingdom entirely."
It was clear Alistair intended to block Liam's path for now.
"You're being foolish," Liam sighed. "If King Abraham stays holed up in the capital, who among you can actually kill him?"
"We still can't just let you tear the capital down."
Liam gave a bitter smile. "I don't want to destroy the Astral Kingdom. I want King Abraham to launch a Royal Crusade so I can finish him."
"Difficult. Nearly impossible, even. He has life-saving measures. For one, I know he possesses a Spatial Escape Talisman, an ancestral heirloom of the royal family."
"What?!" Liam’s lip twitched. "What kind of nonsense is that? How could he have a Spatial Escape Talisman?"
Even knowing Abraham was a King, Liam was shocked. A Spatial Escape Talisman required a Fourth Advancement—at least Level 200—to craft. Moreover, it required the creator to have both a Spatial-type main class and a Talisman Master sub-class at the Fourth Advancement.
In Twilight of the Gods, the First Advancement was at Level 10, the second at Level 50, the third at Level 100, and the fourth at Level 200. Finding a Level 200 dual-classed master was a tall order even in the mid-game. In the current Astral Kingdom, Level 100 Second Advancement experts were the absolute peak. Third Advancement experts were as rare as phoenix feathers. As for a Fourth Advancement? Unheard of—unless you counted the Divines.
"Even with a Spatial Escape Talisman, I can still kill him," Liam said.
Alistair looked at him in surprise, wondering where Liam got such confidence.
"But for now, the die is cast," Alistair said. "I have to stay here and watch you, or I won't be able to give an account to the throne."
Liam gave a mysterious grin. "Just watching? No fighting required?"
"Just watching. Primarily to ensure you don't head back to Blackwind City."
"Heh, well that makes things simple." Liam’s grin widened. "Follow me. I'll take you to meet someone."
"Meet who?"
"You'll know when we get there."