Chapter 348: Arcane Core of the Fortress (Grade A)
A few days later, in the council hall of Emerald Castle, Ethan sat tall and composed on the central throne. Just behind him to the left stood Elynn, calm and respectful, her posture straight and her expression unreadable.
To Ethan’s right, in the first seat beside the throne, sat an elderly man with a long white beard and robes that marked him unmistakably as a grand mage. This was none other than Archmage Eldrin, the leader of the Tower faction from the northern front.
At that moment, Eldrin was staring at Ethan with a deeply conflicted expression. Beneath the surface of his composed face, his eyes betrayed a storm of emotions—shock, disbelief, and even a flicker of fear.
"Your Excellency, Lord of Emerald Castle," Eldrin finally broke the silence, his voice steady but laced with awe. "I never imagined you’d actually defeat the savage and brutal Dungeon army. Your strength is... staggering. Truly terrifying."
Ethan just smiled faintly, brushing off the compliment like it was nothing.
"Archmage Eldrin," he said casually, turning his gaze toward the old man, "if you don’t mind me asking—what are your plans from here on out?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.
After the brutal invasion by the Dungeon forces, the once-mighty four factions of Sylvanwood had been reduced to just two: Emerald Castle and Eldrin’s Tower faction. The Kingdom of the Night Elves and the Kingdom of the Elementals had both been wiped out.
But even that number was about to shrink.
Ethan had made up his mind—he was going to conquer Sylvanwood. There was no turning back now. No compromises. No exceptions.
Still, if Eldrin was smart, if he knew how to read the room, then maybe things didn’t have to get ugly. They’d fought side by side, after all. There was no need to burn bridges if it could be avoided.