BXBX NOVEL Chapter 557 War's Second Phase (1)
"This is plain madness!" Exclaimed Kayden as he read the notes.
"How could they plot something like this…"
"Guardian Asa's vision is right, they are plotting so much just to enter the higher realms," Eli said as she felt goosebumps all over.
One can only imagine how completely sinister their plots were when you have seen and experienced firsthand the results of the enemy's plans.
She remembered the things that Guardian Asa told her on his remaining memory:
–
"Now, child, I saw two things. The one you must fight and struggle so that it will be fulfilled, and the one that you must fight and struggle so that it will not succeed…"
"The thing you must fight for to be fulfilled is protecting the bloodline coming forth from you…"
The one you must fight and struggle not to ever succeed is the creation of the new bloodline out of Brisha doing abominable things to my people!
My child, you must not let them succeed! Ever!
Do not let them succeed in defying the heavens with the power of mortal time to forcefully open the gate to the heavenly realm and destroy it!"
–
"We have already succeeded in preserving the asani bloodline with Little Han. Now there is only the other premonition that we have to stop. If we weren't able to take them down, then our land would be no more…" Eli frowned in anxiousness.
The research and the evidence all confirmed her previous realization!
"The plan was not only to have a vessel for Birsha but to also steal control of the mortal gate to attack the heavenly realm!" Kayden nodded in realization.
At first, there was still great doubt when he first heard this matter through Eli's vision with Guardian Asa.
But now, he could no longer deny that the matter does not only entail defeating the forces in the heavenly realm...
They needed to destroy the root cause of this matter once and for all!
"Indeed… Now there's only one thing that we have to do… Defeat the vessels bearing the fragment of Birsha and completely eradicate his spirit in Prasinos!" Eli said with a cold yet determined expression.
Determining what needs to be done, they wrapped up and wrote a report to be sent to the headquarters. In no time they left their office and understood that they had been in seclusion for several days.
They saw the bustling activity outside the temple and realized that there were much more people on the island than when they last entered into their seclusion.
"It's like this… the Headquarters along with the other temples in Prasinos who were still uncorrupted joined forces and sent their troops here.
We are anticipating for the Pope's troops to rush to the island in no time." Gabriel dutifully filled them up with information to make sure that they were not left out.
"I see… How about the mainland, is there anything significant to know on their side?" Eli asked.
"Nothing much… but it's just that the fortress in the Gorge Region was fast-tracked. This is also due to the possible change in the battlefield, which is here on this island. They were even planning to take out the forces stationed near the Mellenberg territory and join the fight here…" Gabriel replied.
"But… I have a hunch that the battle won't only be in the end. That is because those who seek to take back this land would only be on the Pope's side.
As for the Vanderford, their hatred against Seirende and the rest of the allied forces would be much more unimaginable.
So, therefore, they will not give up invading the mainland." Kayden frowned as he analyzed the situation.
"Indeed, that is why the headquarters could still not send more troops on their end, we only manage to stop one side of the spectre… but we still have the entire Vanderford and even the Mellenberg Territory to watch out for…" Abaddon interjected with a grave expression.
"Who knows… the holy Island would only be one of many laboratories they had at the moment… we do now know if they already have an army of ferocious curse puppets and soldiers."
The rest also had grievous expressions. This matter is getting more and more perilous.
"And we are still at the stage of gathering our forces…" Eli fiddled with her fingers in anxiousness.
As the war went on, she could now imagine the dread and tragedy of having to witness the cruelty of war. Nothing is stable and everything may crumble to nothingness when one is careless.
"We can only pray and do our best. The more we have faith in the side we are fighting for, the more we will be strong… no matter what kinds of tricks the enemies do." Prince Nalu also commented.
"Indeed."
Just as they were speaking, a knock interrupted the door.
"Come in!" one of them permitted the person who was knocking.
"Reporting to the Captains, there is a ruin that was discovered just below the main worship hall!" The knight replied.
Hearing this the crowd frowned. There is still a place they weren't able to discover at the moment?
In the end, they acknowledged the report and immediately stood up to see what was in the ruins.
–
A few days ago…
Vanderford's officials were already anxious. The news of the Pope and the princes' arrival in the Croix harbor was already the talk of the town.
However, there was still no news at the side of the holy island that was supposedly arriving in the capital tomorrow.
As someone who has always had a close interaction with the temple, this matter is extremely abnormal. Usually, the other party would receive a notification through a messenger bird or even a notification paper before they enter the borders of the city.
Now, according to the original timeline, they should be entering the capital's premises, and yet there was no news nor even advice from the border that they have already arrived.
"What could be the problem?" One of the officials wondered.
"Could it be that they encountered an enemy?"
"An enemy IN the Vanderford Empire? That's impossible!" Others refuted the claim immediately.
"Then we could only assume that they were stranded for some reason."
"Did anyone double-check in the coastal area?"
"Not yet!"
"Let's go and contact the villages in the area… If we have to, let us backtrack and trace where exactly the Holy Island's troops were…"
"If we could not find them, then we would have to face the anger of our Emperor who was already getting impatient to see the movements on our end!" The Chief strategist ordered everyone.
"We will do as you say, Grand Duke!" The officials answered.
Just like that the entire Vanderford palace scrambled to find the missing troops.
On the other hand, the fight on the rear end of the gorge was already done.
Now, Nathan and his allied troops were preparing to go back to the Gorge region as they were also finished reinstalling all the array traps that served as the protective belt of the desolate wastelands.
Going through the desert, Nathan and his troops could finally see a massive structure at a distance.
"Wow, the construction team is indeed fast! It has only been less than a week!" The troops exclaimed in wonder and amazement.
"That is because the chief engineer of the place was actually Grandmaster Andi's disciple. You should have known how famous they were in terms of craftsmanship and building structures!" Nathan had a proud look on his face, as a Farauld, he treated the Forgeworn as kin and so he was quite familiar with Randel as well.
"I have heard of that, indeed! But still seeing the structure with my own eyes… I still could not help but be in awe!"
"Well, we might be more in awe when we finally see what was inside!" Nathan chuckled and encouraged the troops to move forward, only that they would arrive at the fortress earlier.
As they went near, they could now clearly see how the fortress looked.
It was made from sturdy boulders that seemed to have been sculpted to make a structure out of a massive mountain.
If not for them knowing beforehand that this was a gorge, not a mountain area, they would have believed that the mountain above the gorge does exist!
Although it might look like it was made from just pure earth, the internal structures have been carefully calculated so as to firmly bear and support the entire structure's weight.
Furthermore, the use of earth instead of other raw materials such as wood and steel is also more advantageous as it could better withstand the threats of extreme weather condition.
"I could imagine that a bunch of earth mages worked tirelessly to build this fortress!" One soldier exclaimed.
"Indeed, if not a mage, then this would not be done in such a short time. The headquarters really spent a lot to do these things, hiring several construction mages costs a lot!" Nathan sighed and lamented.
"It may be so… but for this circumstance, it does not apply…" Suddenly Nathan was interrupted by a familiar voice.
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man with green hair approaching them amicably, "Olivier!"