Chapter 143: | 143 | Preparation for the Finale
They were returning to square one, and the Viceroy of Terra wasn\'t happy. His Sovereign had called upon his runic communicator and reminded him that attention was being pointed at the Colonial Dominion of Terra.
The emergence of an unexpected underdog, the United Navy, was attracting unwanted attention from several factions outside the Ferus Sea. Even foreign Colonial Dominions were thinking of intervening in the instability of the sea region.
\'We need to defeat the United Navy. Otherwise, the Colonial Dominion of Terra will fall. I will be excommunicated and my family will be dishonored.\' He thought to himself while clenching his fist.
The Colonial Dominion of Terra should have been the farthest from the Frontier. But why was it the first Colonial Dominion who\'s about to fall?
\'It\'s also because of that dragoness!\' The Viceroy felt anger after remembering what the dragoness had done to the southern colony. They received reports that the Dragon of the United Navy turned their military barracks into a wasteland, killing thousands of soldiers.
Naturally, this caused the morale of the military to almost collapsed. After all, what could they do against the Dragon of Liberation? The one that destroyed an entire colony\'s military strength on her own with remarkable ease.
Facing against her was akin to fighting against destiny or death. There was simply nothing they could do against her. Or so they thought... The Arch Magus appeared out of nowhere during the military meeting and told them that he had an idea regarding the dragoness.
And so, the Viceroy planned to meet with the Arch Magus and question him. He wanted to know how they would defeat the legendary dragon originating from the Frontier.
It didn\'t take long before he arrived at the end of the hallway. Before him stood a gigantic door, but as he touched its smooth surface, it moved as though it was light as a feather
The gothic doorway creaked as what emerged before him was the old decorations and statues scattered in a circular room. In its center was a table made of magical wood and a long chair built from the ashes of a Sea Leviathan.
On the ominous chair sat the Arch Magus of the Magus Tower, Gunther. He gazed at the Viceroy walking towards him and waved his hand, causing a chair to appear out of nowhere.
"What may be the reason of your visit, Sir Viceroy?" The Arch Magus calmly asked while the Viceroy sat on the chair and crossed his leg with the same furrowed expression as before. He lightly tapped the table and replied.
"The military has been following what you desire, Arch Magus. I need to know how you plan to handle the dragoness. I don\'t wish to be ignorant, nor am I naive enough to continue being as such." The Viceroy swiftly stated his reason to the Arch Magus.
There was no need for word play or beautiful remarks. What he wanted from Gunther was an answer. A clear and concise one. Something that would be acceptable to his ears.
"I understand your frustration, Sir Viceroy. Believe me, I truly do so. But sadly, I cannot tell much about our plan. You simply need to trust the Magus Tower to be able to take down the dragon." The Arch Magus shook his head, not desiring to give more details about the plan.
"I have let you command my force at will, Arch Magus! Is this how you repay me? I don\'t need trust! I need the truth! Give it to me, or the military will be creating its own plan." The Viceroy slammed his hands on the table.
He was deeply angered by the unsatisfying answer of the Arch Magus. There was no way he could believe in something as feeble as trust. There was a reason why he stands as the Viceroy of the Colonial Dominion of Terra. It was all because he didn\'t dare to trust anybody else.
Not even himself.
The Arch Magus looked unbothered by the outrage of the Viceroy. He merely squinted his eyes and questioned the one before him. "Why do you not trust us, Sir Viceroy? We are the Magus Tower, the second most honored of all existence."
Hearing the questioning words of the Arch Magus, the Viceroy finally calmed down and took a deep breath. He faced the scrutinizing eyes of the old man without fear and answered.
"I have heard about how your Magus perform in the field. They always lose against the United Navy, even without the dragon\'s intervention. Not only that, during the battle in our southern seas, those Inquisitors ran away with their tails tuck in between their legs."
"My military has paid the price for the trust it has given the Magus Tower, Arch Magus." The Viceroy explained the reasons for his doubts towards the Magus Tower. And he wasn\'t wrong. Most of the time, the Magus failed him.
The elites of the elites? Why were they falling one after another in the face of the United Navy? Why do these conjurers of mystic not able to defeat a group of mortal and manaless humans?
Gunther raised his eyebrows after he had heard the reasoning of the Viceroy. But he felt that it wasn\'t complete, so he asked. "That may be a part of your reasons. But you haven\'t told me the one that brought you here in front of me."
The Viceroy froze as the Arch Magus hit directly on the spot. The actual reason for his visit wasn\'t about the incompetent Magus or the casualties of his military. He then gritted his teeth in annoyance and responded.
"The Sovereign has called. He wants me to take care of the problem. The Colonial Dominion of Terra has attracted too much attention. Our lost might signal the unfortunate destiny of humanity."
"So, no matter what! We must not lose. The Sovereign will be disappointed, and you know what will happen if he becomes disappointed." It was a threat, not only towards the Arch Magus, but also to himself.
The moment the Arch Magus heard of the word Sovereign. His arrogant self faded and was replaced that of faith. He looked at the Viceroy with understanding and uttered.
"It appears that the Sovereign has become intrigued with our pitiful circumstance. Nonetheless, he trusts us enough to handle the problem ourselves. And we must do so, no matter what." Gunther stated to the Viceroy.
"Sir Viceroy, as the Sovereign has called for you. I shall respect his wishes and let you be less ignorant of our plan." Finally, the Arch Magus was about to reveal some details about the strategy against the Dragon of Liberation.
The Viceroy felt curious as his ears perked up, wanting to hear about the strategy of the Magus Tower. He wondered what kind of mystical things they planned to do to take care of the dragoness.
"Our plan is fairly simple. Our enemies can be separated into two forces. The United Navy and the Dragon of Liberation. The United Navy is strong, that is for sure. But with the Dragon of Liberation, they are unstoppable."
"In order to have a chance in the finale, we must take care of the Dragon of Liberation before fighting against the United Navy." The Arch Magus first stated the rationale of the strategy.
"But how will you take care of the dragoness, Sir Magus? She has a body almost rivalling that of a Sovereign, and complete authority over particular elements. She had gone much more stronger compared to herself in the Frontier."
The Viceroy expressed his uncertainty in fighting against the Dragon of Liberation. No matter what spell they cooked up. Unless a Sovereign emerges with their real body, they wouldn\'t stand a chance.
If the normal could have dealt with the dragon, she would have become nothing more but scattered treasures.
"That is correct. She is much stronger than us. No matter what we do, we wouldn\'t be able to defeat her." Unexpectedly, the Arch Magus was in agreement with the Viceroy\'s uncertainty. But he immediately changed his stance and continued. "But who said that he would be fighting her?"
"Eh?" The Viceroy felt confused, wondering what the Arch Magus meant. How could they deal with the United Navy without defeating the dragoness? She considers the heretical-organization as a part of her den.
She would defend it as though was protecting her mystical treasures.
"Fighting in an unstoppable battle is foolish." The Arch Magus remarked and continued. "So, instead of fighting, we must adopt another strategy."
"Our second option would be to separate them with one another. Without her, the United Navy would be on its own. If we manage to defeat the United Navy, even if we faced the wrath of the Dragon of Liberation, it would still be our victory." He calmly explained to the Viceroy.
"The Magus Tower is creating a spell that would do the job of separation. After that, your military and my Magi will attack the remaining of the United Navy in our full power." Gunther stood up from his seat and walked towards the balcony.
"But remember, Sir Viceroy. At that moment, death will have its clock ticking above us."