As Serena's declaration echoed across the battlefield-turned-ceremony ground, the initial shock from her drastic actions gradually gave way to a sobering reality. The survivors of this brutal initiation were now officially Warlords, their status symbolized by the sudden appearance of gold bands materializing around their arms. The field, scarred by the day's ferocity, bore witness to their transformation from mere participants to honored defenders of their realms. "Celebrate, enjoy the town, grieve, do whatever you need to do. In Five days' time at first light, be back at this Plaza square. Do not be late."
The crowd parted as she walked off. Motar suddenly burst into laughter. "New brothers and Sisters Welcome! Motar's laughter broke through the somber mood, his boisterous invitation to the Terraformer Guild reflecting his larger-than-life persona. The surviving warriors, now 286 strong from an original 700, responded with a mixture of relief and exhilaration. Despite the grim losses, the sense of camaraderie and shared triumph over adversity kindled a fierce joy among them
Immediately Gold Bands appeared around everyone's arms signifying they were now official Warlords.
"Bane what are you gonna do?" Haruto asked. Bane looked deep in thought, "I need to meet with my advisors, now that I am a Warlord, the official coronation to be King can commence. "What!! King?" Haruto and Sylvie both shouted! Bane chuckled, "Yes, In my kingdom there can be many Warlords, but only one of Royal Blood can ascend onto the throne. As it stands, I am now the youngest official Warlord of my Kingdom." Haruto and Sylvie, both taken aback by Bane's revelation, could only marvel at the layers of responsibility and destiny shaping their friend's life.
Haruto looked at Bane all starry eyed. 'He's so cool.' "What about you Sylvie? What are you gonna do?" She thought about it. Sylvie, her spirit lifted by the sense of closure and new beginnings, planned stated she was going to reconnect with her sister before pursuing personal matters left unattended.
"Kage what about you?" Sylvie asked. He considered his next moves carefully. The anomalies mentioned by the king, particularly the mysterious black lakes, seemed crucial to understanding the escalating threats they faced. He had not forgotten his primary reason for being here.
"I need to train and I'm thinking about buying a weapon now that I have some money." In truth Haruto had plenty money but he figured he should save it, in case a dire situation arose where he'd need it. "Wanna meet back up on the 4th day?" Bane smiled, "I will make time for you, my friends. You shed blood with me in battle and for that I am eternally grateful. From this date forward, I Prince Bane of the Algoro Kingdom, recognize you two as my brother and sister in arms from this day forward." Sylvie smiled and nodded in agreement. "Ok see you guys here on the 4th day." Their plans briefly outlined, the trio agreed to reconvene, marking a pact of renewed alliance and shared futures. Their bond, forged in battle and sealed in survival, was a beacon of light in the uncertain times that lay before them.
As Bingo, Rose, and Mira approached, eager to share in the camaraderie, Sylvie's smile returned, "Wait a minute nah, you guys mind if we get in on this hoorah action?" Bingo asked walking up with Rose and Mira. Sylvie finally smiled again, "Sure! More the merrier."
—BACK AT THE CASTLE
Back at the castle, the gravity of the situation was palpable. The Vanguard, assembled in full, viewed the chilling message sent by Mye. Her final, desperate act of bravery provided them with invaluable intelligence on the evolving threat of the Ifrits. Each member absorbed the gravity of her sacrifice, her last moments a testament to the Warlord's duty to protect at all costs.
"This is quite disturbing. This level of organization and ferocity are only seen in high level beasts. They are evolving at such a rapid pace that even my beasts teams of Ji-Gan and Griffins are having issues. They could force wild beasts out of their territories to populated areas." Motar's observations about the escalating threat levels among the beasts highlighted the urgency of their situation. The King nodded in agreement. Twitch and Kima's proposed leading an expedition offered a proactive step toward understanding and perhaps mitigating the dangers posed by the mysterious lakes.
The king nodded. "I like that idea quite a bit. Do it. Make sure to notify the research division in case you need bodies. Anyone else? War master?"
The members turned to Serena. "Since I'll be here to work with the new Warlords, I'll increase reserve patrols around the smaller areas. But that Warlord Mye. Despite knowing she was going to die; she served the Warlord purpose to the fullest getting us this crucial message. Servious…I know we don't always see eye to eye but I'm glad you picked her. Once I'm done here, I will ensure that mutated Ifrit tastes my blades." As the meeting concluded, the resolve in the room was clear. Each member was ready to act, to step beyond the walls of the castle and face the unknown. For them, the path of the Warlord was not just about wielding power but about bearing the burden of protection and the weight of sacrifices made. The journey ahead would be fraught with danger, but united in purpose and strengthened by resolve, they were prepared to face whatever challenges awaited.