CG Chapter 115: The Battle of Blood Pearl
To the east of Eldervail's continent and at the heart of the many islands of the kingdom of Aeolantis lay Thalassa.
Thalassa was placed in the middle of many islands, which gave it the illusion of being a pearl nestled within a cluster of rocks. Due to this, it was given the title 'Pearl of the Sea.'
That, however, wasn't all. Its strategic positioning made it the second-largest trading hub in the world and the largest importer of sea-based commerce.
The people of Aeolantis passed down their sea trades from one generation to the next.
Most peasants had no choice but to turn to fishing to earn their livelihood, as it was the easiest trade to start with. But you shouldn't underestimate these lowly fishermen, as they were the ones who knew the seas best.
Fishermen's families would usually have secret maps, passed down to the eldest son, showing the locations of dangerous areas and the best places to fish.
On this clear day, a crimson-haired man returned to the very place that had first welcomed him to this world. But while he had been the target then, today they were.
He sat cross-legged on the bow of a warship, dressed in light armor that wouldn't hinder his movements.
Around him, countless warships encircled the island, with soldiers already fighting on the ground.
If you only looked at his face, you might think he was meditating or enjoying the sea breeze. But if you stood in his place, you would realize that he was watching the battle taking place in front of him with complete and utter indifference.
"Aghhh! Charge! Don't let those bastards... break through!"
A defending Aeolantis soldier's voice was cut short as his head was cleanly slashed through. His head flew into the air, and his blood sprayed like rain.
While an Eternal Flames soldier screamed in agony as a blade pierced his leg tendons, he looked at his legs hopelessly. He knew that if he somehow survived this war, he would be doomed to nothing but a useless life as a cripple.
Yet, even after witnessing all of this, Tom's emotions remained unaffected. His gaze remained cold as the casualties piled up and the army started to get pushed back.
His actions stemmed from a simple reason: this battle had already been decided.
Tom knew that he didn't have to hide his strength any longer. After this, only two kingdoms would remain, and he knew that they wouldn't be able to do anything on their own.
For now, he simply waited for the biggest fish to get caught in his net.
Clenching his fist, Tom felt the difference in his strength. His power was already on an equal level with the seven kings, but after being amplified by the dragon, the fight was no longer fair.
He now had the strength to crush Grand Knights as if they were nothing.
Tom tilted his head upward, and his grin widened.
He murmured to himself, "Finally."
Ahead, the Eternal Flames army had torn through the island's natural defenses.
And standing on the other side of his soldiers was Arden du Wavecrest, the man titled 'The Leviathan.'
"Don't you dare let them invade our homes!" Arden roared, his voice carrying a reassuring tone.
"We have ruled these seas for six thousand years, and we will rule them for six more! Hold your ground! We are winning!"
"Kill them all!"
Hearing Arden's voice, the two sides began pushing against each other more ruthlessly than before.
Multiple skirmishes began to erupt in every corner of the battlefield as soldiers sought to tear out the other side's necks.
But to Tom, all of it was meaningless. He stood like a monolith, waiting for the right moment to strike.
A nameless soldier of the Eternal Flames wielded two swords and charged against the Aeolantis soldiers.
Clank!
He held his swords and moved like a charging bull, attacking with its horns. Even as the Aeolantis army tried to surround him, he didn't care, holding them off with his swords alone.
Finally, when he felt that the time was right, Tom stood.
Tom leaped from the high bow of the warship without hesitation and landed gracefully on the shore.
Upon reaching the ground, he didn't stop and started running like a lightning bolt toward his soldiers' side.
At the sight of their emperor, the Eternal Flames' morale surged, and they shouted in genuine happiness.
But Tom didn't need them to, because he could feel their faith strengthening the dragon within him.
Without wasting time, Tom ripped a broken spear from the hands of a fallen soldier next to him.
"Make way!" he bellowed.
The soldiers didn't hesitate as they parted, clearing a wide path for him.
Tom's hand jolted back as he gripped the broken spear.
With all his might, he hurled it into the center of the gathered Aeolantis soldiers who were protecting Arden behind their backs.
The spear tore through the air like an exploding sonic boom.
Boom!
The defenders had no time to react.
The spear struck, tearing through the soldiers as if it were slicing through butter. With one attack, Tom had created a wide gap in their lines.
Arden's expression froze in shock. He stared at the destruction that the attack caused, at his dead soldiers, and their mingled remains. His mind struggled to understand and comprehend what was happening.
"This... this... what is this?" he asked himself.
A Grand Knight, the strongest of a generation was now left shaking in fear, not knowing what to do.
Before he could recover, Tom appeared behind him like a shadow.
Arden tried to use his treasured trident in a desperate attempt to defend himself, but it was already too late.
Tom's hand shot out, grabbing him by the back of the head. The pressure alone made Arden feel like his skull might crack at any moment.
Without wasting a single second, Tom started to slam Arden's head into the ground.
The impact of his head shattered the ground beneath them, but that didn't stop Tom. Instead, it was as if his blood was pumping harder as he began to increase his speed and strength.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He lifted Arden's limp head, which had blood flowing from both sides of his temple, and smashed it down again and again. And again.
The soldiers of Aeolantis watched in silent horror.
Their king, their Grand Knight, was being toyed with like a helpless child by a boy who wasn't even half their king's age.
When they saw Tom's bloodied face with a wide, twisted, demonic grin as he continued to smash Arden into the ground, the soldiers felt like they were looking at a demon incarnate, evil come alive.
They didn't think that surrender would be enough to make this monster let them go.
On the other side, the soldiers of the Eternal Flames army cheered. This was the emperor they had chosen to follow.
Remembering their job, they surrounded the now hopeless Aeolantis army and began to slaughter any resisting ones.
Today, the great seven kingdoms, which had stood gloriously for six thousand years, fell. Their legacy was reduced to but ash and rubble under the hands of one man and his army.
Edward von Flameheart, the Emperor of Eternal Flames, had rewritten the history of the world in less than five years.