CHAPTER 16
AUTHOR COLLINS COLLEX
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As Cara and Frey entered the room, trying to dissuade Darius from leaving, he had already packed his belongings. With a firm expression, he stated, "This is our destiny, the fate of the Arclight men. Don't try to stop me."
Cara's eyes welled up with tears as she pleaded, "Brother, you shouldn't be the one to start this fight. What if it's a trap? We don't know what Gazing Glade is planning. We're at our weakest now, especially with you as an A-rank mage."
Darius wiped away his own tears as he saw his sister's distress. "I don't care what they're planning," he declared, his voice resolute. "I must go and see for myself. I'd rather die than do nothing."
He removed his necklace and placed it in Cara's hands. "This necklace contains all our family's wealth. Protect Kai," he instructed Frey before leaving the room, followed closely by his loyal companion.
Stepping outside the mansion, Darius mentally commanded Roz, the A-rank thunderbird, to land. The majestic creature descended from the sky, its wings creating a powerful gust of wind as it touched down.
Without a backward glance at his family, Darius climbed onto Roz's back. Just as he was about to take off, a small voice called out, "Daddy, where are you going?" Turning his head, he saw Kael. "I'll be back, son. Just help protect your aunt and brother," he replied, before Roz soared into the sky, carrying Darius towards the capital.
As Roz soared through the sky, Darius gazed down at his family and Ember's Keep. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he felt a pang of sadness. Sensing his emotions, Roz let out a comforting rumble. "Don't worry, we'll be back," Darius assured the creature.
WESTERN PART OF IRON PEAKS ( THE VALLEY BETWEEN THE TWO KINGDOMS )
In the valley that separated the two kingdoms, there was a woman named Lillian, a member of the prestigious Ford family. This family, ruled by a powerful SS-rank mage, was one of the strongest in the Gazing Glade Kingdom. Renowned for their strength, the Fords possessed two SS-rank mages, each capable of wielding two sub-elements.
The Ford family wielded the elements of water and poison, their poison mist a deadly weapon capable of slowly killing their victims. Lillian, a powerful mage herself, had deployed an army of mages and warriors to the valley separating the two kingdoms, following orders from her grandmother and the other two Demi god.
The Nomad family had been a valuable ally, aiding the Gazing glades Kingdom in various endeavors. They had also granted the Glazing glades mages access to their city, Nomad City, the first major settlement beyond the dividing valley.
The Nomad family lord, an S-rank mage, had played a crucial role in poisoning the Iron Peak King. The poison was slow-acting, designed to kill its victim within a few years but the King was strong that's why he lasted for long. The Nomad lord's ambition was to seize control of the Iron Peak Kingdom after its conquest. He envisioned himself as the ruler of the remaining territory, while Gazing Glade would claim the lands they desired.
However, the Nomad lord had underestimated the cunning of the Gazing Glade Kingdom. They had a sinister plan to eliminate the entire Nomad family, ensuring no obstacles remained in their path to domination.
As dawn broke, Lillian stood at the edge of the valley, her army of over 25,000 mages and warriors arrayed behind her. Seven formidable S-rank warriors, each wielding powerful magic weapons and artifacts, stood by her side. Today was the day.
Lillian gazed at the towering walls of Nomad City, a moment of anticipation passing over her face. Then, she withdrew a blue wand, a gift from her grandmother, and began to chant a powerful incantation.
{OH POWER OF GOD'S OF THE BLUE SEA, LET YOUR FACE AND POWER MANIFEST }.
{WEATHER MANIPULATION}.
Suddenly, the clear morning sky darkened, and a heavy rain began to pour down. A distant bell tolled within Nomad City, signaling the start of the attack. With a battle cry, Lillian's army surged forward, their weapons glinting in the rain.