CHAPTER 926: GET READY

On the Chaos Continent, outside the great ward guarding their skies, several shimmering forms of light and shadow coalesced.

"Intelligence reports the otherworldly dragons are fighting the two demigods from the Dusk Continent."

"I knew it. Those dragons were up to no good. Should we get involved?"

"The Emerald Dream Realm is a chaotic mess of different factions right now. Besides the Sea Race, the three continents are locked in a three-way stalemate."

"It’s a delicate balance. Someone is trying to break it. But to what end?"

"Do you think... could that evil being be pulling the strings from behind the scenes?"

Whoever uttered that last question plunged the rest of the demigods into a heavy silence.

In the end, they failed to reach a decision.

Ever since the demigod Valthor had merged with the world itself, the Chaos Continent had been like a rudderless ship. Everyone had their own agenda, and every race acted with extreme caution, purely focused on self-preservation.

Dusk Continent, over the Kasenna Sea.

Leonidas and Orion landed back in the plaza of the Leonidas palace. With the Deputy Commander and Arthas having stepped in, there was no need for two arch lords like them to handle things.

"Bros, what in the hell is going on up there?"

Makareth was sharp. The moment the disturbance began, he had disengaged from his enemy and teleported back to the palace. Seeing Leonidas and Orion return, he and a recovering Isabella immediately walked over.

"While you two were out cold, one of your ’bros’ here killed an arch lord, and the other one ran off with one," a new voice interjected.

Alexander’s form shimmered into view. A spirit sword was strapped to his back, and his eyes were fixed on the sky as he cleared things up for Makareth.

Orion glanced at Alexander.

He’s fully kitted out for battle. Don’t tell me he’s actually planning to challenge a demigod if things go south?

The insane idea flashed through Orion’s mind. He cleared his throat and shot a look at Leonidas.

Leonidas, however, paid it no mind. He walked over to Alexander and slung an arm around his shoulders.

"Yo, Alex, come on. Could you let me tell the story? It sounds so much cooler when I get to do the bragging myself. Don’t steal my thunder."

Alexander just rolled his eyes at Leonidas’s shamelessness.

"Killed one, and... ran off with one?" Demon Makareth’s eyes went wide.

He could understand killing an arch lord; after all, the Big bosses of the Champions Alliance were all on another level. But poaching an enemy arch lord? That was the kind of slick, unbelievable move he’d never even heard of.

"Easy there, Little M," Leonidas said smoothly. "When you see your new sis, you need to be respectful. And you’d better forget all about how she used to kick your ass."

Makareth slowly turned his head, staring at Leonidas, who now had an arm slung around his shoulders too. He blinked.

Thump.

A few seconds later, Makareth dropped to his knees on the ground and began to bow deeply to Leonidas.

"Big boss, please accept this disciple’s bow!" he proclaimed. "Big boss, you must teach me this technique! I swear I will make it famous throughout the lands!"

Orion, Alexander, and Isabella all simultaneously took a step away from the pair of clowns.

Leonidas, however, placed his hands on Makareth’s shoulders and helped him up. He wore an expression of profound sincerity, like a king knighting his most loyal champion.

"Bro, it’s all good. We can talk about it, we can talk," he said grandly. "Hahaha..."

Meanwhile, Alexander turned to the still-pale Isabella.

"How are you holding up?"

"I’m okay, Alexander. Mostly," Isabella said, a look of shame on her face. "But my colossal dragon needs time to recover. Its wings just healed; it can’t handle any intense fighting."

Before the arch lord, before that ancient turtle, her pride and the colossal dragon she relied on had been shattered so easily. If Orion hadn’t intervened, she’d have been saying goodbye to... well, everything.

"Keep at it," Alexander said, his tone even. "I was satisfied with your performance in the last battle. At least you showed no fear."

Hearing praise from Alexander, a new light ignited in the dejected Isabella’s eyes.

Some people don’t grow from criticism; they thrive on encouragement and praise, using it as fuel. Isabella was clearly one of those people. Basking in approval was the fastest way to rebuild her confidence.

"That unfamiliar demigod’s presence has appeared again," Alexander said, looking up at the sky, which churned with brilliant light and coalescing clouds, looking as if it might collapse.

He was, of course, asking Orion. Or perhaps, testing him.

"He’s helping us fight the dragons," Orion answered. "It’s a gesture of goodwill. He’s showing his sincerity because he wants to ally with us."

That was his take, and he figured he was more or less on the money.

"Yes, but that’s not the whole story." Alexander nodded, then shook his head.

While Orion and Isabella waited for him to elaborate, Leonidas’s voice cut in from behind them.

"Helping us to show his sincerity, that’s a given. That’s his primary objective," Leonidas said, walking over with Makareth in tow. The two now stood beside Alexander and Orion. Their shared interest in the art of ’persuading’ women seemed to have deepened their bond.

"But by showing up now, he also gets a front-row seat to see the Deputy Commander and Arthas in action. If you wanted to ally with someone, wouldn’t you want to size up their strength? Maybe even feel it out for yourself?"

Leonidas continued, "And as an enemy of the dragons, he also wants to gauge their power. He wants to see what gives them the right to devour the race he once protected."

"Beyond all that," Leonidas clapped Orion on the shoulder, giving him a sly, knowing look. "This guy probably wants to get friendly with us so he can try to dig into who was behind those world-shaking blade flashes from a while back. Take notes, little bro."

"Get ready," Alexander said, his voice cold and sharp, completely ignoring Leonidas’s antics as he stared at the sky. "If the situation turns against us, the three of us are up."

Hearing that, Leonidas and Orion’s casual expressions vanished. They fell silent, their gazes joining Alexander’s, fixed on the heavens.

Titanion Realm, the human kingdom.

In a secret chamber deep within the royal palace, King Harold stood before a spotless magic mirror. His face was a stone mask, betraying no emotion.

A traitor like Torin emerging from the human kingdom... it was a profound embarrassment for them. A joke. The other factions on the continent would surely laugh at them, waiting eagerly to watch their little drama unfold.

King Harold waited for about five minutes.

At last, watery ripples began to spread across the surface of the magic mirror, a sign that someone on the other end was activating their own.

An instant later, the ripples subsided, and the surface became perfectly clear again.

Within the mirror, the images of the empire’s two Grand Dukes appeared: William and Richard.