The Rise of the Forgotten: The Rise of the Forgotten, #7

By Wesley Wang

In the vast world of fantasy literature, Wesley Wang's "The Rise of the Forgotten" emerges as a distinctive gem. This novel presents a tale that is both deeply rooted in reality and expansively fantastical. Wang, with his attention to detail and vivid imagination, spins a captivating story filled with mystery, resilience, and strategy from the outset.

The narrative unfolds with a young man's harrowing escape from a fate he didn't deserve, propelling him on an epic journey of discovery and valor. Revealed as the last descendant of an esteemed noble family, and under the wing of an enigmatic protector, he ventures into a realm laden with covert plots and timeless sorcery. Navigating through the intricacies of magic and combat, his every choice and newly formed alliance bring forth insights that upend his views on the world and his destined role within it.

"The Rise of the Forgotten" is remarkable for its intricately designed Western fantasy landscape, drawing readers into a world where the magic systems are complex, the cultures are richly varied, and the map of empires and domains is drawn with precision. Through Wang's storytelling, readers embark on a voyage across a broad spectrum of emotions and societal intricacies, delving into themes of identity, authority, and salvation, all set against the canvas of ancient mysteries and divine conspiracies.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wesley Wang
• Release date: Apr 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224596362

Wesley Wang

Wesley Wang is a fantasy epic and sci-fi writer based in the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. Known for weaving complex narratives that mirror the paradoxes of Sin City itself, he excels at crafting stories where high stakes, moral ambiguity, and the human condition collide against a backdrop of fantastical and futuristic settings. His characters often grapple with power, redemption, and survival, reflecting the harsh, glittering realities of the world around them. Wesley draws inspiration from the ever-changing face of Las Vegas, using its allure and notorious reputation as fertile ground for dramatic, thought-provoking tales. Beyond writing, he is an avid participant in the vibrant local arts scene, continually connecting with other creatives who provide the sparks for his next big story.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Even though Princess Xialan had long accepted her fate and stopped resisting this damn destiny, whenever she looked out at the sea, she would unconsciously think of the young figure who had a simple conversation with her at the ship's railing...

Does this mean that she will ultimately compromise in the face of reality?

The wooden door behind her opened, the sound of wood scraping slightly grating. Xialan Princess didn't turn around, she just asked, Are they still behaving that way?

The person kneeling behind her as the second-in-command of the envoy team answered respectfully but with a hint of solemnity, Your Highness, forgive me for speaking frankly, but the other side... they are truly arrogant! We really cannot tolerate such negotiation conditions!

Oh.

Xialan raised her gaze and stared at a certain point beyond the coastline for a long time. Suddenly, she said, Then let's prepare to leave.

This sentence startled the kneeling deputy of the envoy team. From this command of the princess, he heard a hint of determination and sigh. But the envoy team couldn't just leave as they pleased, could they? He certainly understood that King Cole wouldn't easily let the Ingwe envoy team leave. After all, from a strategic perspective, there was still a lot of room for negotiation between the two sides. It was normal for such a tug-of-war to last for a month. But the princess's sudden decision to leave was equivalent to breaking this rule directly, as if not giving any respect to the Skoda Kingdom and just leaving.

Your Highness—

What did you hear me say?

Princess Xialan was proud, and she had the power to speak in such a manner. The cold tone made the deputy swallow his saliva and immediately turn to make arrangements without saying anything else. However, after a few minutes, the deputy returned to the room with a panicked expression and said anxiously, The...the harbor is blocked!

Princess Xialan furrowed her brows, showing no extra expression, and simply continued to look out the window. Then break through.

...

Staying underwater for a long time can make one's sense of time become somewhat confused because there is no distinction between day and night, giving a constant drowsy feeling.

Leo looked somewhat dazedly at the Longinus spear in his hand. For the past two days, he hadn't taken any action and had been waiting calmly. He appeared to have great composure, and the only time he spoke was occasionally chatting with Bob. He didn't pay much attention to the mermaids' reactions and hospitality.

The Dark Queen seemed to have lost her previous temper and patiently accompanied him. Scarlett, being very aware, didn't act as a third wheel and disappeared somewhere like a dutiful attendant.

Hydra, in his human form, hadn't been guarding or acting as a bodyguard outside the house these past few days. Instead, he lazily lay in a corner of the town square. Although there was no sunlight here, he stretched lazily as if basking in the sun, not caring about worldly matters. The relationship between Leo and Hydra was not simply superior and subordinate, so Leo naturally didn't hesitate to give him maximum freedom.

He was not foolish despite the awkwardness in conversation. After all, if intelligence development were determined by brain capacity, a Hydra with seven heads would not be weaker than a human. However, his current state was somewhat like just awakening from a chaotic form, and it would take some time for him to adapt to his newfound ability to speak.

Scanning the square with his gaze, Hydra could sense the rhythmic elemental patterns emanating from Fahna not far away, as well as the vigorous vitality burning like flames on Garrosh, who stood about four meters tall at the other end of the square. At this stage of power, everything in his field of vision was not limited to surface colors. If he wished, Hydra could see the sequence, shapes, and range of influence of all the elements surrounding Fahna's body. Although he didn't have as many heads to cover his front and back vision in his human form, his perception abilities were unusually powerful, not inferior to Leo and Bob, who had reached level 34.

Because of this, when Fahna and Garrosh had no reaction, he suddenly sat up and looked towards the end of his field of vision. Hydra's movement seemed to awaken something, causing Fahna, who had been feeling a bit conflicted, to raise her head and follow Hydra's gaze to the distance.

At the end of their field of vision, fish people appeared one by one. The first to appear were the underwater knights riding tall seahorses side by side. These elite cavalry soldiers, holding spears, were very different from the land cavalry. Their seahorses were heavily armored, with streamlined bodies that moved at incredible speeds. They seemed to be the elite forces of this kingdom.

After all, in the previous battles, they had not seen warriors so heavily armed. Each one of them had a robust physique. Following them were three trident whales, whose enormous bodies cast shadows like dark clouds, putting immense pressure on the residents of the town. Behind them were the splendid procession, including fifteen high-ranking mages and thirty-five leaders who were as powerful as Garrosh.

The grand procession consisted of nearly three to four thousand people, but it did not appear crowded in the vast space of the sea. Without the limitations of land, these groups surrounded the town square in a three-dimensional formation. At this moment, Hydra saw a huge conch shell being guarded at the center of the core of the procession.

This was the carriage of the sea tribe. Its main body was a parrot shell that was over twenty meters long. It had a smooth surface like lacquered wood, without any bumps or coral, and was adorned with large gemstones that would make any human lady scream in excitement. It was truly magnificent.

This scene clearly indicated that the arrivals were the most prominent figures in this kingdom. However, they were not greeted by humans lined up respectfully as one would imagine. General Futagen, the vanguard of the royal team and the leader of the royal procession, was extremely dissatisfied with the current situation. He rode a giant seahorse over ten meters long, adorned with elaborate decorations and fully armed. The reins in his hand shimmered with silver light, made of extraordinary materials. Behind the metal face mask, he looked at the six-armed Naga and Hydra, who lazily stretched and yawned, with an unfriendly gaze.

So, this was the so-called human envoy? Chesterla didn't mention the presence of Naga here.

Futagen and Chesterla had never seen eye to eye, so naturally, he looked down on Chesterla's attitude of returning from the frontlines and personally reporting the news. A powerful human envoy? This kind of gimmick was probably just casually mentioned to catch the attention of the king, right?

Because of his failure in factional struggles, Chesterla was transferred from a core position in the government to this remote place to fight against the Naga. Futagen wished for him to die in one of the battles as soon as possible. Now, seeing Chesterla's serious mistake in the intelligence, he would certainly seize this opportunity to make a fuss.

Chesterla said that the human world had driven a giant dragon to Bax for negotiations. However, apart from NagaFahna, there was only one guy standing lazily in the square, looking at himself. Futagen, who had never seen a human before, thoughtlessly mistook Hydra for the human envoy mentioned by Chesterla - after all, anyone without a fish tail must be human.

With this thought in mind, Futagen rode his enormous seahorse and dove straight down from the sky, heading towards Hydra at an incredibly fast speed. Just three meters in front of Hydra, he abruptly stopped his seahorse with a sudden brake, showcasing his equestrian skills just like the knights riding horses in the human world. This display demonstrated his exceptional strength and technique, as well as his experience as a seasoned warrior.

The seahorse came to a halt, but the force of the water it had stirred up was fierce. Unlike the air on land, the rushing water crashed onto Hydra's body with a power comparable to a speeding carriage collision!

This was a simple demonstration. Futagen's mouth curled up in a mocking smile as he eagerly awaited the spectacle that would surely unfold before him. He even prepared some words to ridicule Hydra's supposedly formidable strength as described by Chesterla, expecting it to crumble under his attack.

However, his slightly raised mouth froze in the next moment. The figure before him, clad in strange bone armor, remained seated on the stone bench in the square, casually crossing his legs. He showed no signs of being impressed by the presence of a noble seahorse knight. The rushing water passed right by him, avoiding his body completely, and only kicked up sand from the ground. Hydra's body didn't even budge!

Hydra yawned, not bothering with any waterproof barriers. A few bubbles escaped his mouth as he opened it. His vertically slitted eyes showed no interest in even glancing at Futagen. He remained indifferent, continuing to sit there.

Ignoring him. Blatantly ignoring him.

Futagen's eyebrows furrowed instantly. The spear beside his hand, attached to the saddle, was over four meters long and a top-notch weapon on the battlefield. Faced with Hydra's attitude, he reached out and grabbed the sharply designed weapon, but he didn't immediately attack.

After all, the person in front of him was an envoy. It was okay to intimidate him a little, but it would be a big taboo to resort to violence. Futagen wasn't foolish enough to get angry and draw his sword. However, he couldn't stand Hydra's dismissive attitude, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. Futagen slammed his spear into the ground and asked with a burst of sound, Are you the so-called powerful human envoy?

He looked around, but he couldn't sense the presence of the dragon. Plus, the information Chesterla revealed in the palace was not detailed enough. He didn't even believe in his heart that a powerful dragon had ever appeared here.

Of course, if he knew who this guy in front of him was, he probably wouldn't even have the courage to speak.

Hydra, who didn't understand what this guy was saying, turned his head to look at the knight in front of him. Without wasting any words, he stood up. Because the seahorse was too close, Hydra stood up straight, almost face to face with the seahorse's huge head. And this seahorse seemed to be as arrogant as its owner, opening its mouth as if it wanted to spray a stream of water to provoke.

This was an instinct of animals. Seahorses would use the method of spraying water to test unfamiliar creatures standing in front of them. Who would dare to confront Futagen face to face under normal circumstances? Unless they were enemies on the battlefield, no one wanted to be directly poked to death by this legion-level general.

But now, as soon as this rare-blooded Abe拉 seahorse opened its mouth, Hydra had already raised his hand and casually slapped the other's chin.

"Relax

Chapter 2

If there was a word to describe General Futagen's predicament, thrown into disarray would be the most appropriate... This guy, who was just about to say something, was sent flying along with his mount, spinning backwards. The seahorse went into shock and fainted, floating stiffly in the water like a dried fish, before slowly sinking to the seabed...

Duke Futagen, equally dumbfounded, never expected this guy in front of him to actually dare to attack!

The entire royal entourage formed a circular formation about a hundred meters above Bax City. Their posture clearly did not indicate a peaceful negotiation, but rather a declaration of their own sovereignty. The merfolk's pride sometimes seemed incomprehensible. The idea of I am the greatest in the sea seemed to have caused them to lose even the slightest respect for the dragon race.

Duke Futagen was slapped away, causing not only gasps and exclamations, but also prompting numerous seahorse knights to draw their swords without hesitation, shrinking their formation and aiming at the person standing in the square with their heads held high.

At this moment, Fahna had no idea what to do. Although she was a level 20 mage, she was not confident in facing an entire army of merfolk, especially the elite royal guards. Her gaze swept over Hydra, the dragon transformed into a human form, who stood there looking at the merfolk above without any worry. He still had a relaxed demeanor, showing no signs of nervousness.

Seeing that the merfolk above made no further moves, Hydra lazily stretched and glanced at the iron spear that Futagen had just thrust into the ground. He reached out and pulled it out, then slowly twisted the supposedly indestructible weapon into a spiral, under the gaze of thousands of merfolk knights.

It seemed as if the guy in his hand was not holding a spear, but a bunch of stretched dough. He muttered something while twisting the thing in his hand. The merfolk and Fahna couldn't understand what he was saying, but Leo, who had just walked out of the house, happened to see this guy twisting a bunch of iron pieces into an iron ball. His gaze swept over the cracks on the ground, the seahorse sinking to the bottom like a dead fish not far away, and Futagen's horrified face. He didn't need to think twice to know what had happened here.

What are you doing with that? Leo asked.

Looking at Hydra happily squeezing the thing in his hand into an iron lump, Leo raised an eyebrow slightly. This guy's thoughts after transforming into human form sometimes seemed incomprehensible, like now... When Hydra stopped and looked up to answer Leo' question, the twisted corners of his mouth instinctively made Leo sense that someone might be in trouble.

Throwing it away, Hydra answered his question, then waved the olive-shaped iron lump in his hand towards the surface. A white line flashed in the water, caused by the rapid speed, and the straight trajectory extended straight for a hundred meters. When the merfolk shifted their gaze to the target hit by the iron lump, they only saw Duke Futagen, who had been hit in the chest, with his eyes rolling back and bubbles popping out, sinking towards the seabed.

Bob chuckled lightly beside them and said straightforwardly, Is this what they call the royal army of the merfolk kingdom?

In her eyes, it seemed that no matter how grand the spectacle, it was not worth mentioning. When a person's power and influence needed to be highlighted by hundreds or even thousands of people, it often indicated that their heart was filled with fear.

Fahna didn't know what to say, but when she saw Leo appear, her heart inexplicably calmed down a lot. So she no longer stood aside, but came to the side of the two, at the same time Scarlett also walked out from an unknown corner, smiling as she watched Hydra knock out the other big guy directly, seeming to find it very amusing.

Do you find him unpleasant? Leo asked Hydra, who rarely took any extreme actions on his own.

Taking his gaze back from the merfolk who were intimidated by his actions, the seven-headed dragon shrugged and pointed at the sunken seahorse and Futagen, saying, He wanted that fish to kiss me.

There was a momentary freeze in the atmosphere, Leo twitched at the corner of his mouth and no longer asked any unnecessary questions - apparently, he understood. Communicating with Hydra was as difficult as fighting Cthulhu, and at this moment, the merfolk above finally reacted. The three seahorse knights rushed down to check Futagen's injuries, while Chesterla appeared next to Leo, gloating as he looked at Futagen rolling his eyes in the distance, not hiding his words, That guy and I have never gotten along. What was supposed to be a formal diplomatic action has been turned into a mess by him. I'm really sorry.

Leo could tell that this guy was overjoyed in his heart. Regardless, it was definitely a cause for celebration when a political enemy was in a tight spot. With Chesterla around, Leo wouldn't make trouble over the incident where Hydra was kissed by a fish. The negotiations proceeded quickly, without any troublemakers like Futagen. The merfolk, who had lowered their stance, didn't dare to put on airs anymore. Leo sat quietly at the negotiation table and began the discussions.

Among this grand team, the most distinguished figure was naturally Palan, the ruler of the Bax Kingdom. This merfolk, who was only level 15, didn't possess the formidable strength that Leo had imagined. However, it was evident that maintaining the royal ruling position was not solely based on individual strength, but rather on one's bloodline. The reason this ruler valued Leo was due to the appearance of the dragon race and the powerful strength of the three individuals who defeated five thousand Naga within five minutes, as mentioned by Chesterla. Although proud, the Bax Kingdom, situated in a war-torn border, didn't consider themselves superior to others. They understood the concept that there is always someone better out there. Therefore, after witnessing Hydra knock out the legion commander Futagen with a single strike, their previous doubts vanished. They respectfully began negotiations with this human who had the potential to completely reform their military forces.

As the ruler of Bax, Palan was a mage with powerful melee abilities. In other words, he was an expert in both magic and martial arts. Unlike Leo, this was an exclusive talent of the royal merfolk. Ordinary merfolk couldn't possess such a physique. Therefore, during the negotiations with Leo, he, who had a deep understanding of the elemental domain, found common ground with Leo in many aspects. For example, Palan described how they converted volcanic heat into controllable energy during the forging of their military equipment in the sea. Leo, on the other hand, briefly explained the powerful magic circle barrier centered around the Hida Tree in his territory.

This was not just a simple exchange. Both technologies had broad prospects. The merfolk's magma energy conversion method had a wide range of applications. This means of converting energy sources could even directly convert the energy of the Hida Tree into heat for forging. If that were the case, the blacksmiths of Atlantis would be spared the trouble of collecting and burning fuel. It should be noted that although there were ventilation measures in the underground space, extensive forging would eventually turn it into a furnace. On the other hand, human protective barrier technology was also applicable to the defense of underwater cities.

Thus, the negotiations, which originally only needed to reach a few simple intentions, expanded continuously under the conversation between Leo and King Palan. In the end, they reached more and more agreements. However, because they were mostly win-win policies, there were not many disputes. Three whole days passed, during which Leo, who had returned to the August Empire, finally reached more than a dozen agreements with Bax. Since the issue of forging military equipment could only be resolved in the August Empire, there were a total of four signatories to this agreement: the August Empire, the Bax Kingdom, the Byzantine Empire, and Leo representing the Lampard Territory.

The Bax Kingdom was willing to give up sea lanes above the surface in exchange for the August Empire's military factories producing a large number of armors. At the same time, Bax, which had a large amount of iron ore, also signed some trade agreements with Byzantine and August. The reason was simple: selling to humans earned them three to four times more than selling to their fellow merfolk.

For Leo, the most important thing is the support for their new determined strategy. Palan agrees to hand over the Naga prisoners of war to Leo and provide support for the upcoming Naga Resistance Movement in the seventeen towns along the Bax border. After all, Bax is not interested in exchanging the lives of their mermaid warriors for these Naga. It is a dream come true for Palan to have the Naga fight against their own kind. This is because there are two other mermaid nations across the sea routes. However, due to the agreement, Leo states that after acquiring a certain number of Naga troops, they will take a detour along the Naga Empire's border and return to Byzantine. Although this adds thirty percent to the journey, it leaves more steps to deal with the other two mermaid nations. Leo is in a hurry.

In addition, Palan promises to search for the last fragment of the Longinus Spear that Leo mentioned, although he does not have high hopes of finding it.

The unexpected smooth cooperation with the mermaids is something Leo did not anticipate. Originally, he thought it would take a lot of time to test back and forth, but he also didn't know that he was lucky. It turns out that the Bax Empire not only suffered attacks from the Naga, but also had a military conflict with the neighboring Elan Kingdom during this time. The situation of being attacked from both sides eventually made them prefer to deal with this human who has a pure-blooded dragon servant, rather than sign a ceasefire agreement with the greedy Elan envoy. These coincidences ultimately led to Leo' success.

During these days, Fahna's biggest feeling, besides being a translator, is her gradually changing view of Leo and her preparation for everything she will face next. As a prisoner of war, she watched Leo, who had never been to the deep sea before, maneuver between August, Byzantine, Bax, and Kruz, and successfully fought for her own maximum benefit. During this time, besides Bob, Hydra, and Scarlett demonstrating their power, the group did not encounter any major obstacles. All of this makes her feel like it's too good to be true.

But she also understands that Leo' strength and the forces behind him give him the confidence to do all this. Even when Leo personally tells her that he is building his own army under the sea with Garrosh and gradually incorporating the Naga border legion, she is not overly surprised.

Chapter 3

Why does he trust himself so much?

Fahna was conflicted. Leo had given her so many benefits unconditionally, making it hard for her to let go.

I want to point out, as pawns under the command of humans, don't you feel any resentment? Garrosh asked, standing beside Fahna. Leo had already left the deep sea with Bob and Scarlett on Hydra, leaving Fahna as the overall commander and spokesperson for underwater affairs. Garrosh became Fahna's first mate, his experience on the battlefield giving him a deeper understanding than Fahna.

Although she didn't want to admit it, Fahna didn't feel any resentment towards Leo' actions. He had given her the opportunity to seek answers and the power to make her own choices.

Is he really that confident in our underwater operations? We still have two-thirds of the route to clear. If we fail, all his efforts will be in vain, Fahna said, puzzled by how easily Leo could leave. His demeanor had changed from indifference to that of a resentful woman who had been abandoned. Garrosh knew this was a result of a huge psychological gap, but young Fahna didn't know how to hide her thoughts.

So the former army commander, still in the position of first mate, whispered, He handed over the commander's position to you out of trust. But besides trust, I think there's more to it. He probably has other ways as a backup plan. That human doesn't seem like the type to take risks lightly. If we fail, it might just play into his hands.

Are you saying that if we die, it would suit his purposes?! Fahna, who had been quiet in front of Leo, now spoke without restraint. Her previously mature and composed demeanor, due to her silence, now seemed childish and naive. It appeared that this was a normal, shallow expression for a genius mage when it came to political matters.

Garrosh sighed bitterly, It's just a speculation. It's not hard to see that his main goal is to ensure the fleet returns safely to Byzantine. Apart from the route provided by Bax, going around the Naga border is much more convenient than directly passing through the other two mermaid countries. Now we have a force of three thousand people, and all we can do is follow his instructions to clear a path and confront the Queen. Although I understand that this is difficult for both you and me... who knows if that dragon is watching from the sidelines?

This is a reasonable speculation. A force of three thousand people is not considered large. Even if Garrosh is strong in combat, he cannot simply launch a surprise attack on his former comrades in the middle of the sea and expect to kill them decisively. Although he is dissatisfied with the queen's wrong decision, it is not a reason for them to raise their swords against their own kin.

I don't want to do this, Fahna shook her head, biting her lip and whispered, The queen has made a wrong decision. Those who don't execute it will die, and those who do will also die. Why should it be like this?

Garrosh didn't know how to answer. He understood that there weren't many choices in front of him. One was to face his own kin in battle, and the other was to find his former comrades and subordinates and tell them with words that they shouldn't sacrifice themselves for the queen's cause. However, even a little bit of thinking would reveal that these soldiers, whose minds had been brainwashed, would never easily believe a legion commander and rebel against the queen.

Leo left little room for choice for the two of them. If the over three thousand Naga warriors were disbanded on the spot, they would not be able to return to the Naga Empire nor be accepted by the merfolk. They could only survive alone in the deep sea, and the consequences would only be becoming pirates or bandits. Even Garrosh would face the same fate. The uniqueness of their race left them with no choice but to continue fighting for their survival.

Realizing this, Garrosh helplessly said, Bax has provided us with seventeen towns where we can resupply. Regardless, our warriors cannot go hungry. Let's take it step by step for what comes next.

As a deputy officer, he knew he couldn't give orders casually, but when he looked up at Fahna, he found her frowning and looking into the distance. What's wrong?

It's Hydra.

Looking at the vague figure in the sea from afar, Fahna unexpectedly felt a sense of relief. Could it be that she couldn't escape from Leo' shadow and had unknowingly developed a strange... dependence?

She shook her head, driving away those strange thoughts from her mind, and turned to Garrosh, saying, It seems like he is not just an observer, but also an intervenor.

To be honest, I never thought that one day I would lead an army to stop the queen, Garrosh sighed, his expression conflicted. But when he thought of the unbearable losses he had suffered in recent days, his desolate expression became more determined. Naga blood should not be wasted like this. No matter how strong we are, we are nothing more than pawns in the queen's eyes, unless...

Are you suggesting...

Fahna slowly raised her head and asked, Overthrow her?

...

Leo didn't know much about Fahna. He had sent Hydra to follow Naga for his own peace of mind. To be honest, he wasn't as clever as Fahna imagined. However, his unintentional actions seemed to have caused some changes in the new dynamics of the underwater world.

Leo's return to the August Empire was like a great gift to Emperor Cole. With the opening of the sea, the country, which had suffered heavy damage to its ports, no longer had to worry about mermaid attacks in the near sea. In the long run, the reduction in losses was comparable to the iron ore trade agreement signed with the mermaids. In response to this, the generous Emperor added an order for ten thousand crossbows for Leo to export. However, while Leo was happy about this, the subsequent problem gave him a headache.

How to transport them back?

The military supplies for Byzantine and Baliche were enough to fill hundreds of large transport ships. However, due to the Naga attacks, the August Empire couldn't gather enough ships at the moment. Even if they were transported in batches, it would still require at least eight trips. This made Leo, who had originally planned to put August Empire affairs on hold and return to Lampard, furrow his brows.

Are you troubled? Andaril had been practicing magic during these days and was able to remain calm. However, Leo could tell that she had been through some battles. The changes in this mother of suffering were quite apparent. Her physical condition and strength had undergone a tremendous transformation. Her delicate body now exuded a sense of holiness due to her wings. Since Leo and the others left, the little girl rarely spoke and her face always maintained a serious expression, giving off a feeling of a temple saint.

At this moment, Leo was lost in thought, staring at the written report in the hotel room of the embassy. Bob, with green eyes, sat in a wheelchair and looked at Leo. She reached out and touched his fingers, prompting Leo to realize that Andaril was asking him a question.

Have you been here for too long and want to go back? Leo's tired face revealed a smile. Looking at Andaril's appearance, he really didn't want to infect this increasingly sacred little girl with negative emotions. Although he understood that she didn't believe in the god of light but in the goddess of wisdom, Marl, her existence, which directly received divine gifts, carried a different aura from humans.

Andaril nodded, then shook her head. After several battles, she spoke less than before.

What's wrong? Leo didn't quite understand her meaning.

You go back, I'll follow. Andaril's white ceremonial robe, after going through several battles and being washed too frequently, had turned a slightly yellowish color. Her long hair hung down, and her delicate face seemed to have lost some of its childishness. Her words were calm and without hesitation.

This was trust. Leo understood his importance in this little girl's heart. He thought for a moment and decided to discuss his current troubles and the team with them.

There's a third wave of beasts appearing on the outskirts of Lampard, including some unexpected characters. This is not a good sign. The Inferno has started their next move. I think of it as a game of chess, each side taking their turn, slowly starting to confront each other. Leo recalled all the intelligence details Eilindel had given him. I don't know how Katherine's progress in the Inferno is going, but it's clear that the Lords are being cautious and unwilling to disrupt a certain balance. The appearance of the 'Chosen One' can now be confirmed as a response from the Heavenly Temple plane. Apart from that, there haven't been any more direct actions. The angels have disappeared without a trace, and there haven't been any major demon invasions in the Inferno. Based on the current situation, it seems that this battle will ultimately be a confrontation within the human race. Regardless of the outcome, it doesn't seem to have a significant impact on those planes.

Humans... they truly are a mixture of angels and demons. They can become demons and angels. Bob's tone was light, and her gentle gaze swept over Andaril, making the little girl feel a bit embarrassed as she pursed her lips.

Leo found her words to be very true because the Bob in front of him had basically been confirmed as the sixth Lord of the Inferno, while he himself possessed the bloodline of the Holy Sanctuary.

But even so, what could he do? Leo couldn't forget the illusions he saw when he was entangled by Cthulhu... His mother's words when facing the members of the Law made him truly understand that he was not just a simple bastard son of a Duke. His destiny was beyond his control.

Bob... if one day, I become the enemy you have to face...

Leo didn't know why, but he suddenly brought up the question he had been avoiding in his heart for the past few days.

Scarlett's eye twitched, and Andaril's mouth dropped open in surprise. They never expected such a situation to arise. If there were conflicts between Bob and Leo, the consequences would be unimaginable... Would Byzantine or Lampard turn the world upside down?

I don't know why the Lord of Purgatory has to be at odds with the Holy Hall, Bob smiled and raised her palm, placing it in front of Leo. Besides, I have no reason to see you as an enemy.

The days when everyone was an enemy are long gone, Leo sighed in relief, holding her cool yet delicate hand. They didn't shy away from the presence of others, but deep inside, they both felt overwhelmed with emotions. Their feelings had intensified during the battles, just like steel that had been forged and fused together.

Become enemies? Leo couldn't think of any reason that would make them enemies at this point.

Scarlett's gaze lingered for a moment on their intertwined hands before shifting away. Andaril, who had been at a loss just moments ago, now found joy and exhaled lightly, pressing his chest.

There was a brief silence in the room. Leo gently released his hand and turned to Scarlett, asking, It's not realistic to rely on the August Empire to provide us with merchant ships. Can you provide the locations of other countries on this continent that can offer sea vessels?

Scarlett was still conflicted in her mind about the relationship between Leo and Bob just now. Being asked the question, she unexpectedly lost her usual composure and took a moment to react. Then, she slightly lowered her head and replied, The Skoda Kingdom is the most capable in terms of maritime transportation on the Wenna Continent. It is one of the few countries that can survive under the oppression of the August Empire. However, it's still uncertain how many ships they can spare at this point.

Will they lend us their ships?

I believe that for humans, there is nothing that cannot be negotiated, Scarlett said, regretting her words a little and quickly adding, except for deep emotions, of course.

Upon hearing this, Bob laughed sweetly. She blushed slightly after locking eyes with Leo, surprising him with a display of a girlish demeanor that he had never seen before, leaving him stunned...

...Then let's prepare and head to Skoda.

Chapter 4

Princess Xialan understood the consequences of leaving Skoda without proper consideration. As a diplomatic envoy, her every move represented the attitude of her empire, Ingwe. While Ingwe may not be as powerful as Byzantine or Baliche, it was still a force to be reckoned with, capable of standing up against old powerhouse nations like Gilman Uther. Under the rule of the queen, Ingwe's overall strength had been steadily increasing. In comparison, Uther and Gilman seemed to be on a decline. This created a distinct sense of pride among the Ingwe royal family, not just for the power they currently possessed, but for the potential their lineage held.

Xialan shared this pride, which made it difficult for her to directly defy her mother's orders. All her pride stemmed from the resolute queen, without whom Ingwe would not be what it was today. This feeling was similar to that of the Naga Empire, but there were notable differences between humans and Naga. The main difference lay in their social consciousness. Humans complained, had more desires, and strived to achieve what they wanted, while the Naga had long given up their inner resistance to their cursed fate.

Fahna and Garrosh's conflict was not with the Naga queen herself, but with her orders. There was a significant distinction between the two.

Now, Princess Xialan had decided to lead the envoy to leave Skoda on her own accord. It seemed that being far away had given her the courage and confidence to contemplate the future she could control, as she no longer identified with the queen.

Your Highness, we are surrounded, the commander of the Ingwe fleet reported anxiously. He couldn't help but feel nervous. They were in the inner sea area of Scola, and the Ingwe envoy, who forcefully left the port, couldn't just come and go as they pleased. In terms of diplomatic matters, Xialan's actions had undoubtedly disrespected the ruler of Scola. Therefore, it was only natural that her ships were now completely surrounded by a fleet that Scola had immediately sent after them.

It seemed that only in situations like this did Scola spare no effort in showcasing its naval power. This small country surprisingly possessed over seventy large warships, similar to the Ingwe flagship, and even had three larger invincible class warships. In terms of offensive firepower, range, speed, and carrying capacity, these ships far surpassed those of Ingwe. While these differences may not be easily grasped from the data alone, Xialan could clearly see the colossal Skoda flagship in her field of vision, standing in stark contrast to her own ship.

Skoda's stance was firm. Just now, a soldier had come to deliver a message to Princess Xialan, stating that if they did not immediately halt their fleet, Skoda had the right to launch an attack under the pretext of territorial infringement.

Xialan didn't make this decision without considering the consequences. Her actions were like gambling - even though her fate as a political sacrifice was already sealed, she had originally planned not to resist too much. However, she suddenly changed her mind.

Take a defensive stance and let them know that the princess of the Ingwe Empire doesn't just marry anyone. I have the power... to choose my own fate.

Facing countless ships surrounding them, Xialan directly made the captain choose to continue the standoff. The captain, who was of lower rank, reluctantly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and gave the order. He thought the princess had gone mad. This decision wasn't something an ordinary person could just say and do. Skoda now had more than enough reason to open fire and destroy the entire Ingwe fleet.

Everyone believed that once this standoff turned into a conflict, the empire's fleet wouldn't last more than three hours.

The princess's decision made everyone feel a chilling sensation. To ordinary people, it seemed like she was gambling with her own life...