Chapter 172. Declaration of War
William fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
“There is no point in discussing that now.”
His tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable certainty.
“What’s done is done. Chasing after ‘what ifs’ will only make you suffer more.”
Selena lowered her head and twisted the corner of her clothes between her fingers, falling silent once again.
Only the faint crackling of candlelight remained in the barracks, and the oppressive atmosphere was almost suffocating.
Suddenly, as if she had remembered something, she abruptly pulled out a glowing blue Communication Crystal from her robes and tremblingly poured Mana into it.
A faint light rose from the crystal, yet no response came. Once, twice, three times... until the glow dimmed again, and still no one answered.
Selena’s face turned even paler, and her voice carried the edge of tears.
“My Elf Assassin... she was badly injured protecting me. Things were too urgent at the time, and I couldn’t take her with me... Now I can’t even reach her through the crystal. Could it be that she...”
William looked at her reddened eyes, took the Communication Crystal from her hand, and examined it carefully.
“The crystal isn’t damaged. It’s possible the other side is in an area where Mana is blocked, or... recovering from injuries and unable to respond for the moment.”
Just as his words fell, the Communication Crystal in Selena’s hand suddenly lit up with a gentle blue glow, and a faint wave of Mana spread through the silent barracks.
She held her breath at once. Her fingertips trembled from how tightly she gripped it as she carefully pressed the crystal to her ear.
“Selena...”
The weak voice of the Elf Assassin came from the other side of the crystal. It was clearly fatigued, yet still distinct.
“I’m recovering... What is it?”
Selena’s voice instantly caught in her throat. Forcing back her tears, she smiled and said, “N-Nothing... I just wanted to ask if you’re all right now.”
“Yes. I escaped.”
The elf’s voice paused briefly, as though she were adjusting her breathing.
“I’m fine. I’m hanging up now.”
The glow of the Communication Crystal abruptly went out, returning it to the cold appearance of an ordinary crystal stone.
But Selena froze in place. A few seconds later, a genuine smile, one filled with relief, slowly bloomed across her face. Tears slid down from the corners of her eyes, but they no longer carried the taste of sorrow.
“She’s fine... It’s good that she’s fine...”
She murmured it over and over, as though trying to confirm that the news was real.
Seeing the long-absent smile on her face, William also felt the tension in his heart ease. He reached out and gently patted her back.
“Yes. It’s good that she’s fine.”
After soothing Selena and watching her lie back down, her breathing gradually steadying, William finally stepped out of the room as quietly as possible.
The night wind swept across the battlements of Dragonfang Fortress, carrying a biting chill. Just as he entered the courtyard, the Communication Crystal at his chest began to vibrate, shining with a dark golden light.
Once the connection was established, Kroll II’s steady voice came through, carrying a trace of gravity that was difficult to detect.
“William, the Dwarf Kingdom and the Lizardfolk Kingdom have declared war on Kadiya.”
William’s steps halted, and his brows lifted slightly. “When did this happen?”
“An hour ago.”
Kroll II’s voice came through the crystal with the harsh texture of metal scraping against metal.
“They launched a surprise attack under cover of night and have already broken into Kadiya’s Northern Frontier. Feir IV has just sent a Letter of State asking for aid and requesting that we send troops to assist.”
A cold arc rose at the corner of William’s mouth. As he walked up the stone steps toward the fortress command tower, he lowered his head slightly, holding the Communication Crystal in hand.
“It looks like the plan is progressing smoothly. Those foreign kingdoms clearly have no intention of sitting still and waiting. Father, should we wait a little longer...?”
The crystal was silent for a moment. Then Kroll II’s deeper voice sounded again.
“William, look further ahead.”
He paused, and when he spoke again, his tone carried a decision that allowed no doubt.
“I mean for you to go to the Dragon Kingdom in person.”
“The Dragon Kingdom?”
William stopped walking. He immediately understood his father’s intention.
“If we draw the Dragon Kingdom into this as well, then the Barbarians and the Orcs will also join...”
“It doesn’t matter,” Kroll II said. “The point is to muddy the waters. Once that happens, the surrounding human kingdoms will join as well.”
“Not long ago, I already sent out a Letter of State, and the other side agreed.”
“I had planned to wait until after you returned before telling you about this, but I didn’t expect the dwarves and lizardfolk to be so decisive that they would declare war outright.”
The night wind lifted William’s cloak. As he gazed at the dark mountain range in the distance, a sharp light flashed through his eyes.
“I understand.” William tightened his grip on the Communication Crystal. “I’ll set out for the Dragon Kingdom immediately.”
“Be careful,” Kroll II warned. “I expect the foreign races will interfere and try to stop you this time.”
“Don’t worry.”
After cutting off the communication, William turned and gave an order to Tos, who had been waiting at the side.
“Pass down the order. The Ceremonial Guard and the Knight Order are to continue advancing toward the Kroll Royal Capital.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Tos accepted the order and quickly departed.
Inwardly, William called Darwin’s name, and the latter responded soon after. It was already on its way.
As dawn began to break, a Dragon’s Roar that shook the heavens rolled across the distant sky, causing even the soldiers in the fortress to look up.
A massive shadow tore through the clouds. Its wings spread wide enough to blot out the sky. It was Darwin.
Circling as it descended, the wild gusts raised by its wings sent dust spiraling up from the ground. When it drew near the fortress tower, William seized the moment and leaped into the air, landing steadily on the dragon’s back, which was covered in hard scales.
“To the Dragon Kingdom,” William said in a low voice as he bent toward Darwin’s ear.
Darwin let out a responding Dragon’s Roar that made the air itself tremble.
Then, with a violent beat of its wings, its enormous body shot into the heavens like an arrow released from the bow, racing southwest toward the Dragon Kingdom.
Dragonfang Fortress rapidly shrank beneath them. Mountains and rivers blurred into streaks of shadow and light.
In the night sky, Darwin’s figure was like a bolt of black lightning, splitting apart the clouds as it sped toward its destination.
Standing on the dragon’s back, William felt the fierce wind rushing toward him. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s.
He had arrived for the Dragon Kingdom.