Chapter 179. William Arrives at Despair Fortress
For the past several days, a weight had been hanging over William’s heart.
The battle reports from Despair Fortress had grown more dire by the day, and the signs of Western Continent forces meddling in the war had become increasingly obvious. He truly could not remain at ease in the Royal Capital.
After thinking it over again and again, he finally rose and headed for Kroll II’s Study.
Inside the Study, candlelight flickered as Kroll II stared absently at the map.
When he saw William enter, he lifted his eyes slightly.
“You still can’t put your mind at ease?”
William nodded, his tone carrying unquestionable resolve.
“Father, Despair Fortress cannot be allowed to suffer the slightest mishap. I want to go to the Northern Frontier myself.”
Kroll II’s brows drew tightly together.
“You are the Crown Prince. Remaining in the Royal Capital is the foundation of everything. The front line already has numerous Legion Commanders and Legendary Combatants, and five Gold Legions have already been transferred there. They may not necessarily fail to hold it.”
“But the enemy has Ice Dragon Riders, and the Western Continent is backing them from behind.”
William walked to the map and tapped the position of Despair Fortress heavily with his fingertip.
“I have to go. Only there can I judge the situation at the first possible moment and adjust our tactics accordingly. The Legion Commanders may all be brave, but when it comes to dealing with this kind of chaotic situation involving multiple powers, in the end, none of them understand it as well as I do.”
“Most importantly, I have a Demigod token. Even if the worst happens, I can still preserve Kroll’s last spark.”
Father and son looked at each other in silence.
As Kroll II looked at the determination in his son’s eyes, the decisiveness and responsibility that belonged to a true king had become clearer and clearer.
He knew William was right. Some burdens, sooner or later, had to be borne by him alone.
After a long while, Kroll II let out a sigh and waved his hand.
“Very well. If you want to go, then go. But remember this: holding the fortress is important, but your safety is even more important.”
“Thank you, Father.” William bowed, and a trace of relief flashed through his eyes.
That very afternoon, a deep dragon’s roar echoed from the northern gate of the Royal Capital.
Dressed in the Crown Prince’s golden armor, William leapt onto Darwin’s back in a single motion.
“Let’s go.” William patted Darwin on the neck.
The golden dragon let out a thunderous roar and soared into the sky, carrying him at full speed toward the Northern Frontier.
The Royal Capital gradually shrank below them. William lowered his gaze and knew clearly that this journey was not only about defending a fortress, but also about safeguarding his own ambitions.
The wind howled past his ears, and the clouds swept beneath him.
He could imagine the beacon fires of Despair Fortress, guess at the calculations of the Western Continent forces, and understand even more clearly the weight of this war.
But he felt not the slightest fear.
Darwin flew at astonishing speed, and the frozen plains of the Northern Frontier grew clearer and clearer in his sight.
On the distant horizon, William could already make out the towering spires of Despair Fortress and the smoke curling through the sky around it.
William tightened his grip on the sword at his waist. Darwin’s claws ripped through the clouds as he plunged toward that war-torn land.
Darwin’s shadow swept across the frozen wilderness and circled once above Despair Fortress.
The soldiers atop the walls cried out in alarm at first, but the moment they recognized the figure in golden armor standing on the dragon’s back, deafening cheers erupted at once. His Highness the Crown Prince had actually come in person.
The Legion Commanders and Legendary Combatants all rushed onto the walls as soon as they heard the news. Seeing William leap down from the dragon’s back, they hurriedly bowed.
“Your Highness, why have you—”
“How is the situation?”
William cut him off, his gaze already sweeping over the battlefield below the walls.
The roar of the ice dragons could faintly be heard in the distance. The Lesser-Dragon legions were gathering on the western side of the fortress, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of ice, clearly the mark left behind by the ice dragons’ breath.
“The enemy launched three fierce assaults yesterday, and all of them were driven back by the Magic Crystal Cannons, but our casualties were not light.”
Carlos’s voice was thick with exhaustion.
“Those ice dragons and Lesser-Dragon Riders in particular are impossible to guard against. The energy of the Magic Barrier is nearly exhausted.”
William nodded and walked to the edge of the wall, then took a crystal from his robes.
“Embed this into the barrier core. It should hold for a few more days.”
This was an amplification crystal he had brought from the royal treasury, one that contained dense magical energy.
The soldiers immediately did as he said. The dim Magic Barrier instantly brightened, and a pale blue radiance flowed along the walls, blocking the next wave of freezing breath the ice dragons spewed from outside.
“Have the Secret Realm legions arrived?” William asked.
“The Fourth and Fifth Gold Legions have already made camp behind the fortress. The wolf riders of the Monster Legions are adapting to the terrain, and the Two-Headed Wyvern Riders have been stationed at the eastern tower and can take off at any time,” Kru replied.
“Good.”
He lifted his gaze and swept it across the Legion Commanders and Legendary Combatants before him, his voice steady and powerful.
“According to the intelligence returned by the Shadow Guard, their follow-up reinforcements are continuously landing from the Sea of Despair.”
“If we do not seize this opportunity to crush the vanguard of the Orc Alliance, then once they gain a firm foothold, their numbers will only continue to grow.”
All the generals nodded in unison.
The Orc Alliance’s ferocity was known to all. Dragging things out would only become more disadvantageous for their side.
William paused, and his eyes turned as sharp as blades as he looked over every person present.
“Gentlemen, in this battle, we can only win. We cannot lose.”
His voice rose abruptly, carrying unquestionable determination.
“Despair Fortress is Kroll’s northern gateway. If the Orc Alliance tears open even the slightest breach, their iron cavalry will pour in like a tide without end. When that happens, the fate of the Kroll Kingdom will be self-evident.”
The chamber fell utterly silent. Even the sound of breathing seemed frozen in place.
Every commander present understood that these words were not an exaggeration.
Since the powers behind the Orc Alliance had dared to invest Ice Dragons and Lesser-Dragon legions, then their goal was clearly to completely shatter the balance of the Eastern Continent.
“Otherwise, I would never have come to Despair Fortress in person.”
William’s tone eased slightly, yet it somehow became even heavier.
“I am not standing here to supervise the battle. I am here to defend this place with you. If the fortress cannot be held, then I will be the first to die here.”
“We are willing to fight to the death with Your Highness.”
No one knew who shouted it first, but in the next instant, every Legion Commander and Legendary Combatant dropped to one knee in unison. The clash of armor rang out so heavily that even the ground trembled.
“We are willing to fight to the death with Your Highness.”
Their voices burst out of the hall and echoed above the fortress. Even Darwin, circling above the battlements, seemed to respond, releasing a fierce and stirring dragon’s roar.