188: Three-way stand

Holy Radiance City battlefield.

Smoke obscured the sun over Holy Radiance City, and the flags of the Golden Peacock Family fluttered noisily in the wind. On the city walls, the defenders' magical barriers flickered under continuous bombardment, and rubble constantly tumbled from the cracked battlements.

Marquis Golden Peacock stood on a temporary high platform, his face grim. Fifty magic crystal cannons, accumulated over generations by the Family, had been firing for seven days, yet they still could not tear through the capital's seemingly precarious but incredibly resilient defense line.

"My Lord, a gap has appeared in the third section of the north wall!" a dust-covered general rushed over to report.

A light flashed in the Marquis's eyes: "Order the Third Legion to storm the gap! At any cost!"

Before he could finish speaking, a blinding golden light suddenly lit up on the city wall. Dozens of thick pillars of light rose from within the city, precisely striking the areas where the attacking troops were most concentrated. Screams instantly drowned out the roar of the cannons.

"Damn it! The capital's 'Holy Light Array' is still operational!" the adjutant gritted his teeth. "That bastard Atos filled it with all the Holy Light Crystals in the treasury before he left!"

Marquis Golden Peacock clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The Family's centuries of foundation were being rapidly consumed in this siege; every roar of a magic crystal cannon meant an astronomical amount of gold coins turning into smoke, and time—what he lacked most was time.

"Where is Usachi?" the Marquis turned, his voice hoarse.

"The southern army's vanguard is still three days' journey from the capital, but Monk's reinforcements are about the same distance away..." The intelligence officer's forehead was beaded with sweat. "My Lord, if we cannot break the city before Monk arrives, we will be caught in a pincer attack!"

The Marquis took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked toward the southern horizon, where dust could be seen rising faintly.

"Send three more batches of messengers using the fastest possible method to tell Legendary Usachi," he said, emphasizing every word, "if he cannot arrive within two days, we will all be surrounded by the capital's defenders and Monk. The Second Prince will have no chance of victory!"

...Star Sea Territory, Star Sea Hall.

Linn stood before a massive strategic sand table, his finger lightly tracing the coastline of Laixi Deep Province. Beside him, a tall figure had just finished kneeling to salute.

"Clay," Linn turned and looked at this high-tier three-star who had been in secluded cultivation for over a year and had possessed the breath of life for more than a decade. Clay was even more composed now, but there was a deep light in his eyes! The aura of a Legendary Expert was restrained like an abyss, yet it faintly emitted a heart-palpitating pressure.

"My Lord, Clay is ready for your orders." His voice was as steady as a mountain.

Linn nodded and pointed to the area adjacent to the western side of Laixi Deep Province on the sand table: "Ocean Jack has already taken Haige City; the eastern coastal gateway of Laixiao has been opened. But what we want is more than just one province."

His finger moved to Bandel Province: "Here is one of the gateways to Tianhai Province and also one of the wealthiest grain-producing regions in the Aolai Kingdom. I want you to lead ten thousand Guard Army troops and five thousand Griffin Knights to rendezvous with Batu's Orc Legion and Vaughan's Zhenhai Legion, totaling eighty-five thousand troops."

"Your mission," Linn's gaze was sharp, "is to take Bandel Province and occupy Tianhai City. I want Laixiao and Bandel, these two provinces, to be completely under the control of the Star Sea Territory."

Clay did not hesitate for a moment: "Your subordinate will certainly complete the mission."

"Remember! It must be fast!" Linn said. "The Second Prince's army in Bandel Province has already headed to the capital, so there won't be many defenders in Bandel Province. With you and Batu, two Legendaries, presiding, plus the three ace units—the Orc Legion, the Guard Army, and the Griffin Knights—you will have no rival on the direct battlefield."

He paused: "As for the First Prince... he would love for us to help him crush the southern army, so he won't interfere for now."

"Understood." Clay stood up, his armor making a slight clanking sound.

Linn watched Clay leave and then turned to the other side of the hall. Several figures stood there quietly.

"Sebastian."

The former Sea God Clan Archmage, Head of the Mage Corps, now the Air Force Commander, stepped forward and bowed: "My Lord."

"Are the thirty airships ready?"

"All in position. Each can carry two thousand soldiers and corresponding supplies. The Demonic Energy cores are fully charged and ready for takeoff at any time."

Linn nodded with satisfaction: "Board twenty thousand air force troops, Elise's five thousand-strong Star Sea Magic Corps, twenty thousand Imperial Guards, and eight Sky Knight Attendants."

He walked to the window and looked toward the port. There, thirty massive airships were quietly moored at dedicated docks, their streamlined hulls gleaming with a metallic luster in the sunlight. This was the secret weapon the Star Sea Territory had spent ten years and countless resources creating! A true ultimate weapon.

"This time, we are officially entering the fray." Linn's voice was soft but carried an unquestionable determination. "The chessboard for the three-way struggle for hegemony is set; it's time for us to make our move."

...Star Sea Palace bedchamber.

Aivi adjusted Linn's black ducal robe.

"This time... how long will it be?" she asked softly.

Linn took his wife's hand: "Maybe very soon, maybe very long. Once a war begins, time is no longer under our control."

Aivi looked up, the aura of a mid-stage Legendary circulating around her, but there was a rare worry in her eyes: "I would rather fight by your side."

"Star Sea Island needs someone to guard it." Linn smiled. "Forty thousand reserve air force troops, thirty thousand garrison troops, and the Star Sea Hall's defense system—only by entrusting these to you can I feel at ease to give my all on the front lines."

He paused for a moment: "Moreover, our child..."

Aivi's hand rested gently on her abdomen. There, a new life was being nurtured! This was a secret that even his closest subordinates did not know.

"I will guard our home," she finally said, her voice becoming firm. "But promise me, you must come back."

Linn leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead: "I promise you."

...Three days later, Saru Archipelago.

The eighty-five thousand-strong army completed its assembly. Warships stood like a forest, and banners obscured the Sky.

The ten thousand Guard Army troops relied on griffins for transport, and their assembly speed was extremely fast!

Clay stood at the bow of the flagship, the 'Iron Wall', with the two generals, Batu and Vaughan, behind him. The low battle cries unique to the Orc Legion came from the transport ships, and the Griffin Knights' mounts circled in the Sky, letting out resonant cries.

"Course, Bandel Province. Tianhai City," Clay ordered, his voice spreading through the entire fleet via magic. "Full speed ahead."

Meanwhile, at Star Sea Port.

Thirty airships slowly ascended, their Demonic Energy engines letting out a low roar. Massive shadows were cast upon the sea, like moving mountains.

Linn stood on the command deck of the flagship, the 'star vault', watching Star Sea City grow smaller below. At the port, Aivi's figure stood on a high platform, her white dress fluttering in the wind.

He took one last look, turned, and cast his gaze to the west—the direction of the capital.

"Order the whole army," Linn's voice was calm and firm, "Target: Laixi Deep Province, Haige City temporary headquarters!"

The floating fleet began to accelerate, heading toward the war-torn heart of the Aolai Kingdom.

In the far north, the main force of the Eastern Wilderness Kingdom, led by Jokic and Wade, had already invaded the heart of Brussels Province. They were ready to join the fray at any moment.

Yilman's 240,000-strong army was quietly moving toward Laixi Deep Province!

The war behemoth that was the Star Sea Territory had finally fully bared its fangs.

From this moment on, the fate of the Aolai Kingdom would no longer be controlled by the royal Family, the Golden Peacock, or the southern army.

A new player had entered the game.