Chapter 357: Leader of the groups

At each location, the ice belle hovered nearby, her presence lending an almost serene stillness to the oppressive surroundings. The ice cultivators could feel her essence flowing through the passage like a constant heartbeat, and Lucas made sure they understood how to synchronize their own energy with hers rather than resist or overpower it."Stability is more important than strength," Lucas told one of the younger cultivators, placing a hand briefly on his shoulder. "If you feel the passage tremble, do not force it into submission. Breathe, align yourself with the ice essence, and let it settle naturally."

The young man nodded earnestly, his nervousness easing under Lucas’s guidance.

When they reached the final spot, Volde Dorn stood waiting, his posture upright and his expression serious. This was the furthest point, the last anchor Lucas had created, and the most critical one of all. Lucas met Volde’s eyes and spoke with a lower voice, ensuring the weight of the responsibility was clear.

"This position belongs to you," Lucas said. "You will be the final gate. Every group that passes through the abyss will depend on your stability before they emerge on the other side. If something goes wrong here, the entire chain is affected."

Volde inclined his head respectfully. "I understand," he replied. "I will hold this position."

Lucas studied him for a moment, then nodded, clearly satisfied. "Guide them carefully," he added. "Keep the flow steady, reinforce the passage when needed, and communicate with the other anchors through the resonance of the ice essence."

With that, Lucas took a step back and surveyed the completed formation. Each ice cultivator stood at their designated spot, focused and ready, their combined presence forming a continuous lifeline through the abyss. Their roles were now clear, to guide the soldiers and cultivators safely through the spatial portals, to lead them along the protected passage, and to stabilize the tunnels so the army could cross without unnecessary loss or delay.

Lucas returned to the army, the weight of what he had accomplished settling quietly on his shoulders. When he reached the king, Henrietta, Commander Alexander, and Captain Varran, their attention turned to him immediately, every face searching his expression for certainty.

"It is done," Lucas said calmly, his voice carrying enough confidence to ease the tension hanging over them. "The passage is stable. Every anchor has been placed, and the ice cultivators are already in position. The tunnel will hold."

The king studied him closely for a moment, as if weighing the truth of those words against the dread of the abyss behind them. Then his expression softened, and a rare smile touched his lips. "You never cease to surprise me," he said. "To think that such a feat was completed in such a short time."

Henrietta exhaled slowly, relief flickering across her face. "If anyone could do this, it would be you," she said quietly. "Still, knowing it and seeing it achieved are two very different things."

Commander Alexander nodded in approval. "This changes everything," he added. "Crossing the boundary would have drained us before we even reached the battlefield. With this, our strength remains intact."

Lucas did not linger on the praise. He turned slightly and raised his hand, spatial qi flowing from his palm in a controlled surge. The air before them twisted and folded, light bending inward as space itself was forced to open. In a breath, a massive spatial portal formed, wide and stable, stretching nearly twelve meters across. The interior shimmered with layered energy, and within it flowed the faint, glacial glow of the ice belle’s essence, steady and reassuring rather than hostile.

A murmur rippled through the army as soldiers and cultivators alike stared at the portal in awe.

The king guided his horse forward, stopping just before the threshold. "I will lead the first group," he declared firmly. "If this path is safe for me, it will be safe for everyone."

Lucas inclined his head respectfully. "That would be best," he replied. "The ice belle will escort each group in turn. Her presence will reinforce the essence and keep the passage steady as they move."

The ice belle hovered upward at the mention of her role, her small form glowing faintly as she looked from Lucas to the portal and then to the gathered soldiers. Though she did not fully grasp the gravity of what was happening, her confidence in Lucas was absolute, and that alone strengthened the energy flowing through the tunnel.

The king looked once more at the portal, then at Lucas. "We proceed according to your plan," he said. "May this be the step that leads us to victory."

Lucas met his gaze and nodded. "I will be waiting on the other side," he said evenly. "Everything is ready."

Without another word, Lucas turned away from the army and stepped toward the portal. Space rippled around him as he vanished in a flash of controlled distortion, returning to the far end of the abyss, where the final anchor awaited and the passage stood ready to receive the first wave.

The king did not hesitate once the decision had been spoken aloud. He drew his horse forward until the beast stood at the very edge of the shimmering portal, its ears flicking nervously as cold spatial energy brushed against its senses. The king rested a gauntleted hand on the horse’s neck and spoke in a calm, steady tone, not only to the mount but to the soldiers behind him as well.

"I will lead the first group," he said, his voice carrying clearly across the front ranks. "We move with discipline and silence. No one rushes ahead, and no one lingers behind. Trust the passage and trust the plan."

Captain Varran stepped forward immediately after, his posture straight and his eyes sharp. "Then I will take the second group," he said with a respectful nod toward the king. "My men are ready, and they know how to move under pressure."

Commander Alexander followed without delay, resting a fist over his chest. "The third group will be under my command," he added. "We will maintain formation the moment we exit the tunnel and secure the perimeter until the next group arrives."

Henrietta moved her horse closer as well, her expression calm yet resolute, the faint aura around her body rippling with restrained power. "I will lead the fourth group," she said evenly. "If something goes wrong, I will handle it."

The king turned slightly in his saddle to look at her, his gaze lingering for a moment before he nodded. "I would expect nothing less from you."