Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 555 - 554: The Responsibility of the Sacred Alliance

The situation of the great walls is even more severe than Duke Ferdinand initially imagined.

Elves are an ancient and proud race—proud, not arrogant—their long-standing cultural heritage and powerful innate abilities make them as confident as the humans of Gondor once were, and imbued with a certain sense of responsibility. Ever since the fall of the Gondor Empire, half of the continent’s civilization collapsed, and driven by a sense of great duty, the Silver Empire became the maintainer of the great walls and the overseer of the wasteland. For seven hundred years, they have meticulously upheld the duties stated in the Sacred Alliance. Duke Ferdinand knows clearly that unless there was indeed a monumental failure in the great barrier, the proud elves would never have sent envoys to warn the kingdoms—and request assistance.

The Duke focused on Emperor Rosetta’s expression. From the emperor’s demeanor, he knew that the other had already confirmed the truth of the elves’ words, and then turned his gaze to Shiva: "Your plan is to reinforce the barrier—how exactly do you intend to reinforce it? And what specifically do you want us to do?"

"We plan to set up amplification devices near several main sentinel towers. We have the technology for the amplification devices, but we lack sufficient manpower and resources—even if we had enough manpower and resources, we would not have enough time to deploy them across the entire great walls," the Elven Messenger said. "The wasteland in the central continent blocks communication. It takes a long detour to travel from the Silver Empire to the northern part of the continent. We managed to arrive within half a month by riding Giant Eagles—but the Giant Eagles cannot be used to transport large quantities of goods."

At this moment, Emperor Rosetta Augustus finally spoke: "Typhon is more than willing to repair the barrier, for that barrier is our lifeline as well—but what about the other nations?"

"We have already sent messengers to every human kingdom," Shiva said. "The messenger sent to the tribal country of Augari should have arrived a few days ago, and the messenger sent to Anzu departed earlier than us and should have arrived by now."

"The tribal country of Augari has been keeping an eye on the great walls for years. They should respond to your warning soon, but Anzu..." Emperor Rosetta’s voice lowered, "That country is currently embroiled in a civil unrest. I don’t know if they can still uphold the duties of the Sacred Alliance."

"...We have received information regarding this matter," Shiva paused for a moment and spoke with a hint of regret. Due to the existence of the great walls communication network, the elves are relatively well-informed about the continent. The Anzu Civil War had been reported to the Silver Empire half a year ago, "We deeply regret this; the descendants of former allies should not be opposed in such a manner... but regardless, the safety of the great walls concerns the life and death of civilization, and they should know... now is not the time to continue the civil war."

"As you said, the people of the four human kingdoms are all descendants of the Gondor Empire, and the ancient glory of the ancestors should not be tarnished by prejudice and shortsightedness. I believe those illustrious bloodlines still flow in the veins of the Anzu people—as long as they have not completely forgotten all this, they will know what to do," Emperor Rosetta Augustus stated solemnly, then stood up, "As for Typhon... we will fulfill the duties of the Sacred Alliance and repair the barrier."

The Elven Messenger stood up and bowed in front of Emperor Rosetta Augustus: "You are worthy of the name Augustus."

Rosetta nodded: "Please go and rest for now, messengers. I need to discuss the specifics regarding the mobilization of supplies and personnel arrangements with my advisors."

The group of Elven Messengers left under the guidance of an attendant, leaving only Typhon’s emperor and Duke Ferdinand Wendell in the reception room.

The emperor returned to his seat, his upper body sinking into the shadow of the chair’s back: "Duke Ferdinand, do you think the situation of the great walls has deteriorated to this extent?"

"Elves wouldn’t joke about such matters—and given their style of conduct, if the barrier hadn’t deteriorated to a certain seriousness, they wouldn’t seek help from human kingdoms either."

"I thought the same," Rosetta nodded slightly. "Astromancers have reported anomalous changes of the sun, and the border garrison has also observed activity in the great walls. The evidence is there and cannot be ignored."

"Then we indeed must..."

"Execute the Sacred Alliance, without a doubt," Rosetta said, "I have already seen the blueprints brought by the elves. The repairs that Typhon is responsible for will be divided into two parts; one part in the southwest, where I will dispatch Duke Sevin to oversee, and the other part in the northwest near Winterwolf Fortress—I will personally go."

Ferdinand was stunned for a moment, looking surprised: "Your Majesty, you want to go personally?"

"Indeed," Rosetta nodded slightly, "That tower is where the former lord of Typhon defended valiantly and perished. Therefore, I must go personally."

This was an undeniable reason.

Seven hundred years ago, when the four kingdoms were first established, human territories were far from as secure as they are today. To prevent the wasteland from continuously encroaching outwards, the elves collaborated with the kingdoms to construct the present great walls, one of the key segments located in Typhon’s northwestern border—the sentinel tower at this crucial node took precisely three years to build, it was the last of all sentinel towers to be completed, and the final step to close the entire great walls, for which Typhon paid the heaviest price.

When the segments of the great walls were activated one by one, the chaotic magical energy and endless aberration monsters in the wasteland were all blocked within that scorched land, and the chaotic wave Force launched its largest counterattack, with the aimless Chaotic Magical Energy and aberrations rushing towards the final gap on the barrier. There, on Typhon’s northwestern border, they engaged in a fierce battle with the human and elven Allied Army. The rebelling aberration Legion even once approached the foot of the sentinel tower, and to halt the advance of the aberration’s assault, to buy time for the elven technical personnel to activate the towers, Typhon’s former lord led the entire personal Guard Knight regiment, including the King himself, and died beneath the tower.

"Andresha and her Winterwolf Legion will ensure my safety," Rosetta said unhurriedly while looking at the old Duke before him, "As for state affairs during my absence, they will be entrusted to you, Duke Ferdinand."

Meeting the deep gaze of Typhon’s emperor, Duke Ferdinand Wendell took a deep breath.

"I will never betray your trust, Your Majesty."

Duke Ferdinand left.

The room was left with just the ruler of Typhon.

Rosetta Augustus sat in the wide-backed chair, expressionless, watching the fire in the distant fireplace. The flames leaped incessantly, and amidst the constantly changing shadows of light, two hazy silhouettes suddenly rose and moved along the flame’s light spilling from the hearth to the ground, step by step approaching Rosetta.

They coalesced into human forms, with golden long hair, pointed ears, and identical appearances.

The Twins of the Oblivion chuckled softly, saying to the emperor before them, "See, as we mentioned, that wall is going to have issues. The problem that the Silver Empire can’t solve... they have indeed come seeking you."

Emperor Rosetta looked at the Elven Twins expressionlessly, "You seem utterly indifferent to the fact that you also hail from the Silver Empire."

The Elven Twins continued to smile, "Our cause transcends the concept of nations. In a certain sense, aren’t you and we alike?"

"I am not like you; I trust in the strength of nations," Rosetta said quietly, "You’re not here just to discuss these matters with me, are you?"

"Certainly not," the Elven Twins’ voices overlapped together, carrying a rhythmic tone, "We want to ask you, have you... abandoned Anzu?"

"Of course not, it’s just that the time to act isn’t right now," Rosetta said, "The cost and benefits haven’t reached optimal balance... the blood of the Anzu people hasn’t been fully spilled yet..."

The Elven Twins sauntered up beside Rosetta, walking around him with a leisurely air, delivering amazed praises: "Still composed...""Accurate calculations...""Filled with confidence...""Unbelievable..."

Finally, they spoke in unison, "You truly are an incredible person—having faced the truth, yet remaining clear-headed till today."

Rosetta coldly watched the Elven Twins as they displayed their impolite, perhaps even offensive behavior, as though watching a farce; eventually, he waved his hand, "If there’s nothing more important, then don’t waste time here—there is a legion of High-Ranked Rangers and Elven Messengers in this palace, and they won’t be lenient towards exiles."

The Elven Twins finally halted their "rambling by the chair," smiling as they faced Rosetta, stepping backwards bit by bit towards the fireplace, "Ah, your threats are truly effective, and we would be happy to cooperate..."

Their figures gradually faded into the air, merging bit by bit with the flames in the background; just before they completely departed, Rosetta spoke, "Don’t forget the task you must complete."

"Rest assured, the Oblivion values credibility more than you do; the blood of Anzu shall continue to flow..." The Elven Twins’ figures had vanished, yet their voices continued emanating from the flames, growing increasingly distant and ethereal, "We will only take what we need, the rest belongs to you..."

The figures and voices of the Elven Twins had finally vanished completely, and the subtle magical disturbances in the room settled entirely.

Emperor Rosetta Augustus stood alone in quiet solitude within the room. After a long time, he gently murmured to himself, "There must... be a powerful empire..."

He stood up, approached the fireplace now devoid of magical response, now just ordinary flames, observing the flickering flames within the hearth; then bending down, he seriously placed the sharp-barbed fender before the fireplace.

And at the same time, in St. Soniel City of Anzu’s capital, a gray-brown giant eagle sliced through the sky with its wings.

The citizens of St. Soniel are familiar with the gryphon, as gryphons are the most commonly used messengers and aerial transport for the upper aristocracy and the royal family, but few humans recognize the giant eagle hailing from the south—those massive birds of prey fly across Iron Cross Street and 4 Crown Street like clouds of dark matter, their tail feathers and breast adorned with green and silver ribbons, heading directly towards the Silver Castle, arousing curiosity and attention from countless witnesses.

The finest eyes glimpsed figures atop the giant eagle in a fleeting moment—elves.

On the upper terrace of Silver Castle, Victoria Wilder quietly watched the sky, observing those fearsome birds who had traversed half the continent landing on the gryphon platform beside Silver Castle—without perches for eagles, the gryphon platform had to be cleared temporarily for the elves’ giant eagles to land, while the White Feather Gryphons that had been driven to the north tower peered out the windows at the tower, letting out loud screeches towards the gray-brown giant eagles.

"The Elven Messengers have arrived."

Next to Victoria, Baldwin Franklin whispered to himself.

"It seems the great wall’s situation is indeed dire," Victoria’s tone carried a hint of coldness, "It’s laughable that until yesterday, those aristocrats were still debating the conspiracy behind the duke of the southern borders’ warnings at the meeting."

On the gryphon platform, Elven Messengers were lightly dismounting from their steeds one by one; a female elf with short golden hair glanced in mild displeasure at those noisy gryphons in the tower, "Northern gryphons swear terribly."

"Gryphons are famously foul-mouthed," another messenger said helplessly, "Our giant eagles have probably usurped their nest."

The short-haired elf pursed her lips, turning to look at her giant eagle, which also turned its head, staring bewildered at its owner.

The short-haired elf couldn’t help but sigh, "All grown up yet can’t argue."

"Goo-goo?"

"I’m telling you, my eagle definitely has a problem, its accent is really thick..."