Chapter 331: Act 99 – The Arrival of the Bronzesteeldragon (Part 1) (First Update, Seeking Support)
Otales’ approach was quite simple. Since the blood of the gods invaded and devoured the original soul, it was essentially a war taking place on the spiritual level.
One method was to eliminate the blood of the gods, but since that was not feasible, considering another way was also viable.
The suggestion made by the Lady Knight’s heroic spirit was to find a way to strengthen Xi’s soul.
When it comes to enhancing a person’s soul, there is no one better than wizards and elementists at training the power of the soul and spirit.
Otales told Brendel that she had suddenly thought of this method after recalling another special use of the Golden Apple. The Golden Apple, also known as Fairy’s Tongue, is the most precious gift for wizards and elementists.
However, even using this method to forge a soul was no easy task. For someone like Xi, who was a native, leveling up was not as simple as just needing experience to soar like Brendel; it required a long process.
Yet for Xi, even with the blessing of the Golden Apple, it could only buy her a year or two at most.
Otales suggested letting Xi try to seize the power of the Golden Apple alongside the blood of the gods, which was also very difficult. The rate of power absorption would be different—unless Xi could reach the level of an enlightened elementist within two years, this proposal seemed somewhat unrealistic.
But to achieve the level of an enlightened elementist in two years—
Brendel shook his head at the thought.
Nevertheless, having a solution was better than having none. Although it was difficult to push someone to the level of an enlightened elementist, it was not entirely without opportunity; at least Brendel knew some extremely rigorous methods that could achieve that.
But as things stood, he could only try his best.
Of course, he did not share this with others and buried it deep in his heart.
Finally, Brendel gently closed the door, and Medisa, Flour, and Charles followed him out of the room. Although Xi had temporarily regained her strength, she was still very weak, not suitable for too much disturbance, so the young man arranged for Antinna to accompany her.
Naturally, he didn’t wake Little Romain, who was sleeping soundly—not that he didn’t want to, but rather it was the red-haired girl’s wish.
“Let her sleep a little longer,” Brendel thought, feeling a bit heartbroken for Little Romain. During their time in Schafflund, this girl who took pride in being a merchant had harder work than him, and after returning, she had been with Xi for a day and night.
Brendel rubbed his slightly tense temples; although it was temporary, the Golden Apple had finally resolved one of his concerns. He just didn’t know what kind of ‘seasoning’ that young female dragon added on top of it, and it seemed it would take time to figure it out.
“My Lord,”
Charles called out behind him, this young wizard’s attendant had one hand pressed against his abdomen, grinning and bending over, but at this moment his expression looked somewhat serious.
Brendel glanced at him and turned back to walk forward, “Speak.”
“There are clearly more frequent comings and goings from the direction of Parsons.”
“That would be Firburh?” Brendel asked.
“No, this is intelligence from the Bronzesteeldragon’s side.”
“Minate?”
Charles nodded.
“Oh?” Brendel was slightly surprised; this was the first time in many days to receive news from the Bronzesteeldragon’s group.
Although in the letter, the young man arranged for the ‘Amber Sword’ to take advantage of the situation and capture Sir Minate’s stronghold, Fortress Minst, he couldn’t confirm whether the Bronzesteeldragon’s group would truly follow his orders.
Once a person has power, they tend to inflate their own sense of importance; maybe Retao wouldn’t, but those around him were hard to predict.
He gradually showed a keen interest, signaling Charles to report the information from that side. From this young wizard’s mouth, he learned the entire process of the matter:
After Sir Minate dispatched troops, the one in charge of the castle was his eldest son. To prevent this son from eliminating his other brothers while he was away, Sir Minate left very few troops in the castle.
However, this provided Retao and others with an excellent opportunity. They launched a surprise attack at night, and their opponent never anticipated such boldness, resulting in all of them being captured.
After taking control of Fortress Minst, the Bronzesteeldragon proceeded in accordance with Brendel’s plan, using Sir Minate’s eldest son as a puppet, summoning all of Sir Minate’s vassals—the lords, knights, and even the temple clerics of the Minate region—to a so-called ‘banquet’ where they were all taken down at once.
Afterwards, Retao immediately commanded his subordinates to capitalize on the leaderless state of the Minate region, decisively controlling the area after cleansing a few brigand groups that were causing trouble.
Of course, the entire process was not as smooth as it might sound, but the abilities of Retao, Mano, Balthom, Julian, and especially Votalon, the former captain of the White-maned Legion, played a decisive role in this. Without them, the refugees from Ridenburg would have remained just a bunch of refugees.
To Brendel’s surprise, at the onset of the ‘Amber Sword’ dispatch, dissent did arise. However, Julian, Balthom, and Votalon firmly stood by his side.
Brendel wasn’t surprised to see Votalon’s military silence and compliance with orders leading to this decision; as for Balthom’s recent following of him in Bruglas, that was also understandable.
But why the captain of the Ridenburg’s security cavalry team would lean so heavily in his direction was puzzling to him.
Of course, as mentioned before, Brendel had a good habit of putting aside things he couldn’t understand for the moment to avoid headaches. All in all, it was excellent news for him.
“Uncle Retao did well!” Brendel generously praised.
He had great approval for the other’s actions. He initially only hoped that the ‘Amber Sword’ mercenary group could take advantage of the situation to take over Sir Minate’s Fortress Minst, but unexpectedly, the Bronzesteeldragon group gave him a pleasant surprise.
From the news they transmitted, Retao and others had already captured more than half of the Minate region. Although this indicated that Sir Minate was ineffective in governing there, nonetheless, the results exceeded his expectations.
This was significant; the hills and forests at the crossroads of Minate, Schafflund, and the Firbaron territory were the portal that the Parsons region needed in this direction. If they controlled Minate, it would be equivalent to seizing control of the future battlefield.
“So, what does this mean?” Brendel then asked, “Did anyone from the mercenary group come over?”
Charles nodded.
“Who?”
The young attendant displayed a somewhat mischievous expression again, smiling slightly, “Why don’t you guess, my lord?”
“Guess?” Brendel turned his head at a forty-five-degree angle, glancing at his attendant from the corner of his eye.
Seeing Brendel’s right hand resting on the hilt of the Earth Sword, Charles was startled and exclaimed, “No, no, no, my lord! I mean it’s better if I just tell you—”
In fact, it was no longer necessary for him to speak, because Brendel, with the three others, walked down the spiral staircase to the ground floor hall and saw the person waiting there—
Former Captain of Ridenburg’s Security Cavalry, Julian.
The young man was taken aback for a moment; he originally thought it would be Balthom since that rough mercenary captain had accompanied him the longest and was the one who understood him best among the group.
In fact, Julian was also stunned when he saw Brendel.
He hadn’t seen Brendel for almost half a year, and now as this young man stepped out from the shadows on one side of the hall with Charles, Medisa, and the wild elf girl, his demeanor and even appearance were drastically different from the first time he met him in Ridenburg.
At first glance, Julian almost dared not step forward to identify him.
A lengthy six-month adventure, the trials of travel and the blood and fire of combat had stripped away all the youth’s shyness and childishness from Brendel; this young lord lightly pressed his lips together—symbolizing inner resolve and determination—and his sharp gaze seemed capable of piercing into one’s heart.
The young man was dressed in a black coat, the fabric slightly grayish, yet it did nothing to diminish his aura. That atmosphere was sharp like a drawn sword; Brendel’s single hand resting on the sword hilt and his slightly evaluating look upon Julian indicated mastery of swordsmanship—master level. The former captain of the security cavalry could scarcely believe his eyes.
He thought his progress was fast enough, but unexpectedly, Brendel’s advancement was even quicker than he imagined.
In just half a year, had the other surpassed him by two ranks or more? Surely no genius could achieve such a thing! Julian stared, dumbfounded; over two ranks was equivalent to mid-tier silver strength, an impossible speed to comprehend.
Brendel nodded at him.
“I didn’t expect it to be you,” the young man spoke frankly, “Thank you for your hard work.”
“My lord,” Julian genuinely lowered his head this time. Brendel had led them out of Ridenburg; at that moment, he had established his prestige in everyone’s hearts.
Everyone remembered that spirited figure who led them forward into a charge against the Undead Army.
But with the passage of time, some began to forget the initial feelings of inspiration. Even when Brendel asked them to attack Sir Minate’s territory, that command stirred up fierce opposition within the mercenary group.
Many disagreed with that command: launching an attack against a legitimate noble was somewhat absurd and audacious.
However, it was he, Votalon, and Balthom who stood up to support it; he wasn’t sure what Votalon and Balthom were thinking, but he had his own thoughts.
He, Julian Cardos, was once the captain of the Ridenburg security cavalry. With the backing of nobles, he could act freely in that small place, and except for the White-maned Legion and the nobles—anyone who saw him would respectfully call him Captain Julian.
But Julian was no fool; he knew well that the respect behind it was really fear and even hatred—but at that time, he didn’t care. In his eyes, this world was simple and one-sided; only those who possessed power and strength could become superior beings.
Until Brendel led them to defeat the dark undead of Madara, far stronger than the nobles inside Ridenburg, he realized that there was another kind of power capable of igniting one’s blood and passion.
A power that could make people throw themselves entirely into it.
The young man called it an ideal.
Retao had told him it was faith.
……
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