The nobles present forgot their earlier panic in the face of this sudden news.

  Shock and bewilderment intertwined in everyone's hearts.

  What?

  What had happened?

  Upon hearing these words, the First Prince's eyes widened even further.

  In his urgency, he dropped the golden staff from his hand and grabbed the officer by his soft armor collar.

  He took a deep breath, his eyes trembling uncontrollably, his face etched with disbelief:

  "What did you say!"

  "Now, immediately, this instant—tell me!"

  "What exactly are you talking about!!!"

  The officer's body leaned back slightly, his eyes revealing a hollow emptiness like the depths of despair, as if his soul was being devoured by bottomless darkness.

  He was so distraught he was nearly in tears, the corners of his mouth turned downward, his entire body trembling helplessly.

  "Your Highness..."

  "The southern front has been breached by monsters."

  "The front lines have fallen, communications are severed, and messages cannot be transmitted through any means."

  The First Prince felt his hands go limp, slowly releasing his grip on the collar, and the officer collapsed to the ground with a crash.

  He felt utterly drained, his legs weak to the extreme, staggering backward several steps and nearly toppling over.

  At this moment, Albanie's gaze fell upon the entrance of the banquet hall.

  There lay a horse, its body trembling, foam spilling from its mouth.

  The horse was completely exhausted, collapsed on the ground, convulsing against the silk beneath it.

  It gasped desperately for air, as if it might breathe its last at any moment.

  Many elves nearby looked upon the horse about to cross into the afterlife with faces full of concern.

  They approached with compassion, gently stroking the horse's glossy coat.

  Streams of emerald light flowed from their palms, coursing through the horse's veins into its heart.

  However, even the elves' natural energy proved futile.

  The horse's condition showed no improvement; it still appeared to be dying.

  Gwen walked over and reached out to touch the horse's neck.

  Feeling the weak and irregular pulse, Gwen closed her eyes and shook her head.

  She straightened up, bowed to the First Prince, and reported:

  "Your Highness, it's beyond saving."

  This was one of the Empire's finest steeds, capable of covering a thousand miles in a day, able to run continuously for twenty-four hours without issue.

  This horse possessed strong muscles and showed no signs of malnutrition.

  Yet even so, it had been worked to death under such urgent circumstances.

  Just how dire was the situation at the southern front?

  The monster influence had rendered communication crystals useless, and even the stationed mages had no time to repair the communications network.

  They could only rely on traditional human messengers to deliver news?

  The First Prince's face was filled with despair, his expression becoming vacant, his eyes losing their former brilliance.

  His body sagged powerlessly against the wall, like a marionette whose strings had been cut.

  Suddenly, as if remembering something crucial, he widened his eyes:

  "Father—does my father know about this!"

  He questioned the officer before him hysterically, his eyes bloodshot, completely devoid of his usual elegant composure.

  If Emperor Aubrey learned about the fall of the southern Empire...

  For him, the prince charged with guarding the south, it would be a catastrophe as devastating as the heavens collapsing!

  Why, when he had already sensed disaster might strike and had returned to the capital to request assistance...

  Why wouldn't the south grant him just a little more time?

  Lost in these thoughts, the First Prince suddenly whirled around.

  No, why was he dwelling on such matters?

  Was this really what he should be concerned about now!

  Since an officer had already ridden hell-for-leather back to the capital and dared to burst into the banquet to report directly...

  This matter obviously couldn't be concealed any longer.

  Before long, every citizen in the city would know about this.

  More terrifyingly, this officer had literally ridden a horse to death to bring back this news.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Messages had a shelf life.

  This officer had run a horse to death getting here, which would take at least a day and night.

  That meant the southern front had already fallen for a full day.

  If the monsters had already breached the front lines...

  The First Prince didn't dare imagine the consequences.

  He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to regain composure.

  What should he do now? Should he seek out his uncle...

  Yes, find his uncle. Perhaps he still had a solution, perhaps he could resolve this crisis.

  Just as the First Prince was attempting to steady himself, Lipoote, dressed in an immaculate formal suit, descended from the second floor.

  He wore a smile, gazing straight ahead.

  But when he saw the nobles huddled on both sides of the banquet hall, their faces etched with shock and terror, confusion and panic...

  He still widened his eyes slightly, displaying surprise.

  "What exactly has transpired here?"

  Lipoote's voice echoed through the banquet hall, but the nobles remained speechless.

  The atmosphere in the banquet hall grew even more oppressive.

  With such events unfolding, this banquet certainly couldn't continue.

  Seeing Lipoote descending the stairs, the First Prince quickly addressed him:

  "Uncle...!"

  The First Prince spotted Lipoote and hurried forward.

  His forehead was beaded with sweat, his brow furrowed, gazing anxiously at Lipoote.

  Lipoote paused on the steps, his mysterious and noble golden eyes revealing ripples like flowing golden sand:

  "Child, compose yourself."

  "Tell me, what exactly has happened?"

  The First Prince took a deep breath, striving to calm his inner turmoil, and said in a grave voice:

  "The south... may be lost."

  The moment these words were spoken, the surrounding nobles seemed to awaken from a nightmare.

  They found it impossible to believe.

  Initially, it had been merely an officer's report that left them incredulous.

  But now, even the First Prince personally confirmed it.

  This was like a razor-sharp needle piercing their hearts.

  How could this be possible?

  The south had been defended for so many years, always maintaining such stability.

  Yet now, they suddenly declared...

  The south was about to fall?

  Many nobles couldn't accept such news, their eyes filled with despair, collapsing helplessly beside thick pillars.

  "No, how can this be?"

  "My family's estates are still in the south, and you're telling me it's fallen!?"

  "My son, my son is still serving in the army..."

  Countless nobles clutched their heads and curled up in the corners of the banquet hall, grief and panic intertwined across their faces.

  Unacceptable shock consumed their hearts.

  The First Prince stood there, listening to those nobles' hysterical lamentations, feeling as if steel needles were piercing his spine.

  He didn't dare turn around, didn't dare confront these nobles' anguish.

  At this moment, Lipoote approached the First Prince's side and gently placed his hand on his shoulder.

  In his mysterious golden pupils, ethereal light flickered.

  The First Prince gazed into those eyes, and his agitated heart gradually calmed.

  The towering hundred-foot waves seemed to be cleaved by divine light, and the turbulent sea instantly fell silent.

  "Child, I am a merchant."

  "Do you remember the terms we discussed?"

  Light flowed along Lipoote's arm, golden radiance extending from his fingertips across the First Prince's shoulder.

  Like a golden phantom bird emerging from the light, perching upon Lipoote's shoulder.

  "Any request requires a corresponding transaction."

  Observing the golden light emanating around Lipoote's body, complex emotions flickered in his eyes:

  "I... I understand..."

  "But..."

  Just then, a female voice interrupted the heavy atmosphere:

  "Mm-hmm, okay, I understand."

  Lia walked somewhat casually through the golden banquet hall, holding a transparent crystal to her ear.

  She conversed while walking, approaching Viktor's side, completely disregarding the nobles present, and spoke directly to him:

  "News from the south has come through. The bad news is that two battle lines have fallen."

  "But there's also good news—the cities have been preserved."

  Hearing Lia's voice, the First Prince suddenly snapped to attention.

  He stared at Lia with astonishment, asking in amazement:

  "You... where did you hear this news?"

  Even Lipoote beside him raised an eyebrow and turned to regard Lia.

  However, Lia simply placed one hand on Viktor's shoulder.

  Her smile carried a hint of amusement:

  "My mage lord took your request quite seriously and dispatched people south several days ago."

  "Of course."

  She raised her other hand, casually tossing her hair, her gaze lightly sweeping over Viktor as she said nonchalantly:

  "This is a premium service."

  ...

  Southern Empire.

  Here, ominous clouds blotted out the sun, and blood-red clouds completely obscured the daylight.

  Fires of war burned continuously from all directions across the land.

  The sounds of soldiers clashing and monsters howling merged together, spreading across this blood-soaked earth.

  Adventurers' corpses lay scattered throughout the battlefield, their flesh and entrails stretched grotesquely long before finally being buried in the soil.

  Soldiers' bleached bones protruded from their armor, their skulls nowhere to be found.

  Monster carcasses had piled into small mountains, streaming with strangely colored blood that pooled into muddy rivers.

  Within the encirclement of a pack of magical beasts, a cluster of menacing bone spikes burst forth from their center.

  Like an enormous snow lotus blooming, piercing through countless surging monsters.

  Amidst countless wounds large and small covering her body, Hela's blood had stained her garments crimson.

  One eye was injured and bleeding, one hand pressed against her already wounded arm.

  Behind her, countless bone spikes extended outward, impaling countless monsters attacking from all sides.

  But even facing such a ferocious Hela, the magical beasts continued surging toward her like a tide, showing no fear of death.

  Intricate patterns in one eye rotated heavily, blooming into countless complex markings.

  She raised her face, her eyes hollow, despair penetrating to her very marrow.

  The threat of death spread through her heart, filling Hela with unprecedented terror.

  Perhaps this time, even she would have to remain in this savage land.

  However, in Hela's heart, there lingered one unfulfilled wish:

  Lord Viktor, I haven't been able to bear your children yet. What a tragedy.

  But suddenly, a small dark object flew from the distance, piercing through the skulls of dozens of monsters surging toward her.

  The monster bodies swayed and toppled to the ground, their gushing blood soaking the earth.

  In that instant, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.

  Hela was momentarily stunned and looked down.

  In that moment, she suddenly widened her eyes.

  Because what had pierced through those dozen monsters...

  Was merely a small pebble...

  Hela stood frozen in place, staring at that blood-stained stone.

  A pebble had killed so many monsters?

  How was this possible!?

  Suddenly, the sound of wind whistled all around.

  Hearing that wind, Hela suddenly turned her head.

  Countless figures in cloaks wearing various animal masks were swooping overhead.

  Like hunters in the forest, they swiftly pounced upon those monsters that still had fight left in them, hunting them like prey.

  This was... reinforcements had arrived?

  Amid the monsters' death cries, Hela's ears twitched slightly.

  Her acute hearing quickly detected approaching footsteps from beside her.

  No... perhaps it could be said...

  The other party had no intention whatsoever of concealing their footsteps.

  Those thunderous footsteps sounded like an earthquake, creating reverberations across the entire battlefield.

  Hela could only look up with great difficulty.

  That was a figure as massive as a small mountain.

  He was a bear-man.

  The giant bear-man walked to her side, seemingly completely oblivious to her presence.

  He simply bent down matter-of-factly, using his enormous palm—comparable in size to a nearby monster's head—to delicately pick up small pebbles from the ground.

  Finally, he straightened up, gently toying with that tiny stone between his fingertips.

  His other hand was positioned by his ear, touching the communication crystal mounted there, responding:

  "Yes, Miss Lia."

  The bear-man lowered his hand and raised his head once more.

  Gazing upon that endless beast tide, the apocalyptic battlefield stretching across heaven and earth.

  Along with this, carrying an invincible voice that resonated like a great bell faintly between heaven and earth:

  "Change of plans."

  "Push this battle line back for me."

  """

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