Chapter 115: Preparation
"That brings the total number of Level Three warriors to one hundred, all ready to draw their swords for you at any moment, Your Majesty!"
The captain of the Royal Guards spoke with overwhelming excitement that he couldn’t hide as he looked at Rios with reverence and admiration.
He had been stuck at Level Two for a long time, but thanks to the techniques and formations Rios had brought back, he and his companions had successfully broken through to Level Three.
There were still many others who had remained stuck at Level Two, yet they were now on the verge of breaking through to Level Three at any moment.
Just one week ago, there had only been five Level Three individuals in the entire city.
King Rios Astar, Queen Elena, Advisor Thandria, Advisor Etham, and Advisor Gao, who was currently imprisoned.
But in just a single week, that number had risen past one hundred—a miracle the history books had never witnessed before.
"And there’s more, Your Majesty. Everyone with a mutated Legendary bloodline has already reached the peak of Level Two. Within a day or two at most, they’ll begin breaking through to Level Three.
As for those with Legendary bloodlines, they’re expected to reach Level Three by the end of this week at the latest.
As for those with lower-grade bloodlines, just as I promised before, Your Majesty, they should all break through to Level Three by the end of this month."
The captain of the Royal Guards delivered a report that was both concise and comprehensive, allowing Rios to grasp the overall situation at a glance.
"Hmm."
Rios nodded with a smile as he looked at all these soldiers, ready to carry out his orders the moment he uttered a single word.
"You’ve done well," Rios praised before continuing. "Then spread the news. One week from now, I will personally lead a campaign to reclaim the Forest of Light. I want ten thousand soldiers fully prepared. I’ll be taking three hundred Level Three warriors with me. The rest must all be at Level Two.
What belongs to the Elves... shall return to the Elves."
Upon hearing those words, the captain of the Royal Guards stopped breathing for several seconds. Tears nearly streamed from his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, dropped to one knee, and answered in a hoarse voice,
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Around him, many of those who had overheard Rios’s orders stared at him in disbelief. Some even wondered if they were hallucinating, while others simply collapsed onto the ground, clutching their heads as they burst into tears.
"Is... is what you said true?!"
Rios heard a familiar voice from behind and immediately turned around.
"Is what you said true?!"
Elena stood frozen in place, two streams of tears flowing beneath her white veil.
"Yes. One week from now, we’ll begin reclaiming the Forest of Light."
Rios nodded firmly.
"Thank you."
Elena smiled happily and wiped away her tears.
She didn’t throw herself into his arms.
She didn’t exaggerate her words or emotions.
She didn’t force the moment.
Just a single word... one small word that expressed everything in her heart.
"Long live the King!"
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted from the training grounds behind Rios. No one knew who had shouted first, but everyone quickly joined in.
"Long live the King!"
"Long live the King!"
"Long live the King!"
...
Rios raised his hand, and the cheers gradually died down. He let them enjoy the moment before turning back toward Elena.
"There’s no need," Rios replied with a gentle smile.
Then, just a second later, he seemed to remember something. His brows furrowed as he looked at Elena.
"But didn’t you enter seclusion with me to comprehend the cosmic law of stars? Why did you come out so soon?"
Only three days had passed since he had entered seclusion to comprehend the cosmic law of derivation. He had managed to fully comprehend it in that short time because he possessed a mutated Immortal bloodline supporting him.
As for Elena, her bloodline was one grade lower than his—only an Immortal bloodline.
She should have needed at least two weeks, not just three days.
Unless she had interrupted her seclusion before fully comprehending it.
"I’ve already fully comprehended the cosmic law of stars. If I hadn’t been busy with a few things, I would’ve finished yesterday. But I had to leave seclusion several times to deal with some matters before returning, so it took me a little longer."
Elena wiped away her tears and answered innocently.
"..."
The smile on Rios’s face froze for several seconds.
For the first time in a long while, genuine shock appeared on his face, making him look like a complete fool.
"Is... there something wrong with my clothes?"
Startled by his expression, Elena immediately began checking her dress.
"Y-You’re lying... aren’t you?!"
Rios’s voice trembled as he spoke with difficulty.
"Lying? Why would I lie to you? And about what?"
Elena tilted her head to one side and puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be angry.
"Forget it."
Rios waved his hand, calming his expression on the outside.
Inside, however, a raging storm was brewing.
He possessed a mutated Immortal bloodline, yet he had struggled with all his might just to comprehend a cosmic law in three days.
Meanwhile, Elena, whose bloodline was only an Immortal bloodline—one rank below his—had also comprehended it in three days... and could have done it in only two if she hadn’t been delayed.
If spending ten years discovering a law from scratch and comprehending its Primary Law had already been strange...
Then this completely surpassed the limits of strange.
System, do you know what’s happening with Elena?
Rios asked inwardly, turning to the one thing he expected might have an answer.
Faced with Rios’s question, the System remained silent for a while before finally replying with an answer that shocked him even more.
[The System detected nothing.]
Rios’s eyes slowly widened.
Before he could ask anything else, however, a child’s voice interrupted him.
"Godfather! Godfather!"
A little boy with jet-black hair and innocent features ran toward Rios at an unbelievable speed—far too fast for any ordinary child.
Imris darted through the training grounds like a ghost before stopping in front of Rios.
"Godfather! Godfather! I broke through to Level Three!"
The little boy hugged Rios’s leg happily.
Over the past few days, Rios had grown very close to little Imris, and he had come to like the boy a great deal.
Not only was he humble, obedient, and an exceptionally quick learner, but he also possessed an ability to read situations and analyze them that surpassed most adults.
Before long, their relationship had grown so close that Rios had begun to think of him as his own son.
"Well done, little hero. You deserve a reward for this achievement."
Rios knelt on one knee and gently ruffled Imris’s hair with a warm smile.
Krrrak!
Whooosh!
"Hey, Your Majesty! Didn’t you bring me a gift too?!"
The crackling of lightning and the shrill howl of wind echoed through the air as the boy Ethar and the girl Ayat descended from the sky.
Shhh!
Shhk!
The instant Ethar landed beside Rios, numerous roots burst from beneath his feet, wrapped around him, hoisted him upside down into the air, and completely sealed his mouth.
"Mmm! Mmm!"
Ethar struggled furiously and tried to shout with all his might, but not a single sound escaped, and no one paid him the slightest attention.
"Welcome, Ayat."
Rios gently patted the little girl’s head before taking a box out of his storage space and handing it to Elena.
"This contains the cosmic law of formation. Since your bloodlines descend from the Tree of Cradle, this is the most suitable law for you to cultivate. It’s also the original law of the Tree of Cradle.
From today onward, only those with a mutated Legendary bloodline or higher are allowed to cultivate it. They’re the only ones capable of cultivating it to high levels.
As for those with a Legendary bloodline or below, they’ll cultivate one of the seven laws I gave you."
Elena gripped the box tightly.
She knew this would become one of the most precious treasures the Elves possessed, and one of the solid foundations upon which the new City of Light would stand.
"I’ll make sure only those who truly deserve it receive it."
Elena nodded firmly.
"Good."
Rios nodded before giving her another order.
"Spread the news. One month from now, we’ll hold another Awakening Ceremony. From now on, at the beginning of every month, we’ll conduct another Awakening Ceremony until there’s no one left in the City of Light who hasn’t had the chance to awaken their power."
Elena looked at him for a moment before a faint smile appeared on her face.
"As you wish."
She didn’t question him or criticize his decision.
She already knew Rios carried far too many mysteries.
As for everyone around them, none dared to ask. Besides, there was no need.
This decision benefited them more than they could have ever wished.
One month from now, the City of Light’s strength will multiply several times over... Let’s see who’ll still dare stand in my way then.
Rios gazed at the sky with sharp eyes, thinking about his dreams and ambitions...
But what he didn’t know was that before this month came to an end, most of the people he knew would no longer be by his side.