Chapter 282: A Day after Canyon Battle

Right after Red Javelin successfully seized control of the canyon, Kai immediately contacted Lyra to inform her of the outcome.

The news reached her faster than expected, and her response came almost instantly.

Lyra did not hide her happiness. Through the communication channel, her relief was obvious, and so was her gratitude.

She expressed how fortunate she felt to be working alongside LionArk, calling their cooperation not only effective but honorable.

For her, this victory was more than just territorial gain. It was proof that trusting Ethan and his guild had been the right decision.

Ethan accepted her appreciation calmly. Helping Red Javelin had never been an issue for him.

However, goodwill alone was not enough to sustain stability.

Once the formalities ended, he brought the conversation back to their original agreement.

He reminded Lyra about the alliance they had discussed earlier. This was not a temporary collaboration but a long-term pact between their factions.

A non-aggression agreement. Mutual support. Shared interests.

Lyra understood immediately. There was no hesitation in her reply.

She agreed to uphold the pact and promised that Red Javelin would send half of all their natural resources to LionArk as part of the deal.

It was a bold commitment, but she knew it was necessary if they wanted to survive what was coming.

That night, Ethan issued orders to secure the canyon.

“Since the threat in this canyon has been neutralized,” he said, his voice steady, “pull some of the gate guards and deploy them here.”

He paused briefly, then added, “At least ten people should remain stationed here at all times. Rotate shifts with the others.”

Kai nodded and immediately relayed Ethan’s instructions to the rest of the guild. No one questioned the decision.

They had all witnessed the battle firsthand.

Ethan sheathed his Bloodblade Ashura. The moment the weapon was stored away, the Ashura Mode disengaged automatically, the crimson aura fading from his body.

The battlefield fell silent, leaving only the sound of the wind sweeping through the canyon.

He then summoned Lyodra closer and instructed her to rest. Her servant mode shifted into a passive state, entering cooldown.

After the intensity of the earlier fight, even a summoned entity needed time to recover.

Judging by the outcome of the battle, the enemy was unlikely to attack again anytime soon.

Too many of their members had fallen. Logic dictated retreat and regrouping.

Ethan considered the possibility of pressing forward. This would have been the perfect moment to strike directly at the enemy city and crush them while they were still reeling from defeat.

But when he looked around, reality tempered his ambition.

Red Javelin had suffered losses as well.

No one had died, but many were injured. Others were visibly exhausted, their movements slow, their mana reserves dangerously low.

Launching an invasion in that condition would be reckless.

Victory would not be guaranteed, and unnecessary casualties would follow.

Kai approached him once the orders had been carried out.

“I’ve informed everyone,” Kai said.

“Good,” Ethan replied, turning toward him. “You and the others should head back. Let me stay here with the ten guards.”

Kai blinked. “You’re staying?”

Ethan nodded. He explained his concerns carefully, laying out the worst-case scenarios that could unfold after the battle.

“I’m worried the enemy might attempt a counterattack,” he said. “The chances are low, but we can’t ignore the possibility. Vigilance matters.”

He gestured toward the canyon.

“If I leave, those ten Red Javelin members won’t be able to hold this place if something goes wrong.”

Kai understood immediately. He had no intention of forcing Ethan to return. Whatever Ethan decided, Kai trusted that it was for the good of both guilds.

“Alright,” Kai said after a moment. “The rest of us will head back.”

He gave a short farewell and departed with the remaining members of Red Javelin.

Ten guards stayed behind in the canyon, with Ethan clearly recognized as the commanding authority.

Ethan gathered them and explained the importance of their position.

“This canyon connects the desert plains to the tropical region,” he said. “It’s a critical passage.”

He continued, “You’ll control who gets in and out. For now, our priority is defense. No one is allowed to enter from the tropical side.”

“Yes, Sir Ethan,” they responded in unison.

Their obedience came easily. They had seen Ethan’s strength firsthand. Questioning his judgment would not only be foolish, it could be fatal.

Ethan and the guards spent the night there.

He did not sleep.

Instead, he stood at the edge of the canyon cliff, gazing out at a view that felt almost surreal.

The boundary between two worlds lay before him.

On one side stretched the desert plains, endless sand and harsh winds. On the other side was the tropical land.

Lush trees thrived there, tall and dense. Grass replaced sand. Wildlife moved freely among the foliage.

There was no doubt about it. The tropical region was far more promising than the desert.

***

The next day.

Around midday, Kai returned with a fresh group to take over guard duty. The ten members who had stayed overnight were ordered to return to the city and rest.

Everyone except Ethan.

Lyodra’s cooldown had ended by then. Ethan could summon her again at any time. Still, he waited.

He needed to know.

Would the enemy retaliate? Would they abandon the canyon, or would they attempt to reclaim it?

Ethan had no answers.

“Sir Ethan,” Kai said, approaching him. “You can return to the city and rest. We can handle—”

“It’s too quiet,” Ethan interrupted.

Kai frowned slightly.

“They suffered losses last night, but there’s been no retaliation. Not even a scouting attempt.”

Kai narrowed his eyes. “What are you getting at?”

“The enemies we fought came from the central plains,” Ethan said. “That region has the highest concentration of guilds on the continent.”

He paused, then continued, his voice lower.

“They won’t attack immediately.”

“They’re gathering forces.”

Kai’s eyes widened. The possibility had never crossed his mind.

He stepped closer to Ethan and looked toward the green expanse beyond the canyon.

“So… we can build our own forces to face them, right?”

Ethan remained silent for a moment.

“It could work,” he finally said. “Especially with this canyon giving us a strategic advantage.”

Then he turned to Kai.

“Ask Lyra for permission to raise an army.”

“I’ll do it,” Kai replied immediately.

He opened the team chat panel and began informing Lyra of the situation.

At the same time, Ethan contacted Hanss and gave him instructions.

[Team Chat:]

[Ethan: I need ten people to assist me. Hanss will arrange it.]

[Nick: I’m ready.]

[Brandon: Count me in.]

[Nathan: I’ll help.]

[Hanss: I’ll arrange it as requested, Captain.]

The chat filled quickly with responses. Many LionArk members were eager to leave the city.

They had grown restless, tired of waiting, hungry for real combat during the event.

Ethan trusted Hanss completely. He knew Hanss would select the most suitable members for deployment to the northeast.

“I’ve informed Lyra,” Kai said shortly after. “She approved it.”

Ethan nodded and instructed Kai to begin organizing the Lotus City forces immediately.

The conflict over the canyon was only going to escalate. This place would soon become a battlefield contested by cities from both the desert and tropical regions.

If Red Javelin, as the current ruler of the canyon, failed to act decisively, they would lose it just as quickly as they gained it.

While waiting, Ethan summoned Lyodra once more.

“Lyodra.”

[Mode: Aggressive Soul Servant]

[3. Lyodra Vulkanis | Lv. 10 | S-Rank | Passive → Aggressive | 2500 MP]

She appeared before him, her form glowing as it shifted into that of an adult woman.

Her fiery red dress shimmered like molten flame, and the blazing sword in her hand radiated heat and power.

“I want you to scout the area beyond,” Ethan said.

“Avoid conflict. If you sense a stronger servant, retreat immediately.”

Lyodra nodded once. The command was simple. Without another word, she took flight, disappearing into the distance beyond the canyon.

Ethan remained where he was, alert, watching.

Guilds from the central plains.

There was a chance they were allied with the Redemption Sword.

I need to be careful.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep