Chapter 309: First Invasion of Eastern Alliance

***

The next day.

A servant from the north arrived carrying a message, marking the final day of reconnaissance.

Ethan stood atop the northern gate wall, arms folded behind his back, watching as a winged servant descended from the sky and entered the city.

Instead of heading toward the command post or seeking out Laura, the servant flew directly toward Ethan.

That alone told Ethan how urgent the report was.

The servant landed lightly, knelt on one knee, and extended the message with both hands. Ethan took it without a word and immediately read the contents.

“The reconnaissance has been expanded,” Ethan said aloud after a moment. “They’ve confirmed that a large number of city soldiers in the tropical region are marching north.”

Yuna turned sharply toward him. “Then Arthur really is desperate. His best option is invading the island territories instead of confronting the desert directly.”

Laura, standing to Ethan’s right, nodded slowly. “If the scouts are seeing mass troop movement northward, then it’s safe to assume Arthur has no intention of attacking the desert yet.”

Ethan let out a quiet breath.

Both of them were right. Arthur would not move his allied forces without clear purpose.

The combined armies of Blood River Ink would only mobilize if Arthur issued a decisive order.

Choosing to invade the northern islands instead of preparing defenses in the south was strange, almost irrational.

I know Arthur is cornered,

but even desperation has limits. This decision doesn’t feel like him.

He folded the message, then stepped closer to a torch mounted along the wall. Without hesitation, Ethan burned the paper until it turned to ash.

Turning back to the servant, he spoke calmly but firmly. “The reconnaissance mission is complete. Order them to return. Phase one of the invasion will begin.”

The servant bowed deeply. “Understood.”

Without another word, she took flight and disappeared northward.

Ethan turned toward Yuna and Laura.

“Send word to every city,” he ordered. “Inform them that LionArk will lead the first phase of the invasion.”

Laura straightened. “Yes, Sir Ethan.”

“I need at least thirty thousand city soldiers for the first wave,” Ethan continued. “Any city willing to participate should send their troops to the alliance encampment near the canyon border.”

“I’ll relay it immediately.”

Laura descended the stairs quickly, already composing the message in her mind.

Yuna remained standing beside Ethan, her expression tense.

At one time, she had stood with Blood River Ink, identifying LionArk as a common enemy. Now, fate had twisted everything beyond recognition.

Soon, she would be marching alongside Ethan, helping destroy the tropical region and every city within it.

“How about my position, Sir Ethan?” Yuna asked quietly.

Ethan glanced at her. “You stay close to me.”

She nodded. “Understood.”

***

The following day.

Ethan exhaled slowly as he stepped out of his room in the Town Center. The morning air was cool, crisp, and heavy with anticipation.

Yuna approached him immediately, falling into step beside him as she had grown accustomed to doing.

Laura stood waiting in the courtyard, posture sharp and expression focused. The moment Ethan appeared, she walked forward.

“Unit Eight has been formed,” Laura reported. “I’ve arranged for Units One through Four to be deployed to the border.”

“That’s 20,000 soldiers,” Ethan said. “What about the other cities?”

“Twelve cities volunteered to join,” Laura replied. “I capped their contributions at 2000 soldiers each.”

She paused, then added, “That brings the total to 44,000 troops.”

Ethan nodded. More than enough.

Together, they walked through the northern gate, where twenty thousand Lion City soldiers were already assembled in formation.

The sheer scale of the force was overwhelming, ranks stretching far beyond what the eye could easily count.

Ethan summoned his mount, materializing atop a warhorse in a shimmer of light. Laura and Yuna followed suit.

“At attention!” Laura shouted.

The army snapped into readiness.

Ethan rode forward, inspecting both soldiers and team members before stopping at the front, positioning himself at the heart of the formation. Laura and Yuna flanked him.

“Today marks a decisive moment,” Ethan said, his voice carrying across the field. “All our efforts over the past month and a half will be judged in the final war.”

“Give everything you have. Share your strategies. Stay alert and disciplined.”

He raised his voice. “I will personally lead this force. As long as you follow my commands, I will keep you alive.”

“Yes, Sir Ethan!” the team shouted in unison, followed by the roar of city soldiers.

Ethan turned to Laura. “You remain behind to guard the region. Yuna will accompany me.”

“I understand,” Laura replied. “Be careful.”

With that, the army began its march northwest, toward the alliance encampment ten kilometers from the canyon.

There, 22,000 allied soldiers from twelve Eastern Alliance cities awaited them.

The massive march slowed their pace. What normally would have taken seven or eight hours stretched into ten, then twelve.

Yuna opened her team chat panel, informing Sacred Hall of her departure. Messages flooded in. Some expressed concern. Others brimmed with pride.

No matter how uncertain her future was, one thing was clear.

The balance of power on the continent was shifting.

Ethan was no longer just the Vice Guild Master of LionArk. He was the leader of the Eastern Alliance.

Cities along the route shouted encouragement. Soldiers saluted. Players watched with awe.

This was the first invasion. A probe into the tropics. A declaration of intent.

If it succeeded, Laura would mobilize the second wave.

The energy among the Eastern Alliance members was palpable. They wanted to fight. They wanted to prove themselves to Ethan and LionArk.

Yuna watched it all in silence, her heart heavy with realization.

This was nothing like Blood River Ink.

The Eastern Alliance was forged from shared suffering, from chaos and neglect.

Ethan had arrived in the east not as a tyrant, but as a force that restored dignity.

“That looks… enjoyable,” Yuna said softly.

“The east has endured too much,” Ethan replied. “They all share the same resentment toward the central guilds that oppressed them.”

He turned to her, eyes burning with certainty. “But that ends now.”

“The Eastern Alliance will rule the continent.”

The march continued.

And with it, the beginning of the final war.

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