Chapter 311: Divide The First Army

“Lyodra!”

Ethan’s voice rang clearly across the canyon cliffs, cutting through the still night air. The echo of his command lingered for a moment before a crimson glow ignited in front of him.

Lyodra burst forward, her small chibi form enveloped in blazing red light.

Flames spiraled around her body as her form stretched and reshaped itself.

In a matter of seconds, the tiny servant transformed into the figure of an adult woman, radiating overwhelming heat and pressure.

[Mode: Aggressive Soul Servant]

[3. Lyodra Vulkanis || Level 10 || S Rank || Passive: Aggressive || MP: 2500]

Before Ethan now stood Lyodra in her full combat form. She wore a flowing dress of living fire, its edges constantly shifting like molten lava.

In her hand rested a massive sword forged of glowing magma, veins of light pulsing along its blade. Her presence alone caused the surrounding air to shimmer.

She stood silently, eyes locked on Ethan, awaiting her orders.

“Go there,” Ethan said calmly, pointing toward the northern horizon. “Find the positions of the Redemption Sword Alliance forces. If they attack you, you’re authorized to strike back.”

Lyodra did not speak. She simply nodded once, acknowledging the command.

The next moment, she launched herself into the air, streaking northward like a comet, her fiery trail briefly illuminating the canyon walls before disappearing into the darkness.

For Yuna, this was the first time she had ever witnessed Ethan’s soul servant in action.

Her breath caught slightly as she watched Lyodra vanish into the night.

She had seen soul servants before, but none with a presence like that. She didn’t know Lyodra’s exact rank, but instinct told her the truth.

An S Rank servant… without a doubt.

Her gaze shifted instinctively to Ethan’s back. She noticed two faint silhouettes lingering there, their presence subtle but unmistakable. Two more soul servants, still dormant.

“You have two other servants,” Yuna said carefully. “Aren’t you going to activate them to support Lyodra?”

Ethan glanced at her briefly and shook his head.

“There’s no need.”

He offered no further explanation. There was no urgency in his tone, only certainty. To Ethan, Sera and Luna were not tools to be used casually.

They were trump cards, reserved for moments when retreat was no longer an option.

He would only unleash them if he was truly cornered.

Yuna didn’t fully understand, but she sensed that Ethan carried secrets he had no intention of revealing. She chose not to press the issue.

“Should I activate my own soul servant?” she asked instead.

Ethan shook his head again. “No. This is reconnaissance, not an assault.”

Yuna cleared her throat softly and nodded, accepting his decision without protest. She stepped closer, standing beside Ethan as they both watched the silent tropical region below.

Once, the tropical lands had been densely populated with guild cities. Every direction had been claimed, banners raised, walls fortified.

Over time, many of those cities fell. Others abandoned the region entirely, migrating to the desert lands, just as the Eastern Alliance had done.

Now, the majority of remaining cities belonged to the Redemption Sword Alliance.

Perhaps a few independent guilds still lingered, but they were insignificant in number.

Minutes passed in silence.

The wind brushed against the canyon cliffs. Torches flickered behind them. Still, Lyodra did not return.

Ethan remained unmoving, his gaze fixed forward, his mind calculating possibilities.

Ambush. Counter reconnaissance. A staged withdrawal. Arthur was not someone who left openings without purpose.

Twenty minutes later, a familiar red glow appeared in the distance.

Lyodra returned to the canyon, her flight slower than before. Though her fiery dress remained intact, her posture revealed exhaustion. She descended and hovered before Ethan.

Ethan’s eyes immediately locked onto her lava blade.

There were streaks of blood along its glowing edge.

Lyodra was still in aggressive mode, meaning Ethan could not yet access her reconnaissance report.

“You can rest now, Lyodra,” Ethan said.

Lyodra nodded once more. Her body flared with crimson light, shrinking rapidly as her adult form reverted to her chibi state.

The glow faded as she settled behind Ethan.

Ethan closed his eyes.

Instantly, Lyodra’s reconnaissance data flooded his consciousness.

He saw what she had seen.

The combined forces of the Redemption Sword Alliance were deep within the island region.

Entire cities lay in ruins, their core crystals shattered, their defenses crushed. The invasion was relentless and systematic.

Within the tropical region itself, only a small defensive presence remained. Five guild city forces, nothing more. Neither Redemption Sword nor Scavenger was stationed there.

The blood on Lyodra’s blade belonged to members of one of those five guilds.

She had engaged them briefly, killing several before being forced back by the combined efforts of enemy team members and their servants.

Her strength had waned due to exhaustion. Continuing the fight would have been reckless.

The vision ended.

Ethan opened his eyes.

“Redemption Sword and Scavenger aren’t in the tropical region,” he said quietly.

Yuna frowned. “Then what do we do?”

Ethan stared out into the darkness again.

If he abandoned the invasion now, his authority would suffer. His resolve would be questioned. The Eastern Alliance had placed its trust in LionArk and in him personally.

But charging forward blindly was just as dangerous.

If Arthur had truly left traps behind, then a careless advance could lead to catastrophic losses.

“We return to the alliance camp,” Ethan said at last. “I’ll explain the situation. Both the absence of Redemption Sword and the potential traps waiting in those cities.”

Yuna nodded.

In her opinion, LionArk had already committed. The invasion needed to begin, regardless of risk. Strategy refined in a camp could never replace the clarity gained on the battlefield.

They mounted their horses once more and rode back toward the encampment.

When they arrived at the main command tent, the largest among all others, Gerrard was already inside. He looked up immediately when Ethan entered and smiled in greeting.

“How did it go, Sir Ethan?”

“The enemy’s main forces are in the island region,” Ethan replied. “Through my servant, I only encountered five guild city forces in the tropical region.”

Gerrard’s brows furrowed slightly. “Then what’s your assessment?”

Ethan walked toward the map table and studied it carefully. He traced routes with his finger, weighing every possibility.

“There’s a chance Arthur attacked the islands because they need soldiers.”

“Soldiers?” Gerrard echoed.

Ethan nodded. Soldiers could be obtained by conquering cities and seizing their core crystals. But there was another method.

Direct send.

Just as Sacred Hall had done with LionArk.

It was effective and avoided the risks of direct conquest.

Still, Ethan doubted the island guilds would comply easily. They lacked ties to Redemption Sword or Scavenger. Intimidation was far more likely than negotiation.

“If that’s the case,” Gerrard asked, “how do we respond?”

“We split the combined force for the first invasion,” Ethan said firmly. “I’ll personally lead the first group into the tropical region.”

“If conditions are safe, the second group will follow.”

Gerrard listened carefully and nodded in understanding.

“And when do we move?”

Ethan straightened.

“Gather all unit commanders.”

“The first group departs at midnight tonight.”

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