Chapitre 18: Chapter 18: Treasury

As the army marched through the expansive kingdom, Ethan couldn't help but marvel at its vastness. Tier 6 kingdoms were known for their sheer size, often encompassing territories equivalent to entire states in America. The land stretched out before them, seemingly endless, with rolling hills, lush forests, and sparkling lakes. It was a breathtaking sight.

Their journey took them through the Great Elvenwood Forest, its towering trees whispering secrets of ancient secrets. The soldiers moved with caution; their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves beneath their boots. The air was tinged with an otherworldly fragrance, a blend of earthy moss and sweet wildflowers. Ethan found himself captivated by the ethereal beauty of the forest, even as his mind remained focused on the impending battle.

Crossing the Jubi River was no easy feat. Its turbulent waters rushed past, a force of nature that dared anyone to challenge its might. The soldiers, skilled in the art of war, maneuvered across makeshift bridges with precision and determination. Ethan watched as they crossed, impressed by their resilience and ingenuity.

As they continued their journey, the army ventured into the formidable mountain ranges in the south. Towering peaks loomed above them, their jagged edges cutting through the sky. The air grew crisper, carrying with it the tang of snow and the promise of treacherous terrain. Ethan knew that the mountains posed a formidable challenge, but he remained undeterred. He had trained his men for this very moment, instilling in them the skills needed to overcome any obstacle.

Hours turned into days as they pressed forward, the urgency of their mission propelling them forward. Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that they were moving too slowly, that time was slipping through their fingers. It was then that he decided – He needed to get his soldiers some war mounts.

As they arrived at the weakly defended border, after a long and treacherous journey. Ethan made a strategic decision. To resolve any minor matters swiftly, he split the army into small groups and ordered them to scout ahead. Surprisingly they subdued the border patrols with ease and steadily advanced towards Castle Blackthorn. They came before the walls of the castle and sensing an opportunity to strike fear into the enemies, Ethan ordered the sound of gongs to echo through the air, halting the march.

In the Blackthorn town, the townspeople and soldiers panicked at the echoing sound of the gong. Fear gripped their hearts as they witnessed the sheer number of the enemy forces. Doubt crept in, casting a shadow over their hopes of survival. The atmosphere was fraught with tension, as they realized that their defenses might not hold against such an overwhelming adversary.

Suddenly, a haughty and arrogant man emerged from the gates, shouting curses at the opposing army and at Asher and Ethan. It was King Orion, oozing with overconfidence and disdain.

"Young lamb, you dare to come to my kingdom for war, even if I am alone. I am more than enough to handle people like you." he mocked. Asher laughed at his remark and replied," says the one that ran away in fear last time"

Hearing his most embarrassing moment Orion erupted with fury and a mighty aura spread out from him." No wonder you dare to talk like this, you advanced to stage 6 huh." Asher said in surprise. "But this little strength is not enough for you to overcome your death today" as soon as he finished an even grander and suffocating pressure erupted from Asher overshadowing King Orion's.

"Y-you, y-you're n-not at stage 4, but a peak apprentice, h-how!" Orion shouted in fear and shock."

Ethan, saw King Orion's scared expression and ordered Asher to kill him finding it meaningless to continue with this banter. The air crackled with lightning as Asher stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the sunlight.

"Is this the mighty King Orion that everyone fears?" Asher taunted; his voice laced with sarcasm. "Your words may be sharp, but you are just an ant bullying the weak and scared of the strong, so disappointing. Prepare to meet your downfall, my dear king."

Orion scoffed, his eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and fear. "You may think you have the upper hand, but mark my words, this castle will not fall without a fight. Your arrogance will be your undoing, mark my words!"

"Even thou he knows he's going to die he still wants to fight, at least he still has some courage left." Ethan sighed.

Asher unleashed his sword from his sheath and in one movement the once arrogant king met his maker. The air still crackled as purple lightning could be seen around King Orion's decapitated head. Without much effort the kingdom of blackthorn who once rival them and even brought the kingdom of verdant vale on its knees has fallen.

Ethan's voice boomed through the air, addressing the people and soldiers. "Surrender now, and you shall be spared," he declared, his tone commanding yet tinged with a hint of mercy. "You may continue to live freely under the rule of Verdant Vale. The choice is yours."

A hesitant silence hung in the air as the people exchanged anxious glances. The weight of their decision pressed upon them; their fear of Ethan's power palpable. Slowly, one by one, they reluctantly nodded their agreement. The gates had been opened, and the Dragon Fang Axemen began their march into the city, symbolizing the surrender of the Blackthorn Kingdom.

Ethan went straight toward the throneroom and gathered the officials and noblemen. His gaze swept over the officials, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and disdain. "Where is the treasury?" he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding. The officials pointed him in the direction, their faces pale with trepidation. Not daring to defy him under the chilling stares of the crimson axemen.

Upon reaching the treasury, Ethan's disappointment was evident. Compared to the wealth of his own kingdom, it was lackluster and unimpressive. Only containing a few hundred gold and a few unranked weapons. The only thing worth noting was a low tier rank 1 halberd.

A sneer played at the corners of his lips as he realized the extent of Blackthorn's decline. It only solidified his belief that this kingdom was meant to be his, to be transformed into the first tier-5 town under the banner of Verdant Vale.

Summoning the officials once more, Ethan's voice dripped with menace as he issued his ultimatum. "You have two choices," he began, his tone low and dangerous. "Those with greed and lust for power, leave this kingdom or face certain death." The officials trembled, those with greed and lust for power now trembled and they were shaking with fear and desperation.

Some of the officials, unable to bear the weight of Ethan's stare, chose to leave the kingdom. They hurriedly exited the throneroom, their heads bowed low as they were escorted out by Ethan's men. The remaining officials, those who had decided to stay, cast fearful glances at each other, unaware and uncertain about what awaited them.

Ethan's cold gaze swept over the room, he said," There are still some among you that should leave or face the consequences." Seeing as no one was moving after several seconds he nodded his head to his men and the appeared before 2 noblemen and dragged them to the front of the room.

"Justice Rose and Zao Feng, you still dare to remain after my mercy. Don't think that I don't know what you have done. Justice, responsible for the kidnapping of young girls to be sold into slavery, you used your money you got from slavery to slowly climb the ranks. For that you are sentenced to death."

"N-no, y-you can't do this. Please, please I beg for mercy. Have mercy." Justice cried out slamming his head to the floor with snot and tears in his face. Justice believed that if he said nothing, he would have been able to escape unscathed. Yet he never thought that the man before him would know of his name and his crime.

Ethan looked down from above with disgust evident on his face before one of the soldiers killed him. Seeing the horrifying fate his fellow noblemen has suffered Zao Feng hurriedly tried to escape knowing even if he begged for mercy, he would not find it in from this man.

"You already had your chance. Do it" A calm cold voice sounded.

"Aggghhhh!!" the man screamed only for this scream to fade into silence.

"Now that that is settled." his voice cutting through the tension. "This kingdom shall now be known as Blackthorn Town," he declared, the weight of his words carrying an air of finality with a warm smile. A shiver ran down the spines of the officials, thinking how a man's temperament could change so much so fast. Reminding themselves to not offend this seemingly docile man, no one dared to oppose him, for they had witnessed the ease with which his soldiers had dispatched King Orion with a single slash and how vicious he could be.

The conversations that ensued were filled with trembling voices and hesitant words. The officials pleaded for leniency, promising loyalty and obedience to Ethan's rule. Their fear and willingness to submit were evident, as they recognized the futility of resistance against the might of Dragon Fang Axemen.

Ethan, reveling in his newfound power, allowed a glimmer of amusement to dance in his eyes. He had claimed this kingdom as his own, establishing his dominance. After dealing with various domestic political affairs, he summoned soldiers to return to Verdant Vale and bring back various people with occupations that could be trusted as well as Butler William.

"Then, with that finished let's see what remains of the once strong military huh." He said murmuring under his breath, and summoned every soldier that was left to the training grounds. Ethan came to the training grounds and looked around, 'They were worthy of being a stronger tier 6 kingdom, what a pity, in front of a tier 5 they are only a stronger ant.' He thought as he remembered that when he came into this world the original training ground of Verdant Vale was not even half as big or grandiose as this one.