Chapter 89: To the Central Region

"Is that him...?"

"The one who obtained the power of the Thunder Lord at the summit of the Abyssal Rock?"

"He’s not as big as I expected."

Karyl noted the various gazes directed at him as he spoke to Hashir.

"The power of the Thunder Lord?"

"Well, everyone seemed curious, so I gave them a hint," Hashir replied nonchalantly.

Karyl couldn't help but chuckle at his fox-like antics. It was clear what he had done. Not even the magic-wielding Imperials would know about the Arcane Mana from a thousand years ago, let alone the magicless Southerners.

The quick-witted Hashir had cunningly spread word of the events at Abyssal Rock among the Southerners he met while searching for the Spear family.

"I merely stated the facts. I told them that the purple lightning that fell from the sky was your power, Karyl."

Because of the rumors, the members of the Four Great Families gathered at the Spear family's secret location couldn't help being curious about who had been chosen by the Tomb of the Spirit King.

"Moreover, that is the mark of the Horned King."

"Could the owner of the Rolling Hills tame such a creature? It's undeniable that all four tribes of the Great Plains have submitted to his leadership..." A low sigh echoed.

There was no doubt just by seeing Tulu Spear, considered the leader among the Five Great Families, standing next to Karyl.

"You've heard the stories... about the current situation of the Spear family and about me."

Karyl turned his head and then addressed a man among the crowd of onlookers who was covered in black tattoos as if painted with charcoal.

"You must be the chief of the Tashai Tribe, right? What's your name?"

"Lagoon,” the man responded with a nod.

"Give us a report about the Digon Tribe. The Tashai Tribe wouldn't have come empty-handed, I presume."

Lagoon's eyes flickered. Despite having achieved a lot in a short time, to them, Karyl still looked like a child.

Karyl's familiarity with the Five Great Families intrigued Lagoon, especially since the Tashai, known as the forest tribe among the Five Great Families, was the most secretive tribe in the South.

After a brief pause, Lagoon said, "As soon as we received reports of the Spear family being attacked, we sent some of our people to the Digon and Eimae tribes."

"What? To our tribe?" asked Dunkai, the leader of the Eimae Tribe, his thick eyebrows twitching. His tribe dwelled among the forested ridges, and they were known for their imposing builds and formidable strength.

Chief Dunkai, in particular, was so large that he had to stoop whenever he went in and out of tents.

"It means nothing special. The only tribes with enough warriors to attack the Spear family were these two."

"Hmph..." Dunkai crossed his arms and coughed, but he didn’t seem entirely displeased with Lagoon's explanation.

"So? What conclusions did you reach?"

"As you can see, it was the Imperial knights who attacked the Spear family out of nowhere, and they did, in fact, cross through Digon's territory."

"Indeed... So Digon has allied with the Empire, huh?"

"Damn it...! It’s utterly shameful to be called the conquerors of the South! We’ve just opened our doors and welcomed them to rampage through our homes.”

"Unbelievable..."

At Lagoon's words, each chief commented on the situation. Karyl raised his hand to calm them.

"Everyone, calm down. Lagoon, please continue. It's unlikely that Digon would open the door to the South without reason. They must want something."

"The situation was urgent, and we didn’t have all the facts. However, we have people in Digon investigating, so even if it takes time, we'll be able to confirm."

"You have spies in Digon? Are you sure that the Tashai haven't planted any among us?"

"Nonsense. The Enra Tribe, being the weakest among the Five Great Families, is of no interest to us."

"What did you just say?!"

"Ha ha."

The chief of the Enra Tribe flushed at Lagoon's remark, while Dunkai and Tulu Spear chuckled to themselves.

"Even if the Digon Tribe is strong, now that the knights have withdrawn, they can't attack the Five Great Families by themselves. In the meantime, you all have a task."

As the tension subsided, Karyl brought up the point he had been pondering.

"What is it?"

"From now on, not only Digon but also the Empire could invade again at any time. Keep in mind that this means we must prepare for war with the Empire."

Those who had fought alongside Tulu Spear and the Ryeo Knights had somber expressions.

"It's not a hopeless fight."

Shhh—

Karyl drew a small dagger from within his clothing. The dagger, Agnel, drawn from its sheath, emitted a sharp aura. After slaying Tarak at the Gray Training Ground, Agnel's blade had mysteriously taken a pale milky hue.

Karyl drove the dagger with all his might into the central hearth. The blade sank effortlessly, like slicing through tofu.

"This dagger is made of Clear Distilled Water."

"...!!"

"...!!"

The chiefs were startled by Karyl's words.

"Are you talking about the divine mineral?"

"But I thought it could no longer be obtained..."

“That used to be true, but now, things are different. You must collect this Clear Distilled Water to prepare for the upcoming war."

This is not just a war among tribes or against the Empire. It's also a preparation for a war against Tarak.

The chiefs' twitching eyes turned toward Karyl.

"I will refill the Fountain of Vision, and you must secretly gather Clear Distilled Water there."

"But we have no way to refine it."

"Don't worry about that. There are smiths in Tatur, far superior to anyone else.”

Swoosh—

"So, will you follow my lead?" Karyl asked as he drew Agnel.

Gulp—

The silence following Karyl’s question was so stifling that everyone could hear each other gulping nervously.

Soldiers armed with Clear Distilled Water...

That could mean...

Karyl could guess as to what thoughts brewed inside their minds. He also noticed the look of anticipation on Hashir's face next to him.

"Indeed. This is the power I offer you to defeat the Empire."

It was then that a loud thud echoed.

"I owe you my life. The life of the Spear family is yours, master of the Abyssal Rock!"

It was Tulu Spear who broke the silence.

"There was an order from the Digon Tribe, but from generations back. The Five Great Families were tasked with guarding the Abyssal Rock. It doesn’t matter whether it's the Tomb of the Spirit King or the Fountain of Vision at the summit..."

Tulu kneeled as he spoke, making a fist with his hands, emphasizing each of his words for all the other chiefs to hear.

"By gaining power at the summit of the Abyssal Rock, you have proven your strength to us," Tulu continued. He then pulled out a small fang hanging from his waist. It was somewhat similar to the marks of royalty held by the tribes of the plains.

"I offer you the mark of the Spear family."

Thump—! Thump—!!

At that moment, the other Four Great Families' chiefs simultaneously kneeled like Tulu Spear and placed their own marks before Karyl.

“Eimae agrees with the Spear family.”

“Tashai also sides with you.”

“So does Enra...”

“The Bui Tribe as well...”

Advancing to the Central Region was the one thing they yearned for. Since Karyl had come up with a way to achieve it, and Tulu Spear, the head of the Five Great Families, swore loyalty, no further explanation was needed.

Karyl looked at them and slowly nodded.

It’s settled. Even though I’m still wary of the Digon Tribe, I have acquired a weapon more powerful than anyone else.

Having finally taken care of his last task in the South, Karyl clenched his fist tighter.

"Light the beacons. Announce the rise of the new leader of the Five Great Families to all the tribes."

Whoooosh—!!

At Tulu Spear’s shout, the tent flaps were pulled back, revealing soldiers lined up outside. They had seemed very far away, but now they were all kneeling.

"A magnificent sight."

The beacons lit up rapidly, one by one.

Undoubtedly, hundreds, perhaps thousands of people from large and small tribes of the Five Great Families, not gathered here, were pledging their loyalty to Karyl as they saw the smoke from the beacons, just like the soldiers before him.

Mikhail couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

"It’s just half of the South," Karyl said in a low voice as he gazed into the distance, where the Empire lay.

But looking at him, Aidan chuckled softly.

"Well, I see it differently. You’ve conquered half the South on your own, without shedding any blood."

Karyl looked at Hashir.

The Emperor, who had issued the Imperial Extermination Decree of Heresy, had thrown down the gauntlet for the northern conquest just as Karyl had.

Wherever Kuwell MacGovern’s Order of the Blue Knight had passed, only corpses and bloodstains remained.

"Indeed." Hashir nodded in agreement with Aidan’s words.

"Beikan, Kinu Mukari, Kayla Spear, Hashir. The four of you will come with me to the Central Region."

"Me too?"

"Yes."

Kayla, surprised at being named, quickly clasped her hands together.

"It’s an honor to serve."

"There will be much to do. Everyone, be prepared."

"We’ll keep that in mind."

"Understood."

As everyone pledged their loyalty, Aidan pointed at the tribespeople outside the tent and spoke softly, "As I told you when you united the tribes of the Great Plains, there were only three of us when we came here."

Indeed, all of this had been accomplished by just three people.

"But look. Now thousands of soldiers stand before you, Lord Karyl."

Karyl looked at the four people he had called and said, "With three people, you obtained half the South. Now, with twice the force, surely you can take the Central Region as well."

At his words, everyone laughed.

It sounded like a grand joke, but since it was coming from Karyl, it felt like it could become reality. Everyone felt strangely excited.

“Growwwwl!!!”

A monstrous, ear-splitting roar rang out like a signal for departure across the Abyssal Rock. A giant sand serpent burst through the crowd and bowed its head before Karyl. After he boldly mounted it, the serpent slowly lifted its head.

The future has changed.

The future he knew had changed, and now he couldn't predict what would happen next. However, there was one thing different from his previous life.

But I will not let it change as it pleases.

He was well aware that he was at the center of that whirlwind.

History will be written by me, not them,

Karyl vowed to himself

.

His voice, filled with mana, seemed to resonate directly in people’s minds.

"To the Central Region."