Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 362 - 3: Once Thinking, Many Things Become Meaningless
Chapter 362: Chapter 3: Once Thinking, Many Things Become Meaningless
Ice Island, Court.
"Woo..."
Yerman stood in the watch tower, raising the Wild Bull Horn high. The huge bell of the horn faced the sky, and he emitted a powerful and resonating sound, like the low roar of a giant beast.
Across Ice Island, other horns sounded in response, creating a symphony in unison, like rolling thunder echoing through the heavens.
The Royal Family of Ice Island had ruled for over a hundred years, still following the ancient traditions from Yige.
Each time they went to war, the tribal leaders would always blow the first war horn. In the wars that followed, the sound of the first horn would be emblazoned in the hearts of every warrior, making them forget their fear of the battlefield and death, and fight the enemy with abandon.
The more spirited the sound, the more it showed their yearning for victory.
Yerman, with his terrifying lung capacity and loud voice, blew a particularly piercing horn, so clear and penetrating that all who heard it were amazed.
Afterwards, he passed the Wild Bull Horn to the chamberlain.
This was the same horn used by the first Pirate King when he attacked the continent, and it still remained in the Ice Island treasury.
"Father, must we really go? This war clearly doesn’t affect Ice Island. Once we get involved, it will be very difficult to withdraw," said Yerman’s eldest son, harboring some doubts.
"Nelson, this isn’t something to ponder over, because once you think about it, many things become meaningless. We just need to forge ahead," Yerman told his offspring.
"You must know that the Conqueror, His Majesty, granted Ice Island to my grandfather, bringing peace, bringing technology, allowing us to bask in the light of civilization, and nurturing Ice Island to grow strong. He gave selflessly, waiting only for our recompense a hundred years later."
Yerman was as robust as a bull, with coarse facial features, a thick beard, and abundant body hair; his barbarian appearance was pronounced.
"We took an oath," he said. "We swore to the Dragon King, this is an ancient alliance. Once Black Castle calls, Ice Island cannot stand idly by; we shall maintain order and watch over this land together."
Nelson immediately added, "But the Black Iron King broke the rules first, gifting the Thorny Peninsula to Alex. Though that peninsula is bleak and desolate, it belongs to the Ice Island Royal Family. The Black Iron King used it as a political bargaining chip, which is disrespectful to us."
"My child," Yerman said, "the generational alliance isn’t a business deal. Ice Island also struggles to administer such a vast land. As you say, Igo Land is also my fief, but would those wild tribes obey my command to send troops? Let alone Yige and the Thorny Peninsula, even the nobles of Ice Island are starting to disobey the Royal Family. I ask them for a bit of wool, and they find every excuse to refuse. If we don’t fulfill our promise to the Conqueror, the King of Ice Island’s credibility will vanish. Who then will obey us in the future?"
He concluded, "Being a king means leading by example!"
Then, the King of Ice Island said to the Axe Guard Marshal, his own brother Porter, "Summon all the Axe Guards and candidates to accompany me to the battlefield."
Porter bowed and said, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
He was a staunch supporter of the King of Ice Island, blood brothers, very supportive of this royalist action.
But the large army of Ice Island couldn’t advance, even if they could, it would be too late. Communicating with the many nobles of Ice Island took time; gathering the troops would take an extensive amount of time. They did not have time and could only deploy elite soldiers to fight.
"Take only a minimal amount of food," he instructed. "Once we reach the Northern Front, we will ask Alex for material support."
"How many men do you plan to gather?"
"Two thousand Axe Guards! At the very least, two thousand. Take out all the equipment from the armory," said the King of Ice Island.
Relying solely on the court’s Axe Guards was far from enough; they could only conscript from the noble class. Yerman further said, "Send a message to the entire North Ice Sea. If there are warriors who meet the standards and are willing to join, let them come as well."
Porter then spoke, "Your Majesty, do you remember the report I made some time ago about the deep lands of Igo?"
"Of course, I remember. You mentioned that the people of Igo witnessed those flying creatures and it had something to do with a Witch."
Porter continued, "They are appearing more frequently now... I mean, they are appearing in groups. They seldom appear in the human world. The last time there was a large gathering was a hundred years ago, and now there have been sightings of them again."
Yerman’s expression grew grave, "Emissaries of the Dragon King?"
"No, the high shaman of Igo believes they are just a group of wild dragons unwilling to be left in obscurity, but their appearance signifies that something very bad is unfolding quietly, and to this day, we do not know what the Witch named Cassandra has done."
"Porter, after we finish this war, come with me to investigate Igo." Yerman said.
He had a vague premonition that the final fate of this era would be revealed at Black Castle.
...
Divine Mystery, Court.
The King of Divine Mystery sat on the throne, "Astrologer, answer me, can the Church Court’s main forces break through Black Castle?"
The Astrologer replied, "Your Majesty, The Conqueror’s power is fading, the Barbarian King is amassing troops in the North, and the Oak forces are also taking the field in the South. Emperor Ionus’s prophecy has not yet come to pass, and the Three Divine Artifacts have not united. Please be vigilant. Although the Church Court can certainly crush Emperor Ionus’s Magic Spell, there may be unforeseen variables. I beseech you to send additional troops to assist the Church Court to affirm your rightful place as the sovereign King."
King of Divine Mystery murmured to himself, "Ionus, Ionus, why do you defy the All Gods, and why do you look to the sky? What did you see back then that led you to make such a grand yet insane decision? Wasn’t taking the empire’s heritage enough for you? Is kin strife the outcome you desired?"
The Astrologer continued, "My Lord Claurogus, this is only the beginning. In another profound realm, we have glimpsed the rising of an endless Dark Shadow, powerful enough to drown the entire land and obscure the stars, yet we still cannot predict where it comes from, nor do we know its true face, whether it is an ancient evil race awakening or a transformation within humanity itself."
Claurogus asked, "Does it have anything to do with that King in the remote River Valley? What impact will it have on the battlefield of Black Castle?"
If the King of Divine Mystery was the most ancient king of this land, then, without a doubt, the new king who had risen in River Valley in recent years was his counterpart. Though inexperienced, he had accomplished miracles and had been crowned River Valley King, War Hand, and Lord Conqueror.
Among these titles, Lord was the least significant.
After all, a lordship was merely a title, like the Great Sage Equalling Heaven guarding the Immortal Peach Orchard, but Lord Conqueror held substantial value. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
The Astrologer said, "My fellows in the Astrologer Association believe this to be impossible. The new king is the illegitimate son of Grand Duke Alster, of the Riptide Bloodline, but the latter only granted him land and gave no assistance. He lacks the conditions Emperor Ionus had, too young and without a strong foundation; he doesn’t possess the power to alter the fate of the land, so the Dark Shadow is unlikely to come from River Valley."
Claurogus inquired, "Is there any other impact?"
"The Astrologer answered, "There is, Your Majesty. In the past, we drained our very lifeblood to divine the future. Now, however, that ascending Dark Shadow blocks our path, clouding our sight. All Astrologers have become blind and I fear we may not be able to continue our service to you."
...
Oak lands, White Tower.
The Grand Duke of Oak, with handsome features and a tall and straight figure, with pointed ears, stood at the White Tower, witnessing the assembly of three thousand elite Oak warriors.
The warriors were all clad in armor and bearing bows and arrows.
"Why must our tribe stand alone against the Dark? Now everything is about to be concealed, we love this land deeper than the depths of the sea, until order collapses, the White Tower falls, the long day ends, all kings depart, the setting sun descends behind the mountains..."
He chanted a sacred song in an ethereal language, his countenance one of compassionate sorrow, his eyes reflecting the intense flames of the future’s burning battles.
...
