Path of Absolute Transcendence

Chapter 115: 115. War

In the veiled darkness of the Naline Kingdom, Eldric, the most skilled assassin in Shark Head's covert squad, moved with lethal grace. His mission, along with his comrades', was clear: destabilize the kingdom by eliminating its key figures. They were phantoms in the night, their presence felt only in the silence that followed their departure.

Eldric, a shadow among shadows, found his target in a high-ranking noble known for his influence over the kingdom's military strategies. With a whisper of steel, the deed was done, and the noble's plans for the morrow would remain forever unfulfilled.

The first light of dawn cast a pale glow over the Naline Kingdom, a harbinger of the chaos that would soon unfold. The noble quarters, typically alive with the sounds of morning activity, lay in an unnatural hush. Servants moved from room to room, their usual brisk efficiency replaced by hesitant steps and hushed whispers.

What they found within those opulent walls was a scene of calculated carnage—the cold, lifeless bodies of their masters.

Word of the assassinations spread with a swiftness that belied the early hour, racing through the corridors and out into the streets, a malignant specter that gripped the heart of the kingdom with icy fingers. By the time the news reached the royal chamber, it had grown into a full-blown crisis, the implications of which sent ripples of fear throughout the palace.

The Naline King, a man of formidable presence, felt the pillars of his reign tremble under the weight of betrayal. His face, usually a composed mask of royalty, was now a tempest of emotions—anger at the audacity of the attack, grief for the loss of his trusted advisors, and an underlying current of fear for the safety of his realm.

Without delay, he summoned Ethan, the Duke of Natine. The message was urgent, a command that brooked no delay. Ethan, with Shark Head by his side, made haste to the royal chamber, each step heavy with foreboding.

As they entered the king's presence, the air was thick with unspoken accusations. The king's eyes, dark pools of wrath, fixed upon Ethan with an intensity that could have melted steel.

"Ethan, Duke of Natine," the king began, his voice a low rumble of barely contained fury, "explain to me how your men are found within our walls, their hands stained with the blood of my council?"

Ethan, a seasoned diplomat, maintained his composure under the king's withering gaze. "Your Majesty, we are as appalled by this tragedy as you are. We came in peace, seeking harmony between our kingdoms. This act of violence is not our doing."

Shark Head stood silent, his mind racing. The plan had been for a silent, unseen strike, not this. Something had gone awry.

The king slammed his fist onto the arm of his throne, a gesture that echoed like a thunderclap in the tense silence of the chamber. "Peace? Harmony? Your words turn to ash in the face of such treachery!"

Before Ethan could offer further defense, a royal advisor stepped forward, a whisper of dark intent in the king's ear. It was the command for war, a directive that bore the weight of the shadow entity's will.

The king rose, his declaration resounding through the chamber with the finality of a death knell. "The time for words has passed. Natine's deceit has sealed its fate. We will meet this aggression with the full might of Naline. War is upon us!"

Ethan's heart sank. The trap had been sprung, and there was no escaping the consequences. The shadow's machinations had borne their bitter fruit, and as he and Shark Head were escorted from the chamber, the drums of war began to beat, signaling the end of peace and the beginning of a conflict that would shake the very foundations of both kingdoms.

Ethan immediately used his power to directly teleport with Shark Head . The air crackled with residual energy as they materialized within the familiar walls of Dono family. Despite the comfort these surroundings offered, Ethan was acutely aware that lingering in the kingdom posed a grave risk. The Naline King, a sovereign of considerable influence and reach, had not pursued them here.

The Naline King wouldn't pursue him here since, it could endanger his life if he came alone without any preparations. But he need to prepare for war as soon possible.

Understanding the gravity of their situation, Ethan left Shark Head, and sought an immediate audience with the Natine King. The king didn't reject him because Ethan only visited him for important purpose.

The Natine King, seated upon his throne, exuded an aura of command. His gaze, sharp and penetrating, fell upon Ethan as he approached. The air was thick with anticipation, for the news Ethan bore was of grave import.

"My liege," Ethan began, his voice steady despite the weight of his message. "The Naline Kingdom reels from a treacherous blow—their nobles, slain in cold blood during my visit. I fear this dark deed is but a harbinger of war, a ploy to draw us into conflict."

The king's brow furrowed, his mind racing to grasp the implications. "You speak of assassination—a grave accusation. What evidence supports your claim?"

Ethan met the king's gaze, his own eyes reflecting a tumult of emotion. "No tangible proof, sire, but the circumstances are suspect. The timing of their deaths, the whispers of dissent—it all points to a scheme designed to implicate us, to justify a war they have long sought."

The king leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And you believe the Naline King himself orchestrates this machination?"

"It is the only conclusion that fits," Ethan asserted. "He covets the fragment and our land. This act of subterfuge would grant him the pretext he desires to unleash his armies upon us."

The Natine King rose from his throne, his presence commanding the room. "Ethan, your counsel has always steered this kingdom true. I trust your judgment, as I have in times past. If war is upon us, then we shall meet it with steel and strategy."

Turning to his assembly of advisors, the king's voice resonated with authority. "Now, we don't have time anymore. It's time to conquer the Naline Kingdom and show them who the real rulers of sea."

With a wave of his hand, the king signaled his generals. "Mobilize the legions. Fortify our borders. Let our blacksmiths forge weapons that will sing the song of our resolve. We shall be ready for whatever storm the Naline King dares to bring upon our shores."

The throne room burst into a hive of activity; orders were dispatched, and the machinery of war groaned into motion. Ethan watched as the kingdom he loved girded itself for the trials ahead. In the king's unwavering support, he found a renewed sense of purpose.

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As dawn broke over the two kingdoms, the air was charged with the tension of impending war. In the Natine Kingdom, the call to arms had been sounded, and from every corner of the realm, cultivators heeded the summons. More than 10,000 warriors, assembled in the vast expanse before the royal palace.

They stood in precise formations, a sea of determined faces and poised stances, ready to defend their homeland.

The Natine cultivators, though devoid of magical weapons capable of mass destruction, were a formidable force. Among them, seven Tier 4 cultivators stood apart, their aura unmistakable. These were the elite, the pinnacle of cultivation prowess, each capable of feats that could turn the tide of battle. They were the kingdom's most guarded secret and its most potent weapon.

Across the border, the Naline Kingdom mirrored this display of might. Their own brigade of over 10,000 cultivators gathered, a reflection of the Natine's resolve. Here too, seven Tier 4 cultivators emerged, their presence commanding attention. They were the vanguard of the Naline's power, warriors of such skill that their names were whispered in both reverence and fear.

Soon a huge barrier covered the entire Natine kingdom and formed a protective layer. It was a peak Tier 4 formation that created to protect the moral citizens from the impact of war. The Natine King didn't want to involve the morals in this situation.

"Fear not soldiers, today we will win this war and conquer the Naline Kingdom." Ethan appeared before the army and encouraged them.

It was his duty as a Duke and general of army to raise the morale of his troops. The soldiers and members of army had high amount of respect and admiration for Ethan, so his words easily raised their morale.

The Natine king arrived and looked at this scene with a smile. Behind him were another five cultivators who stood in equal with him. They were members of royal family with peak Tier 4 cultivation and deciding factors of the war.

The Natine kingdom have exactly seven peak Tier 4 cultivators including king and Ethan. Tier 4 cultivators like reaper, Ethan's shadow bodyguard aren't considered as a deciding factor.

The difference between a early stage Tier 4 and peak stage Tier 4 cultivator was more than the other previous realms combined. Although, early stage Tier 4 cultivators play a huge role, they weren't the main factors.