Chương 273: Chapter 259: New Plans Part 2

The adjoining corridor mirrored the first. A few individuals kept a watchful eye at the entrance, standing loosely like guards waiting for a messenger to burst in with grim news. But even they carried a calm demeanor, as if clinging to the final breath of peace before the storm arrived. Thalion reformed in a swirl of mist before a circle of couches and luxurious chairs. Sitting atop them were Evelyn, Kargul, Josh, and Jack—his most trusted.

But to his surprise, there were two more: Annie and Jakob, the former slaves he had freed long ago. They looked different now—older, sharper. The System had clearly accelerated their growth. Their auras were focused and intense, forged by hardship. Impressive. Jakob, in particular, gave off a hidden weight of power. Thalion suspected he had been concealing his true strength, perhaps to avoid attracting Kael's attention.

The Kael Thalion had encountered in that tense meeting would not hesitate to eliminate a perceived threat.

"Good to see you two again," Thalion greeted them with a warm smile as he solidified before the group.

"Good to be back," Jakob replied, grinning.

"It felt wrong staying with Kael after everything. You could've at least said goodbye before vanishing, though." Evelyn leaned forward with a teasing smile.

"So, how was the swim?"

"Difficult," Thalion muttered, exhaling sharply as he sank into a chair.

"There's no reaching the pillar through that path. Not in the time we have left." His voice carried the weight of frustration. He hated not having a plan. Fighting beside Kael and the elves was an option he would rather abandon. If it came to it, he'd sooner attack their camps outright and seize control than ally with them.

"Kael and the elves are both struggling," Annie chimed in.

"Ever since the Bloodwitch activated her ritual, the beasts have grown stronger. They're barely making progress."

"We could strike now," she continued.

"Take over Kael's camp while he's bogged down in the tunnels. A lot of his followers are starting to see through him. If you offer protection, many might join you willingly." Jakob nodded.

"There aren't many loyal to him left. And I doubt there's a significant force guarding the camp topside." Thalion leaned back, considering. The plan had merit. In fact, it was likely the only viable option. Better to move first than sit and wait for Kael to strike from the shadows. If they secured the camp, Kael would either retreat to defend it—splitting his forces—or stay in the tunnels, leaving his supply lines vulnerable. Thalion liked both outcomes.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"That sounds like a plan," he said with a nod.

"We'll seize the camp, then crush Kael's forces. Once that's done, we can focus on the pillar without constantly watching our backs." With Kael gone, only the elves and undead remained. Manageable threats, especially with momentum on their side. The others agreed swiftly, and a messenger was dispatched to Maike and Kaldrek with orders to ready the fortress and skyships. The moment had come. If something went wrong, they needed to be prepared.

Movement across the underground complex had increased lately, making their operation easier to mask. Food smugglers, particularly, were a blessing. Thalion smiled faintly as he accepted a bowl of steaming meat soup laced with thick, ribbon-like noodles. The warmth spread through him like magic. He made a mental note to reward whoever had the idea—smuggling fresh meals like this into the depths was genius. Spatial rings preserved food, yes, but they always seemed to steal the flavor.

As they waited for confirmation from the fortress, the group talked. Mostly about strange beasts they had encountered. Annie recounted her journey through the Ocean of the Fourth Stage—a realm teeming with titanic, reptilian monsters. Her favorite hunt, she said, had been a massive salamander that grew sluggish as the temperature dropped. Ice magic had made short work of it. Then the tone shifted.

"So... once Kael's gone," Josh said quietly, eyes distant, "that's when the real war begins, isn't it? Against the undead." Thalion nodded solemnly.

"Yeah. It's going to be brutal. I don't know how far they've advanced, but we're already behind. We need to move faster." Time was slipping away. They had no clocks, but the pressure in the air was unmistakable. One day—maybe less. That was all they had.

"As long as we reach the pillar, it'll fall," Jack added, leaning forward.

"We still have the bombs from the old lunatic. I doubt he lied about their strength." Lucan. The eccentric weaponsmith. Once renowned for his craftsmanship, now obsessed with dangerous experiments. Thalion held no grudge. If the man found joy in forging explosives, so be it. It might just save them all. They shared stories and ate in the soft glow of enchanted lights until the messenger returned. Maike and Kaldrek were ready. The fortress was armed, the skyships poised. The time had come.

They would bring down Kael and then begin the final assault on the undead. The last part of the tutorial was about to begin.