I Am the One Who Swims Against the Current

The Star Luo Kingdom had annexed the Volcano Kingdom, transforming the former realm of the Hosen family into a duchy under its control.

However, their next target was not the formidable Samo Kingdom, but the Sele family, one of the four royal bloodline families.

The severely wounded Samo Kingdom had just withdrawn its troops from Stone Forest City and was licking its wounds from the previous war with the Star Luo Kingdom. Having lost its most important ally, the entire Samo Kingdom trembled in fear of retaliation from the Star Luo Kingdom.

The Queen seized this opportunity, deciding to conquer the Sele Kingdom before they could react.

In the palace, all eyes were fixed upon the Queen, a mixture of desire and anticipation evident in their gazes.

The Star Luo Queen, seated regally on her throne, met the eyes of everyone present.

In that moment, a single thought united them all.

"For centuries," she began, her voice carrying throughout the hall, "the Samo, Hosen, and Sele families once pledged allegiance to the Star Queen and the Xilong family. But their greed and betrayal tore apart the realm of Yinsai."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd. "The people have forgotten the glory of the Yinsai Kingdom and the Xilong family. But no more."

With a graceful movement, she raised the Yinsai scepter high, its presence a tangible reminder of their heritage.

"The time has come," she declared. "The realm of Yinsai shall once again be united under the throne of the Xilong family."

Her words ignited a wave of cheers, with members of the Xilong family moved to tears by the promise of restored glory.

The call to arms spread rapidly throughout the Star Luo Kingdom. Noble lords from various territories arrived with their soldiers and weapons, war clouds gathering ominously at the border.

However, their march was interrupted halfway.

The army was ambushed, facing unexpected resistance that forced them to regroup and reassess their strategy.

The Desert Worm of the Samo family had suddenly appeared, frantically obstructing the Star Luo Kingdom's army at all costs. This desperate act revealed the depth of the Samo family's panic and fear.

After a brutal battle, the Star Queen finally reached the border of the Sele Kingdom.

This small kingdom, which had long played both sides among the three great kingdoms, now faced an unavoidable choice.

The ultimatum was clear: submit or face annihilation.

Meanwhile, Grand Duke of Volcano Henir swiftly responded to the Star Luo Queen's call.

He mobilized all available forces within the Volcano Duchy, particularly targeting the restless and ambitious lords eager for an opportunity to prove themselves.

Henir's strategy was clear. Through this war, he aimed to thoroughly reorganize the internal power structure of the Volcano Kingdom, consolidating his control and silencing any opposition.

The Star Luo Queen surveyed the army Henir had brought, along with the imposing Burrowing Demon Worm. Her expression was one of satisfaction, convinced she had not misjudged him.

"Grand Duke Henir, your loyalty is commendable."

Henir maintained his composed demeanor, showing no outward sign of pride at the Queen's praise.

"As long as it is Your Majesty's will, I am prepared to give my all. This is the sacred oath I have sworn before God."

It was then that Henir noticed the damage to the Star Luo Kingdom's army, particularly the terrible bite marks marring the Sky Beast's body. Concern furrowed his brow as he inquired about what had transpired.

The Queen's expression hardened as she recounted the events.

"The Desert Worm of the Samo Kingdom ambushed our army en route. Though we drove it back, they've now had time to react. I suspect the Samo Kingdom is hastily gathering troops to aid the Sele Kingdom."

She paused, her gaze distant as she considered their strategy.

"However, it's unlikely their forces will arrive in time. They may instead opt to attack us directly, perhaps targeting Stone Forest City or even the God-Servant City."

The Queen's foresight had not failed her. She had left the Ruhe beast, Star of Death, in the Sacred Lake as a contingency. This reserve force stood ready to defend their territories should the need arise.

Henir bowed respectfully, genuine admiration in his voice as he praised the Queen's wisdom.

As he raised his head, however, something caught his eye.

The Sky Beast's Ruhe brand on the Star Luo Queen's forehead was no longer merely faded; it had become blurry and indistinct.

For a moment, his face froze, thoughts racing. "Has the Xilong family's Sky Beast brand come to an end so quickly?"

In that instant, memories flashed through his mind: God's messenger, the fallen Volcano King, and the Ruhe beast that had died and come back to life, heading towards the sea.

A sudden tremor rose in the heart of the new Grand Duke of Volcano, an idea taking root in his mind.

His eyes changed in an instant, filled with a desperate madness that barely concealed the wild greed lurking beneath.

Quickly lowering his head to hide his expression, Henir made a bold request.

"Your Majesty, there are still many in the kingdom who doubt my loyalty. Allow me to prove myself by conquering the capital of the Sele Kingdom, the City of Sea Spirits, in your name."

The Star Luo Queen's expression softened, touched by what she perceived as devotion.

"Your loyalty is not in question, Henir," she assured him. Nevertheless, she nodded her assent, granting his request.

The Queen knew well the challenges that lay ahead. Attacking the fortified City of Sea Spirits would be an arduous task, one that would exact a heavy toll.

She had initially hesitated to assign Henir such a daunting mission, fearing he might balk at the difficulty. His eagerness to take on this challenge only served to increase her estimation of him.

Henir bowed deeply, maintaining his humble demeanor as he retreated from the Queen's presence. Once out of sight, a shadow of a smile played across his lips.

The Star Luo Queen looked at the scepter in her hand, remembering its former owners.

Her voice trembled with emotion as she recited the names of the great rulers who had once wielded it:

"The Star Queen... King Eli... King Yesael... and the great King Redlichia."

Each name seemed to resonate with the weight of history and the promise of a glorious future.

As night fell, Henir gathered his vassals in a small town that now served as their military camp.

They huddled around maps and plans, discussing strategies to breach the formidable defenses of the City of Sea Spirits.

"The Queen's Sky Beast will handle the Sele Kingdom's monster, the Sele Sea Spirit," Henir began, his voice low and intense. "But we cannot underestimate the sea spirit priests and garrison soldiers. They will not yield easily."

He outlined his plan, emphasizing the need to conserve their strength and use the Burrowing Demon Worm judiciously.

"Our main force will assault the deep-water port," he explained. "It's the city's lifeline. If we can seize it, the City of Sea Spirits will be unable to hold out for long."

As his commanders nodded in understanding, Henir continued,

"The city lies on an island about ten miles offshore, but each evening at low tide, a path appears. That will be our window of opportunity, but we must be prepared for fierce resistance."

With the strategy set, Henir dismissed his vassals to make their preparations. Left alone, he paced under the moonlight, his mind churning with possibilities and risks.

His moment of hesitation was brief. Soon, he summoned his most trusted advisor.

"Take two thousand men," he ordered, his voice barely above a whisper, "and position them outside the deep-water port. Wait there for my signal."

The advisor's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Waiting? But Grand Duke, what exactly are we waiting for?"

Henir's eyes glinted in the darkness.

"Wait for chaos to erupt at the deep-water port. When the moment is right, I will use the divine technique to give you further instructions."

Though Henir revealed no more of his plan, his closest confidants sensed the weight of his words. They could feel the tremors of a momentous event on the horizon, though its exact nature remained shrouded in mystery.

As the advisor turned to leave, he cast one last, searching look at Henir.

"Grand Duke," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "what are you really planning?"

Henir stood motionless, gazing out into the enveloping darkness. Far from showing fear or unease, he seemed to relax, as if drawing strength from the night itself.

It was as if he had been born to meld with the darkness, to become one with the shadows that now enveloped him.

His voice, when he spoke, was filled with a quiet certainty.

"I am the one who swims against the current," he murmured.

"Only those who dare to challenge the flow can truly change everything, obtain the unobtainable, and accomplish the impossible."