Rising god
Chapter 82: New Star & Truth

Chapter 82: New Star & Truth

The war council convened in a sprawling tent pitched at the heart of the Darkan encampment, a few thousand meters from the edge of the Trench Valley.

The strategic position allowed for a discreet split toward the Forest of Beasts, a maneuver the enemy would likely not anticipate.

Inside, a large oak table dominated the space, its surface carved with a detailed map of the region, marked with colored pins to denote troop movements.

Surrounding the table stood key Darkan members, executives, commanders, and Tasha, while Baines and the Darkan head anchored the discussion, their voices steady amid the rustle of canvas and the distant clamor of the army preparing for battle.

"So, we should split our forces into two battlefields: one through the Forest of Beasts, and the other through the valley," the Darkan head reiterated, his reptilian eyes glinting with newfound draconic intensity as he traced the routes on the map.

His crimson hair shimmered with a metallic sheen, a visible mark of the family’s recent transformation.

Baines nodded in agreement, his expression unreadable. The plan was clear: a diversionary force would act as bait through the valley, the only direct route, and engage the Silver Family head-on, while the main army flanked through the Forest of Beasts would lead the beasts and strike from behind to decimate the enemy in a pincer attack.

"I say that because the Vodal Kingdom has to go," Baines added, his voice low but laced with a dangerous edge.

The room’s occupants turned to him, surprise flickering across their faces. It was now evident that his vendetta against the Vodal Kingdom ran deep.

"But if we lure the beasts there, won’t they rampage through innocents and citizens?" Tasha interjected, her brow furrowed with concern.

The plan, as outlined, risked the collateral damage of potentially slaughtering the citizens who had no idea those they might one day rule. "They can’t be our potential citizens if they’re dead, can they?"

Baines’ eyes flashed, a dangerous glint cutting through the dim light of the tent. "The silvers have the responsibility to protect their innocents. If they don’t, nothing changes," he said coldly, his tone brooking no argument.

"WHAT?" Tasha bellowed, her voice echoing off the canvas walls. The room fell silent, the weight of Baines’ words settling heavily.

Shock rippled through the gathered Darkan members. Was this their hero? they wondered, grappling with the ruthless pragmatism of the man who had restored their heritage.

Before the tension could escalate further, the tent flaps parted, and a squad of soldiers entered, dragging a battered figure between them.

"What’s the matter?" the Darkan head asked, his frown deepening as he spread his senses, searching for signs of an immediate threat.

"Sir, we found a spy," one of the soldiers reported, shoving the prisoner to the center of the tent.

Gasps and murmurs filled the air as the spy’s silver hair caught the light, a clear marker of the Silver Family. "I found him wearing a disguise and counting our forces," a new voice added, stepping into the tent.

"Hm?" The Darkan head turned, surprise etched on his face, as a young man entered.

He stood over six feet tall, his short black hair and matching eyes a stark contrast to the shining golden armor that hugged his frame, a long sword sheathed at his waist. His presence was magnetic, his handsome features illuminated by a warm smile that seemed to brighten the tense atmosphere.

"Aires?" Tasha called out, her voice softening with recognition.

Aires Perseus, the winner of the Darkan tournament. He had become a celebrated figure in the family’s recent history. At just twenty years old, he had broken through to the 6th star before the public’s eyes, claiming the Sun Pill and first-grade armor as his prizes.

After Jin, Aires had become the most talked-about figure, his victory washing away the lingering shame of Baines’ earlier actions. His decision to remain with Darkan post-tournament had further endeared him to the family, replacing criticism with praise. Now, he stood as a beacon of hope amidst their preparations for war.

"A-Alright, thank you," the Darkan head said, nodding in appreciation of Aires’ vigilance.

"Forgive me, but before I leave, I happened to overhear the plans," Aires said, his gaze briefly flickering to Baines before addressing the room. "If possible, we should reduce civilian casualties as much as we can."

The Darkan head raised a hand, silencing the rising murmurs. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone measured.

Seizing the opportunity, Aires elaborated, "The plan is to lure the beasts from the forest. How about we forgo that and simply pass through? With your newfound power, the beasts can’t stop your advance. We can launch a surprise attack instead of risking unnecessary deaths."

Tasha nodded in agreement, her earlier concerns echoing Aires’ sentiment. The Darkan head, after a thoughtful glance at Baines, also agreed, seeing the wisdom in minimizing collateral damage.

Baines’s frown lingered for only a moment before he adjusted his approach.

-Wick, prepare the Sword Knights.

He commanded telepathically.

-Yes, Master.

Wick replied and vanished.

Baines’s mind churned with new calculations on what to do with this change. Aires bowed and exited the tent, leaving the council’s focus to shift to the spy.

The Silver spy writhed under the weight of multiple draconic pressures, his screams of pain piercing the air. They were using their pressure to slowly kill him.

’Are these people stupid?’ Baines thought, shaking his head. "Before we kill him, let’s make him tell us everything," he suggested, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The executives paused, turning to him for clarification. Baines sighed. "Dragons can pull truths from people, right?" he reminded them, a subtle jab at their forgetfulness.

Their eyes widened; they were dragons now, their powers still unfamiliar in their reborn state.

The Darkan head’s eyes turned fully reptilian, slits of glowing crimson as he focused on the spy. "Tell us everything you know," he commanded, his voice resonating with the ancient authority of Dragon Tongue.

The spy froze, his mind reeling. ’What is this?’ The pressure was unlike anything he had experienced. It wasn’t mere intimidation, but a compulsion that forced his lips to move against his will.

When he opened his eyes again, defiance giving way to panic, as he saw looks of understanding on the Darkan faces.

’Shit, what did I tell them?’ He had been trained to endure torture, even to die before betraying his family, yet this power had unraveled him effortlessly. Spilling information willingly was among the gravest sins in his line of work.

The spy’s revelations were damning.

The Silver Family’s army, led by their future leader, had annihilated the Darkan border forces with minimal losses. Their strategy was to await reinforcements before launching a full assault on Darkan territory. More disturbingly, the spy hinted at the Silver patriarch’s preparations, something involving "blood and missing citizens." The words sent a chill through the room, even Baines’ usually stoic demeanor faltering.

The missing link they had sought endlessly regarding the Blood Deplorable finally connected. After the battle, the research on the blood deplorable had gone missing. Whereas, It had fallen into the hands of the Vodal Kingdom, specifically the Silvers.

It seemed the influence of the Blood Deplorable had not been fully eradicated, likely fueling their confidence in this sudden war.

The Silvers couldn’t wage war within their kingdom without risking annihilation from rival families, so they turned to Darkan, using the meditators to prevent the imperial family from attacking. If they win, they could occupy their lands, continue their experiments, and eventually challenge anyone in their path, starting with the Astra Family to rule Vodal.

The Silvers’ ultimate ambition crystallized as clear as a lake; they aimed to dominate the Vodal Kingdom, using Darkan as a stepping stone.

’But no. I can’t let you destroy yourselves. I’ll be the one to do that,’ Baines roared inwardly, his anger a smoldering fire.

He turned to the spy, his voice deceptively calm as he asked. "How didn’t the Silvers win the war to rule the kingdom?"

The question puzzled the executives, but they turned to the spy, still under the Dragon Tongue’s influence. Baines’s curiosity stemmed from a glaring inconsistency.

The Silvers alone boasted three 8th-star warriors. It was a formidable force for just a family, whereas in the empire, there were only eight such individuals.

With the public’s awareness of just one 8th-star, which was the patriarch and ten 7th-stars in the Silvers as their council, meaning the last two were secret cards. Together with their divine powers and wyverns, they should have been able to at least put up a fight.

He didn’t know about the strength of the remaining, however, they should’ve been close, right? However, they forfeited early on and remained a duchy.

Under another compulsion, the spy muttered with difficulty, "W-We, we didn’t have an Apostle then."

The revelation hung heavy in the tent.