The Last King Of Darkness
Chapter 162 - 118: The Past and the Beginning

Chapter 162: Chapter 118: The Past and the Beginning

The Dark Tide, one of the many disasters that the Trolian Kingdom had to face.

When it arrived, countless monsters surged from the depths of darkness, like a black tide, assaulting Trolian’s defenses and bringing immense pressure to humans.

The cause was unknown, and researching it had always been one of the important topics for the Trolian Kingdom.

Atop Sword Pass Fortress, the instructor Dark Leaf was lecturing the trainees about the characteristics of the Dark Tide and the traditional Trolian methods of handling it.

This was a rare opportunity. After Steel Hand announced that Sword Pass Fortress was entering a state of combat readiness, all combatants strictly took turns on guard duty according to the assigned order, ensuring that there were sufficient combatants on the walls for all sixteen clock hours of the day.

There were also emergency and support teams ready to deal with urgent situations.

At this time, the walls were manned entirely by trainees, and Dark Leaf took the opportunity to start the lecture, hoping that these novices showing their potential for the first time could grasp some useful knowledge before facing battle.

Rod listened to the instructor’s lesson while gazing into the distance.

Under the enveloping light of the Guardian Fire, the majestic Sword Pass gave a very secure feeling.

The light illuminating a three-hundred-yard radius, much like a protective shield, kept all dangers outside. Once anything sinister stepped into the light, it would ignite a fierce blaze until it turned to ash.

This feeling was like the primitive humans lighting bonfires to dispel wild beasts.

That singular light was their home.

And this towering fortress intensified that feeling.

It stretched a hundred yards long and rose ninety yards high, approximately the level of a fifteen-story building, with the top level of the walls capable of accommodating four carriages abreast, and three gigantic bed crossbows standing at the edge of the wall.

On either side were even taller Death Mountains, the only valley.

Such an impregnable fortress was actually at the very end of the defense line, making Rod suddenly feel it was an underutilized resource. It should be placed at the forefront, directly facing the threats from the depths of darkness.

Many trainees shared Rod’s sentiment.

However, when they asked the instructor, Dark Leaf merely smiled slightly.

"Sword Pass was once the very frontline of the kingdom. Every expedition of the Royal City into the depths of darkness originated from Sword Pass, just like a sword being drawn from its sheath; that’s why it was named Sword Pass."

The trainees were extremely surprised. Beowood asked incredulously, "If Sword Pass were at the frontline, then the inner defense circles would have retreated behind the old city. How could our land be so small?"

"Exactly," Karamon shouted, "With so many of us, wouldn’t half of us starve to death?"

Dark Leaf revealed a peculiar smile, one that Rod recognized very well. It was the same expression elders had when they explained past events to him.

"Before the New King took the throne, our kingdom was only this big, and we didn’t have so many people. The notion that humanity was on the brink of extinction as the fire was about to die out prevailed within the Royal City. Despite many people strongly opposing this notion and even making laws to ban it, it could not cover up the weakening fact of Trolian."

"Every time the Conquest Legion set out from Sword Pass, what greeted them was not blessings or encouragement but indifference and disdain. People thought they were going to their deaths, that they were provoking the monsters in the depths of darkness, and pushing humanity towards the brink of extinction."

"At that time, the biggest dream of the people was to hold Sword Pass, build more fortresses like Sword Pass, enclose humanity within them, avoid facing the perilous outside world, and bask in the remnants of the Holy Fire."

"Back then, who could have imagined that just twenty years after the New King took power, Sword Pass would become the very rear of the defense line? Twenty-nine of the thirty Spiritual Energy Generators were moved, the commander of Sword Pass could not even participate in high-level meetings within the legion, and newcomers like you could reinforce Sword Pass, alongside the warriors defending it against formidable enemies."

The walls were silent, leaving the students spellbound.

Though Dark Leaf hadn’t spoken a word, they could imagine the tumultuous eras it encompassed, such a glorious epic of victory.

"Are we now in the most powerful era of the Trolian Kingdom?" a student excitedly asked.

Dark Leaf shook his head seriously.

"No, the control of the Trolian Kingdom has fluctuated over the years. Based on the history we’ve unearthed and the relics we’ve inspected, there have been times far more prosperous than today. The Ash Diggers’ School proved that a fortress ruin, located 1,700 miles away, was built by a previous Trolian dynasty, which was destroyed by an unknown cataclysm, and most historical documents were lost."

This revelation doused the students’ freshly kindled flames of hope for ushering in a new era for humanity.

Today’s Trolian Kingdom seemed very powerful to them, its splendid history adding a layer of victorious brilliance, as if continuing on this path would lead humanity to ultimate victory.

But if a much more powerful dynasty could be destroyed, what was the point of their efforts?

Dark Leaf glanced at the disheartened students and then flashed that peculiar smile, saying quietly,

"The past is just history, the future uncertain, only the present is the gift bestowed by fire."

"We will identify all reasons for our failures and steadily advance on the right path toward ultimate victory."

"Lightning will eventually roar across the sky, and we will reclaim everything we’ve lost."

A new glow lit up the students’ faces, now devoid of frivolity and much steadier.

Dark Leaf gave a slight smile, about to speak again, when suddenly, he and Rod almost simultaneously shouted, "It’s here!"

Rod looked at him in surprise.

Dark Leaf smiled faintly,

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you, I’m also a full Spiritual Visionary, but young Rod seems to be a little stronger than me."

His voice grew serious.

"Karamon, immediately notify the combat command room, get the emergency and support teams ready, Beowood, Reslin, Anna, to the bed crossbows, await my command. Everyone else, take positions as per the established tactics!"

The twelve spread out across the expansive wall, looking quite sparse.

The gigantic bed crossbow made a clattering sound as it adjusted its angle, aiming towards the Corpse Wasteland beyond Sword Pass.

Rod was a bit nervous; within his sight, beyond the glow of the fire, a huge dark shadow was rapidly moving towards them.

The shadow’s soul was covered with what seemed like armor made of solidified Spiritual Energy. Its Soul Waveform showed a level of intense oscillation he had never seen before, and the text derived from the traces of its soul movement was all in disarray.

Eye of the Soul was unable to recognize the monster; this was the first time Rod had encountered such a situation.

Suddenly, Dark Leaf shouted, "High Energy Level reaction ahead! Fierce Level monster, First Level combat readiness!"

In the next moment, the shadow rose up, its Spiritual Energy boiling over. A strong black light shot out from its head directly towards the ramparts, where Rod was staring at the chaotic lines on its soul.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.