The Last King Of Darkness
Chapter 317 - 225: The True Victory

Chapter 317: Chapter 225: The True Victory

"The First Elder Amendo is a stubborn traditionalist. In his eyes, the Holy Fire is everything; no number of deaths compares to its importance."

"The Elder Council is the same. They maintain stability during turbulent times, but hinder progress when it comes to being ambitious."

The King’s voice was heavy.

"And I am no different from them. If the Holy Fire project fails, I can only choose to give up the Outer City District."

"Because of this, Trolian will suffer a severe blow, and the number of people who die will be far more than thirty million, possibly fifty million, or even seventy million."

"We will regress a hundred years, back to the state of the year 1225."

"All the efforts of these hundred years, all the sacrifices, will have been in vain."

"To prevent such a tragedy, I created the Holy Fire project."

"In the ancient human era, there were countless Fire King Cities. One by one, they fell under the spread of the Black Fog, and the once human realms became dens for monsters; the once human protectors became our nightmares."

"And in the ashes of the extinguished Holy Fire, there lies the Holy Fire Seed."

"As long as the Holy Fire Seed is thrown into the Holy Fire, we can obtain its Source."

"As long as there is enough Source to support it, the Holy Fire will return to normal, and even become stronger."

"However, these former Fire King Cities are all in extremely dangerous depths of darkness."

"Beside every Holy Fire Seed, there is a monster that was once named a King."

"And the Holy Fire Seed is an extremely special Source Material; the Source it possesses has a strong attraction to monsters, which will devour the Holy Fire Seed with Source and become even stronger."

"Only by killing the monsters that have devoured it can we obtain the Holy Fire Seed."

"Just like killing the Abyss Giant Snake to obtain the Ancient Russia Blood, killing the Twilight Giant to obtain the Eternal Fog."

The King stood up and looked up at the golden Holy Fire.

The surging flames are the only force that can confront the terrifying darkness.

"The Holy Fire plan is our expedition against the Dark World."

"The Star City is just the first step."

"We will move westward, crushing all monsters that stand in our way, occupy the Storm Pass where the most prosperous Trolian reached six hundred years ago, using it as a base to launch an expedition to the Dead Soil Continent in the north, seize the Tasnia Star City, and take its Holy Fire Seed."

The King’s eyes burned with golden flames, clearly visible even under the soaring Holy Fire.

"Rod, do you understand? This is our Holy Fire plan."

"A plan that sounds utterly mad; not a single Elder would agree to it."

Horus nodded, "Not just the conservatives, even the progressives won’t have too many standing on our side."

"But still, we have gathered many fellow travelers, including Lord Theodore."

Rod was also greatly shocked, feeling a fear akin to facing a colossal being, but also a strong sense of excitement, blood coursing rapidly through his veins, his heart beating quickly as if something was about to break out of the ground."

"We..."

His voice trembled slightly, pausing for a moment to steady his tone.

"Do we stand a chance of success?"

The King smiled, "I don’t know what our odds are, but I want humanity to walk proudly on this land, without having to live in reluctant compromise, helplessness under duress, unavoidable sacrifices and pain; where warriors can stand tall to defend their homes, civilians can freely choose their lives, and Trolian can become a home to all."

Horus added, "Even if the Holy Fire project ultimately cannot be fully successful for various reasons, we will still gain more living space and be able to relocate people from the Outer City District."

"Thus, with all the preparations in place, actively reducing the Strength of the Holy Fire and shrinking its range is also an option."

For a moment, Rod smiled.

"I understand, to take the leap, without reservations."

The three of them looked at each other and smiled.

A wonderful sense of camaraderie arose, as if they had been comrades on the same path for years, many things left unsaid.

----

Afterward, Horus escorted Rod to the highest Military War Department.

The King continued to guard the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground.

The Holy Fire had been showing frequent signs of unrest lately, and he had to stand guard by the Holy Fire’s side at all times, using his own power to maintain the fire’s operation.

It was also to avoid suspicions about the King’s seclusion; he located Lilith.

This was a woman who was beautiful and vain with a thirst for status. She was delighted to become the King’s woman and used this to bully others everywhere.

At earlier times, she showed some restraint, but as the structure of the Holy Fire became increasingly threatened, the King withdrew more and secluded himself, not managing state affairs, and as Trolian’s expansion slowed, the pressure increased, and internal conflicts began to intensify.

Lilith became a perfect shield, and vanity and arrogance kept her from ever mentioning the King’s neglect, desperately pretending that the King was infatuated with her beauty and acting high-handedly everywhere.

The King’s indulgence of her also proved this from another angle.

Many people despised her deeply, and many who adored the King were unwilling to even mention this woman.

But as the King of Trolians, there was only one lover and it was difficult to criticize him on this matter.

Rod had only now understood that the King’s reclusion and transformation from a powerful leader into an enigma was not because he was lost in his harem, but because he had exhausted a great deal of energy maintaining the operation of the Holy Fire and was diligently advancing the Holy Fire Project.

Of course, he could no longer wield authority as firmly as before.

Rod resolved to devote his full strength to the development of Star Town so that the King could smoothly implement the Holy Fire Project.

Without a doubt, this would bring him an immense amount of Divinity.

Such a vast amount of Divinity would also bring him more Resurrection Stones, so he would no longer have to worry about survival.

Moreover, he could produce more Soul Firewood and ignite more stars.

In times of crisis, Divinity could even kill invaders directly, as Rod’s initial two crises had been resolved in this manner.

One could say that this was the foundation of his very existence.

Good!

Rod felt his blood burning with determination.

The Mayor of Star Town, I shall be!

——

Horus told him that due to various resistances, the resources gained from this military campaign wouldn’t be much, but there were benefits.

If Rod could eliminate monsters, purify the pollution, rekindle the Guardian Fire, successfully occupy Star Town, and establish a new order, turning this land into a territory habitable for humans,

then the views of many in the Royal City would change, and the execution of the Holy Fire Project would be much smoother.

——

In the highest Military War Department, Rod met with Defense Chief Dalin.

He was also a member of the Holy Fire Project.

Rod asked curiously, "Defense Chief Dalin, you also support the Holy Fire Project, doesn’t that mean the King is in the majority?"

Dalin’s stern, chiseled face revealed a smile, and his graying temples gave him an especially weathered appearance.

"Young Rod, the Military War Department is a very large and complex institution, besides me, there are the Second Defense Chief, the First Commander, various military Commanders, the Guardian, and the Elders also have the power to advise; although my position is high, I cannot decide everything on my own, many matters need to be deliberated over in combat conferences," he explained.

"Oh," Rod understood, "Why don’t we create a dictatorial system?"

Dalin chuckled, "Young Rod, your ideas are very dangerous. No one can guarantee they are always right. Sailing on this dark sea, every choice faces endless unknowns, and no individual can easily bear such psychological pressure."

"Moreover, a person who can make everyone unconditionally obey must possess two qualities."

"First, he must have the strength that commands respect."

"Second, he must have the capability that commands respect."

Dalin sighed softly.

"The previous King had both qualities, but, as you know."

"Besides him there is no one else; those with such capabilities are not strong enough to convince the masses, and those with the needed strength lack such comprehensive detail.

"Very few who possess both qualities are willing to operate a system where only one person makes all the decisions."

"Of course, this refers to within the Royal City, but in many regions, legions, and battle clusters, such individuals are not uncommon."

Dalin’s grey eyes watched him, harboring an odd trace of amusement.

"Young Rod, don’t aspire to be that person. You haven’t even turned seventeen yet, the youngest Conqueror in history. I, like the King, do not know why you were chosen for this duty, but we both trust Lord Theodore’s decision."

"I will assign Molly as your deputy; her experience is extensive. Although you are the nominal commander, you will need to heed her advice in many matters."

The aloof female deputy stood by Dalin’s side, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and nodding solemnly to Rod.

Rod returned a somewhat awkward smile.

During the days he spent in the Military War Department, it was Molly who assisted him in understanding defensive affairs and taught him much.

This female assistant, tall and beautiful yet very serious and cold, was just like his former homeroom teacher, which made Rod feel rather restrained.

Dalin paused, then added.

"But history’s geniuses cannot be measured by common standards; age is not a barrier. Alan became a Guardian at sixteen, and immediately upon graduating from Jinworth Academy, he was one of the four Knights under the King."

"Therefore, you still possess absolute discretionary power and can order Molly to do anything for you, but..."

Dalin looked at him solemnly.

"My child, please use this power cautiously, real victory is not in how many monsters you kill, but in the spirit of courage you inspire within us."