Chapter 352 Legendary Guardians, Five Kings Rise Together

The storms in the wilderness grew increasingly chaotic and dangerous, with ferocious beasts and monsters stirring up trouble and territorial disputes raging on.

Meanwhile, in the distant southern countries, a large-scale civil war that swept across the entire federation was escalating, with the flames of war engulfing almost every inch of land worth fighting for.

After the initial chaos and uncertainty, the numerous duchies and kingdoms have been completely divided into two diametrically opposed camps.

They are at loggerheads, like fire and water.

Firstly, there was a punitive expeditionary force centered around the Kingdom of Reiber and united with numerous allied nations.

All its members had entered into a strict alliance with the Kingdom of Rheboris, declaring that they would advance and retreat together.

Under the guise of replacing the Holy King to restore order to the Federation and punish his rebellious offspring, they openly referred to the current King of Lortheon as the Sinful King, vowing to punish him, cleanse the royal family of its stain, and restore order to the Federation.

Their slogans were loud and clear, and they occupied the moral high ground.

Secondly, there is the royalist camp formed by uniting some traditional allies, with the Kingdom of Lorthen itself at its core.

Its members firmly uphold the legitimacy of the Kingdom of Lorthen, believing that the king has the unquestionable bloodline of the Holy King. Although his methods of murdering his brother and usurping the throne were indeed extreme and ruthless, they cannot be considered treason from a legal point of view, since he was originally a member of the royal family.

They denounced the punitive forces as a group of ambitious opportunists who sought to profit from the chaos and undermine the stability of the Federation. In the name of defending the Holy King's legitimacy and maintaining the unity and order of the Federation, they vowed to set things right and eliminate the treacherous officials.

As time went by, the balance of power began to tilt.

The side that launched the attack had absorbed more duchies and kingdoms, and its overall national strength, army size, and resource reserves were stronger. It gradually established a certain advantage in the major war zones and continued to erode the borders and strategic locations of the royalist camp.

In contrast, the pro-roya faction, fighting on multiple fronts, gradually appeared to be struggling and becoming rather passive.

However, this massive civil war has not yet reached its truly heated final stage.

The slight advantages we have gained so far can be wiped out in the ever-changing battlefield by a single major decision-making error or a defeat in a key battle.

In this civil war that will determine the future of the Union, no one can say for sure who will emerge victorious in the end.

At this moment, deep within the Royal Court of Lorthorn.

Inside a meticulously maintained royal courtyard, adorned with blooming flowers.

The sky was overcast, and a sparse, cold drizzle fell silently from the gray sky, wetting the delicate and precious flowers in the courtyard, with glistening water droplets condensing on their petals.

Two figures were strolling in the rain-soaked courtyard.

One was a tall, slender woman wearing an elegant court dress and with a beautiful face.

The other was a middle-aged man with a relatively ordinary appearance, but an exceptionally tall and imposing figure. His eyes and brows naturally exuded a powerful and authoritative aura, as if the whole world revolved around him.

The woman was none other than the Crystal Princess, who had close ties with the Ignas dragon herd.

The man beside her was her biological brother, named O'Brien, who was also the current King of Lorthorn, who seized the throne by killing his brother with an iron fist and was now at the center of a storm.

At this moment, an invisible absolute domain seemed to exist around King Lorthorn.

As he walked, the raindrops falling from the sky and the wet stains that had accumulated on the floor tiles seemed to be erased by an invisible eraser, disappearing instantly and revealing a completely dry and clean ground.

On his magnificent royal robes; on the hem of Princess Elena's skirt, which was half a step away from him.

There wasn't a trace of it being wet by the rain.

This is not a simple water-repelling spell, but a signature technique of legendary powerhouses—[Domain].

The opening and maintenance of a domain usually requires concentration and the expenditure of energy, and is often used in intense battles or critical moments.

The ability to maintain the domain's effect so effortlessly and instinctively during everyday walks usually indicates that the user has a level of control over their domain that surpasses that of ordinary legends.

"Brother, the Kingdom of Reibos and its allies are pressing forward step by step, with each offensive wave higher than the last."

Princess Elena had no interest in appreciating the clear sky maintained by the domain around her; her mind was preoccupied with her homeland and the war, and her face was filled with deep worry.

She said softly, "If things continue as they are now..."

"If we don't make any changes and let things continue unchecked, our disadvantages will likely only gradually widen... Shouldn't we consider changing some strategies or thinking of other ways to break this deadlock?"

King O'Brien shook his head slightly, but did not stop walking.

His expression was calm and unhurried, seemingly indifferent to his sister's worries.

"Elena, you're being too anxious."

"War is a contest of national strength, as well as a battle of will and time. This is not something you should worry about too much. I know what I'm doing." His voice was calm and confident as he continued, "No matter how tortuous the process may be, this internal strife will ultimately end in our complete victory. There will be no other outcome. I have no doubt about this."

Elena wanted to say something more, attempting to present some unfavorable intelligence from the front lines, but O'Brien's gentle yet unyielding words directly stopped her.

“My dear sister,”

He stopped, turned his head, and looked at Elena's delicate but tired face, his tone softening.

"What you need is to relax, to enjoy the flowers and tranquility of this courtyard, instead of racking your brains over military and national affairs that are not your responsibility."

"Your worries are written all over your face."

As he spoke, he slowly raised one hand and, with a slight distance between them, lightly brushed across Elena's face.

In an instant, the few fine wrinkles on Elena's face caused by worry and fatigue disappeared, and her skin became smooth and radiant.

She seemed to have instantly returned to her most perfect and flawless state as a young girl, with even the slightest imperfections erased.

However, Elena was not pleased at all by this almost miraculous beauty treatment; instead, she frowned slightly.

"It's just a few minor wrinkles, nothing to do with me."

"You know, I have never been as concerned about my appearance as other princesses."

She cautioned, "You should use your domain more cautiously. Every time you rewrite reality, you pay the price with your life. It's about how long you can live."

Humans who leap to the legendary realm of life do not often experience a correspondingly large increase in their theoretical lifespan, which is far from comparable to that of those long-lived species.

This seems unreasonable.

The most crucial reason for this lies in the existence of the domain.

Legends gain extraordinary power by controlling their domains, but mastering and using this power that touches the rules of the world comes at a price.

Each driving force in the field.

Each time, the rules of a local area are rewritten.

This all constitutes a burden and depletion on the life essence of the legendary figure.

With frequent use of the domain, these burdens accumulate and irreversibly erode the lifespan of legendary creatures.

A human legend could live steadily for over a thousand years if he never used his domain after his ascension.

However, this is almost impossible.

Before advancing to Legendary status, one cannot use a domain. After going through countless hardships to advance to Legendary status, one dares not use it because of the fear of the consumption... What is the point of advancing to Legendary status then? Isn't it just a waste of time to become a Legendary?

Of course, there are exceptions.

For example, within the ancient and profound kingdom of Lorthen, there exist secret ancient and legendary guardians who choose to seal their domains with special rituals.

They are only awakened to fight for their country at the cost of their lives when the kingdom faces its most perilous moment of extinction.

Such a foundation is something that any powerful kingdom with a certain historical accumulation must possess; it is also their ultimate trump card.

Compared to the Kingdom of Reibos, which has been making great strides and expanding its influence in recent years, the Kingdom of Lorthern has indeed seemed somewhat stagnant and lacking in breakthroughs.

But it still manages to gain the firm support of a number of countries amidst its turbulent times.

It is precisely because of its ancient and profound heritage that no one dares to underestimate it.

"It's alright."

The king simply smiled faintly, seemingly not taking his sister's reminder to heart at all.

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject, asking, "Where did your fat, strong iron dragon go?"

Seeing that her brother didn't care, Elena felt helpless and could only answer, "Starfire Monastery."

“Gorton likes to be worshipped and often goes there for people to visit.”

The king nodded slightly, not pressing for details about the Iron Dragon or the monastery, as if it were just a casual remark.

He then chatted with Elena for a while before turning and leaving the courtyard to return to the palace to attend to his own business.

"Brother Wang... seems to be blinded by the confidence accumulated from countless past victories, and is being too careless with his opponent."

Alone in the courtyard, Elena watched her brother's departing figure and let out a barely audible sigh. Her worries, instead of lessening, deepened.

In her view, confidence is essential for a king.

But O'Brien was displaying too much confidence at that moment.

The Kingdom of Reipos and its allies came with great force and were well prepared. Although the Kingdom of Lortheron had a deep foundation, it was by no means certain of victory in the face of such a powerful enemy.

Her slender fingers clenched slightly, her chest rose and fell gently with each deep breath, as she tried to calm her chaotic thoughts and regain her composure.

"I cannot directly influence or intervene in the war plans and strategic decisions at the front."

"However, I absolutely cannot sit idly by. I will do my best to secure more opportunities and leverage for the kingdom in my own way."

She decided to further increase investment and support for Longqun.

Although the destruction of the wilderness base did not have a serious impact on the front line, it did cause some losses in supply channels and strategic distractions.

Elena was unwilling to just watch helplessly; she had to do something.

On the other side, in the wilderness of Sel.

A thick curtain of rain still shrouds the vast and dangerous land, and it is unknown when the rain will stop and the sky will clear.

While the Southern Federation civil war was raging, the Ironforge tribe had increased its overall strength after absorbing a new Amethyst Dragon Lion Lord and his pride, but did not rashly continue to send troops to other map kings.

This is mainly because the remaining map kingdoms are relatively far from the existing territory of the Ironclad Tribe.

Unlike previous prides where direct contact and conflict were inevitable, this one is no longer in close proximity.

But the Iron Smelting Tribe was not idle either.

Under Garros's will, the dragons led the Ironforge tribe and adopted a more stable and solid strategy, using the tribe's existing territory as the center, gradually expanding and consolidating outwards like a snowball, absorbing and assimilating the newly acquired land and population.

In the vast wilderness of Sel, besides the map kings who control their own territories and the border strongholds of the Federation, there are countless indigenous clans and monster settlements of varying sizes scattered throughout the land.

The Northwest region, where the Ironforge tribe was located at this time, was no exception.

As the tribe steadily expanded, it became like a giant magnet, constantly attracting and drawing in scattered clans.

While this method of expansion doesn't yield as much territory as directly defeating a map king, the addition of these scattered clans enriches the racial composition of the Ironforge tribe, leading to a steady increase in its population, which will benefit its future development.

Of course, the process of expansion is not always peaceful.

During this time, you will always encounter some stubborn clans.

For these troublemakers, the Ironforge tribe never hesitates to show their ferocious fangs and crush them directly.

Wherever they went, the target was either utterly crushed by futile resistance, and its members were enslaved; or they were driven from their homes in fear, fled to distant lands, and were expelled.

In addition, unlike most other map kings who choose to avoid provoking the Federation and thus avoid Federation strongholds.

The Ironforge tribe is extremely fierce and continues to launch attacks on the Federation's strongholds in the northwestern wilderness.

In the midst of torrential rains, one after another, Federation border outposts, resource gathering points, and even some relatively hidden bases were completely wiped off the map of the wilderness.

In this process.

The Iron Smelting Tribe's prestige in the Northwest region is growing ever stronger. Its name carries the aura of blood and fire, and it is showing an unstoppable trend of becoming the uncrowned king of the Northwest.

Compared to the reputation of several other Northwest region map kings.

The reputation of the Ironforge tribe has clearly surpassed at least one level.

Moreover, it's not just in the northwest region; the reputation of the Ironforge is gradually crossing regional boundaries and spreading throughout the entire Sel Wilderness, beginning to attract the attention of powerful beings in more distant areas.

at the same time.

In other vast areas of the wilderness, other overpowered map kings are gradually gaining fame, and their reputation is no longer limited to their own areas, but is beginning to spread throughout the entire wilderness.

Central region.

The Mad King, Gorsas the Red Dragon, reached the pinnacle of his infamy when he was witnessed single-handedly shattering the massive army of a map king, dragging the unfortunate king from his lair, and brutally murdering him, ultimately turning his vast territory into a barren wasteland. His atrocities were utterly appalling.

Southwest region.

The Troll King is rising rapidly. This is an ancient troll who has been lying dormant for an unknown period of time. He leads the troll tribe that has been lying dormant and patient in remote and desolate lands for a long time. He is expanding rapidly with overwhelming force. Other map kings in the same area are retreating one after another under his offensive and can hardly resist.

Northeast region.

The Mountain King has arrived, a mountain giant king who has traveled from the distant continent of Seresia. His body is comparable to a small mountain, and he commands a group of equally enormous mountain giants. All enemies or fortresses that try to block their path are mercilessly trampled and crushed. His prestige in the northeastern region is unshakeable and at its zenith.

Southeast region.

The Mushroom King is spreading. It is an unprecedented, mutated mushroom-type monster lord from the dark underworld, now leading an endless stream of mushroom monsters of various shapes and sizes to the surface.

Wherever it goes, the thick fungal carpet quickly assimilates, covers, and replaces the original landform, spreading like a plague.

It is foreseeable.

If no earth-shattering accidents occur along the way, the five map kings, each with their own distinct style but equally powerful abilities, are very likely to gradually sweep away all their competitors in their respective regions, achieve substantial unification, and thus be promoted to a higher level of regional king.

Even now, no one has truly finished the competition for the title of Regional King.

However, some intelligent beings with keen senses and excellent information have given this dramatic shift in the wilderness a historically significant name, viewing it as a major turning point in the power dynamics of the Sel Wilderness.

Five kings rose up!

Such news naturally reached Galus's ears through various channels.

He was happy about it for a few minutes, but then he didn't think much of it.

After learning some general information about the other four kings, he set it aside and continued to focus on his own training and the development of his tribe.

He saw things very clearly; the current situation was far from settled, and the regional king had not yet truly emerged.

Deep in the wilderness, perhaps there are still some ancient and powerful beings lying dormant, not yet revealing their true claws.

The so-called Five Kings who are currently enjoying great popularity are probably somewhat exaggerated.

Just like the Python King in the Northwest region, who was replaced by the Firebird Chief who appeared out of nowhere in the blink of an eye, and ultimately could only become the background and stepping stone for the rise of others.

The Five Kings, who are rising to prominence, are certainly more powerful than ordinary map kings, but the outcome is uncertain.

The situation in the wilderness is constantly changing.

Despite the changing circumstances and rampant rumors, Hong Tielong remained unaffected, continuing his daily training and gradually improving his strength.

He was very clear that in this game, only one's own genuine strength was the most real and reliable asset.

All other prestige, rumors, and spheres of influence, without a strong foundation, are like bubbles in the wind or rootless duckweed, easily bursting at the slightest touch.

Suddenly, the red iron dragon paused slightly.

At the same time, the voice of Iron Dragon Sorog echoed in his mind.

He said, "The scouts have reported that the Deer King and the Eye Demon have begun a full-scale war against each other, and the outcome is still undecided. This is a great opportunity."

Once both are captured, Garos, the King of Smelting Iron, can be considered the regional king of the Northwest.

(End of this chapter)