The dust of the Orc army's defeat had not yet completely settled, and although the crystalline javelin, formed from the power of stars and capable of piercing the earth and leaving a giant crater, had dissipated, the destructive shockwave it brought swept through the entire power structure of the continent of Til at a speed faster than any military report.
Just as Lind had predicted, the backbone of the Principality of Oak was completely broken by this blow.
The routed army fled back home like stray dogs, bringing not only defeat but also a deep-seated fear.
It is said that after receiving the incoherent and desperate battle report from the front lines, the Duke of Oak vomited blood and fainted on the spot. The royal physicians spent the entire night trying to save him before they could barely stabilize his condition, but he was already severely weakened and his hair turned white overnight.
The once ambitious Principality of Oak, which attempted to dominate the continent with the power of alchemy, has completely shut its mouth and retreated to its western border. All its border fortresses have been put into a state of maximum defense, as if they are afraid that the dark blue figure will appear on the border at any moment.
Even more dramatically, the Sass Empire and the Kree Empire, who had been locked in a fierce battle with countless troops and resources on the eastern battlefield, were also suddenly doused with ice water, their fervent belligerence instantly extinguished.
The emperor of the Sass Empire urgently recalled his generals from the front lines, and the massive army ceased all offensive operations and switched to full-scale defense, resulting in an unusual, deathly silence along the border.
They were scared.
The power that Lind Truk displayed transcended their understanding of war.
That was no longer the charge of a knight, the forbidden spell of a mage, or even the bizarre alchemical creation of Orc; it was… divine punishment! It was a godlike power that only appears in myths and legends!
To be an enemy of such a being?
Moreover, he had repeatedly provoked the country he belonged to before. The emperor and nobles of the Sass Empire were restless at the thought of such an attack that might come from the direction of Black Rock Territory at any time.
The Grand Duke of the Kree Empire's reaction was even faster and... subtle.
Almost simultaneously with the confirmation of the battle report, a special edict personally signed by Grand Duke Kree and stamped with the Imperial Eagle and the Royal Seal was sent to Blackrock Territory with the highest level of ceremony and speed.
The edict was simple and direct, even carrying a subtle hint of...urgency and ingratiation:
Viscount Lind Truk was granted the hereditary title of Grand Earl of the Cree Empire, with a status of supreme prestige second only to the Grand Duke himself. He was granted a series of ostentatious titles and a symbolic annual stipend.
In terms of noble rank, Lind instantly surpassed his father, Earl Truk the Elder, becoming a top noble in the empire, second only to the Grand Duke.
The royal envoy, dressed in the most magnificent attire and with the most humble smile, read the decree aloud in the newly renovated hall of Rock Fortress, before all of Lind's generals and officials.
Inside the hall, Leonis, Astaire, Nazra, and the others displayed a variety of expressions, some surprised, some amused, and some deep in thought.
Sitting upright in the main seat, Linde listened to the long and obsequious edict, but his face showed no excitement or honor. Instead, a faint, sarcastic smile crept onto his lips.
The Count?
There was a time when the title of viscount was a goal he needed to scheme for.
But now, this title, the pinnacle of power in this mortal kingdom, seems so... laughable and cheap in his eyes.
It's like a child building a castle out of sand, trying to reward the god who wields thunder.
What he seeks is to repair the steel sky, to explore the stars and the sea, to understand and control the mysteries of the Zedu civilization and even the Shadow Abyss, and to reshape the rules of this world!
From his current perspective, the survival of the Kree Empire is merely a pawn in his grand game, one that can be replaced at any time.
The title of Grand Earl was less a reward than an attempt by Grand Duke Cree, in his extreme fear, to use his last shred of worldly authority to bind, or rather... pray that this suddenly rising "guardian" would not turn his attention to him.
"Please thank His Majesty the Grand Duke for his... kindness."
Linde's voice was calm and even, and he didn't even bother to get up to receive the decree. He simply waved his hand casually, letting Astaire accept the jewel-encrusted scroll.
That attitude was so indifferent that it made the smile on the court envoy's face stiffen, but he dared not show it in the slightest, and instead bowed even lower.
The clamor of the world and the changing of power flowed like streams across the sides of Linde's solid rock, without shaking it in the slightest.
However, the attention he attracted by this earth-shattering blow extended far beyond the aristocratic class of human kingdoms.
Some beings, lurking deep in the shadows of history and long detached from the conflicts of ordinary people, have quietly opened their eyes because of this dazzling light.
One night a few days later.
Steel Sky, outside Linde's private meditation room.
The shadow twitched as if it were alive.
A tall, slender figure, completely blending into the darkness, silently emerged from the corner of the wall, as if he were part of the shadows himself.
He was shrouded in a strange, matte black fabric that seemed to absorb light, and his face was covered by a plain white mask without any patterns, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that were as deep as an ancient well, yet shimmered with a faint, eerie light.
His presence was extremely low; if he didn't show himself, even the patrolling "Watchmen" mechs would probably have difficulty noticing him.
However, just as his figure was fully formed, the smooth metal door of the meditation room slid open silently.
Linde's calm voice came from inside:
"Come in. Your stealth skills are interesting, but not enough to completely avoid the 'eyes' here."
The leader of the Shadowbinder Alliance, a figure who wielded immense power in the dark side of the human world, whose strength had reached the peak of the Radiant Gold level and who struck fear into the hearts of countless nobles, was now experiencing a storm of emotions.
He believed his Shadow Cloak technique was already at its peak, so that even experts of the same level would find it difficult to detect him. He never expected that he would be so easily exposed by his opponent as soon as he got close.
He composed himself and stepped into the meditation room.
The interior was sparsely decorated, featuring only cold metal walls, flowing blue data streams, and Lind sitting cross-legged in the center, surrounded by what appeared to be fine stardust.
The Shadowbinder leader's gaze swept over Lind, and the next second, his body trembled violently!
Through that pure white mask, he seemed to "see" the vast, pure, yet cold and lifeless ultimate dark power within Linde's body—a power far more ancient, more essential, and more terrifying than the Shadow Abyss power he had ever encountered or worshipped!
Like a gentle stream flowing into the boundless depths of the universe!
Without any hesitation, this once-powerful Shadow Overlord made a move that, if witnessed by outsiders, would have astonished everyone—
He stepped forward, knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed his head deeply, his posture as devout as a saint paying homage to God.
"The Shadowbinders Alliance, Nairoth, pays his respects to Your Excellency."
His voice came through the mask, carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement and awe: "I apologize for disturbing you."
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