Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

The warriors above the Knights would be fine, but those who were weaker still needed to drink water.

Hold on. I think I have forgotten something really important...

He furrowed his eyebrows. Suddenly, the face of a blue-haired woman appeared in his mind.

Nivis!

She can control water! With her domain, she should be able to summon enough water for the army.

Thinking about this, he beckoned to Caecus who was riding a horse behind him.

”Your Majesty.”

Alaric glanced at him and corrected. ”Once we are in Cangnan, I am no longer the Emperor of Veronica. Just call me like how you used to.”

Caecus nodded. He was already used to calling him ’Your Majesty’, so it might take some time to change his habits.

”Alright.”

After correcting him, Alaric waved his hand. ”Bring Nivis here.”

”As you command.”

Caecus left upon acknowledging the command.

”Hiya!”

A moment later, he returned with Nivis, who was riding a golden-maned brown horse.

Looking at her, Alaric was slightly amused. She was a centaur, but she was riding a horse in her human form. It was truly ironic.

Nivis seemed to have understood the meaning behind his smile, but she didn’t bother to say anything. She just snorted unhappily.

”Why have you summoned me?”

Alaric put on a serious look and replied. ”As you know, we are running low on water and our scouts have not discovered a potable water source.”

Along the way, they encountered several lakes and rivers, but they were all contaminated with countless toxins. Drinking from them would be dangerous for low-ranking warriors so they opted not to gather water from them.

Nivis immediately grasped his intentions. ”So you want me to use my power to solve this issue...”

Alaric didn’t deny it. ”That is right.”

There were also other water element users in the army, but their control over the power of water was limited.

Nivis didn’t make things difficult for him. ”Alright. You can make the arrangements.”

Hearing her response, Alaric beamed. ”Great!”

With the drinking water issue resolved, the expedition proceeded smoothly.

Another two months went by just like that. The allied forces didn’t encounter any big obstacles. There were some minor clashes against fierce and territorial beasts, but they were quickly defeated by the soldiers. The high-ranking warriors didn’t even need to make a move.

...

Alaric was setting up his tent, while chatting with his wives.

”We have been traveling for months, but we have not even seen the end of this forest,” Hershey remarked, looking quite bored, as she sat on a smooth rock surface.

”It was said that the Enchanted Woodlands are thousands of miles long. Without a map to follow, reaching the other end of the forest might even take us years.” Yvanna was a native of the forest so she knew more about it than Hershey.

Alaric was about to say something when he noticed an abnormality from afar.

Yskaela also frowned when she sensed the fluctuations of aura. ”Something is coming.”

Hearing this, Yvanna and Hershey glanced at each other, their eyes flashing with worry.

Alaric looked at Yvanna and Hershey. ”Get inside the tent.”

Understanding the seriousness of the situation, the two nodded and stepped inside the tent.

Alaric instructed Galanar to protect his family before he left with Yskaela, Caecus, and Bellator.

As they hurried to the Astanian Emperor’s tent, Alaric stared at Yskaela and solemnly said. ”It could be dangerous. That aura is definitely from a Calamity-grade beast!”

Yskaela smiled at him, seemingly unconcerned. ”I am the strongest in all of Veronica. You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself. Besides, how could I miss out on something like this?”

Alaric could only helplessly shake his head.

When they arrived at the Astanian Emperor’s camp, there were already several people gathered. They were the leaders of the various nations, with each having the strength of Venerable.

The people quickly noticed them.

”Alaric, it’s good that you are here. Did you sense it too?” John Phillip Astania stared at their group with a stern expression.

In the allied army, everyone knew that House Silversword had the most powerful warrior.

They all turned their heads to Bellator who was standing next to Alaric.

Alaric nodded, his eyebrows knitted together. ”If I am not wrong, that aura should be from a Calamity-grade beast.”

”Right. I have already instructed the soldiers to build fortifications, but I don’t think it would be enough to stop a monster at that level. Unless...” John Phillip Astania moved his gaze to Bellator. His meaning was clear.

In the allied army, the only one with sufficient power to stop a Calamity-grade beast was this man.

”I will take care of it.” Bellator calmly spoke. To him, a Calamity-grade beast was nothing. Although he had not recovered his peak strength, he had full trust in his abilities.

He scanned the whole group and warned them. ”The beast did not come alone. It brought with it a tide of monsters. There are also some dangerous monsters mixed in with them, so you must be careful.”

The Astanian Emperor smiled confidently. ”We will handle the beast tide.”

Bellator nodded.

”Be careful, Lord Bellator.” Alaric reminded him.

”I will.” Bellator grinned before he left with a ’whoosh’.

After he left, the Astanian Emperor commanded. ”Command your troops to fortify the defenses! We must not allow those beasts to touch our provisions!”

”Yes!”

The various leaders hurried back to their tents to relay the message to their troops.

Alaric instructed Caecus to lead the warriors of House Silversword, and he went to the frontline with Yskaela.

The Venerables of the allied army were already there, overlooking the dark forest. Without their sharp perception, they wouldn’t be able to see anything in the darkness.

”How many beasts are coming?” Alaric asked one of the experts.

The guy turned to him and replied with a shake of his head. ”We still have not ascertained their numbers, but there should be more than two hundred thousand of them.”

Alaric frowned upon hearing this.