Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

In the camp of the great allied army, Alaric’s advancement to the Beyonder realm was no longer a secret. Everyone was jubilant, and the various leaders even planned a banquet to celebrate his breakthrough.

”We have no time for celebrations.” Alaric glanced at the emperors and kings of the desolate region, his eyes gleaming.

The smiles on everyone’s faces vanished when they saw his serious expression.

”Why do you look so serious... Ala- my lord?” The Astanian Emperor was about to call him by his name, but thought that it was no longer appropriate, so he quickly corrected himself.

Although he was only one step away from the Beyonder realm, this step was like an insurmountable chasm that stopped him for a long time.

His nephew, Alaric, was no longer the young warrior that he was years ago. He had already achieved the heights that he could only dream of. He might be the Emperor of Astania, but Alaric’s status was now greater than that of his own.

This is the power of the Beyonder, a realm that only existed in the legends of the desolate region.

Alaric noticed the change in the Astanian Emperor’s attitude, but he was not in the mood to speak of it. There were more pressing matters that needed attention.

”My advancement has attracted the local tribesmen of this place. We do not know their exact intentions, but there is a high chance that they will be hostile to us.” As soon as he mentioned this, the faces of the various leaders abruptly changed.

Alaric studied their expressions and continued in a stern voice. ”Lord Bellator and I have already encountered one of their Beyonders.”

He paused, his face looking more grave as he added on. ”They believe that we are trespassers and that we intend to invade their lands.”

”We must make preparations for a great battle. You all must be mentally ready!”

”Send word to our soldiers and have them build our defenses! Surround the camp with sturdier walls, place traps around the camp, and send scouts to secure the perimeter!” He issued the order.

Now that he had become a Beyonder, his authority was unquestionable. Unknowingly, his authority had surpassed that of his uncle, the Astanian Emperor, the nominated leader of the great allied army.

Everyone turned their eyes on John Phillip Astania, wondering how he would react to this sudden change.

To their amazement, the Astanian Emperor simply smiled. ”Why are you all looking at me? Did you not hear what our new leader has spoken? Send out the orders immediately!”

Hearing this, everyone snapped out of their daze.

”Yes!”

”Alright!”

The various emperors and kings left, hurrying to their armies to relay the message.

Looking at the scrambling men, John Phillip Astania sighed in his heart.

These people had only chosen to nominate him as the leader of the great allied army because of Alaric’s support. He had not truly received their loyalty.

”Your Majesty...” Alaric looked at his uncle, his face revealing a hint of awkwardness. He had inadvertently taken his uncle’s leadership role.

John Phillip Astania stared at him with a faint smile. ”My lord, you are no longer the prince of my Astanian Empire. You now carry the hope of the entire desolate region. You must accept this position, whether you like it or not.”

He made it sound like a casual joke, probably to lighten the mood or to soothe his own emotions.

Alaric, with his acute perception, noticed the fluctuations in his uncle’s eyes, but he didn’t expose it. He sighed in his heart and nodded. ”I will not disappoint your trust. I will make sure that we will stand firm in this foreign land!”

He was prepared to take this enormous burden. He had already come to terms with it, though it had not sunk in just yet.

John Phillip gave him a salute, turned around, and left.

As he looked at his uncle’s back, Alaric felt a hand on his shoulder. ”Your uncle is a smart man. He knows that discord will only weaken our great allied army. Don’t feel pity for him. He only did what is right.”

Alaric nodded. ”You are right, Lord Bellator.”

...

With the orders from the top, the soldiers of the great allied army hurried to build defenses. Some went to gather firewood from the nearest forest, while others cooperated to build traps and pitfalls around the camp. Everyone busied themselves.

Three weeks passed by just like that.

”That is the human camp.”

A few miles away, on top of a tree branch, a group vigilantly observed the camp.

”Are you sure about this, chief?” Ralof looked at the chieftain with an uncertain expression.

These individuals were from the goat beastkin tribe and they had come with their chieftain, Orlov.

”The grey wolf tribe is hunting our folks and the other tribes are pretending to be oblivious. We have sent word to the golden lion tribe, but there has been no word from them for weeks. I am afraid that we have been abandoned.” Orlov’s voice carried anguish for their fallen, and disappointment to the tribes that had turned a blind eye to their suffering.

The warriors of the goat beastkin became emotional at his words.

”Since they have condemned us to die, we must grasp every chance to survive.” ℴ

He paused, his eyes filled with reluctance and fear as he continued. ”Even if it means sending ourselves to the mouths of the devils...”

”Chief...”

They all knew that this was a huge gamble. If they were discovered to have colluded with the humans, all beastkin tribes would brand them as traitors and attack them. There was also a possibility that the humans would enslave them, or much worse, eradicate their entire tribe.

The warriors of the goat beastkin tribe felt like they were walking on thin ice. One wrong step and they would fall into an endless abyss.

Taking a deep breath, Orlov gathered his resolve and mumbled. ”Let us hope that we are making the right choice by coming here.”

After saying these words, he jumped down from the tree branch and walked toward the human camp.

The goat beastkin warriors steeled their hearts and followed him.