Chapter 37: The Gathering Storm

The council chamber was quiet, but the weight of the decision ahead felt crushing. Padrino stood at the head of the room, his eyes narrowing at the map of Xandros laid out before him. Talon's revelation had shaken them all, even if none of them were willing to show it. An ancient force rising in the north, one that could manipulate magic on a scale none of them had ever seen—it was the kind of enemy that could fracture the very foundation of everything Padrino had built.

"We don't know how much time we have," Hinata said, breaking the silence. "Whatever is happening with the magical currents is growing stronger every day. We've already noticed disturbances in our own defenses. If this force continues unchecked, it could break through the wards protecting Rimuru."

Padrino nodded slowly, his mind racing. The Kingdom of Rimuru had become a beacon of strength and unity, but even the most fortified strongholds could crumble under the wrong pressure. He wasn't about to let that happen.

Marko cleared his throat. "We need to act now. Waiting only plays into our enemy's hands. If Talon is telling the truth, this is a threat we can't face with brute force. We need strategy."

Talon, standing in the shadows near the door, stepped forward. "It's not just strategy," he said, his voice low but insistent. "It's understanding what you're up against. This power… it doesn't play by the rules of Xandros. It bends reality, reshapes it to its will. Your traditional tactics will fail unless you adapt."

"As if we'd take advice from a traitor," Marko spat, his eyes blazing with old anger. Padrino shot him a look, silencing him, but the tension was palpable.

Talon remained calm, his gaze focused on Padrino. "I came back because I know what's at stake. Believe me or don't, but if you're not prepared, everything you've built here will fall."

A heavy silence settled over the room again. Padrino understood the stakes. As much as he wanted to dismiss Talon's warnings, the signs were already there. Magic was behaving strangely, and there were more reports of unrest from the northern territories. If this ancient power Talon spoke of was real, it would be unlike anything they had faced before.

"I don't trust you," Padrino said, turning to Talon. "But I do believe that something is coming. So for now, we'll work together. But understand this, Talon—one misstep, and you won't walk away."

Talon nodded, his expression grim. "Fair enough."

The Northern Expedition

It didn't take long for preparations to be made. Rimuru's forces had been depleted after the war with Korgon and Galdros, but they were still formidable. Padrino knew that to face this new threat, they couldn't rely on sheer numbers. They needed a select group of skilled fighters, strategists, and magic users who could confront the danger head-on.

Marko took charge of organizing the expedition, gathering a small but elite force. Hinata was among them, her magical abilities crucial in dealing with the disturbances they were likely to face. Asuna, who had proven her worth both in battle and as a diplomat, would accompany them as well, ensuring that any negotiations with local factions didn't escalate into unnecessary conflict.

As for Padrino, there was no question that he would lead the group. This was his kingdom, and he wasn't about to send others into the heart of danger without standing at the front. Talon, ever the enigma, insisted on coming along, claiming his knowledge of the threat was essential. Despite the doubts swirling among the council, Padrino agreed—if only to keep a close eye on him.

The day of departure came swiftly. Rimuru's capital was quiet, the streets filled with onlookers who had gathered to see the expedition off. They were nervous, Padrino could tell. The kingdom had just barely begun to recover from the war, and now, another conflict loomed.

Standing at the head of the assembled force, Padrino gave one last glance toward the towering walls of his city. He had built this kingdom from the ground up, starting as nothing more than a villager in Rimuru. Now, he was its king, and the weight of that responsibility pressed heavily on him.

"We'll return," Padrino said to the people gathered before him. His voice was strong, carrying across the crowd. "No matter what lies ahead, we will protect Rimuru. This is our home, and nothing—not Korgon, not Galdros, not any ancient power—will take it from us."

The crowd erupted in cheers, though the underlying tension was still there. Padrino mounted his horse, his eyes scanning the horizon. Somewhere in the distance, their enemy was waiting.

Into the Unknown

The journey north was grueling. For days, Padrino and his party traveled across desolate landscapes, through dense forests and over jagged mountains. The further they went, the more they could feel it—an unnatural tension in the air, as though the land itself was bracing for something terrible.

Talon led the way, his knowledge of the northern territories proving invaluable. Despite the animosity between him and the rest of the group, he remained focused, his eyes constantly scanning the environment as if expecting an attack at any moment.

It wasn't long before they encountered their first sign of trouble.

One evening, as the sun began to set, they came across a village—though calling it that was generous. What remained of the settlement was little more than smoldering ruins, with blackened buildings and scattered debris. The air was thick with the stench of burnt wood and something far more sinister.

"By the gods," Asuna muttered, dismounting from her horse to inspect the wreckage. "What happened here?"

Padrino crouched beside her, his eyes narrowing as he examined the ground. There were no bodies, but that only made the scene more eerie. Whatever had attacked this village had left nothing behind—not even the dead.

"This is the work of magic," Hinata said quietly, her hand glowing faintly as she reached out to sense the lingering energy. "Dark magic. It's… twisted, corrupted."

Padrino's jaw tightened. He had seen the effects of dark magic before, but never like this. Whatever had passed through here, it had done so with terrifying efficiency.

"This is just the beginning," Talon said from behind them, his voice grim. "The further north we go, the worse it will get."

Padrino stood, his eyes fixed on the northern horizon. He could feel it now—the storm gathering ahead. It wasn't just a physical threat they were facing; it was something far more insidious. A force that could bend magic itself, a power that threatened not just Rimuru, but the entire world.

"We press on," Padrino ordered, his voice resolute. "We find whatever is behind this, and we stop it."

The group mounted their horses once more, and as they rode into the deepening night, Padrino couldn't shake the feeling that they were marching toward something far darker than any of them had anticipated.

The gathering storm was coming, and Rimuru's fate hung in the balance.