10. Pride Continent

From above, a vast continent can be seen, surrounded by an endless expanse of water. The northern part of the continent is blanketed by a pristine sheet of snow, resembling a white canvas. The biting cold of the north is held at bay by a continuous range of towering mountains stretching from the eastern edge to the heart of the continent.

South of the mountains lies an expansive forest that extends toward the southern tip of the landmass. To the west, the continent transitions into sprawling grasslands, crisscrossed by thousands of rivers, both large and small, which flow down from the mountains and empty their waters into the seas surrounding the western region.

At the heart of the western grasslands, beside the continent's largest river, a colossal city emerges. Three remarkable landmarks within the city make it unmistakably visible even from the sky. 

For the people inhabiting this land, the continent is known as the Golden Pride Continent, named in honor of the Golden War Lion God, whose victory in the last war decided the ruler of the land. 

This enormous city by the largest river serves as the seat of power for the Golden Lion. The city's three iconic landmarks include a black tower located in its eastern quarter, a golden palace situated to the north, and a white marble temple standing proudly in the west. 

Within the temple's towering spire lies a grand chamber. Along its walls are six thrones, each distinct in appearance and significance. Seated on three of the thrones are humans with golden skin and manes framing their heads. 

On another throne sits a human with silver skin and sword-shaped pupils. Another throne is occupied by a human with three eyes, the third positioned vertically on his forehead, its pupil also silver. Finally, on the last throne sits a human whose feet are replaced with horse hooves. 

One of the Golden Lion people, Angus Leo, spoke, "Carsilise, have the wood elves agreed to join the war? Or do they think they can swoop in after we suffer heavy losses and claim the land for themselves?" 

The silver-skinned man, Carsilise, replied, "Angus, they said they would discuss our situation at the Tree Council meeting, which will be held in six months. However, they've sent three representatives to verify if we're truthful about the humans coming from the land beyond the ocean." 

Another of the Golden Lion people, Seamus Lyon, interjected, "Tell them to respond faster, or we'll show them the 'beauty' of their race. Let's see if the greedy humans won't attack them next." 

The centaur, Zoel Heaney, replied, "Let's wait for their decision after the Tree Council. If their answer is unfavorable, we'll act according to your plan." 

The third Golden Lion, Ryan Leo, fixed his gaze on the three-eyed human, Zickron Serpent. "Zickron," he said, "all three races are fighting, yet not one of your people is on the battlefield." 

He continued, "Still, your people understand the principles behind the weapon they call the magic gun. If we can produce this weapon, our chances of winning the war against the invaders will significantly increase." 

Zickron snorted, his voice tinged with anger. "Do you think you can fight without us? Who do you think provides you with food?"

He addressed the second point. "As for the magic guns, we've figured out how to manufacture them, but we can only produce 1,000 per day with 2,000 Shamans and Great Shamans involved. The weapons will arrive with our army." 

"A 10,000-strong army of Bronze Bloods, 1,000 Silver Bloods, and ten Golden Warriors are coming to help." 

Ryan nodded inwardly. With such an army, they would be able to hold off the humans and prevent them from gaining any territory. 

Still, he refrained from praising the three-eyed people, as their race and the other two allied races lived in the vast eastern grasslands, which were three times the size of the western forests. Furthermore, the three-eyed people resided far from the Golden City, making their contributions sporadic at best. 

He spoke, "So, when are they coming? And this number alone won't be enough to defeat them." 

Zickron replied, "Winter will strike in about a week, so before that, we'll arrive at Carsilise's territory and train alongside their army until winter ends." 

The winter in the grasslands was notoriously brutal. Without the WinterMoon Mountains to block the frigid northern winds, the season became life-threatening for anyone below the Bronze Realm. This harsh reality had always been a factor in their campaigns. 

Ryan thought to himself that winter posed an equally significant challenge for the human army. With 60% of their forces made up of soldiers below the Bronze Rank, even their reliance on magic guns wouldn't shield them from the harsh cold. 

This vulnerability had been a decisive factor in their previous victories, and it could work in their favor again. Ryan nodded internally at the thought but maintained his usual stoic expression. 

Zickron continued, "And we won't be able to send more people. Our people live in scattered tribes without a centralized army. Gathering them takes time." 

Ryan replied, "Then order them in the name of our lord." 

Zickron sighed. "I would, but these." He waved his hand, and spiritual energy swirled, forming an image in the air. It showed a small human team armed with magic guns, destroying a three-eyed tribe settlement. "Small human teams have broken off from the main army and bypassed your defenses to invade the eastern forest." 

He continued, "They might be aiming to disrupt your food supply. None of us want the frontline to face a food shortage—it would be disastrous." He paused briefly. "That's why I've decided to focus on building a defensive line to protect our territory before sending more of my people." 

Everyone nodded in agreement. The war was already pushing them to their limits, and a disruption in food supplies would be catastrophic. The group continued their discussion with a mix of agreements and disagreements until the meeting finally came to an end. 

Afterward, Seamus headed to a smaller room where a crystal ball sat in the center, operated by another Golden Lion woman. 

The woman noticed Seamus and greeted him, "Lord Seamus, you've come. I have something to report." 

Seamus, momentarily lost in thought about the crisis his race was facing, refocused as he heard her speak. "Lillian, is this about the Vampire Bat Life Crystal, which we expected to extinguish but recently began shining again?" 

Lillian nodded. "Yes, but today, the Life Crystal shattered into pieces." 

Seamus smirked slightly. "Good. We don't need another nuisance in our rear." 

Lillian hesitated for a moment before asking, "Then, shall we send someone to retrieve its body?" 

Seamus shook his head. "We lost the records of where our ancestors sealed the Vampire Bat 3,000 years ago, and we don't have the time to search. Besides, it's in the territory of the three-eyed people." 

He shrugged dismissively. "Let them count themselves lucky." 

---

A camp surrounded by wooden walls stands nestled in a forest by a small stream. The most surprising thing about the camp is its inhabitants—humans. Some sit on the ground, cleaning their large guns, each roughly half the length of their bodies. Others spar with small swords or train on their own. 

At the center of the camp, the largest tent serves as a command post. Inside, two men sit at a modest table, eating breakfast while deep in conversation. 

The younger one speaks, "Brother, it'll be difficult for us to defeat the three-eyed people in such a dense forest." 

The elder brother listens and nods. He knows their magic guns are designed for open battlefields, not for fighting within dense woodland.

However, he also knows that if they can secure a foothold and establish a settlement, reinforcements will arrive from the rear. That would not only ensure their success but also restore the Wright family to its former glory. Perhaps, he muses, they might even maintain their baron title—or he could advance to a viscount. 

He replies, "That's why I've decided to cooperate with a small tribe called the Snake Tribe. Eliose, if everything goes according to plan, we'll hold onto our title, and our sister won't have to sacrifice herself by marrying the old Jose next year. We can secure our title." 

At the mention of their sister, Eliose's expression shifts to a distant, faraway look. His gaze drifts toward the east, as though he could peer across the grasslands, over the Siren Ocean, and reach another continent, landing on a small town. There, he imagines a girl with golden locks and eyes the color of the deep ocean, playing with flowers and smiling happily. "I want to know how Eliane is doing," he says softly. 

The elder brother, Elan, reassures him, "She's at the noble school now. As long as we don't lose our title, nothing will happen to her." 

Suddenly, the tent flap opens, and another man steps in, taking a seat at the table. "Elan, are you sure nothing will go wrong? The Snake Tribe could easily turn on us," he says with a skeptical tone. 

Elan leans back in his chair, exuding calm confidence. "James, don't worry. The Snake Tribe's totem, the Ice Poison Snake, is on the verge of advancing to a Bronze Warcraft. Until it completes its advancement, they'll follow our plan." 

James frowns. "So, they'll turn on us once it advances. Do you have a plan for that?" 

Without a word, Elan reaches behind him and pulls out a green fruit with a scaly skin that resembles a snake's scales. 

James narrows his eyes. "Is there something wrong with the snake fruits we gave the Snake Tribe?" 

Elan smirks. "The Ice Poison Snake will instinctively consume the snake fruits to fuel its breakthrough. However," he adds with a glint of pride in his eyes, "I've made... a few modifications using our family's inheritance. When it begins advancing after consuming the fruits, the mark I planted will emerge from within its body and bind to its soul, making it my beast slave. With a Bronze-ranked Warcraft under my command, I'll finally become a Bronze-ranked Hunter." 

He pauses, his confidence unwavering. "With me and my beast slave, even the Silver Sword Town down south, with its single Bronze-ranked defender, won't be able to stop us from establishing a settlement." 

Eliose, hearing his elder brother's full plan for the first time, looks intrigued. "Then the more fruits it consumes, the greater the chance of enslaving it, right?" His gaze shifts to the dozen snake fruits lying on the bed. "Why, then, did you only give them three, Brother?" 

Before Elan can respond, James steps in, having understood the reasoning behind the plan. "Your brother is cautious," he says, recalling how Elan gifted one snake fruit to the Ice Poison Snake as a gesture during their first visit to the Snake Tribe, and how earlier today, Elan reluctantly handed over three more fruits as a reward for destroying the Wild Cat Tribe. "If we gave them all the fruits at once, it would raise suspicion. They might think something's off." 

James continues, "So, your brother struck a bargain. He made it look like we were reluctant to part with the fruits, offering only three as a reward for helping us destroy a small tribe. That way, they won't suspect he tampered with the fruits." 

Elan nods, satisfied with James' explanation. Turning to him, he asks, "Did they tell you which small tribe is the next to be destroyed?" 

James replies, "The Spirit Fairy Tribe. They said they'll lead us to the attack after the first snowfall of the upcoming winter." 

Hearing this, Elan shivers slightly at the memory of last year's brutal winter on the grasslands. Their people had huddled in their tents, vulnerable to raids from the native races, who were well-adapted to the harsh season. Limited mobility had left their defenses nearly paralyzed. "I've heard that winter isn't as harsh in this region," Elan says, trying to reassure himself. 

James nods. "That's what I've heard too. But we'll know for sure soon enough—the cold wind is picking up, and the first snow is expected within a week."