The Retreat

After a brief moment of shock, the beast leader quickly regained its composure. It knew without a doubt—it had severely underestimated its opponents this time. Staying any longer would only spell disaster. Forcing down the lingering fear and the pain from its not-yet-fully-healed wounds, it lowered its head in a rare display of submission, its voice trembling slightly.

"Thank you, my lord, for your mercy."

With that, it threw its head back and let out a long, guttural howl—not one of dominance and rage, but of reluctant surrender. The sound echoed through the battlefield before it swiftly turned and led its horde away. The once-ferocious beasts, still shaken by Rowan's divine power, followed in retreat like a receding tide. Within moments, they had vanished beyond the horizon, leaving behind nothing but a trampled, devastated land—a silent witness to the confrontation that had just taken place.

Lilia turned to Rowan, her voice calm yet laced with concern. "What's your plan after we leave? The emergence of this pocket dimension has already stirred chaos in the outside world. Countless factions are watching, waiting for their chance to strike. We need to tread carefully."

Rowan frowned in thought before replying, "Now that you've reclaimed what's rightfully yours, we have no reason to stay entangled in this mess. We'll report the pocket dimension's existence to the Holy Alliance of Light—that should satisfy them for now. As for us, we need to withdraw as soon as possible.

"This place holds many secrets and treasures, but at our current strength, we can't afford to stake a claim here. If we linger, we'll only draw unwanted attention and put both ourselves and the Blessed Tribe in danger."

Lilia nodded in agreement. Rowan's words made sense.

A few days later, they arrived at the pocket dimension's exit.

Before stepping out, Rowan turned to Jace, his expression serious. "Chief Jace, stay here for a moment. I'll go out first and make the necessary arrangements. I promise you'll all leave safely. But once outside, you must remain discreet. The fewer people know about your tribe's existence, the better—it'll help you avoid unnecessary trouble."

Jace immediately nodded. "Understood, my lord. We will follow your guidance and keep our presence a secret."

With that, Rowan stepped through the exit.

The moment he emerged, his eyes met those of Blake, who was patrolling nearby. Without hesitation, Rowan motioned for him to come closer and lowered his voice.

"Blake, pull all our troops back immediately. Leave only a trusted squad here to guard the entrance."

Blake's brows furrowed in confusion. "Your Holiness, what's going on? Why the sudden withdrawal?"

Rowan's expression remained firm. "I've found the entrance to the pocket dimension and entered it. Inside, I discovered a tribe of over five thousand people. I've brought them out, but this matter must remain confidential. No one else can know.

"Withdraw the army at once. Assign a few of our most reliable men to escort the Blessed Tribe to the Radiant Principality. Have them meet Evelyn—she'll ensure they're properly settled and provided for. As for everything else, I'll explain in detail once I return."

Hearing this, Blake finally understood the gravity of the situation. Without another word, he swiftly relayed Rowan's orders.

In no time, the army began to withdraw in an orderly fashion. Soon after, the Blessed Tribe members cautiously stepped out of the pocket dimension, their faces a mix of awe and apprehension as they beheld the vast, unfamiliar world beyond their sanctuary.

Following Rowan's instructions, Blake had them escorted away under tight security, ensuring their safe journey to the Radiant Principality.

Seeing everything going according to plan, Rowan finally exhaled in relief. He waited two more days before sending a message to the Holy Alliance of Light, informing them of the pocket dimension's existence near Apocalypse City.

The response was swift.

Within days, the Holy Pontiff Cass himself arrived, leading a formidable force of forty thousand elite knights.

The moment he saw Rowan, Cass got straight to the point. "Rowan, this pocket dimension is of great importance to the Holy Church. We must secure it.

"But don't worry. We recognize your contributions in this matter. Given that the Radiant Church has only just ended its war with the Luminous Church, I'm sure your nation requires time to recover and stabilize. So, I will allow you to return and focus on domestic affairs. Once everything is settled, you may regroup and provide support as needed.

"For now, my knights will take over the defense of Apocalypse City."

Rowan inwardly scoffed at the blatant power grab.

Not even trying to be subtle, huh? Just outright seizing control...

Still, this turn of events suited him just fine. It gave him a legitimate excuse to extract himself from this political battlefield without drawing suspicion.

Feigning hesitation, he furrowed his brows and sighed. "Since that's your decision, Your Holiness, I have no choice but to comply. I will begin the withdrawal immediately."

For added effect, he made sure to show a hint of dissatisfaction in his expression, ensuring that Cass would believe he was truly reluctant to leave.

Seeing Rowan's reaction, Cass was convinced. Satisfied that Rowan was merely sulking over the loss of an opportunity, he didn't question his motives further. Without another word, he marched off with his forces, eager to claim the pocket dimension for himself.

As soon as Cass and his army were out of sight, Rowan wasted no time. He quickly rallied his troops and began the retreat, making his way back to the Radiant Principality.

Upon his return, he wasted no time in seeking out Evelyn.

The moment they were alone, she threw herself into his arms, their reunion marked by intimate whispers and lingering touches.

After their private time together, Rowan finally asked, "Evelyn, how have things been in my absence? Has everything gone smoothly?"

Evelyn hesitated for a moment before answering with a troubled expression. "For the most part, the principality remains stable. However, there is one pressing issue.

"The Loran Principality—the territory we recently annexed—is proving problematic. Many of the citizens there still refuse to abandon their old faith. They remain loyal to their former gods and resist the spread of the Radiant Church's doctrine.

"This has made our efforts to establish religious authority... quite difficult."

Rowan's eyes darkened. A defiant populace clinging to their old beliefs was never a good sign. It could lead to unrest—possibly even rebellion.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"Then we may need to take a more... decisive approach."