77 The Great Plains
This was an exceptionally luxurious hall.
In terms of size, it comfortably accommodated over a thousand people without feeling crowded. The floor was covered with exquisite handmade woolen carpets, and the ceiling was adorned with lifelike murals. Valuable paintings hung on the marble walls all around.
However, to the discerning eye, some of these paintings didn't seem to belong here. It appeared as if they were hung solely because the owner thought they were expensive.
But, when it came to catching one's eye, nothing in this place compared to the throne at the very top.
It was a throne entirely made of gold, adorned with rare gemstones like agate, pearls, emeralds, diamonds, and more. It unabashedly exuded the air of nouveau riche.
"Actually, I've always been curious why small countries like yours wasted resources on such utterly useless extravagance."
The speaker was a delicate-looking girl, her appearance resembling a porcelain doll. She was wearing a black evening dress, her waterfall of black hair cascading down to her waist. Her eyes were as crimson as blood and her skin was somewhat sickly pale as if she hadn't seen the sun for a long time.
A man wearing a crown stood nearby, his face displaying a constant grin. Despite being the ruler of a nation, he was acting as humble as a dog in the presence of the black-haired girl.
"Madam Altrouge, if you like it, I can give you this throne, or rather, the entire castle."
The man wearing a crown was the King of Ganna, who spoke with a fawning tone.
"I've told you, I'm not some 'Madam'. My name is Altrouge Brunestud. If you ever treat me like a servant of that white dragon again, I'll have you killed." The black-haired girl turned her head toward the king, her crimson eyes frosty.
"..." The king fell silent and dared not speak any further.
He was acutely aware that, at this point, his future was entirely in the hands of this girl before him. If he angered her, he had absolutely no hope left.
Over two months ago, his younger son had heard the news about the king selection ceremony for Camelot and had gone to Tintagel with his attendants, hoping to try his luck and see if he could pull the sword from the stone.
However, when they returned, only his son's steward came back.
Upon learning what had happened, the king was both shocked and furious. Shocked because he got wind of Camelot declaring war on Ganna, and furious at his son for stirring up such a huge mess.
He wished he had just shot that brat against the wall back then!
He promptly executed his son's steward, and later, annihilated his son's mother and relatives. He had planned to send their heads to Camelot, hoping to appease the other side's anger.
However, at that moment, a girl named Altrouge suddenly appeared.
She displayed immense power, and with a single wave of her hand, she drained the blood from over a hundred soldiers, turning them into lifeless husks.
Fortunately, she hadn't come for slaughter. She brought a mandate from the distant Northern King, Vortigern.
All the king had to do was obey her orders, and he'd not only gain immense power and eternal life but also a much larger territory than he had now.
The king naturally agreed without any hesitation.
"Have the people you sent brought back the message?" Altrouge sat on the golden throne, caressing the gems adorning it, and asked casually.
"They've agreed to the terms, and the war is scheduled to start in three days, right on the Great Plains!" The king hastily replied.
"Hmm~ that's good to hear." Altrouge nodded slightly. "You may go now. After the war, I will fulfill the promises I made to you."
"Yes, thank you, Milady!" The king was overjoyed and left the palace.
Watching the departing figure, a hint of mockery crossed Altrouge's crimson eyes.
"See that, Strout? Humans are such short-sighted creatures. Just a little intimidation and temptation are enough to make them obedient. I can't believe such creatures can actually sit on the 'Seat of the Primate'."
{T/N: A Prime Species or Primate is the dominant species of a World/Earth in Nasuverse. They are those who have achieved the Seat of the Primate and become representatives of their planet.}
"Your Highness, I still don't understand why Her Majesty Crimson Moon has chosen to cooperate with that white dragon. It doesn't benefit us in any way." From the void, a deep male voice sounded.
"Who knows? Anyway, we're just tools for her. Obey orders obediently; that's our only value."
Altrouge rested her chin on her hand, a touch of coldness appearing in her crimson eyes.
===
After continuous travel for a day and a night, Arkhan finally led his knights to the agreed battlefield, the Great Plains.
As the name suggested, it was a vast plain that seemed to stretch endlessly, with a completely flat terrain capable of accommodating over a hundred thousand people in war.
'It seems like Ganna is determined to confront us head-on. They must be quite confident.'
A faint smirk played on Arkhan's lips as he turned to the knights behind him.
"Stay in place, rest, and prepare!"
The knights' experiences on the path of trial had made them well-versed in outdoor living. Without the need for specific instructions, they had already organized themselves into various tasks, setting up tents, hunting, and patrolling, all in an orderly manner.
Arkhan found Lamorak, who had been appointed as the knight captain.
"Sir Lamorak, take a few men and circle the Great Plains. If you notice anything unusual, report back to me."
"Understood."
Lamorak was a man of action. He immediately selected a few sharp-eyed individuals and led them out of the camp.
It was only in the evening that Lamorak returned, describing that there was nothing strange in the vicinity of the Great Plains.
Arkhan furrowed his brows slightly.
"Is there something on your mind, Your Majesty?" Lamorak asked.
"It's just a bit strange..."
Arkhan looked up at the night sky, countless stars shining like pearls on a black velvet dress.
"Ganna's reaction is odd. They accepted our challenge without hesitation, and they seemed completely unafraid. I thought they might have chosen to fight in complex terrain, taking advantage of the topography to defeat us. Or maybe they set an ambush on the Great Plains in advance, planning for a three-pronged attack. But there's no sign of any of that."
Arkhan shook his head slightly.
"It seems they are truly prepared for a direct battle with us."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, no matter what the enemy has planned, we will ensure victory for you!" Lamorak said solemnly while placing one hand on his chest.
Arkhan smiled and patted Lamorak's shoulder.
"I trust in you and your men."
