Chris turned to Oriana and asked, “If we have enough Essence Stones, can we bring an unlimited number of people across?”
Oriana nodded. “Theoretically, yes. As long as there are enough Essence Stones, we can transport as many people as we want.”
Chris looked at Lynx and commanded, “Lynx, contact Master William immediately using the satellite phone.”
Without hesitation, Lynx made the call.
Chris picked up the phone and asked, “Master William, this is Chris. I need to know-does Amerosia’s treasury have any Essence Stones?”
When he heard the answer, his eyes lit up. “There are? That’s fantastic! Master William, I need a large quantity of Essence Stones for this trip to Aethelgard.”
After a brief exchange, he hung up and turned to his team. “I just spoke with Master William. Amerosia’s treasury contains 100, 000 Essence Stones mined over the years. Master William will have them airlifted to us shortly. Prepare 100, 000 Death Guards to accompany me to Aethelgard.”
“Yes!” Tiger and the others responded, their expressions serious.
Soon, the roar of aircraft filled the air as wave after wave of transport planes descended, delivering the Essence Stones. Meanwhile, Tiger and his team assembled 100, 000 Death Guards, handpicked from the five major armies and elite units. Each soldier was worth a hundred ordinary men.
Once everything was ready, Chris and his team began the transportation process to Aethelgard. Oriana placed the Essence Stones into the grooves of the teleportation array. As a radiant white light enveloped them, Chris and his forces were transported one by one.
The sensation was dizzying and disorienting, leaving everyone slightly dazed when they arrived. As Chris opened his eyes, he quickly took in the barren wasteland surrounding them.
“We’ve left Earth,” Chris announced to his men, his voice steady and commanding. “We’re now in Aethelgard. Our mission is clear: to expand Amerosia’s territory and secure more resources.”
“Glory to Primus!”
The unified roar of 100, 000 Death Guards echoed across the wasteland. Their faces were filled with excitement and pride-expanding Amerosia’s domain was a dream shared by countless men of their nation.
Oriana, standing nearby, warned Chris. “Don’t get reckless. This is Aethelgard. Aetherbinding practitioners are everywhere, and one wrong move could wipe you all out.”
Chris gave her a confident smile. “Miss Silverstone, don’t worry. Even though Aethelgard is full of powerful practitioners, my Death Guards won’t go down without a fight. Besides, I’ll make sure to find your sister.”
Oriana rolled her eyes in exasperation but said nothing.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of something cutting through the air broke the moment. Dozens of figures, all clad in red robes, descended from the skies, blocking Chris and his men from advancing.
The Death Guards immediately went on high alert. Each of these new arrivals exuded a strong presence-they were clearly Aetherbinding practitioners, all of whom belonged to the Aether rank.
From among the group, a man stepped forward and bellowed, “Who are you? This is Flameforge Sect territory. Leave now, or die!”
Chris stepped forward, trying to reason with them. “We’re from Earth. We mean no offense-”
Before he could finish, another man, clearly a Pinnacle-level Aetherbinding practitioner, interrupted coldly. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from. This is our sect’s domain, and trespassers are killed without mercy!”
Chris’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected the Flameforge Sect to be so ruthless. They were willing to kill over a minor intrusion.
“If you want to kill us,” Chris replied, his voice icy, “you’ll have to prove you’re capable.”
“Enough talk. Kill them!” The Pinnacle practitioner waved his hand, and over a hundred Flameforge Sect disciples drew their swords and charged at Chris and his team.
The battlefield erupted into chaos. The clash of weapons and bursts of energy reverberated across the wasteland.
It was a brutal fight. Though Chris’s side ultimately triumphed, the cost was steep. Of the 100, 000 Death Guards, over 1, 000 lay dead. On the other side, all but the Pinnacle practitioner were killed.
Chris’s face was grim as he surveyed the battlefield. He hadn’t anticipated the Aetherbinding practitioners to be this formidable. Even his elite forces had suffered significant losses.
After capturing and interrogating the surviving Pinnacle practitioner, Chris learned some critical information. The Flameforge Sect was guarding a massive Essence Stone mine in the area, a resource so valuable that the sect had turned the surrounding hundred-mile radius into a forbidden zone. Anyone who entered was killed on sight.
Chris and his men had unknowingly stumbled into this forbidden zone, triggering the sect’s aggressive response.
When Chris heard about the mine, his eyes gleamed with determination. He knew the immense value of Essence Stones. Without them, survival in Aetherbinding was nearly impossible. Moreover, transporting his army to Aethelgard had already drained Amerosia’s reserves. Securing the mine would be a game-changer.
“Everyone, march forward at full speed!” Chris commanded. “Our target is the Essence Stone mine!”
The army moved as one, their boots pounding the ground in unison.
By nightfall, they reached the mine. Without hesitation, Chris gave the order to attack.
The battle for the mine was fierce. The Flameforge Sect defenders fought valiantly, but Chris’s forces eventually overwhelmed them.
Victory came at a high price-10, 000 Death Guards lost their lives. Still, the mine was theirs.
The next day, Chris ordered his men to begin mining. However, the stone walls of Aethelgard proved to be far tougher than expected. Even with their best efforts, they could barely make a dent.
Tiger frowned as he examined the unyielding walls. “Master, the stone here is unbelievably hard. How are we supposed to mine the Essence Stones?”