Dustin was bathed in blood, exuding a dangerous presence. His black shirt was now dark crimson from the enemy's blood. The Celestial Blade in his hand was quivering and buzzing softly. It felt as if he would attack anytime."Damn! How is he so fast?" Atticus' face paled when he saw Dustin standing before them. He thought that the royal guards would keep Dustin occupied for a while. He had no idea they had been defeated, and Dustin was already catching up with them."We're trapped! We're in trouble now!" Ignatius was getting anxious. They were fighting alone now. They were trapped between two skilled fighters and couldn't fight back. It'd be better if it were just Elijah. He might not kill them due to their status. However, this assassin was different. They saw how he killed ruthlessly and efficiently on the battlefield. If they resisted him, he might just kill them immediately."Atticus, what should we do now?" Ignatius asked, gulping in fear.Atticus sighed when he heard

Upon hearing Elijah's words, Atticus and Ignatius were visibly taken aback, finding it difficult to accept."Impossible!" Ignatius immediately rejected the idea. "Our well-trained and well-equipped army of 100 thousand, surrendering? No way!""You're absolutely right!" Atticus scoffed. He added, "Even if the Southern Four Sovereigns combined their forces, there's no conceivable way they could defeat our hundred thousand troops overnight. You're just trying to make us panic!"The combined military might of the Southern Four Sovereigns hovered around two to three hundred thousand. Even if they mobilized their entire force, swiftly overcoming their substantial force of 100 thousand proved to be a formidable challenge. After all, the defenders had strategically fortified their positions, providing considerable resilience even against odds multiple times their own. Moreover, the Four Sovereigns couldn't afford to deploy their entire military strength, as a portion had to be held in

"Alright, enough of your squabbling. Whether Julius becomes prince or not, you'll find out tonight," Elijah said impatiently, waving his hand. He ordered his men, "Bring these rebels in and keep a close eye on them!""Yes, sir!" A squad of guards promptly approached, tightly binding Atticus and Ignatius."Elijah! We're all sovereigns here. It's disrespectful to treat us like this in public," Atticus protested."Disrespectful?" Elijah sneered. "Both of you are now prisoners. What respect are you talking about?""Elijah! The outcome is still uncertain. Have you considered the consequences if Grand General Rhys ascends the throne, and you've treated us like this?" Atticus frowned."He's right! You're in power now, and that might not last forever. It's wise to leave room for future interactions. Don't go too far!" Ignatius chimed in."Whether you two will live through tonight is questionable. Don't dare to rant in front of me. Gag them! I don't want to hear any more noise," Elijah

The echo of "Those who surrender will be spared" lingered in the airspace above the castle, casting a shadow over the panic-stricken rebels who now seemed utterly devoid of any fighting spirit.A symphony of clattering ensued as an increasing number of soldiers dropped their weapons. Even the most tenacious were swiftly subdued, rendering the once defiant castle defenses feeble.The capture of the four sovereigns, along with the remaining rebels scattering for their lives, left the besieged forces with limited options. Either surrender or face imminent demise. In the face of an unidentified adversary, they were unwilling to lay down their lives in a futile struggle."I will honor the promise I just made. Anyone who willingly surrenders will be pardoned," Eloise assured. Her tone was now gentler, devoid of the earlier imposing aura.The surrendered soldiers were both relieved and embarrassed. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy!" Many military officers humbly kneeled on

"What? Kill to cover it up?" Wyatt's face instantly darkened. He added, "You're not joking, are you? The Northern Four Sovereigns are all Julius' people. How could he possibly indiscriminately slaughter them?""Those who achieve great things must be ruthless. For someone like Julius, with extensive military experience, sacrificing some soldiers is nothing," Elijah said calmly. He went on, "Of course, this is the ultimate plan. Suppose the Northern Four Sovereigns successfully seize power and retrieve the Marshal's military insignia. In that case, he won't need to take such risks. He can ascend directly."He concluded, "However, if the Northern Four Sovereigns fail, for the sake of his grand ambition, I believe Julius will resort to any means necessary."The more ambitious someone was, the more unconventional their actions could become. Previously, under Rufus' rule, Julius concealed his true intentions, patiently biding his time. Now, with Rufus gone, Julius was free from co