Chapter 558: Name of the Country

Rhonin had heard of the Sea of Storms from Sophia, knowing it to be a singular domain circling the Crescent Continent.

A millennium ago, when Pharyn, the Demon King of Storms, fell at the hands of the Great Sage Arian, the immense, profane power carried by his remains corrupted the surrounding waters.

Because this coincided with the decisive battle against the King of the Nightmare Fiends, the supreme powerhouses had no energy to spare for cleansing this pollution, leaving it to be dealt with once the final conflict concluded.

Alas, in that very battle, seven or eight out of every ten sages perished, and the few who remained were largely occupied with nursing their wounds, causing the task of purging the Sea of Storms to be delayed time and again.

Until now, as the human race and the demon race clashed once more, a situation had again arisen where neither side possessed the energy or the conditions to resolve the problem of the Sea of Storms.

After all, accomplishing this feat required a considerable expenditure of strength, and if the demon race were to strike during an opening, that delicate balance would likely be shattered, resulting in immense losses.

The main force had to remain on the front lines, maintaining their peak condition.

This was also why they had not arranged for figures of the Blazing Sun or Legendary ranks to cross the Sea of Storms, choosing instead to let an eighth-rank Grand Mage like Sophia lead the expedition.

Upon becoming a Sage, Rhonin’s speed had soared to the absolute limit, to the point where even Carlos would likely fail to catch so much as a glimpse of his receding figure.

Before long, he arrived at the place where the energy was fluctuating violently.

"The waters ahead seem entirely normal on the surface, but an nameless black fire burns at the seabed, and fel-creatures appear to be roaming beneath."

Rhonin's spiritual perception discerned everything clearly.

He raised his hand and swiftly cast the Clone Illusion Technique, sending his duplicate flying forward.

Soon, an elusive, ethereal force began to corrode his clone, and Rhonin sensed that this power seemed intent on shaking the spiritual energy he had invested in it.

The storms of the Sea of Storms were not storms in the ordinary sense, but rather a tempest of souls.

It afflicted the spirit, targeting a person’s sanity.

After a long while, the spiritual energy within the clone gradually dissipated, and the duplicate distorted for a brief moment before vanishing above the surface of the sea.

"The Sea of Storms possesses a tremendous influence over Sophia and the others, but its effect on me is limited."

Having experimented a few times, Rhonin stepped his true self into this domain of the sea, where that power seemed eager to corrode his soul and affect his consciousness.

Yet, Rhonin's soul had undergone the baptism of two distinct wills of heaven and earth, making it several times more powerful than that of an ordinary Sage, utterly unshakeable.

Rhonin looked toward the east, where he could faintly discern a landmass, its area likely much smaller than that of the Orlanth Continent.

Should he wish to now, he could cross the Sea of Storms and reach the Crescent Continent, yet he chose not to do so.

For one, the affairs of the Orlanth Continent were not yet settled, and he could not leave;

For another, his strength was not yet great enough, given that even the Great Sage had perished in the battle a millennium ago, so he would only dare to set foot there after reaching the realm of a Great Sage.

He preferred to be prudent rather than blindly venturing across, lest he shatter the delicate balance currently maintained upon the Crescent Continent.

After observing for a time, Rhonin departed from the Sea of Storms and began his journey back to his own territory.

It was the year 975 of the Imperial Calendar, the time of the annual celebration.

All members of the Dark Mountain family gathered at North Dark Castle, enjoying the lively occasion.

"Rhonin, once Dragon City is conquered, you will be able to establish your own nation. Have you thought of a name?"

At the banquet table, Wiggins and Rhonin were sharing drinks, raising the question that many had wished to ask.

Rhonin drained his cup in a single draught and smiled, saying, "I have. It shall be called the 'Kingdom of Stars'!"

"Oh? I had thought it would be named the 'Kingdom of Dark Mountain'."

Wiggins laughed heartily, "But you may do as you see fit in such matters. No matter what it is called, I am proud of you!"

To have his own son become a king was something he could boast about wherever he went.

For a knight, using the name "Kingdom of Dark Mountain" was certainly acceptable, but such a name carried a heavy familial color, and what Rhonin desired was a new order.

As for the Kingdom of Stars, the name originated from the "Continent of Stars," which was the appellation of the Orlanth Continent a millennium past.

Now that Rhonin had determined this name for the kingdom, he had already instructed the Ministry of Rites to begin compiling the relevant history.

When he eventually journeyed to the Crescent Continent, he would flesh out the kingdoms, heroes, and other lore that had once existed upon the Continent of Stars.

In this manner, the people living upon this land would possess a culture of "shared origins," increasing their mutual sense of identity and bringing cohesion to his kingdom.

Though such concepts seemed ethereal and intangible, their influence was substantial, well worth the effort expended by Rhonin and the relevant officials.

Following the banquet, Rhonin and Rulance walked through the castle grounds.

"When you establish the kingdom, do you intend to incorporate the Kingdom of Auduin into your territory?" Rulance inquired.

Rhonin's brow furrowed slightly, and then he shook his head, "I have not yet decided on this matter."

"It was agreed upon back then that whoever possessed the greatest influence, military merit, and strength would inherit the throne. However, I do not wish to bear the title of the King of Auduin."

Rulance smiled and said, "Since you can be both my Count of the North Dark Territory and the Duke Conqueror of the kingdom, it should not be an issue for you to simultaneously serve as the king of both the Kingdom of Stars and the Kingdom of Auduin, correct?"

"Uh, such a thing is possible?"

Rhonin was momentarily taken aback; truth be told, it genuinely was feasible.

Yet after pondering further, he shook his head, "Though such an operation sounds viable in theory, it nevertheless plants hidden perils for the future."

If Rhonin were to step down and Loran were to succeed him, would Loran also inherit both thrones simultaneously?

Should he journey to the Crescent Continent at that time, or be unable to oversee the kingdom due to other matters, would it not give rise to contradictions?

Ultimately, he reached a decision.

Either he would forego the Auduin throne and its lands entirely, leaving them vacant until a fitting opportunity arose to claim them;

Or, if he took them, they would be integrated into the Kingdom of Stars, causing the Kingdom of Auduin to become history rather than allowing two kingdoms to coexist.

"I understand your meaning."

Rulance nodded slowly, "I will speak with them according to your intentions."

Rhonin laughed, "Once the kingdom is established, Grandfather, you might as well serve as my Hand of the King."

Rulance possessed both the capability and the stature for the role.

Yet, the elder shook his head.

"Let it be. After these matters are concluded, it will be time for me to take a proper rest. Teasing Loran is far more comfortable than worrying on your behalf."

In truth, many of Rhonin's policies appeared somewhat ahead of their time, and there were even certain concepts that Rulance could not fully comprehend.

Nevertheless, based on their bond, whether Rhonin was restricting the privileges of the nobility, defining the sizes of aristocratic fiefs, or selecting talents from among the commoners for his reforms, Rulance gave him his full support.

After the annual celebration, the cold winter gradually receded, and the days of spring plowing were at hand.

By now, the North Dark Territory possessed thousands of miles of fertile earth, producing enough rice, potatoes, and wheat to sustain the consumption of both the front lines and the rear, truly becoming a granary for the realm.

Rhonin also assembled his troops and horses before the spring plowing, arriving at Bax City to prepare the ultimate offensive against Dragon City.

Currently, Cedar commanded eighteen large knight orders, supplemented by ten knight orders dispatched by Rulance and McCain, alongside the forces of various nobles. The number of soldiers marching upon Dragon City neared seventy to eighty thousand, excluding logistical personnel.

As for their armaments and deployment, to say nothing of the rest, Rhonin’s presence as a Sage alone cast a shadow over the enemy.

And besides him, this side boasted Cedar, the Legendary figure, alongside the Grand Mages Sophia and Elrond, the Blazing Sun Knight McCain, and the ninth-rank dragon, Carlos.

Were it not for the matter of Flame Wing, Rhonin might not have needed to involve himself at all.

The grand army advanced along the Dragon Avenue, and after a few days of marching, they arrived outside Dragon City.

Seated upon his horse, Rhonin gazed at the ancient royal capital with its towering walls looming ahead, a sense of anticipation welling up within his heart.

"Come, from this day forth, a new chapter shall officially begin upon the continent of Orland!" (End of Chapter)