CHAPTER 930: CHAPTER 726: THE IMPENDING FINAL BATTLE

The current situation in the North is somewhat eerie; every country and city-state is beginning to calculate their own plans... Clearly, they were allies, and just a few years ago, they could maintain consistency in their actions... Back then, even the stronger nations were willing to accept the proposals of the Silvermoon Alliance.

But suddenly everything changed, and the Silvermoon Alliance was caught in a web of deception... No one would entrust their faith to Elaströ anymore; her connection with Kelben was too close.

With Kelben at the forefront, most realm leaders realized one thing: the Chosen of Mystra were not only beneficial to their rule; if an ambitious person emerged, their threat would be too great.

Commoners don’t care who is sitting above them as their noble lord... If it’s someone more powerful, all the better... Anyway, they are all oppressed, who will care who replaces the king after he’s dead? Therefore, the stronger the lord, the more support they will receive.

And the Chosen of Mystra, though seemingly scattered across the North, rarely contact each other, but if Mystra whimsically decides something, even those who disagree will act according to the Goddess’s will... The united Chosen are truly the strongest force in the North... So it’s said, Mystra being eliminated by Cyric in her own garden might indeed be the World Will having heard too many heartfelt prayers.

Or perhaps someone successfully prayed to the Goddess of Luck, Tymora.

Even the Harpists are temporarily distancing themselves from Elaströ, and there’s no need to mention those smaller territories that, due to recent events, are dissatisfied with her decision to side with Kelben over them.

They are not followers of Mystra and won’t fight for the ideals of this Goddess.

Hill knows that if he nods, countless forces would choose to leave the Silvermoon Alliance and embrace Agleya City... especially after Mystra’s recent fall.

Even Elaströ can only hide under the protection of the Silver Palace during this time, unable to aid the towns ravaged by the Chromatic Dragons, Goblins, and Gnolls. The Silvermoon Alliance’s direct Magic Guard... essentially a Lady’s guard made up of Elaströ’s sons, now can only choose to protect the Supreme Lady, as there are countless enemies wanting Elaströ dead.

Being well-liked doesn’t mean having fewer enemies.

As for the City Lord of Silvermoon City, Thern Hornblade, he jumped too high in the matter of expelling Sharol’s husband, offending too many people, including the biggest benefactor of Silvermoon City... Sharol’s own father, a great merchant with countless mercenaries under his command.

Seeing his son-in-law driven out of the Northern Continent for such disgusting reasons, and his daughter and granddaughter forced to leave Silvermoon City, everyone knows the animosity he must feel towards the current City Lord.

Although in some ways... Thern Hornblade was also set up by Kelben... But he and his people indeed made contact with others behind Elaströ and Kelben’s back.

Truth be told, when this news broke, many were shocked... The City Lord was a well-known admirer of Elaströ...

However, he might feel that Elaströ wasn’t that concerned about Sharol, otherwise she wouldn’t have let her marry an enemy of the current Mystra.

Hill thought if he truly believed this, it wasn’t hard to understand why Elaströ, adept in communicating with admirers and willing to reward their devotion with pink rewards, wouldn’t invite this City Lord who has followed her for a millennium into her boudoir.

When Thern Hornblade was in a deputy role, he was indeed loyal and trustworthy, but when left to his own devices, all his flaws were exposed: his thinking was too narrow, and his actions were too petty.

Moreover, this Silvermoon City Lord made a surprising decision, recalling all the Silver-Armored Knights, who primarily operated abroad, assisting weaker allies of the Silvermoon Alliance in resisting crises.

The reason was simple... The Silvermoon enchantment was powered by Mystra’s Divine Power, and now it was no longer effective; even the Moonbridge connecting both shores could not be used. Silvermoon City’s residents must now row boats to reach the other side.

This City Lord was indeed highly responsible for Silvermoon City, guarding it flawlessly... But without the long-standing aid of this force, why would those towns still look up to Silvermoon City?

The credibility Elaströ built for Silvermoon City over the centuries became precarious in such a short time.

Hill didn’t know whether Thern Hornblade’s choice was right or wrong, as he was also a typical example of contentment with moderate wealth, but it certainly was not in line with Elaströ’s wishes.

No wonder that in true history, Elaströ chose to disappear silently after this Magicplague event.

After all, the Silvermoon Alliance had already fragmented, with every country and town returning to self-governance.

Hill sighed... Elaströ indeed had a broad mind, but hardly any subordinates could match her, and even her sisters and children couldn’t understand some of her actions, in their minds, Elaströ was robbing her own abundant resources to aid useless beggars.

But Silvermoon City likely didn’t realize that what it lost was not only the far-flung countries and regions on the Northern Continent but also the nearby small towns.

For example, Quel’var Town, where Lynn once stationed, being a Half-Elf town leaning more towards the Forest God System, how could they continue to follow the now-transformed Silvermoon City?

It seemed like Silvermoon City had no demand for these towns... But they will soon understand that without this external capital flow, Silvermoon City’s residents won’t sustain their moderately middle lifestyle.

Hill sat at the table, slowly looking through some intelligence from the North... Since Laila became his subordinate, the various pieces of information he received had become accurate again. This lady would not listen to the harpists’ excuses. Anyone who dared not to give her information would find a letter sent directly to her sisters.

No harpist would want to be dragged back to Shadow Valley for retraining after graduating from the Storm Lady’s tutelage... Though passionate, their teacher was never lenient when teaching.

Although the battle with the Undead Tribe seemed intense, it was more like a grand performance... All those who charged out were Physical Class professions, while the Mages were squatting at the edge of the city walls, watching the fun!

On top of Ice City stood a large number of Priests, with endless holy mist wafting over the battlefield: Holy Magic had no healing ability for these evil half-orcs, but it wasn’t highly damaging either. Although they feasted on each other... the World Will did not judge them as intelligent creatures.

Had it been humans committing the same actions, they would have long fallen into becoming Demons.

Hill didn’t know how long William intended to drag things on over there, but he could feel that the necromancers were about to reach the stone layer.

He couldn’t help but ask List: "Do you know how they plan to react to the necromancers when they hit solid rock at the end of the passage?"

"Don’t worry about that, sir," List replied, "The Temporal Artifact has dispatched a large number of Mages. When they realize something is wrong and try to return, simply transform the other side of the tunnel into stone.

It’s just about seizing the right moment, but the Undead Tribe shouldn’t have a problem with that."

Hill hesitated and asked, "No guards?"

"They’ve all been marked..." List replied, "How could those necromancers possibly trust their companions, so everyone has left an undead with a soul contract outside to hide.

Some of the Undead Tribe used that charge just now to directly log off at certain specific locations, and they should be able to clean them up in the shortest possible time."

Hill vaguely nodded, "No one outside? How do they dare?"

"Sir... even if there were people outside, with the attitude of Bane’s followers, they wouldn’t inform their companions when danger arose but rather seize the chance to slip away.

A personal undead is safer; they don’t know the Undead Tribe can appear beside them instantly... all those undead are spread widely apart. If people from Toril discovered them, they couldn’t achieve a total wipeout."

That makes sense, Bane’s followers’ choice was justifiable, betting on the captured one’s not being their own undead!

Also, undead with soul contracts have spells like instant swaps; as long as one undead escapes, the necromancer will be safe.

As for unlucky companions... what are those?

Hill silently looked eastwards: Luckily, the distance between Miral and Luskan was far enough that these necromancers couldn’t possibly send their controlled undead over there.

Hopefully, Bane’s followers put some effort in; after doing so many unethical deeds over the years, they should at least put enough pressure on Mirabar before total failure!

Whether the Undead Tribe receives a lifesaving grace or disaster relief depends on this final stand!

In Hill’s anticipation, the glow of Suren gradually faded, and the Light of Dawn appeared at the horizon. Suddenly, from the east, a dragon’s roar shook the heavens.

From the sound, one could sense the pain, indicating that Mirabar’s Crystal Dragon, Celine Delagrost, had suffered severe injuries once again.

Hill stood up in surprise: What did Bane’s followers bring out that could directly harm that fierce mother dragon!

The last time Celine Delagrost was so heavily injured, the opponent was the Ancient Red Dragon Klaus! And she managed to drive that shameless old dragon away.

He originally thought those necromancers were like a bunch of homeless dogs, but now he could not be so sure.

Hill’s confusion was interrupted by the deafening roar: The Undead Tribe surged crazily out of Luskan, directly charging toward the battlefield.

Was this the decisive battle?