Chapter 120: The Price of Peace

Meanwhile, Adam climbed on the wall and, head held high, scanned his army. A mask of charisma and authority veiled his face as the 850 soldiers that would follow him in his first conquest registered in his sparkling eyes. But inside, a storm brewed as beads of sweat tickled his back.Trepidation and worry gnawed at his pounding heart with doubled ferocity now that his carefree subjects stood before him. Yet, he clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes into fiery slits.

'I can't ruin their morale, but I won't change who I am.'

With a deep breath to fix his voice and banish his doubts, his lips parted to let his commanding voice reverberate.

"Someone dared to threaten our peace and asked for our surrender. What do we answer?"

The morning wind ruffled his hair as he pointed his finger north.

"We raze their place to the ground!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the ranks as the soldiers raised their fists in solidarity.

Adam nodded, shadows engulfing his face as his tone turned bitter.

"There is a famous saying from where I come: who wants peace prepares for war." He exhaled, a sharp pain piercing his chest. "But war comes with its burdens, and no matter how well trained we are, some will perish."

His words hung heavy as guilt gnawed at him when he imagined the sacrifices his soldiers would make.

Despite his desire to see everyone survive until the end, he had to loosen his grip on his wishful ideas. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he shook his head to face the icy and unforgiving reality.

"I have no words to thank those who pay the ultimate price to ensure peace for the others." His eyes narrowed as the clangor of his fist striking his breastplate echoed. "To me, you're all heroes I'd never forget. Thank you for your loyalty and support. And please, prioritise your survival no matter what happens."

The army clamoured to echo his words while Luna pinched her lips in approval.

She had already told him about it, and her opinion didn't change. Therefore, his understanding of the stakes elevated his position in her mind to that of a naive but decisive lord.

Meanwhile, Karna's lips twitched, respect and a new sense of duty crashing over his hastening heart.

"I won't disappoint you. I'll stop Achilles and help you protect the peace you built in this place." He vowed as he watched Adam leap down and initiate the march. seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The forest trembled again under their cacophony of stomps on the fertile soil. With its musty scent accompanying their steps, they progressed in a tight formation until they reached the mountain.

The sun blazed in the clear sky after they circled it and emerged into uncharted territory.

Leading the march as always, Adam's eyes narrowed as he scanned what lay north of his forest.

A plain stretched to the horizon. Its grass, a green carpet, swayed with the wind in a lush dance that naturally enlivened and brought peace to anyone looking at it.

Breaking the scenery, a dirt road dug from the passage of carts and carriages snaked in every direction.

His senses sharper after his evolution, he caught a faint scent in the air, one that caused his eyes to sparkle and his mouth to water.

'Is it salt?'

A dreamy smile stretched his lips as his hands blurred to his belt to grip the demonic map.

With the distance separating them shortened, he noticed after unfurling it that the King of Heroes had built his territory in a coastal area, giving him access to natural salt, sea products, and maritime development.

However, the part making his brows crease into a frown was the absence of any camp or other territory in the few hundred kilometers surrounding his town.

Still, he shrugged and took determined steps toward the town.

'He destroyed them? So what? Today, you'll kneel or die.'

And after two more hours on flat terrain, his eyes landed on a sparkling azure sea and the bastard's crude walls.

Honestly? They were on par with his. But to his demons? They were flimsier than layers of cardboard.

Beyond them, he glimpsed at a few medieval houses, nothing comparable to his oikas, before Karna's firm grip on his shoulder distracted him.

Then, the wind whistled in his ears as his feet left the ground. Like a rag and his face distorted in shock, he flew three meters back before landing on his feet.

However, before he could ask why...

CLANG

Metal collided against metal in an eardrum-shattering outburst. The collision blasted the surrounding wind into a gale, the sheer pressure throwing his soldiers off balance.

Heart hammering in his chest, he raised his palms to shield himself from the crushing pressure. Then, he squinted at the culprit through his finger and muttered his name in horror.

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"Achilles."

Before him, Achilles' Greek spear pushed against Karna's golden one in a titanic confrontation. Sparks flew upon impact before milky white and blue mana swirled around them.

Their two energies hummed and crackled in a silent competition of might, creating a forbidden dome of solar heat and raging water around them.

The soil sank under their feet, giving in to the pressure the two mythical figures released. Yet, no one gave the other the upper hand and their spears remained locked in the air, as if held by an immovable power.

Their white and blonde hair streamed upwards as they scrutinised each other during the deadlock, intrigue, anticipation, and respect sparkling in their eyes. At a glance, they both understood how skilled the other warrior was.

However, when pride and glory fueled Achilles, Karna's eyes focused on the territory behind him.

"I'll hold him back! Go!"

Pressed by the situation's urgency and the dread seeping into his bones after nearly dying, Adam struck his trembling legs to make them stop, nodded at Karna in gratitude, and roared.

"Ignore Achilles and surround their walls! Don't let them escape!"

Without looking back, the wind whistled in his ears as he rushed to the walls.

Simultaneously, the demons grunted and pushed themselves off the ground before their charge reverberated through the coast.

Midway, the trained army separated to follow Garduck, Bart, Ifrit, and Luna in four different legions to seal the town in an infernal sea of powerful demons.

Meanwhile, the King of Heroes trembled in his greaves as he gritted his teeth at Adam's siege.

That's not how he had pictured today's battle after this morning's discussion. In fact, he had just spent a dozen minutes in an empty speech to raise his army's morale by glazing Achilles' strength and prepared to leave for the forest.

Yet, his eyes trembled in anxiety as he saw Adam leading his army to collapse on his territory with vengeful abandon as if to swallow it like a demonic beast.

Still, his knuckles whitened under his shining gauntlets as he barked his orders.

"Spread on the walls and arm the ballistas. Today, we'll show those demonic scums that humans aren't to be belittled!"

But unlike Adam, he bit his thumbnail and scrutinised Achilles' tensed back before his eyes trailed to Karna's figure.

His jaws tensed, the sharp noise of his nail cracking under the bite as a red glint flashed in his eyes. "Once he's back, I'll make Adam beg for mercy!"