The former village chief, leaning on his cane, slowly made his way to the center of the street.His face was wrinkled and darkened with age, yet flushed with a rosy tint.
His eyes were red with fervor as he exclaimed, "To hell with the foreigners! Great lord, this old man can still wield a knife!"
"Hey, young man, hand me the knife on your back!"
The young man called upon grimaced, reluctantly pulling the knife from behind and handing it to the old village chief.
"Chief, this knife... my wife scrimped and saved to buy it for me. It's even a low-grade ability weapon. Please remember to return it to me."
"Look at you, always pinching pennies!"
The people of Gratitude Village burst into laughter, watching the young man and the old village chief who had thrown away his cane and now held the knife high.
At this moment, the chief's legs trembled, but his spine was straighter than ever, his gaze firm as if he had rediscovered something he had lost.
"Great lord, I truly can still wield a knife!"
The laughter in Gratitude Village stopped abruptly.
They had been afraid when the giant rock tribe of Clark approached, but now, they were fearless!
The people of Blackwood had returned, and the aged village chief of Gratitude Village raised his knife high.
They too...
Could do the same!
Nathan took a deep breath, his memories also being awakened.
He was still the hope of the entire village, the same man who had led Gratitude Village forward.
He turned his face, looking into the distance.
The giant rock tribe, tens of thousands strong, their presence overwhelming, certainly more powerful than Gratitude Village at the moment.
But...
"What are we waiting for?!!"
As his words fell,
Everyone in Gratitude Village laughed heartily and charged out of the small town, fearless!
"Blackwood!"
This surname shone so brightly in the skies of Cloudview County!
Everyone could see the name emerging from the direction of Gratitude Village. Sёarᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
In Duke's Mansion,
Michael stood on the rooftop, looking up at the family name that seemed to press down on the entire Cloudview County.
"Father, there are too many refugees!"
Kenneth was anxious. After the druid invasion, refugees had nearly filled the entire county, driving him to despair. Yet his father did not take charge of the situation, his gaze also drifting to the sky.
"It's Blackwood. They've secretly brought Betty back, and now the giant rock tribe of Clark is invading Blackwood."
Kenneth clenched his teeth, "Dad, even if we don't send aid, we have to bring Betty back!"
Michael remained unmoved.
He took a deep breath, "Go attend to your duties. The giant rock tribe can't breach Blackwood. They are invading, but the people of Blackwood... they're just going home."
"Going home?"
Kenneth paused, then spoke no more.
Michael looked towards that direction, remembering the day three wolves walked out of Duke's Mansion. He knew very well just how fierce the beasts of Blackwood were.
His eyes held a trace of respect.
No matter his schemes, no matter his past actions, it did not diminish his awe of this family.
The name of the Blackwood family appeared in the skies over Cloudview County.
Sky Sect, Black Tortoise, Ghost Eye Demonic Gate... all the powerful forces in Cloudview County opened their eyes wide at this moment.
They all took a step forward in unison!
In front of Jiuyou Daoist of the Sky Sect stood a druid priest, heading towards Blackwood.
"Move aside!"
Jiuyou Daoist remained unmoved, a space behind him appearing like the depths of hell as he smiled, "Are those from the giant rock tribe of Clark heading to Blackwood? It seems they've chosen the worst possible place in all of Cloudview County."
The priest furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"
He had already received a message from Cynthia. It wasn't a call for help. It was a farewell letter!
Cynthia said that the divinations before reaching Blackwood were auspicious, but upon arrival, they turned slightly ominous. With the appearance of the Blackwood people, the signs became extremely ominous, and when Cynthia turned around, the divination predicted a natural disaster!
There was no solution, whether begging for mercy or retreating, only death awaited. Cynthia's only option now was to fight desperately.
The priest couldn't understand how, with the strength of the giant rock tribe and druids from all directions, they could be pushed to such a state by a single power, even if that power was the notorious blood-stained family of Cloudview County!
Jiuyou Daoist grinned, "It means nothing to you, as you surely don't understand the fear we felt in Cloudview County years ago, nor do you know how the major powers here have lived in fear and unease for decades."
He laughed, "Honestly, when I heard you were invading, I actually felt relieved."
"Relieved?" The priest looked uneasy.
"Yes," Jiuyou Daoist mocked, "Now, Cloudview County is full of my friends, and we are invincible here. Because the ones blocking Blackwood's path now... are you."
The name of the family was rapidly expanding in the sky, spreading across the entire Cloudview County, causing all the powerful psychics of the county to laugh.
These druids from the Endless Forest didn't know the fear that Blackwood had once brought them, especially the giant rock tribe of Clark. They were like brutes crossing a river, charging into the most ferocious family.
And the psychics of Cloudview County just needed to watch quietly, blocking all the priests heading for support. They were sure to profit! They could gain the friendship of Blackwood. Their fear hadn't disappeared; it would transfer to these foolish druids!
"Clansmen, I see the signs!"
"This war requires you to throw your heads and shed your blood. I see my clansmen fearless, I see you charging forward!"
"Do not fear pain, do not fear death."
"Our descendants will flourish on this land, the totem of the giant rock tribe of Clark will stand in every corner of this land, the druids will have our legends, our descendants will be proud of us."
"Now..."
"Fight fiercely, fight for the future of our clan!"
Outside Blackwood, Cynthia raised her staff high, her silhouette magnifying infinitely in front of the giant rock tribe.
She shouted, her voice thundering through the heavens, "Attack!"
Hearing Cynthia's words, the people of the giant rock tribe looked at the humans charging out of the small town, their eyes red with madness.
At this moment, they were fearless!
In their minds, they envisioned the future Cynthia had painted for them, a land with high mountains, their people being born one after another, their tribe's name renowned far and wide.
Such a future was worth their lives!
Watching her people charge madly, Cynthia narrowed her eyes, her gaze resolute, "If the future is unseen, then I..."
"Will lead my people to thrive against all odds!"