The Summoning of 1.5 Million

Late autumn had passed, and early winter had arrived. In the blink of an eye, another month had gone by. Hill sat on the window seat with a teacup in hand, quietly admiring the first snowfall of winter.

Hill had been living a particularly leisurely life lately.

The players were still scattered throughout Salar for the time being, diligently building churches. To earn William's merit rewards, they had already given it their all. The fight over the first territory in the game was enough to drive those guilds and families mad.

A few days ago, Adrian had already sent him word that all matters concerning himself and his family had been settled.

Adrian was free from then on. Falan no longer needed to worry that his heir would suffer in his old age and be dragged down by the family. From now on, their branch had nothing left to worry about.

Falan's care and protection for Adrian had been earned through twenty years of Adrian's sincere devotion. Adrian's future heir was not yet within Falan and Hill's sphere of concern.

Snowflakes fell with a soft rustle like fine salt, drifting sparsely through the air. Waterways crisscrossed the valley, keeping its temperature from dropping too low. Before the snowflakes could reach the ground, they slowly melted into raindrops. Mist curled through the valley, dreamlike and illusory.

Hill watched Alice clambering atop a towering tree, trying to catch snow with her paws, and his heart filled with warmth and joy.

But at that moment, Nature Spirit suddenly issued him a warning.

Hill instantly flew out of the Mage Tower and gazed toward Salar from afar.

Chaotic elemental power churned above all of Salar. Black clouds blotted out the sky, while inverted cone-shaped tornadoes shot down from them, stretching toward city after city across Salar, sweeping in with overwhelming force.

Yet such terrifying power was firmly restrained.

The power of Gods was so immense, yet it could remain so silent and unnoticed. Ordinary people knew nothing, but all professionals were bound to panic.

At that moment, the eyes of the entire world would turn toward Salar. Even the Elves and Dwarves probably could no longer remain indifferent.

Even Liszt, who had always been indifferent to outside affairs, appeared atop the Mage Tower. For Liszt, who existed by relying on elemental power, such elemental fluctuations were terrifying.

The storm lasted half an hour before abruptly coming to a stop. The various elements filling Salar's territory were swept away completely.

Hill felt the elements within his territory being frantically drawn toward the nearly vacuum-like Salar, and hurriedly had Liszt activate the isolation magic array. Dazzling golden light formed a translucent hemispherical barrier, firmly sealing off Hill's territory.

Looking down, Hill saw that nearly all the Elementals and Magical Beasts living in his territory had gathered around his Mage Tower. They looked up at him in the sky with deep concern.

These creatures, who depended on elements for survival, sensed that the world was about to undergo enormous changes.

They hoped Hill could offer them a reassuring explanation, but Hill could only shatter their hopes.

There had not been a newly born God in ten thousand years. Everyone had to calmly face reality.

Nature was alert, but it did not feel sorrow. The World Consciousness welcomed this change.

Alice leaped onto the top of the tower and looked at Hill in terror. "What happened?"

"The Undead summoning required elemental power. Summoning at least one million Undead at once caused this result. The strength of this God is beyond estimation."

Alice dejectedly buried her head beneath her forepaws, her white fur standing on end as she nearly cried aloud. "Hill knew this would happen, didn't you? That's why you kept urging me to train."

"There is still time. Alice, tell your friends. Make the most of it. My territory can still protect you for now. But I cannot say what will happen later."

Alice asked, "Won't they summon them here?"

"No, why would they? They should be heading south. There is still a war waiting for them over in Hephasaldo! If there is another large-scale summoning, they will only go to Hephasaldo.

But Alice, if their numbers keep increasing, they will not need to come here at all.

Elements flow, Alice."

Alice whimpered softly and scrambled down the tower at top speed.

She went before the little animals and meowed at them for a long time. The little animals dispersed sadly. They had once believed they only needed to live in Hill's valley for a while, but now it seemed that only this place could preserve their lives.

Once the elements in the air became scarce, the crystal cores within their bodies would become coveted by others.

Their inherited memories all contained knowledge of how cruel humans could be.

Hill descended to the ground and summoned the Elementals, warning them never to leave the territory. The Water Elementals in particular absolutely could not swim out of the valley through the river just because they were having fun.

The river channel was the only way out of the valley. The barriers Hill had placed in the river could not stop Elementals capable of turning into water.

Though the Elementals agreed, they all looked worriedly toward the Elemental Realm. Though they had left the Elemental Realm to live on this land, they still worried about their birthplace.

The reason the Elemental Realm had been able to maintain its lofty position was that humanity could not defeat them.

They feared that the Elemental Realm's power would also be eroded away. Would a powerful God spare the resource-rich Elemental Realm?

Hill shook his head and told them that even if it could affect the Elemental World, it would probably take hundreds of thousands of years. Humans would always die, while Elementals might survive for hundreds of thousands of years. Moreover, this deity was a benevolent God and would never take the initiative to invade other worlds.

The simple-minded Elementals quickly relaxed. The Elemental Realm would never participate in the Material Realm's conflicts, and they began happily wandering through Hill's territory again. Hill returned to his study and contacted Falan. "Grandfather! How is Salar doing now?"

"Exactly 1.5 million came through." Falan's tone was stiff. "William has gone completely mad! Don't say anything for now. A great many things have happened in the capital. I'll tell you later. Salar's Mages are all going mad!"

Hill cut off the connection and waited anxiously for Falan to contact him again. Falan did not dare curse that deity, but Hill understood very well who Falan truly wanted to curse beneath his angry tone.

Outside the glittering golden barrier, the early winter snow had already been blown away by the elemental storm.

Life truly rose and fell without warning. Hill could no longer remember the pleasant mood he had been in that morning. Even though he had anticipated it, he was still uneasy when the moment arrived.

Hill silently waited for reality's storm.

At midnight, the external elements finally calmed down, and Hill received another communication from Falan.

This was the first time Hill had heard Falan's voice turn hoarse.

"William is too ruthless! The elemental concentration outside our territory has fallen by a third. Even in the best places within Salar, only half the elements remain.

The Mage Association probably cannot hold on this time. William would love nothing more than for the entire Mage Association to withdraw. They can only choose between leaving and bowing their heads to the Salar Royal Family.

Back then, they forced the royal family to yield a Mage Tower. It is only natural for them to suffer such retaliation.

The Mage Association has been arrogant for so many years. How many talented Mages from Salar have they sent away? The nobles would rather deal with the Temple of Knowledge than learn magic from them.

It is ordinary Mages who will suffer again.

Forget it. There are not many ordinary Mages in Salar anyway. Whatever fate befalls the nobles and the Mage Association is only natural.

After those 1.5 million Undead appeared today, William announced that every elemental mine above city level in Salar would become state-owned.

For mines currently held by nobles, William will purchase them at market price, but only those that have been registered and paid mineral taxes to the royal family.

Any mineral deposits not handed over by next spring will be treated as treason. The army will take them over directly. Any unregistered ones discovered will be confiscated outright."

"All mineral deposits?"

"Small mines like ours do not count. Those outside Salar's borders will not be dealt with for now. But William has announced that he intends to expand the kingdom's territory, pushing the borders northward and westward at the same time.

Those large mineral deposits are all in the hands of great nobles.

What exactly William wants to do now, no one understands anymore.

Everyone in the capital thinks William believes the Salar Royal Family's recent chaos was caused by those great nobles conspiring with one another.

He also hates Edward and Charles. He says he wants to extend the borders only to drive those two farther away. Deep in the Northern Wilderness, there will be enough for them to deal with!"

Hill suddenly could not stop himself from asking, "Does no one think William simply wants to build a fair and just nation?

Mineral deposits capable of influencing a nation should never have been left in private hands."

Falan snapped, "No matter how many speculations or ideas you have, swallow them all!"

"Yes! Grandfather, I will only say them to you."

"What if someone else is here with me? I am actually very glad you sent Bourne's family here.

Remember, watch your mouth."

"Understood, Grandfather. Where is Adrian? Isn't he beside you?"

"Adrian has gone to arrange accommodations. I will be receiving many guests here.

Fortunately, you said the Undead would come and built an inn.

Do not deactivate the isolation magic array over there.

There are too many Mages who are heartless and indifferent, who do not wish to concern themselves with worldly matters. Unless they owe some noble an enormous favor, have sworn an oath before the Gods, or are unlucky fools like Adrian, they will not participate in a war just to defend noble property.

Many people have already hinted to me that they want to come as guests.

They intend to go farther into the Western Mountains to find places to build Mage Towers. Only if they cannot find somewhere safe enough will they give up.

Either submit to William or leave for distant lands.

Things will certainly be chaotic here for a while. This is the only place in the west where they can settle.

During this time, stay obediently within your territory. Do not deactivate the isolation magic array under any circumstances. Do you have enough Elemental Crystals?"

"Don't worry, Grandfather. I have enough to keep it running continuously for a hundred years."

"William has already announced that he is recalling every noble Knight stationed along the Hephasaldo border. He has granted territories to four Undead families.

If the commoners do not wish to live in Undead territory, they may all leave before spring arrives."

Falan could not help sighing. "Something major is bound to happen again when spring comes."