The Alliance Forms

The two in the room looked at the balance of power reflected on the map, and their hearts sank.

Jarod was worried that he had failed to carry out the task Snyder had entrusted to him. Apophis, meanwhile, feared that if the evil creature got out, it would destroy their home.

"What should I do?" Apophis asked.

"There's only one way now. We have to enter the tomb and kill him," Jarod said.

"This..." Apophis fell silent. It was a challenge to the traditions he upheld.

But he also knew that if they did nothing, the consequences would be immeasurable.

"Then we'll kill him! We'll finish what the guardian could not." Apophis made the decision he believed was right.

"You've made the right decision, Apophis."

"I'll go back and prepare the weapons now."

"Good. My warriors need your weapons. We'll prepare the supplies."

"I'll go tell my people about this now."

The two groups reached an agreement, then went their separate ways to prepare.

After Jarod and his group left, Apophis summoned his trusted followers to discuss a plan for entering Tyr's Tomb.

When Apophis told them about entering Tyr's Tomb, his trusted followers were shocked by their chief's rebellious words.

"Chief, are we really going to believe outsiders and enter the place we guard with our lives?"

"That's right, Chief. These outsiders have no idea how sacred the place we guard is."

"But if those outsiders are right, and we leave it alone, the price our descendants will have to pay for the consequences will be unbearable."

"If we join those outsiders and completely wipe out that monster, accomplishing what even the guardian Tyr needed to do, what an honor that would be!"

Apophis watched his followers argue in silence. At last, he could no longer hold back.

Bang! Apophis smashed the table in front of them with one punch, displaying the Vrykul's immense strength to the fullest.

Everyone was stunned by what Apophis had done.

"We cannot leave any hidden threat for our descendants. It's reviving in our generation, so we must kill him. This is a test the heavens have given me."

"Many people will die in this battle. But if we don't deal with it and let it fully revive, it will harm our descendants. We could pretend it doesn't exist and live out our lives in peace, but that would become the greatest regret of our lives."

"Being able to do something and not doing it, and being unable to do it but trying your best anyway-those are two different things."

Apophis's words silenced everyone, their expressions shifting constantly.

"I'm in! I'll go! Who's coming with me?"

One of his trusted followers was the first to stand up and speak.

"I'll go too!"

With one person taking the lead, the others rose to their feet one after another.

Watching his followers rally, Apophis smiled in satisfaction.

"We are the guardians of this place. This is our duty."

"For this operation, those outsiders will give us weapons like their own to improve our fighting strength."

Everyone smiled at the news that the outsiders would provide weapons. With those weapons, their chances of survival would greatly increase.

"At the same time, those outsiders will send troops to contain the Old Gods' minion and send him to his death. Our task is to buy time."

"How many people should we send?"

"A squad of elite warriors will do. I'll lead them."

"You?"

"Yes, I'll lead them. It's my duty as chief. A chief can't shrink back because of danger. Facing hardship head-on is what makes a true chief."

"There's no need to discuss this any further. If we die during this operation, the old chief will appoint the next chief."

Apophis brought the old chief, who had already stepped down, to the forefront.

"Go on, then. If you die, I'll keep the tribe running. It's so frustrating that I can't take part in an operation this meaningful."

The old chief spoke from where he sat. The passage of time had left him no longer standing straight, but his bright, piercing eyes showed a vigor that belied his aged body.

"Pack up all our best weapons. The most elite spellcasters and warriors are to assemble at the outpost entrance."

Jarod gave the order as soon as he returned to the outpost. He knew they were racing against time: the longer they delayed, the slimmer their chances of killing the Old Gods' minion.

The elven troops assembled quickly, and Jarod soon led the warriors and weapons to the Vrykul village.

Evening, the Vrykul village.

The village welcomed many unfamiliar faces. The elves they had seen that morning had returned.

With the elves' arrival, the Vrykul brought out their most precious food to entertain them, and the elves brought out the sweets and fine wine they had brought with them.

Smoked meat from beasts, wild fruit gathered in the jungle, bread made from wheat, delicate sweets, and fragrant wine made up the clan's lavish meal.

This was the tribe's finest food, and the elves did not turn their noses up at it. They ate the food set before them in great mouthfuls.

The Vrykul were also fascinated by the desserts they had never seen before. This new flavor, different from the sweetness of wild fruit, left them unable to stop eating, especially the Vrykul children.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the feast. Elves and Vrykul could be seen challenging each other to drinking contests, and the two groups mingled more closely.

There was no trace of sadness, as though tomorrow's task were as simple as catching a fish in a lake.

"Enjoying the food, my friend?" Apophis walked over to Jarod with a large mug of wine in hand.

Jarod was battling a beast's leg. The Vrykul were skilled at roasting meat, and they had prepared it deliciously.

"The food you provided is delicious," Jarod told Apophis.

"How many of the warriors we take with us tomorrow will come back alive?" Apophis asked, sitting down beside Jarod.

"I don't know. If we're lucky, not a single person will die. If we're unlucky, you and I might both die in there."

Jarod's words silenced both leaders, their silence contrasting with their followers' happiness.

The blazing bonfire went out, and a new day arrived.

The fully equipped alliance set out for Tyr's Tomb. With locals as guides, they took a shortcut to its location.

"This is Tyr's Tomb? Isn't this a pond?"

Standing outside the pond, Jarod was puzzled.

"Tyr's tomb is underwater. The water here is only meant to protect it from disturbance."

Apophis spoke.

"We have to dive into the water to get in." As Apophis spoke, the warriors he had brought prepared to plunge into the water.

"No need. I have another way."

As he spoke, the Shamans at the rear stepped forward and summoned Water Elementals to take control of the water in the lake. A path leading to Tyr's Tomb appeared before everyone.