The faction leaders’ words weren’t entirely unreasonable, but Rose remained wary.
Her gaze, sharp and full of hostility, stayed fixed on them.
It was clear from her stance that if anything happened to Kent or his companions, she would not hesitate to strike.
Rose’s unrelenting demeanor only added to the faction’s anxiety.
They had no desire to fight her, especially after their investigations into the Death Legion’s exploits.
Many factions stronger than their own had already fallen to the Death Legion, particularly under the command of its most formidable member—Rose herself.
“Perhaps we could bring in some of our healers to examine them?” one of the faction leaders tentatively suggested, glancing nervously at Rose.
She did not respond, but her lack of objection was response enough.
Her silence carried a clear message: she didn’t trust them. If Kent and the others’ condition worsened, Rose would treat it as an act of aggression and retaliate immediately.
Kent and his companions began to show visible signs of pain, their faces contorted in discomfort.
Rose tightened her grip on the hilt of her greatsword, ready to unleash a devastating attack at a moment’s notice.
Kent had been entrusted to Rose by Daniel himself. Over the years, he and his team had protected her from countless life-threatening situations.
With their combined strength, enhanced by the magic arrays taught by their mentor, they had faced foes far stronger than themselves and emerged victorious.
Without them, the Death Legion’s rapid rise might never have happened.
The Death Legion’s name alone had invited hostility from various groups, yet their power and unity had kept them standing strong.
Losing Kent and his team here would be a blow Rose could not tolerate.
To her relief, the pained expressions on Kent’s face began to ease. The group slowly recovered, their breathing steadying as their complexion returned to normal.
Seeing this, Rose exhaled deeply. “Are you alright? What just happened?” she asked, her voice carrying an edge of barely restrained anger.
Kent, still catching his breath, replied in a low voice, “We’re fine, miss… it was just something sent by the headmaster…”
At the mention of the headmaster, Kent lowered his voice further, ensuring that the faction leaders wouldn’t overhear.
Rose’s icy demeanor softened slightly as understanding dawned.
So it was him… Rose thought, a flicker of warmth crossing her usually stoic expression. Memories of her father, Daniel, stirred within her, making her briefly consider returning home.
But the fleeting moment of vulnerability passed, replaced by her commanding presence. Turning her attention back to the faction leaders, she repeated her ultimatum: “Submit, or face annihilation.”
The leaders exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsettled by her unwavering resolve.
Meanwhile, a peculiar expression crossed Kent’s face, followed by those of his companions.
Before anyone could react, one of them suddenly broke through to a higher level of power.
Daniel’s delivery of the revised Genesis to their minds had triggered this.
The updated content not only provided knowledge but also restructured their internal mana flows and magic patterns.
The result was a significant increase in mana efficiency, acting like a direct upgrade to their magical abilities.
Though they tried to suppress their reactions given the tense situation, the sudden breakthroughs were impossible to hide.
Each of Kent’s team members ascended by at least one level.
The faction leaders were stunned. What had been a delicate negotiation now felt like the prelude to an inevitable battle.
“What… what are they doing? Are they preparing to attack us?” one of them whispered, his voice trembling.
Another chimed in, “Why would they choose now, of all times, to advance? This can’t be a coincidence!”
Their fear escalated with every passing second until one of the leaders, a middle-aged man seated at the head of the group, raised his pale face and declared, “We… we surrender! We choose to submit.”
With that, the negotiation was over. The faction had fallen under the Death Legion’s banner, and Rose was satisfied.
Another city added to her growing dominion, another victory secured. Yet, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Five years had passed. Perhaps… it was time to return home.
…
In the miniature world, Daniel was unaware of the unintended effects caused by sending the updated Genesis. At that moment, he was dealing with Nina’s eager insistence.
“Headmaster, I’ve defeated Ryze now! Isn’t it time for me to return with you?” Nina said excitedly. “I’ve been out here for five or six years already. Who knows how much stronger I’ve become compared to everyone else? I bet they couldn’t even keep up with me!”
Hearing her confident boasting, Daniel chuckled. “Don’t forget, when you first left, you were the weakest of the group.”
“That’s different!” Nina shot back. “I’ve worked harder than anyone these past five years! I’m sure I’ve surpassed them by now!”
Despite his teasing, Daniel was genuinely impressed.
Nina’s victory over Ryze was no small feat. Her abilities had been uniquely countered by Ryze’s class and capabilities, and her strength had originally been far inferior to his.
Overcoming such odds was a testament to her dedication and growth.
“You’ve done well,” Daniel admitted. “And your Coven… that’s impressive too. What are you planning to do about it?”
Daniel had been aware of Coven’s formation but had refrained from interfering.
Initially, he thought it was just a passing fancy, something Nina had done on a whim to emulate Rose.
But over the years, Coven had grown into a legitimate power, which left Daniel wondering about its future.
The Tree of Origin project in the miniature world was nearly complete, and Daniel’s departure was imminent. If Nina planned to leave Winterrealm, what would become of Coven?
“I… I don’t know yet,” Nina admitted, clearly conflicted.
“Sort it out,” Daniel said gently. “We’ll be leaving soon.”
“Understood,” Nina replied before departing.
…
Back at Coven’s headquarters, several key members had gathered, their expressions filled with curiosity and unease.
“Why did the chief call us here so suddenly?” one of them asked.
“I have no idea. I just arrived myself,” another replied.
“What about you, Ice Maiden? Do you know anything?” someone turned to Sarra, who shook her head. She was just as in the dark as the others.
Sarra had been speaking with Nossa about Westwind Pass when the summons came.
She hadn’t returned there in five years, and the two had been reminiscing.
But Nina’s urgent call had interrupted their conversation, leaving Sarra no choice but to rush over.
As more people gathered, Sarra’s thoughts began to drift. A realization crept into her mind—a possibility she had considered but never fully entertained.
Before she could dwell on it further, Nina appeared from a spatial rift and addressed the crowd.
“I see everyone’s here,” Nina began. “Good. I have an announcement: I’m going home.”
The room fell silent as confusion spread among the group. “Home?” one person asked, their voice uncertain.
Nina nodded. “I’m leaving Winterrealm and returning to my homeland in the south. Who wants to come with me?”
Her words left most of the crowd stunned, unsure of what to make of them. Only Sarra seemed to fully understand the implications.
“I’m going!” the snow eagle declared instantly, its loyalty unwavering.
For Sarra, Nina’s words confirmed her suspicion.
For five years, Nina had pushed herself relentlessly, challenging Ryze again and again, battling spell beasts, and honing her skills with single-minded determination.
It was as if something had been driving her, chasing her toward an unseen goal.
And now, that goal had been reached. Nina was going home.