"Doesn't that mean the seven families are fighting against each other?" Arthur asked.
"Well, yes. Just because they're called the seven families, it doesn't mean they're united or on good terms with each other. Why would wars happen, in your opinion? Each family wishes to get stronger than the others." Sier said in a helpless tone.
"However, there's also a balance of power. That's why there hasn't been a family who was exterminated completely. They're like cockroaches, spread everywhere." Ivy snorted but Arthur disagreed on the inside.
Even though Jizo hasn't told him the details, he knew that there were nine guardians, not seven. He suspected that the seven families were either the descendants or the followers of the seven guardians who had either betrayed the people or remained neutral.
'What happened to Jizo's and the other guardian's followers and family?' Arthur wondered to himself. 'Were they killed or are they hiding?'
"Anyway, let's resume planning." Si changed the subject. "You'll join the awakeners army and find a chance to get close to the calamity spider. You'll need to find a way to get inside and stop the traitor prince," A flash of sorrow flashed in Si's eyes. "And kill him if necessary. However, the difficult part is to get into the fortress."
"Do we need to do it ourselves? Why can't we just rely on the army?" Reece asked while eating a cookie.
"I doubt they'll be able to do anything. The awakeners' army is tasked with hindering the Calamity Spider until the attack from Ilios Empire is defended. That's where the high-ranking awakeners are. For the Blacksilk fortress, where you'll be defending, it'll be mostly Rei and Vetus-ranker."
Arthur was slightly awed in his mind. To put it into perspective, Neo-rankers were those who had just awakened. After that comes Rei-rank, Vetus-rank, Deme-rank, Astra-rank, and the terrifying Empyrean-rank in sequence. Each rank was worlds apart from each other. The might that could be shown in the higher rank was something that could only be imagined by the common people and witnessed by the lucky ones.
Now, he was merely a neo-ranker that is trying to breakthrough. He'd join rei and Vetus-rankers in disguise to stop a possible calamity. Still in thought, he missed that Si has turned to face him.
"Do you think you can do it, Arthur?" Si asked, hopeful and not without reason since Arthur has shown he had a way yesterday.
And he did.
The fortress was made of runes moving the gears. If Arthur, the inheritor of the scholar guardian and master or runes, couldn't get inside then it would be unrealistic. That's why it wasn't a question of whether he could do it or not, but a question of how.
As for how… Arthur had a couple of plans on his own. However, it would be the first time he would confidently declare something he wasn't certain of.
"I can," Arthur nodded. "If everyone is willing to trust me, then I promise that even if we didn't succeed, no one would get hurt." The room fell silent at his bold declaration. However, Arthur wasn't confident for no reason. After all, he could always do what he did before.
***
They left ten hours before the Calamity Spider was expected to reach the Blacksilk fortress or the border in general. The army would advance from Blacksilk toward Driedlands, an expanse of low ground that was thought to be a sea that evaporated by a dragon.
"Want to drive?" Ivy, under disguise, asked Arthur as she played with the keys. However, Arthur shrugged and told her he never bothered to get a driver's license. They headed toward the Union's headquarters where every awakener was registered. There was also the Temple, who handled criminal awakeners matters.
The ride was rather light-hearted despite no one saying anything. It seems that all of them realize that this mission was rather dangerous, so they tried to meditate beforehand. The silence was there but not as bothering.
The Union's headquarters was just like Arthur expected it to be, simply grand. It was like a miniature city with a skyscraper in the middle and different facilities lying around it. There was even housing for the staff with a hospital, school, and parks for their children. It was a district on its own, Arthur noted.
The group flashed their fake IDs and gained access immediately. They joined a giant crowd of awakeners who were far disorganized to be called an army. A platform was erected in the middle that Arthur noticed when a middle-aged man stood upon it.
The crowd grew silent. It was the president of the Union, a high-ranking awakener that was thought to be at the Astra-rank. As he stood there, a majestic aura was subconsciously emitted by him that gave a feeling to any onlooker that the world was bowing down. He had white hair that was in no way a sign of old age, but of an ability called the amplifiers.
"Thank you for coming here." His voice was deep and eyes piercing yet righteous. "The Yalveran Union needs you right now, and it's time to defend our home against other humans as we do against monsters. I won't try to motivate you or raise your morale, as I know that everyone is aware that our kingdom's survivability is on the line."
His words fell on the crow, turning their expression grim. He scanned them with his ruby eyes before saluting them with a hand on his heart. Everyone did the same.
Groups slowly formed with rankings as a basis. Arthur got separated from the rest because they were disguised as Vetus-rankers to gain access to higher facilities. However, Arthur was sure that their actual rank was above that.
He was assigned to a squad that had ten people including him, one of them being staff from the association that was responsible for relaying commands.
"Everyone, please follow me." The squad leader, a young man with a shaved head, told them before heading deeper into the Union's grounds. They arrived at a large building like a gymnasium and had to wait in line.
"Woah, I'm kind of nervous. I know it's our duty, but this is scary to be thrown into war like this." A young man next to Arthur shuddered. He had a red nose and a piercing in his ear that made him look like a delinquent. His hair was a wild orange, but Arthur thought that it could never be as wild as Reece's.
"Well, we'll be rewarded handsomely, they say. Even the Runes Association are chipping in to provide support since it was kind of their fault." A fat middle-aged man said in response.
"Are you dumb? How is it their fault if the prince is the one who brought this to us? Even now, he's the one attacking the kingdom!" Another handsome man rebuked. However, the first man simply shrugged even though he was much older.
That's how it worked in relationships between awakeners. Rank was the hierarchy between people. If two people were of the same rank despite being of different ages, they treated each other equally.
"Woah, I'm scared. Am I going to die?" The orange hair guy started hyperventilating as if he would have a panic attack. Arthur sighed and smacked his head lightly.
"If you think you'll die, that's what's going to happen. Don't defeat yourself before the battle even started." For some reason, Arthur felt that he was unfit to give such advice. However, coupled with his appearance, the orange-hair man who was obviously older than him, nodded his head seriously.
"You're right, older brother! Please take care of me!" Suddenly Arthur was an older brother. The other shook their head and a conversation began.
Their wait was over and they headed toward a teleportation circle. They could take a plane since it was less expensive than teleportation, but it would take time and effort. In less than a minute, Arthur found himself standing atop a black-brick road in the central square of Blacksilk fortress.
Even though it was a fortress that was built here for security reasons, life couldn't help but bloom. Arthur walked over with the others and witnessed a bustling city a distance away from the fortress, hiding behind the army of the union.
"Welcome to Blacksilk, where death is not as uncommon." The squad leader said to the group as they looked at how the city intertwined with giant forests and hills. "And now," He continued. "We need to protect this place."
The group started moving again. They gathered in a giant field in front of the fortress that was black as charcoal and stood anciently in its place, protecting the lands. Black walls protruded from each side of the castle until they connected with mountain ranges, making a defense line against the incoming attack.
Arthur saw Ivy and Zas since they were easily spotted, but didn't see Li anywhere. They waited in front of the fortress's wall until an old man came forward, accompanied by the president of the union.
"I am General Ro. A giant bug is threatening to take away our land and is now marching toward us. Today, we'll prove to everyone who dares to harbor ill against us that they've made a deadly mistake. For the kingdom and for our families, we shall emerge victoriously!"
His words sent waves in the crowd who started cheering. Humans were always stronger in packs as they made them feel stronger. A bloodthirst excitement spread in the army as a battle that was against the odds would soon commence.