It took an entire month to move 31,000 people, most of whom were unwilling but submitted to Asher’s might out of Greenrock.
The loyalty of these people was pitiful, so Asher planned to send them to Goshen, a place where people loved and respected him. Mixing them together would surely bring quick positive changes.
With both hands clasped behind him, he stood on the second wall staring at the horizon.
After examining Greenrock, he was amazed. The architect was indeed a genius. The two walls were connected in a beautiful way that made them strengthen each other.
This was the reason he shot way more brimstones than expected.
Thousands of workers could be seen working on the walls. The masons were cutting stones brought from Nineveh while the other laborers took the stones to those doing the repairs.
On another side, hundreds of men were mixing green clay. It functioned as a cement but was much stronger after hardening.
“Hoo!”
A mighty bellow from the mouths of thousands came from behind, causing him to turn. His eyes flickered as he gazed at the Desolate Wolves training as one.
Hundreds of yards away were the Ashkelon knights also marching. Far away from them were 1000 Bladebreakers on their intimidating mounts galloping thunderously.
The Stormbringers were focused on destroying stones hundreds of yards away.
Watching these elites made Asher’s lips curl up a bit.
All of a sudden, a snowflake dropped on the bulwark before him. Seeing this, he lifted up his head in shock and saw millions of snowflakes falling from the sky.
It was winter!
Turning, he gazed at the distant north, pondering Ashkelon’s situation. Winter beyond the Ash mountains had elements of the supernatural.
Winter was when the Abyss worshipers cult became more active, and during winter the spread of Abyss Force was voracious.
The coldness of the abyss force was the main reason for the unbearable weather.
In this season, Asher saw it best to live in Ashkelon in order to figure out a way to help his people and protect them from any external attacks.
While he pondered, Alex walked up to him. “My lord, 20 trebuchets will arrive tonight. Also, Regent Kelvin sent a letter.”
He stretched forth his right hand.
Asher took the rolled-up paper and opened it.
“Salvatore?”
His eyebrows rose. He couldn’t link this to any knowledge he had from Earth.
No one in the X gamers crew mentioned the name Salvatore. Their ties with the Ashbournes for centuries made Asher reconsider his early thoughts about House Ashbourne.
There was so much lore about this house that it seemed as if it was endless.
“Prepare Alex. We march for Tiberias tomorrow.”
Alex nodded, turned, and left.
Watching him leave, Asher exhaled.
Time trickled by until the skies became dark, lacking the moons and the stars. Campfires could be seen at different places in Greenrock.
In the lord’s manor, Asher could be found studying a map. He sat inside a fairly large room, on a chair and table beside the bed.
His source of light was from a magical candle. This candle was imported straight from the Intis kingdom, but because of his impaired connection to the outside world, Asher could not purchase it like other nobles.
Written on the map was ‘Greenrock,’ but from a small piece of paper, Asher discovered Tiberias was just a bigger, less fortified version of this castle.
However, from the overlapping, he could see that Tiberias’s walls were much bigger than Greenrock’s. It would take a lot of brimstones to bring it down.
The structure of the city was incredible. They even buried earth elemental crystals beneath the walls to strengthen it as time trickled by.
And it had been decades since Tiberias was built!
The durability of the wall was beyond the materials used in building it!
Laying siege against that city would be the toughest battle he will face so far.
‘Should I hold back for now?’
He thought with narrowed eyes.
[Upgrade Quest: Lay waste to Tiberias, the great city of the white tigers, in one month’s time.]
[Reward: Upgrading your territory to encompass the entire wastelands, thereby giving life to these dying lands. A great wall that would divide the wastelands from the high plains.]
Asher clenched his fist, his eyes fixed on the rewards.
Even the system knew it would be tough to defeat Tiberias, or else it wouldn’t have given him one month.
After all, it gave him seven days to bring down all the Bashan clans.
The chair creaked as he got to his feet. Slowly, he made his way to the bed and laid down. The moment the back of his head touched the pillow, Asher felt like he sank into a sea.
He was drowning!
Asher struggled to swim upwards, but the sea dragged him down. Persistent and longing for survival, he eventually burst out of the sea only to see a massive tide.
It was over 30 feet!
Boom!
He sank into the sea once again. His hair was like silk as it floated upward.
His eyes trembled.
‘Spirit world!’
Without being told, Asher knew his spirit had transported into the spirit world. Struggling with all his might, he burst out of the water.
This time around, he sights a man walking upon the water.
‘Thomas!’
His eyes widened. It was his elder brother, the same one that poisoned Frederick, Baron James’s firstborn.
“Little brother. It’s been a while, don’t you think?”
Thomas leaped and slammed his foot against Asher’s head, causing Asher to sink once again.
By the time Asher struggled out, he was panting.
He looked up and saw Thomas was right before him. “Your name rings not only in the mortal world but here also. Why? Why should a bastard bear the weight of a noble house? I will relieve you of this burden.”
Asher’s eyes flashed.
He struggled to burst out of the water, but Thomas’ eyes glowed bluish white, and the phantom of a giant sea viper appeared behind him.
Asher’s pupils trembled. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
How in Tenaria did an Ashbourne lose the bond of the majestic wolf and bear that of a different creature?
The spirit world might not be as rigid as he thought.
The water seemingly transformed into a viscous liquid that refused to allow Asher to move no matter how he struggled.
“This sea is called the Forgotten Sea. Spirits dare not come here, but you, a mortal, did.”
“You don’t have the blood of the wolf anymore. How did you summon me?!”
Asher clenched his teeth.
“Oh, I do have the blood of the wolf, but my wolf is pathetic. Pharaoh, on the other hand, is more powerful than any wolf.”
Thomas chuckled.
“Just take a look at the Ashbournes hope. Oh, the once great house has truly fallen.”
Boom!
The water dragged Asher down. He struggled to swim but kept going down. Bubbles came out of his lips as his vision of Thomas grew blurry.
[Ding! Your talent is growing.]
[Ding! Your talent is growing. Host, should I interfere? Yes or No?]
Asher stared at the ‘No’ as strength left him. It seemed so close yet so far away. Enjoy exclusive content from freewebnovel
Ah, so it was his growing talent that exposed him to the rest of the Ashbournes. It seems like not all of them are on his side.
His eyes closed.
…
A/N: Please vote Asher Ashbourne for the character competition!!
Also, why is our power stones dropping? We need More!!
Next Goal: 2k