Chapter 323: Chapter 280: Five Years Later, All Pretenses Torn Aside, the Flames of War Ignite

After the bloodshed in Alva River Valley that shocked the border.

The dispute over the core interest of territorial sovereignty caused the Haltai Duchy and the Abel Duchy to almost simultaneously issue intensely worded official statements, engaging in severe denunciations and accusations against each other, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

Meanwhile.

Other duchies, either close or distant, with or without vested interests, or even having had minor friction with these two major duchies.

Seemed to be quietly manipulated by invisible hands behind the scenes, gradually dividing and converging.

Ultimately forming three distinct factions—the neutral observers, those openly supporting Haltai, and those staunchly backing Abel.

And those mighty kingdoms, the true pillars and core of the Lothern Federation.

Their reaction appeared exceptionally calm.

One might even say indifferent. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

They seemed to turn a blind eye to this increasingly intense duchy conflict happening right under their nose, showing no interest in such minor squabbles, but still meticulously adhering to the ancient regulations that have governed the Federation for centuries, systematically initiating mediation procedures, formally sending envoys to Haltai and Abel, attempting to quell the dispute.

However, this time.

The attitudes of the two duchies were markedly different from before.

They did not, as in the past, choose to compromise and concede under the pressure of kingdom mediation.

On the contrary.

They behaved like enraged porcupines, each bringing out dusty border treaties and historical documents that date back hundreds of years, citing history and reasoning to argue their case.

They were uncompromising at the negotiating table, displaying an unprecedentedly tough stance.

They insisted on firmly grasping those disputed areas with unclear sovereignty, where both sides claimed legal rights.

Thus.

Under the complex interplay and influence of various forces, after a grueling, five-year-long diplomatic tug-of-war and small-scale border skirmishes.

In the late summer of the New Calendar year 256, on an exceptionally sunny day.

The Haltai Duchy and the Abel Duchy brazenly tore apart the core treaty that maintained internal peace within the Federation, officially issuing declarations of war filled with hostility and conflict.

As for now.

Those powerful kingdoms with deep foundations remain steadfast like a rock on high platforms, maintaining an inscrutable patience and silence.

They watch the escalation of the duchy-level conflicts with cold eyes, seemingly waiting quietly for some critical moment to arrive, or perhaps scheming something deeper.

However.

The positions of the numerous duchies within the Federation have undergone dramatic changes amid this half-year standoff filled with tension.

The duchies that once attempted to stay neutral have almost vanished.

They either openly sided with Haltai or staunchly chose to support Abel.

Those duchies standing in opposing camps, while not yet engaging in direct warfare like Haltai and Abel, and not erupting into full-scale conflicts.

Nevertheless, due to historical territorial disputes, trade frictions, or long-standing grudges.

Their hostility and tension escalated as if dry tinder had been ignited, quickly becoming intense and hot, with constant border skirmishes and small-scale conflicts, as if the air was thick with tension.

The border conflict that served as the fuse is now known as the Alva River Valley Incident.

Meanwhile.

As machinations and undercurrents roiled in the Lothern Federation Countries with hearts full of schemes and ambitions.

In the remote and forgotten wild lands bordering the Sel Wilderness and the Eternal Frost Tundra, far from the bustling civilized world.

The Molten Iron Tribe, like a roaring wildfire, rapidly developed over the past five years.

Its fierce momentum catching everyone’s attention.

Benefiting from the astonishing resilience and almost frenzied reproductive desire of its monstrous species, the population numbers within the tribe’s clans surged like a snowball, demonstrating explosive growth.

Furthermore, thanks to the blood and fire of previous ruthless wars.

Like refined steel revealing its edge through hammering and removing impurities, numerous powerful leaders and elite warriors, capable of single-handedly carrying the weight of the tribe, emerged in droves like mushrooms after rain throughout the tribe’s corners.

Yet, behind the joyous expansion and growth of power, there exists an undeniable flaw.

One of the tribe’s most highly anticipated core plans.

The Dragon-forged Warrior Modification Plan, is currently stuck in an anxious halt.

Although the Green Dragon Ludwig and Black Dragon Seraphina have successfully assumed their roles, respectively taking the paths of Natural Dragon and Undead Dragon, and are simplifying and dissecting the Dragon Vein Ceremony at the tribe’s request, with a plentiful supply of living subjects for research, due to their limited levels and slightly inadequate understanding of life, flesh, soul, and other aspects, there has been no effective progress in the Dragon-forged Warrior Modification Plan.

The Blue Dragon Heryam and Red Dragon Kahill have also completed their roles as Storm Dragon and Wild Dragon.

It must be said, White Dragon Trish has quite a knack for encouraging the other young dragons to grow stronger.

On the Black Iron Plain—this industrial heartland of the Molten Iron Tribe—a similar upheaval is taking place.

Buoyed by absorbing and assimilating the alchemy legacy of the Golden Tooth Tribe and continuous technical exploration, along with favorable resources and policies, the Molten Iron Tribe’s alchemy industry system has expanded in scale and complexity over the mere span of five years.

Even though the ambitious conception—to have multiple intelligent beings jointly operate a super-sized golem—still remains in the blueprint and small-scale validation stage, far from actual combat deployment.

Nonetheless.

The combat golems, like Steel Guards, entrenched in the Molten Iron Tribe’s crucial strongholds, ever-ready to crush any invading enemies, now number far beyond the peak total of the Golden Tooth Tribe in its heyday.

In sum.

The Molten Iron Tribe’s Affiliated Legion, its scale has nearly expanded to the extreme edge of the current resource output level that the Border Area can support, and the tribe’s overall strength has reached an unprecedented peak.

It is powerful and well-equipped!

—A vast, battle-tested monster legion fills the camps of the wilderness.

It is fully-fledged!

—From basic industry to high-end leaders, from resource reserves to organizational structure, all have constructed a solid, relatively complete system.

It commands unwavering loyalty and unity!

—The faith and awe towards the Death Omen Star, who reigns supreme on the throne of Dragon Valley, have long been deeply etched in the hearts of every tribe member.

Its morale has reached a pinnacle!

—After five years of laborious preparation and rapid strength accumulation, a fervent desire for battle permeates the entire tribe.

All warriors are eager and ready for action, all golem engines are growling in preheating, and all eyes are eagerly cast towards Dragon Valley.

They stand poised for action.

Only awaiting the command of their exalted king to once again stir up a storm of iron and fire, to conquer broader territories for him and seize more dazzling glory.

At this moment.

The King of the Borderland, Galos Ignas, clad in Dragon Scale like black-red molten metal, shimmering with a metallic sheen, has just completed his essential daily rigorous training.