Swordsman's Regression: Reawakened as a Necromancer-Chapter 65: Prepare for War!

In no time, the decree left the castle and spread through the ends of Metrodorian and to other provinces in merely a day.

Messengers on swift-steeds wearing the crest of the crown, rode out to the four corners of Valoris. Whisperers spread the news in inns and taverns. Diviners shared it in temples and Scholars announced it in the Academies.

The message was simple and yet terrifying: The Age of the Hero was over.

King Alfred had declared that Evernia would no longer wait for a savior who refused to save them. Instead, they would save themselves.

Of course such a decision could not be made by only him. He was the King of Valoris, not the Emperor of Evernia. In fact, coming to a decision like this solely would be seen in the negative light by his fellow kings of the Elves and the Dwarves.

Nevertheless, a push of such magnitude by the king of Valoris—who undeniably held the biggest power within all three kings—was something to be taken seriously.

If this went through, it was a history making decision.

In the bustling plaza of Wolsend, the war capital of Northmarch, the proclamation was displayed on the board of the Gate World Hall.

Awakeners who had been clearing Gate Worlds crowded around it, reading with wide eyes and a mixture of excitement and dread.

Some of them believed they had a chance at being chosen for the inaugural Heroes Party.

Baron Morys held the news scroll a Messenger had given him. He read it with a plastic gaze. "Interesting," he murmured after. Then handed it to the Messenger, saying nothing else as he returned to his chambers.

Rettucia, about to enter her workshop, saw the message had been put up on her wall. She stopped to read and smiled.

"You’re not really going to let me down, Percival, are you?"

Within the hallowed halls of the Elderis Stone Academy, the headmaster stood before an assembly of their most promising talents. The message was displayed behind him.

"We are to scour the records," Headmaster Nulgrave announced. "The Crown demands a list of every Legendary and Mythic Talents under our ranks. This is not just those who are strong now, but those whose mana cores are projected to retain enough mana to guarantee Lvl 150 in the next three years."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the Scholars and the young Awakeners. Lvl 150 was the mortal cap. Only a few Awakeners would ever reach it, and the few who did were taken away to compete for the title of Legacy Awakener.

"This is expected," Nulgrave said. "Only the most powerful of the most powerful can be selected to face the dread we know as the Demon Lord. We must prepare in earnest. Seven Stars Academy and the Academy of Heaven are already preparing their list for the Crown."

He narrowed his eyes. "It is important that Elderis Stone is represented."

In the gilded headquarters of the Golden Spire Guild, the stewards were dispatched to select the best Awakeners they have under their banner and to submit their names to the crown.

They would not only have to compete with other Guilds like the Heaven’s Blade Guild and the Sunsparrow Guild, but even with Academies who would want to present other names that belonged to other Guilds.

The struggle for a spot was already ruthless.

The party would consist of twenty Awakeners in totality: the absolute most peak of the new generation from the Human, Elf and Dwarf kingdoms.

They would train together, eat together, and bleed together under the tutelage of the Legacy Awakeners.

But of those twenty, only six would be the ones to battle the Demon Lord. Others, including the Legacy Awakeners would merely clear the path for them.

If they weren’t able to get at least one of their Awakeners to represent them, these Guilds and Academies would view it as a shame.

However, more importantly, the other kingdoms received the news as well.

To the East, in the mist-shrouded realm of Eldermoor, a Messenger arrived, wielding a scroll as he entered into the castle in Lirandoril, the capital province of the Elf Kingdom.

He was received by the royal guard, clad in armors and helms that allowed their pointed ears to jut out of the sides.

After receiving the message, King Galadrien Everwood stood on his balcony, overlooking a city woven from living wood and silver streams.

His enchanting white hair spread all the way down to his knees, his blue robes glistening under the gentle sun, and his wife, Miriel Everwood beside him, smiling softly as his troubled expression.

A soothing presence she was.

But the beauty and solace of his wife did not blind him to the smoke rising in the distance. Just yesterday, an Alpha Gate had opened here in Lirandoril and the Awakeners were still clearing it presently.

Even worse, just last week, a Demon Migration occurred in Oldleaf, a small village in the capital. Awakeners had cleared the Demonspawns and revived the village, but this was only a sign of future dangers.

Clearly, the Demon Lord was being more direct. Attempting to create a Citadel close to the King’s castle. That was truly a bold move.

And now, this news of the Hero...

The future truly looked worrisome for the Elven King.

His council stood behind him. They usually were never overjoyed to receive news from the Humans—a sentiment Galadrien himself didn’t share—but today, they were genuinely worried.

"The Human King confirms it," one councilor whispered. "The Hero has abandoned the cycle."

"Then we stand together, or we fall alone," the Elf King stated, his voice hard. "The Demon Lord has increased his infiltrative tactics over the last few weeks. We must begin our defence before it is too late."

Miriel gazed at our husband. "They did not say why the Hero refused to aid us?"

Galadrien looked at her for a while before returning his eyes to the city. "It does not matter, my love. The Hero is a person, not a concept. I feared the day would come when one would reject us. Today is the day."

"And we can not change his mind?" Miriel joined her husband to gaze into the city.

"Even if we can, we still have to prepare ourselves. On this note, King Alfred is right."

Miriel lowered her head. "You know what this means?"

Galadrien turned to her, narrowing his silver eyes. "Corisande?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"She is a Healer Mage, but a Mythic Talent?" Miriel shook her head sadly. "It will be wrong of us to hide her and send others."

Galadrien was silent for a while. Then, gently, he embraced his wife, placing her head on his shoulder. "Corisande is strong. Her training with the Heaven’s Blade Guild is showing promise. I do not want to do it anymore than you, but you are right. We can not hide our daughter from the dangers of the world that she is meant to help defeat."

Miriel nodded on her husband’s shoulder.

The King turned to his generals. "Send word to the Academies and the Guilds. They shall select our most promising Awakeners with the highest ranked Talents. This Heroes Party will need all the magic it can get to defeat the Demon Lord."

In the south, Stonehold, the Kingdom of Elves had just received the news as well.

The reaction was even more volatile.

King Baldric Ironbeard sat on his iron throne, reading the scroll with a scowl that deepened the lines on his face.

The tremors from the "Green Light" disaster in Dranarg were still being felt in the province of Hammerbridge. He had his best Scholars and Earth Mages studying the tunnels that the damned Priest had entered so he could know for sure what had happened.

Hearing from King Alfred—the same idiot who sent the Priest here in the first place—was not something he was in the mood to entertain.

Nevertheless, this situation was a grim one.

The Dwarves knew better than anyone the kind of threat the Demon Lord was. Stonehold suffered the most Gate World openings, Demon Migrations and incursions.

Many believed that this was because Stonehold was the first kingdom, but they could not explain how this tied to the high numbers of Gate World and Demonspawn activities.

All the kingdoms had already been created when Azazel fell and became the Demon Lord.

Whatever the case, the truth was undeniable.

Another Mortal War was coming, and after that, the Demon Lord would be attacking fiercelessly. The Great Shield would not hold him back forever.

But more than the other races, the dwarfs really loved war.

"Aye, the humans are finally desperate enough to fight properly," Baldric grunted, tossing the scroll to his general. "About time."

"Iron Guard Guild claims they have two powerful Awakeners sure to make the team. Should we ask for more, my King?" the general asked.

"Ask all the Guilds for more," Baldric roared, slamming his fist on the armrest. "Heaven’s Blade, Golden Spire, all of them. The Academies too. The most powerful young Awakeners we have! I am not going to let Demonspawn scum nest in my ancestors’ tombs! Send the messengers!"

"In my opinion, this summoned Hero, Percival—or whatever his outworldish name is—did us all a favor. Prepare for war!"