Chapter 494: Helplessness
Leon had been preoccupied with how to deal with the Forgefire Clan, so he naturally had no time to care about what Thorne Merlin was up to. In fact, ever since leaving the council chamber, he had sought out Edgar Merlin and Uriel Merlin.
He had no choice—he barely had any real control over the Merlin Family's Planar Legion. If he wanted to work with the Black Tower against the Forgefire Clan, he had to commit a portion of his military strength. Otherwise, the Black Tower would see him as insincere, maybe even untrustworthy.
This gave him a splitting headache...
Though he was personally appointed as commander by the Ancestral Grounds, the Planar Legion stationed at Inferno Fortress had always been led solely by Thorne Merlin. Over the years, Thorne had fought countless battles in the Blazeforge Realm, earning unshakable authority among the troops by risking his life alongside them.
Now Leon had barged in, taking up the commander’s mantle in the Blazeforge Realm—a complete outsider, really. On paper, he’d taken some of Thorne’s power, but in reality, Thorne’s authority hadn’t diminished at all. Most of the legion only answered to Thorne.
So Leon had no choice but to come up with a solution. In a few months, when the formal alliance with the Black Tower began and they launched their assault on the Forgefire Clan, if he couldn’t present a halfway decent force, things could go south fast.
Given what he knew about the Black Tower, Leon understood perfectly well that their quick agreement had everything to do with Chairman Heron wanting to minimize losses and risks while maximizing their gains. Partnering with the Merlin Family was all about sharing the risk...
And during negotiations with Chairman Heron that morning, Leon had gone all in, demanding seventy percent of the slots for entering Specter Valley. If he couldn’t field a strong enough force, he’d honestly be a bit embarrassed.
After all, both sides needed to pull their weight...
At first, hearing the young mage’s words, Edgar and Uriel both breathed a sigh of relief. But as he continued, something seemed off—he wanted to seize control of Specter Valley!
How could that be possible...?
Both had fought for control in the Blazeforge Realm several times and knew all too well that the Forgefire Clan had always coveted Specter Valley. If the Merlin Family could easily seize it, would they still need to station troops there year after year and remain deadlocked for so long?
The young mage’s plan to seize control of Specter Valley was clearly unrealistic.
The Merlin Family had tried for years, yet they made little real progress with Specter Valley. They didn’t believe the young mage could pull it off.
They’d witnessed the young mage’s power—terrifying, to be honest—but seizing Specter Valley wasn’t a one-man job. It required a massive force, and the young mage had no experience in planar warfare.
This legion had fought under Thorne Merlin for years; moving them under his nose was nearly impossible. But before coming to the Blazeforge Realm, a portion—about four or five hundred—had been transferred from the Ancestral Grounds.
Edgar and Uriel exchanged glances, secretly shaking their heads and smiling wryly. They didn’t want to discourage the young mage: “That force from the Ancestral Grounds, we can mobilize and they’ll follow your orders. But just these mages alone may not be enough to take Specter Valley...”
They’d wanted to say that four or five hundred wouldn’t be enough to take Specter Valley, but decided to be more tactful.
In their view, even if the young mage lacked any experience in planar warfare, hearing this result should make him reconsider.
But...
Gentlemen, please transfer those troops from Inferno Fortress and come with me to Specter Valley. We need to make preparations in advance...
Edgar and Uriel would never have guessed that Leon was already satisfied.
Four or five hundred may seem few, but it’s better than nothing. He’d thought Thorne Merlin controlled the entire legion, leaving him with almost no one to command. Now, to his surprise, he could mobilize several hundred, plus Edgar and Uriel, the three Merlin brothers, and Xuban the Dragonblood Orc. That’s not a weak force at all.
The conversation ended quickly. Leon led a large group to Specter Valley, making arrangements and sealing off the valley.
Now, only about five hundred from the Ancestral Grounds were under Leon’s command. Most were High Mages, with only ten Magi among them.
Their strength was far below that of the Planar Legion controlled by Thorne Merlin.
Two months passed quickly. During this time, Leon shuttled between Inferno Fortress and Specter Valley, making arrangements. The Forgefire Clan’s assaults on Inferno Fortress didn’t let up—more than ten attacks, large and small. Though the fortress held, there were losses.
At this time, the atmosphere in the council chamber at Inferno Fortress was tense. Thorne Merlin issued a series of orders, then dismissed the legion’s senior officers, leaving only Edgar and Uriel.
Gentlemen, you’re being ridiculous...
Over the past two months, Thorne Merlin had learned of Leon’s plans for Specter Valley. When he first heard, he laughed for a long time...
What kind of place is Specter Valley?
It’s a place where magical energy is so dense it’s almost mist. Not only does the Merlin Family covet it, but the Forgefire Clan will never give up the fight. And that fool, Mafa Merlin, is leading five hundred High Mages to seize it. In Thorne’s view, it’s pure suicide.
During his decades of campaigning in the Blazeforge Realm, Thorne Merlin had tried to take Specter Valley many times, always failing. The Forgefire Clan guarded it closely—only overwhelming force could seize control.
Thorne Merlin had watched Mafa Merlin’s actions over the past two months, never intervening—he found it laughable. Did the Forgefire Clan fear five hundred High Mages? If that were enough, the Merlin Family would have crushed them ages ago.
Still, he had no intention of warning Mafa Merlin—let him learn the hard way.
After all these years, Thorne Merlin knew the Forgefire Clan’s strength inside out. Just the six Grand Seers alone were a headache, each matching a Tier Five Magus or stronger, and there was a mysterious chieftain too. Not to mention the countless other powerful seers and military forces—the Merlin Family couldn’t hope to match them, even with all their forces combined.
So the five hundred High Mages led by Mafa Merlin seemed all the more ridiculous. Thorne figured they couldn’t even handle the Forgefire Clan’s garrison near Specter Valley.
Mafa Merlin is still young and inexperienced in planar warfare—his mistakes are understandable. But you two, gentlemen, have plenty of experience. Why didn’t you advise him otherwise...?' Thorne’s tone was polite but his words were sharp.
Thorne Merlin had always thought Leon’s position as commander was just for show—he couldn’t shake Thorne’s control over the legion. And that was still true.
But...
Edgar and Uriel, two titled Magi from the Ancestral Grounds, had chosen to support Mafa Merlin, transferring command of those High Mages from Inferno Fortress to him. This secretly annoyed Thorne, but he couldn’t afford to offend them—their backgrounds were too deep.
Heh, the Merlin Magus is the commander—he can make his own decisions...
At that moment, Edgar and Uriel, seated on either side, looked pale. They wanted to object, but didn’t dare. Ever since they’d handed over command of the five hundred High Mages, Leon had been obsessed, running to Specter Valley every day.
They really were helpless...
Still, he had no intention of warning Mafa Merlin—let him learn the hard way.
After all these years, Thorne Merlin knew the Forgefire Clan’s strength inside out. Just the six Grand Seers alone were a headache, each matching a Tier Five Magus or stronger, and there was a mysterious chieftain too. Not to mention the countless other powerful seers and military forces—the Merlin Family couldn’t hope to match them, even with all their forces combined.
So the five hundred High Mages led by Mafa Merlin seemed all the more ridiculous. Thorne figured they couldn’t even handle the Forgefire Clan’s garrison near Specter Valley.
Mafa Merlin is still young and inexperienced in planar warfare—his mistakes are understandable. But you two, gentlemen, have plenty of experience. Why didn’t you advise him otherwise...?' Thorne’s tone was polite but his words were sharp.
Thorne Merlin had always thought Leon’s position as commander was just for show—he couldn’t shake Thorne’s control over the legion. And that was still true.
But...
Edgar and Uriel, two titled Magi from the Ancestral Grounds, had chosen to support Mafa Merlin, transferring command of those High Mages from Inferno Fortress to him. This secretly annoyed Thorne, but he couldn’t afford to offend them—their backgrounds were too deep.
Heh, the Merlin Magus is the commander—he can make his own decisions...
At that moment, Edgar and Uriel, seated on either side, looked pale. They wanted to object, but didn’t dare. Ever since they’d handed over command of the five hundred High Mages, Leon had been obsessed, running to Specter Valley every day.
They really were helpless...