Whoosh—
A meteor streaked across the skies above the Storm Territory, leaving a green trail against the pale gray heavens.
Below, across the snowy plain, horses snorted steam as a wagon’s wheels gouged two deep ruts in the packed snow, winding in from the distance like an old scar plowed into the white.
It was obvious this caravan from the swamp was struggling through the snow.
Escorting the caravan was a small party of a dozen or so adventurers, mostly dwarves and humans, with a rare half-elf among them.
Because of the curse, half-elves were far rarer than elves in this region of the kingdom.
The young half-elf archer in the group seemed to sense something and looked up.
“What’s that?”
“A green meteor?”
Dwarven sight wasn’t great on snowy plains, but even he could make out the green streak that had crossed overhead.
He had lived for decades, seen mages’ fireballs and the breath of giant dragons, but he had never seen a green meteor in broad daylight.
“A meteor in the middle of the day?” Lofum muttered, lifting his flask for a swallow. “Must be magic, some mage’s trick.”
He said it aloud, but doubts gnawed at him.
Meteors should fall downward, but this light was horizontal, even curving subtly upward.
It didn’t look like a fall; it looked like something flying through the sky.
The middle-aged man leading the column glanced back.
He scanned the sky, but the green streak had already vanished beyond their overhead view, so he saw nothing.
“Alright, don’t get distracted.” His voice was hoarse and tired. “Up ahead is Iron Thorn Fortress.”
“There are roaming demons in this area, stay alert. Don’t let those little devils ambush the caravan and the supplies.”
The adventurers quickly tightened their expressions and gripped the reins.
The escort job paid well, but it was dangerous. Although the Storm Territory was controlled by the Slime Kingdom, scattered demons still slipped in to attack lone caravans and travelers.
Three days earlier, an entire caravan had disappeared without a trace—no people, no horses left behind.
“Hope the kingdom holds.” The half-elf archer murmured, eyes still on the sky. “Don’t let the demons break through.”
Lofum patted his shoulder, the pat so strong it made the half-elf twitch.
“Relax.” He grinned, “Our His Majesty is here.”
He said it with a pride he barely noticed in himself.
Lofum had seen His Majesty the Slime once, back when he eked out a living in the Outpost Ruins.
At that time he took any job: clearing low-level magical creatures, escorting illegal crossers... anything just to fill his belly and save enough so Little Lofum could leave the ruins camp and study in the White Horse Kingdom.
Lofum didn’t want Little Lofum stuck like him forever—at least let him be an apprentice blacksmith in the White Horse Kingdom. Anything better than being a scavenger in the Gray Zone.
Then His Majesty came here.
With a single gesture, the Magical Creature Legion took the ruins camp, built a fortress, then a town, then an academy on that site.
Little Lofum now studied at that academy. Tuition was free and lunch was provided.
He had never believed in miracles, but a miracle had unfolded before his eyes.
That His Majesty had brought new hope to his life.
The wagon wheels creaked through the snow, producing a grating sound, and Lofum thought on as the caravan bounced along, his mind drifting with the jolts.
Above them, the green streak they had talked about had already passed the snowy peaks and was approaching Iron Thorn Fortress.
It was Chen Yu, riding his sword.
Since pushing the Primordial Sword Guidance I Technique to Level 5, he had discovered his sword flight speed became astonishing, the air around the blade compressing into visible ripples.
Chen Yu had tested it—at full speed, even Little Ka, straining with all his might, fell behind.
From the dock works to Iron Thorn Fortress, if by magical march it took six days, by foot it took a month.
But he used only one day, and most of that was spent handling affairs in the Royal Capital—actual flying time was under an hour.
Soon the silhouette of Iron Thorn Fortress rose on the horizon.
The walls were built of dark gray stone, looking like a crouching beast under the snow. Patrolling Slime guards and human archers could be seen on the ramparts.
Chen Yu lowered his altitude, the sword slowing as he descended into the central square.
On the square, Princess Louisa and Nolan had been waiting a long time.
Louisa wore a heavy fur cloak today; faint dark circles under her eyes showed she had not slept well while preparing for the battle.
Nolan stood beside her. The former Merchant Alliance ranger wore light leather armor. He should have been studying at the winter academy, but due to manpower shortages he had also been summoned to the front.
Both of them looked up as he arrived.
“He’s here.” Nolan sounded surprised.
He had heard His Majesty the Slime could fly without a dragon mount and at incredible speed, but seeing it in person still impressed him.
A mass of slime riding a sword, faster than a dragon—this exceeded his understanding of magical creatures.
They soon watched the green trail descend like a meteor. It sped down, but landed lightly with only a soft “puh,” like a lump of soft mud settling on the snow.
The trail dispersed and revealed a round, rolling slime.
The pale green gel stood out sharply against the snow. Chen Yu’s small eyes blinked, his body bounced twice as if adjusting to the ground.
“How’s it looking inside?” he asked.
“Good morning, Your Majesty.” Louisa placed a hand over her chest and bowed elegantly. “Commander Karl of the orc army and Knight Lide have been waiting in the Meeting Hall. They’re ready for you.”
“Let’s go.”
Chen Yu hopped toward the fortress’s main keep, bouncing in the snow and leaving round impressions where he landed.
Louisa and Nolan followed.
Where he passed, the slime gate guards bounced forward and used their bodies to push open the heavy Oak Gate.
Inside the fortress it was much warmer.
Torches hung on the walls, flames licked inside iron cages and threw shifting shadows.
Soldiers occasionally crossed the shadows; when they saw Chen Yu they stopped, saluted—eyes full of reverence.
The Meeting Hall was on the fortress’s third floor.
It was a wide circular chamber with a map of the White Horse Kingdom hanging on the wall, marking major cities, mountain ranges, and rivers.
A long table filled the center, carved from a single slab of oak. Its surface bore cuts from swords and blades, evidence of many battles.
At the moment, two groups sat on either side of the table.
On the left were the orcs.
They tried to keep straight faces and stiff backs, forcing solemnity.
Karl sat at the left side of the table. Opposite him were Lide and the remnants of his Border Corps.
The knights wore matching armor and sat upright, each bearing the Third Prince’s Broken Sword Legion emblem on their chests.
Lide wore only chainmail under a deep-blue cloak; facing Karl’s gaze, he kept a calm expression.
The two groups were like two rivers that did not mix, splitting the Meeting Hall in half. The room was quiet except for the crackle of torches and occasional coughs.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Then the door opened.
A slime bounced in.
“Plop.”
The landing was light, but in the silent room it sounded exceptionally clear. All eyes focused instantly.
The solemn, frozen atmosphere shattered with that soft sound.
The orcs’ expressions were revealing—first alertness, then a hint of strangeness.
They had not expected their slime king to literally be a lump of slime.
Karl rose slowly, his movements deliberate and powerful, like a great bear awakening from hibernation.
“Slime King, my brother, welcome.” Karl smiled faintly and spread his hands as if greeting an honored guest.
“To the northern ice giants, to the orcs’ commander Karl, I salute you.”
Chen Yu hopped onto the tall chair padded with cushions, his gel body sinking into the cushion and wiggling to return the greeting. His soft, squishy voice sounded serious and earnest.
Karl’s mouth curved slightly more—he liked the title.
Across the table, Lide pressed his right hand to his chest and bowed slightly. The knights followed with crisp, clean salutes.
“To the Slime King, the Broken Sword Legion salutes you.”
Chen Yu turned toward him and wiggled again.
“Knight Lide, I didn’t expect to meet you again so soon after we last parted.”
“The situation waits for no one,” Lide said, straightening.
“Alright, have a seat, have a seat. Don’t stand—standing is tiring.”
Chen Yu’s soft voice melted some of the Meeting Hall’s tension.
Everyone sat back down.
Louisa and Nolan stood behind Chen Yu. Louisa had one hand on her staff; Nolan crossed his arms, eyes flicking between orcs and knights.
After a brief silence, Karl spoke first, his gaze fixed on Chen Yu.
“No need for formalities. I know the strength of the Slime Kingdom.”
“I also know what the so-called Third Prince really is.”
He directed a steady look at Lide as he spoke.
“But you’re not fools—you opened the port and allowed the orc fleet to land.”
“That shows you understand at least this: a legendary demon, especially one about to undergo the Trial of Kingship, means serious trouble.”
“So I have one demand: follow my command completely and assist the orc army in attacking the Royal Capital.”
His voice was not loud, but his presence overshadowed everyone in the room, and silence fell again.
Lide did not answer immediately. He glanced at the Slime King.
To his surprise, the Slime King, after a moment’s thought, wobbled his gel body in a nod—an expression of compliance.
Then he sat quietly in his chair, still as a lump of well-behaved slime, blinking now and then as if the war had nothing to do with him.
After a moment’s thought, Lide inclined his head slightly.
“The legion accepts the arrangement.”
Karl grinned and waved his hand.
Orc warriors pulled out a roll of sheepskin map from a pack and spread it on the long table.
The map showed the Royal Capital and surrounding terrain—city walls, major roads, river courses, surrounding ridgelines and mountain passes.
Some areas had been redrawn in charcoal and marked with symbols only the orcs could understand.
Karl extended a forefinger and traced a line across the map.
“I divide the battlefield into three parts.”
“Our main force will attack from the east, west, and north, semi-encircling the Royal Capital and leaving a route south for the demons to retreat.”
He looked at Lide. “Your task is to coordinate with the orc fleet and reinforce the eastern assault.”
Lide nodded slightly.
“South is entirely for the Slime Kingdom.”
“Kasaric will focus his defenses on the east, west, and north—he’ll think the greatest threat comes from there and concentrate his forces.”
“With that, the south will be exposed.”
As he spoke, he looked at Chen Yu intently.
He knew well the Slime Kingdom possessed dragons and the Dragon Cavalry. Although the legion’s performance in the Southern Territory had been average, its elite forces were not to be underestimated.
Perhaps the slimes could exploit the vacant south, break into the Royal Capital, and tear a hole in the demon legion’s defenses.
Lide understood the implication. The orc commander clearly had faith in the Slime Kingdom, pinning hopes of breaching the defenses first on these slimes.
Chen Yu continued to wobble his gel body, nodding as if to say, Sure, sure, you’re right.
Inside, his gel belly bubbled with murmurs.
Maybe Karl had guessed right by accident.
If he truly laid everything on the table, he might actually be the first to break into the Royal Capital.
That would be fine.
This war was equally critical for the Slime Kingdom; there was no need to hide their strength anymore.
It was time to let everyone see the true Slime Legion.
Karl’s mouth lifted. “My brother, that is a wise choice.”
“Soon, let us discuss tactics...”
The negotiations went smoother than anyone expected and wrapped up quickly.
Karl was clearly pleased with having control of the situation. He rolled up the map and stood.
“Three days from now, the entire army departs. The signal will be three plumes of black smoke rising from the Royal Capital—that will mark the start of the general assault.”
The orcs rose, saluted the Slime King, and followed Karl out of the Meeting Hall in long strides.
Lide and his knights also stood.
Lide bowed slightly to Chen Yu. “Your Majesty, we will return to make preparations.”
“Safe travels.” Chen Yu replied politely.
Lide paused, as if to say more, but finally only nodded. “Thank you.”
He left with his knights, leaving only Chen Yu, Louisa, and Nolan in the Meeting Hall.
Louisa walked to the window and watched the swirling snow, gazing toward the Royal Capital.
“I’m still worried. I have a feeling Kasaric... this Greater Demon has other plans.”
Nolan crossed his arms.
“Demons are like that—plots within plots, lies wrapped in lies.”
Chen Yu hopped beside Princess Louisa and looked out the window as well, puffing up his chest and saying,