Read Novel Full Chapter 1456: Lose to Gain
Chapter 1456: Lose to Gain
That kind of resolve? The Blood Elf Race didn’t have it. The Dwarves of old didn’t have it. Even the Human Kingdom lacked it.
That was precisely why Aldous and the Ogre Race held such a singular, exalted position within the Stoneheart Horde.
"Finally," Lycanor addressed Rommath’s third question, her voice dropping an octave. "The Stoneheart Horde has absolutely no interest in the human territories."
"No interest?" Rommath blinked, confused. "What does that mean?"
Then, the realization hit him like a physical blow.
"You mean... in the face of this coming disaster, even the Stoneheart Horde is contracting its defensive lines?"
This wasn’t good news. For the Blood Elves, it was a death knell. As a King, Rommath had enough strategic foresight to see the writing on the wall. If the apex predators were hunkering down, the prey didn’t stand a chance.
"Your Majesty, we are out of options," Lycanor sighed, looking from Rommath to Lireesa with deadly seriousness. "In my view, gaining autonomy would be the worst thing for the Blood Elf Race. It would only isolate us. It would make the other races of the Horde resent us, preventing us from ever truly integrating."
"In this new world, if the Blood Elves are isolated, we lose everything."
She turned her gaze to the Grand Elder. "Arch-Elder, sometimes you must lose to gain."
She knew that only Lireesa could truly sway the King.
"Look at the Succubi, the Buffalofolk, the Obsidian Golems... even the Gnolls. None of them have autonomy, yet they reap more benefits than anyone else," Lycanor pressed. "Orion is a Demigod. He carries the blood of a Titan. His will is going to dominate this entire continent. Now is the last chance to integrate naturally. If we drag our feet, the offer might not remain on the table."
It was no longer advice; it was a warning.
There was also the unspoken truth about the Ogre Province: most Ogres were too thick-headed to govern themselves administratively. Their "autonomy" was largely nominal. Yet, even as a figurehead status, it was a singular honor—one paid for in blood and history that the Elves did not share.
Lycanor leaned in, lowering her voice to share a rumor that circulated only in the highest echelons.
"The Human Kingdom’s migration is linked to another Demigod of this world. He is ceding ground to Orion. The apex powers are carving up the map. If even a Demigod steps aside for Orion, any resistance from the Blood Elves is simply suicide."
"I agree with Lyca," Lireesa said, her voice firm. "We cannot hesitate. The political landscape is shifting, but so is the physical world."
"The mana density is rising, but the environment is turning hostile," the Guardian Tree spoke up, its deep voice vibrating through the floor. Roots connected to the deep earth gave it a direct line to the planet’s pulse. "The wilds are crawling with insect swarms. Forests, grasslands, rivers—they are being devoured. The Swarm’s reproduction rate is terrifying. It won’t be long before the tide reaches the City of Blessings. We need the shelter of a Demigod."
Silence descended upon the chamber. A heavy, helpless silence.
Stoneheart Horde, Stoneheart City.
While the Blood Elves agonized over their fate, the castle welcomed a returning son.
Orion sat high upon his throne, watching Lilith and the Butterfly Mother, Sophia, walk away arm in arm. Only when the two women disappeared from view did he turn his gaze to the young man standing in the center of the great hall.
Kaelen.
"Well? Has the Stoneheart Horde disappointed you?"
Kaelen shook his head. "Whether it’s the south or the north... it is far more prosperous and massive than I imagined."
For a young man who had spent his life confined to the isolation of Phoenix Butterfly Ridge and Gossamer Reach, the sheer scale of the Horde was overwhelming. It would take time to adjust.
"Your timing is a bit off," Orion noted. "Your eldest sister and your three brothers are out on their trials. You’ll have to wait until they return for a family reunion."
Kaelen nodded. He was curious about his siblings—surely they were even more powerful than he was.
"You were born on the Chaos Continent. Your circumstances were... unique. You grew up without the resources of the Horde backing you. Consider this a little back-pay."
Orion flicked his wrist. A segment of bone, pitch-black as ink, appeared in his hand.
It was the Serpent-Demon’s Grasp. A Legendary-grade artifact. When equipped, it could summon six phantom draconic claws to tear through enemies. To the current Orion, it was a trinket, a toy. But for Kaelen, it was a trump card.
"I know... I can feel it. Daddy has always been watching over Kaelen," the boy said softly.
Guilt? Orion didn’t feel any. But he acknowledged the boy’s origins. Kaelen understood who he was and what his mother had done. The fact that Orion and Lilith had accepted him was enough to fill the boy with gratitude.
"Take it. You are a Giant Prince of the Stoneheart Horde; you can’t be walking around with empty pockets."
Orion tossed another item through the air. Kaelen caught it.
It was the Abyssal Devil Shield.
The surface of the shield seemed to writhe, carrying the gaze of a devil that warped an enemy’s vision, perception, and judgment, drowning them in hallucinations.
With the Serpent-Demon’s Grasp for offense and the Abyssal Devil Shield for defense, Orion was confident his son wouldn’t be foolish enough to sacrifice his own bloodline in a fight again.
"Don’t refuse it. Your brothers and sister all have similar gear," Orion said, cutting off Kaelen’s protest. "Take them. I have a job for you."
Kaelen swallowed his words and straightened his spine.
"The Titanion Realm is in a transitional period. In a few years, we will face an otherworld invasion," Orion said, his voice echoing in the hall. "For the Stoneheart Horde, this isn’t a disaster. It’s an opportunity. A justification to expand our territory. And for you... it is your path to becoming an Archlord."
Orion didn’t just bark orders; he gave the boy context. He needed Kaelen to understand the stakes.
"Right now, the wilderness beyond the major cities is overrun. Insect plagues are everywhere. Nests and hives are popping up like weeds."
"I want you to take the 2nd Legion and the Volunteer Corps. Sweep the territories. Burn the Swarm out. Create a safe, stable environment for the Horde."
"Are you willing?"
Orion’s strategy was twofold. Yes, he needed the bugs gone. But more importantly, he needed Kaelen to build a reputation. If Kaelen bled for the Horde and protected the people, the people would accept him. It was a necessary rite of passage. Without it, Kaelen’s path would be even harder than Kronos’s had been.
"I am willing!"
Kaelen dropped to one knee, head bowed in submission and resolve.
Orion nodded, pleased. "This is your debut. Your first real appearance in the Horde. Do it well. Show our people what you’re made of."
And so, Kaelen accepted the command. He was appointed Vice-Commander of the 2nd Legion. Not because of a lack of trust, but simply because he had not yet reached the rank of Archlord. In the Stoneheart Horde, rank had to be earned.