Chapter 370: A quick declaration of victory.

After the last game of the day, Trinity rose to speak. Usually, this was just a boring ritual where she closed off the battles and gave a fake smile while congratulating the winners. But today? Today she looked like she had just swallowed a dragon beast egg. She stood in all her majesty, puffing out her chest, and dramatically announced that she had magnificent news.

The entire stadium went dead silent. You couldn’t even hear a fly buzz. Everyone held their breath, waiting for this important revelation.

Trinity raised her arms, her voice booming through the speakers. "Brave and strong humans of the new world. I bring you joyful news. The wild lands have been officially conquered! That entire territory now belongs exclusively to the Sanctum. We will build a big city there and expand our living territories. For so long, we have lived in fear of the things that control the Wild lands, but no more. We are the rightful rulers of the earth, and we will take what’s ours."

She went on and on, boasting about how this proved the veil was invincible. She even put on a sweet, angelic face and promised to build a holy city where everyone was treated equally.

The stadium exploded into absolute madness. Gullible low borns were jumping, crying, and cheering like crazy_ thanking the heavens for the divine blessing. The world leaders immediately stood up, practically tripping over themselves to promise their full support, urging the citizens to throw as much money and resources into the cause as humanly possible.

The high borns were calculating how much profit they could make off the building of this city. Where they would build private estates and sell houses at prices that would bankrupt the low borns.

Deep down, they were laughing at the low borns who thought that a city where everyone was equal, was even remotely possible.

However, not everyone was falling for this show.

In the stands where the low borns gathered, the covert team was sweating bullets. Tyrese gritted his teeth, watching the crowd go wild. "We can’t let Trinity get any stronger," he hissed, turning to Ava. "We need to move now. What’s the plan?"

Ava sighed, rubbing her temples. "The plan is simple. We weaken the half-life beasts, and then the Somnivores step in to help, which leads to peace talks. But_" She glanced at the VIP seats above. "_for that to work, the current leaders need to be kicked off their thrones. Right now, would be the perfect time to strike. If only that idiot Leif was here!" She motioned for the team to sneak out. Watching these brainwashed people party was making her nauseous.

They weren’t the only ones terrified. In his private mansion, the Grand Elder was gritting his teeth. He was furious, but more than that, he was scared to death_ because his own family was sitting right in the wild lands. If Trinity was taking over, it was not through peaceful means.

"Pick up! Pick up, you little rascals!" the Grand Elder yelled, pacing back and forth so fast he was leaving tracks on the carpet. He tried calling Hunter. Nothing. He tried calling Zyra. Still nothing.

When Hunter’s phone went to voicemail for the third time, the Grand Elder’s knees buckled. He almost fell flat on his face. "Why aren’t they answering?!" he panicked, grabbing his assistant Alec by the shirt. "What if Trinity already turned the valley into ash!? What if they’re dead!? I need to go and see things for myself."

Alec gently patted the old man’s shaking hands. "Sir, please, calm down before your blood pressure kills you first. Why don’t you trying calling Achilles too?"

The Grand Elder stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes lit up like giant light bulbs. "Achilles! Right! Why didn’t I think of that?"

He frantically dialed Achilles’ number. The second the line connected, he screamed, "Achilles! Are you alive!? Is everything okay over there? Where is my granddaughter-in-law?"

Achilles sounded totally calm on the other end. "Huh? Oh, yeah, we’re fine. I was actually just about to tell you about this crazy new dungeon we found."

"Forget the dungeon!" the old man barked. "Turn on the damn TV right now!"

Achilles paused, then clicked the remote. The news broadcast flashed on screen with giant red letters: BREAKING NEWS: SANCTUM TAKES OVER THE WILD LANDS!

Achilles stared at the screen, his jaw dropping. "Oh, crap. I need to tell Zyra and Hunter right now." He hung up instantly.

Achilles was in Rosewater, checking on the workers who were packing up finished goods. The poor workers were already whispering and looking terrified after seeing the headline. Whispers of what would happen to their new home were already traveling in the crowd.

"Hey! Don’t panic!" Achilles shouted at them, trying to sound brave. "Keep doing your jobs! Everything is fine!" He rushed outside and jumped onto his flying transport beast, whipped the reins, and shot into the sky like a rocket.

He wasn’t the only one flying. The sky was an absolute mess of frantic transport beasts, while the roads below were jammed with refugees and trekkers sprinting toward the south where the valley was. The air was practically suffocating with panic.

The moment Achilles landed in the valley, the heavy tension hit him like a brick wall. Groups of frightened people were huddled together in every courtyard, arguing loudly. Even the beasts were pacing around, whimpering, terrified of losing their home.

Neil rushed over, grabbing Achilles’ arm, his face pale. "Achilles! My people are in serious trouble! The Sanctum troops are only half a day away from my sanctuary. They are burning everything in their path and killing those who resist." He swallowed hard. "I need to talk to Zyra right now."

"Me too," Achilles said, nodding grimly. He gently pushed Neil through the crowded hallway, squeezing their way inside the main house.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of alcohol and stress. Malia stood near the doorway, holding a gun, while Bianca was slumped in a chair, taking a big gulp from a giant mug of beer.

"Where is everybody?" Achilles asked, out of breath.

"Locked in the security room," Malia snapped. "Zyra, Hunter, and Elfy have been in there for thirty minutes plus. Zyra explicitly told everyone to bug off and not bother them."

Bianca let out a loud, drunken sigh, wiping foam from her lip. "Trinity and her bunch of goons are coming to kick our butts. That’s what’s happening."

"Well, we aren’t giving up this valley without a fight!" Malia growled, slapping her spear against the floor.

Achilles ignored them both and marched straight down the hallway toward the locked security room. If this meeting concerned their future, he needed to be a part of it.