Chapter 372: An Ultimatum

Chapter 372: Chapter 372: An Ultimatum

Chapter 372: An Ultimatum

The morning arrived with a sky of clear blue.

A gentle morning breeze drifted through the hidden valley.

Rhain had just finished washing up when a series of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.

Knock. Knock.

"Lord Rhain! Lady Lyra!" Anya’s bright voice called from beyond the doors. "Are you awake?"

Rhain opened the gates. Lyra, Karsten and the three mercenaries were already gathered in the small courtyard, having been roused by the same sound.

Standing outside were Anya and two young attendants carrying trays laden with roasted meat, fragrant rice, and freshly picked spirit fruits.

The girl herself had changed into a simple white dress. Her hair had been neatly combed, and the traces of yesterday’s terror had completely vanished from her youthful face.

"Good morning!" Anya greeted with a radiant smile. "Father asked me to ensure that you all are comfortable here, so I brought breakfast for everyone. After you finish eating, would you like me to show you around the tribe?"

Her enthusiasm was infectious. Lyra, who had been tense since last night’s heavy discussion, couldn’t help but smile.

"That sounds wonderful, Anya," Lyra replied, her mood brightening. "We would love to see it."

"But food first," Karsten muttered while rubbing his hands. "Sightseeing later."

Anya chuckled, and the young attendents behind her quickly served the food to the whole group.

After breakfast, Anya guided them through the heart of the Crystalveil Tribe.

Compared to the desolate wasteland outside, the hidden valley was practically a paradise.

Terraced fields filled with crops stretched along the southern hillsides.

Crystal-clear river flowed, nourishing orchards with brightly colored fruit.

Children chased one another between wooden houses while elderly tribesmen sat beneath the shade of enormous trees, laughing and chatting.

Everywhere they went, the tribespeople bowed respectfully toward Rhain’s group.

Some whispered excitedly about the outsiders who had slaughtered the Bone Skull warriors with their bare hands.

Others bowed respectfully, especially the families of women and children Rhain and Lyra had rescued the previous day.

"This is our Spirit Orchard," Anya explained as they passed beneath branches laden with silver fruit. "These trees only grow because of the formation protecting our valley. They produce fruit once every three years. Father usually trades them with wandering merchants."

"Merchants come here?" Rhain asked.

Anya nodded.

"Not many. Only three or four caravans a year. They know the secret routes through the canyons and trade with our tribe. But..."

Her smile faded slightly.

"Recently, the Bone Skull Tribe has been attacking the trade paths too. They kill anyone who tries to trade with us."

Rhain listened attentively while scanning the surrounding with his dark grey eyes.

Anya continued guiding them forward.

They had just reached a beautiful crystal lake at the northern end of the valley when a panicked shout suddenly echoed from behind them.

"Young mistress! Young mistress!"

Everyone turned around.

A young tribesman came sprinting frantically down the stone pathway. His face was deathly pale, and he stumbled twice before finally reaching Anya.

"Young mistress! Something terrible has happened!"

Anya’s brows furrowed instantly.

""What is it? Why are you so panicked?"

"It’s the Bone Skull Tribe!" the attendant gasped. "Their leader has personally come to the valley entrance!"

Anya’s face lost all color.

"Their... their leader?"

"Yes! He is in the central gathering square right now! And...and he brought a dozen Core Formation level men!"

Without listening to another word from the panicked attendent, Anya hitched up her dress and began to run frantically toward the central square, her earlier grace completely gone.

Rhain’s dark grey eyes narrowed.

"Let’s go," he said quietly.

He, Lyra, Karsten and the mercenaries immediately followed, moving swiftly after Anya’s panicked figure.

---

By the time they arrived near the central gathering square, a massive crowd had already gathered.

Hundreds of Crystalveil tribesmen stood in tense silence, their hands gripping spears, bows, and heavy sabers. Every face was plastered with hatred and dread.

At the center of the square stood Fridleif.

The towering chieftain radiated the dense pressure of the peak Core Formation Realm. His battle-scarred frame was entirely rigid, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned bone-white.

Facing him were thirteen figures.

Twelve warriors stood in a disciplined half-circle, each radiating a powerful Core Formation level aura. Some were early-stage, others middle-stage, but all of them carried an oppressive, blood-soaked killing intent.

Standing at the very front was a mountain of a man.

He was nearly eight feet tall, with a shaved head covered in tattoos resembling cracked skulls. A massive axe rested over his broad shoulder, and his muscular arms were wrapped in chains.

His aura had completely surpassed the Core Formation Realm.

A true Domain Master.

Bone Skull Tribe’s newly ascended leader.

Rhain’s group stopped near the edge of the square. Anya wanted to rush toward her father, but Rhain casually raised an arm, stopping her.

"Don’t interfere yet," he said calmly.

Anya bit her lip and reluctantly nodded.

At that moment, the Bone Skull leader let out a cruel, contemptuous sneer.

"Fridleif," the Bone Skull leader spoke, "I don’t like to beat around the bush, so I will be direct. Kneel and submit now! Swear eternal loyalty to the Bone Skull Tribe, hand over this valley, and give me the outsiders who dared to kill my warriors yesterday, and I will be merciful enough to let your useless tribe live as slaves!"

Fridleif glared at him with undisguised hatred.

"Skarn, this valley belongs to the Crystalveil Tribe. We have lived here for generations. We will never submit to you!"

The bone skull tribe leader, Skarn tilted his head slightly, the bone chains around his arms clinking loudly.

"You have misunderstood my words." He chuckled. "I am not giving you a choice."

He lifted his massive axe from his shoulder and slammed its handle against the stone floor.

BOOM—!

A visible shockwave rippled outward, cracking the tiles beneath his feet.

The weaker tribesmen stumbled backward, their faces turning pale under the crushing pressure of his Domain Master aura.

Skran let out a mocking laugh, "As you can see, I am already a Domain Master, and you are no longer a match for me."

His gaze swept over the crowd and locked onto Anya, then onto Rhain and Lyra standing behind her. His eyes flashed with bloodthirsty intent.

"Those outsiders have the blood of my men on their hands. Hand them over! Otherwise..."

Fridleif took a heavy step backward, but he gritted his teeth, forcefully resisting the suppression through sheer will.

His entire body trembled under the Domain Master pressure, and his own boundless fury.

"You bastard! Skarn!" Fridleif roared, his voice shaking the square. "Your dogs ambushed my daughter and tried to drag away our innocent women and children! They deserved death! These benefactors saved our people from your beasts!"

He took a heavy step forward, his peak Core Formation aura erupting desperately against the Domain Master pressure, even though it was like a candle against a storm.

"Want us to hand over the benefactors who saved our lives?" Fridleif’s eyes were bloodshot as he bellowed, "I would rather die! The Crystalveil Tribe may be weak, Skarn, but we are not spineless dogs! The Crystalveil Tribe will never betray its saviors! Never!"

The surrounding tribespeople, though terrified, roared in agreement, raising their fists.

"Never! We will never surrender!"

Skarn’s yellow eyes narrowed into venomous slits.

For a moment, it seemed as if he would swing his axe and turn the square into a bloodbath right then and there.

Rhain’s right hand drifted toward his side, fingers curling slightly.

His dark essence was sealed, but the raw kinetic force coiled in his muscles was primed.

If the giant moved an inch closer to them, Rhain was fully prepared to test whether a newly ascended Domain Master’s windpipe could withstand a direct punch from him.

Instead, Skarn stared at the defiant crowd and let out a disdainful scoff.

"Hahaha... ’Rather die’? Good. Very good."

His smile turned icy and murderous. The newly formed Domain pressure around him pulsed erratically, causing the stone beneath his feet to crack.

"Then I will grant your wish. Listen carefully, Fridleif."

"I will give you exactly one month."

Skarn raised his axe and pointed it directly at the Crystalveil Chieftain.

"Submit before then. Hand over your resources, and deliver those outsiders to my camp."

"Or in one month, I will march the entire Bone Skull army here and erase the Crystalveil Tribe from existence."

His gaze swept over the trembling crowd, enjoying the fear written across their faces.

"We will slaughter every man, and take every woman and child as slaves. I will burn this valley to ash."

His voice dropped into a venomous whisper.

"There will be nothing left to tell the tales of your ’glorious past.’

Fridleif’s entire body trembled with fury, but he did not move.

He knew that if he attacked now, even if they managed to win, Skarn, and the dozen Core Formation experts standing behind him would immediately massacre the crowd.

It would be a disastrous loss to their tribe.

Skarn gave one final mocking glance at the Crystalveil Chieftain before turning around.

"One month."

His huge boots crushed the stone tiles as he walked away, followed by his twelve Core Formation level men.

No one dared to stop them.