Prime Originator

Western Frontier, Great Wall.

General Marquis Hendrick stood atop the black metal wall while another reputable person stood beside him. They both gazed down at the fiery wall of flames preventing the rat tide from advancing a step closer to their border in the dark of the night.

"It's great to have you take time out of your busy schedule to help us here at the frontlines, Duke Ignis." General Marquis Hendrick said.

Duke Ignis shook his head and said while waving his hand, "You spoke too humbly, General Marquis Hendrick. Against a threat like this rat tide, it is only right for me to lend my hand. Even King Heinrich is paying great attention to this matter."

"His Majesty is?" General Marquis Hendrick asked with surprise. He had sent a messenger during the first outbreak, but no news nor reinforcement had made their way back until the following day.

"Of course. The New Capital Plan has been put on hold, and the Railway Construction Plan has also been redirected to the Great Wall. The railway route towards the Western Frontier is being built as we speak." Duke Ignis explained.

General Marquis Hendrick was astonished by the news before he asked with doubt, "I don't mean to be rude to His Majesty, but what took so long for His Majesty to respond?"

"Ah… that. I heard King Heinrich and Queen Elizabeth was both away from the Capital, toiling at the site of the railway construction." Duke Ignis said wryly. "Call it bad timing, I suppose?"

"That is not just bad timing. That is terrible timing," General Marquish Hendrick rubbed his forehead with distress before saying, "Just my luck, huh?"

"In any case, what matters is that we are here now." Duke Ignis said optimistically. He did not come alone.

General Marquis Hendrick nodded before returning his gaze to the front, observing the rat tide's situation below.

A group of Fire Awakeners could be seen maintaining the firewall from atop of an earthen wall, erected by another group of high-level Earth Awakeners guarding them.

"Are these everyone?" General Marquis Hendrick asked casually without a hint of disappointment, despite the group of reinforcement numbering less than a hundred people.

Although the two groups consisted of blacksmiths and palace guards, they were also the strongest amongst the Fire Awakeners and Earth Awakeners in the empire.

He could not have asked for a better reinforcement than this, especially the Fire Awakeners. Their destructive element was far too useful in dealing with the rat tide.

Nevertheless, Duke Ignis shook his head, "No, Queen Elizabeth will be coming with her entourage, and further 10-thousand troops are making their way over from the eastern side of the empire."

"So many?" General Marquis Hendrick was taken aback before asking concernedly, "Has the situation in the east stabilize?"

"More or less. Either way, the situation here in the west requires more attention than the stability of the east. If we lost the Great Wall to this rat tide, it would be an unprecedented calamity, rivaling the Crimsom War."

"Right…" General Marquis Hendrick nodded solemnly.

Shortly after, Duke Ignis suddenly noticed something coming from the corner of his eyes before quickly warned with a serious expression, "Something is coming!"

Seeing the incomer shooting towards them with incredible speed, Duke Ignis immediately conjured a flame lance in his hand before aiming at the fast-approaching figure.

General Marquis Hendrick scrutinized his eyes on the figure in the distant dark skies before they suddenly widened with surprise.

"Wait, Duke Ignis!" He immediately reached out his hand to stop Duke Ignis before the person could fire his flame lance. "It's not an enemy!"

"Not an enemy?" Duke Ignis repeated, taking General Marquis Hendrick's word at face value, and dispersed his flame lance.

The person's appearance became clear to Duke Ignis shortly after landing atop the Great Wall to greet them, "Duke Ignis. General Marquis Hendrick. We meet again."

"Marquis Haldir? How's the situation in your tribe? Why are you back alone? What about the airship and its crew?" Duke Ignis rained questions on the Supreme Elder.

Supreme Elder Haldir smiled wryly.

"The situation is not good, I'm afraid. The rat tide is far, far too great in numbers. We had to light up the Great Forest to keep them at bay. However, the fire will not keep them out of the forest forever. The airship and its crew are on their way here as we speak," He answered.

"So that is what the smoke is coming from." Duke Ignis nodded.

He had seen large clouds of black smoke rising from the Elder Tree's direction. However, it could no longer be seen after the skies have gone dark.

Shortly after, he furrowed his brows slightly before asking, "What about the rest of your tribe? Do you have a plan to evacuate them from the rat tide?"

"That's what I am here for. The young prince has come up with a suitable evacuation plan for the tribe." Supreme Elder Haldir chuckled lightly before saying, "I hope you can prepare to welcome my 500-thousand tribesmen that will be coming from the northwestern direction over that distant hill."

Duke Ignis and General Marquis Hendrick gazed at the distant hill in the pointed direction with wry smiles.

"500-thousands tribesmen is not a small number. You certainly have placed a difficult task on our shoulders, Marquis Haldir." General Marquis Hendrick spoke wryly.

The Western Frontier can accommodate up to 100-thousand tribesmen at most after the central region is cleaned up.

However, what about the rest? Also, ration to feed 500-thousand elves would become a huge problem.

As if knowing what General Marquis Hendrick was considering, Supreme Elder Haldir softly chuckled.

"You might have misunderstood me, General Marquis Hendrick. You do not need to worry about our accommodation and ration supply. You only need to help us welcome them over the Great Wall safely." Supreme Elder Haldir explained.

"I see… that would certainly make things less difficult on my side..." General Marquis Hendrick replied, guessing the elves are carrying loads of goods with them.

"Well then, I will be leaving to take care of things on the other end. Let us meet again later," The Supreme Elder Haldir spoke briefly before taking off from the Great Wall.

"Marquis Haldir appears to be in a great rush." Duke Ignis commented thoughtfully while watching the Supreme Elder's departing figure in the sky.

General Marquis Hendrick nodded in agreement before he said, "Perhaps, the looming Cataclysm is closer than we expect…"

"Perhaps. I do feel the world's temperature is rising these days." Duke Ignis said.

General Marquis Hendrick glanced down at the bright dancing flames on the surface before asking, "Are you sure that is not the heat coming from the firewall?"

"…"

"Ahem, maybe." Duke Ignis coughed awkwardly.

…