There was no immediate response to Vlad’s question, causing a deep frown to appear on his face. A moment of tense silence passed, feeling far longer than it truly was. Thankfully, it didn’t last too long before Elder Damian’s authoritative voice emerged clearly from the space ring.
"We’ve been experiencing considerable trouble across multiple strongholds lately. Although none have fallen, several of our Legends have sustained severe injuries, forcing them to retreat for extended recovery periods. As such, our available manpower is currently limited."
Upon hearing this, Vlad’s frown deepened, mirrored simultaneously by the three Sky Seed Depravitas beside him.
Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir exchanged meaningful glances, their eyes filled with suspicion and a deepening sense of unease. Something unnatural was clearly at play. After all, the issues facing each fortress appeared unusually synchronized.
In their case, the Legendary Vorometallicae had suddenly gained profound insights into human Legends’ battle strategies and even their cultivation methods, effectively granting them the upper hand, and exploiting their weaknesses, giving them an edge in each fight.
"It will take significant time before I can spare any Legend-class warriors to reinforce your position in the Korokor Mountains," Elder Damian continued solemnly, his voice carrying a heavy weight. "Right now, the siege around the Void Heart Stronghold has reached its climax, and diverting forces is impossible. However, there is one thing I can provide: Divine Treasures."
At the mention of those last two words, Vlad’s demeanor changed entirely. His frown relaxed, eyes igniting with excitement and anticipation. Legendary Treasures were already rare and powerful, but Divine Treasures existed in a wholly different league altogether.
A single Divine Treasure could exponentially increase the power of even a seasoned Legend, allowing them to comfortably face two or three enemies of similar strength simultaneously.
Such treasures were immensely scarce—so much so that even Marshal Maximo, one of Graecia’s strongest warriors, had only limited access to them.
The help of Divine Treasures was especially useful now for Vlad. After all, his Legendary Armor and weapon were no longer useful since they could not match the enhancement provided by Skin of Wrath.
’For the empire to offer Divine Treasures at this stage means they’re genuinely going all out,’ Vlad considered silently, his thoughts sharpening. His voice was steady and resolute as he replied, "Divine Treasures will be invaluable. I accept your offer."
"Excellent," Elder Damian responded, clearly pleased by Vlad’s unwavering commitment despite the lack of additional Legendary reinforcements. "Also, to fulfill our previous arrangement, I’ll be sending you the three Legendary Demon Souls that the Empire owed you, along with an additional three to compensate for the delay."
Vlad’s eyes widened slightly, the thrill inside him surging once more. Months earlier, Vlad had exchanged the runic diagram of the formidable Darkness-Devouring Runic Formation for three Legendary Demon Souls.
Those souls were supposed to have been delivered a long time ago. However, due to the chaos and endless logistical issues arising from the war, Elder Damian had neglected to send them.
Vlad didn’t blame the old man—he could only imagine how complex managing a war of this scale was. Besides, before his recent evolution, Vlad had been unable to fully utilize Legendary Demon Souls, rendering them of minimal immediate importance.
"That’s perfect," Vlad replied immediately, his tone firm and appreciative. "I will be waiting for their arrival."
"They will reach you before the end of the week—I promise you that," Elder Damian assured confidently. "If there’s nothing else, I must take my leave now. Contact me immediately should anything urgent arise."
Before Vlad could reply further, the space ring ceased glowing, and Elder Damian’s commanding presence faded, leaving the room silent except for Vlad and the trio of Sky Seed Depravitas.
Vlad remained quiet for several long moments, carefully weighing the situation. Then he lifted his gaze, addressing Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir with newfound authority.
"The three of you—go find Agamemnon and Janus. From now on, you five will serve as commanding officers of the Korokor Stronghold. Assess the army’s current condition, ensure every soldier is prepared to fight in the next clash, and report immediately if you detect any hint of discord or desertion."
"Yes!" the three Depravitas answered as one, their voices sharp and resolute.
Though the responsibilities they now shouldered were immense, commanding troops was not unfamiliar territory. Each had led units before, though admittedly never on a battlefield of this catastrophic scale. Here, each Legend-class combatant possessed destructive potential equivalent to tactical nuclear strikes—a far cry from ordinary battles.
Seeing that his orders had been clearly understood, Vlad was about to dismiss them when a sudden thought flashed into his mind. His gaze settled curiously on the small yellow cat.
"By the way, Jormungandr," Vlad began, his voice genuinely intrigued, "what can you tell me about that T-Rex?"
The moment Vlad asked, Ouroboros and Fafnir instantly turned toward their companion, eyes glowing with curiosity.
The unexpected appearance of the Tyrannosaurus Rex during the recent battle shocked everyone, including Vlad himself. Its overwhelming power had turned the tides of battle decisively; though it hadn’t defeated a full-fledged Legend, its might had easily overwhelmed Sages and even Half-Step Legends.
"Oh, you mean Fang," Jormungandr answered, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Using my profound understanding of the Law of Life and nourishing his soul continuously with my Depravita Aura, I succeeded in stabilizing his spiritual essence and granted him physical cohesion. It allowed him to be born properly."
The eyes of Vlad, Ouroborus, and Fafnir glowed with awe and admiration as the feat was truly magnificent, and showed an immense control over the Law of Life and the dominion of the soul.
The small yellow cat’s expression filled with pride at this achievement, but he quickly regained his composure and continued. "However, despite his power, Fang’s wisdom and intelligence are currently very limited. Right now, he’s mentally no different from a small puppy. He sees me as his parent—so he naturally attacks whatever I deem an enemy. Beyond that, his instincts are simplistic. He spends most of his time roaming around aimlessly or playing like a curious animal. It will take significant time for him to develop true intelligence and autonomy."