NOVEL NEXT Chapter 140: Sudden Reveal
The announcement struck the legion like a lightning bolt. For days, whispers of the "Junior Blood Legion" had circulated through the ranks, a secret unit groomed under the shadows of the Six Commanders. But to actually see them—so young, their faces still carrying traces of youth rather than the scars of decades of war—was another matter entirely.
A ripple of murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Those… are the juniors?"
"They look barely older than recruits…"
"Can such children command us?"
The rows of soldiers shifted uneasily, their discipline wavering as doubt gnawed at them. To entrust the Blood Legion, a million-strong army forged in blood and fire, to mere youths—it felt unthinkable.
Yet what unsettled the soldiers even more was not the juniors themselves, but the tone of the Commanders.
They were legends, each one a walking calamity who had survived wars against Hollow Kings, slain armies with their own hands, and stood unmatched across the continent. They were pillars the entire legion leaned upon. For them to speak of succession… for Mikael to openly admit they might not survive…
An ominous premonition settled over the crowd like a suffocating fog.
"Azathoth… he's just a Lord Class, isn't he?" a soldier whispered, his knuckles white as he gripped his spear. "Surely even a being like that can be defeated. The Commanders have crushed worse foes before."
"But Azathoth is no ordinary Lord," another muttered. "His army… it's not made of mortals. It's endless. Unnatural."
"Still, the Commanders can't die… right? They're immortal to us. They can't fall."
But the silence of the Six, their solemn faces, their refusal to deny the possibility of death—it planted seeds of dread in every heart.
The juniors stood at the front, feeling the crushing weight of those stares. Felix forced a grin, though his jaw trembled. "Heh. Looks like we don't have time to be weak anymore."
Irina clenched her staff so tightly her knuckles bled. Her lips moved, whispering a prayer—though whether it was for the Commanders or for herself, none could tell.
Rudos, usually brash, looked unusually pale, his bravado cracking beneath the suffocating responsibility now thrust upon them. "Command the Blood Legion…? That's a million lives… How the hell are we supposed to—" He stopped himself, biting down on his tongue.
Ryuzen said nothing. His golden eyes stayed fixed on the Six Commanders, his heart pounding. The ominous premonition that spread among the soldiers stirred within him as well… but unlike the others, a fire kindled deep in his chest.
"If the Six really do fall… then it's going to be a problem. That Azathoth... He is probably coming for me. I need to prepare myself for the worst." he muttered internally.
The soldiers were dismissed to make preparations for departure, though unease lingered in the air like heavy smoke. The juniors were quickly ushered away, following the Six Commanders into the war council chamber at the heart of the fortress.
The chamber itself was vast, lit by glowing crystal braziers, its walls etched with ancient battle scars. Maps of continents and Hollow territories were pinned to the central table, the ink of fresh markings still wet.
The juniors stood at attention, though their postures betrayed their unease. Ryuzen's gaze sharpened as he studied the room. Beside him, Venus tried to keep her composure, but her clenched fists gave her away.
Finally, Noah broke the silence. The Fireball King leaned forward, his crimson aura flickering faintly, his voice like rolling thunder.
"You all felt it, didn't you? The soldiers' fear. Their doubt. They have every right to be afraid."
Felix swallowed, his grin gone. "Why now? Why tell them we might die? You've fought Lords before. What makes this Azathoth different?"
Aurora, the Divine Healer, stepped in, her voice soft but grave. "Because this time… death is not only possible, it is likely. Azathoth is no ordinary Lord. He is a Hollow Lord born of the Abyss itself, a being who feeds on the concept of Void. No matter how many times he is struck down, his essence reforms. His army mirrors him—endless, relentless, made of hollowed souls that cannot be permanently destroyed by normal means."
Rudos paled, gripping his axe. "So you're saying… even if we cut them down, they'll just keep coming back?"
Dama, the brute commander, slammed her fist against the table, cracking the wood. "Yes! That's exactly it! We can fight until our bones turn to dust, but it will never be enough! That bastard isn't like the Hollow Kings we've slain before. He isn't even just a Lord Class—he's something closer to the Void itself. That's why he is called the Void Lord."
The juniors froze. The weight of her words sank in like lead.
Mikael, calm and deliberate, adjusted his gauntlets before speaking. "Which is why we called upon you. The Blood Legion cannot collapse if we fall. It must live on, even if it means a new generation leads it. That is why you were chosen—because you carry qualities that the soldiers will follow when the pillars of this army shatter."
Irina's lips trembled. "But why us? We aren't ready. Surely there are veterans more suited—"
Aurora shook her head. "Veterans are strong, but they are tied to us. Their faith will crumble if we fall. You, however… you are unshackled. You are the foundation of a new order, not the remains of the old."
Silence fell again, thick and heavy.
Nimo, the quietest of the Six, finally spoke, his voice deep like an abyssal echo. "This is not just a war for Atlas Skycity. It is a war for succession. A test of whether the world will endure without us." His gaze locked on Ryuzen. "Especially you. We've seen what you carry. Your blood, your will… perhaps even Azathoth fears it."
The words struck Ryuzen like a hammer, but instead of bowing under the pressure, he straightened his back. His golden slit-pupiled eyes gleamed with determination.
"…Then I'll surpass even you," Ryuzen said quietly, but with conviction. "If the Six Commanders fall, I'll carry the Blood Legion to victory. Azathoth won't consume this world."
The room fell into stunned silence, broken only by Noah's booming laugh. "Good! That's the fire I wanted to hear!"
Suddenly, The Six Commanders exchanged knowing looks, as though an unspoken truth had been hanging in the air all along.
Aurora was the first to break it. Her gentle voice carried a weight that silenced even Noah's lingering chuckle.
She addressed Rudos, Felix and Irina, then added,
"There is something you must all know. Ryuzen, Venus… we've been aware of what flows through your veins for quite some time."
Ryuzen froze, his eyes narrowing with surprise. Venus stiffened at his side, her breath catching in her throat.
Dama smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Don't look so surprised, boy. Did you really think you could hide dragon blood from us? The moment you fought alongside us first time, we felt it. That aura, that pressure—you smell of draconic lineage."