The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

Grima, with the gravely injured Commander in tow, together with Mariela, Celesse, and Eyla, managed to safely escape the treacherous Cloudveil Woods and return to Stormcast.

Eyla left in the dead of night, making haste toward Bloodlore. It was certain that the situation was escalating and bound to spiral out of control. What unforeseen events would arise was anyone's guess. She needed to rush back to Bloodlore and summon her grandfather ahead of time. Any assistance he could provide would be invaluable, and if all else failed, they would have to take Alavin into hiding.

Commander Kashann's injuries were severe, but fortunately, within the walls of the Mallister family stronghold, there was precious Water of Life. They carefully tended his wounds. Truth be told, the Mallister family held little affection for the Commander. They even harbored a trace of resentment. But with the sudden turn of events, they had no time for grudges. They did everything possible to revive Commander Kashann, hoping he might hold the key to a solution.

After conferring with Celesse, Mariela dispatched five hundred guards into the night to spread the word. The remaining citizens were instructed to hasten the construction of the city walls and then retreat to the inner stronghold. Beyond that, they could only leave their fate to the gods.

Overnight, a sensational piece of news shook the nearby ancient cities and villages, and with astonishing speed, it spread to more distant lands.

"The true secret housed in Atlantis is not the ancient treasures, but the legacy of the Kings."

"It was Cobalt Strike that unlocked the chaos of Atlantis, secretly stealing away the Kings' Acceptance."

"The rightful owner of the Kings' Acceptance is not the Cobalt Strike Commander, but the Cobalt Strike's Golden Protégé, the Shadowlord's Messenger, Alavin!"

"The Grand Elder conspired to seize the Kings' Acceptance, covertly aligning with Lord Viperbane and Amber Valley to plot against Cobalt Strike. The Cobalt Strike Commander was grievously wounded and fled to Stormcast to protect Alavin, seeking aid from the seven Organizations of the Northlands!"

This explosive revelation sent shockwaves through the Northlands. Initially, the news was deliberately propagated by the Mallister family, but as more people were alarmed, a mere five hundred messengers became five thousand... fifty thousand... a hundred thousand. The news spread like wildfire to the royal courts and Organizations and to even more powers, causing a tsunami-like sensation.

The recent events in Atlantis had not yet settled, and the fervor had not diminished, even reaching the Midlands and other realms. Now, with the emergence of even more astonishing news, one could only imagine the level of commotion it caused.

In recent times, many who had obtained treasures from Atlantis had deciphered powerful secret arts, to the surprise and delight of many. And now, it turned out that the real treasure was not these artifacts but the legacy of the Kings.

What could this legacy spanning thousands of years possibly be?

The formidable guardian spirits of Atlantis had been silent for millennia. Merely a few spirits were able to confront the likes of Lord Viperbane and the Commander head-on. How terrifying were they in their prime, and what did their legacy signify?

Everyone understood the weight of this legacy. It could just forge an unprecedented champion of the Northlands.

The Kings' Acceptance!

The news stirred and boiled over in the Northlands.

By comparison, the perceived blasphemous rebellion of Cobalt Strike seemed to pale significantly. Not many paid heed to it as they coveted the secret of the Kings' Acceptance. What kind of monster was Cobalt Strike aiming to create? What kind of warrior would they mold Alavin into? It was fortunate that Cobalt Strike was in disarray, for if left undisturbed for a decade or so, no one would suppress the rise of Alavin.

Of course, for the Eight Orders and the Five Lords, the shock of the Cobalt Strike rebellion was still significant. This was not merely a personal betrayal by the Grand Elder but a conspiracy with Lord Viperbane If successful, it would mean a full alliance between Lord Viperbane and Cobalt Strike, with Amber Valley lurking in the shadows, potentially disrupting the balance of power among the Eight Orders and the Five Lords.

Upon receiving Eyla's report, the Bloodlore's Commander, Jarad, personally set out, accompanied by Eyla and three Elders, to Stormcast.

The Sisterhood of the Floral Enchantress, Sect of the Hidden Essence, Tribe of the Skyborne Rivers, the Earthbound Spirits, Society of Starlit Echoes, and even the largest Organization of the Northlands, the Stellar Precepts - all six Organization Commanders embarked on a journey to Stormcast.

Lord Warbringer, the House of Mountainhold, Lord Falconcrest, and Lord Skyveil the four noble houses were all astir. Lord Viperbane had dared to meddle in the affairs of the Eight Orders without even sending word to them! It would have been one thing if he had merely involved himself, but his actions had been half-hearted, allowing the Cobalt Strike Commander to escape and even leading to such a sensational incident.

The four Lords, upon receiving the news, rose in wrath and all set forth for Stormcast.

Whether it was to deal with the Cobalt Strike matter or to vie for the Kings' Acceptance, their first destination had to be Stormcast.

As the seven major Organizations and all the noble houses took action, the Northlands were abuzz, reaching a fever pitch of excitement.

True to form, these mighty overlords were all personally on the move. Whether it was to seek treasure or to address the Cobalt Strike event, a grand and decisive spectacle was sure to unfold there.

A multitude of mid-sized forces set out, and countless hidden powers made haste toward Stormcast.