FLDI Chapter 84

**Chapter 84: Tremendous Power**

“All three of you, we absolutely have a chance this time. This is merely a minotaur horde that lost a tribal war. Even though their numbers have been restored through dark magic, these magically bred minotaurs are far inferior to the real ones. With the combined forces of our three domains, we can definitely hold them off.”

“And don’t forget, defeating beastmen in battle brings merits that can elevate our ranks. Compared to wars between kingdoms or full-scale battles with the beastmen, this will be much simpler. If we abandon our lands now, how will we face future wars with the kingdom or the beastmen?”

“Unless, of course, the three of you are willing to give up your noble status and return to being wandering knights.”

Thor’s voice was calm but firm. Though his words were not loud, the weight of them hung heavy in the air, leaving the three barons momentarily speechless.

Beastmen wars were unpredictable, but kingdom wars were different. They erupted every hundred years, determining the boundaries and strength of each kingdom. These wars were unavoidable for any noble. One could flee from this fight, but fleeing from a kingdom war was impossible.

Participation in these wars was compulsory for nobles. Any noble unable to fight would lose their title. This meant that the barons could lose the status they had worked so hard to attain—something none of them could accept.

“Lord Thor, if we survive this crisis, I, Pape Lawrence, will pledge my full loyalty to you,” Pape Lawrence declared solemnly.

“Lord Thor, I, Valmy, will also follow your lead without question!” added Baron Valmy.

“Lord Thor!” echoed Baron Glatton, standing up alongside the others, their faces filled with earnest determination.

“You honor me, noble lords,” Thor said with a smile, “but truly, this time we will need to work together to face the challenge ahead.”

“Now, if I may suggest something,” Thor continued after a moment of thought. “Can you three gather all your knights?”

The three barons hesitated briefly at his request, exchanging uncertain glances. But after a brief silence, Pape Lawrence nodded resolutely.

“Very well, Lord Thor. I will return immediately to summon all my knights,” Pape Lawrence declared, having made up his mind despite the risks.

If Thor had any ill intentions, he could have acted against them during the previous wars. There was no reason for him to wait until now. With Pape Lawrence taking the lead, the other two barons quickly followed suit, agreeing to gather their forces as well.

They had come too far to give up now. Even if there was only a slim chance of survival, they would take it.

With their agreement secured, further discussions about their next steps proceeded smoothly. After finalizing a few more details, the three barons took their leave.

As Thor watched them go, he began his own final preparations. Instead of contacting the other pioneer lords, Thor focused on his own strength and that of Anna. The remaining pioneer lords likely had already fled, and time was running out.

Thor’s priority now was to assess the full extent of his and Anna’s newfound powers, enhanced through their symbiotic contract. Both had undergone significant transformations, and Thor was eager to test his current strength, wondering if he could now rival a great knight.

With this in mind, Thor sought out Steve and Perlos, enlisting them to help test his and Anna’s abilities.

On the training grounds, Thor stood opposite Perlos.

“My lord, are you sure about this?” Perlos asked hesitantly, a hint of nervousness in his voice. He had not expected Thor to challenge him to a duel today.

Though Perlos was impressed by Thor’s rapid ascent to a full-fledged knight, he himself was a great knight. Sparring with Thor made him uneasy.

“Don’t worry,” Thor said with a reassuring smile. “This is just a test.”

Though Perlos was a great knight, Thor felt confident in his enhanced abilities, bolstered by the ice-elemental life force flowing through him.

“Very well,” Perlos said, taking a deep breath. “But be careful, my lord!”

With that, Perlos summoned his life force and charged toward Thor.

Thor’s eyes glinted with a cold, icy light as he activated his own life force. A chill spread from his body, and frost began to form on his sword. In an instant, he leaped forward, meeting Perlos’ charge head-on.

*Boom!*

The clash of their swords echoed through the air as their powerful life forces collided. Perlos’ great knight energy quickly overwhelmed Thor, forcing him to stagger back. But as Perlos pressed his advantage, the cold energy from Thor’s sword began to spread, ice creeping along Perlos’ weapon and toward his body.

“What is this?” Perlos gasped, recoiling in surprise as the frost started to freeze the air around him.

Before he could react, Thor moved swiftly, his blade cutting through the icy air.

“Watch out!” Thor called with a playful smile as he appeared above Perlos, delivering another strike.

Perlos raised his sword to block, but it was too late. Ice rapidly spread across his blade and up his arm, freezing his movements.

*Clang!*

Perlos’ sword slipped from his frozen hand and fell to the ground as he stumbled backward, ice encasing his shoulder.

“You’ve lost,” Thor said with a light laugh, clearly pleased with the results of their sparring match.

Perlos, still stunned by the cold seeping through his body, could only offer a weak smile. “My lord, your strength is… incredible.”

But before Perlos could say more, a powerful surge of cold energy erupted in the distance.

*Boom!*

In the blink of an eye, a thick layer of frost spread across the training grounds, freezing everything within sight in a shimmering white haze.

(End of Chapter)

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