'Just how long did you want to keep it raining?' thought King Leon gloomily.
"*Sigh* Whatever... Do whatever you want. Just keep it quiet when I talk with the others." King Leon sighed deeply.
"Okay. Rain Falling Down~ Rain Falling Down~." the Twin Gemini sang and danced again while leaving the room.
It is not long since his beloved woman Extalia left the capital city. Yet, he misses this Duchess to care for the mischievous Twin Star Spirit. Still, he was intrigued about this unique star spirit.
Star Spirit is similar to the twelve zodiacs from Earth. Each of them has their own background story and unique personality. Since King Leon decided to have contact with them before, he already has extensive knowledge and research about them.
According to his knowledge, the Star Spirit does not always have a physical body. Most of the time, they will be light, like the stars in the sky. This is also where their Star Spirit name comes from.
The star spirit could form its physical body for a month before returning back to starlight. During this time, they will also act as the examiner and guardian of the Star Garden. It is a place where King Leon met Twin Gemini for the first time.
The Star Garden is a very unique place and couldn't be reached by simple means. It is on the boundary of another dimension but could be accessed from various locations across the world. One of the entrances is inside one of the Udrary's forests that King Leon visited last time.
'If I am not wrong, the next star spirit guardian and examiner should be Capricorn, the goat star spirit. I never heard Capricorn hate water before. But, I think I should prepare for his coming.' thought King Leon inwardly.
Then, King Leon called back everyone and continued their previous meeting. As the head of the nation, he often holds serious noble conferences anytime. The topic and the participants of these meetings are random according to the nation's situation.
Currently, he held this meeting to discuss the matter of the whole kingdom and the next direction in the following years. They also happen to find the news about the recently new bounty and foreign bounty hunter before the meeting.
"Alright, let's continue. From what Jade and Duke Quinn report, the Undermine Council situation is more disastrous than we expected. They also predict the battle between the traitor dwarf Dumrod and monster overlords will not end soon." said King Leon.
"That's certainly a bad thing. Duke Quinn couldn't leave his post for a long time." said Duke Crestflare worriedly.
"Agreed. Duke Quinn holds an important position as the head of our intelligence unit." said Marquish Dane.
Unlike any large big noble meeting before, King Leon only called the high-ranking nobles from the same faction to reduce useless infighting and focus more on the matter.
"Don't worry. I could recall Duke Quinn when he finished his task there and replaced him with the others. Duke Crestflare, I hope you don't mind leaving your post for a certain period." said King Leon.
"It will be my honor, My Liege. I will reduce the monsters in Greenever Dungeon before departing." said Duke Crestflare.
"Hmm... Gather knights from all over the kingdom voluntarily, especially the young ones. It will be a good experience for them." said King Leon.
"Excellent idea, Your Highness. How about we make it a big event to attract more participants?" asked Count Hillfang.
"Did you have any idea, Count Hillfang?" asked Marquis Dane.
"Yes. I propose we hold a big monster-hunting event. The main participants should be our knights from various squads and divisions. We also should prepare some rewards to attract more people." said Count Hillfang.
"Interesting... Alright, Let's do it this way. I want this event to spread to the public. I want the other civilians, adventurers, mercenaries, or anyone else to also participate in this event." said King Leon.
"T-This... Are you sure, My King? If they somehow won the reward, it would blow our knight's prestige." said Count Hillfang anxiously.
"Hmm... Then, it only shows our knights' weakness. Also, this is just an opening before the real event next year." said King Leon before giving some documents to everyone.
"A battle competition?" said Duke Crestflare solemnly.
"Yes. I planned to use this event to recruit more fresh blood and talented people to our force. The hunting competition will serve as the opening event and public advertisement before the real event next year." said King Leon.
"Since the hunting event is held inside Duke Crestflare territory, I want you and Count Hillfang to manage the whole event. Make sure to also announce the battle competition next year during the event." added King Leon.
"It shall be done, Your Majesty." replied Duke Crestflare politely.
Duke Crestflare is one of King Leon's diehard loyalists, even during the previous civil war. Otherwise, the Duke will not have significant territory and occupy a big gold mine like Greenever Dungeon.
Although Greenever Dungeon is smaller than Deep Hollow Dungeon, it still yields more income than the latter. Greenever Dungeon has a lush forest environment often grows various natural resources besides the monster.
This will attract not only adventurers and mercenaries to come but also various big merchants to buy the fresh natural ingredient first hand. Compared to Deep Hollow Dungeon, which has a stony maze environment and limited natural resources, Greenever Dungeon is a better gold mine.
Meanwhile, Jade and his team are facing a massive crisis since they arrive at the Undermine Council. Each participant from the World Alliance is distributed according to their strength and has at least one elf combatant on their side.
However, it didn't mean Jade would be separated from his team. In fact, participants that consist of a large group will stay as one team under the supervision of an elf. This also allows Duke Quinn and his shadow squad to plunder this dwarf sacred land.
Unfortunately, they didn't expect to face such a harsh disaster since arriving there. From thunderstorms, blizzards, or even rain or fire, they will experience this disastrous weather for at least an hour before changing to another disaster.
The worst disaster was the current tsunami flood that almost drowned the whole area. The sudden water surge will not only hit them but also destroy any of their settlements.
Since they don't know how long the fight will end, they are ready to camp in the area and wait until the battle ends.
Food supplies, ammunition, weapons, and other daily necessities are also stored in this place. The flood disaster may not endanger these powerful groups, but their equipment and tools may be washed away, gone with the flood.
Jade's group is quite fortunate since he brings a specially customized portable Alkin. The portable Alkin is a cube-shaped metal that will grow and rearrange into the giant Metallic boat Alkin when activated. It is similar to Gilford's personal colossus mechanism.
It is a truly unique technology that only Gilford could master. Even Angus couldn't use this remarkable technology as it is on the border of special magic rather than magical engineering.
Jade is glad he listened to his son Gilford's advice before going on this mission. Otherwise, they may request another reinforcement or supply after arriving at this disastrous place.
"Thunder hurricane at two o'clock!!" shouted the nearby people.
"Brace for impact!!" called another person nearby.
*WHUUSSHHH* *ZZTTSSSSHH* The Alkin was hit by a large wave and moved around this chaotic sea. A moment ago, this place was dry earthy land like any other dwarf community. Now, it turns into a chaotic sea filled with thunderstorms, rain of fire, and humongous icebergs.
*Crack* *Crack* *Crack* At this moment, everyone in the Alkin finds a white mist on the horizon, freezing the turbulent sea at a fast rate. Jade immediately moves forward and swings his burning arm forward [Tri Flare].
*BOOOOMM* an intense three-fire pillar clashes with the freezing, turning it into hot steam across the area. Everyone could see the whole turbulent sea was frozen except for some water below the Alkin due to Jade's previous attack.
Before the people could get relief, they noticed a barrage of flaming rocks raining down the sky. *SWUNG* *BLLAARR* Then, a strong black energy beam passed through the area not far from them from the horizon.
The energy is so powerful that it even passes through the inner wall of Undermine Council in the distance. Seeing these devastating moves and disasters, some of the people couldn't help but cry in panic.
Although most people here are selected and trained elite combatants, they will still perish under one of these disastrous weather conditions. They feel like an ant under the influence of these mighty disasters.
"Soldiers, Stand on your ground!! Remember your training!!" shouted Jade across the Alkin.
Just after Jade says this, something fast is flown over their side. *BANG* It creates a large crater inside the frozen nearby. A moment later, everyone could feel a dreadful chilling miasma from the crater.
A petite girl wearing a pointed hat emerges slowly from the ice crater. At this moment, the girl notices Jade and everyone's presence on top of the Alkin.