Half-Island, Ruins, Main Hall.

Wu Guang's senses were right, and the one that entered the ruins was no one else than Kaas Shaa'r. Visually the lizardman had not changed. But how his presence felt and his control of the surrounding qi, even without a spread out aura, made it clear that he had followed Wu Guang's words about familiarizing himself with, however strange it may sound, his new self.

"Wu Guang" Albeit he used the common tongue, a small slurring was still present. Still, it was far better than before.

"Kaas Shaa'r"

"I sense that your power has increased greatly, are you here for the matter of the oath?"

"Yes and no"

"Hmm?"

"Well, a lot has happened and so there should be no real need for me to bind you to myself. Let me explain..."

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Half-Island, Boundary Hills.

A group comprised of eleven people was approaching the south gate of 'Boundary Hill City'. Even though most of the residents had been evacuated, the gate was fully crewed with guards. It could be said that it was overly packed with the latter. After all, there was no way that 20 guards were a normal amount.

But the group passed the guards without being stopped, not even questioned. This could be considered unusual, if not for the fact that the person in front, a person covered with a concealing rune-cape wore the badge of a High Elder of the 'Three Hills Sect'.

A few minutes later, this Elder and the ten disciples that accompanied reached the building commonly known as the Sect tower. The latter looked empty, with no lights or people at the door, but after one of the disciples gently rapped, the door silently opened and they disappeared inside the dark maw of the tower...

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Same island, seven miles from the Coast of the territory colloquially known as the Qiu Family Lands.

Several dozens, if not hundreds, of dispersed ships, were in the process of rejoining into a single fleet. Albeit they differed in size and type, the golden-colored Eagle emblem that adorned their sails was enough to guess that they were a single group. In fact, if anyone could see them, they would immediately call it out as a military fleet of the Eagle Kingdom.

Between all the ships, both the ones that already dropped anchor and the ones still approaching, one single ship stood out. Not only it was enormous, easily reaching a quarter of a mile in length, but it was also the only one to carry a second emblem below the Eagle, a pair of crossed, deep-blue, curved swords. And exactly on this ship, inside the biggest and most luxurious cabin of it, three people dressed in the gold colors of the Kingdom were engaged in a lively exchange.

"Commander Zou, who landed a pair of days ago along with his detachment has sent a report"

"And?"

"Three of the teams are unaccounted for, but the rest has reported initial success"

"Only initial? What about the one in Goldenport?"

"Vice-General Luo means the Qiu Family City?"

*Ptui* The man referred to as Vice-General Luo spat out before answering

"Whatever that upstart family renamed the city they claim to control isn't important. Goldeport is still the same city as before"

"You may have a point there... Anyway, the team inside the city is not part of the Commander's forces, it is one of the Black's"

"...Dogshit"

"However we may feel about them, they are still the trusted ears and eyes of the King. And his hands as well, at least when his majesty can not order us to act. All of our current operations are based on their information, and I have to admit they are good at obtaining it. Continue, Vice-General Fu" The third, until now silent man interjected.

"Yes, my general. As the team is not one of ours, we are not currently updated on the situation. But the last report, which we received yesterday, suggests that all the Qiu forces are preparing to meet us from behind the walls"

"And their fleet?"

"They only have ten real, armed ships. And they are captained by Soul realm cultivators, with sailors even weaker than our merchant ones. I doubt they will be a problem"

"You may be right, Vice-General Fu, but do not forget that the Golden Bay is the real obstacle, and passing it even with a single hostile ship on the way will simply make it more difficult"

"Vice-General Luo is right, but... Who says we will disembark there?"

"What?" Both of the men that held the rank of vice-generals simultaneously asked while turning towards the third man, who was previously called general.

"I was forbidden to reveal the plan to anyone, even to my aides before we reached this point. But now that we have, I will pass down the plan constructed by General Luan himself. Truth to be said he did it expecting to be the one to use it, but when his royal majesty decreed that the General was meant to guard the throne as his title calls... He passed me all the details, only asking of keeping it secret until the last moment"

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Eagle Island, Last Beach.

A far smaller, but not less impressive group of ships was dropping anchors in front of an empty, snow-covered beach. Each of the ships of this fleet also carried a distinctive emblem. One that no one outside their homeland had seen in almost nine decades. A crimson red 'Empire' character emblazoned on the black as night sails...

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Flaming Sun Island, Horned Mountains Coastline.

A similarly sized fleet as the one dropping anchors on Eagle Kingdom waters was currently doing the same in this, secluded and inhabitable location.

Albeit the so-called coastline was simply an almost three hundred feel cliff, a few torches could be seen on one of the supposedly impossible to climb cliffs...

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Fiery Island, The West Frontier Beaches.

Another task fleet of the Black Empire had just dropped anchors and was in the process of unloading people and cargo.

With both of the latter disappearing into some kind of tunnel dug out right in the middle of the beach. Judging from the tools still lying around and the mounds of sand nearby, it was of very recent making...

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Green Pastures, Seagrass Plains.

A man herding a small pack of 'Grazing Wolves' suddenly jerked.

"What?" He murmured while looking at the distant shapes that were seen far in the sea. As time passed, the shapes got more and more detailed, until they were revealed to be ships, a group of ships.

He began to ponder who may be using such a strange route to approach the island, after all, there were no currents around the Seagrass Plains, and so all the captains gave them an enormous berth as to don't get stuck. A few minutes later he saw the sails, the black as night sails, and gasped in surprise. Only to suddenly turn around and begin running. Leaving his pack of quasi-spiritual beasts, his most precious possession behind, and running without even daring to look back...

His mind could only repeat the same phrase over and over again

"The Claws are back! The Claws are back!"

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Open Sea, 78 miles from Black Island southern Coast.

Half a dozen ships sailing under different flags were surrounding what had been, a few minutes ago, a rune-ship of the Eagle Kingdom.

Such incidents were occurring at this moment in other places as well, with dozens of ships sailing under the flags of the pirates, freemen, Sea Hawks, and other groups from the Floating Nation attacking and sinking, the Eagle Kingdom scouts.

Strangely the ships present in this spot did not dissipate after dealing with the Eagle Kingdom Ship as the ones in the other incidents...

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Black Island, Imperial Capital, Secret Office of the Minister of War.

Chen Jiahao was constantly receiving messages through glyphs message stones, and even communication formations placed on the commanding ships. And albeit he would normally post his men to sort all of them, today was a day where too much sensitive information would arrive. And so it was impossible to let anyone, except His Imperial Majesty, see, listen, or read any of it.

And so, the man that had been serving as the Imperial Minister of War for almost 99 years, secluded himself in a small, cleverly hidden room and worked tirelessly.

"Mmm, so all of them are in position. With two of them already beginning to disembark..." He muttered after acknowledging the reports from the five expeditionary forces.

At this moment, another glyph flew into the room. Being a Warrior Lord, he did not even require to touch it, simply willing his aura to catch and activate it.

"Hoh? So the eagles were so brazen as to approach our coasts to such a distance? But now that they are no more..." Muttering under his breath, Chen Jiahao reached for a message glyph but stopped midway. While shaking his head quietly said

"No, this is too important. I shall go request the Emperor's voice for this" And as soon as the words left his lips, his until now concealed figure flashed brightly and disappeared from the room...

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Eagle Kingdom, Sewers below the city.

The Golden Capital of the Kingdom had one of the most, if not the better and cleaner system of sewers and drainage in the known plane. Even so, a few places were so hidden, far, or simply abandoned that it was not surprising to find someone using them as his own.

And at this moment, from one such place a frenzied, almost crazed exclamation was heard

"I WILL KILL YOU, KIANG MENG!!!"

Following the voice, one would find a tall and extremely thin man was currently chained to a pole in the middle of an unused tunnel. And if examined more closely, one would be surprised not only by the man's condition, but also the sheer amount of runes added to the restraints.

The man's long hair, face, and naked body were covered in blood, muck, and grime. Still, his eyes shone brightly... And one could only shudder at the strength they irradiated.

Who was he? Why was he chained in such a place? And why did he threaten to kill the previously advisor, now turned prime minister of the King?