Meanwhile, at that very same moment, in the Warrior's Valley of the Black Continent near the port city of Al Nahar, the air hummed as the tribes gathered. Legions from two Demon tribes, the Talakh and the Iledh, alongside the Haruth Barbarians, began pouring into the valley. Waiting for them were Lot Har, Leon, and Mariana. They stood tall at the front, backed by a formidable force of hunters and village warriors, with a line of mercenaries standing ready behind the trio.
Once the crowds had settled, the three tribal leaders emerged on horseback and rode to the front of their lines. Lot Har immediately bowed, crossing his arms over his chest in an "X" to show respect. The three leaders returned the salute before dismounting. They walked forward and took their seats at a table prepared for the meeting, while Lot Har, Leon, and Mariana sat opposite them. Lot Har shared a quick nod with Leon and Mariana before addressing the guests.
"Greetings and welcome, Chief Rod Ghor of the Talakh, Chief Khal Thra of the Iledh, and Chief Bholr Tyerd of the Haruth Barbarians. Thank you for answering my call," Lot Har said.
"Greetings, Chief Lot Har of the Amala. Is what you wrote in your letter actually true?" Rod Ghor asked, glancing toward Mariana, who looked visibly uncomfortable.
"You've gathered us all here; this better not be a waste of our time," Khal Thra added.
"Before we discuss war or crossing over to Libelia, you need to convince me and the other chiefs," Bholr demanded.
Bholr glanced back at his ranks. Positioned at the very front was a beautiful girl, about sixteen years old, sitting atop her horse. Her skin was a rich bronze, and her eyes held a sharp, piercing gaze. An elegant, finely crafted bow was slung across her back. She gave Bholr a firm nod, and he turned his attention back to Lot Har, Leon, and Mariana.
Knowing the three chiefs sitting before him needed undeniable proof, Leon didn't bother with words. He simply raised his hand. In a flash of light, he summoned his glowing blue trident. "Tong." He slammed the base of the weapon into the ground while remaining seated.
The eyes of the three chiefs nearly bulged out of their sockets. They knew exactly what that weapon was and who it belonged to. Every soul on the Black Continent was a descendant of the Neptunia Kingdom from a thousand years ago. They all grew up on the legends of the weapon belonging to the god Cronus—stories passed down through their tribes for generations. Without a moment's hesitation, the three leaders scrambled to their feet, their faces a mask of shock and awe.
Seeing their reaction, Leon—flanked by Lot Har and Mariana—slowly rose to his feet.
"Brugh."
All three tribal leaders dropped to their knees before Leon. Behind them, every single Demon and Barbarian soldier filling the valley followed suit, bowing their heads in total submission.
"Greetings, King," the three chiefs said, followed by the roar of the entire army.
But one person remained standing. The Barbarian girl on horseback didn't budge. She dismounted and walked toward the center, approaching the table where Leon stood.
"Hey, Lulu!" Bholr shouted.
"Relax, Papa. I know what I'm doing," Lulu said, her eyes locked on Leon.
Suddenly, Lulu whipped out her bow and fired an arrow at Leon from point-blank range. "Clang." With effortless grace, Leon swatted the arrow away, sending it thudding into the dirt. Lulu stared at Leon, then glanced at her arrow. A smile spread across her face. She lowered her bow, put it away, and dropped to one knee.
"Greetings, King. I've been waiting for this day for a week. Forgive me for testing you," Lulu said, her head bowed.
"Fine. Your apology is accepted. Everyone... stand up!" Leon commanded with authority.
"Brugh." The entire army—thousands of warriors—stood up in unison. Two mercenaries brought an extra chair for Lulu, and she sat beside her father. Leon turned his gaze toward her.
"You said you've been waiting for this day for a week. What did you mean by that?" Leon asked.
Lulu went quiet for a moment. She looked at her father and the other two chiefs; they all nodded. She turned her eyes back to Leon and then glanced at Mariana.
"You're the Saint from the monastery in the east Libelia, aren't you?" Lulu asked.
"Oh? You already know who I am?" Mariana asked, clearly confused.
"Yes. A week ago, I dreamed you were coming. I'll tell you everything," Lulu replied.
Lulu didn't waste any time. She began describing exactly what she had seen in her dream. There were two critical revelations. First, the arrival of a Saint from a monastery in the east. This Saint was being hunted by the lords of Libelia due to a power struggle over the new Cardinal. According to the dream, she would flee to the Black Continent to find the reincarnations of the three ancient rulers—triplets who had already been living on the Black Continent for eighteen years. Once found, all the tribes would unite under them to cross back to the central continent, eventually seizing and entering Castletown.
The second revelation was even more monumental: the three kings and queens leading a massive war against the legions of darkness from behind the Wall, but only after they had brought the entire northern territory under their control. Mariana gasped as she listened, a look of pure shock on her face, but then she smiled and nodded in confirmation.
Ever since having that dream, Lulu had spent the last week working tirelessly to convince the tribes of what was coming. So, when the letter arrived from Kal Thor describing the events on the coast—specifically mentioning that the reincarnated triplets from a millennium ago had sunk a Vanadias Empire galleon—the three chiefs didn't need any more convincing. They immediately set out for the Warrior's Valley.
"And then there was one more thing... I don't know if it matters or not, but I saw myself standing on a massive palace balcony... alongside a king and two queens... with the Saint sitting right in front of me and eight other people... people I didn't recognize at all. Everyone was one—the people of Libelia and the people of the Black Continent working side by side against the darkness attacking from beyond the Wall after an undead dragon smashed right through it, all under the leadership of the king and the two queens," Lulu added.
"Yes, I saw that too in my own visions," Mariana replied.
"Hmm... interesting. Did those eight people include you and Mariana?" Leon asked.
"No. Including me and the Saint... Mariana, the total was ten people," Lulu answered.
"From what you remember, were they Libelians?" Lot Har asked.
"I don't know... but there were four strange ones. Two with silver hair and long ears, and two others... a man with brown hair and a woman with red hair. They were half-beast," Lulu said.
"Blam!" Mariana slammed her hands onto the table, her face pale.
"Elves and Beastmen... you saw them too?" Mariana asked, her voice trembling.
Lulu nodded. Leon looked deep in thought.
"So they still exist," Leon muttered.
"What still exists?" Lot Har asked.
"Nothing," Leon replied.
"Elves and Beastmen... that's impossible. They haven't been seen for a thousand years," Rod Ghor said.
"That's true. But if both Lulu and the Saint saw them, it might be real," Khal Thra added.
"I saw it in my vision when I prayed to the gods," Mariana added.
"Alright. If Lulu's vision is proven, then the Saint's vision is true. We should prepare. I will gather all the Barbarian tribes in the name of our King, Leon," Bholr declared.
"Agreed. It's time to end our feuds. I'll recruit the smaller tribes in my territory," Rod Ghor said.
"We prepare to cross to Libelia and take Castletown," Khal Thra added.
"Thank you, honorable Chiefs," Lot Har said, bowing.
"We stand under your banner, Lot Har," Rod Ghor said. "Your mercenary company is now the army of the Black Continent."
"Exactly! We have our general right here," Khal Thra said, pointing at Lot Har with a wide grin.
"How long to gather the forces?" Leon asked.
"Give us one week," Rod Ghor answered.
"A week... what do you think, Mariana?" Lot Har asked.
"I... I need to get to Libelia immediately to pray... what should I do?" Mariana asked.
"We're going to that port city you mentioned, Mariana," Leon answered.
"The port of Hargar has a small Esvana monastery, but it's high risk. That city belongs to House Levent, and they're allied with House Clark... your uncle, Leon," Lot Har warned.
"I see. Then how about this: we move the current force to Hargar and station ourselves there. We'll crush House Levent first and take control of the southern ports. We can't reach the center without the south anyway," Leon said.
"I like that plan," Rod Ghor muttered.
"Fine. I'll deploy 700 of my men from Al Nahar immediately," Bholr said, looking at his daughter. "Lulu, you lead them."
"You got it, Papa!" Lulu replied, ready for action.
"I'll provide the ships and 300 of my warriors," Khal Thra added.
"Two ships and 500 men from me," Rod Ghor said.
"Can you be ready in three days?" Leon asked.
"Of course," the chiefs replied in unison.
"Good. In three days we move. Lucia, Livia, and I will be with you," Leon said.
"Long live the King and Queens!" the chiefs and Lot Har shouted, followed by the roar of the entire army.
Leon stood and raised his trident. Warriors cheered, brandishing their weapons. Mariana watched them, smiling through tears of relief. Her vision was finally coming to life.