All of a sudden, the sound of a horn rang throughout the entire city, followed by chaotic footsteps and screams.


    Darius lowered his sword and looked at the window. With furrowed brows, he approached the window and when he saw therge head of a giant white wolf that was even taller than the walls, his heart shook.


    "Is that…"


    "The legendary Ashbourne pet beast!" A captain gasped, his arms trembling intermittently.


    Sirius growled softly as he looked at the people running helter-skelter while screaming. Some women carried their kids, some left their kids, some pushed their kids out of the way, while some strangers helped kids that weren''t even theirs.


    The Tigris Footmen on the wall lifted their shields but we''re constantly looking back, as if they considered the thought of running.


    Behind the mighty beast were 950 Deste Wolf Infantrymen with their spears raised high, marching towards the wall.


    "Hoo!"


    They chanted, boosting their momentum the closer they got to the wall. Theirbined voices went far, drilling deep into the hearts of those who heard them.


    Swoosh!


    Sirius leaped over the wall. He stomped his right foreleg against the ground, causing the ground to cave in.


    His growl made the hearts of hundreds quake.


    Lifting up his head, Sirius looked straight at Darius and began walking toward the manor.


    A row of Dark Skies gathered and unleashed barrages of arrows but all of them bounced off Sirius'' fur.


    The wolf barely felt an itch. After growling, his eyes shed with a crimson glow and mes erupted from Sirius'' mouth.


    The Dark Skies caught up in mes. They screamed and ran about, trying to quench the fire but couldn''t.


    Finally, they began to fall, one after the other.


    Seeing this, Darius took several steps away from the window. "Prepare my horse!"


    ude could hear footsteps that grew fainter and fainter until he was all alone in the hall.


    Creases formed on his forehead.


    Meanwhile, with a few strikes of the ram, the Deste Wolves broke the gates and stormed into the city.


    In groups of 10, they spread out. Because Asher was cautious about Darius, he sent Sirius to aid Aqu.


    Unfortunately, Sirius'' presence did more than aid; it suppressed the soldiers, causing fear and deep terror that made them lose their confidence.


    Some Tigris Footmen tried to put up a resistance and face Ashbourne soldiers; however, against the human wall formed by the squad of 10 Ashbourne soldiers, they fell in droves.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere, Darius could be seen riding a muscr steed with some captains and 20 soldiers.


    His lord needed to know that House Ashbourne wasn''t a small fry as they thought and that Asher was indeed a true Ashbourne.


    True Ashbournes were known by their mighty pet breasts, creatures that had made their mark in Boundless.


    Rumble!


    As they galloped out of the city through the south gate, Darius urged a soldier at the gate to send a letter to the count.


    Some time after that, they rode far from the city.


    "Lord Darius, is that a woman?"


    A soldier pointed at the figure in the distance. Darius squinted. Indeed, hundreds of yards away stood a woman.


    It was Aqu.


    Behind her was a centrak and two mounted guards assigned to protect her.


    Shing!


    Darius and his men drew their weapon but when Aqu stretched forth her hand, the air around them grew cold.


    It became moist and before they knew it, they were in a thick fog. One so thick that they couldn''t see each other clearly.


    From afar, Aqu went back to her mount and looked at them for a short while before turning away.


    While her mount walked away, she spat, "Rise."


    Swish! Swish!


    Tall ice spikes protruded from the ground, skewering everything inside the fog. By the time the fog vanished, Aqu was long gone but the aftermath of her spell remained.


    The ice was so thick that it would take a few years to thaw naturally.


    After Baron meheart was tended to and cleaned up, he returned back into the hall and found Aqu standing before the head seat.


    He was facing her back.


    "Baron meheart, my lord was quick toe to your rescue. You must be a good friend of his."


    She said while slowly turning to face him.


    "I am grateful to Lord Asher."


    Aqu raised an eyebrow. She could sense something further wasing up and as she thought, Baron meheart fell on one knee.


    "I''ve decided to bow the knee to His Lordship, Asher Ashbourne. I believe he''ll return me to my rightful ce, which is being a merchant."


    Aqu chuckled.


    "You have foresight, Mr. ude. You know my lord will surely establish a great economy so you want to be the chief merchant, an official in his sacred court."


    ude looked at the silver-haired beauty that walked up to him.


    "It''s better than being an ally that''s simply too weak. As a merchant, I will do better. You know that some people in his court might one day turn him against me if I remain a lord."


    "Rise up. We shall head to Nineveh to meet His Lordship together."


    ude got to his feet and exhaled. After seeing a glimpse of Asher''s might, he ceased to see Asher as a mere youth.


    ........


    In the sacred hall, some dayster stood Aqu with ude.


    They stared at the gray-haired man, who calmly stroked his pet beast with a pleased expression.


    There was a small smile on his pale, handsome face.


    While caressing Sirius, he turned toward them. "I''ve got reports of the battle. Everything you need for research will be granted in abundance."


    Aqu bowed.


    "Baron, it''s a surprise to see you here. Are you not supposed to be with your family?"


    ude meheart shook his head and went on one knee.


    "I came to do something more important. To pledge my loyalty to you."


    Asher raised an eyebrow. "You''re forfeiting your domain?"


    "I am. I chose from this day to serve the great wolf of the north."


    He bowed his head.


    "Arise. I still chose to make you a lord. Baron meheart, vassal of House Ashbourne, your house shall be in charge of the domain''s exportation and importations."


    ude''s lips shook. He couldn''t believe it.


    Asher tapped his shoulder and lifted him up. "Rise up, Baron. How is your wife and kid?"


    "They were not hurt."


    "Good. Count William''s men have been defeated with 500 captives heading to Silverleaf mines as we speak."


    "I am grateful."


    "There''s no need to be. Count William should receive the news that his men have lost and his general is dead."


    Baron meheart furrowed his brows. "What will be his response?"


    "He won''t respond quickly because our might will surely disturb him. And more importantly, he has begun a war with the House Mormont. He''ll just watch to see if we try to take advantage of it but I see this as a chance to grow."


    Asher closed his eyes and opened them.


    "I remember Sapphira speaking about grapes. I want lots of seeds so we can start the n of making a unique version of the blood wine. Also, I want some barrels of evergreen oil to be advertised abroad so as to draw more customers. If you can attract a big merchant guild, that would be better."


    ude nodded.


    After discussing with ude, Asher went to the balcony and saw 3000 Deste Wolves standing in straight lines in his courtyard.


    Aqu stood behind him.


    "They''re an impressive troop." She said.


    Asherughed. "Ashkelon Guards Troop will soon get better than them, which is why I''ve gathered them."


    Indeed, the Ashkelon Guards would soon be a troop of 10,000 sword and shield gold-ranked knights once they got the new armor!


    10,000 knights!


    Such an elite force could not be found under a mere count but Asher was about to create another.


    He was truly turning his entire force into an army of elites.


    [After several battles, the Deste Wolves have fulfilled the criteria for the next upgrade. Would you like to upgrade your special-grade troop? Yes or No?]


    "Yes."


    For some seconds nothing happened, only for golden light to fall from the clouds upon them. It was like a golden beam from the heavens.


    Everyone in Nineveh could see it!


    Instantly, a great transformation began. When the light died down, a strikingly imposing troop appeared.


    Their armor became gold in color, and the white plume grew long to their waist level. In addition to that, their chestte had the image of a wolfhead. The sides of the chest te and the back were ck, the same for the thighs.


    The armor became ck and gold.


    Three spikes came out of their pauldrons. A third of the spikes'' length was gold, while the rest of it was ck.


    Three spikes also protruded from their vambraces.


    Along with that, their helmetspletely covered their faces and their cloaks became ck with the sigil of a House Ashbourne.


    The roaring white wolf head was prominent on the ck cloak.


    The long ck gs attached to their spears fluttered softly.


    Thud!


    All 3000 knights fell on one knee and mmed the bottom of their spears against the ground.


    "We pay respect to His Lordship!!"