“General Caide, what do you think?” Shane probed, clear hesitation in his voice. Even though he aligned with Julius, he deeply respected Prince Rufus of West Lucozia. If Rufus were dead, he would have readily joined Julius in his rebellion.
However, Rufus was alive, altering the dynamics. This forced Shane to contemplate the consequences.
It was as Elijah had pointed out. He might dismiss thoughts of self- preservation, but he had to think about his family and friends.
“General Gilby, we shouldn’t rush into a decision until the final moment. I have faith that Grand General Rhys will emerge victorious in the battle against Logan.
“If Grand General Rhys secures victory, we still have a chance for a turnaround.
“Everett expressed with depth.
“That’s right! Grand General Rhys has unparalleled martial prowess. He’ll surely win. How can Logan be a match for Grand General Rhys?” Shane nodded repeatedly.
“Sir Valor, please stop undermining the military’s morale here. We’re all in the same boat, sharing both success and failure.
“In case of an unexpected result, you won’t be able to escape the consequences alone either,” Everett admonished.
“I’m just offering a friendly reminder. If you don’t find it helpful, then let it be.
“Elijah shrugged.
Their ideals diverged, and as the two generals failed to grasp his intentions, it was futile to say more. To him, survival was paramount. Power and wealth came second, and everything else didn’t matter.
While they conversed, the dynamics on the battlefield suddenly shifted. Perhaps due to exhaustion, Julius’ attacks had noticeably slowed down. In contrast, Dustin maintained his vigor, seemingly unaffected in the slightest.
In fact, Dustin had yet to unleash his full strength, allowing Julius to execute his attacks freely. On one hand, it was to test Julius’ limits. On the other hand, it was a measure of caution.
If Julius had genuine connections to the Dragon Guard, Dragon Guard members could be hiding within the vicinity.
In other words, formidable individuals from the Dragon Guard could be lying in wait, anticipating an opportune moment.
While Julius posed no threat to him, the Dragon Guard was different. Their current leader, Reagan Judd, ranked fifth on the Astonishing World List, far surpassing him in strength.
If they were to launch a sneak attack, he could end up severely injured or even killed if he didn’t remain vigilant.
While evading and maneuvering, Dustin remarked casually, “Uncle Julius, let’s end this here. You’re no match for me. There is no purpose in continuing this fight.
“We both belong to the Rhys family. There’s no need for a fight to the death. Repent, and you’ll remain the Grand General and enjoy prosperity.”
“Do you think I’m a child? If I surrender, I won’t be seeing the light of day tomorrow!” Julius shouted. Throughout history, the struggle for the throne had always ended with either success or death, with no third option. If he failed today, death was the only path.
“I know it’s the Dragon Guard pulling the strings, and you’ve been misled by deceivers. Your actions were impulsive.
“I can assure you that if you reveal the true culprits, I won’t hold your mistakes against you,” Dustin spoke earnestly.
“Hmph! Do you think I’ll believe you?” Julius’s expression was cold, but his attacks involuntarily slowed.
“Uncle Julius, you must realize you’re in a hopeless situation. If you want to avoid dire consequences, agree to my conditions. This is your chance to make amends,” Dustin stated.
“If Rufus had told me this, I might have believed it to some extent. But from a brat like you?” Julius shouted.
“You can choose not to believe me, but do you have any other options?”
Dustin said indifferently, “I’m only telling you this because we are family. If it were someone else, they’d be dead by now.”
“Trying to scare me, are you? Do you think you can defeat me? Stop dreaming!” Julius retorted.
