Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 314: Activity on the Borders

Knock, knock! “Vloz, it’s urgent!”

“Come in Puula, no need to wait.”

The door swung open as the large fox entered the room, closing the door afterward with one of her two tails. Puula’s second tail swiped across the wall and activated a silencing formation near the door. “They’ve begun to move, and they’re coming in fast.”

“Hmm... You said there were five perennials, right?” Vloz verified.

But Puula shook her head. “No.”

“Explain, please.”

“The unknown group on the border has begun rushing into the territory and we were finally able to examine their now-abandoned base. We found a telepathy formation similar to that belonging to Portro’s army on the border,” stated Puula, surprising the leopard, “which may be connected to that army suddenly charging toward us.”

.....

“So the band of five perennials has finally crossed the border and the king’s army is now charging back toward the city without any notice?”

“Anything else?” Vloz asked.

“No, nothing apart from those two issues.”

“Nothing? What about him?”

“He’s made contact but not recently. But we’ll have to keep that in mind.”

“Good... Then we’ll just have to make it work. Anything else and things would be too messy...” Sighing lightly, Vloz nodded. “Summon the council, and include all new perennials now residing in the territory.”

“I’ve already done so.”

Blinking, Vloz stood up from behind his custom desk, one lowered and built to wrap around one side of Vloz’s slightly raised cushion. Storing his claw-fitted quill and a half-written scroll, the leopard walked up to Puula with a nod. “Thank you for being so diligent.”

“It’s the least I can offer given your support of Netra,” replied Puula, offering a friendly nod.

“Now, let’s go.”

The leopard and fox hurried out of the academy under the late afternoon suns. As the first sunset was beginning, they entered the nearby council building with a brisk pace, one that wasn’t too attention-drawing for the sake of the new citizens and merchants in the city center. There, Vloz chuckled, “How did a lazy gorilla beat me here?”

Sitting in the main seat, Rathe broke out in hearty laughter and brandished a toothy grin. “Finally, I get to handle some proper business and you think I’ll let you have all the fun?”

“I’m glad to see the old Rathe is still there, waiting for a chance to wreck enemy forces at every opportunity...” Vloz jokingly sighed, assuming a seat beside Rathe.

There were already a few others there as well. The ring of cushions had been expanded and redesigned to more of a half-circle with the gorilla clan at the open end. Now, people like Hurman and Nixt were able to have their own seats, and they were glad to be included in the upcoming discussion.

Nixt was especially eager, eyeing Rathe with a matching grin. “Bet I can take out more than you!”

“You’re on!” Rathe replied, pounding his chest in acceptance.

Ania sighed and shook her head, but said nothing. Hurdo chuckled and kept quiet as well. Fontu, though, spoke up, “A friendly competition is fine, but don’t get in over your head without considering those you lead.”

“We’ll be fine! You can trust my leadership!” Rathe boasted, laughing louder as more people trickled in. “Hurry up! There’s no time to waste and no words to mince! We’ve got a war on our hands!”

“Calm down!” finally, Ania spoke up, slapping the back of Rathe’s head. “Some people aren’t battle crazy like you. Don’t forget that.”

“Right... Sorry. It’s just been too long!” chuckled Rathe, not letting up at all.

A couple of minutes more and the final council member appeared, taking their seat without any pause.

“What took you so long?”

“Sorry, Chief Gar, but I was outside of the city when I got the news. I had to recall any lingering troops to the north before coming here,” Eefran stated with unflinching patience.

“You acted without permission–”

“Good job, Eefran,” Vloz thanked the wildebeest, interrupting the lynx chief’s objection. “It was good that you acted on your instincts and experience. Had you kept the stallions and wildebeests on roaming patrol, we might have lost many lives in the near future.”

“Thank the foxes,” replied Eefran, bowing his head to Puula.

But Puula shook her head. “That’s our job, so of course we’ll handle that.”

“Just how intricate is your network?” Chief Gar asked, showing a surprised face to the fox chief.

“What matters now is how we meet our opponents!” Rathe shouted, forcing all attention on him. “Puula, can you give us a full report now that everyone’s here?”

Nodding, Puula explained, “To the northwest, we have a band of five perennials that rushed across the border. And it’s been confirmed that those perennials are connected with the charging army from the north-northeast border. The band of perennials is moving faster but the larger distance should result in them reaching Iron Town together with the army.”

Hollen squinted and took in a sharp breath. “And we can confirm that they’re hostile?”

“We haven’t confronted the perennial group directly but we lost a scout that was stationed near the army. They were attacked on the spot without explanation,” Puula answered. “No declarations have been made but the army isn’t slowing down and has shown malicious intent.”

“Did you find out more about those army leaders?” Rathe asked.

“Yes. As you requested, Leader Rathe, we discovered the suspicious backgrounds of the perennials in charge of the army. Summing up their backgrounds, they’re a combination of former mercenaries, bounty hunters, and long-time servants of king Portro.”

“So the slithering king gave heartless murderers some uniforms and put them in our territory? How welcoming?!” Rathe laughed sarcastically. “And their cultivations? How many perennials, elders, and adepts all together?”

“Including the band of five, there should be twenty perennials,” answered Puula. “Despite the army documenting only eleven perennials, we confirmed the existence of four hidden perennials among their ranks.”

Vloz added, “And there’s at least one peak perennial leading the army.”