Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 34: Making Plans.

Magnus descended from the platform after concluding the sentencing. The crowd roared its approval as he made his way out of the arena. Many faces were alight with joy, tears streaming down their cheeks.

It hadn’t been long since Gaylord’s ambush had plunged the territory into grief and suffering. The attack had weakened their forces considerably, and many had despaired of ever seeing justice served. The anguish of loss had been compounded by a sense of helplessness.

Now, witnessing the perpetrators being led away, a wave of relief washed over them. In that moment, it didn’t matter whether Magnus was truly blessed by a god or not. He was their hero, a divine blessing in their eyes. Emotions soared as they chanted his name.

Magnus reached the edge of the crowd, Kael close behind. Waiting there were Augustus and Kelvin. Tears streamed down Augustus’s face. As Magnus approached, Augustus embraced him tightly, his voice barely a whisper. "Thank you so much!"

Despite the low volume, Magnus felt the depth of emotion in those words. He smiled, patting the old man’s back, slowly calming him.

Meanwhile, guards escorted the prisoners from the stage towards the dungeons. There, they would await their sentences. Gaylord’s fate remained undecided, pending Magnus’s judgment. The crowd’s cheers intensified as the prisoners were led away. Some hurled whatever they could find at them, their fury palpable.

Magnus departed shortly after, having soothed Augustus and given him a few instructions. Kelvin and Kael accompanied him. The day was far from over, and Magnus had much to do.

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Inside a room, a small group had gathered. Magnus and a few of his summoned stood opposite Robert and a dozen young men, the territory’s most promising soldiers. They stared intently at Magnus’s summon, sensing the power they radiated.

Magnus broke the silence, addressing the young men. "Robert informed me you are the most promising soldiers in the territory’s military force."

The young men nodded. There was no false modesty. They were confident in their abilities and knew their worth.

"That’s good," Magnus said, smiling. "Behind me are three of my awakened soldiers. I intend to make them commanders in the territory’s military. You will train directly under them to further hone your skills." He gestured towards the three summoned figures: Kelvin and two others. They were his most powerful summoned.

Magnus currently commanded over one hundred and thirty summoned beings. Only five were E-rank; the rest were F-rank. The five E-rank individuals constituted his strongest force.

Kael was the foremost among them, followed by Elora, a Naiad, a type of water nymph. Elora’s primary role wasn’t combat but managing the territory’s water supply and assisting farmers with her magical abilities. After Gaylord’s treachery, Magnus no longer trusted the current water supply, which was channeled from a river outside the territory, making it vulnerable to sabotage. He wanted a secure, internal source, and Elora was tasked with establishing it.

The other three E-rank summoned were the newly appointed commanders: Kelvin, with his fire magic; William, a powerfully built man with incredible physical strength and earth abilities; and Godiva, a striking woman with blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and matching blue armor. She commanded the power of lightning.

The young soldiers stared at the three new commanders, their eyes wide with excitement at Magnus’s words. They were eager to begin their training and learn from these powerful beings. The prospect of serving under such skilled leaders filled them with anticipation and a renewed sense of purpose. They knew this was an opportunity to elevate their skills and contribute meaningfully to the territory’s defense.

They knew their talent, but recognized the immense potential for growth under the tutelage of Magnus’s awakened summoned.

"Thank you, Lord Magnus," the young men said excitedly. "We promise to do our best."

"Good," Magnus stated. "Do well, and I can promise you benefits beyond your wildest imagination."

"Yes, Lord Magnus!" the youths exclaimed, faces alight with determination, each vowing to excel.

Magnus smiled inwardly at their enthusiasm. With their innate talent and the [Instructor] skill he’d copied from Nutgrove and imprinted onto three of his summoned, their progress was assured. His goal was to forge an elite force under his command, comprised of individuals with exceptional strength and skill. It was just the beginning, but Magnus envisioned a bright future, with more talented individuals joining the ranks. The possibilities seemed limitless.

With a nod of dismissal, Magnus dismissed the young men, remaining in the room with Robert and his three summoned. The atmosphere shifted, becoming more serious as they gathered around a table displaying a map of the territory and its surroundings, marked with various symbols.

"Robert, brief us on the situation," Magnus said.

Robert’s expression turned grim. "Certainly, Lord Magnus. As you know, we’ve been dealing with increased beast horde activity lately, likely due to the approaching trial. However, the situation has worsened today. My men report multiple hordes appearing around the territory. The outlook is grim."

"I see," Magnus murmured, studying the map. "The increase in beast activity makes sense, considering the trial is only three days away."

Robert’s eyes widened. The trial was that close? He didn’t question how Magnus knew; he trusted the information implicitly.

"We need to formulate a plan immediately," Magnus declared.

"The eastern wall is most vulnerable," Robert suggested, "being directly exposed to the Silent Forest. I recommend concentrating our forces there."

Kelvin frowned. "But that leaves the other walls undermanned."

"Not necessarily," Robert countered. "We can redeploy troops from the southern wall. There’s little chance of it being attacked. Those forces could bolster the defenses elsewhere."

"Hmm," Kelvin muttered, deep in thought. Magnus and the others around the table contemplated the suggestion, the room falling silent.

Finally, Godiva spoke. "That’s a good strategy, but we must remember we’re not just dealing with beast hordes. This is the territory’s trial. In my experience, nothing ever goes according to plan during a trial."

Silence descended again. Magnus nodded, acknowledging Godiva’s wisdom. Although he hadn’t personally experienced a trial, his time playing Emperor’s Crucible had taught him their unpredictable and often brutal nature. Even the smallest mistake could have devastating consequences. The others concurred; even Robert, with his limited experience, understood the potential challenges of a trial.

"What are your suggestions, Godiva?" Magnus asked.

"We need to prepare for multiple scenarios," Godiva replied. "Robert is right about reinforcing the eastern wall, but I propose a rotational system, with troops ready to deploy anywhere in an emergency."

The group considered her words carefully. Her suggestion made sense.

"Excellent plan," Magnus said, nodding. "We’ll implement it. Godiva, you’ll oversee the arrangements and ensure everything is in place before the trial."

"Yes, Lord Magnus," Godiva responded with a bow.

"Good," Magnus replied. "Any further suggestions?"

"Yes," Robert said. "We need a scouting team to assess the types of beasts we can expect and prepare countermeasures."

"A sound idea," Magnus agreed. "I’ll handle that."

The discussion continued, covering various other topics. Finally, the meeting concluded, and everyone dispersed to carry out their assigned tasks. The weight of the impending trial settled upon them, but they were determined to face it head-on, prepared for whatever challenges it might bring.