Huh!

Many couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath and the atmosphere instantly became heavy. Many guild members unconsciously exchanged glances.

The entire Scorpion Army.

That is crazy!

The words echoed repeatedly inside their minds. None of them had expected the scale of the battle to be so overwhelming.

Even the battle maniac Kiera felt a cold shiver run down her spine when she heard "the entire Scorpion Clan army." The excitement burning inside her was instantly extinguished.

She instinctively imagined herself standing before thousands of Scorpion Men.

She shook her head.

’I still want to keep my life.’

Her lips twitched into a bitter smile.

Although she loved battle, she still valued her life. Throwing herself into certain death was something only a fool would do.

Seeing her reaction, Solenne chuckled and averted her gaze, staring at the endless dunes. The faint smile on her face quickly disappeared.

Her calm expression gradually returned.

The endless sea of crimson sand stretched before her.

Nothing could be seen.

Yet...

She knew a battle that would shake the entire Crimson Dune was unfolding beyond those dunes.

’Thoren, I hope everything is going according to your plan,’ she prayed in her mind.

Her eyes remained fixed on the distant horizon. Although she appeared calm on the surface, only she knew how anxious she truly was.

She had bet everything on him and if he were to lose, then it was over for them.

Not only for herself but for the Crimson Arc Guild.

Silence once again descended upon the group. Even Kiera remained unusually quiet. The only sound was the gentle howling of the desert wind.

Just then, a whistling sound cut through the sky. It came so suddenly that everyone’s expressions changed.

Instantly fear and tension gripped their hearts and without hesitation, they unsheathed their weapons, taking fighting stances.

Weapons slid free from their scabbard. The sharp metallic sounds echoed one after another. Everyone instinctively formed a defensive formation.

Their eyes wandered around, looking for the enemy.

Whoosh!

From the sky, an object fell to the ground. It descended rapidly before crashing into the sand a short distance away.

Thud!

Everyone’s muscles stiffened, their hearts pounding heavily. Kiera immediately tightened her grip around her massive axe.

Riven slowly raised his shield. None of them dared lower their guard. However, when they saw the object that fell on the ground.

They were stunned for a moment.

Solenne stared at the object and the solemn expression on her face couldn’t help but dissolve and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Even with her strength, her nerves couldn’t help but be on edge.

A scroll.

Indeed, the object that fell from the sky was a scroll. Without hesitating, Solenne walked calmly toward the scroll and picked it up.

She unfolded it and read the contents and her calm eyes slowly scanned every line.

As she continued reading it, the tension on her face gradually disappeared and a slow bright smile crept onto her face.

It was a smile rarely seen by anyone within the guild.

’I knew this monster could pull it off.’

A trace of admiration flashed through her eyes.

Watching their cold and expressionless Guild Master smiling, everyone was confused. Many guild members blinked in surprise.

Some even wondered if they had seen it incorrectly.

What was written in that scroll that made their cold and heartless Guild Master smile?

Curiosity immediately filled everyone’s hearts.

Unfortunately, no one dared ask. They all exchanged knowing glances, but no one spoke. The only one who knew what was going on was Riven.

Looking at Solenne’s relieved expression, he had already guessed the answer.

’I guess the war is going according to the plan,’ he thought and a faint smile also appeared on his face.

Just like Solenne, he was also on edge. He had silently worried throughout the entire wait.

Hoping their dangerous gamble wouldn’t lead to their end. Every minute that passed without news had only increased his anxiety.

And now, it has paid off.

Slowly, Solenne raised her head and looked at her people. Her gaze swept across every member of the Crimson Arc Guild.

She could clearly see the curiosity written across their faces.

Some looked anxious. All of them were waiting for her to speak.

"Good news..." she began slowly.

The faint smile remained on her face.

The heaviness that had burdened her moments ago had completely disappeared.

"Now, it is time for the world to know about it." Her calm voice echoed in the quiet desert.

There was no excitement in her tone, only quiet confidence.

Listening to her cryptic message, even though many were still confused, they couldn’t help but smile as well.

They did not know what was written inside the scroll.

However, they trusted Solenne completely. If she said it was good news, then it was undoubtedly good news.

As long as it was not bad news, they would accept whatever news it was. Even Kiera, who had been unusually quiet, finally grinned once again.

"Let’s return to Horn Lizard Town," she commanded.

There was no hesitation in her voice. Everything that needed to be done here had already been completed.

Now, the next stage of the plan could begin.

"Yes!"

The guild members answered almost simultaneously. Their voices rang with renewed confidence. Quickly, the Crimson Arc Guild raced toward Horn Lizard Town.

Their speed was fast and swift.

Dust rose into the sky.

Their footsteps scattered sand across the dunes, but they did not seem to care. The desert wind followed behind them as they crossed one dune after another.

A few minutes later, the outline of Horn Lizard Town appeared in the distance. Its towering walls gradually became clearer.

Arriving at the town gate, both humans and Beastmen paved the way for them.

The crowded entrance immediately became quiet. However, Solenne and the others did not care about their gazes as they entered the town.

Their expressions remained calm.

Their footsteps never slowed.

"I heard they were the weakest human guild before, is that true?" a Dung Beetle Man asked, staring at the human beside him.

Curiosity filled his voice.

He had only recently arrived in Horn Lizard Town.

He knew little about the Crimson Arc Guild.

"Of course, it is true. But now, they are the strongest guild."

The human answered without hesitation.

His tone was filled with admiration.

"Nonsense. If not for Black Water, they wouldn’t be this powerful," a figure spat, his voice dripping with jealousy.

His eyes were filled with envy.

While they were talking about the return of the Crimson Arc Guild members, Solenne had led her guild members straight to the Horn Lizard King’s residence.

When the Horn Lizard guards saw Solenne, they did not try to stop her.

Only Solenne was allowed to proceed further and the remaining guild members quietly waited outside.

Inside the Horn Lizard King’s meeting hall, Solenne was having a conversation that would change the fate of the Bleeding Desert.

Whether for good or bad, only the future would tell.

****

[AN: Thanks to Scott_Berry_3382 for sponsoring all the Bonus Chapters.]