CLAIMED

57

The second the clock struck the half-hour time line set, Kazan, Dorian, and Leah appeared outside the courtyard palace, where the elders, higher-ups, warriors, and military-age men of the Azure Pack were patiently awaiting his arrival.

Well, not all the warriors and military-age men showed up.

So after the recent destruction caused by Damari—plus the few destroyed and captured territories and civilians who, by the way, got tortured and executed by the enemy—the Azure Pack that originally consists of approximately twenty million lycans is now down to eighteen point nine million.

From the one point five million active military servicemen (warriors), only one point two million remained. The half a million reservists are still the same, and the civilian population that was roughly eighteen million is now down to sixteen plus million.

Five point nine million out of the sixteen plus millions are military-age men. However, only over two million military-age men decided to show up, and over a million consisted of warriors and reservists.

The others refused to get drafted or engaged in a war they believed to be unwinable. Many didn't even come to the capital city despite being ordered to do so. Others fled the capital city to hide in the other two cities and seven towns of the azure pack that have not been impacted too much by the war thus far. Thousands have even tried to flee the territory, but they were unable to get by Silvo's army that tightly secured and defended new border lines.

Anyway, there were some people who were curious as to the identity of the lad next to Kazan. After all, for this unknown kid to be present on the balcony prepared for the sovereign and higher-ups, he must be someone of important status. No one questioned Leah being there though. It's general knowledge that she's the sovereign's woman.

As for the higher-ups who had grown up with Dorian, though it had been several centuries, they recognized his face. Still, they were confused by his aura, which caused them to shiver. They then concluded that maybe the kid was a top member of the Silvio army or related to Dorian in some way—a bastard child, maybe. No, Dorian is not that type of man. Their first thought seems to be the more feasible explanation.

And before everyone's imagination could run wild any further, Kazan took the time to introduce Dorian to everyone present to quell their uneasiness.

This shocked all the higher-ups and warriors, of course, especially Ezekiel. But after conversing with the kid briefly and seeing a similar trait of his grandfather from the young lad, not to mention Kazan verifying yet again that this kid was indeed his grandfather, with tears in his eyes, Ezekiel embraced Dorian, who patted his back and called him a squirt like when he was younger.

Now the higher-ups and elders were curious as to how Dorian had recovered and when it happened but were afraid to ask. Ezekiel, on the other hand, couldn't resist the urge to know the details about his grandfather's miraculous awakening. However, Kazan promised to explain later, and he nodded. Regardless of what happened and despite the major changes, he was excited that his granddad was alright.

Now that was over, Kazan addressed the large crowd occupying approximately two square miles.

"I've gathered you all here for one purpose, and that is to grant you the abilities to contend against those powerful enemy warriors that now surround and intend to destroy us." Kazan's voice was like a microphone in everyone's ears, whether they were near or far away. "But to do so requires you all to make an oath of loyalty to me. Of course, you don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Many of the warriors, military-age men, and the higher-ups present were skeptical about Kazan's statement, but everyone decided to swear an oath of loyalty anyway, whether by their own free will or out of fear. However, only Ezekiel—nine hundred thousand lycans made up of warriors and reservists—and one point three million military-age men gained strength and knowledge beyond their wildest dreams.

They even had the violet glowing mark on their forehead, a sign of their loyalty to Kazan, and should they break it, they will be punished severely. In extreme cases, they will lose their lives. As for those who failed, including all the elders and top officials, though they swore the oath, they didn't mean it.

"Those who haven't achieved the mark of the oath, you may leave," Kazan ordered, and without hesitation they left. Including the elders and top officials who didn't get the mark. He then addressed those with the mark. "For those who swore oaths to me, I am grateful as your sovereign that you have this much trust and loyalty to me, and as of today, you are all promoted to the highest ranks of warriors of the Azure Pack. You will also be a part of the new elite force." He then turned to Ezekiel and said, "As of today, you, who are my second and most trusted friend, will be one of the pillars of my pack and third in command of this new elite force. Grandmaster Dorian, of course, will be second in command and the first pilliar of the pack."

"Thank you, my sovereign." Dorian and Ezekiel got on their knees and responded.

"You may rise," Kazan said. He then addressed the crowd, "For now, go to the barracks and rest up. Tomorrow we will head out to the battlefield and take back all that is ours."

The lycans who swore loyalty to Kazan lowered their heads respectfully before disappearing from the scene.

"I thought you gathered us all here to head out to the battlefield," Ezekiel said.

"I want to, but I need all of you to at least take some time to get accustomed to your new strength and to fully comprehend the violet-lightening ice martial art that fused with your body, mind, and soul the second you all received my mark," Kazan replied. Plus, he's confident that as long as no major player shows up on the battlefield, Silvio's warriors could hold back the invaders until the next day.

"I see, then I have no objection," Ezekiel said with a smile. "Anyway, I'm so glad you're awakened, grandfather." He tried to hug Dorian again, who this time evaded him. He doesn't mind, though. "Don't be like that, grandfather."

"You know how much I hate hugs," Dorian scoffed.

"But you allowed me to do so earlier, so what's the difference now?"

"Stop the whining brat. You're now a pilliar of the pack; stop being a sissy," Dorian scolded. But in the end, he could not help but smile. He then opened his arms wide. "Come here, squirt."

The happy Ezekiel embraced his grandfather for about a few seconds before Dorian shoved him off. "Alright, let go now."

Kazan, who stood aside, just couldn't contain his smile. He was happy for Ezekiel. And Leah was happy that Kazan was at peace.

In this moment, Silvio appeared at the scene and respectfully greeted Leah. "Princess, I have urgent news to report."

"Go ahead and say it," Leah said.

"The other three top-pack armies had shown up at the borders. So far, they haven't joined the Emerald Ace and White Clover pack in attacking us, but I doubt their presence is anything good."

This is not good. Kazan, Leah, Dorian, and Ezekiel thought this at the same time. But they already guessed that this would be the case. Surprisingly, they wait this long to appear. Well, it is what it is. Leah and Kazan just need to overpower these top packs with their incredible strength and newly created army to the point where they are forced to back down. Hopefully that will put an end to all of this.

"My warriors have also apprehended this man attempting to sneak onto the territory." Silvio makes a hand gesture, and a young warrior shows up on the scene with a man in his late twenties clad in black. "He said he's a high official of the Azure pack, so I brought him here to confirm his statement."