SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

The frosty chill of the morning was as biting as ever in the Frost family palace. But the palace is bustling with a large crowd.

To introduce Kent to the Supremes mage's of Frost nation who were eligible for Trident Summit, King Ragnar ordered everyone to gather before the palace.

Before the grand palace gates, almost 20,000 soldiers, all wearing the signature azure robes of the Frost family, stood in disciplined lines. Their presence was attractive and uniform.

Every single one of them was a Supreme Magus, trained in the arts of war and magic. Their icy breath misted the air as they awaited orders.

King Ragnar stood at the wide steps of the palace and staring at the large army stood for his command. His silver hair flowed in the breeze, and his sharp blue eyes surveyed the vast formation.

Soon, Kent came walking down the large steps of the palace and stood beside King Ragnar.

They both walked together, reaching close to the standing army. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

"These are the 20,000 wizards of the Frost Nation. They are our pride, our strength for the upcoming Trident Summit."

Kent stepped close to the first line, his gaze sweeping over the sea of soldiers. Despite their imposing stature, something felt amiss to him. He could see it in the way some of them stood with their chins lifted too high, their eyes glinting with pride and arrogance.

They were soldiers to Frost nation, yes many of them came from families of wealth and luxury. They were accustomed to comfort, not to the brutality of war Kent expecting.

King Ragnar walked forward and said, "Kent, 20,000 Supreme Mages is fewer than the armies of many other nations. Our resources have always been limited. But what we lack in numbers, we make up for in quality. Every single one of these soldiers is a master in combat, Kent. They will be a great addition for you to win the Trident Summit."

Kent nodded but remained silent. His thoughts raced as he observed the soldiers more closely.

The Frost Nation's Supreme Mages were certainly impressive, but he could sense their weakness. He felt the need to test them himself, to understand what they were truly made of.

Without saying a word, Kent began walking in between the lines of soldiers. His boots crunched against the frost-covered ground as he passed through their ranks, examining each of them carefully.

As he moved, the soldiers stood at attention, their faces showing signs of pride, some even with smirks of confidence.

Kent stopped in front of one soldier, a tall young man with sharp features and a gleaming frost staff by his side. His robe was more decorated than the others, indicating that he hailed from a high-ranking family.

"What's your name?" Kent asked, his tone neutral but piercing.

The young man puffed out his chest. "I am Alaric Frostborne, son of Lord Frostborne, ruler of the Northern Ice Plains."

Kent nodded. "And what makes you think you're ready for the Trident Summit?"

Alaric smiled confidently. "I have been trained by the best. My father is one of the wealthiest lords in the Frost Nation, and I have never lost a duel in my life."

Kent stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he moved on, asking the same question to several others. Each answer was much the same—boasting of wealth, family name, and personal accomplishments.

They were all members of prominent families, sons and daughters of city lords and nobles, but few seemed to grasp the true weight of what was coming.

After walking through the lines, Kent returned to stand before King Ragnar, his mind made up. He looked at the soldiers once more and then turned to the king.

"Your soldiers are skilled, but they're not ready for what's to come. War is always a brutal thing. I think none of these 20,000 supremes will survive in the Trident Summit."

King Ragnar raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Not ready? These are the finest mages in our nation."

Kent shook his head. "They're talented, yes, but many of them are overconfident and prideful. During the war, a soldier should act like a servant and follow every single command without question.

But most of our 20,000 mages grew up in luxury, and they've been taught how to fight, but they've never truly faced the horrors of war. Not like the ones they will face at the Trident Summit. I cannot lead an army like this without preparing them properly."

Ragnar's brow furrowed in thought. "What do you propose?"

"I will train them," Kent declared firmly, his voice ringing with authority. "Personally. They need more than individual skill—they need to learn to fight as a unit, as one. I will teach them formations, tactics that can turn their strength into something much more formidable. But I'll need time. Prepare a large training ground and battlefield in two days."

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. Whispers spread through the ranks. It was clear many were not happy with how Kent spoke about them and the prospect of being trained like common soldiers, especially by someone they barely knew.

Kent could sense their dissatisfaction. These men and women were used to leading, not following.

One of the soldiers, a noblewoman from the South, spoke up. "We are not mere recruits to be trained like peasants! We are Supreme Mages of the Frost Nation. We have trained our whole lives for combat. You are also a supreme Magus like all of us. What could you possibly teach us?"

Kent turned to her, his eyes cold and calculating. "How many of you fight a true war? You may be Supreme Mages, but the battlefield is not a place for you.

'In the Trident Summit, it won't matter how noble your bloodline is. It won't matter how much wealth you possess. The only thing that matters is survival. If you think you're already prepared, then you're more vulnerable than you realize.'

'We might need to fight a large number of people with equal strength. Our opponents might be double in number. Do you think we can survive that brutal war?"

The soldiers shifted uncomfortably. They had never been spoken to like this.

Seeing their unease, Kent softened his tone, but his message remained sharp. "I'm not here to exploit your hard work. I'm not here to push you beyond your limits without reward. I know you come from powerful families, and I know you've lived lives of luxury. But understand this—after the Trident Summit, every single one of you will benefit from this victory.

I promise you riches and status beyond what you can imagine. I will personally see to it that your efforts are rewarded."

The murmur of dissatisfaction quieted, replaced with curiosity and anticipation.

"But," Kent continued, "that will only happen if we win. And to win, we need to be stronger than we are now. So, I ask you—will you trust me? Will you fight for the Frost Nation, not just as individuals, but as a united force?"

The soldiers exchanged glances, their expressions softening. Slowly, one by one, they began nodding in agreement.

King Ragnar, watching from the side, smiled approvingly. "I'll have the training grounds prepared within two days. Whatever resources you need, they're yours."

Kent nodded gratefully. "Until the training is over, I want all soldiers to remain in the capital. No one leaves. We have much work to do, and very little time to do it."

The soldiers, though still a bit reluctant, saluted Kent and Ragnar, acknowledging the orders. They were not used to this level of discipline, but they began to understand the stakes.

The main reason they didn't revolted today, due to Kent's performance in the honour Justice Fight.