PFC Chapter 294 The matter has been resolved
Chapter 294 The matter has been resolved
He even considered the possibility that Lin Tian might have encountered and killed an Abyss Lord—that was already the limit of Xiao Tianhao's imagination.
"That's good." Xiao Tianhao nodded, gesturing for Lin Tian to follow him to the strategy room on the side.
"Recently, the frequency of Abyss activity has increased abnormally, with the scale and intensity of attacks rising by more than 30% compared to before. We've suffered significant manpower losses, and our defenses are under attack in several places. What did you find during your recent incursion?"
Inside the strategy room, a map of the area surrounding the Abyss Fortress is spread out on a huge solid wood wooden table.
The red dots on the map indicate locations that have recently been attacked. The dense cluster of red dots almost forms a continuous area, especially concentrated in the southeast direction of the fortress.
Lin Tian stared at the red dots, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.
Celia followed quietly behind him. The former princess of Dark Eclipse City was dressed in simple traveler's clothes, with a hood covering most of her face, revealing only her fair chin and pale lips.
Even so, she still possessed a quality that seemed out of place in this rugged military fortress.
"We've found the reason," Lin Tian said, his voice still calm.
Xiao Tianhao suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes: "What's the reason? Has a new abyssal rift opened? Or are high-level demons gathering their forces?"
"To lure me here." Lin Tian pointed to himself.
A brief silence fell over the strategic room.
Xiao Tianhao's expression froze on his face; he didn't even understand the meaning of those words at first glance.
A few seconds later, he slowly repeated, "Bring you... here?"
"Hmm." Lin Tian nodded, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.
Xiao Tianhao frowned, clearly not believing this explanation.
It wasn't that he underestimated Lin Tian's strength or importance, but rather that such a claim was simply too absurd.
A massive attack by abyssal creatures on a human fortress, resulting in hundreds of casualties, was all just to attract the attention of one person?
This sounds like a bad joke.
Lin Tian noticed Xiao Tianhao's suspicion. He stepped aside and gestured for Celia, who had been silent, to step forward.
"This is Celia," Lin Tian introduced, "the daughter of the former lord of Dark Eclipse City."
Xiao Tianhao turned his gaze to Celia, his eyes shifting from confusion to wariness.
He had heard of Darkevil City, which was ruled by the newly appointed Lord Kael'thas.
But those were just vague impressions pieced together from legends and fragmented information; he never imagined he would actually meet residents from that city.
Celia gently pulled down her hood, revealing her delicate face and those unique, dark purple eyes.
Her appearance caused several officers in the strategy room to instinctively grip their weapons, but Xiao Tianhao raised his hand to stop them.
"Dark Erosion City..." Xiao Tianhao repeated in a low voice, then looked at Lin Tian, "What does that mean?"
Lin Tian pulled up a chair, sat down, and began to narrate.
His narration was concise and clear, without any unnecessary embellishment, but every detail was enough to startle the listener.
He recounted how Kael'thas orchestrated a series of attacks in an attempt to lure Lin Tian out of human territory and into the abyss;
It describes the location and structure of Dark Eclipse City, as well as Kael'thas's true purpose—not simply to kill Lin Tian, but to seize the [Abyssal Blood Core].
Xiao Tianhao and the surrounding officers listened, their expressions shifting from doubt to shock, and then from shock to solemnity.
"So all of this..." Xiao Tianhao's voice was somewhat hoarse, "those attacks, those sacrifices... were all for..."
"Lead me to Dark Erosion City," Lin Tian replied.
Silence fell again in the strategy room, this time tinged with suppressed anger and disbelief.
Xiao Tianhao pressed his hand on the map, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.
He thought of the soldiers who had died in the attack—young James, who had two children; Elena, the seasoned archer, who had served in the fortress for twelve years; and the recruits whose names he hadn't even had a chance to memorize...
"Then..." Xiao Tianhao took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
"Your situation is now very dangerous. Kael'thas will not let this go, and neither will the Dark City."
He turned to Lin Tian, his tone urgent, "You should return to Luoxia City immediately, report everything to the city lord, and request reinforcements. Abyss Fortress can provide escort—"
"No need," Lin Tian interrupted him.
Xiao Tianhao was stunned: "What do you mean?"
"The matter has been resolved," Lin Tian said, as casually as if he had already eaten dinner.
Xiao Tianhao blinked, trying to understand the meaning of the sentence.
He looked at Lin Tian's calm face, then at Celia—who nodded slightly, confirming Lin Tian's words.
"Resolved...?" Xiao Tianhao repeated slowly, "You mean..."
"Kael'thas is dead," Lin Tian said. "And Darkeve City is gone too."
Time seemed to stand still in the strategy room.
The officers looked at each other, some opening their mouths but making no sound.
Xiao Tianhao's expression went through a complete transformation from confusion to disbelief to shock. His gaze searched Lin Tian's face for any sign of a joke, but found nothing.
"You...killed Kael'thas?" Xiao Tianhao finally found his voice. "Destroyed Darkevil?"
Lin Tian nodded: "Mm."
"Alone?" an officer couldn't help but ask.
However, this addition did not lessen the impact of the statement.
Dark Eclipse City, a nightmare for countless demon hunters and paladins... just like that... dead? The city he ruled... destroyed?
Xiao Tianhao needed to hold onto the table to keep his balance.
Countless questions flashed through his mind—How did they do it? When? What methods were used? How much damage were done?
But looking at Lin Tian's calm expression, he suddenly realized that these questions might not get detailed answers.
"I need to... verify this," Xiao Tianhao finally said. It wasn't that he didn't trust Lin Tian, but the information was too important and required solid evidence before it could be reported.
"The energy fluctuations in the abyss should have changed," Celia said softly, her voice clear and calm.
"When the core of Dark Eclipse City was destroyed, the resulting shockwave affected the energy field leading to the nearest Abyss entrance. Any mage sensitive to Abyss energy could detect this change."
Xiao Tianhao immediately turned to his adjutant: "Go and fetch the chief mage, now!"
The atmosphere in the strategy room became subtle as they waited for the chief mage to arrive.
The officers would steal glances at Lin Tian from time to time, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.
People whispered among themselves, discussing what this information, if true, would mean—the Abyss forces losing a crucial stronghold, the fall of a powerful enemy, and the potential power vacuum and chaos that might follow...