Scholdz Province was quite far away, and even if Ethan flew at full speed, it would still take several days to reach there, so direct travel was not the best option under the current situation.

Because of this, he was first assigned to the City of Theaves, which was one of the more prosperous cities under the Arcadia Empire, and it was governed by a powerful Duke. From there, a controlled teleportation route led directly toward Scholdz Province.

The teleportation network had become highly restricted in recent times because of the rising tension of war, and not just anyone could use it freely. However, Ethan’s noble identity and his status as a Marquise allowed him to pass through without much difficulty.

Accompanying him was a middle-aged man who had once tried to snatch his Star Dust Essence, Marvrick. Although their past interaction was not pleasant, Ethan still chose to bring him along, as he had been allowed to bring a few attendants, and Marvrick had proven to be capable.

When they arrived at the teleportation hall, the guards stepped forward and blocked their way at first, as their eyes scanned both of them carefully.

Before they could question further, Ethan spoke calmly, "He is with me."

The guards immediately straightened up, and after recognizing his identity, they nodded respectfully. "Okay, My Lord," one of them said while stepping aside.

Without further delay, Ethan walked forward, and Marvrick followed closely behind him.

Swoosh!

The moment Ethan stepped into the teleportation formation and activated it, his surroundings twisted, and in the next instant, he appeared in Scholdz Province.

As soon as he arrived, a heavy and suffocating aura pressed down on him.

Ethan’s brows tightened slightly.

The atmosphere here was completely different. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

There was no warmth, no calm, and no sense of ease. Instead, the air carried a sharp and tense feeling, as if everything was on the edge of breaking at any moment.

Most of the civilians had already been evacuated, and what remained was an army.

A real army.Ethan could feel it clearly.

The soldiers stationed here were not ordinary, and even the weakest among them seemed to be at the Master stage. Their presence alone created a pressure that made the environment feel heavier.

"This is... intense," Ethan thought quietly.

It was clear now.

This was going to be a brutal war.

Even for Ethan, who had fought countless battles before, this scale was different. He had not taken part in such a large-scale war before, and although his strength was high, he could not help but feel a slight nervousness.

At this level, he was no longer someone overwhelming everyone easily, and he was just another participant among powerful individuals. On top of that, he had to rely on people he did not know, and that alone made things complicated.

Ethan exhaled slowly and moved forward.

Soon, he reached the massive fortress walls, and as he approached the gate, he was immediately stopped.

"Halt! Who goes there?" one of the soldiers shouted while raising his hand.

Several guards stepped forward, their eyes sharp and alert.

"This is a military restricted area, and it is not a place where anyone can come and go freely," another soldier added. "Please state your identity and purpose."

Ethan did not react negatively.

Instead, he calmly took out the imperial decree along with his noble medal and presented them.

The moment the soldiers saw it, their expressions changed instantly.

"Greetings, Marquise!" they said together while straightening their posture and saluting him respectfully.

One of them immediately turned and ran inside to inform the higher-ups.

Ethan stood there calmly while waiting.

A few minutes later, a group of people hurried out from inside the fortress.

Leading them was a middle-aged man wearing magical battle armor, and his presence was strong and steady. From the aura he emitted, it was clear that he was at the early Mythic rank.

He stepped forward and greeted Ethan respectfully.

"Hello, Marquise Ethan. I am Commander Han," he said.

Even though he was one of the highest-ranking officers in the fortress and the leading general of the support army, there was no arrogance in his tone or behavior.

He knew very well who Ethan was.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Han gestured toward the inside.

"Please, come in."

Ethan nodded slightly and followed him, while Marvrick stayed close behind.

As they entered the fortress, Ethan looked around.

Groups of extraordinary soldiers were undergoing intense training, and their numbers were massive, stretching as far as the eye could see. The sound of weapons clashing and commands being shouted filled the air, and the entire place felt like a machine preparing for war.

Han walked beside Ethan while speaking.

"Marquise Ethan, besides us, there will be three more Mythic rankers who will take charge of different divisions," he explained.

Ethan listened quietly.

"And leading all of us," Han continued, "will be a Lieutenant General who is at the Divine Knight stage."

Ethan’s expression remained calm, but inside, he understood the weight of those words.

Han led Ethan deeper into the fortress, and as they walked through the inner corridors, the atmosphere became even more serious and controlled. Soldiers moved with discipline, and officers could be seen discussing strategies while maps and formations were laid out across long tables.

Soon, they reached a large chamber that seemed to serve as a command hall.

Inside, three figures were already waiting.

Han stepped forward and spoke, "Marquise Ethan has arrived."

All three turned to look at him.

The first man stepped forward, and his posture was straight while his expression remained calm. He had short black hair and sharp eyes that showed experience.

"I am General Kael Varion," he said, giving a slight nod. "I lead the eastern division."

Ethan returned the nod. "Ethan."

The second man followed, and he looked a bit older, with a rugged face and a scar running across his cheek. His aura was steady and grounded.

"Hale," he introduced himself. "I am from Western defense line."

His voice was simple, and there was no unnecessary tone in it.

Ethan nodded again.

Then the third person stepped forward.

Unlike the other two, his attire was more refined, and his expression carried a hint of arrogance. He looked at Ethan from head to toe before speaking.

"Lucien Drax," he said, lifting his chin slightly. "Son of the Western Duke."

His tone was not respectful.

It was more like he was stating his position.

Ethan’s brows frowned slightly, and the others also showed subtle signs of discomfort.

Lucien continued, "I suppose you are the famous Marquise Ethan. I’ve heard a few things."

His words sounded polite, but his tone made it clear he did not take Ethan seriously.

Ethan did not respond.Instead, he glanced at Han.

Han’s expression did not change, but his eyes carried a faint annoyance.

Ethan understood immediately.

"Is he even fit to lead an army..." Ethan thought quietly.