The news of the Ashford army spread through the mountain like wildfire.
Five hundred cultivators. Mercenaries from across the region. Weapons forged in the Blackmoon Kingdom. Victor Ashford was not coming to negotiate. He was coming to annihilate.
Ethan stood in the main hall, surrounded by the elders. Their faces were grim, their eyes filled with fear and anger.
"This is your fault," Elder Marcus said. His voice was sharp, accusatory. "You brought this on us. You and your stories."
Ethan met his gaze. "The Ashford Family was always going to attack. The only difference is that now we have a chance to fight back."
"A chance?" Marcus laughed bitterly. "We have three hundred weakened cultivators. They have five hundred trained soldiers. What chance do we have?"
"The Iron Ghost."
"The Iron Ghost is a ghost. A story. He cannot save us."
"He already has."
The hall fell silent.
Thomas stepped forward.
"I’ve seen him," he said quietly. "I touched the sword. I heard his voice. He is real."
Marcus turned to him. "You believe this nonsense?"
"I believe what I’ve experienced. And I believe Ethan is our best hope."
He looked at the elders.
"We can argue about who’s to blame later. Right now, we need to prepare for battle."
The elders relented, but their doubt lingered.
Ethan could feel it—a weight pressing against his chest. The family’s faith was strong, but the elders’ skepticism was a poison that could spread.
『 Warning: Elder Marcus’s doubt is weakening Family Faith. 』
『 If the elders do not believe, the manifestation may fail. 』
Ethan clenched his fists.
He needed to do something. He needed to prove that Arthur was real, not just to the family, but to the elders who questioned him.
He found Lily in her room.
The twelve-year-old was still unconscious, her breathing shallow. Eleanor sat beside her, her hands glowing with healing light.
"How is she?"
"The same. Her body is exhausted. The partial manifestation took too much out of her."
Ethan sat on the edge of the bed.
"She’s so young."
"She’s stronger than you think."
Eleanor paused.
"She reminds me of you. When you were her age. You were always the first to volunteer. The first to stand up."
Ethan shook his head. "I was never brave."
"You were. You just didn’t know it yet."
She looked at him.
"She believes in you, Ethan. Don’t let her down."
That evening, Ethan gathered the family in the training grounds.
The warriors stood in formation, what few remained. The elders watched from the side. The children huddled together, their faces pale.
Ethan stood before them, Arthur’s sword in his hand.
"I know you’re afraid," he said. "I know you’re tired. I know you’ve lost more than most people can bear."
He paused.
"But I also know that you are Blackwoods. And Blackwoods do not surrender."
He raised the sword.
"The Iron Ghost is coming. He is not a story. He is not a legend. He is real. And he will fight beside us."
The crowd murmured.
Then Thomas stepped forward.
He drew his sword and knelt before Ethan.
"I believe," he said. "I believe in the Iron Ghost. I believe in you."
One by one, others followed.
"I believe."
"I believe."
"I believe."
『 Family Faith: 85 』
『 Story Credibility: 78% 』
But the elders still did not kneel.
Marcus stood apart, his arms crossed. His doubt was a stain on the family’s belief.
Ethan approached him.
"You don’t have to believe," he said quietly. "But you do have to fight. For your family. For your people."
Marcus studied him for a long moment.
"You are not your father," he said finally. "That is the only reason I am still here."
He turned away.
『 Elder Marcus’s doubt has decreased but not disappeared. 』
『 His belief will be required for the final manifestation. 』
Ethan nodded slowly.
He would deal with Marcus later. Right now, there were more important things to do.
That night, Ethan returned to the hidden chamber.
The door to the Nexus was glowing brighter now—a steady pulse of light that seemed to beat in rhythm with his own heart.
"Arthur," he called. "Are you there?"
Silence.
Then a voice—weak, distant.
"I am here."
"You’re fading."
"The partial manifestation... cost more than I expected. I am... diminished."
Ethan’s jaw tightened. "What can I do?"
"You must... complete the ritual. I need... all of them. All the family."
"All of them?"
"Even the doubters. Even the skeptics. Their belief... is the final key."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"Then I’ll make them believe."
The next morning, the Ashford army was sighted.
They marched across the plains at the base of the mountain—a sea of black and gold banners, their weapons gleaming in the pale sunlight. The sound of their drums echoed through the valleys.
Ethan stood at the gates, watching them approach.
"This is it," he said.
Thomas stood beside him.
"How many?"
"Five hundred. Maybe more."
Thomas’s hand tightened on his sword.
"And us?"
"Three hundred. Maybe less."
Thomas laughed bitterly. "This is going to be a slaughter."
"No." Ethan shook his head. "This is going to be a miracle."
The Ashford army stopped at the base of the mountain.
A single figure rode forward—Silas Crane, his cold smile fixed in place.
"Blackwood Family!" he called. "You have defied the Ashford Family for the last time. Surrender now, and we will show mercy."
Ethan stepped forward.
"We will not surrender."
Silas Crane’s smile widened.
"Then you will die."
He raised his hand.
The Ashford army surged forward.
Ethan raised Arthur’s sword.
"Now!" he shouted.
And the mountain answered.
The spectral warrior appeared at the gates—a figure of silver light, towering above the battlefield. His armor gleamed. His eyes burned with ancient fire.
Arthur Blackwood.
The Iron Ghost.
The army stopped.
Soldiers froze. Horses reared. Even Silas Crane’s smile vanished.
"What... what is this?"
Arthur’s voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I am the Iron Ghost. I am the protector of the Blackwood Family. And I have returned."
He raised his blade.
"Run."
The Ashford army broke.
『 Story Credibility: 85% 』
『 Family Faith: 90 』
『 Outsider Faith: 45 』
『 World Rebuttal: 35% 』
『 Ancestral Debt: None active 』
『 Arthur Blackwood’s manifestation progress: 85% 』
『 Silas Blackwood’s manifestation progress: 50% 』
『 The Ashford army is routing 』
『 Next Milestone: 100% Credibility — Full Manifestation 』