The Western Island Countries did not lack strength; in fact, their overall power was considerable. The problem lay in their tangled web of internal factions, as their various powerful leaders were unwilling to play second fiddle to anyone. This tense standoff often served as the spark that ignited civil wars.
Only in the face of a major event threatening their collective survival, like a full-scale invasion by the Gulad Empire, would these normally fractured powers break the deadlock. They would temporarily set aside their internal conflicts and unite into a single force to resist the enemy.
However, this alliance forged from a shared crisis was extremely fragile. The moment they confirmed their own island was no longer in immediate danger, they would shamelessly betray their allies and resort to covert sabotage. They wouldn't even hesitate to step on the wreckage of their former partners to seize greater power and status for themselves.
