About a week later.
On the plains of Guernica, located beyond the eastern border of the Empire.
Clang! Clash!
The sharp sound of weapons clashing pierced through the air.
Under the clear sky, soldiers swung their swords and spears in a life-and-death struggle.
The heat of the battlefield and the roar of battle cries erupted from all directions.
Crimson blood seeped through the cracks of shattered armor, staining the vast plains.
“Soldiers of the Allied Nations! Do not let the greedy Imperial army invade our homeland!”
“Do not retreat! Raise your swords and shields and fight back!”
Knights clad in armor emblazoned with the emblem of the Allied Nations shouted valiantly.
As the battle hung in the balance, the knights’ booming voices squeezed every ounce of strength from the soldiers.
Their faces, streaked with blood and gasping for breath, were filled with determination to protect their homeland.
Even if the Empire boasted a military strength that commanded the continent, the soldiers of the Allied Nations were prepared to lay down their bones on the plains of Guernica.
As they swung their swords, ready to die.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
A female knight on horseback appeared, breaking through the wall of Allied soldiers.
Crash!
“Argh! My arm!”
“Damn it! The defense line has been breached!”
“It’s Fiora, the Vice-Captain of the Imperial Royal Knights! A Sword Graduate knight!”
The appearance of the sharp-featured, red-haired knight Fiora caused a stir among the Allied forces.
Her skill was at the pinnacle of the Sword Graduate level.
Among the nearby Allied knights, there was no one who could match her.
Thus, with each swing of her long aura blade, dozens of heads flew into the air.
Swoosh—!
“Ugh, damn it!”
“T-this is impossible! We can’t stop her!”
“Everyone, move aside! I’ll hold her off!”
“Sir Alejandro!”
As Fiora danced through the carnage, a giant knight wielding a spear emerged from the chaotic ranks of soldiers.
He was Alejandro, the commander leading the Allied forces and the guardian of the Guernica region.
Though it would have been proper for him to stay in the rear, overseeing the battlefield and coordinating the troops, he judged that the current situation required him to step forward with his full strength.
“The despicable First Prince of the Empire has invaded our lands once again. But you will not get what you want.”
Alejandro muttered with a stern face.
Then, he tightened his grip on his spear.
Whipping his horse fiercely, he charged towards Fiora, who was cutting down soldiers like straw dummies, and clashed his weapon against hers.
Whoosh—!
Crash!
“Stop! You shall not advance another step!”
“So, you are Sir Alejandro, the commander of the Allied forces. I’ve heard you reached the Spear Graduate level long ago. Impressive strength.”
“Enough! How dare you invade the plains of Guernica! I will honor the souls of my soldiers with your blood!”
Boom!
Alejandro unleashed a fierce aura and swung his spear.
The collision of the two Graduate-level knights’ auras caused the battlefield to tremble.
In the electrified air.
Alejandro’s long spear thrust relentlessly, aiming for Fiora’s openings.
Swiish—!
Clang!
“Your aura level is quite high. And despite your immense strength, your movements are remarkably fast. You’re a tricky opponent.”
“Enough talk! How long do you plan to keep dodging?!”
As Fiora smoothly deflected the spear, Alejandro pressed on with a domineering momentum.
Fiora’s movements were more passive than her reputation suggested.
Alejandro felt a hint of doubt.
But now was not the time to dwell on such details.
He had to focus solely on eliminating the invader before him.
As Alejandro raised his spear high, preparing for a decisive strike.
Suddenly, Fiora withdrew her aura and stepped back, creating distance.
“What is this? Are you planning to flee in the middle of battle?”
“Ah, my apologies. The pleasure of hunting down an enemy commander is a privilege reserved for His Highness. I hope you understand that I cannot show you my full strength.”
“What are you…”
Alejandro trailed off, bewildered by Fiora’s words.
What was this woman talking about?
His Highness?
Could she mean the First Prince of the Empire, Maximilian?
Rumors had it that he had already reached the Sword Master level.
But no such overwhelming presence was felt nearby.
Was he hiding somewhere?
And to speak of hunting him down.
Such arrogance made Alejandro’s face contort in anger.
“Ridiculous. I will kill you here and now, and send your head to the First Prince as a warning. If the Empire dares to invade the Allied Nations, you will pay the price.”
“That won’t be possible. You will be dead soon.”
“Still spouting nonsense!”
Alejandro roared, gathering his aura.
There was no more time for words.
He had to end this now and lead his troops to seize the momentum of the battle.
As he prepared to swing his spear.
“Huh?”
Alejandro froze at the unnatural sight before him.
The Imperial soldiers parted to the sides, as if clearing a path.
Even though there were thousands of soldiers in sight.
Including Fiora, all of them moved in unison, creating a wide passage.
What…?
What is happening?
Could it be that the First Prince is nearby, and they are clearing the way?
No. His presence was still not felt.
Then why…?
Alejandro spread his mana further to locate the First Prince, but the mystery remained unsolved.
Swallowing dryly, Alejandro continued to expand his mana.
Just as it reached its limit.
Kiiing—!
“!”
At the edge of his detection range, he sensed someone, and a massive golden beam of light shot through the passage cleared by the soldiers.
“Damn it!”
Swoosh—!
Alejandro immediately condensed all his aura into the tip of his spear.
He raised his spear to block the golden beam.
But the overwhelming golden aura, as if it would erase everything in its path, engulfed him.
Kwaaaa—!
“Ughhh! First Prince!!!”
Alejandro screamed in rage towards the source of the golden aura.
He poured all his aura into his spear, but it was futile against the overwhelming golden light.
“Maximilian! You despicable invader! You will one day face a stronger opponent and taste irreversible defeat! Mark my words!!!”
Alejandro cursed the enemy who had trampled his homeland.
With bloodshot eyes, the giant knight glared at the source of the golden aura.
His valiant cry was swallowed by the overwhelming power.
As the golden beam faded.
“Ah… Sir Alejandro?”
“This can’t be… This is impossible!”
The Allied soldiers wailed as they saw Alejandro, half of his body blown away, lying on the ground.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Fiora charged into the Allied ranks.
“The enemy has lost their commander! Push forward!”
Waaaah!
A thunderous cheer erupted from the Imperial forces.
With their morale soaring, they surged forward, and the leaderless Allied forces crumbled like a wave.
As the Allied camp gradually collapsed, viewed from afar.
The First Prince of the Empire, Maximilian, draped in a resplendent cape, withdrew his golden aura.
“To face a stronger opponent and be defeated… What a petty curse.”
“My apologies, Your Highness. I shall retrieve the remains of that fool and throw them to the frenzied Greenskins.”
“No need. He was a brave warrior, after all. It would be disrespectful to let his corpse be defiled by Greenskins. Dispose of it properly as food for the wild dogs.”
“Yes. Understood.”
A middle-aged knight answered with precision.
He immediately headed to the battlefield to retrieve Alejandro’s body.
Maximilian swept back his golden hair.
“Margrave.”
“Yes!”
“I heard that Albireo committed suicide in the Thunder Prison. Did you hear about it?”
“Yes… I did.”
“I thought my brother’s talents were necessary for the Empire. But his greed led to his downfall.”
“…It is truly regrettable.”
The man guarding the Empire’s eastern border, Margrave Kundret, bowed his head respectfully.
Maximilian narrowed his eyes, gazing at the Margrave.
After a moment of silence, he spoke.
“Until now, I thought the race for the throne was a two-way battle between my brother and me. But someone’s appearance has changed the situation.”
“Are you referring to Grand Duke Behirit?”
“Yes. That insolent half-breed has joined hands with Justia. Despite witnessing how the former Grand Duke and his wife met their end, he still clings to the throne. This is a problem that cannot be overlooked.”
“Indeed. There are reports that a significant number of families have already aligned themselves with the Grand Duke and Her Highness Princess Justia. The Chancellor is said to be moving to counter this.”
“He’s already making moves, is he? Then I can no longer stay here. It seems I must go and teach that insolent half-breed who the true ruler of the Empire is.”
“Your words mean…!”
The Margrave immediately reacted to Maximilian’s words.
He focused all his attention on what would come next.
Maximilian, with his crimson eyes glinting through narrowed lids, spoke calmly.
“Shall we go and claim the Emperor’s seat?”
“Yes!”
With a resolute answer and a salute from the Margrave.
The sound of weapons clashing gradually faded across the vast plains of Guernica.
With crimson eyes glowing like the blood spilled on the earth, Maximilian took his first step.