The resistance at the burning Slava Castle, engulfed in white flames, was fierce.
In the square in front of the castle, the two armies clashed. A witch and a mage, wielding wands filled with wild mana, fought with everything they had. Opposing them were the guards, trained in swordsmanship, with a simple but firm sense of battle and defense.
“Die, dogs of the Holy Empire!”
“Heretics who go against the will of God! This is your grave!”
Although the numbers were minuscule compared to previous clashes of 10,000 soldiers, this was a battleground where top-notch masters from both countries had gathered. From the sharpness of the mana condensation surrounding their weapons, it appeared as if they were wielding blades wrapped in flames.
Jijijijik!
The sharp sound of mana-based collisions echoed from every direction.
Though the witches and mages had an edge in handling mana, the guards of the Black Legion excelled in wielding weapons. In the midst of this tense battle, at the center of the plaza, a fierce duel unfolded between two individuals—a man and a woman locked in a bloody struggle.
Pizz-Jiji-Jik!
Andersen was engaged in combat against two swords dancing before his eyes.Elios, now different from the time she had sparred with Ophelia, was fighting with everything she had, intent solely on killing her opponent.
Elios’s swordsmanship was a sight to behold. She demonstrated incredible physical strength, beyond that of ordinary humans, while also utilizing a graceful flexibility unique to women. To an onlooker, it might have appeared almost beautiful, but to Andersen, it was nothing but a deadly dance.
Elios’s attacks were fast and powerful, based on overwhelming physical ability and an immense reserve of mana. Her swordsmanship left no gaps, focusing entirely on offense, with no regard for defense. An ordinary fighter would have been slaughtered, unable to even attempt a defense. Even a skilled master would likely lose their head trying to find an opening.
But Andersen was no ordinary master.
Clang!
In a swift moment, Andersen found a gap between Elios’s relentless attacks. Elios, caught off guard, lost balance for a brief second, and Andersen seized the opportunity, driving his sword towards her heart.
But then—
“Kuk!”
“D*mn!”
Andersen quickly retreated from his attack. Elios clicked her tongue in frustration.
“It’s a pity. If you had continued with that strike, your arm would have evaporated on the spot.”
The place where Andersen had stood moments before was now a blackened pit, as if scorched by fire. The ground looked as though it had completely evaporated.
Floating in the air around the White Dragon Princess were three or four blue mana circles.
Andersen, seeing this, felt cold sweat trickle down his forehead.
‘I feel it every time, but that skill—Brilliant Orbs—is terrifying…’
Brilliant Orbs, alongside the breath of the White Flame Dragon, was the White Dragon Princess’s most powerful spell.
Andersen had experienced its destructive power multiple times, watching it evaporate everything like dew before the sun. He knew all too well that the only way to survive it was through evasive action. Without a magical barrier, the attack could have killed him several times over the past few years.
Now that the White Dragon Princess was using Brilliant Orbs, it meant she was going all out.
Andersen needed to be equally prepared for what was coming next.
‘It can be said there’s no greater danger than the White Dragon Princess resorting to Brilliant Orbs. If she has any more hidden tricks, they won’t be much worse…’
Andersen—no, more precisely, Bahamut—had predicted the White Dragon Princess’s movements to this point. Due to her nature of caring for her subordinates, she wouldn’t recklessly push this far, but she would attempt to move a small elite force to capture the emperor.
Andersen, in preparation, had already selected his own elite troops, and the situation now was playing out exactly as Bahamut had predicted.
‘Indeed, Bahamut is truly a great man. He didn’t become the continent’s greatest merchant for nothing. He knows the nature and mindset of the major players on the continent and can predict their every move.’
Admiring Bahamut, Andersen prepared for the next step of the operation.
Bang!
A loud explosion echoed from behind, and those fighting in the square began to waver.
Andersen shouted urgently to his soldiers.
“D*mn! Retreat! It’s a signal that His Majesty is in danger!”
“Protect His Majesty! Full army retreat!”
Andersen and the Black Legion withdrew swiftly, halting the battle as they shouted commands.
Elios, though momentarily taken aback, began to assess the situation.
‘Is the emperor in danger? Does that mean our forces outside the castle have made a breakthrough? Or…’
Unfortunately, there was no way for her to directly confirm. The last order she had given her generals was to attack slowly from the outskirts, but never to rush. Still, war could stir emotions, leading to orders being disobeyed. Elios had taken that into account as well.
‘If those who had prepared so thoroughly to trap me are retreating now, something must have happened… Could it be?’
There was a chance that her allies had truly captured the emperor or had at least placed him in jeopardy. But Elios wasn’t optimistic. Andersen and the Black Legion had been her equals in combat. If they were sent to deal with her relatively weaker allies attacking from the outskirts, her forces wouldn’t stand a chance.
Particularly in a narrow, complex area like this, the risk of her allies being wiped out was high.
‘If the emperor is cornered, my forces could be annihilated. I have no choice but to track them down.’
With her allies potentially in crisis, and the emperor and Bahamut as the ultimate targets, Elios knew she couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
“Pursue them! We must capture the emperor alive!”
“Yes! Understood!”
At Elios’s command, her subordinates immediately began chasing the Black Legion.
Meanwhile, hidden figures in the shadows exchanged knowing smiles.
“And… as expected, they’ve started moving.”
“Our new master is truly remarkable. These noble scumbags can’t even compare. Now, all that’s left is to execute the plan and enjoy the show.”
“Quiet. Don’t get careless.”
“Right. I’m excited too, but let’s not lose focus.”
As they watched Elios and her forces follow the guards into a narrow, dark alley, their leader, Echid, gave a quiet order.
“It begins now. Don’t make any mistakes.”
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