World War

“How far are you looking?”

The elderly man looked at Chris indifferently.

Besides the current Emperor, there was only one person in the empire who could treat Chris with such casual disrespect.

The former duke who chose seclusion after the previous Emperor’s death.

Mardo Forcage, Chris’s master.

The S3 Magus who had led the empire’s prosperity stood shoulder to shoulder with Chris as the new 13 Lord.

“400,000 troops, and forces rivaling them will be additionally reinforced.”

“You’ve set up quite a grand scheme. The enemy is already at our doorstep, yet what were you thinking killing Gram?”

“For war, we had to weed out internal traitors.”

“Ultimately, that led to weakening the empire’s strength.”

“Thanks to that, didn’t you break your seclusion, Master?”

Mardo’s lips twisted.

Claiming it was the Emperor’s command, Chris had suddenly visited them proposing to fill the 13 Lords’ vacancies.

Though he’d laughed it off then, now that all nations pointed blades at them, the story was different.

“I’ve never understood you from before. When that little troublemaker always stirred things up, the whole nation would become unsettled, capturing everyone’s attention, and someone would get hurt. And ultimately, all results led to the direction you wanted.”

It was the same now.

“Under the name of world unification, you shook the existing system. You cornered the nation to strengthen power.”

“Those are difficult words to understand.”

“Didn’t you fan the nation’s crisis to draw out us who served the previous Emperor?”

“That’s speculation.”

“Well. Ultimately, crisis struck the nation and you drew out us who wanted to quietly finish our remaining years.”

No matter how secluded Magus they were, how could they merely watch the nation’s crisis?

“Though our era had already ended, you were drawn to past strength and disturbed our peace with excessive actions. If you couldn’t seat Vans on the throne, you should have quietly withdrawn and guarded the empire’s safety. Ultimately, can you truly say it wasn’t your will to light a great fire, turn all nations into enemies, and drive even those pursuing peace into war?”

“Now is the moment when those with power should properly grip swords and step forward, Master. The elders and various secluded masters owe the empire unspeakable debt. There were things that should rightfully be returned even without war.”

“Chris…”

“If you secluded yourselves prepared to abandon everything, you should have died instead. Why have you lived all this long time?”

Mardo’s eyes narrowed thinly.

Though the S3 Magus’s aura rose, Chris didn’t blink an eye.

“If you’ve been pathetically prolonging life in the empire’s embrace, fight for the empire until the end. There’s absolutely no value in exchanging meaningless debates about beginnings and middles.”

“I’m asking why you started a fight that should be avoided.”

“Is there need to explain what’s already happened? For a long time, this world has repeated chaos, and honor and public sentiment have fallen to the bottom. The empire will step forward to correct those.”

“Arrogant conduct.”

“Nevertheless, it’s certain now is the perfect opportunity to bind the world as one. I’m here, and you’re alive, Master.”

Mardo closed his mouth.

Though it was true he’d been angry at Chris’s proposal to return as 13 Lord, it was also true he’d been excited by the talk of binding the world as one under Rakis’s name.

What they couldn’t accomplish serving the previous Emperor might be possible now if two S3 Magus joined together.

“Just how far are you looking?”

“The same scenery as His Majesty.”

“His Majesty Arzahn…”

When he ascended as the new Emperor, the smile Arzahn showed still remained in memory.

The mysterious power that made Magus fearful though he wasn’t a Magus himself.

That power befitting the qualification called Hegemon Emperor might have molded Chris.

‘Those dreaming of ambition met and set fire to the world, so now no one can extinguish it.’

Not until everything became ash and sprouted in the hands of new leaders.

“Even if enemies are hundreds of thousands strong, there’s nothing to fear. Ultimately, they’re scattered now, and if we just block two places, we’ll lead this war to victory.”

“Two places?”

“The coast and the Holy Kingdom.”

Chris spoke lightly and mounted his horse.

“I’ve already sent people to the coast. I’ll personally handle the Holy Kingdom.”

“Why specifically the Holy Kingdom?”

“That alliance’s core lies in matching Magus numbers with us. Though there’s the variable called Pernok, if we eliminate the Holy Kingdom’s High Priest and priests who most raise their morale now, we can easily seize the war.”

“You’re not concerned about Illumina and Tyr at the front?”

“Just block them with 13 Lords. Or will you personally step forward, Master?”

“No.”

Mardo likewise mounted his horse.

“I also head to the Holy Kingdom.”

“Didn’t you say you’d guard the capital?”

“The best defense is offense. At this time when the Holy Kingdom comes with full force, if I kill the High Priest together with you, enemies won’t dare attempt advancing to the capital.”

Chris nodded.

“Will you also bring subordinate Magus?”

“I’ll mobilize even the academy’s Magus together.”

“You’ll have to fight prepared to die.”

Mardo answered indifferently.

“We’ll burn everything until one 13 Lord remains.”

And the two who faced each other rode their horses.

The day 400,000 troops declared war questioning Rakis’s crimes.

Chris advanced toward the Holy Kingdom leading the former duke, 30,000 troops, and powerhouses who hadn’t obtained titles.

Ruin arrived at Rakis’s coast in five days. However, before even docking ships on the inland, he had to face 10,000 Rakis forces camped on the hill.

“Long time no see!”

The moment he saw who shouted vigorously at the vanguard, Ruin’s expression turned cold.

Because it was Breia, the S2 Magus who’d dealt him a fatal blow in Rezhen.

“Didn’t I clearly tell you then to return to your respective places and not get involved with Pernok! Yet why have you made such a difficult journey bringing all this miscellaneous stuff!”

“All nations seek to punish Rakis’s brutal actions! If you don’t wish meaningless slaughter, step aside from there!”

“Uhahahahahaha! You couldn’t handle me even then! What would change now?”

The moment Breia’s mana boiled, Ruin glared at what was behind him.

“So you’re the new 13 Lord!”

Silent magic shot like a small bullet.

When Breia just slightly tilted his head to dodge, the bullet collided with something behind and scattered.

“Kukuk, youngsters these days have extraordinary spirit.”

Releasing sinister laughter, a shrimp-backed old man walked out.

“Wild boar. Did you truly block that monster-like lad?”

“I was incompatible with him, Duke.”

The old man nodded and positioned beside Breia.

“New Mage Association Head Ruin. I’m Zer Targas.”

“Zer?”

Ruin’s brow furrowed.

“Beheading King Duke Targas?”

“Kukuk, you know well for your age. But I abandoned the title Beheading King long ago. Now I’m merely Chris’s chess piece who briefly paused seclusion.”

Ruin gripped his staff.

“Chris selected new 13 Lords. According to intelligence, he recalled former generation giants. Though not certain, engage in battle carefully.”

The uncertain intelligence was fact.

‘If he filled all vacancies with former generation nobles, half would be S2 or higher Magus.’

Zer Targas was an S2 Magus who once obtained the epithet Beheading King by slaughtering hundreds of thousands of humans alone.

He’d been a former Rakis duke, and many nations had feared his cruelty as unbefitting a noble.

Though decades had passed since then, the mana flowing through Zer was chillingly sharp.

Sharp blue light flashed from the eyes of the old man with only bone joints remaining who could die at any moment.

“I won’t speak long. I chose seclusion burying past carnage with glory. Though I’ve returned to the battlefield, I have absolutely no intention of using excessive force against youngsters. If you all kneel and pledge loyalty to the empire, I’ll guarantee appropriate positions and honor.”

However, there wasn’t the slightest wavering from the fleet.

The coast was a key stronghold region Pernok especially entrusted.

Those selected to occupy this place were only soldiers from each nation who hated Rakis.

“The empire committed too much evil under the name Magus. The empire will perish in Arzahn’s generation.”

When Ruin tapped his staff on the hull, Zer glanced at Breia.

“Block them from landing.”

“Let’s do that.”

The moment Breia’s Magus Arts emitted brilliant lightning, Ruin’s Loss swallowed even the sea and inland. Zer’s eyes narrowed thinly.

‘I heard from Breia, but most Magus Arts can’t even properly exert power before this.’

Ruin’s Magus Arts invading even Zer’s mana was unusual. However, Breia was beside him now.

His Magus Arts had the property of a spear piercing everything, easily breaking through Magus Arts that dominated space with condensed mana.

Bang!

The only roar echoed within Loss.

It was the moment Breia leaped toward Ruin as in Rezhen.

Two shadows surged from the seawater.

“…?”

Breia was bounced back the moment he thrust his fist.

Having landed on the coast, he glared at the two people who blocked him.

“You bastards…”

They were priests dressed in Holy Kingdom ceremonial robes.

One of them was someone even Breia knew well.

The Red priest who revered the God of Mercy.

“Let’s begin.”

When he joined his hands as if in prayer, Breia widened his eyes and threw his body backward.

Giant palm prints were indiscriminately generated throughout the area.

As if Loss wouldn’t interfere and swept only toward Rakis, the Red priest collapsed all terrain spanning the coast and hill.

And the remaining Green priest who revered the God of Light spread both arms wide.

…RUMBLE!

A massive wave surged from beyond Loss. Water-attribute mages on each hull raised barrier-like screens to protect the hulls.

However, the inland couldn’t prepare. Because Zer’s Magus Arts wasn’t a domain that protected something.

‘Terrain change?’

At the laughable idea of submerging even the hill in seawater, Tar’s leisure completely vanished.

Why Holy Kingdom priests were here, how they didn’t sense presence though they were so close. Everything was puzzling and beyond expectations, but.

When Breia’s ankle was grabbed by the two priests, Zer shot to the very vanguard to behead Ruin.

However.

Clang!

An incomprehensible force blocked the magical blade Zer shot.

‘What is this?’

There were children beside Ruin. One of them released black currents and deflected Zer’s ‘magical blade.’

It was a method he’d never seen in his life, and he felt no mana at all.

“Please continue protecting me this way.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

When Marco and Origin’s children properly activated Origin, all elements existing here moved following their will.

Pure natural force not generated by mana clustered and released, exerting strong physical force itself.

Even Zer couldn’t help but be shocked at the sight of countless elements rippling before his eyes.

Though he felt no mana at all, elements surpassing level 7 mages burst out explosively.

BANG!

Soon the Mana Flash Cannon spewed fire from the hull and completely collapsed the hill.

Seawater swallowed both coast and hill following the mana of mages and the Green priest.

Before Rakis’s mages could resist, the sea’s hunters moved.

Sheeeeek—!

10,000 Scale Tribe, faster than anyone at sea, shot toward Rakis carrying Horn Tribe.

‘Monsters?’

Only incomprehensible things kept appearing in succession. This situation was utterly unacceptable to Zer’s common sense.

However, his body was more honest than his head. Flustered, he began shooting magical blades at the Scale Tribe.

Woooong!

Origin and Loss blocked before them.

“The moment we revealed this, we too have nowhere left to retreat.”

Ruin narrowed Loss’s range to envelop only Breia and Zer.

“But Rakis’s preparation is more modest than expected.”

Breia and Zer had some method to cope with Loss. However, that didn’t mean they were completely immune to Loss.

Even suppressing just slightly, the two priests could overwhelm Breia.

“This side moved thinking up to five 13 Lords.”

Pernok obtained two Holy Kingdom priests by repeatedly emphasizing the coast’s importance.

An S2 Magus and an S1 Magus.

He layered silent magic on them so they couldn’t be recognized from outside and hid them.

Not satisfied even with that, he moved them from seawater together with Scale Tribe to thoroughly escape Rakis’s surveillance network.

The two’s role was to block the 13 Lord said to have newly joined, or cope with Breia.

It was a possible method because they predicted Breia would certainly come, just as Rakis knew the coast’s importance.

This side had already prepared countermeasures for each 13 Lord after being burned by Rakis once.

Though they hadn’t expected the elder Zer to appear, if they swept together with Origin’s children, Ruin also had a fight worth trying.

“Enemies will certainly try to prevent inland landing. In normal structure, it’s difficult to defeat those already camped and land inland. But what if we change the terrain?”

Pernok ordered to collapse the coast and hill’s terrain and fill that place with seawater, saying he wouldn’t waste the fleet’s forces.

The Green priest could handle water and wind, and raising waves wasn’t difficult with high-rank elemental mages deployed on each hull.

And there were Scale Tribe.

Even without using the fleet’s forces, the sea’s hunters Scale Tribe could adequately ravage enemy forces submerged in seawater.

“I thought you were a refined association chairman who just read books, but you’ve rolled your head quite well.”

Zer’s leisure completely vanished.

The veteran warrior who’d only swept inland wars opened mana to maximum at the unfamiliar combat method.

Unlike Zer growing urgent, Ruin leisurely waved his staff.

“This isn’t a place for past specters.”

Ruin’s Loss swept toward Zer.

“Struggle pathetically and disappear.”

Loss avoided allies and gnawed only enemies.

Pernok wasn’t the only one who grew from battles with Rakis.

Ruin had also entered a new level distinguishing enemy from ally.

Pernok chuckled examining the quiet front.

“As expected, they’re concentrating on the coast and Holy Kingdom.”

He’d divided forces nicely for enemies to devour as they pleased.

If Rakis began advancing, he’d have to pound each camp, but Chris didn’t appear here.

“Not the coast. Beacon fires haven’t risen. No news from Tyr’s side either.”

“Then it must be the Holy Kingdom.”

Chris was heading to the Holy Kingdom now.

It was a hardline measure to first sever the alliance’s core, and even Pernok would have done so.

Because they thought alike, he could read it.

“Let’s begin too.”

If enemies concentrated on the allied army’s commander, this side’s response wasn’t difficult either.

“Duke Flemyr and Duke Ludmila, from now ruthlessly trample the empire Chris left behind.”

No sooner had he given the order than Flemyr and Ludmila who joined from Rezhen each divided forces and tore in two directions.

Rio moved together with Flemyr, and Pernok’s close aides attached to Ludmila’s side.

Behind the large army mixing Rezhen and Barganta, countless batteries moved together.

And Pernok smiled quietly and turned his horse’s head.

Concealing his body with stealth magic, he secretly advanced in a different direction from them.