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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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The night deepened.
A force of about 300 men arrived at the Imperial Army camp.
It was Highgelt, the Second Seat of the Empire, and Hollow, the strongest mercenary group under his personal command, who made their appearance.
Highgelt appeared to be well over 2 meters tall and had a warrior-like face with a striking impression.
A scar running across his right eyebrow was noticeable.
Yuma examined Highgelt with his exploration eye.
An impressive level of 145.
“I have heard much about you, Supreme commander”
Highgelt said, extending his rough hand that seemed to be proof of the countless weapons he had wielded on the battlefield.
Yuma felt a fierce fighting spirit in the warrior’s eyes.
“How about we have a hearty meal together when this war is over!”
Highgelt exclaimed.
In those spirited eyes, Yuma also sensed a pure-hearted nature.
“…Sure,” Yuma replied, grasping Highgelt’s heavy hand.
Highgelt grinned.
“What would you like me and my mercenaries to do on the battlefield tomorrow? Just give the order. You are the Supreme Commander of this war.”
Before having an in-depth conversation with Cassiella, the leader of the Dawn Revolutionary Army, Yuma recalled the strategy meeting he had with Duke Tornel.
Areas lacking in troops.
Places that must be conquered for victory.
“We need to recapture the southern walls.”
Yuma stated.
“Understood”
Highgelt acknowledged.
Another night passed, and the sun rose again.
Yuma gazed at the army arrayed before him.
Nearly 30,000 soldiers and knights stood in dense formation.
Yuma had not intended to ascend to this commander’s podium.
It was at the request of Duke Tornel.
“As the Supreme Commander, it would be proper for you to say a few words, would it not?”
Yuma felt the numerous gazes fixed upon him.
He sensed the army’s atmosphere.
A sense of defeat that could not be suppressed or shaken off seemed to have infected the entire force.
After all, they had only reclaimed lost territories the day before; it could not be called a victory.
Step by step, Yuma, standing on the podium, directly faced the vast number of troops.
He slowly opened his mouth to speak.
He had no confidence in delivering an eloquent speech imbued with meaning.
Nor did he believe he could magically inspire their fighting spirit.
So he decided to simply say what he could.
“I am Yuma, the Supreme Commander of the Empire,” he declared.
Those two syllables, Yuma, were etched into the minds of the soldiers arrayed before him.
A figure came to their minds: Yuma, the God of War.
“Looks like the nonsense those crazy bastards were spouting wasn’t nonsense after all!”
Numerous remarks burst out from among the soldiers.
The knights had received reports on who was above Duke Tornel, their original commander-in-chief.
However, only about half of the ordinary soldiers had been informed of this news.
At this moment, the other half learned of it directly from Yuma’s own mouth.
“Is it really true that the God of War has come as our Supreme Commander?”
“Is it also true that he swept away 30 men with a single gesture yesterday?”
The fact that the most famous person in the Empire had become their Supreme Commander naturally boosted their morale.
Yuma continued, unaware of the sudden rise in the army’s morale and the reason behind it.
“Today, the Empire will be victorious. Have no doubt about that.”
The soldiers let out a great cheer at that declaration.
Yuma intended to add one more statement.
It was a request from a certain revolutionary leader.
“For the Empire.”
As soon as those words were uttered, the same cry rang out from the front ranks of the arrayed soldiers.
“For the Empire!!”
It was the cry of the Dawn Revolutionary Army, who had become heroes among the soldiers overnight.
That cry spread like a wave.
Yuma descended from the podium and gazed at the black horse before him.
It was a military horse prepared by Duke Tornel.
“His name is Hector. A rough fellow, but once tamed, he’ll be loyal to the end.”
Tornel explained.
The problem was whether taming him was even possible.
Yuma decided to try reviving the sensation of riding a horse from the VR game Loop Blood.
He slowly mounted the horse.
“Let’s go”
He said, gently pulling on the reins.
Hector’s hooves, which had paused for a moment, began to move again.
“You’re quite good at taming…”
Tornel rode his own horse and caught up to Yuma’s side.
Behind the two of them followed an army of 30,000.
On the plains, two nations’ armies faced each other.
Yuma felt the scorching heat of the sun on his body.
The armies of 30,000 stared at one another.
The air on the battlefield was overwhelmingly heavy.
Madness glinted in the eyes of the Pineon’s armed warriors.
Their fighting spirit soared as if to pierce the sky.
King Kament, the Conqueror, stepped forward, his lion’s mane-like brown hair fluttering in the wind.
His thick eyebrows twitched.
“Oh-ho, I didn’t see you here yesterday.”
Kament remarked.
Yuma met Kament’s gaze directly.
Kament’s level was higher than even Duke Tornel and Highgelt, the Second Seat of the Empire.
He indeed possessed the aura and might befitting one called the Conqueror King.
Kament raised his sword and rested it on his shoulder.
“I am Kament, the King of Pyneton.”
Yuma slowly opened his mouth.
“I am Yuma, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Battlefield.”
A smile curved Kament’s lips.
The gleaming light in his eyes intensified.
“So you are the God of War? The monster who single-handedly swept away my subordinates who had taken the ridge?”
Still mounted on Hector, Yuma nodded.
“That’s right.”
Kament’s massive sword was enveloped in a red sword aura.
“Do you know why I continue to conquer lands?”
“I do not”
Yuma replied.
To be precise, he had no interest.
“Conquest is righteous. Conquering, making what belongs to others my own. Only that can satisfy my desire.”
Kament declared.
Kugugugugugu!!
Fighting spirit poured from Kament’s entire body.
The unique spirit of the lion tribe flowed out fiercely.
The bodies of the Imperial soldiers and knights arrayed at the front trembled at that spirit.
Yuma nonchalantly allowed that spirit to flow past him, his gaze remaining unperturbed.
Kament exuded an even more intense spirit in response to Yuma’s unchanging, bored eyes.
Kament’s intense fighting spirit not only caused the Imperial Army to become fearful.
Fighting spirit tends to evoke fighting spirit in return.
Heros, the vice-captain of Duke Tornel’s knight order, shouted
“Damn you Pineon bastards!! We, the knights of the great Astes Empire, cannot hand over even a handful of land to the likes of you beasts!!”
The bald man beside Kament grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
“Brother, should we just stand by while they spout such nonsense? My body is itching to act!”
It was Darkus, Kament’s right-hand man.
At Darkus’s words, Kament raised his giant sword.
“Show them the might of the Pineons!
Kahahahahaha!”
The resounding cry of Kamet, the Conqueror King, shook the earth and sky.
Darkus was the first to charge.
The ground began to tremble.
Darkus, holding a spear, kicked his horse to signal a charge.
Kugugugugu!!
The enemy nation’s army and the Imperial Army clashed.
The sound of pounding hooves echoed loudly.
Countless cold weapons, wrapped in murderous intent, bared their fangs at each other.
Every time the weapons of the high-ranking knights and warriors collided, a storm of energy swirled.
The swords of the Empire, defending their land, and the spears of the Pineon nation, seeking to plunder the territory of others, clashed once again.
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The southern walls, occupied by the Pineon nation.
The Imperial Army approached those walls.
Leading the vanguard were Highgelt, the Second Seat of the Empire, and the Hollow mercenary group under his command.
The Dawn Revolutionary Army brought up the rear.
Hestia climbed the southern walls like a beast.
As a cat tribe member, it was not a particularly difficult task for her.
Hestia’s sword flashed as she crossed over the wall.
A single line of light slashed across the necks of the Pineon warriors.
Since she had vowed to slay the enemy, she could wield her blade without hesitation.
“Haaah!”
A red sword aura rippled along Hestia’s blade.
Following Hestia, who had first thrown the enemy formation into disarray, the members of the Hollow mercenary group began their infiltration.
“For such a noble Imperial Army, you take the Pineon’s sorcery too lightly. Keh keh.”
A hoarse, phlegm-laced voice pierced Hestia’s ears.
“Huh?”
Hestia stared at the glowing gray circular formation beneath her feet.
Gray chains coiled around both her ankles.
In the air, red bone spears were aimed at Hestia.
No, they were aimed at all the Imperial Army soldiers behind Hestia.
There appeared to be at least 100 Bone Spears.
Shaaaaaah!!
The red bone spears plummeted fiercely.
“Hoeeeeek!”
Hestia once again sensed imminent death!
At that moment, something surged up from the ground.
It was a transparent wall of ice.
A frosty shield.
The Bone Spears were all blocked.
Hestia turned around and saw that Cloney, the mage who had climbed onto the wall, had cast the spell.
Lightning shot forth from the staff Cloney held.
“Kraaaaaah!”
The lightning pierced through the body of the shaman.
Cloney’s eyes glowed with magical radiance.
She had reached the 4th circle and was now vaguely glimpsing the 5th circle.
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