The war takes a turn for the worst.
From the uprise from which King Ramposa sat rode out dozens of Lords. Each one headed to the forefront, hoping to regain order as they barked commands to their servants.
Against them came the surge of Imperial forces that moved with frightening cohesion.
They remained locked in place. Pushing and seizing land, one march at a time. And since they were no longer playing by the Kingdom's rules, it was the Kingdom itself that was forced to adjust to the Empire's regained momentum.
From beneath invisibility spells, catapults made themselves known and along with rows of Mages from the Imperial Magical Academy, fire and rocks rained across the battlefield—
While the sky itself exploded.
Momonga flew at incredible speed. His form cut through the air with whistling sounds followed by explosions of multiple elements. Ranging from piercing lightning, explosive fires, cutting winds, and crushing waters.
"[•Triplet Magic: Magic Arrow•]" intoned Fluder and three magic circles bloomed behind him, unleashing a barrage of golden arrows.
Seeing the arrays of Magic Arrows and swirls of Wind, Momonga went on the offense.
"[•Whirlwind Blade•]!"
He spun midair and from his sword swing erupted a heavy gust of wind. Throwing the magic arrows off their trajectory and forcing the wind spells to explode on contact.
Fluder raised a brow at the feat. "...impressive." he muttered.
Watching as Momonga closed the distance at breakneck speed Fluder remained unmoved, and just as Momonga's sword swung for him, he raised his palm and cast— '[•Expulsion•]'
Momonga clashed against the expulsive force and froze with the tip of his sword inches from the old man's outstretched hand.
His armor rattled as his Flight Spell fought against Fluder's. For a second, he held—before two magic circles bloomed around him.
"[•Elemental Chains•]"
Momonga clicked his tongue and dove. Making as much distance as he could from the magic chains, but lacking momentum, a fire-imbued chain wrapped around his ankle.
Momonga grunted and tried teleporting. Only to feel his heart pulse sharply, warning him of the active anti-teleportation field.
He swung his sword, cutting the chain, and let his movement flow. Cutting down the chains as more and more followed.
Fluder observed and nodded.
'He is inexperienced fighting in the air... That is good. Physical projections are also useless. Arrows and chains he can deflect—but pure element is another thing entirely. Let's see how much of this man's secrets we can peel off before I have to retreat.'
"...my bones are aching in the air after all. Ha- ha- ha-!... [•Tri-Magic Circle: First Tier•]."
Three large circles containing three small spell circles floated around Fluder, unleashing a barrage of various elemental bullets.
But Momonga pushed through them. Each spell splashed uselessly against his armor.
'hmm... he can nullify the first tier... Well then—'
Fluder flew, making distance.
Momonga caught up and swung but— "[Fortress]"—his sword bounced off the old man's staff. Stunned and surprised, Momonga was left undefended when— '[•Expulsion•]' blasted against his outstretched shoulder. Sending him spinning back, control lost for just long enough.
By the time he steadied himself, a [•Dragon Lightning•], [•Earth Cannon•], and [•Grand Fireball•] were already barreling toward him.
Momonga gripped his sword tightly, and with as much control as he could exert, braced himself.
He tanked the lightning first. Grunting as the offensive power tried to rip him apart from the inside.
With gritted teeth, he swung his sword, cutting the earth boulder clean in half.
And as the Grand Fireball threatened to swallow him whole, he wrapped his cape around his arm and punched—
*BOOOOM!
The explosion created a thick, dark smoke that lingered under Fluder's scrutiny. And with his Magic Gauging eyes, he saw it. A spell forming beneath the cover.
Momonga's fingers wrapped around the flaming spear in front of him, clenching tightly as the fifth tier spell— [•Grand Fire Lance•]—reached a maximized state.
With a heave, he threw it.
The lance pierced beyond the smoke, whistling through the air straight toward Fluder.
The old man was impressed. He admitted that much.
'So young and already so talented.'
But that thought vanished the moment the spell reached his senses and, for the first time in a very long while, he felt it—
His impending doom.
His Mana Shield erupted around him, but above and below, two more magic circles bloomed and then—
*BOOOOOMMGGK—!
Momonga landed on one knee among Imperial Knights, his footing cracking the dirt beneath him. As he stood, his presence swallowed the field around him making those nearby flinch a step back.
His helmet was gone. His gauntlets were cracked. His armor stained with soot. His cape billowed, reduced to half its size and clinging to a single shoulder. While his sword hummed with Mana, visible even to the untrained eye.
No one dared attack him. Even as his attention remained fixed on the dispersing dust cloud.
From high above, as the wind tore the smudge from the sky, Fluder Paradyne reappeared—robes slightly blackened, a sphere of Mana Shield shattered, water and wind swirling unevenly around him.
Momonga was impressed as much as he felt foolish.
'Mastery of elemental spells. Silent and multi-casting. Magic items that regenerate and fuel an absurd amount of Mana. A man who has reached the Sixth Tier of Magic Casting. Exactly as I believed.'
'But there was one thing I failed to remember. The Imperial Court Magician of Baharuth is already over two hundred years old.'
'Forget output... this old man outskills more than three-quarters of the entire Yggdrasil player base. With a DPS equivalent to an Eighth Tier Magic Caster.'
To Momonga's eyes, Fluder Paradyne was "... Incredible... you are incredible, old man." he whispered, smiling with barely contained excitement.
Matched only by Fluder, who looked down from high above. The feeling of dread and fascination in equal measure, still fresh in his bones and hair.
"Same to you, boy."
—.—.—.—.—
Jircniv sat on his throne, watching and listening to everything happening around him.
"Form ranks! And tighten the left flank. Give orders to the cavalry to do one circle against the enemy. But if the Kingdom's cavalry gives chase, prioritize the elimination of their riders." commanded one of his Generals to his three subordinates, each of whom sent [•Messeges•] to field commanders.
All around the command tent. Generals gave commands and managed the field while paying attention to their respective colleagues. Each of them coordinated with one another while having a complete overview of the entire war.
Allowing them to accurately asses the situations and give corresponding commands with little to no error of misinformation.
Seeing this made Jircniv smile. This was exactly what he had worked towards.
'A united Empire beneath my banner. Good...with this, despite the losses, all of them will be fully aware how out of control the situation originally was. While also being made aware of how far our Empire had gone through my reforms.... Yes, my name is far from threatened. If anything, I should be able to spin this as a challenge to my growing rule. Umu. This is good.'
His eyes then turned to the floating mirrors as a blur of red and teal took his attention.
"Gazef has entered the field. Send in the remaining of my personl guards." Jircniv commanded.
"At once your majesty."
He then turned his attention to the paladin. "Is there truly no one to send against the Paladin?"
"Forgive me your majesty. But we hoped for her to remain as she is." answered one of his Generals.
"Explain."
"As she currently stands, she is using her Magic Items and spells to strengthen the forces around her to maintain coherance. But most of them were levy, untrained and easily fended off with proper coordination. According to your spy's report, she is also a deadly swordswoman, and we would rather not add another unknown factor to the field."
"I see... she occupies herself. While we dismantle the other lines." Jircniv comments while watching his imperial forces clash against spell enhanced Kingdom levy.
"Indeed your majesty. With Lord Fluder keeping the Black Knight at bay, and both of your personal guards facing Gazef. We leave the Kingdom's levy to face the Imperial Army. Which is greatly in our favor."
'A process of elimination. Basic, and common but I don't like it. It goes to show how they can usurp the Imperial Forces and actually bring us to a stand still... We need contingencies or better yet, to remove both the Knight and the Paladin. At least outside of the Kingdom's inner circle.'
"Loune Vermilion."
"Yes your majesty." stepped forward one of his scribes.
"I have a message for your to write and for you to personally deliver towards my 'friend' at the Kingdom." Jircniv smiled seeing the plan come into fruition. "But first, ride to the front lines bearing he banner of truce. You are to step forward to receive them once King Ramposa bears his flag."
"...your majesty, intends to see through a concession?"
"Is that not obvious scribe." Jircniv smiled coldly, making the young blonde man flinch and bow as he left.
"Your majesty?" asked one of his Generals.
And with as casual tone, he elaborated. "Our army, the lives of the Empire is worth more than a hundred of these... peasants. And at the moment, we are leading them to death unnecessarily. Let me take action. Remove one of these two nuisances... Or even being them to our fold. But until then, there is reason for us to overcommit into anything. Nothing but the stability of Baharuth. For the Empire!"
"""""For His Imperial Majesty!!!"""""
—.—.—.—.—
Down below, the armies of the Empire had successfully swallowed 2/3rds of the central forces.
The left wing held on, pouring against Imperial for action with as surprising coordination under Albedo's banner.
The right wing on the other hand had held on to consistency and ferocity under Sylvia's command. Shaping a brand of Kingdom Levy's into something more than powerless peasants.
*ZzzhAANKSS~ *CRACHG! *BOOOM!
The explosion of spells continued erupting above. But instead of just fear, another pulse began beating into the the hearts of men.
Sylvia rode forward. Eyes fierce, armor battered and broken, shield cracked, and even a chipped sword. Still, she remained resolute followed by what remains of her riders. Cutting through armored men with growing skill and ferocity.
So while Momonga displayed prowess worthy of a God in their eyes, a Hero still rides in front of them.
A mix of fear and the intoxicating surge of courage. And all it took was one push forward, and with rapidly beating hearts, they rushed in, fighting to their hearts content.
Through their eyes, if they were going to die. It might as well be in such a battlefield instead of a massacre.
A spear found a cinch in the armor of Sylvia's warhorse. The beast neighed loud as it threw off its rider out of sheer pain. But Sylvia rolled into a knee and kicked forward, sword blurring into motion, faster than before and beheading the enemy.
And with a yank, she pulled out the spear, hurled it towards an unsuspecting knight. And gentleness and sorrow, she patted her warhorse to rest with a soft murmur,
"...thank you."
With a determined glare, she raised her sword and pointed– "Forward!"
Receiving a scream, a wail, and a roar that altogether created a broken warcry.
As the War continued, Sylvia unknowingly led the foundation of a new order dedicated in pursuit of a glorious death.