Acropolis — Miles from the War Zone
The capital breathed a strange air—a mixture of anticipation, preparation, and that heavy silence that only precedes catastrophe. The bells of the Upper City rang without pause; each new toll announced another urgent message, another order, another disaster on the horizon.
The streets had become human rivers: soldiers marching with tension locked in their jaws, arcanists clutching trembling grimoires, exhausted messengers who seemed not to have slept in days, and civilians evacuating rural districts before the things moving in the forests reached them.
The clash with the Empire was far away…
But the mana in the air vibrated without rest.
The research mages called it ecosystem pressure: when too many mana-attuned creatures moved at once, the environment reacted as if an invisible giant were shaking the continent.
And it was already happening.
Andrew, Elizabeth, and the royal generals stood within the Strategic Hall of the Central Bastion. Above the table floated an enormous map: miniature lights represented troop movements, civilian caravans, and clusters of monstrous attacks.
Andrew braced both hands against the table's edge, staring at a chain of glowing points advancing from the northwestern forests toward the southern border.
"This is accelerating," he murmured.
Elizabeth pointed to a violet mark pulsing like a diseased heart.
"An entire herd vanished here. And here…" —another point, bright red— "…a settlement razed. But what concerns me most is this: low-level creatures fleeing south. Not attacking. Fleeing."
The generals exchanged tense glances.
At that moment, a messenger entered, drenched in sweat. His voice shook as he read:
"New report. The village of Woodpine completely destroyed. Forty-three homes leveled. No human bodies recovered. Signs of attack from three… no, four distinct species. Preliminary analysis: violent migration."
Elizabeth and Andrew looked up at the same time.
"Four species?" Andrew asked. "From different habitats?"
"Yes, my lord. Dusk Wolves, Gamma Stags, Life-Cutter Serpents… and tracks of Black Antler Beasts. All moving in the same direction. All… fleeing."
Silence fell with the weight of a sentence passed.
Elizabeth exhaled slowly.
"There are only two reasons for a forced migration of that magnitude. Either an extremely high-level creature invaded their territory… or…"
"…an Omega-level monster has appeared," Andrew finished grimly.
Even the veteran McKenna—who had survived four wars without flinching—went pale, as though he had just heard a forbidden word.
The strategic chamber of the Marble Bastion was thick with restrained tension.
The nobles stood in a firm semicircle before King Erkhann:
The Duchy of Bourlance — heavy-armored warriors, newly returned from the south.
The Duchy of Sneider — guardians of the trade routes.
The Duchy of Briggs — the Kingdom's logistical backbone.
Counts Stanley, Armett, Kesller, Brown, Macallister, Carter, and Mondring.
All waiting.
Erkhann spoke without preamble.
"The Emperor has arrived at the front.It changes nothing for us.Our mission remains the same: hold the line without yielding a single step."
Bourlance stepped forward, striking his chest with a fist.
"My warriors are here, Your Majesty. The central front will stand again. We will not allow them to advance a single meter."
Laurence added,
"The Empire is sending fresh troops every day. Their strategy is simple: constant pressure. They are not attempting to flank us yet… they intend to break us through attrition."
Briggs confirmed,
"Our lines have held, but the central front has suffered heavy losses. The return of the Duchy of Bourlance gives us breathing room… but it will not last unless we adjust our defenses."
The king gestured to the map.
"The three fronts will remain as they are.
Right flank: the Douglas — specialists in heavy shock engagement.
Center: the Royal Army and Bourlance cavalry.
Left flank: I will command the line personally."
Then he turned toward Carter.
"Count Carter. The mages will remain within the fortress. I do not want a single one scattered. I need area-of-effect spells operational every time the Empire launches mass waves."
Carter inclined his head.
"My arcanists are already positioned, Your Majesty. If the troops stay within range, our spells will devastate imperial formations before they draw near."
"As it must be," Erkhann declared. "Anyone who strays from the fortress dies. Their numbers surpass ours; our only advantage is the fortress—and the full exploitation of our area spells."
Erkhann raised his voice, and it rolled through the chamber like thunder.
"From this moment forward, we enter a State of Absolute War.The Empire will not pass.Not while this Kingdom still breathes."
The nobles struck their fists against the stone floor.
"For the Kingdom!"
The doors opened.
The true war had begun.