441 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 441 "Whoa, finally!" "We won!!" "We've emerged victorious!" The roaring echoes on the battlefield were replaced with triumphant cheers. The enemy had nearly double the number of soldiers, their forces of superhumans were overwhelmingly superior, and though victory was inevitable, the standout was undoubtedly their lord who not only felled the enemy commander at the forefront but also led the army with unwavering authority. Originally, their lord had garnered fame as a war hero since the days of Grandia, known more for his martial prowess and perceived fortune(?) rather than strategic acumen. However, today was a different story, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he dominated the battlefield in every aspect. [Collision commencing, skirmish initiation in 3, 2, 1... Cease Liberatio deployment!] [Left flank lacks firepower. 3rd Corps, Companies 1~5, advance left!] [Center! The gap between the knights and soldiers is too wide. Knights, slow down, soldiers catch up!] [Stop! Do not pursue fleeing foes. Our objective is not the stragglers!] The voice that resonated within the minds of the Mcline forces throughout the battle. An aura master who could read the entire spirit of the battlefield with eyes that see souls, he issued orders directly into the minds of his troops without flags or beacons, effectively ‘ruling’ the battleground. Experiencing the legendary might of an aura master firsthand, the soldiers' morale soared sky-high. – His Majesty fights alongside us! Even now, as the battle concluded, many looked upon their sovereign with hearts pounding, as he directed its aftermath. – Truly, here stands a hero sent by the gods. Every soldier who partook in the Battle of the Rusfelheim Plains deeply felt this truth in their hearts. And the subject of their admiration, too, realized the extent of his newly acquired power, clenching his fist to hide his trembling hand. ‘This... this is possible.’ It wasn’t because there were no formidable foes to challenge him; he had the leisure to survey the battlefield. Amidst ceaselessly cutting down enemies, the entire flow of the battlefield naturally came into sight. Merely witnessing the interconnected consciousness of foes allowed him to grasp the situation and issue immediate orders. As for the transmission of the soul's voice or spirit wave, he found it sufficient to issue generalized commands to those with amicable feelings towards him. Thus, he maneuvered the allied forces of the kingdom, a massive army of 200,000, as if they were extensions of himself. This alone seemed to elevate the combat prowess of the kingdom’s forces by over thirty percent. Moreover, he noticed how the trust-filled hearts of the soldiers pouring into him further elevated his own spirit. It was a battle that reaffirmed the path he must tread to transcend the wall as an aura master. 'With this, it's certainly attainable.' This was more than simply delivering a surprise strike at the Empire; the prospect of capturing Fenna, the center of the eastern Empire, beyond Rusfelheim no longer felt like an empty dream. Logan contained his elation and declared the end of the battle. "Organize the battlefield! We'll rest here for three days!" "Whoa!!" His thunderous shout was met with a chorus of responses. While transmitting orders through spirit waves was possible, nothing rivaled a vocal command to lift the spirits. Immediately, his superhuman mentors and knights began issuing orders to the soldiers in unison. "Gather the bodies and burn them!" "Anyone injured, seek the healers! The tent is over there!" "Those with free hands, start setting up the encampment!" The battlefield once again bustled with activity. In that midst, three figures swiftly approached Logan. "Congratulations on your victory, Your Majesty." "It was an incredible battle. The legend of the aura master is no fabrication." A handsome middle-aged man with blonde hair extended his felicitations with a radiant smile, while a black-haired beauty, similar yet uniquely different in aura, marveled at Logan's feats. And behind them, a young knight quietly lowered his head. Even as their homeland's army was shattered, their serene smiles allowed Logan to feel keenly how deeply their grudges ran, as he had heard of their stories before. Especially seeing Louisa, who sustained a minor injury participating in battle without using the Kasel Tower’s magic, as per his command. “…You all have done well. To join a battle you need not have.” “No, Your Majesty. If it involves toppling the Empire and the imperial family, we are prepared to do anything. Just leave it to us.” Their words were genuine. Even if spoken words carried lies, the light of the soul does not deceive. Thus, Logan simply responded with a smile. “How reassuring.” Indeed, Gerard, a sophisticated combat mage deserving of the title of Fifth Circle Fire Mage, was invaluable, despite his origins as a king from the four corners. Jay Paulson himself was a precious aura user, and Louisa wielded potent combat magic at a Fifth Circle level even without utilizing Kasel Tower’s spells. However, understanding their circumstances didn’t warrant favoritism towards them. ‘When I deal with the Kasel Tower, they’ll need sorting first.’ But that time was not now. As Logan hid his true thoughts behind a smiling face, the potential adversary delivered awaited news. "The Tower Master and elite mages have joined the Western Alliance Forces. The Alliance has made the statement we discussed. Within a day or two, the Emperor will be informed." “Ho?” Louisa’s advance with her father’s mantle brought an unexpected delight to Logan. “…The Tower Master kept his word.” The Emperor would now find his hands full in the west. Leaving such a wildcard as the enemy’s grand sorcerer unchecked wasn’t an option. Even should the Emperor risk a move here, the western Empire would suffer critical blows, serving as a secondary gain. “…The Tower Master mentioned you would understand the weight of a ‘Covenant,’ Your Majesty. Did you doubt he would keep his promise?” The weight of a covenant? The words that implied Logan should naturally understand caught his eye, shining with sudden insight. The core essence that remained unconfirmed due to the inherent nature of a mage's powers. ‘When one speaks the truth and acts upon it... it seems to add a subtle light to the soul.’ Could this be the soul's power the grand mage sought? It was a vague notion that came to mind. The pursuit of internal convergence aiming for the qualitative enhancement of the soul. This was in stark contrast to the aura master's method of outward radiation and gathering followers' beliefs, yet considering the sense the power of the nine gods gave, it seemed perhaps a more righteous path. If so... ‘I will embrace that direction as well.’ Fortunately, he couldn't recall a time when he told many truths without embellishments, so this wouldn’t be as difficult as actively lying. A random thought of a certain dwarf diligently manufacturing war supplies in the southeastern kingdom crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as nothing more than a whim. ‘I may have made things difficult for him, but I haven’t lied.’ Logan chuckled at his own thoughts, which might have made his dwarf vassal glare if overheard. “Your Majesty?” How Louisa and Gerard perceived his laughter narrowed their eyes. “Ah... I was just lost in thought for a moment. Of course, I trusted it fully.” To be exact, it was a trust based on inference rather than a true belief in the tower master's promise. If the Kasel Tower genuinely aimed for the revival of Gibrik Kasel, the sacrifice of many lives would be necessary, possibly more than in the past life. In this light, offering imperial citizens as sacrifices would be more feasible than those of a fallen kingdom... ‘The resources would be much easier to gather if the Empire were the one to fall.’ A shiver ran through him at the conclusion he drew, but it seemed to resonate well with the former East Wing King and his daughter. “Then, we will continue to support you moving forward.” “…I look forward to it.” Logan intended to say words of reassurance and trust but quickly reconsidered the weight of ‘the covenant’ and altered his response. Whether polite lies would affect the light of one's soul remained uncertain, but it was a new caution to consider. ‘I'll need to be more mindful.’ He regretted not being able to perceive his own soul's state. However, this was not a concern for now. ‘First, Rusfelheim is the priority.’ Logan watched the pair turn away and shifted his focus westward. The three-day rest was necessary for the soldiers who were exhausted after forced marches and successive battles. This timeframe, plus the additional days to travel to Rusfelheim, ensured that no reinforcements from the Empire's central forces could arrive within 7-10 days, as calculated by Damien. Rusfelheim, the trade hub between the Empire and the kingdom and the large city he had passed through years ago to meet the Emperor. ‘In six more days,’ The real campaign against the Empire would commence there. His eyes blazed like embers as they caught the light of the setting sun. * * * "Retreat! All forces, retreat!" Bering shouted repeatedly as he redirected the troops' forward movement. Compared to Drexler's stunned state after hearing the unbelievable news, Bering's decision was remarkably prompt. Thus, the 150,000-strong force that had boldly charged out of the eastern gates of Rusfelheim for half a day now hastily pivoted back to the plains. Though they weren't at immediate risk of encountering the Mcline forces, who remained three days away, they needed to reorganize for a siege as quickly as possible. However, the soldiers didn't fully understand his intention. “What on earth is happening?” One panicked soldier asked. “I don’t know. Just hurry and turn around!” Another soldier, attempting to move, responded. “Argh! My foot!” Others stumbled, getting tangled in confusion. Advertisements With remnants of the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th corps mixed with the East Wing King's forces, the disorganized appearance was far from befitting the Empire's might. "Return to Rusfelheim and prepare to defend! It's safer inside the fortress! Get it together, everyone!" Upon witnessing the chaos, Drexler snapped back to reality, snarling with the scar on his lip curving as he yelled at the troops. Turning to Bering in a softer tone, he questioned. “What on earth happened here?” His face bore the full weight of his shock. But even Bering wasn’t privy to further details. – Ziphen Trey fell. Ninety percent of the knights perished. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th corps wiped out. An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers survived. Nearly a third of the troops had survived, likely due to the lack of pursuit. While it was unlikely that the remaining forces and stragglers would reach Rusfelheim in time, the forethought of abandoning such hope seemed prudent. “We heard it together, didn’t we? What else could it be? Ziphen was a fool.” It had to be the case that, after belatedly deciding to retreat, they were struck with fatal consequences. Or so Bering hoped to believe. But calculating the time Ziphen activated the East Wing King’s forces and their arrival, Bering found himself grinding his teeth. ‘It seems he started responding and fled immediately upon receiving the declaration of war...’ Despite the foolish words Ziphen voiced to him, his actions had been correct. ‘Yet they were overrun and annihilated?’ How could that be? “If that man had just set aside his pride...” Whether Drexler hadn’t factored it in yet, he was too busy cursing Ziphen’s pride as he gnashed his teeth. Fine. Perhaps thinking that way was better for mental sanity. The Mcline forces were roughly three days away. Reportedly, their victory was overwhelming, implying minimal troop depletion on their side. The situation was utterly bleak. ‘They likely have at least one more corps than us. At least 50,000 troops, how will we deal with... Logan Mcline, how did he...’ The questions piled up, clouding his mind. Yet, dwelling on them changed nothing. “What can we do now except hold on, Lord Drexler? His Majesty the Emperor will send reinforcements.” "…Indeed. We must grit our teeth and hold out." Five days after the two superhumans resolved to brace themselves desperately, reports arrived that the Mcline army was just a day away. At that very moment, Drexler and Bering were faced with unexpected visitors. "What the…!?" The emotions reflected in their wide eyes were unmistakably those of relief.