In another part of the country, the gardens of Chan's guild swayed gently in the evening breeze. The atmosphere was calm, but beneath the surface, tension lingered.
"General Chan," General Takashi greeted with a bow.
"Ex-General Takashi," Chan replied, smirking slightly.
They finally met again.
"Your own people hate your guts, you know," Takashi teased as they began strolling through the garden.
The wind rustled the leaves overhead, carrying the faint scent of flowers.
"I can't believe it's happening, huh," Chan said after a moment.
"Yeah," Takashi replied, his voice distant.
"You were kinda late to save me." Chan added with a small, wry smile.
"Well, I think you like it here anyway,"
Both of them broke into quiet laughter, the tension momentarily dissipating.
"But really," Takashi continued, his voice turning serious, "after we win this war, you can come home to your people, y'know. There's no place like home."
Chan stopped walking, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the words.
"Well, does it really end after this war?" he asked softly.
"Of course. Our King Ryou is genuinely tired of fighting. He wants peace,"
Takashi said, the sincerity in his tone evident.
Chan stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. A faint smile played on his lips, but his eyes betrayed lingering doubt.
"If that's really what's going to happen, then good," he finally said.
But in his heart, the uncertainty remained.
"Could the cycle of war truly end?"
"I think I'm going to stay here," Chan added, his voice quiet. "This place is home already."
"General Chan, a message from the king," one of his assistants called out, approaching with urgency.
"What is it?"
"An army gathering in Verdim City. The king wants you and your forces to solve it. He specifically said fewer casualties and to only target the lord."
"Ugh, what a drag," Chan muttered under his breath. With a resigned sigh, he began preparing himself for the mission.
"As for you, Lord Takashi, you're welcome to stay here as long as you wish. Janine, make sure our guest has everything he needs, okay?"
"Yes, sir," Janine responded with a respectful nod.
Takashi watched Chan leave, his expression contemplative. The wind picked up slightly, carrying with it both the promise and uncertainty of what lay ahead.
The rebellion had begun. The reports trickled in like drops of a storm yet to break. King Darrios sat on his throne, his fingers lightly drumming against the armrest.
"Huh, the numbers are less than expected," he muttered, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I suppose the Silentvisk Family already took care of most of them."
Jeshur stood nearby, his posture straight and composed.
"My king, shall I proceed with your next command?"
Darrios leaned forward, his eyes glinting with cold determination.
"Call all the lords, families, duchesses, and counts. Tell them to barrier lock their lands. Anyone who refuses to follow my orders will be declared an enemy of the throne."
"Yes, my king!"
With a wave of his hand, he activated the magical parchment system.
Glowing scrolls materialized in the air before disappearing in a flash, bound for every noble house in the kingdom.
Across the realm, the parchments appeared in the hands of lords and nobles.
Their words shimmered like liquid gold, commanding the immediate activation of barriers.
One by one, sigils and glowing lines materialized around each territory, enveloping them in protective fields. The barriers' radiant hum resonated across the lands, a visible sign of allegiance to the crown.
In the throne room, Jeshur watched the barriers flare into life on the magical map projected before them.
Each glowing marker indicated compliance. Still, he frowned.
"Sure, do you really think it would be that easy?" Jeshur asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.
"Of course, no," the king replied coldly as he was watching the map, his eyes narrowing with calculation.
But unlike Riruk, I am ready. I'm ready for every consequence. "
"Jeshur, for me,this event is like playing chess with a toddler. No matter what moves they make, I'll always win."
The battle raged across Agleria, fireballs streaking through the sky as men and women shouted, their voices drowned out by the cacophony of explosions. The battlefield was chaos incarnate—flames consuming the ground, smoke curling into the air, and the clash of steel echoing in every direction.
Above it all, General Slade hovered in the sky, his sharp eyes scanning the carnage below.
"Hmmm, where's the banner?"
he muttered, ignoring the futile attempts of enemy soldiers to strike him down.
Their arrows and spells passed harmlessly through his body.
Slade smirked, unimpressed.
"Again, less death!" he shouted to his soldiers.
"AYEEE!" they roared in response, their morale surging despite the chaos around them.
Explosions dotted the battlefield like a deadly symphony.
Slade's gaze locked onto a figure slicing through his forces with ruthless precision—a woman wielding water magic, her strikes fluid and devastating. Blades of water formed around her, cutting through soldiers with effortless grace.
"Ahh, there it is," he said, his smirk widening. "Alegria's leader."
The woman moved like a storm, her water blades carving a path through the chaos.
Commander Layle Grilaite, head of Agleria's army, was relentless in her attacks. Her magic whirled around her like a living entity, protecting her and striking out with lethal efficiency.
Suddenly, an explosion erupted behind her. Layle spun around, her instincts screaming danger.
From the smoke stepped General Slade, his body wreathed in flames as he landed with deliberate force.
With a stretch of his arms, Slade conjured a shimmering barrier, locking the two of them inside. The sounds of the battlefield outside faded into a dull roar.
"Okay, let's do it the old style, milady," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Me against you, right here and now, to end it."
He turned to his soldiers. "Stand down!" he barked, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
Layle hesitated, then raised her hand, signaling her forces to do the same.
The fighting stopped, soldiers on both sides watching with bated breath.
"Damn it. It's General Slade," Layle thought, her heart pounding. "I don't know if I can win this. Should I back out? But… my soldiers are watching."
"Go, Ms. Grilaite! Beat that arrogant lizard!" one of her soldiers shouted from the sidelines.
Slade's eyebrow twitched, his smirk faltering for a brief moment. "Arrogant lizard, huh? You'll regret that," he muttered.
"Argh, there's no point turning back now," Layle thought.
"Let's go!" she shouted, her voice firm despite her inner turmoil.
She squared her stance, focusing her magic. "I'm advantageous when it comes to elements," she reminded herself.
Flames erupted across Slade's body as he lunged toward her with astonishing speed.
Layle barely managed to summon a water shield in time, the barrier sizzling under the intense heat.
"He's too fast," she thought, her teeth gritted.
Slade smirked, landing a few meters away to put some distance between them. Without warning, he unleashed a concentrated fire blast from his palm.
The searing bolt was too fast to dodge. Layle reinforced her shield, but the impact shattered it, sending shards of water scattering and creating a dense smoke screen.
"Damn it, a smoke screen!" she cursed, leaping out of the cloud before he could exploit it.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Slade beside her, twin firebolts blazing in his hands.
"The heck—?!" She had no time to react as the blast sent her tumbling to the ground.
"Commander!!!" her soldiers cried out, their voices filled with desperation.
Slade approached slowly, the flames around his hands dimming.
"Now you don't have a choice but to fight me face-to-face," he said, his tone calm yet commanding.
Fire engulfed his hands and feet as he charged at her again. Layle braced herself, activating her magic to turn the battlefield into a mud.
Slade's advance faltered as his footing slipped, his flames sputtering against the damp earth.
"You're so arrogant, Slade," Layle said, her voice steadying. "Just because you're a general doesn't make you the strongest."
Her hands surged with energy as she formed a concentrated lightning-water attack. The torrent crackled with high-concentrated Mana, the rapidly moving water within it sharp enough to slice through steel.
Slade's eyes widened, realizing the danger too late. With no time to dodge, he conjured a fiery barrier to block the attack. The shield trembled under the assault, the crackling energy threatening to break through.
Layle pressed her advantage, slashing at Slade with elegant precision. Blades of water materialized around her, two firmly in her hands and several others slashing toward Slade.
The air sizzled as fire met water. Every time he blocked, the searing impact of her strikes chipped away at his firepower. Steam hissed and rose, surrounding them in a suffocating mist.
Her soldiers roared in unison, their voices echoing across the battlefield. "Go, Ms. Grilaite!!!" Their chants filled the air with electrifying energy, bolstering her morale.
In contrast, Slade's army stood in silence, their gazes fixed on their commander. One soldier muttered under his breath,
"Come on, the General's hugging all the fun."
"Shhh, less casualties," a captain hissed, keeping his men in line.
Layle's heart pounded in her chest.
"I'm winning," she thought, her determination surging as she pressed forward. "I'm actually going to beat the General."
Slade gritted his teeth, retreating step by step as Layle advanced.
The muddy terrain worked against him, and he couldn't ignite flames on his feet without risking slipping.
"Damn it! I can't put fire on my feet, not in this muck," he thought, his movements slowing.
Sensing her victory, Layle stopped, stepping back to raise her arms.
With practiced grace, she began conjuring a powerful spell. Water swirled around her, forming into the shape of a massive four-headed dragon. The creature's translucent body shimmered in the dim light, its form pulsating with concentrated mana.
"Goodbye, General Slade," she declared, her voice firm and resolute.
"Water Hydra Dive!!!"
The colossal dragon heads surged forward, the ground trembling under its sheer force. Soldiers on both sides watched in awe and terror as the attack hurtled toward Slade.
Slade's expression remained unchanged as the dragon descended upon him.
"Oh," he muttered calmly.
Outside Verdim City, chaos reigned on the battlefield. Smoke curled into the air as the clashing of swords and the cries of soldiers filled the space.
Commander Regina Fleischer stood amidst the turmoil, her soldiers struggling to hold their ground.
"Commander, they're like immortals! They can't die!" a Verdim mage shouted, his voice tinged with both frustration and fear.
Regina's sharp gaze turned toward the heart of the battlefield. There, sitting at the edge as if the chaos were a mere game, was General Chan. He lounged on a chair made of roots, his posture relaxed, his expression calm and almost smug.
"Damn that Chan," she muttered under her breath, her irritation flaring. "He's healing them, isn't he?"
Her eyes scanned the battlefield again. His knights charged fearlessly into the fray, their wounds vanishing almost as soon as they were inflicted. The mages, bolstered by Chan's powers, unleashed enhanced spells with devastating effect. They moved without hesitation, knowing they could rely on Chan's seemingly endless support.
"What should we do?" one of her soldiers asked, their voice trembling. "They're just healing every time they take damage."
Regina gritted her teeth. "Just how much Mana does General Chan have?" she wondered.
Her frustration burned as she stared at him, and it only deepened when he turned toward her and... winked.
Her face flushed red against her will. "Arghhh, that arrogant yet so handsome son of a bitch!" she fumed, shaking her head to dispel the embarrassment.
"Commander Regina, the Slayer has arrived," a nearby soldier announced.
"Oh, thank goodness," Regina exhaled in relief, only to stifle a scream as a shadow detached itself from her own.
A figure emerged, materializing out of the dark, and stood tall before her. His presence sent a chill through the air, making her heart skip a beat.
"Ackkk!" she yelped, taking a step back. Her hand instinctively gripped the hilt of her sword.
The man, cloaked entirely in black, tilted his head. His face was obscured in darkness, save for his piercing eyes that gleamed ominously.
"So, you're the famous Slayer from Verdim's mercenary guild," Regina managed, forcing authority into her tone.
"Yes, madam," he replied, his voice a low growl. The shadows around him seemed to pulse in time with his words.
Regina swallowed hard, steadying herself.
"Now, do your job," she ordered, her voice betraying the edge of unease that refused to fade.
Without a word, the Slayer vanished, dissolving back into the shadows as if he were never there.
At the edge of the battlefield, General Chan's calm demeanor suddenly faltered. Sitting comfortably on his chair of roots, his eyes widened as a sharp pain shot through his chest.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. His gaze shifted downward, only to see the tip of a sword piercing through his stomach.
The Slayer stood in Chan's shadow, his dark figure blending seamlessly with the shifting light of the battlefield.
"Tsk, that was easy," the Slayer thought, his lips curling into a faint smirk beneath his hood.
The wind whipped General Jean's cloak around her as she addressed Lord Huron, her voice ringing with icy authority.
"Come out and fight, Lord Huron! You dare make an enemy of the throne and hide like a child behind your mother's Skirt?"
Her soldiers roared with laughter, a wave of brutal merriment that echoed off the city walls of Minstral Harbor.
The coastal city, usually vibrant with life, was now tense, a coiled spring ready to unleash chaos.
Inside, Lord Huron clenched his fists, his knuckles bone-white.
"That bitch," he hissed, the fury barely contained.
He glared at Sir Jeckin, headmaster of the Hermes Guild, a man whose normally jovial face was etched with worry.
"Why not fight her, Huron?" Jeckin pressed, his voice low.
"We can't win!
"We have the guilds, your soldiers… you planned this rebellion, didn't you? This should be anticipated."
Huron's shoulders slumped. "I didn't expect a response this swift."
He lowered his voice. "And we haven't looted my labyrinths yet."
Jeckin nodded grimly. "Then we wait. Let them tire, let them need food and water. Our barrier is among the strongest; even absolute magic can't break it."
They watched as Jean's army began to withdraw. Relief warred with disbelief on Huron's face. "What? Where is she going?" Then, a chilling laugh escaped his lips. "Perhaps they're tired ."
In Avaloria, the celebratory cheers were deafening. Prince Ezekiel, in his Avalorian yukata, raised his cup. But the merriment felt hollow. Prince Shin, his eyes narrowed, observed Ezekiel with a mixture of camaraderie and suspicion.
"Aren't you a little too careless for a general, Ezekiel?" Shin asked, his voice laced with a subtle warning.
Ezekiel chuckled, a forced lightness in his tone. "I thought I was among friends."
"You are," Shin conceded, "but remember, many still hate you. Even I feel… a flicker of it."
"I know," Ezekiel replied, his smile fading. "But I also know you're above that."
The laughter died in his throat as a group of ninjas materialized from the shadows, their movements fluid and deadly.
"You two were reckless," one ninja hissed from a nearby tree.
"Shin what is this?" Ezekiel asked.
"I don't know either," He replied.
"Tsk I should have bring guards with me," Shin thought.
"They're our enemies, yet you're drinking with him. He killed your brother in arms!"
(Ezekiel killed General Dokai).
"Tsk past is past. And it's war what do you expect?" Shin explained, his voice tight with tension.
"We didn't come here to talk, Everyone let's go!"
Ezekiel and Shin found themselves separated, each facing a wave of ninjas. One ninja taunted Ezekiel,
"Hehe, you may be a general, but you're alone." A magically-sealed barrier sprang up, trapping Ezekiel. "You're dead," they hissed.
"That's General Marco!" Guildmaster Grimshaw of the White Dove Guild exclaimed, his voice laced with concern. "Do we really have to fight for this city?"
"Of course! They also funded our Guilds!" Ealenora Crowley, Guildmaster of the Little Dragon Guild, retorted, her voice sharp and unwavering. "Besides, we're winning. He's old."
"Arghhhh!! What are they doing?" Vice Kaelon, a young, perpetually annoyed Vice General, muttered, his gray hair a mess.
"Sir, we can't get close to them; they're shooting at us non-stop," One of the mages shouted in agreement.
"Then shoot back!" Kaelon roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
"Well, we can't get close. Since it's a shooting game I guess and we're in disadvantage because our barrier only resist magic while there's decimate magic completely," a mage explained, his frustration evident.
"Damn that Null Warlock," he added through gritted teeth.
"Good job, Mordath," Grimshaw praised one of his members as Mordath successfully decimated an incoming magical attack and reinforced their barrier.
"It's a long shooting game, and we will win!" Crowley declared, her confidence unwavering. The soldiers, though weary, echoed her words with newfound determination.
"How about the soldiers, Your Majesty? Cities have their own soldiers, and even Guild members will join the fight."
King Darrios chuckled, a low rumble in his chest.
"Oh, Jeshur, ah hah! You're so worried. My army is called the Royal Army for a reason. And again, they were led by strong and smart leaders.
And 'General' isn't just a title, Jeshur, it's power."
He leaned back in his throne, a confident smirk playing on his lips. The faintest glint of amusement shone in his eyes. "They will not be defeated."
Before Layle's Hydra reached Slade, a larger fire dragon erupted from him, swallowing the water creature whole. Layle's side was stunned into silence; Slade's soldiers were frankly bored.
"Did he just conjure a fire dragon in that amount of time? "Layle thought, a cold fear gripping her.
"Okay, let's end this," Slade said, his body now wreathed in a lighter, more intense fire. Before Layle could react, Slade was in her face.
"I wanted hand-to-hand combat so you wouldn't be so far away," he said. Layle reacted instantly, unleashing a torrent of water.
Slade dodged effortlessly and began pummeling her with fire-enhanced fists.
Filled with wrath, Layle's soldiers, ignoring orders, attempted to breach the barrier.
"Ah, ah, ah! " A yell cut through the air. A yellow-haired man, Bolt, one of Slade's commanders, descended from the sky, raining lightning arrows upon the attacking soldiers.
""It's not honorable to stop a duel, you know. But since you broke the rule, I have no choice.""
His arrows struck, knocking down wave after wave of soldiers, though the heavier artillery units remained.
Some survived, the battle continuing even after Layle's defeat.
""Remember, no deaths! ""Slade shouted.
""Eh? Tsk, kind of annoying,"" Bolt muttered, laughing as he dived back into the fray.
"YES! That handsome son of a bitch is dead already! "Regina celebrated, then frowned.
"Wait, why is his army still fighting? "
As the Slayer prepared to leave, a root snagged his foot.
"Huh," he thought. A green glow emanated from Chan's body.
"He's alive!"
The Slayer's eyes widened in disbelief as Chan stood, stretching.
""Ohmmmm, it's been a while since I've been hurt,"" Chan said.
The Slayer, his eyes filled with terror, could only stare.
"Wha—how? "He muttered to himself.
"You really think you can kill a general? " Chan laughed.
Chan created a clone to heal his army, then erected a barrier around himself and the Slayer.
"Ahhhh," he stretched again. ""Now, entertain me,"" he said, conjuring a silver-hooped staff.
The Slayer, having no choice, attacked. The duel began, a clash of skill and speed. Chan's army continued to dominate their opponents.
In Minstral Harbor, an earthquake shook the ground.
"What's happening? " Huron thought, panic rising.
"It can't be! " Jeckin shouted. A tsunami rose from the sea, a colossal wave bearing down on them, with General Jean standing atop it. "AHHHH! "Screams of terror erup
ted. The wave stopped, frozen mid-air by Jean's magic.
""Take Huron out, or else I'll unfreeze the wave,"" she said. Terrified, they quickly released Huron, then slammed the barrier shut again.
"Uhm… hi? " Huron offered a nervous smile to Jean as the wave receded. "Are generals that strong? " Jeckin thought, fear gripping him.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! AAHHHA! " Ezekiel laughed.
"Huh? What's funny? " a ninja asked, confused. "You really think I'm alone with you? You're wrong, boy. You're alone with me."
Water clones, identical to the ninjas, appeared, surprising them.
"What kind of technique is this? " they wondered.
"And fight! " Ezekiel declared as the battle between ninjas and their clones began.
"Hmmm, yeah, that's kinda annoying," Marco commented.
"Yeah? "Kaelon replied.
"Please help me a little, Grandpa," Kaelon teased. "I'm not your grandpa! "Marco snapped.
"Just help us, Grandpa," Kaelon persisted.
"Fine, fine," Marco grumbled. He raised his hand for a moment. "Oh, that will do it. Goodbye," Marco said.
"And fewer casualties! "
"Okay," Kaelon said, grinning.
Marco and his soldiers began retreating.
"We won! We won! "
A small meteor streaked across the sky, heading straight for their army.
"AHHHHH! " Grimshaw screamed. The Azuremere soldiers shouted in terror.
"Mordath, your magic! " Grimshaw yelled.
"But sir, that's not magic! " Mordath shouted back. The meteor shattered their barrier, injuring several soldiers.
"Gotcha."
"ATTACK!!! "Kaelon bellowed.
"Commanders, take the lord's head. Knock out those guildmasters. And leave the Null Warlock for me! "
"Aye, sir! " Kaelon conjured a spear and hurled it at Mordath, ensnaring his cloak.
"Gotcha! " Kaelon grinned, diving in with multiple conjured shields for defense.
"Come here, you annoying bastard! "Kaelon charged, clearly irritated, creating a mana barrier.
"Decimate that, you bastard! "
Mordath, out of options, covered himself in Decimate Magic, nullifying any magic that touched him.
Kaelon, a weapon conjurer, drew his sword. "Tsk," Kaelon said, annoyed. "Let's go."
Mordath unleashed Shadow Hands and Dark Blasts, which Kaelon effortlessly dodged.
Kaelon, anticipating every Attack by Mordath.
Kaelon threw his sword, which Mordath dodged.
"Huh? What kind of move is that? "Mordath asked, surprised.
"A kind of move where you forgot I can still use my hand," Kaelon said, a smug smile on his face.
"Decimate this, you annoying son of a bitch!"
"My king, ten cities are now fully under your control. The Generals have asked for their next orders," Jeshur informed King Darrios.
"What did I tell you?" Darrios asked, a smug smile playing on his lips. He didn't need to elaborate; Jeshur understood perfectly. The swift and decisive victories were exactly as he'd predicted.
"Wow, you're really good at this, my Lord," Jeshur praised, genuine admiration in his tone.
"Are you okay, Ezekiel?" Shin asked, concern etched on his face.
"Yes. How about you?" Ezekiel replied.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you."
"Who are these guys?" Ezekiel asked, gesturing towards the captured ninjas.
"It turns out they're Dokai's students," Shin explained.
"Oh," Ezekiel said thoughtfully.
"What do you want me to do with them?" Shin asked.
"Oh, uhm… just let them free, I guess," Ezekiel replied, a hint of weariness in his voice.
"Really?" Shin asked, surprised. "Of course."
"I understand them completely. They're still young," Ezekiel explained, a hint of melancholy in his voice. He was remembering his own younger self.
"Well, your call," Shin said, accepting Ezekiel's decision.
A week later…
"Rethrus! Rethrus!" Aiko's voice cut through the quiet.
"Hmmm?" Rethrus mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Wake up, we're here," Aiko added.
Rethrus opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by Takashi, the Avalorian army, Aiko, and several other ninjas and samurai.
"Oh, Hero, you're awake," Takashi greeted him warmly. "We've already arrived at the first destination."
"The province of Alborea," Aiko added, her voice filled with awe. "A province with so much greenery and mystical animals… one of the biggest in Starglade."
Rethrus smiled, the weariness of travel momentarily forgotten by the beauty of Alborea. He rose, stretching, and joined the group as they began their journey into the lush province.