Episode 243
The scattered forces from various fronts began to converge, and at last, the silent Golden Sovereign started to move.
Their destination: the frozen lands of the Saxon Duchy in the north.
The army was as formidable as the one during the Unification War, and among them were countless powerful warriors.
The time for strategic games played over maps was over. Now, it was a clash of raw power, a battle of might against might, to prove the Golden Emperor’s creed of “might makes right.”
At that moment, in a chamber of the Saxon Ducal Castle:
“Ha! This is just madness, pure madness.”
Baro, the leader of the Duke’s covert unit, the Grave Walkers, spat out his frustration.
“We’ve received reports that the Red and White Towers, along with their high-ranking mages, are all joining the fray.”
As the enemy’s movements were assessed and reported, Dale nodded calmly.
Gathered around the map showing the Emperor’s advancing route were the Duke of Saxon, his allies, and the leaders of the faction supporting him.
“With the two Tower Masters involved, a deep defense strategy for the fortress is pointless.”
“Especially with the one at the pinnacle of the Red Tower leading them,” added Sir Helmut Blackbear, commander of Saxon’s swordsmen, to which Dale nodded, fully aware of the Red Tower’s siege-breaking prowess.
“Instead of futilely trying to block their advance, we must prepare for a decisive battle from the start, even if it means sacrifices.”
“This will be a battle of unprecedented scale.”
“We’re all prepared for that.”
Responding to Dale was his wife, Charlotte of Saxon, also known as the Grand Duchess of Lancaster.
“The Lancaster and Rose Cross Knights will not hesitate to shed blood in this battle.”
Charlotte spoke without hesitation, ready to be Dale’s sword, and Dale smiled quietly.
“If blood is to be shed, it will be shared by all. Sacrificing one for the sake of others is not a wise decision.”
“My, such kindness doesn’t suit the name of the Black Duke.”
Mistress Titania of the York family, who also claimed the title of Shadow Rider, laughed at his words.
Alongside her were mages clad in blue robes, not gathered through a binding ritual, but clearly present in their physical forms—sorcerers who had long pledged loyalty to the shadows and were ready to become the vanguard of this war.
“What do you think the balance of power is between the two sides?”
“We won’t know until we engage.”
Mistress Titania smiled as she spoke.
“But I dare say, the number of those claiming to be beyond the norm is overwhelmingly in the Empire’s favor.”
There’s no need to spread their names across the continent. The elite purifiers of the Red Tower, the white mages, and master templars of the White Tower.
“However, if we consider those truly beyond the norm among the extraordinary, perhaps we have the upper hand.”
”…”
There were the Black Duke and his son, once renowned as the continent’s greatest black mages. Along with Dale’s Seven Swords, the balance of power among the overwhelming might was not to be underestimated.
Above all, this was the Saxon Duchy’s territory.
Even if their opponents were the Golden Emperor and the Red and Black Tower Masters, it was not an unwinnable fight.
“And I trust in the wisdom of the Shadow Lord.”
”…Issue an evacuation order for the entire territory.”
Ignoring Mistress Titania’s words, the Duke of Saxon, also known as the Black Duke, spoke up.
“We will draw the Imperial forces deep into the heart of the Saxon Duchy and fight the final battle there, where retreat is not an option.”
“But, Your Grace!”
Sir Helmut Blackbear gasped, understanding the implications of those words.
“The deepest place we can draw them into is…”
“Right here.”
Dale answered without a moment’s hesitation.
The Saxon Ducal Castle. The very heart of the Saxon Duchy, Dale pointed to it.
“However, with the Red Tower involved, we won’t use Saxon City as a fortress. Doing so would lead to the city’s destruction. We’ll wait until they reach us here, and then we’ll meet them head-on.”
An unprecedented large-scale battle where the entire forces of both sides would clash.
“As the Emperor said, here I will prove the undeniable justice of strength.”
“If we were to lose there, are you aware of the aftermath?”
At that moment, Dale’s father, who had been silent, spoke up.
“If we lose in front of the Saxon Ducal Castle, it will be impossible to retreat and plan for another day. The outcome of this war will be decided by this single battle.”
“Indeed. Losing this battle would mean losing everything.”
Dale nodded solemnly.
“But even if we could escape alive, nothing would change. It would only prolong meaningless resistance.”
”…It’s truly a fight with no retreat.”
“Without the resolve to fight to the death, we cannot win.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
Dale’s father, Alan, smiled bitterly.
Wars don’t start overnight. But this war had already begun. It was an unavoidable war.
An endless army crossed the pristine white land.
Even at the start of the Unification War, such a massive force had not formed a single unit. Yet, the significance of this war was incomparable to that time.
To put an end to the ancient conflict between gold and shadow, to conclude the age-old faith and rivalry.
The world was born from darkness.
And the first thing darkness brought into this world was gold.
The Golden Sovereign, Emperor Arthur, lifted his gaze.
Leaving behind the memory of a mother whose face he could no longer recall, he looked up at the sky filled with darkness.
The horizon of the white and dark winter night stretched endlessly.
“Scouts report that all fortresses leading to the Saxon Ducal Castle are empty.”
At that moment, Sephelia, the leader of the Iron Cross Knights, who had taken over for the missing First Prince, reported.
“They plan to make their stand in front of the Ducal Castle.”
Hearing this, the Blood Duke laughed as if he had expected it.
“Neither side has the luxury of losing this battle and planning for another. In a way, it’s a rational decision.”
”…”
Sephelia nodded silently at the Blood Duke’s words.
The Empire’s two princes had vanished. The leaders of the Iron Cross Knights, the first and second princes, were gone.
Yet, neither this man nor the Golden Sovereign showed any signs of disturbance.
Despite the gravity of the situation, they remained unshaken.
Sephelia couldn’t understand it. But it wasn’t a knight’s role to question.
Her duty was to fight for her lord until the end.
But with her true lord, Lancelot of the Lake, absent, for whom was she truly fighting?
In the calm before the storm, Dale quietly turned his head. Through the castle’s glass windows, he saw the soldiers bustling about.
“Dale.”
A voice came from behind. Charlotte, having finished her shower, stood there in a nightgown.
Her damp golden hair cascaded softly.
“It’s really not long now.”
Charlotte approached the window where Dale stood, speaking softly.
“The battle?”
“No.”
Charlotte shook her head, continuing.
“The promises we made that day.”
Childish promises to bring down the Empire together. Back then, Charlotte was earnest. Dale was earnest too. As Charlotte grew and felt the weight of the world, she realized how absurd those promises were.
Yet now, that child had become the Duke of Saxon and the Grand Duchess of Lancaster. As the greatest lords of the Empire, they stood on the brink of a battle that would decide their fate against the Empire.
“It doesn’t feel real.”
“Indeed.”
Dale smiled at Charlotte’s words.
“Charlotte, can you promise me one thing?”
“Tell me.”
“Don’t die.”
”…You said the same when we fought the orcs. That this wasn’t the battlefield for you to die on.”
Charlotte replied to Dale’s words.
“But it’s different. This is the battlefield where I might die. A battlefield where I must fight with all my life for my lord.”
Dale remained silent at Charlotte’s words. In the end, there was only one thing he could say.
“Just don’t actually die.”
“What, really!”
Charlotte laughed incredulously at his words. But Dale did not laugh.
“Mother, Lize.”
“Brother!”
The next day, his younger sister Lize was in tears, while their mother, Elena, tried to comfort her.
“Brother, why do I have to leave?”
Lize’s tears were not born of fear.
“I want to stay here at the Ducal Castle with you!”
“Lize…”
Before the war began, the plan was for the mother and daughter to take refuge in the Saxon sub-castle in the Demon Realm. Lize couldn’t accept this and was being stubborn.
“This decision is for all of us. And Lady Sepia will be there to watch over you.”
Dale spoke with resolve. Sepia remained silent, while Lize struggled to hold back her tears, her shoulders shaking with the effort.
“My father and I will never be defeated. But if you stay at the manor, Lize, I’ll be too worried to fight properly.”
“I…”
Lize started to speak but then lowered her head, unable to continue. Her mother, Elena, silently pulled her into a comforting embrace.
“Please take care of my mother and Lize, Lady Sepia.”
“Leave it to me, Dale.”
Sepia nodded quietly, though she, like Lize, couldn’t completely hide her unease.
“But must I really stay behind and not fight alongside you?”
“No one else can be trusted with such an important task, Lady Sepia.”
Dale’s words were true. Who else could he entrust with the safety of his mother and sister during such perilous times?
“Very well.”
Sepia understood the weight of her responsibility.
“Please, survive.”
All she could do was pray for the safety of her former student.
At the horizon’s edge, an army stretched as far as the eye could see.
In the pale, dark winter night, the Empire’s forces finally revealed themselves.
Facing them, equally vast, were the troops of House Saxon and their allies.
The two mightiest forces in the world stood opposed, and the standoff was brief.
The test of strength had begun.