Unexpected events kept unfolding one after another, turning what everyone had assumed would be a straightforward war into a tangled maze.
The Empire’s main force failed to advance as swiftly as planned, and the 5th Knight Brigade was crushed by the Aloy Brigade.
Meanwhile, new heroes emerged in Yohaim.
A man named Hopper managed to hold off Yalta, one of the Empire’s elite Ten Strong. And a man called Yu-bi, along with his two sworn brothers, rallied like-minded people to rise up.
Outside the Empire, other nations scrambled to respond diplomatically.
They expressed grave concern over the Empire’s attack on Yohaim, sharing the fear that the Empire’s madness might soon turn toward them.
Behind the scenes, alliances began to form among four nations—Briole, Bursen, Liberta, and the Holy Kingdom—each driven by their own interests.
Time passed.
Though it took far longer than expected, the Empire’s main force finally reached the forest surrounding Yohaim’s royal castle.
Yohaim knew well that if this defensive line fell, defeat was inevitable.
The Aloy Brigade had established an impenetrable defense centered on the forest. Joining them were Hopper—who appeared like a divine force—and the army of Count Sekernier, who had taken Hopper under his wing, as well as the militia led by the three sworn brothers.
The battle that would decide Yohaim’s fate was drawing near.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Yu-bi. I used to be a mat seller, but I’ve risen up to save Yohaim.”
“I’m Hopper. I trained in martial arts deep in the mountains.”
“I heard you managed a stalemate against Yalta.”
“Haha, it’s nothing special.”
“You truly are a hero born of this era.”
“Not at all. I’ve heard that Yu-bi is so well respected that people follow him like clouds. That’s the mark of a true hero.”
“Hahaha, you flatter me.”
The two men were busy flattering each other as if meeting for the first time.
Watching from the side, Gonte Murchin muttered to himself.
“The meeting of two talents born of Yohaim—truly a gathering of stars. The nation’s fortune is rising.”
He had no idea who they really were.
Their faces might have been convincing, but their distinctive gestures and habits gave them away. Even though their voices were altered, their original tones slipped through. Yet Gonte noticed nothing.
He was truly oblivious.
Yuri cleared his throat and approached Gonte.
“I didn’t know Yohaim had such special forces. I thought the young knights here had grown weak, but I was mistaken. It must be thanks to your excellent training, Gonte.”
“Of course! Hahaha! It’s all thanks to me!”
“So you trained them from start to finish?”
“I took full responsibility. Have you ever heard of guerrilla training?”
“You invented that?”
“Absolutely! I racked my brain for Yohaim’s future!”
Yuri clenched his fist. He’d have to give him a lesson sometime.
“I see. Haha…”
“You, on the other hand, as a mat seller, have impressive strength. Have you learned the Mana Method?”
“I practiced it on my own, hoping it might help Yohaim.”
“For someone self-taught, your skill is remarkable. If you’d aimed to be a knight, you’d have been outstanding. Such a waste.”
“I’m just a humble mat seller.”
“When this war ends, won’t you serve the country? Become Yohaim’s shield and protect the Aloy Mountains with us.”
“If I survive, I’ll consider it.”
Those nearby nodded at Yuri’s words.
The mood was good, but survival was the priority. They were risking their lives fighting the Empire.
Yuri glanced up. The knights of the Aloy Brigade were rotating with their comrades.
Their faces were familiar—the ones once called the Owls.
They had been fledglings then, but now they were proud guerrilla fighters.
“We need to decide the outcome as soon as possible.”
Yuri said this to Gonte, who tilted his head.
“Why?”
Though he led the militia, Gonte was still just a mat seller by rank, yet he listened carefully to Yuri. In this, he was open-minded.
“The Aloy Brigade is holding the forest. There’s no need to rush. The longer it drags on, the more the invading side suffers.”
“Yalta is the problem.”
“Yalta?”
“Yes.”
Yuri knew something about him from his past life.
He was violent and lacked self-control.
Some senior officers managed to keep him in check, but only barely.
Soon, his patience would run out.
“We have to end this while we can still fight honorably. Otherwise, who knows what he’ll do.”
“Honorably…?”
“Gonte, the reason Yohaim’s cities have remained safe so far is thanks to Sir Graham’s restraint.”
“I know that…”
“If I were in the Empire’s shoes, I’d have burned this forest down.”
Gonte blinked at that.
“That would put the castle at risk…”
“There’s no reason to consider the enemy’s situation. I would have done exactly that.”
“Hmm…”
“If the battle drags on, Yalta will cause chaos—setting fires or destroying other towns to lure the king out.”
This had happened countless times in Yuri’s previous life.
It was a blessing that Graham led the Empire’s forces.
Gonte fell into thought.
“Since Hopper has proven he can hold Yalta, we need to finish this quickly. The longer it goes, the worse it is for Yohaim, not the Empire. If we don’t, they’ll resort to brutal tactics.”
“You make a good point.”
He nodded.
“But fighting outside the forest will be tough. I believe the Empire will try to break through first. Until then, we wait.”
“Understood.”
Yuri nodded, satisfied that Gonte now grasped Yalta’s danger.
As Gonte said, the enemy would try to break through the forest eventually.
“Let’s give them a proper fight when they do.”
“Agreed.”
Just as their conversation ended, a faint sound like a flute echoed from afar.
It was the signal of an enemy attack.
Gonte quickly issued orders.
Count Sekernier’s troops, led by Hopper, would hold back Yalta, while the rest spread through the forest to support the Aloy Brigade.
Pointing at the map, Gonte said, “If the Aloy Brigade falls back, we must hold here, here, and here. Under no circumstances can we let them break through the forest. Understood?”
“Yes!”
The main knight orders gathered to resist the Empire followed Gonte’s command. Though not trained as guerrillas like the Aloy Brigade, they were still far stronger than regular soldiers.
Gonte drew his sword.
“For Yohaim!”
“For Yohaim!”
The troops quickly dispersed to their assigned positions.
Yuri returned to the militia.
His role was to support other forces from the rear. Though they had been trained, there were still many shortcomings.
But Yuri wanted to make a real impact this time.
“Hmm…”
Now was the perfect moment. The Empire knew almost nothing about the three sworn brothers. Exploiting the gap between enemy perception and actual strength could deal a fatal blow and make the future easier.
Yuri called Laurent and Jared.
“Let’s sneak off and join Hose.”
“Are we going after Yalta?”
“Yes. It’d be best to kill him, but wounding him will do.”
“Understood. Who will lead the militia?”
“Zerga. He’s spirited and a natural leader.”
“Yes.”
Silent battles were already underway in the forest.
Compared to when the 5th Knight Brigade came alone, the Empire’s forces were now far more numerous, and the Aloy Brigade’s resistance was weakening.
Every time a silent arrow struck a comrade, the Empire answered with a hail of arrows, pushing forward. They also used scouts as bait for traps.
But once a trap was sprung, its location was revealed, rendering it useless.
The Empire was breaking through the forest on the backs of their sacrifices.
But that wasn’t the only problem.
Elsewhere, Yalta led the charge with wild fury.
“Who dares block me with such pathetic tricks!”
Silent arrows had no effect on him. He destroyed traps with ease.
Swinging his massive sword, he cut through trees and bushes like a battering ram.
The Aloy Brigade was wise enough not to challenge him recklessly.
But as Yalta’s speed increased, they grew anxious. If left unchecked, he might break through the forest.
“What do we do?”
“Should we try to stop him?”
“We’d be slaughtered.”
The Aloy Brigade hesitated, unable to decide.
Then, suddenly, someone appeared and cut through their doubts.
“Hey, you’re here at last, barbarian!”
“Continent scum!”
Handsome but bear-like in build, it was Hopper.
He blocked Yalta’s path and flicked his fingers.
“Where’s your nanny?”
“You bastard!”
Yalta exploded in rage.
Without Graham around, no one could restrain him.
He slashed through the surrounding bushes like an enraged gorilla.
“I’ll rip out that tongue of yours!”
Yalta swung his sword wildly. Hose blocked the attacks with a grin.
“So you really pissed yourself back then, huh? I can see you’re getting all worked up now.”
“Shut up!”
Yalta refused to give ground, pressing the attack relentlessly.
He’d been deeply shaken by the technique Jose had used in their last fight.
“Hey, savage.”
Jose clashed swords with him, grinning.
“You couldn’t even react back then, could you?”
“Shut up!”
“That’s exactly why someone like you doesn’t belong in the Top Ten.”
“You bastard!”
Yalta unleashed a tremendous force, parrying Jose’s blade and kicking him hard in the gut.
As Jose staggered back from the blow, Yalta’s sword came crashing down toward the crown of his head.
“Keep talking!”
“You’re utterly shallow!”
Jose lunged forward, ramming his shoulder into Yalta’s chest, then slashed at his retreating midsection.
Blood splattered.
But the wound wasn’t deep.
“All you know how to do is rampage like a wild animal.”
“You…”
“You’re—”
Jose smirked, aiming his sword again. Mana coalesced into a sharp shard, flying straight at Yalta.
Yalta reacted a beat late but managed to block it.
Jose chuckled.
“You’re so dense you don’t even realize how dangerous this is.”
“I’ll kill you!”
Yalta’s eyes turned red. Steam rose from his body. His muscles flared like a blazing fireball.
He shouted, furious.
“You’re not the first to die spouting nonsense like that!”
“Are you proud of killing a bunch of weaklings?”
Jose saw right through him.
Yalta was strong, no doubt—a worthy opponent Jose couldn’t guarantee victory over.
But Yalta couldn’t get any stronger. He lacked depth, and that was a clear limit.
For someone aiming at the heavens, Mount Tai is just another hill.
And Yalta was standing at the summit of Mount Tai.
He’d climbed higher than most by sheer effort, but he could never soar beyond that.
“You don’t even know what this is.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll just cut your throat. Then I’ll stuff your head and put it on display.”
“That’s why you’re stuck where you are.”
Their swords clashed again and again.
Every time Yalta blocked Jose’s blade, Jose felt it rattle his bones. The physical force was extreme.
Pushing Jose back, Yalta laughed.
“Training? Meditation? None of that’s necessary. Just keep killing and getting killed, and you’ll get stronger.”
Then, from a clever angle, he thrust his sword in. Jose couldn’t defend in time and took the hit. Blood dripped from his shoulder.
But Jose countered, stabbing Yalta and drawing blood as well.
Drops of blood splattered on both of them.
Jose grinned.
“Yeah, someone like you couldn’t have missed this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“To climb higher, you need deep training. But you gave up on that. You chose the path of just swinging hard and fast.”
“Nonsense!”
“Because it’s hard.”
Yalta’s sword sliced through Jose’s hair.
“You didn’t want to bother thinking, so you just didn’t!”
“Enough with the nonsense—just die already!”
Their swords tangled again. Jose was pushed back.
Yalta burst out laughing, pressing the attack.
“Big mouth, aren’t you?”
Jose waited for an opening, but Yalta’s momentum was too strong to find a weakness.
For now, Yalta’s brute force fighting style outmatched Jose’s swordplay.
“What? Climb higher? That’s ridiculous. The strongest is whoever wins! Winning and killing is always right! Got it, you continent fool?”
Jose was about to retort when—
“Then even if several people take you on, as long as they win, there’s no problem, right?”
Three men appeared, gripping their weapons tightly.
Yuri smirked.
“Right?”