Chapter 257: Western Front (1)

Time passed.

The Anti-Imperial Alliance, formed mainly by Briol, Liberta, Brusen, and the Holy Kingdom, had surrounded the Empire’s border. Until that moment, the Empire had made no move.

Despite the fact that there had been a clear act of military provocation, the Empire’s lack of response made some soldiers hold on to the hope that perhaps everything could be resolved without a confrontation, through diplomatic means.

But that was a vain illusion.

The imperial army began to move.

Its first target was the western siege line, the point of connection between the Holy Kingdom and Brusen.

***

Jonathan was panting.

The imperial troops, who had remained silent for so long, turned out to be incredibly strong.

They didn’t seem to have great mastery of the sword, but their strength and speed were outstanding, and they showed no trace of fear in combat.

“Hahaha…”

As he killed an imperial soldier who tried to attack him from behind, he let out a laugh.

Normally, soldiers avoided facing knights, but those of the Empire made no such distinction—they charged regardless of who the opponent was, disregarding their own lives.

Because of that, both Jonathan and Brusen’s knights were suffering great physical strain.

“Haa… haa…”

Sword in hand, he advanced while scanning his surroundings.

The imperial army seemed endless.

“No wonder it all seemed too quiet to me.”

Until now, the Empire had only focused on strengthening its interior, without showing any movement. This had fueled the hope that perhaps they weren’t prepared for war.

But it had all been a mistake. They had simply been waiting for the right moment.

As proof, now wave after wave of professional and well-trained soldiers kept appearing.

“Hold the line! Reinforcements will arrive!”

Jonathan shouted and charged forward. Several figures lunged at him. Soldiers or knights—it didn’t matter—he cut them all down while trying to keep morale high.

It was the first battle since the formation of the Anti-Imperial Alliance.

They could not afford to retreat here. The outcome of this fight would determine the momentum of the long war ahead.

Jonathan did not intend to let the war against the Empire begin with Brusen’s defeat.

While shouting to rally his men, an arrow flew toward him.

He dodged it instinctively.

Looking up, he saw a knight in black armor approaching.

The pressure he gave off was not ordinary. He was undoubtedly a high-ranking knight within the Empire.

Jonathan smiled wryly.

“I’m more of a thinker than a fighter…”

Even so, he wasn’t about to run from a duel with the sword.

The imperial knight charged at him, surrounded by a dark energy that crackled like lightning around his weapon.

Jonathan swallowed and unleashed his sword aura. Even so, he could feel that the man was stronger than him.

But if he didn’t stop him, the troops around him would suffer the consequences.

He clashed his sword against the enemy’s. The impact shook his hands.

He tried to twist his weapon to counterattack, but the opponent rammed him with his shoulder.

Jonathan was pushed back, stumbling. The enemy’s blow came down toward his head.

He barely blocked it.

If it continued like this, he would be struck down.

He rolled across the ground to get out of the way and looked for a way to stop the chain of attacks.

Then he saw someone stepping in to face the enemy.

Recognizing that broad back, Jonathan felt relieved.

“Jose!”

“Leave him to me, Sir Jonathan.”

Although he was now one of the Ten Greats, Jose was still the same as always.

Carrying a sword befitting his enormous size, he advanced with steady steps toward the imperial knight.

There was no one left in Brusen who didn’t know the name Jose. Mentioning the kingdom also meant mentioning his name.

However, the imperial knight showed no fear of him whatsoever. He advanced and swung his sword as if he were facing any soldier.

But that had no effect on Jose.

With a single strike, Jose’s power made the imperial drop his weapon and roll on the ground from the impact.

When he tried to move, Jose kicked him, leaving him immobile. Jonathan felt a chill at the sight.

The imperial knight didn’t seem human.

No emotional reactions, no pain—he only fought until he died.

Then Jonathan realized that all the imperial soldiers on the battlefield were the same.

“Damn it…”

He cursed and raised his sword again. They could not lose to beings like these.

With that thought strengthened, he charged alongside Jose against the imperial tide advancing from the front.

Blades came down endlessly upon their heads, but they found openings to pierce their enemies’ throats.

Even so, the number of imperial troops did not diminish.

From the start, the Empire not only had vast territory, but also an overwhelmingly large army.

“The reinforcements?”

“We’ve already sent someone!”

“I hope they get here fast.”

The Holy Kingdom was closer. While he anxiously awaited their arrival, Jonathan raised his sword again.

“Fight!”

The life-or-death melee continued without rest.

Jonathan had already lost count of how many enemies he had killed. The same was true for the allies falling beside him.

It was a brutal war of attrition—for every enemy taken down, allied ranks thinned.

“Why aren’t the reinforcements here yet?!”

Jonathan shouted.

It was then that, in the distance, a clamor began to be heard. Jonathan turned his head and saw the Holy Kingdom’s banner waving.

“Reinforcements!”

As soon as they arrived, the imperial army began to collapse as if a wave had crashed over it.

“Sir Jonathan.”

The Holy Kingdom’s commander quickly found him.

This man, with whom he had clashed as an enemy due to the bad relations between their kingdoms, had become an ally since the formation of the Anti-Imperial Alliance.

The commander frowned.

“Why aren’t you using that weapon?”

“Weapon?”

“I mean the weapons coated with orichalcum.”

“That?”

Jonathan shook his head.

“I prefer the weapons I’m used to.”

“You’ll never…”

The commander clicked his tongue.

“They already told you that against the Imperial army you should use them.”

“I didn’t notice anything special. I prefer my usual sword.”

“Orichalcum is effective against the Empire.”

“Well, I didn’t notice much difference.”

“Look closely.”

The man gestured with his chin.

The troops of the Holy Kingdom had entered amidst the chaos and were fighting alongside the army of Brusen against the Empire.

Jonathan narrowed his eyes.

“Oh…”

“Now you see it?”

Though he didn’t want to admit it, Jonathan had to concede the point.

The Imperial soldiers, who before had charged without any fear, now showed more human reactions when facing the Holy Kingdom’s troops. If they were wounded, they screamed in pain; if they were at a disadvantage, they retreated.

“The Imperials have been altered with black magic. Orichalcum resists that magic, and when used against them, their strength drops dramatically.”

“I see—in combat, it shows.”

“When this battle ends, hand out orichalcum weapons to everyone. We don’t have enough to just hand them out indiscriminately.”

“Understood.”

Currently, the Holy Kingdom was the only one that possessed orichalcum and knew how to work it to coat weapons.

“Any problems on other fronts?”

“For now, the battle is only being fought here.”

“Oh, yes?”

“The Empire must have thought this was the most weakly defended area.”

“What nonsense are you saying?”

Jonathan shouted as he rushed forward. He picked up the sword of a fallen Holy Kingdom soldier from the ground and swung it.

He confirmed that with the orichalcum coating, combat became much easier.

“Brusen! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

The Brusen troops shouted with high morale. With Jose’s help, the Imperial advance began to slow.

“Go back to the Empire!”

“Die, damn Imperial!”

“Long live Brusen!”

Insults and shouts echoed across the front. At that moment, one sector of the battlefield began to stir.

Jonathan looked over.

“Huh?”

He saw something.

Among the Imperial ranks moved a figure much larger than the rest. At first, he thought they were bringing in a siege weapon, but on closer look, he realized it was a living being.

A name crossed his mind.

“Donchich?”

It was the ogre who had destroyed Liberta and whom Moyongchan had harshly scolded. He had returned.

To face a member of the Ten Greats, another of the same level had to step in.

Jonathan turned his head.

“Jose!”

But there was no response. A knight beside him, panting, spoke.

“Sir Jose is fighting Imperial knights.”

“What?”

Jonathan looked and saw Jose surrounded by several enemies.

“What are you doing? Help Jose…!”

At that moment, a Brusen knight tried to assist him but was instantly beheaded. The difference in level was overwhelming.

“It seems they sent combatants prepared specifically to face him.”

“Damn it…”

Sending more troops to help Jose at that moment would be risky. Jonathan turned to the commander of the Holy Kingdom.

“And Sir Francesco?”

“Defending another line.”

“Why isn’t he coming?”

“Imperial forces have appeared on all fronts. He’s in reserve because we don’t know where they’ll attack next. We can’t concentrate all our power here.”

“But we’re already under attack here!”

“Stop complaining.”

“Damn it…”

Jonathan gritted his teeth as he watched Donchich approach. He was truly enormous.

If that monster rampaged through the middle of the field, the soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Donchich is coming! Everyone in position!”

Jonathan shouted.

“I’ll gather the knights. We have to hold him off together.”

“I’ll help.”

“Thanks.”

Jonathan called over the nearby knights, but in the chaos, few could break away to join him.

“No… we can’t.”

Some showed fear. Donchich’s presence on the battlefield was overwhelming.

While Jonathan tried to rally them—

“He’s coming!”

Donchich picked up speed.

Each time he moved, he plowed through nearby troops. He didn’t care about trampling his own soldiers; he charged like a madman straight for Jonathan.

With each stride, several Brusen soldiers went flying.

“Can we… can we stop him?”

Even Jonathan couldn’t answer. Inside, he doubted whether to hold his ground or step aside.

Then, at the instant Donchich broke through the Imperial ranks and fully entered the battlefield—

Boom!

A crash resounded and Donchich fell to the side.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion the ogre, charging with momentum, was sent flying and slammed into the ground.

Jonathan’s face lit up. He knew perfectly well who had appeared out of nowhere to land such a flying kick.

“Yuri Briol!”

The prince of Briol, a member of the Ten Greats and the hero leading the Anti-Imperial Alliance, had crossed a great distance to get here.

It didn’t seem he had come with Briol’s army; he was probably alone.

But that was enough.

“It can’t be…”

After knocking down Donchich, Yuri swung his sword. The ogre, flustered, retreated and took up a defensive stance as the wounds on his body multiplied.

Even though both were among the Ten Greats, the difference in power was evident.

Who would have imagined that young prince would have grown so strong since the last time Jonathan had seen him in the alliance?

While Jonathan was still caught up in his amazement, he heard a voice.

“I don’t think you have time to just stand there watching. You must have lives to spare.”

It was a mocking tone, but strangely familiar.

Jonathan turned toward the source.

“Huh?”

It was undoubtedly someone he knew. But not the sort of person who would say something like that—he had always been an upright, proper knight.

His appearance was the same, but the cynical expression on his face made him seem like someone else entirely.

Jonathan murmured in astonishment.

“Sir Laurent…?”