Chapter 263: Beyond the Mist (1)

Following Yuri’s orders, Inariel and the rest of the Mage Corps cast a spell over the entire army just before entering Imperial territory.

It was a spell that erased their presence and made their figures blend into the surroundings from a certain distance.

Applying this effect to such a large army was almost a miracle, but Inariel achieved it.

Thanks to that, Yuri and the Order of Vengeance were able to deceive the Empire and advance quickly.

Asana, who had carried out prior reconnaissance, now remained at Yuri’s side, for if anyone strayed from the magical area, the mana flow would be disturbed.

“I’ll do some scouting. If I use my skills, the magic won’t be disturbed.”

“No need, there’s no need to go that far.”

“For an ambush, it would be—”

“Asana, your safety matters too.”

She wanted to keep helping with reconnaissance, but Yuri shook his head.

“We’re moving as stealthily as possible, we’ll be fine.”

At present, Briol’s troops were advancing through a rugged, uninhabited mountain pass to maintain the element of surprise. It was a harsh environment for marching.

Imperial territory, corrupted by black magic, had changed. Where there had once been no mountains, hills now rose, and some parts of the mountains had been flattened.

“Black magic is altering the land.”

Inariel looked around with disgust. For an elf like him, black magic was utterly antagonistic.

“Your Highness.”

Suddenly, Ainzer approached from the rear.

“May we speak for a moment…?”

“Of course.”

They spoke in low voices.

“As I told you before, this operation is too risky.”

“I know.”

“It could go well, but advancing without knowing anything about Imperial defenses…”

“This time, trust me, Ainzer.”

Ainzer sighed and nodded.

“Yes, understood. I always trust you.”

“The Empire won’t be prepared. This is the moment.”

“I worry they won’t let their guard down and may have already taken precautions.”

“The Imperial forces at the front have already withdrawn. They’re all concentrated now on the eastern front.”

“That’s true, but…”

Yuri called to Asana.

“Asana.”

“Yes.”

“How far did you get in your reconnaissance?”

She looked at the map Yuri held and pointed to a spot. It was deeper than Ainzer had expected, and he widened his eyes in surprise.

“You got that far in so little time?”

“Yes.”

“Incredible…”

Yuri smiled and patted her shoulder.

“Asana is more skilled than she looks.”

“I see.”

“If it was empty of Imperial troops that far in, it means they haven’t taken any measures against us.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Ainzer looked up. A sort of translucent barrier enveloped the entire column marching along the path. Beyond it, Imperial territory stretched out.

Sometimes villages and people appeared, but none seemed to notice the presence of Briol’s army.

Ainzer nodded firmly again. Yuri had a strange ability to inspire confidence. Even if the operation seemed dangerous, it felt as though they would succeed.

“Look. The map and the terrain don’t match completely.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Black magic even alters geography. Doesn’t it give you chills? If we don’t stop it, the entire continent will suffer under black magic. We could end up as sacrifices in rituals or as will-less puppets, just like their soldiers.”

“It’s terrifying.”

“We have to make it happen.”

With a furrowed brow, Yuri urged his horse forward.

“So let’s not lose, Sir Ainzer. When the time comes, fight without holding back.”

“Understood.”

But, no matter how much they were covered by a great archmage’s magic, it was not easy for an army of that size to go completely unnoticed.

Soon they ran into a problem.

An Imperial detachment appeared. They weren’t many, but they were still enemies.

They were still far enough away not to have seen them yet, but to continue advancing they would inevitably have to face them.

Yuri looked through a spyglass and spoke.

“We can’t turn back.”

“What will we do?”

“We’ll break their line.”

He turned to the Order of Vengeance. The knights grinned fiercely.

Yuri turned his head a bit more, looking at Jared and Laurent, who were marching nearby.

Though much had changed, they were still at his side, as in the days of the Alliance, when nothing frightened them.

“We leave no one alive.”

He didn’t call for many troops—only the Order of Vengeance—and gave the orders.

The group split in two. Yuri led a charge toward the edge of the magical barrier. Once they crossed it, the enemy would notice their presence.

“Eliminate them as quickly as possible!”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go!”

They sped up instead of slowing down. The Order of Vengeance, split, cut off the enemy’s escape routes as they charged.

The Imperials hesitated for an instant upon seeing them.

Yuri unhooked the bow from his saddle, nocked an arrow, and precisely shot down the soldier who was trying to raise a war horn.

He fell with the arrow lodged in his neck.

Another soldier tried to retrieve the horn, but a fireball fell on him, tearing him apart.

Inariel had provided support.

With the horn reduced to fragments, Yuri surveyed the surroundings—there seemed to be no other means of communication. He spurred his horse and drew Guilty.

They crashed into the Imperials. With the first slash, three heads flew into the air.

The Order of Vengeance acted with precision—some blocked exits, others cut down enemies head-on. Those who tried to flee were quickly struck down from behind.

Among them, an Imperial knight, sword in hand, planted himself in front of Yuri.

Yuri dismounted gladly and approached. Soldiers corrupted by black magic charged at him without fear.

With a sweep of Guilty, they all fell, entrails spilling. He wiped the blade and stopped before the black-helmed knight.

“What are you doing here?”

The Imperial knight spoke, and Yuri shrugged.

“What’s wrong, did you miss me?”

“That can’t be…”

His eyes trembled in confusion.

“Is it all of you?”

“Bastard.”

At his mechanical reaction, Yuri let out a laugh.

“So this is what happens when you fall under the spell of black magic? I despise those from the Empire, but at least they had some manners. You have none of that. If this is our first time meeting, the proper thing would be to introduce yourself, greet the royalty of the enemy nation, and challenge me to an honorable duel to test our strength.”

“Is it just you and this squad?”

“And you?”

When Yuri approached, the knight reflexively swung his sword. A shockwave of energy tore through the space where Yuri stood, vibrating in the air with overwhelming power.

Soldiers altered by black magic became stronger than in life, but even so, they still didn’t reach the level of the Ten Great Ones of this era.

Yuri released the mana of The Cut of the soul and the heart, erasing the opponent’s energy, and then launched a thrust.

The energy of his sword, flowing through the air, struck at all of the enemy’s openings at the same time. There was no way to block all those blows.

Realizing this, the Imperial knight chose to flee rather than resist.

Even Yuri hadn’t expected an Imperial knight to turn his back and run, which threw off his balance as he cut through empty air.

“Huh?”

Watching the enemy’s back grow distant, Yuri stood still for a moment.

He was running faster than expected.

“Was he a relay runner in the Imperial Olympics?”

But the run didn’t last long. Someone hurled themselves at him head-on, completely knocking him over. The knight rolled several times across the ground.

The one who had tackled him was Laurent.

Laurent shook his shoulder and looked at him.

“Do it properly.”

Yuri gave a faint smile.

The slaughter began. The Empire’s knights and soldiers all fell under the blades of the Order of Vengeance.

Yuri watched and nodded. The fight had been easier than expected.

After so many battles at the front, the strength of the Order of Vengeance had grown. Black magic was powerful, but the Anti-Imperial Alliance was also becoming stronger.

Meanwhile, Briol’s army, still under Inariel’s spell, drew closer. The squad slipped once more under the cloak of magical invisibility.

Laurent dragged over the Imperial knight he had knocked down.

“Kill him or interrogate him.”

Those enthralled by black magic rarely spoke, but Yuri had managed to wring answers from them before.

“Let’s try it quickly.”

Yuri entered the mental domain. He could see the black magic’s energy dominating the knight’s mind and body, with black roots embedded in his head and chest, spreading throughout his body.

To interrogate him, he had to clear his head. But it was so deeply rooted that it wouldn’t be easy.

Yuri extended Guilty. He didn’t slash wildly; he followed the flow, undoing the channels of black magic, and struck directly at the cores where the energy was most concentrated.

Each time he did, the knight’s unconscious body trembled with spasms.

Just having black magic embedded was already a tremendous physical burden. Removing it was an even greater strain.

Blood poured from the knight’s nose and mouth, but Yuri continued. Inariel stepped forward and applied healing magic to him.

“Can you hear me?”

“Ghh…”

At that moment, the knight spat out a gush of blood and let his head drop.

He was dead.

Yuri wiped the blood from his cheek and frowned.

“What’s this?”

“He couldn’t withstand it.”

“What a waste.”

Sighing, Yuri stood up. Asana approached.

“He’s dead?”

“Yes.”

“I can catch another.”

“No.”

Yuri gave a faint smile and patted her shoulder.

“It’s fine.”

“…Understood.”

“All right, let’s get moving again. Bury the body.”

With knights and mages present, digging the grave was quick. After disposing of the remains, Briol’s army resumed its march under Yuri’s lead.

Pushing this deep in to deal a decisive blow to the Empire was risky, but so far, they hadn’t encountered any serious problems.

Yuri walked beside Inariel, discussing what was to come. Asana watched in silence from behind.

***

“What are they doing?”

“No idea.”

“There are too many troops moving.”

Gott Bakbar poked his head out, watching the Imperial army on the move.

Beside him was Gorio.

The two had ended up working together to protect the people of Briol in the Imperial capital.

The leader of the Gorio faction, who controlled the back alleys of the capital, and the head of the Briol Comrades Association—a group of Briol natives living in the Empire—had joined forces.

Thanks to them, many people from Briol had managed to escape or hide.

But Imperial surveillance was tightening day by day.

In the end, they decided to dig a tunnel and created a small passage connecting to the outside of the Imperial city.

Even so, with the whole Empire gripped by madness, leaving the capital didn’t guarantee safety. The tunnel was used mainly for occasional scouting.

That day, something strange was happening. The Imperial army was massing together.

“They say they’re building some sort of defensive line outside the capital.”

“Here?”

“Yes. Probably preparing for war.”

Gott’s eyes went wide.

“That means the Anti-Imperial Alliance has made it this far, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t know…”

Gorio looked up at the sky. The day was overcast.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”