Chapter 62: Circle (2)

The warning signal came suddenly.

The orc banners, hidden beyond the hills, began to wave. Then, the entire horizon seemed to rise.

“Oh my god…”

The lookout, watching the orcs from the tower, raised his binoculars. It wasn’t the land that was rising, but a tide of orc troops.

“It’s not just one. Look at that.”

As his companion said, the horizon in every direction began to tremble in unison.

They had been completely surrounded without realizing it.

“There are that many?”

Up until now, the orcs had suffered constant losses. The Alliance had responded calmly, killing many orcs while keeping their own casualties to a minimum.

And yet, so many orc troops still remained.

“Report immediately!”

One of the soldiers rushed down from the tower. The remaining lookouts kept their eyes on the field.

“How are the orcs?”

A sentry called from below.

“Well…”

“Well what?”

“It looks like we’re in serious trouble.”

The hand holding the binoculars trembled.

Among the swelling ranks of orc troops, the Orcval standard-bearers emerged. There were too many to count.

And that wasn’t all.

From the formations came orc cavalry riding komododrakes, charging forward at full speed, kicking up clouds of dust.

One of the riders shouted while brandishing his weapon, and all the mounted orcs raised their weapons and shouted in unison.

“This is chaos… complete chaos…”

So mesmerized by the scene, he didn’t notice the shadow looming above his head. Suddenly, everything went dark.

He didn’t even have time to realize he was dying. As the lookout fell, the alarm was raised.

“Up there! Look at the sky!”

“Ring the bell!”

“We’re under attack!”

The bell began to toll.

As the orc main forces advanced from all directions on the Alliance’s camp, arrows started falling from the sky.

“Wyverns!”

After controlling the Ancient Wyrms, now the orcs were riding wyverns. The soldiers’ attention turned skyward. With wings spread wide, the wyverns blocked out the sun while unleashing a storm of arrows.

“Aim for the wings!”

A sentry reacted to the assault.

Soon, the entire Alliance mobilized in response. Having endured so many ambushes, they adapted quickly to the situation.

“Counterattack!”

A volley of arrows shot up from the Alliance ranks.

The wyverns climbed higher. The arrows missed, arcing sharply back down.

“It’s fine if we don’t hit them!”

A veteran officer shouted.

“Force them to fly higher! That way they can’t aim properly.”

There weren’t that many wyverns.

“Keep the pressure on!”

Thanks to the sentries’ swift response, the damage was minimal.

Soon after, Ragnar appeared.

“Now it really begins.”

He summoned messengers and assigned each nation its defense zone. Once he finished giving orders, Ragnar looked up.

“What a pain… how the hell did they manage to tame them?”

He had come to fight orcs, and now he had to deal with Ancient Wyrms and wyverns too. It was a never-ending monster parade.

“Wayne.”

At the call of his name, a knight in black armor stepped forward.

“Yes.”

Wayne was the commander of the Third Knight Division.

“Take care of those flying things.”

“Understood.”

Wayne took a bow from a soldier and fired it skyward without hesitation. A mana-infused arrow shot straight up, hitting a wyvern square in the head. It crashed into the Alliance camp. The orc rider writhed on the ground.

Soldiers swarmed and stabbed it with spears and swords. The orc died vomiting frothy blood.

Wayne continued to shoot down wyverns. Eventually, the remaining ones retreated and began circling at a distance.

Once the battle resumed, they would return to strike again.

“Now the real fight begins.”

Ragnar smiled. Since joining the Alliance, this was the first time he looked so excited.

“Any more reports?”

“No, everything is ready. We’re just waiting for the attack.”

“Sound the drums. Let the heart begin to beat.”

He hadn’t expected Okua to move first, but Ragnar wasn’t worried.

They had repelled so many ambushes already. They were well-seasoned in defense.

“What about the Dispel?”

“It’s balanced. Neither side can use magic until the war ends.”

“And Okua?”

“Still not sighted.”

“Keep watching.”

Though Okua hadn’t shown himself yet, Ragnar and the Imperial high command kept their eyes fixed on a particular direction.

Beyond the horizon, a colossal presence could be felt. Crushing.

Amid the dust kicked up by the orc army, it felt as if a giant were about to rise and shake the earth. What kind of monster was Okua?

“It’s been a while since I felt this. My whole body’s tingling.”

Ragnar chuckled quietly. Amid the pressure of the battlefield, he felt truly alive again.

An ecstasy he couldn’t find in the palace completely engulfed him.

“What about Graham?”

“He’s forming a defensive barrier with his troops.”

“Reassign him.”

“To the Third Division?”

“He doesn’t fit there. Let him fight freely. He’s not the type who needs orders.”

“Understood.”

“Tell Eisen to prepare it.”

“But it hasn’t been tested yet.”

“We’ll test it today. What better place than this?”

“Understood.”

The orcs were drawing closer. Everyone present knew a fierce battle was imminent.

As he pictured the coming clash, Ragnar suddenly furrowed his brow.

“That guy…”

“Excuse me?”

“Yuri Briol. Send him this.”

He pulled a sheet of paper from his chest, scribbled something quickly, and handed it—folded—to his aide. It wasn’t a long message.

The aide tilted his head curiously.

“May I know what it says?”

“If you’re curious, read it.”

“Alright…”

The aide read it and frowned in confusion. He cast a furtive glance at Ragnar, then passed the paper to the courier.

“To the third prince of Briol.”

“Yes, sir.”

The courier bolted immediately. He was well-used to such tasks.

The camp was in chaos. The courier ran between soldiers firing arrows at the sky. He wove past helmeted knights marching in lines, ignoring the prayers rising to the gods.

He soon reached Briol’s camp. And there, he encountered a peculiar scene.

The now-familiar third prince of Briol was seated on a crate, speaking to his soldiers.

“So, as I was saying…”

“Why are you getting all serious all of a sudden?!”

“You’ve got to be serious when the situation calls for it.”

“Are you scared?”

“Do you want to die?”

The atmosphere was strangely lively.

“I’ve got your number. When the Alliance campaign ends and we get home, I’m going to kill you.”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

“We’ll see if you’re still saying that then.”

The third prince took the message from the courier and gestured for him to wait a moment.

“Anyway, now the real battle begins.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Are you scared?”

“No, sir…”

“Really not scared?”

“M-maybe a little.”

“Me too.”

The third prince jumped off the crate.

“That’s normal.”

He grinned boldly.

“So, remember what you saw when you fought against Kurui. Bring to mind what those bastards did. Still scared? If anyone isn’t ready to fight, go hide in the tent.”

Those words brought the courier back to the last battle.

A madness that surpassed any barbarity. The orcs were, literally, cursed creatures.

The third prince slung his sword over his shoulder.

“We’ve arrived at the place we truly need to fight. And against an enemy that truly deserves to die. This might be the most honorable war of our lives. Besides, we’re from Briol. Not like the pampered kids from other nations—we’re real warriors.”

He pointed to the courier.

“Look! Even His Highness sent us a letter, putting his trust in us!”

The soldiers laughed. Though it could be seen as cheeky, standing at the gates of battle, everything was forgivable if they survived.

The third prince read the letter and smiled.

“What do you think His Highness wrote?”

“That you should meet with the princess…”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, sir.”

“He said I shouldn’t be at the front.”

The third prince casually tossed the note onto the crate and smiled confidently.

“You already know what my answer is.”

The soldiers chuckled under their breath.

“I’d rather die at the front than live hiding behind you all! That’s who I am—Yuri Briol!”

Though his job was done, the courier didn’t leave. He kept watching the scene. The third prince had a strange ability to draw everyone’s eyes.

The third prince kept shouting.

“So here’s my order! Don’t die—kill! And when you return to Briol, carry the pride of having fought alongside Yuri Briol as your family’s highest honor!”

“Yes, sir!”

“And me too! Fighting alongside amazing guys like you will be the greatest honor of my life!”

The soldiers cheered. The third prince raised his sword.

“For Briol!”

“For Briol!”

Then, with his sword on his shoulder, he walked toward the troops. The crowd parted before him. The third prince passed through and headed for the front. The soldiers followed, one by one.

He didn’t walk like a prince, but like the leader of a wolf pack. The banner of Briol flew proudly, fluttering in the wind.

The courier stood frozen, watching.

For some reason, at least today, he wished more to swing a sword than deliver messages.

***

The position Briol had to defend wasn’t exactly on the front lines but slightly off-center from the main orc assault.

Yuri stood next to the wooden barricades they had built.

They were now close enough to clearly see the faces of the frontline orcs.

“Jared.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think?”

The prairie wind tousled Yuri’s black hair as he turned to Jared with a smile.

“Wasn’t it a good idea to follow me?”

“I’m not sure.”

Suddenly, Jared remembered the past. That day when Yuri appeared out of nowhere in the royal guard and pointed him out as his sparring partner. Without thinking, he accepted.

And that’s how it all began. If Yuri hadn’t been a prince, where would he be now? Would he even have joined the Alliance?

He’d probably still be in the royal guard, stationed like a statue at the palace. Comfortable, maybe, but living a dull life that couldn’t compare to this.

“Why do you ask?”

“Don’t you know what face you’re making right now?”

“My face?”

That’s when Jared realized—he was smiling.

“You can expect more. The Alliance is just the beginning.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Do I look like I don’t?”

“Well…”

Knowing him, Jared felt this prince might truly do something even greater than the Alliance.

“What are you planning to do next?”

At some point, he had begun thinking that way.

This prince might seem whimsical, but that wasn’t really the case. In truth, he seemed to be carefully planning something.

Yuri chuckled and gestured.

“Alright. I’m in the mood today. I’ll tell you. Come closer.”

“Um…”

“Never mind, then.”

For some reason, Jared felt Yuri was about to play a prank, so he hesitated. But he held back and leaned in to listen.

Yuri whispered something to him.

“…”

Upon hearing it, Jared frowned. He understood, but the content was so heavy that it took his brain a few seconds to process.

Only after repeating it several times did he startle and step back.

“That’s…”

“Now you’re an accomplice.”

“What?”

“I only told you, so if something happens to me, it’s on you.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“I know. That’s why I told you. You’re a talent I chose.”

“This isn’t the time for that…”

“That’s enough.”

Yuri shook his head.

“First, let’s finish off those orcs.”

“Understood.”

As they spoke, the orcs were now truly close. Yuri grabbed Guilty, his sword, and waited for the clash.

“Ah…”

That’s when Yuri turned his gaze.

And not just him—all the knights on the prairie looked in the same direction at once. What had only been a vague presence until now was clearly revealing itself.

Behind the orc army, a massive shadow moved. As if a mountain were walking.

Yuri whispered its name.

“Okua.”

That being was finally revealing itself.