Deep underneath the Crib of Hallucinations, a creature was lurking, blending in the darkness within. With its eyes glowing with a crimson hue, it looked around while checking its surroundings, the schools of fish swimming along with the strands of seaweed, dancing, swaying in the gentle currents.
Based on its careful actions, it was hiding from sothing dangerous. However, no matter how it hid itself in the reefs, its massive size and enormous tentacles gave away its position.
Then, several ropes made from silk-like material ca from out of nowhere and enveloped the huge creature, causing it to swim upward while its limbs tried to sever the thick layers of threads.
However, its efforts were useless as the rope’s toughness was beyond expectations. Thus, it was pulled towards an area with a man standing against the currents. On his hand was a white dice with one of its surfaces glowing, to which the rope was attached.
After a minute of desperation to escape, the monstrous creature was dragged inside the cube, and the edges of the man’s lips curled into a smile.
’Finally got five; it took way longer than I anticipated,’ he thought.
Then, he looked above, but all that he could see was pitch-black darkness; his location was so deep that the light from the sun couldn’t reach that very place.
’I wonder what you’re doing right now,’ he pondered as an image of a certain person flashed through his mind.
. . . . .
Several hundred n clad in black armor bearing a crest of a rising phoenix on their chests stood outside the empire’s capital. Next to them was a bunch of ragtags dressed in different attires; pendants glowing in red and crystal white hues were hanging around their necks.
These were the people whom the palace gathered to send as reinforcents to the battle against the demon’s army.
"We’ve been standing here for almost half an hour; I’m sick of waiting. When will we depart?" A woman leaning against the wall complained; dissatisfaction was written all over her face.
"Sick of waiting to et your death?" Said a man, sitting in a cross-legged position; his hands were busy wiping his halberd.
Upon hearing his remark, the woman gave him a glare before rolling her eyes.
"Well, whatever, let’s just see who’ll die first," she stated.
The man let out an annoying laugh, and then he looked at the woman.
"I’m pretty sure a mage like you would always be the first," the man replied, teasing.
The woman’s eyebrows furrowed, and she raised her hand to the level of her chest. Then, her fingers snapped, and the piece of cloth that the man was using ignited on fire.
"Hey!" The man exclaid as he stood up and stepped a little closer towards her.
They were already halfway to making a scene when a man dressed in white leather armor walked in their direction.
"Ezra! Andrius! That’s enough," he ordered, his voice filled with authority.
As soon as they heard their nas being called, the two people faced their backs against each other.
"She started it!" Andrius exclaid.
"What?" Ezra retorted.
Then they returned to bickering with one another. The man in the leather armor couldn’t help but sigh and shake his head. Afterward, he closed his eyes for a second, and the mont he opened them, the shade of black on his eyes was replaced by magic circles with a purple hexagram pattern.
"You guys won’t listen, huh?" He stated, calm yet serious.
The mont the two people noticed the shift in the man’s pupils, they stopped quarreling and faced him with their right hand above their brow.
"No, sir! We stop right away!" They stated while saluting.
The sudden change in their tones garnered the attention of the people, but upon seeing the man clad in white leather armor, they did not dare to stare any further.
"Who is he?" Soone from the ranks of knights uttered, curious.
"Dumbass! Don’t look at his eyes!" The man at his side snapped at him.
With his gaze focused in front, he introduced the man.
"That person is one of the top-ranking rcenaries, Krizler Kingsword, known as the Shattering Blade," he said.
"That’s one fancy na," the man chuckled in response.
Afterward, the cacophony of chitchats disappeared, and an ear-deafening silence enveloped the place as a young woman walked in front.
Her beauty garnered everyone’s attention, especially the n’s. They all looked at her with their eyes gleaming with adoration.
"Who’s that pretty lad?" a rcenary asked, hoping for soone to satisfy his curiosity.
However, to his surprise, no one knew who she was or where she ca from. But when all the knights kneeled in their positions, their mouths were left wide open in surprise.
"We greet the empire’s youngest phoenix!" The knights yelled in unison.
Upon seeing this scene, all of the rcenaries dropped to their knees as well to pay their respects.
"Rise, my people." With a wave of her hand, Uoiea ordered.
Upon hearing the command, the crowd stood up, their gaze focused on the princess.
"I’ll just make it quick; with the continuous threat of the demon army invading our land, my brother, along with his soldiers, stood their ground to repel the evil forces..." Uoiea started a speech, and then she road her eyes on everyone to make sure that she had all of their attention before continuing.
"However, the forces of demons are much stronger than they expected, causing them to ask for reinforcents, and that is the reason why we are here: to protect our family, to serve the empire, and to secure humanity’s future!" Uoiea declared, giving emphasis to the words at the end of her line.
"For humanity! All hail the Embercrown’s Empire!" The knights yelled, boosting the group’s morale.
Uoiea let out a warm smile upon seeing their reactions, and then she looked at the rcenaries.
"Anyone who wants to back down is free to do so; I would not hold them accountable. After all, we must first value our lives before sacrificing for others," she stated, her words lting everyone’s hearts.
The rcenaries looked at each other, searching if soone would dare to leave their positions, but no one did. Since the mont they ca here, they had already accepted their fate. Their minds were aware of the fact that the chances of them returning back alive were beyond impossible.
So with eyes full of determination, the rcenaries yelled. "Eradicate the demon king! For humanity’s future!"
Uoiea nodded in satisfaction; however, she was caught off guard by a sudden question she failed to anticipate.
"Is the Demon King’s General the one leading the demon’s army?" Asked a rcenary; worry could be seen in his eyes.
Silence enveloped the area as Uoiea stared into nothingness. It lasted for several seconds before she answered.
"As far as the intel said, the one commanding the invasion is none other than the Demon King himself, the Conjurer of Blue Flas, Cinhard Beelze," she stated.
Others swallowed hard while so shivered upon the ntion of the na. However, most of the knights and high-ranking rcenaries felt glad about this fact; after all, they preferred to fight the Conjurer of Blue Flas than the Manipulator of Souls.
Little did they know that in that very place, there was one person hoping to et the demon they feared the most.
Uoiea looked above at the sky and stared for a mont at the sun. Its radiating brilliance was enough to hurt her eyes, but every ti she saw that thing, it always reminded her of that certain person.
The man who always kept on staring at that ball of light.
. . . . .
Before the night ca, when the sun dipped below the horizon, humanity’s army, led by Uoiea, started to march towards the battlefield.
With archers leading their paths and assassins guarding the rear, they crossed the vast prairie during midnight. The army chose to set up their camps and rest before moving forward. Based on the coordinates and their current pace, they would reach the frontlines in two days ti.
As the people finished eating their als, so chose to sleep right away; they were too tired from the constant walking. anwhile, there were others who accompanied the night guards, while a few used the ti to train and check their equipnt.
One of these people was the Diamond-class rcenary, Krizler Kingsword. He was standing with one hand on a nearby boulder while pushing himself upward in a repeated motion.
"Two hundred thirty-one, two hundred thirty-two, two hundred thirty-three..." He uttered, sweat dripping from his toned muscles.
Then he noticed soone approaching, but he paid it no mind and continued on with what he was doing. At first, he thought that it was just a random rcenary, but when a fascinating fragrance assaulted his nose, he shifted his gaze, and his eyes widened upon seeing the princess standing several ters away from him.
Thus, he pushed his body upward and landed on his feet.
"Your Majesty, how can I serve you?" He asked in a tone filled with respect.
However, his brows furrowed at the princess’ sudden reply.
"Please do a favor," Uoiea stated while staring into the void of nothingness.
. . . . .
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