"No! No... this can't be happening!" Eryndor roared, his eyes wide with fury and disbelief. He gritted his teeth as he swept his gaze across the battlefield—now reduced to ruins."Thaldrim, you bastard! Why didn't you ever mention this?! They had a colossal wall mechanism, the same size as the main gate, to trap us?!"
Thaldrim stood frozen, lips sealed, his breath ragged with shock. He lowered his head slowly, unable to meet Eryndor's blazing eyes. Even he… had never known. Beyond the Thalvion Gate, he'd never heard of any other structure like it buried beneath the earth.Not once in his life had he seen it—let alone known it existed.
"This... this is impossible..." Thaldrim finally murmured, his face pale as death. His eyes were vacant, as if his soul had been torn from his body.
Jolloy stood behind them, breathing heavily, voice trembling."My lord… there's nothing more we can do. We've lost. Completely."He bit his lip, trying to hold back the mix of rage, fear, and the choking shame that filled his chest.
Eryndor fell silent for a moment. His eyes scanned what remained of his once-proud army—now scattered, broken, stripped of the arrogance and confidence they had marched in with. His fists trembled from the fury and disgrace of defeat.
"Retreat!" he shouted. "All units, fall back! Return to the palace—NOW!"
The order echoed across the land. The commanders quickly relayed the call, and line after line of Imperial troops began their slow, wounded retreat—leaving behind a field of carnage that had once been their proud display of power.Out of the 250,000 troops they brought, only 50,000 remained. And each of them carried home more than wounds—they carried a shame that would never fade.
Thaldrim walked slowly, his thoughts swallowed by a storm of questions."The five thousand Doliex soldiers I chose… those loyal to me…" he whispered. "What happened to them? Why hasn't a single word come from Orbis Caelestis?"
Behind the clouded gaze in his eyes, a rising unease stirred—one even he couldn't explain.
.
Magnoli stood silently on the balcony of his fortress, staring into the gray horizon. In his hand, he clutched a gold-stamped letter from Xaverius.
"All right... the time has come," he murmured quietly, yet with firm resolve. He turned to Duke Alderon, standing tall by his side."Deploy The Hollow Creed we've prepared. And we… we'll declare the drums of war in Patisia."
"At once, my lord. Let's move!" Duke Alderon answered with fierce energy. His eyes gleamed like fire, igniting the will of every knight beneath him.
The Hollow Creed was no ordinary force. They were not royal guards or soldiers from the Imperial academies. They were oath-bound brothers, exiles of a broken world—men and women with dark, forgotten pasts.But they didn't remain broken. Magnoli had found them, raised them, reignited the dying flames within them—turning them into the sharpest blade forged in the Empire's shadows.
Unlike the princes who relied on official Imperial legions, The Hollow Creed was a shadow army. They lived simply, but burned with unmatched loyalty and purpose. They swore their lives to Magnoli—ready to sacrifice without hesitation.
Inside the grand estate, Naira stood, eyes locked on Magnoli—intense, yet soft.
"Naira…" Magnoli said gently, but with a firm tone that carried deep concern."This will be something huge… perhaps the biggest storm ever to hit Patisia. I want you to be safe. Please… take your family, leave Patisia for a while. A great upheaval is coming, and I've prepared a ship for you. Sail far—before this war erupts in full."
Naira's gaze shifted instantly. Her eyes scanned every line of worry on Magnoli's face. She knew—when her beloved spoke like that, it wasn't ordinary concern. It was a warning… of a storm that couldn't be avoided.
"No!" Naira shouted, stomping toward him."Whatever happens—even if the sky itself falls—I will not leave your side! This isn't just your war—it's mine too! I once defeated my own father in a duel! I can fight, Magnoli! I can protect you!"
"Naira, listen to me—" Magnoli's voice cracked."This isn't a war between enemies as it should be. This... is civil war. And going up against the Empire, with all its power… we have no guarantee of victory. If we lose, we'll be branded traitors. Everyone tied to us… will be erased."
Naira fell silent, her breathing heavy. But her tears didn't fall. Instead, she clutched Magnoli's hand tightly.
"If that's your decision, I understand. But let me be the one to fetch my mother and siblings. I'll come with you to House Damerius… at least until I know they're safe."
Magnoli stared at her in silence… then gave a slow nod.There was pain behind that nod—but also deep respect… and unwavering love.
Soon after, they set out with fifty thousand soldiers—an imposing and disciplined formation—bearing the banner of the House of Magnoli. A silent but unmistakable declaration: war was imminent.
The atmosphere in Patisia turned grim. Whispers filled the streets, eyes darted with suspicion. The people were divided—some stood with Damerius, while others remained loyal to the Empire. Yet the winds clearly favored Damerius.
"Sir! Lord Magnoli is marching here with his army. It seems… our plans may have just shifted dramatically," Valtros Gorn reported, his voice urgent.
"What?! Magnoli said nothing of this to me!" Damerius muttered in disbelief. "Didn't we agree to wait for the outcome of the battle in Smokeland first?!"
His face tensed. Without another word, he sprang to his feet.
"Sound the alarm across all forces! Every unit—report to the port square immediately!" he shouted.
Unease gripped his mind. "This is only the second day of battle in Smokeland… What's really going on? Why is Magnoli making a move now?!" he murmured to Arkael, his steadfast right hand.
"Most likely, my lord, Lord Magnoli has already drawn conclusions from what's happened there. Whatever move he makes will have a massive impact on us. Remember—his army is one of the key pillars in our strategy," Arkael replied calmly.
"No, Arkael... Yes, we outnumber Dorges' forces. But that's only half the picture. If Prince Todius joins the fray, we won't stand a chance," Damerius sighed, barely containing his emotion.
Suddenly, Thane burst in, gasping for breath.
"Prince! Dire news! Imperial forces have arrived—they've already entered Patisia! Their numbers... are overwhelming!"
"What?!" Damerius exclaimed. "Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?! How did they get here so suddenly?!"
"Mobilize every soldier! Focus the defenses at the port! Move all units now!" he commanded, almost shouting.
Panic spread like wildfire in a dry season. Damerius' troops scrambled into position. But before they could form a complete line, the Imperial vanguard—led directly by Princes Dorges and Todius—had already crossed the Patisia-Larfex border. Two hundred and fifty thousand strong, they surged into Patisia like an unstoppable tide.
The once-quiet city was now a field of dread. No one dared step outside. The streets echoed with the thunder of hooves and the clash of steel. Citizens could only cower behind fragile doors.
"Anyone who dares to come out… will be treated as a traitor to the Empire!" Todius roared from atop his steed. "Stay inside… before we reduce this entire city to ash!"
The Imperial army surrounded Damerius' estate.
With only seventy thousand men, Damerius had little choice but to wait, trapped within a nearly impenetrable siege. Todius dismounted, his steps firm, eyes fixed on the modest palace before him.
"Damerius! Surrender yourself before we annihilate everything you hold dear! We will not hesitate to butcher your men… and the people who still believe in you!" Todius bellowed, his voice thundering.
Silence. No one dared speak. Even breaths were drawn cautiously.
Inside the estate, Damerius lowered his head. His face pale, his voice low yet heavy.
"Mother… forgive me. I've failed to fulfill Father's legacy. I… I've lost. Today, for the people of Patisia, I have no choice but to surrender myself…"
"My son," said Lady Triana, her voice soft yet trembling, "let me go out. I will show them that you are of my blood… the son of Emperor Brovon. You are the rightful heir to the throne…"
"No, Mother!" Damerius replied quickly. "You must not show yourself. They hate you even more than they hate me. If you go out… you won't survive."
"But the truth must be told, my child!" her voice rose, quivering with emotion. "You… are the son of Emperor Brovon! That throne… is your birthright!"
Damerius gave a bitter smile. "The truth means nothing without the strength to defend it, Mother. I had a plan, I prepared my army… But they were one step ahead. That means… I am not worthy of the crown." He exhaled heavily. "What matters now is that you live… and carry on the fight. For Patisia…"
Without another word, Damerius walked to the door of his estate, stepping toward the two princes awaiting him—thousands of eyes fixed on his every move.
"Welcome to my home… my brothers… noble princes," Damerius greeted them with a strained smile.
Todius, unmoved, stood tall. His eyes locked on Damerius—though deep down, he knew the man before him was Damma Lorexius, his own brother.
"I don't know you," Todius said coldly. "It's time you surrendered. No more games… no more posturing. You're already knee-deep in the mud, Damerius."
Damerius held his breath… and smiled bitterly once more.
At that moment… Prince Magnoli's army finally arrived.
Though only fifty thousand strong, not one of them showed a hint of fear. Their horses pounded the ground in unison, their banners rippling under a crimson sky. Their footsteps thundered, shaking the very heart of Patisia.
The air turned tense once again. Damerius' troops, once cowed, now caught a glimmer of hope. Outnumbered though they were, their spirit rekindled.
But everyone knew—one wrong move, and this city would become a blood-soaked hell.
The friction between the 150,000 combined forces of Damerius and Magnoli and the 250,000 soldiers under Dorges and Todius… was on the verge of exploding.
The streets of Patisia overflowed with armies. No space for civilians. No room to hide.
"Prince Magnoli… since you've arrived, surrender now. Bear witness as we crush Damerius—the traitor of this Empire," Todius declared, voice cold and commanding.
Magnoli let out a short, sharp laugh. "Todius… Todius… always chasing what's already in your grasp. But you forget—what lies behind your hand is far more valuable, and you've already let it slip away."
He took a step forward. His gaze burned with defiance.
"If it's war you truly want, then I'd be more than delighted to oblige you—right here, right now."
Tension thickened. Every soldier held their breath. Sweat trickled down foreheads. The fear of war was so real it clung to the air like smoke.
"You're nothing but a cast-off prince!" Dorges snapped, enraged. "You've done nothing but warm a woman's lap—no wonder your leg is crippled! And now you dare challenge us?! You?! Ha!"
"Dorges…" Magnoli's voice was low, but razor-sharp. "You hide behind your armor, feasting on the Empire's crumbs… and dare speak of honor? Don't talk to me about women, brother… You were born from one, and to this day—you've yet to crawl out from between her thighs, haven't you?"
A thunderclap in everyone's chest. A war of words had erupted—ferocious, personal, and with no turning back.
Two sides—two noble brothers—hurled words at each other before blades had the chance to clash.
"If you're still deluded enough to think you can defy us, then we'll crush your army here and now!" Todius roared, his voice booming across the field.
Magnoli didn't flinch. A faint smirk played at the corner of his lips.
"My brother, do you know who truly walks free in the Guava Valley?" He spread his arms and pointed to himself.
"I do. Only me. Magnoli. No one frightens me—not you, not anyone. If you dare challenge me, I'll meet you with fire!"
Tension ignited like a spark in dry grass.
Glares clashed like drawn daggers, soldiers gripped their weapons, horses pawed and neighed, and the heat of battle burned in the eyes of every warrior.
But then—
"If this is all because of me… I won't let this city burn for it."
Damerius stepped forward, cutting through the storm of rage.
"I'll surrender. But only on one condition: you take me, and no one else."
Magnoli clenched his fists, his voice thick and heavy with fury.
"My brother… I stood for you because I believed you were the true emperor. Don't give yourself up to these Imperial puppets! They're blind to the truth!"
"No, Brother… I never wanted this war. Especially not here," Damerius replied, his voice calm but unwavering.
Prince Todius gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Very well… we will take Damerius. No one else will be touched."
Yet the air still trembled with unease—there was something more, a plan hidden deep within Magnoli that none had yet uncovered.
"Brother!" Prince Dorges protested. "We should destroy them now! We have the numbers—and our soldiers are trained to win!"
"Oh, really?" Magnoli's voice rumbled like thunder from beneath the earth.
"You only know the surface of this city. If your army dares take a step… don't expect to leave Patisia alive."
"Dorges," Todius muttered sharply, "don't be reckless. We have no idea what Magnoli has prepared. Don't waste time."
And so the decision was made.
The Imperial forces slowly withdrew, taking Damerius with them.
Though they held the advantage in strength, they knew—Patisia wasn't a place they could conquer overnight. Magnoli's roots ran too deep in this land.
Magnoli stood still, eyes fixed on the backs of the retreating Imperial troops...
But his heart seethed. Restless. Furious.And most of all—wounded by Damerius's choice.
"My brother… You gave yourself up too quickly… too easily…" he murmured, a quiet devastation that only an older brother could know.