The Red Nation had mobilized its top three legions, including the prestigious Crimson Spirit Army from the Morrison family's elite reserves. Louise rode alongside Marco at the formation's edge, her posture relaxed in a way it hadn't been the last time they'd spoken."How's the family situation?" Marco asked. "Last I heard, you were trapped behind sealed doors praying.""Like a dream," Louise said, and meant it. "Roland fully supported my claim once the dust settled. Within a week I had control of the family power structure. Lightning speed, considering how these things usually drag out for years.""Roland supported you," Marco repeated. "The same Roland who sent Samuel and his entire army after me the moment I stepped through that portal."Louise's expression flickered. "I'm aware of what he did. I dealt with it internally.""Dealt with it how?""Privately," she said, in a tone that suggested the conversation was closed for now. Her eyes softened slightly. "I'm relieved you survived S

Capello's jaw set. He'd already committed his presence by dropping the illusion. Backing off now, in front of his own riders, wasn't an option his pride would tolerate."Charge anyway," he ordered. "I won't be looked down on by my peers for hesitating because the math changed slightly."The Golden Lion's armies surged forward like a wild tide, the formation breaking into a full charge across the open grassland.The Crimson Spirit Army responded immediately, constructing defensive works on the fly, giant black shields boosted with Demonic Qi rising into a wall that absorbed the charge's leading edge like an abyss swallowing whatever touched it."Spirit Communion Ritual!" Capello shouted to his riders. "Activate now!"Radiant white light bloomed across every charging Wolf Rider, forming a protective film that deflected the incoming volley of arrows the Crimson Spirit archers had loosed in response to the charge.Derek pulled his reins sharply, intending to send his forces forward to sup

Hours later, Thomas and the rest of the allied formation arrived outside Demon King Yan's city, and what greeted them stopped conversation entirely.Mountains of corpses rose along the approach road, piled with the careless efficiency of a battlefield that had simply run out of room to properly bury its dead. Rivers of blood ran between the piles, pooling in low ground until the earth itself had turned dark and saturated.Derek doubled over and vomited. Several allied soldiers around him followed, the smell and sight together too much for stomachs that had only just survived their own engagement.A figure emerged from the city gates to meet them. Vincent, recognizable instantly to Marco, walked forward with the bearing of someone who'd been given supreme command and had aged visibly under its weight in just days."Thomas," Vincent said, then his eyes shifted, finding Marco where he sat half-recovered against Louise's chest. "And our human friend. I see you've survived your encounter w

Dozens of City Lords from the Magic Kingdom had joined the battle by now, their combined strength still failing to salvage what was rapidly becoming an obvious defeat. Each found themselves matched against an opponent of equal might, the Beastman Empire's commanders having drawn out exactly enough force to neutralize them individually.The Blood King and the demon known as the Evil King fared worst of all, both singled out by Everett's personal attention, constantly forced into retreat by an opponent who seemed to be enjoying the chase more than the actual combat."He's toying with them," Thomas said through gritted teeth, watching from the wall as the Blood King barely dodged a casual swipe that nonetheless cratered the ground beneath him. "He's not even using a fraction of his real power and they're still losing ground."He turned sharply toward Louise. "Let go of my arm. Now.""No," she said."Twenty thousand beastmen are pressing against a million-strong army!" Thomas's voice crac

The sky tore open above the battlefield. Three figures descended through the rupture with presences that made every soldier still conscious flinch involuntarily.A Barbaric Bull, massive and crimson-eyed, his hooves cracking stone where he landed. A fierce ape with silver fur rippling across corded muscle. And an old lion, his mane white with age but his aura considerably more fearsome than Everett's golden display moments earlier.The Barbaric Bull's voice thundered across the field. "Demon King Yan! You will pay for your crimes!"Yan, still standing on the wall with his usual boneless posture, swept his gaze across the three new arrivals with open disdain."Another three here to die," he said, sounding almost bored by the prospect. "Do you understand what plane you've entered? As long as I'm standing on the wasteland, I'm the strongest existence anywhere in it. You're trespassing in someone else's house and expecting hospitality."The old lion, Barre, stepped forward, his aged frame