Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1814
On the fourteenth day of the first month of the year 1814, the divided Kislavein-Ashbrum armies had assembled in Xinbrum.
Countless battles had resulted in victories for the human armies, and millions of devils had been slaughtered.
After suffering numerous consecutive defeats, the devil armies had gathered all their scattered forces.
Learning of this through his scouts, Kislavein Dynasty Lord IV Orsman Kislavein sent messengers to his armies in the Eastern Territories, ordering all of them to assemble in Xinbrum city.
The Fourteenth Day of the First Month, Xinbrum
IV Orsman enters the meeting hall. The Dynasty Lords and commanders seated around the large table stand up simultaneously, bow their heads, and greet Orsman.
"Hail the Dynasty Lord!"
"Sit," says Orsman.
Orsman sits on the magnificent throne reserved for him at the head of the table. Right beside him is Ashbrum Dynasty Lord IX Junric.
"Each of you has won numerous victories and brought honor and glory to our Dynasties. In the wars we have fought against this race, whose nature we still haven't figured out, we have lost hundreds of thousands of our soldiers, but we have managed to slaughter millions of devils. Now, let's get to the reason why we have gathered you here."
Orsman looked at Dex Blacksteel standing behind him.
"Dex Blacksteel,the Blacksteel Dynasty Lord, will handle the rest of the briefing."
Dex Blacksteel was the elder brother of Zelfhaya, one of IV Orsman's wives, and the 19th Dynasty Lord of the assassin and spy Blacksteel Dynasty.
"As a result of our investigations, we have determined that the devil armies have gathered in Seolbrum city, five hundred kilometers from Xinbrum. Their numbers are estimated at five million."
Those in the room gasped at these numbers.
"They have three million more soldiers than us,but compared to the situation at the start of the war, our chance of winning is still very high," said Krael.
"We suffered heavy losses in every battle.Sometimes we won victories against devil armies many times larger than ours. We will win again," said Dornas.
"I will attack the enemy's perceived strongest point.You will handle the others," said Orsman authoritatively.
Everyone at the meeting, except Junric, bowed their heads and said,
"As you command,Dynasty Lord."
The meeting ended with a strong belief in victory; everyone's morale was high.
A short time later, the battle began.
The allied Kislavein-Ashbrum army was divided into four.
While the First and Second Armies under Orsman and Krael Kislavein attacked, the Third and Fourth Armies under Junric and Marco Ashbrum would wait in the rear lines as support.
The devil armies were divided into two; they had a simple formation. The battle began with the attack of the devil armies.
"FOLLOW ME, KISLAVEIN LIONS!" Orsman shouted to his army.
"ATTACK FOR OUR DYNASTIES!"Krael shouted.
The Blood Hawks, led by Orsman, advanced, crushing the devil armies like insects.
With every swing of his massive sword, Orsman tore hundreds of devils to pieces.
Orsman pointed his hand; five different elements emerged from his five fingers: fire from his thumb, lightning from his index finger, ice from his middle finger, earth from his ring finger, and a freezing wind from his little finger.
Each spell was destructive. Casting so many destructive spells simultaneously horrified the devils. Hundreds of thousands of devils perished by Orsman's sword and spells.
Dornas, with invisible speed and agility, decapitated dozens of devils simultaneously as if slicing through butter.
Javier and Deon fought fearlessly alongside the Blood Hawks, killing hundreds of devils per second without a single scratch.
While the devils' first army was on the verge of collapse, the same was not true for the second army.
"TIGHTEN THE RANKS! IF ANYONE THINKS OF RETREATING, I WILL KILL THEM MYSELF!"
Krael's furious screams barely held the soldiers together.
At the start of the battle, Krael had launched a successful initial attack with half a million soldiers, including the Blood Orphans under his command, but subsequently, the devils gained the upper hand.
Thousands of Kislavein and Ashbrum soldiers were being torn apart by devils, dying in agony.
"ARAEL, RAISE THE FLAG! REQUEST SUPPORT!"
Arael Kislavein raised the flag for support. Seeing this, Junric spurred his horse forward.
"FOLLOW ME!PROTECT OUR ALLIES!"
Half a million soldiers led by Junric attacked to rescue Krael.
With the arrival of support, the morale of the Second Army rose, and they fought with greater determination and resolve.
"You arrived just in time,Ashbrum Dynasty Lord," said Tyrel.
"Aiding my allies is my duty,"said Junric with an expressionless face.
"Although I wish for your death, I cannot betray you to these monsters in such an important battle," thought Junric.
Junric and Tyrel fought shoulder to shoulder against the devils for hours but still could not gain the upper hand.
"Why are they so strong?"said Junric.
Tyrel began to suspect something.
"These aren't ordinary devils.These are likely the elite warriors of the devils."
While continuing to fight, Junric asked with a surprised expression,
"What do you mean?Weren't the devils Lord Orsman is fighting the strong ones?"
Tyrel, with his back turned to Junric, swung his sword and cut down devils as he answered.
"Clearly,they tricked us. They plan to defeat us first and then corner the Dynasty Lord."
Junric became angry.
"Damned devils!"
Junric raised the flag and requested support.
Seeing this, Marco raised his sword.
"FORWARD!"Marco ordered his soldiers.
While Junric tightened the ranks and restricted the devils' field of vision until Marco approached, he gave the order just as Marco and his soldiers arrived.
"SPREAD TO THE FLANKS!"
The soldiers pulled to the right and left, clearing the center. The Golden Lions, under the command of Marco and Brian Ashbrum, shot into the center like an arrow, their cavalry's hooves trampling and crushing devils as they advanced deep into the center.
At that very moment, a powerful sword swing tore tens of thousands of soldiers to pieces, their bodies collapsing to the ground.
"Hmph."
A devil clad in massively thick armor advanced with heavy steps, charging his sword with a dark aura. With every swing to either side, he killed thousands of Kislavein-Ashbrum soldiers.
"You have slaughtered enough Sapharos.Now you will die here."
Eight figures, nearly as tall as him, clad in thick black armor and wielding swords, emerged behind him, and each one launched an attack.
"LONG LIVE THE SAPHAROS KING!LONG LIVE THE SAPHAROS PRINCES!"
From the devils' cheers, they understood who these figures were.
"So this is the King of the devils and his Princes,"thought Junric.
The Devil King attacked Krael.
"Ahhh!"Krael screamed in pain.
Krael barely parried the attack but was in great agony.
"What kind of power is this?He's as strong as Dynasty Lord Orsman!"
"You are also of Harloumen's bloodline,aren't you?"
"Harloumen? Is he talking about the last Emperor?"thought Krael.
Krael was barely standing. He cast a healing spell to mend his wounds.
"Yes,I and half of this army are descended from Harloumen."
The Devil King attacked and delivered a lethal slash with his sword.
"I need hear no more.Die, grandson of Harloumen."
With one move, the Devil King beheaded Krael.
"FATHERRRRRRRR!"Arael cried out in an agonized voice.
"SON OF A BITCH!I'LL KILL YOU!"
Arael attacked to avenge his father, but a devil prince in thick black armor stepped in front of him.
"Your opponent is here.Where do you think you're going?" said the devil prince.
Each of the devil princes had chosen an opponent and engaged in a duel.
Marco, Brian, Juan, Junric, Arael, Tyrel, Harloumen, and Kisrael.
While Orsman continued to destroy the devils' first army, the devils were trying to destroy the other armies before Orsman could bring support.