Amber Sword

Bunoan Guard City stood alone like a sentinel in solitude, with lightning from the clouds tracing its edges.

The old soldier overlooked the battlefield nearing its end, in every direction, the human armies were retreating from the plains like waves. Those soldiers who lost the ability to move could only wait for death amidst the piles of corpses, the crimson flames on the horizon like afterimages in their eyes.

In the expanded narrow view, the sky and ground were both curved, the entire battlefield was a cross of ruins, broken weapons, armor, tattered banners, and the bodies of the guards interwoven, forming a peculiar doomsday-like scene.

Even the clouds had turned crimson, lightning like thorns winding around them, occasionally lighting up this world. Revealing its truest and most terrifying side in the eyes of the human alliance.

From the vicinity of Medao Village to the forest’s edge, the fleeing garrison was everywhere, under a gray backdrop, the bobbing heads were a real depiction of the defeat of this battlefield at this very moment, or perhaps the final moment of despair. The Female Knight stood behind a parapet, observing the situation outside through the crenel gaps, the demons’ assault seemed to start from the horizon, their crimson fireballs dragging long tails across the battlefield, illuminating the ugly creatures on the battlefield as well as her eyes.

She pressed one hand on the pitch-black city wall, the wall covered in cracks and spreading bloodstains like rippling water. The bodies of the Royal Knight Academy’s officer cadets were laid out in a row as if to preserve their utmost dignity, but in any case, they were now nothing more than lifeless shells.

No one had ever experienced such a horrific war, on the battlefield whether it was the son of a farmer, a craftsman, a noble descendant, or knights and missionaries of noble origins, for the first time achieved equality in the face of death, no distinction whatsoever.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Frey could even hear someone sobbing softly, it was the civilians hiding in the basement under the castle, including women and children—all men capable of going to battle had taken up weapons. But unfortunately, firm determination could not change the tide of battle, anyone could smell the scent of defeat in the cold air.

The structure was about to collapse.

The Female Knight clenched her fist with a creak, the metal hand armor deformed. She had only one name in mind, she firmly believed that he could lead everyone from this desperate situation and find a way out, just as during the escape from Ridenburg when the refugees too had lost hope, but he had promised them a miracle.

Brand was that confident then, making everyone feel admiration, herself included.

"Can’t we hold on a little longer?"

"But... isn’t the Princess still ahead?"

Beth’s voice came from behind, the girl almost cried out in bitter anger. The Royal Knights paid a heavy price, every one of the familiar faces now rests here, they could accept sacrifice, but not that all the previous efforts were meaningless.

In comparison, they would rather die in battle here.

Sparing them from tasting this suffocating despair.

The Princess is dead, and Erune has reached the brink of destruction. In everyone’s heart lies an understanding of that despair and helplessness, as if their hopes and ideals in life had just been established only to face a shattered reality.

That feeling of disillusionment.

The tears streaking down Beth’s face bore witness to this, she almost shouted to her commander—Nemesia, as if trying to rouse this Female Knight from stupor, wasn’t she aware the Princess was still ahead?

The Female Knight’s face turned pale, looking away, her expression showing the pain as if she had been stabbed. Beside her stood the Commander of the White Lion Legion, Marquis Balta, this lord was covered in blood, as if he had just returned from Hell.

On the entire battlefield, Bunoan Guard City had formed a long narrow protrusion. Like a sharp blade, the two armies guarding near this place were undoubtedly the most brilliant presence on the battlefield today. The officer cadets of the Royal Knight Academy and the young men from Tonyger stood firm and honorable, the White Lion Legion holding on to their military glory.

These two most radiant armies in Erune’s history stood shoulder to shoulder today in battle.

"This is not a gamble, Beth," Marquis Balta’s face was stiff, "We are not gamblers, we have made our last attempts, but we cannot bet everything on one throw."