Amber Sword

Brand’s view stretched between heaven and earth, vast and elongated, as the spearmen ahead lowered their centers of gravity. Shiny helmets descended in sequence, and long spears rose like they were emerging from a sea of helmets. He vaguely heard Beth’s shrill voice like a sea demon, ’Fire—’ A volley of feathered arrows passed over their heads, turning into a cloud of black dots that fell in the distance.

The Northern Alliance’s ranks resembled a tide of alternating blue and white, generating a series of explosions within. The continuous explosions flashed brightly, while the screeching sounds formed an unbroken barrage. The sharp airstream seemed to cover dozens of meters in an instant, with fragmented metal rings clinking against his armor.

The dazzling light made Brand squint helplessly as the Blei Light Infantry directly in front of him began their final charge. Their formation formed a perfect arc, crossing the shallows of a mountain stream where Dissolution Crystals exploded beneath their feet, raising water columns and causing young faces to fall in the mist. Yet their comrades pressed forward over the corpses. About fifty meters away, hidden in the dense forest on the northern slopes of Machenko Mountain and Vileco Mountain, the Finn Column and Constantine Column infantry gathered under the canopy. Explosions of light blossomed in the woods—archers, unconcerned about accidental injury, showered arrows over these two mountain tops—the ear-splitting sounds of the explosions almost overturning the ground, breaking, and flying the pine branches which fell together with the flags of the Northern Alliance columns.

Suddenly, flashes of light erupted from a distant battlefield.

Brand immediately understood: magic attack! The Northern Alliance wizards were joining the fray. Flames crossed thousands of meters in an instant, transforming into head-sized Fireballs. But the noble private soldiers’ phalanx opened shimmering blue water shields, causing the Fireballs to crash against them, scattering countless red flames far and wide.

Yet the explosive roar still caused Count Otin’s private soldiers to panic, causing chaotic shifts in their formation. Brand cursed inwardly, ready to rally morale, when a clear, calm voice rang out first.

"Do not retreat, I’m here! Fighting alongside you!" The Princess’s voice was steady and composed, although her pale hands clenched tightly around the sword hilt, revealing her true emotions.

"Princess!" Brand swiftly turned and saw Princess Griffine standing not far away.

Princess Griffine glanced at him, her silver eyes filled with unease. But she turned back and solemnly shouted, "I am the Princess of Erune! Here, today, let our blood be shed together!" The Royal Family’s authority still held great sway among the commoners, and seeing the Princess standing behind them, the noble private soldiers’ unrest miraculously calmed down.

Seeing this, Frey stepped forward to join the front line, drawing her longsword to stand beside the noble private soldiers. Although this girl from the Buqi countryside was shy in speech and action, though lacking in stirring words, as long as she held the Lion’s Heart Holy Sword without retreating, these men would be hard-pressed to abandon their positions, leaving her to face the army alone.

The few Officer Cadets remaining in the central battleground, following her lead, stood at the front of the line as an example. No words were exchanged, but an indescribable spirit seemed to emanate from them. At that moment, Brand’s heart raced, yet he felt his blood boiling.

He laid down the Earth Sword on his chest, raising his head to look forward. The waves of blue and white surged through the explosive smoke, and the Northern Alliance’s light infantry had already crossed the riverbank, approaching close.

Viscount von Doggen struggled bitterly through the explosions, spitting sand out of his mouth. Raising his head, his eyes pierced through the smoke and flames, oddly noticing Count Otin’s noble private soldiers stabilizing from their previous unrest. "The opponent also has skilled officers..." This thought flashed through his mind.

The two armies collided with a thunderous crash.

The noble private soldiers thrust out their long spears as the Blei Light Infantry, charging at the fore, found their war-hammers unable to reach them before they were stabbed through with sharp spear points, piercing the Blei infantry’s sloped chest armor, felling them in rows. From afar, the Blei people’s Swallowtail Banner at the forefront collapsed like a field of wheat.