Warhammer Divine Throne

"You’ve done very well, Ocasen. Once things are accomplished, I will promote you to Baron!"

In the sixth year, Ocasen reported to John II once again: "My King, when shall we launch the Knightly War to reclaim Musillon?"

"Wait, it’s not the right time yet!"

Ocasen could only continue to wait, but what he awaited was the news that John II had been dragged from the throne by Lake God Witch Mogiana and the Holy Grail Knights, and dethroned.

Upon hearing this news, Ocasen felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar; John II was the only one who knew of his undercover identity! With this King dethroned and secretly imprisoned on Mogiana’s orders, no one could prove Ocasen’s undercover identity anymore. He truly became a noble lord of Musillon, a vassal of the undead!

The goal of life was gone.

And with the disappearance of his life’s goal, Ocasen’s personal ambition swelled alongside it, and freed from shackles, he began to truly submit to the vampires, becoming a subordinate. He fought fiercely, resorting to unscrupulous means for victory, and was adept at deceiving runaway slaves and winning people’s hearts. Regardless of whether it was the Red Duke, Akhan, or Duke Mathew Bade, they all saw Ocasen as an exemplar of harmonious coexistence between the living and the dead after the conquest of the Knight Kingdom and the founding of the Undead Empire. They never hesitated to reward him, and under the guidance of the Blood Knights, Ocasen successfully rose to a legendary powerhouse.

He began to enjoy the feeling of navigating effortlessly between the two forces. He was among the living, yet a subordinate of the dead; the living recognized him, and the dead needed him.

In this dark age, Ocasen also wanted to achieve a kingly enterprise of his own.

Rising, eating breakfast, summoning the escorts to assemble, Count Ocasen donned his armor with the help of the escorts, mounted his warhorse, and prepared for the winter hunt. Dozens of knights and knight squires, along with more than two hundred peasant infantry, had already gathered.

The distant sky was very clear, indicating this would be a typical sunny winter day. Ocasen looked at the clear sky and nodded with satisfaction; it would be good weather for the winter hunt.

Ha, they said three years, then three years again, and another three years after that. Now it has been over thirty years, my lord! Dear John II, my King, do you see this? I am already a Count! Who still cares about your barony?

Ocasen looked at his vast winter hunting squad and the brilliant knight armor. The Count of Sharp-Top Palace only felt waves of satisfaction; this was what he wanted. When the Witch Demon King Akhan and Duke Mathew Bade conquer the entire Knight Kingdom, he too will be an important founding noble. What ducal title should he claim then?

This must be thought over carefully.

But what if the Witch Demon King and Mathew Bade are defeated? Ocasen thought to himself that he could immediately switch sides. Relying on his human identity, he could rightfully surrender and reveal his undercover identity at the appropriate time. Considering the impact on reclaiming Musillon, the Knight Kingdom would not only refrain from judging him but rather treat him favorably, grant him land, and give him a new equivalent Count title!

Why should I, as an undercover and guide, be wronged?!

Thinking of this, knowing he wouldn’t lose in any case, Ocasen asked his close attendant: "What’s happening across the river? Has Count Laine and his army approached nearby?"

"No news for now, my Count." The attendant promptly responded: "We have many sentry posts along the riverside, and there have been no disturbances recently, maintaining a consistent calm."

"Hmm... It’s almost time for spring plowing. Even if Count Laine wants to attack Sharp-Top Palace, he should wait until after the spring plowing." Ocasen nodded slightly and continued to ask: "But we should not underestimate Laine, notorious as he is. Did the sentries and scouts report any unusual situations today?"

"Not today." The attendant shook his head: "Normally, the scouts and sentries will deliver news in the afternoon."

"Very well. Let us start the winter hunt for now!" Count Ocasen, suspecting nothing, immediately ordered the commencement of the winter hunt. The entire winter hunting squad responded loudly and somewhat chaotically headed two kilometers outside Sharp-Top Palace to begin the winter hunt.

The winter hunt lasted for more than two hours. Today, Count Ocasen had decent luck; he hit two hares, three pheasants, but failed to hit the deer he most desired, leaving him somewhat regretful. However, he was soon distracted by the changing weather.

The once clear weather gradually turned cloudy. The once clear sky was now shrouded in thick clouds; before Count Ocasen could react, fine raindrops already started to fall from the sky. The sky darkened, and a bone-chilling cold seeped into the hearts of the entire winter hunting squad.

"It’s raining!"

"Damn it! The weather was so good before, how did it start raining all of a sudden?!"

That wasn’t all. As the entire winter hunting squad was discussing, a more terrible event occurred: massive amounts of hail mixed with rain crashed onto the grey land and the snow-covered forest. These thumb-sized hailstones fell in sheets, striking the helmets of the peasant infantry, the armor of the knight squires, and the ornate plate armor of Count Ocasen. Within minutes, dense hail, rain mixed with snow, nearly engulfed the group!

"Clang clang clang~" The dense hail was so loud inside the squad from striking armor, sounding extremely piercing. The hateful hail grew larger, changing from the size of a thumb to the size of an egg. Many peasant infantry were struck down with bloody heads, and the knight squires couldn’t lift their heads either.

The pouring rain then swept through the entire winter hunting squad. The bone-chilling cold left both infantry and knights lethargic; it seemed impossible to continue the winter hunt.

Left with no choice, Count Ocasen had to order: "Everyone, find a place to take shelter!"

"Yes!" the attendants responded one after another, and everyone dispersed, searching for places to take cover in the wilderness and marshlands.

The entire plain and marshlands turned into a muddy bog. In the hail and snow-mixed rain, one could not see their hand in front of their face, and complaints abounded.

Due to this heavy rain, the entire winter hunting team failed to notice a squad of over eighty knights slowly approaching from a distance. The leading knight wore a Grey Knight’s masterwork power armor and wielded the Goddess of Revenge. His aura was surrounded by the Light of Spiritual Power, redirecting all incoming rain, snow, and hail.

"The conquest of Musillon begins today."