Chapter 120 – White Storm

“Damn you, Jeigan…! Roglain, Bandred! Regroup your units and handle the firefighting in the town!”

“Yes, sir!”

“And Arloston-sama…?”

“I’ll finish off the remaining Brenark forces with Katzman-dono, then join the firefighting!”

“Understood!”

He quickly reorganized the troops and issued orders in all directions. By the time Arloston rode to the far right of the battlefield, the Karmanda territorial forces had already nearly annihilated the Brenark army. From a distance, he could also see Katzman directing the battle.

Behind Arloston, Raibarden, having gathered his unit, followed closely. While scanning the surroundings for any hidden enemies, he moved alongside Arloston as if to guard him.

“Arloston-sama. We’ve confirmed a Brenark unit fleeing west from the town.”

“The ones who set the fires… I did think the number of Brenark troops on the battlefield was slightly low…”

They had succeeded in driving the Brenark forces out of the western region.

However, Jeigan himself had not been sighted. Judging from the situation, he must have gathered the remaining troops and withdrawn westward.

“We can’t let Jeigan escape like this.”

After everything that had happened, they absolutely needed to capture him. If he made it back to the Kingdom of Brenark, there was no doubt he would report whatever suited him, truth or not.

Depending on the situation, he might even claim that the Imperial army had suddenly betrayed them. And that would surely escalate into an even greater diplomatic conflict.

(If only His Majesty Creyval… hadn’t made that decision… No… I was part of it too. It would be arrogance to place all the blame on His Majesty…)

He recalled events from over a month ago. As Kaldandes, the son of Barkdine, had also realized during a previous war council, it was Emperor Creyval who ultimately decided to form this alliance between the two nations.

When it was revealed that the envoy from Brenark was the younger sister of their current king, the negotiations were handled by only a select few, including Creyval himself.

Among the people of the Empire, few held favorable feelings toward Brenark, and some even openly looked down on them.

But the envoy was of royal blood. Creyval had to be careful, and thus approached the negotiations with great caution.

As the talks progressed, the terms between the two nations gradually took shape. However, Arloston could not bring himself to support the alliance, repeatedly warning Creyval that『an alliance with Brenark would not benefit the Empire.』

In the end, however, Creyval chose to proceed with the alliance. Perhaps there was even a hint of rivalry toward Arloston behind that decision.

Or perhaps… with the emergence of the Northern Empire, the growing and obvious pressure had led him to seek hope in a foreign power.

At the very least, by making use of their military strength, they could not only reclaim the western region, but perhaps even stand against the Northern Empire directly.

If things had gone according to plan, the Empire would have gained a significant advantage.

But that expectation had been betrayed in the worst possible way. Before the situation became even more complicated, they needed to capture Jeigan.

“Then…”

“Those who retreated west can’t be more than ten thousand at most. Leave the firefighting in the town to Roglain and the others. We’ll take five thousand Karmanda troops and pursue the Brenark soldiers and Jeigan!”

“Yes, sir! Then I’ll inform Katzman-dono at once—”

Raibarden suddenly stopped mid-sentence. His eyes were fixed on the sky behind Arloston, his mouth hanging open in shock.

“…Hm?”

Arloston had never seen such an expression from the normally composed Raibarden. Troubled, he turned to look behind him as well.

“………………”

And just like Raibarden, Arloston lost his words, his mouth slightly agape.

It was no wonder. In the sky ahead of their gaze… several people were flying through the air.

“Ha…?”

Every one of those figures had been Karmanda soldiers. They fell straight down… and without exception, their bodies burst into sprays of blood upon impact.

Moments later, more soldiers were flung into the air the same way. And just like the others, they crashed to the ground, blooming into bursts of crimson.

It was like balls filled with blood being violently slammed into the earth.

“W-What… is this…?”

Among those being blown away were even surviving Brenark soldiers. Screams from both friend and foe mingled chaotically.

“Move, Raibarden!”

“Yes, sir!”

Arloston spurred his horse forward, heading straight toward the center of the disturbance.

There, a storm was raging.

No… that storm had taken the form of a man.

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!”

The moment Arloston laid eyes on that storm, sweat burst from his brow under the overwhelming pressure it emitted.

It was clad in white armor. A full-face helmet and plating reminiscent of a carapace, yet sleeker than the full suits worn by knights, lacking any sense of bulk. If anything, its design was refined.

It must have been perfectly tailored to its wearer’s physique. Many nobles displayed armor in their mansions, but upon seeing that design, there would surely be those who would beg to have such a piece for themselves. It was that striking in appearance.

That armor—

Held a ridiculously oversized sword, as if it were a joke.

Swung it with an agility that defied belief.

Spun its body at high speed, like something out of a dream.

And with each contact, sent those it struck spiraling up into the sky, as if they were illusions.

Though it was a single individual, it was a disaster worthy of being called a storm.

“Still not done yeeeeet! TsooooraaAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”

The white storm spun like a top, its blade carving through soldiers and their horses alike. Those who raised large shields were blown skyward together with them.

Of course, none could land safely. Seconds later, the falling soldiers struck the ground, bones shattering as blood sprayed everywhere.

“A… A-Arloston-sama…”

Raibarden’s face had turned deathly pale, his voice trembling.

Brenark soldiers and Karmanda troops alike—every single one was swallowed by the white storm, their lives scattered without distinction.

‘That figure… I’ve… seen it somewhere…’

His thoughts wouldn’t come together. Even so, the situation continued to spiral forward.

“Katzman-sama!”

A soldier’s scream rang out. Katzman, who had come into contact with the storm, had his upper and lower body split apart.

Katzman, who had fought bravely as the son of the Karmanda lord until this very day, had no means to resist a living disaster.

No… who could possibly possess the means to stand against such a calamity?

“Oi, oi! This ain’t the time to stand there dazed, you bastaaards!!”

With a single, forceful swing of the blade, multiple soldiers were cut down at once.

A single man defeating a multitude of soldiers. Truly, a one-man army. An existence so absurd it felt like a joke.

‘T-This is… impossible… Just one man… to… overturn the entire battlefield… Is something like this… even allowed…? A… a Demon King…’

For Arloston, who had studied and experienced countless military histories, he could not accept the scene before him as reality.

That white storm—

had found him.

“…!”

“Ohhh!? Now if it isn’t, could it be, could it be… the famous Knight Commander-sama!? Hah, this is perfect…! Well then, I’ll just go ahead and crush the head right here!”

“Arloston-sama!!”

In the span of a mere instant, the white storm closed the distance.

Raibarden leapt from his horse toward Arloston, who was also mounted, trying to shield him and shove him away.

But the blade rushing from behind cut through the horse, surged toward Raibarden—and then continued onward, striking at Arloston beyond him.