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In the Solar Calendar year of 1798, on the first day of September.
From this day forth, the entire world underwent significant changes.
The turmoil of war had descended upon the South Continent.
In recent years, the long-scheming and restless overlord of the South Continent, the Cerryti Empire, had launched a full-scale war.
Its ready and waiting Imperial Army, advanced Imperial Department of Magical Engineering, and terrifying Imperial Army God swiftly swept through the border territories of the kingdoms of the South Continent with overwhelming force.
At the same time, the Cardinal Bishops of the South Continent from the Rebirth Church also joined the ranks of the Cerryti Empire. Aside from them, several large neutral powers that stood apart from both the Cerryti Empire and the Kingdom Association also chose to aid Cerryti’s invasion of the various kingdoms.
The Western Hub Zone, where the headquarters of the Kingdom Joint Council of the Canberra Kingdom reside, was the primary target of the Cerryti Empire’s offensive. However, being the most powerful kingdom among the members of the Kingdom Joint Council, it was also the most difficult strategic location to conquer.
Conversely, wars that broke out in the Central Plains Countries, which were easy to attack but hard to defend, were the fiercest.
The mountainous eastern region, rugged and along the coast, was the third battlefront.
The North Shore region had not yet been attacked by the Cerryti Empire, but according to trends, at any moment, a Cerryti fleet could strike and attempt to cut off the supply lines and maritime traffic to the other three main battlefronts from behind.
Despite this, even in the relatively remote eastern region, less than twenty-four hours had already resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
...
In the eastern region of the South Continent, at its westernmost edge.
The borderlands of the Arolan Kingdom, Zerest Highlands.
This place had treacherous terrain, with peaks rising one after another and canyons crisscrossing everywhere.
To the east of Zerest Highlands were sheer cliffs, to the west dense forests, and to the south and north, narrow valley pathways. These highlands have long been an important barrier for the Arolan Kingdom, guarding the vital throat to the kingdom’s hinterlands.
Since ancient times, where there was war, countless valiant warriors of the Arolan Kingdom had laid down their lives and shed their blood defending their homeland.
This time, facing the great military machine of the Cerryti Empire, Zerest Highlands had become the front lines of Asura Field without surprise.
The smoke-filled Zerest Highlands turned into a purgatory on earth; the once lush and towering ancient trees were shattered by the blasts of Magic Cannons, their branches broken and charred black, their bark marred with numerous bullet marks.
The once lush grasslands were trampled beyond recognition, the verdant green grass now a pitiful sight, and the soil stained a shocking dark red with blood.
Broken armor and fragments of damaged magical weaponry littered the ground, the heavy sky hung so low it felt as if it would collapse at any moment, dense clouds blanketing the last sliver of light, the entire battlefield lost its color, shrouded in a gloomy and hopeless despair.
The shadow of death was omnipresent, and the stench of decay was nauseating. The sounds of fighting and cries of agony intermittently rose from all around the battlefield, echoing through the mountains, deafening, tearing at everyone’s nerves.
In this earthly hell, the warriors of the Arolan Kingdom fought desperately, building the first line of defense with their flesh and blood.
The Pot Star Table Legion, tasked with defending the highlands, was made up of the most elite troops from the Arolan Kingdom’s western border.
The Pot Star Table Legion’s warriors were each elite, having stood out from thousands, battle-hardened with rich combat experience. Their commander, General Leonard, known as the strongest on the borders with the epithet "Reincarnation of the War God," and had even cultivated the current most powerful one of the Arolan Kingdom, Juliana. He was a towering figure with piercing eyes and a lion’s mane of hair, looking every part the imposing warrior.
"Oh, gods of dueling and warfare, as You decree, I vow with utmost sincerity!"
Deputy Commander Cotter was a swordsman famed throughout the lands, his swordplay so swift that the common eye couldn’t catch it, his blade leaving only a residual image in the air.
"Never weary nor slack, press on with all my might!"
The soldiers of the Pot Star Table Legion were each brave and skilled in battle, their silver armor shining brightly in the sunlight like celestial beings come down to earth.
After days of intense fighting, the Pot Star Table Legion finally repelled the fierce first wave of the Cret Empire’s assault!
The exhausted warriors felt a surge of spirit, their morale reinvigorated.
General Leonard stood upon high ground, looking down at the devastated battlefield and the faces of the soldiers who had survived the ordeal. His resonant voice filled the air:
"Brave warriors, you are all true heroes! You did not fear the mighty enemy, defending our homeland with your blood and life! I am immeasurably proud of your valorous fearlessness! Let those Cerryti beasts see what the Arolan iron cavalry is made of! Today, you all are the masters of Zerest Highlands!"
The warriors all chanted in unison, their fists clenched and eager to fight, radiating an aggressive will to fight.
"As expected of General Leonard, the teacher of the Immortal Sword Saint Juliana."
"Once Big Sister Juliana returns from the Hutton Kingdom to Arolan, that will be the time for our counterattack!"
"I haven’t seen her for many years, and to think we might get the chance to fight alongside her again, just the thought makes my blood boil!"
A thousand pairs of eyes blazed with fierce battle intent, just waiting for the Cret Army to invade again, to show them the unyielding might of the Arolan iron cavalry.
Their legion’s pride, Juliana, had even left the border legion and headed to the Royal Capital beforehand; she had surpassed General Leonard years ago, advancing to Eighth-order.
While the soldiers were brimming with confidence, they suddenly began to exchange puzzled looks.
Something was amiss, but it was hard to put a finger on it.
"What’s wrong?"
As Deputy Commander Cotter asked this question, he realized what the problem was.
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