Chapter 69

Suddenly, the scene lost all sound, the air currents disappeared completely, and even breathing could not be heard.

It was as if I was suddenly trapped in a shadow with no thickness, my self-existence isolated from the world.

Then, a skull mask, a symbol of death, and Greatsword burning with eerie blue flames appeared.

Although it was just suspended there, the voices seemed to come from all directions, without Pride or Desire, simply existing there as a part of the world.

"You Heresy, you should not have come."

Without a doubt, what Altrouge Brunestud heard was a human voice.

"You Heresy, you should not go up the mountain."

The question, uttered so softly and delicately, seeped into Ji Jun's soul, feeling both a stern rebuke and a tender embrace—it was an incredible sensation.

Altrouge Brunestud was speechless, or rather, she didn't know how to respond to these perplexing words.

The voice continued:

"What you are doing now is like building a tower with corpses, sowing death, causing the green fields to wither, and causing life to pass away."

The sound was now coming from only one direction. The Black-Haired Girl looked up and saw shadows surrounding the skull mask, forming a tall human figure holding Greatsword.

In AD 11th century, the Hassans all knew that the unreachable guiding star, the invisible norm, the inescapable 'executioner,' was the founder of the conceptual embodiment.

When those whose assassination skills decline with age or depravity, or who succumb to Desire and fall into depravity, or who become addicted to human pleasures and whose righteousness degenerates into selfishness, the 'Faceless Old Man' will lead them to eternal darkness with the blade of End Times, just as the end times will inevitably come upon all beings. After all, no world can tolerate the survival of those without Faith.

"I deny you Heresy, but the mountains and Valley of Shadows allow you to enter, so..."

His voice, no longer filled with affection, was now flat and indifferent as he appeared before the princess.

It was a death incarnation that, though the Age of Gods had ended, remained in human form but was covered in shadows, as if it had been incorporated into the entire Underworld.

"Then hand over your head, Heresy."

This being, which has become a realm of nature and phenomena, echoes in the Valley of Shadows beneath the aura of death emanating from him, who has witnessed countless years of life's Evening Bell.

Altrouge Brunestud still didn't respond, but a surge of blood rushed to her head, not from Wrath... but from an indescribable fear.

The tense standoff, seemingly an eternity, was in fact only a fleeting moment, just as the Old Man of the Mountain was about to swing his Greatsword.

Suddenly, there was another person in front of him.

"Old man, saving lives or restoring them, it's all just light and shadow. War or slaughter, it doesn't change no matter where you go, that's all."

At that moment, the object reflected in the girl's eyes changed. The creature wearing a skull mask, which had been slowly walking towards her, was stopped by Avia beside her.

"Whether one is a believer or a follower, only the spirit that cannot be shaken by anything is truly essential."

Despite facing such a terrifying creature, those blue eyes remained frozen, without the slightest fluctuation.

In the world seeping into darkness, a clear blue light, seemingly born naturally, shines like a star—light yet dazzling—illuminating everything around it and revealing the deep blue Valley of Shadows once more.

"... Huh?"

The Old Man of the Mountain seemed to be seeing Avia for the first time, and his voice showed surprise.

Admittedly, he initially only had Altrouge Brunestud in his sight and did not see Avia. It was only after Avia spoke that he realized there was another person present.

They are not people who are wavering between life and death, or like themselves, but rather people who are truly living in the present moment.

However, the Old Man of the Mountain felt that he should be here, but it was as if he wasn't, and there was something about him that puzzled him greatly.

Hearing the Old Man of the Mountain's puzzled voice, the Black-Haired Girl felt as if the danger that could kill her at any moment had vanished.

In the Valley of Shadows filled with the aura of death, the heavy weight of death, like an unbreakable curse, had now vanished.

"... I Nameless, but you may be called the Old Man of the Mountain. May I ask who you are?"

The Old Man of the Mountain seemed unsure of what to say, but still wanted to say something, so he spoke.

"Avia."

"So that's the name... It was my fault for not sensing your presence when you arrived. But the choice had already been made..."

The Old Man of the Mountain murmured blankly, as if waking from a deep dream.

"I understand now. Since you have made your decision, you have the right to carry out divine punishment, and I will not and should not obstruct you in any way."

It's as if it's saying that whether in an endless Valley of Shadows or in a Divinity world, choice is always a recognized thing.

"You need not give up anything for this wave, nor wander eternally between the realms of light and shadow; go forth, light of salvation."

140: Yes, I am the representative of the benevolent deity on earth.

"I..."

Altrouge Brunestud had no idea how she emerged from the Valley of Shadows; it felt like she'd just had a nightmare.

When she came to her senses, she found herself being led around like a child by Avia. Although she wanted to let go, the helplessness brought on by her previous fear left her with little strength, and she could only let this human do as she pleased.

"No, it doesn't really make any difference whether I go or not!"

After thinking for a moment, Ji Jun suddenly realized that she might have been deceived. It was Avia said that she needed to rely on her power, which is why she agreed to come along. But recalling the scene just now, she was both led to the temple by him and ultimately saved by him. No matter how she thought about it, it was different from what Avia had said.

"It seems so. I thought His Highness the Princess would display great power, but I didn't expect him to be frightened."

Avia said with a smile.

The Black-Haired Girl didn't speak, but just snorted through her nose, then turned her head to look up at the silver-haired youth.

After a brief, hesitant silence, she finally spoke:

"--I can't die, because if I die, everything I have will have meaning."

"Stop bringing up death all the time. Look at you now, you didn't die. You're still the Princess."

Avia sighed, seemingly feeling helpless.

"Everyone has said that I am meant to be 'number one'."

Altrouge Brunestud remembered what the Royal Guard and the Black-and-White Knights said when she ran away from the Millennium Castle.

That was the only thing she could do. No, it wasn't just that; there was also the responsibility she didn't want to forget about her birth and why she was born.

As long as you remember and persevere, you will surely be able to become the Primordial One '.

"I want to be Primordial One,' and I want them to receive the glory they deserve."

Avia sighed quietly at the answer. These words weren't spoken to him, but they still made him very happy.

After all, the reason he brought Altrouge Brunestud out was at the request of the two knights and the Royal Guard.

They said that ever since Van Phim, their lord had been depressed and hoped they could help cheer her up.

Although this trip to meet the Old Man of the Mountain didn't make her happy, seeing her look fearful for the first time... I guess it was a success, at least.

"--And you too."

"... oh?"

As the sun rose fully into the sky, the clear sunlight from outside the Valley of Shadows illuminated her directly.

"I believe that Avia, as my ally and the first human I contracted, should also receive the honor she deserves."

The tone of voice sounded as if it were concealing emotions, so cold as to be unnatural.

At the same time, there was a slight... dependent tone in his voice, like a lost child timidly reaching out to someone who cares about them.

"Yeah."

For some reason, Avia was able to understand that these seemingly calm words were actually a speech that Altrouge Brunestud had mustered up her courage to make.

This made him unconsciously and naturally smile and nod.

"Then let's work together."

Five months have passed, and the war between the Hephthalite Empire and the Sasanian Empire in the Fars Province continues to escalate.

Although the latter made many mistakes in the early stages of the war, it recovered through continuous adjustments and promptly recaptured the major regions that had previously fallen.

The former, however, was unwilling to give up and instead brought in more reinforcements with considerable strength, determined to continue annexing the entire Fars Province.

Meanwhile, the Huns army, which had crossed the Caucasus region with its numerous mountains, hills, and dense forests, made it extremely difficult for the local armies to gain any advantage in the north and west of the Sasanian Empire. Panic quickly spread, with people fleeing for their lives... and the number of those killed was incalculable.

Due to domestic discontent, persistent requests for aid, and the approaching enemy, the Sasanian Empire was forced to dispatch a large army to slow the Huns advance.

The force consisted mainly of 15,000 elite Rider from the Iranian plateau, composed of Persia military nobles and Daylamite, along with 5,000 Arab Rider, 20,000 Persia infantry and Archer, and 2,000 of the most elite heavy Rider, the Sasanian Imperial Guard, known for their dedication and the "Holy Fallen Cavalry." They also unusually brought India war elephants, using these clumsy war animals on the battlefield.

At the same time, local forces were mobilized to provide more auxiliary troops, bringing the total number of participants to over 80,000.

It can be said that if this large army is defeated by the Huns, then the Sasanian Empire capital Ctesiphon will be indefensible, and will have no choice but to painfully abandon the Fars Province.

The commander-in-chief, who had just prepared and led the Persia army, planned to withdraw his troops along the right bank of the Euphrates River after learning of Avia's arrival with a large army, in order to avoid the enemy's advance and find a good defensive position.

However, most of his subordinates were restless and showed great fighting spirit, mocking their commander who did not want to fight. Unable to persuade his men and fearing that refusing to fight might cause a mutiny, the Persia commander chose to fight anyway.

At the end of 425 AD, the two armies faced off at the ruins of Nineveh on the Tigris River.

The battle was initiated by Bow and Arrow and light infantry from both sides. It was clear that the Persia Bow and Arrow had the advantage of favorable wind direction, and the Persia infantry had a high proportion of archers. In addition, their higher rate of fire allowed them to fire more arrows, putting the Huns at a significant disadvantage from the start.

However, since the Sasanian Empire army of Cursecaster was clearly no match for the Huns Dead Apostle, the Sasanian Empire was at a disadvantage from a Magecraft standpoint.

What followed was a full-scale clash, with the Huns Rider and Sassanid Rider still locked in a stalemate after Two-Thirds of the day had passed.

At this moment, to the northwest of the Sassanid army, specifically in the direction of Armenia, the sound of iron cavalry rang out.

The utterly exhausted Sassanid army failed to notice this detail and took no action.

As the massive army, identical to the Huns forces, appeared on the horizon, the Sassanid elite Holy Fallen Cavalry were pounced on by swift Werewolf, their throats seized and killed instantly.

This was after Attila's army conquered Sassanid Armenia and marched south at an unexpected speed, plunging the unprepared Sassanid army into defeat.

After Attila's Huns army captured the high ground on the western flank of the Sasanian army, they immediately circled around and continued their unstoppable charge, attacking the central line of the Sasanian army. Avia's Rider also occupied the high ground and charged downhill.

The Sasanian army's heavily armored Rider was routed by the Huns. As for the infantry, they were already lacking in combat experience, and now they collapsed directly in battle, suffering heavy casualties. Thus, the continuous attacks of the Huns Rider caused the entire Sasanian army's right flank and central line to completely collapse, with large numbers of people scattering and fleeing. Although many Persia soldiers fought bravely, they all died on the battlefield.

Thus, the Sasanian Empire suffered a crushing defeat on this river, with an estimated 50,000 dead, most of whom were killed while fleeing.

The Sasanian general who managed to escape was subjected to the cruel torture of being skinned alive by the king.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the current situation of the Sasanian Empire in the west and north of the empire is beyond saving.

As for the East, besides the Hephthalites, the Gupta Empire in India also had the idea of getting a share of the spoils. They had already formed an alliance with the Hephthalite Empire and were heading towards Western Asia, bypassing the Hephthalites -controlled territory.

However, just as the king and his ministers in the capital Ctesiphon were about to evacuate to the northeast of the empire, they received a contract from the Huns.

The contract states:

It acknowledged that the Caucasus Mountains were jointly controlled by the Huns and the Sassanids, and that no further fortifications could be built in the Caucasus region.

By opening up trade markets, the Huns would support the Sassanids against the Eastern Rome in Armenia.

The Huns were ordered to pay 5,000 kilograms of gold as punishment for their exhausted army, and to pay an annual tribute of 700 kilograms of gold. The ransom for each captured Sassanid was 6 gold coins.

Well, although this treaty would place a heavy burden on the Sasanian Empire, it only involved the loss of the Caucasus region, which was much better than the defeats they had suffered against the Rome in the past, and was relatively undemanding.

And most importantly, Avia was willing to help the Sasanian Empire fight against the combined forces of the Gupta Empire and the Hephthalite Empire, on the condition that he become the supreme leader of the combined forces.

Therefore, the Sasanian Empire quickly agreed to the treaty and directly declared the Huns to be noble and generous allies of the empire.

Avia and Attila, the two King of the Huns, were friends of the empire, and Avia was also the supreme leader of the Huns -Sassanid allied forces.

They even went so far as to describe him as a person of justice and covenant recognized by Mithra, a person who carries the sacred fire in his heart.

Mithra is an extremely ancient god belonging to the Aryan religious system. His most original duty was to make covenants. In the Sasanian Empire, the mainstream of Zoroastrianism, he was the earthly representative of the benevolent god Ahura Mazda, protecting truth and justice from the evil power of the malevolent god Angra Mainyu.

141: Kings of Empires

In short, after a brief rest and leaving some troops behind, the Huns Empire's army and the Phantasmal Species army, led by Avia and Attila, Thunderbolt marched towards Fars Province, where the battle was most intense.

In May of 426 AD, the Huns army entered Fars for the first time. By this time, the combined forces of the Gupta Empire and the Hephthalite Empire had already defeated the Sasanian army on the southern shore of the Persian Gulf and crossed the sea to pursue the defeated enemy, finally landing on the northern Persia hinterland.

The Gupta Empire Chandra rules the Indian Subcontinent, is at the height of its power. Under the leadership of Chandragupta II Lord El-Melloi II, it is recorded that it commanded 500,000 infantry, 50,000 Rider, 20,000 Chariot soldiers, and 10,000 elephants, as well as more than 100 ships. Despite having such a large army, its discipline was still quite good... It was undoubtedly one of the most powerful empires in the world at that time.

The two empires not only conquered the major islands in the Persian Gulf, but also took the opportunity to plunder the birthplace of the Sasanian Empire. Their activities also included the local capital, Istakhr, and some of their actions had a great spiritual impact on the local people.

But now, their good days in Fars are over, because the Huns army has arrived.