Chapter 70
At first, Avia did not intend to settle the score with a single battle, as the treacherous terrain of the Iranian plateau was not suitable for arranging a decisive battle, and he could only wait for the right opportunity.
Therefore, he made targeted deployments based on the Iranian plateau, requiring all regions of Fars to adopt a scorched-earth strategy.
Although the locals were not interested in Avia, who was Huns, they found him somewhat agreeable compared to the India and Hephthalites, as he was unlikely to change their Faith. Naturally, the Zoroastrianism were not interested in the Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism of the Gupta Empire.
After all, compared to the change of royal power, the struggle in the realm of spiritual Faith during the classical period was undoubtedly more deadly and intense.
In short, under the scorched-earth strategy, as time went on, the combined forces of the Gupta Empire and the Hephthalite Empire began to struggle. After all, with so many people in a foreign country where uprisings were constantly occurring, logistics were simply a matter of life and death.
Therefore, when the Gupta and Hephthalite allied forces gathered in northern Fars, intending to capture Istakhr, the capital of Fars and an important stronghold of Zoroastrianism.
At the same time, Avia also realized that the time for the decisive battle had come.
In May of 427 AD, the final battle of the three-year war took place north of Fars, fought by four major empires of Asia and Europe.
Both camps were alliances between so-called barbarians and civilized people, each with a force of 500,000.
Looking at the world, such a decisive battle was extremely rare, not only in the late classical period but also before the industrial age.
Both sides knew that the daily logistical costs for such a large army were astronomical, and that they had to fight quickly or wait for one side to be worn down first.
The Huns -Sassanids have many Phantasmal Species such as Dead Apostle, Werewolf, and Three-Headed Dragon, as well as Cursecaster. The Gupta-Hephthalites, on the other hand, also have their own local Phantasmal Species and unique Magecraft.
The Iranian plateau grew increasingly cold. When the blinding light suddenly pierced the eyelids of the Gupta-Hephthalite soldiers, they couldn't help but open their eyes. What they saw was a scene they had never imagined in their lives:
Like a tsunami crashing ashore, the waves collapsed, and countless white figures, like a sweeping tide, covered the endless horizon, turning everything white, as if the Asura from Indian Mythology were eyeing this place menacingly.
The leader, a silver-haired figure whose radiance seemed to blind the light, rode up on horseback with an expressionless face. This gave them the illusion that even though this person was falling, his radiant light would still keep villains like Wuyun and Lenghan from approaching. They could only surround him, watching him from afar in the shadows, waiting for his death.
The decisive battle began with the Abhimanyu roar of warhorses.
The sounds generated by countless people gathering together spread like wildfire, forming overlapping and continuous waves of sound, producing blood enough to Dyeing the earth. However... if it were Ritual to destroy the world, this might just be the prelude to the opening.
It was a bright and sunny day, but the sunlight was red. As far as the eye could see, the battlefield was covered in blooming red flowers, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
In an instant, Avia and Attila, who were fighting side by side, met eyes.
Those blood-red eyes and blue eyes.
"It's been so long since we fought together."
"Really."
On the battlefield, Avia replied in a calm tone.
"Then let's fight together from now on."
With overwhelming force, Avia, clad in Typhon armor, and his massive army could probably be described as utterly devastating.
The Gupta-Hephthalite coalition suffered a crushing defeat, with almost all of its soldiers perishing there.
Chandragupta II and King Hephthalite, who personally participated in the battle, were captured, but they were not mistreated; on the contrary, they were treated kindly.
Soon, representatives from both empires came to Avia to negotiate a treaty. As with the Sasanian Empire, the silver-haired youth offered very favorable terms for peace, which were not harsh. He did not cede any territory or make any unreasonable demands; he only asked for money and to withdraw from the Sasanian Empire territory.
The two defeated empires naturally accepted their fate, but as a result, Chandragupta II Gupta Empire to its zenith, died in grief and indignation a year later. Without Chandragupta II's restraint, the Gupta Empire became unstable and began to split internally. The king gradually lost control of the nobles, and the dynasty began to decline.
The Gupta Empire referred to Avia, the King of the Huns who had defeated them, as:
That is the source of destruction of all worlds, the Death God who came to destroy this world, the destroyer of all worlds.
Similarly, the Hephthalite Empire was forced to settle for competing with the Gaoche for the Junggar Basin and the areas to its west, and gradually lost its power to control other nomadic groups in the region.
The Sasanian Empire was no exception. Although it preserved the territory of the entire country, the plunder caused by the three great empires made it teeter on the brink of collapse, resulting in economic recession, heavy taxes, religious disputes, rigid social classes, and the growing power of landowners. As a result, it lost its status as the hegemon of Western Asia.
At this moment, the Huns Empire, under the leadership of the two King of the Huns, single-handedly brought three empires that should have been powerful to a state of decline.
Meanwhile, within the bustling Western Rome, no one could see or foresee that on the Eastern European steppes, the Huns Empire, returning laden with spoils, was still watching them with predatory eyes.
142: The Promise and Gift Before Heading to the Millennium Castle
Winters in Eastern Europe are harsh winters that can freeze the soul.
However, thanks to the substantial rewards of their previous war victories, the Huns are now living a better life than before.
Although Avia, as one of the King of the Huns, had many things to do, it was quite easy for him to take a break.
"If you're free and don't mind, Attila, how about we go out?"
"Yes, I'm free, I'll go."
The White-Haired Girl, having finished her training, nodded vigorously as if trying to express something.
Stepping out of the royal court, one sees all sorts of tents, but neither Avia, who invited them, nor Attila, who was invited, had any specific purpose.
After all, this was a common stroll for the two of them. They wandered through the market where Rome and Germans mingled, stopped to admire the street performances by well-trained artists, and the girl was even drawn to strange dolls of unknown origin, staring at them for a long time.
"Speaking of which, where's Typhon? Isn't she always by your side?"
She said that winter was coming and she wanted to sleep in a little longer.
"... Well, it's not that I'm overthinking it, but Typhon is a dragon, not a human, but he takes the form of a young girl and sticks to you in your tent every day. I think that's really unfair."
The White-Haired Girl put on a serious, stern face.
"Attila, aren't you pretty much the same?"
Upon hearing this, Avia couldn't help but laugh.
Upon hearing that voice, Attila inexplicably felt much better, and her expression softened.
Because of their prestige, the two King of the Huns would often brush past unfamiliar faces in the crowds, but those Huns who knew them would greet them briefly, such as, "Ah! It's the kings," or "Your Majesty, the food here is very delicious."
As a nomadic empire, under Avia's leadership, it continuously absorbed the cultures of surrounding countries. The travelers on the road were mainly Huns, as well as some Germans, Rome, and even Persia.
"By the way, when we have time in the future, let's try out survival methods other than those for Warrior."
"... Um."
Attila's heart skipped a beat when she heard this from Avia's side.
Is life outside of Warrior about traveling the world as a free traveler on horseback? Is it about tilling the land, cultivating wheat, and baking bread in a hot oven?
Is it hunting beasts and birds? Is it learning that thing called writing, and compiling Book recorded by it?
That was a life the girl had never seen or experienced before, a life other than killing; it was by no means a sign of her loathing for being Warrior.
It's just that I'm curious about what kind of life I would have led if I hadn't been born Warrior.
One day, when the time comes... we'll go together.
... Just the two of us?
The White-Haired Girl couldn't help but think this way, but quickly shook off the thought after regaining her senses; now was not the time to let her mind wander.
But her pace quickened uncontrollably, and just then, a glimpse of the grassland scenery made her slow down for a moment.
The crowds moving through the streets, and the many unfamiliar flowers and grasses swaying in the wind under the clear winter sky, make this cold blue expanse seem full of life.
Where are the two of them now?
Perhaps, it is in a world where winter has arrived, yet for some reason spring is in full bloom, with hundreds of flowers in full bloom.
Sometime earlier, after the war with the three great empires ended.
"Fu."
Awakened by the White Demon Hound, Altrouge Brunestud subconsciously glanced around the room.
"What are all these things...?"
She looked at the pile of dried flowers, hand-woven trinkets, and small ornaments on the table and couldn't help but feel puzzled.
It reminded her of the things she hadn't had time to pack up in Constantinople, and she thought back to those years she Constantinople.
While humans may exchange items, Dead Apostle do not.
Moreover, she couldn't recall receiving anything from anyone before.
Could it be the guards and knights who did it? Or is it because they've observed too many human customs?
She tilted her head and accepted the gifts. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted through the air, indicating that the fruits had been freshly picked and preserved using Magecraft.
The flowers that were delivered were dried, but they were arranged in a variety of colors. The colors and the delicate fragrance were pleasing to the eye, and she couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. Before she knew it, she realized that she had been completely captivated by them.
"Fu!"
"..."
After being reminded by her pet, Ji Jun realized who had delivered the bouquet.
Avia, a human with whom she had a pact, said it was a gift as an ally...
Perhaps it was just a simple attempt to curry favor, and besides, sending me to that secluded Valley of Shadows last time was clearly a deliberate attempt to embarrass me...
Despite her thoughts, a radiant smile had already unconsciously spread across the girl's lips.
After that, these gifts were displayed on the wall, just as they had been in Constantinople.
Perhaps this was the first time she had received a gift that was neither a joke nor had any ulterior motives, but simply a gesture of pure concern.
"I'll express my gratitude in person next time... I'm very happy... Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
After some time, in his room in the King of the Huns' Royal Court, which was almost devoid of personal belongings, luxurious yet empty, and without even luggage, Avia opened the moonlit tent and went outside.
On nights when the temperature drops sharply, the thick, silvery clouds are forced to dissipate, and only then can you see that the night sky overhead is adorned with snowflakes. This season has fewer colors than spring, but it is still very beautiful.
However, winter brings not only beautiful scenery, but also a season of death, food shortages, reduced sunshine, and biting cold.
"I'm going to the Millennium Castle, do you want to come with me?"
Hearing the soft sound of footsteps crunching through the thin snow, Avia's gaze shifted forward.
He gazed at the Black-Haired Girl who had walked up to him and stood quietly in the very faint shadow cast by the moonlight.
"Since we are allies, it's not appropriate to refuse."
"Um."
There wasn't a trace of gentleness in Ji Jun's words, only her usual indifference, yet she continued naturally...
"You must stay close to me, Avia, and I'm so happy... I sincerely thank you for accepting my invitation and for the gift you sent."
143: The Gatekeeper of the Millennium Castle
The Castle soars into the clouds, its outline appearing and disappearing in the blue aurora, like a hazy painting.
Along the Lakeside, white flowers swayed gracefully in the moonlight, exuding a captivating fragrance. Occasionally, some small Phantasmal Species would shimmer with a faint light, like twinkling stars in the night sky, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the Serenity night.
This was the Millennium Castle that, in the distant past, was occupied by the Moon King, Crimson Moon, for a thousand years.
The place where the Millennium Castle is located is not the highest point above the ground, but it is the closest to the moon. It is an ancient mountain city that cannot be reached by sunlight and is filled with moon and star flowers that can grow only by moonlight. It is also the place where the True Ancestor first appeared.
Originally a building located on the surface of the earth, it was moved to the Inner Sea of Stars after the great war in 300 AD.
Since Crimson Moon's death and Ji Jun Altrouge Brunestud's departure, the remaining True Ancestor have enjoyed hundreds of years of peace.
But today, the Dead Apostle, whom the True Ancestor regards as "servants" and "masters," will, just as they did in 300 AD, ignite the flames of war.
Led by Princess Altrouge Brunestud, White-Winged Duke Tevanm, and Demon Castle Van Fem, most of the Dead Apostle who survived the Church's extermination will face the remaining two hundred True Ancestor and their forces.
Most of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors belonged to the Dead Apostle camp, but some chose the True Ancestor camp, such as Merem Solomon, the twentieth seat who originally cooperated with Van Fim.
Therefore, the True Ancestor naturally had some expectation of the Dead Apostle's attack.
The True Ancestor are on a high platform, from where they can see a large group of Dead Apostle gathering.
Just as thick, dark rain clouds obscured the sun, casting a dark shadow over the entire world, this relentless onslaught of darkness swept across the Millennium Castle, stretching endlessly across the river—like a nightmare.
This massive army of Dead Apostle is probably comparable in scale to the ancient Millennium Castle War.
Even if they had anticipated it, the True Ancestor all watched the march in silence, probably imagining the ferocity of the upcoming battle from it.
"So, just like Typhon said, you've actually always been inside me?"
At this moment, in Ji Jun's territory, Avia looked at the Magus of Flowers that had appeared before her and said...
Although it is also located in the Inner Sea of Stars, perhaps due to the Millennium Castle, it is isolated from the other inner areas. At the same time, the mystery is not so great that it cannot be accepted by the human body, so even the Flesh can enter openly.