The Army Sets Out (Part 1)

After a round of fierce battles, the rankings for the top eight were finally decided.

Although Yukino had undergone Number One's rigorous training, she lacked real combat experience and understood magic far less deeply than students who had received systematic training since childhood. As a result, she narrowly lost in the final battle.

"Beep, beep."

As the referee blew the final whistle, the Military Martial Celebration that had swept across more than half of the Erus Empire came to an end.

"Your Majesty!"

At the captain of the guards' prompt, His Majesty the Emperor took out a scroll sealed with wax from his sleeve.

"Read it to them!"

"Yes!"

Taking the document with both hands, the captain of the guards slowly walked to the edge of the platform and broke the wax seal before the eight contestants.

"Our Erus Empire was founded through military might. Our people are fierce by nature and revere the strong. In accordance with the wishes of the people, I have held this imperial martial tournament to select outstanding talents and enlist them in the military for tempering, thereby strengthening our army's spirit and our nation's power."

"Yet without weathering wind and rain, one cannot become a pillar of the state. Therefore, I have decided to use the outstanding performers of this imperial martial tournament as the backbone of the Volunteer Expeditionary Army, using the southern barbarians of Leshade and the savages of the ice fields as whetstones to sharpen the new blades of our army and foster their growth."

"I hereby appoint Konda Rokchi, first place in the imperial martial tournament, as Great Captain of the Volunteer Army's First Brigade. He will accompany the Southern Route Army in its attack on the Leshade Islands."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I appoint Yukino Agria as Great Captain