The Kingdom's Chance

After the Year of Running Wolves, the most outstanding military genius in Wind Spirit history, Shagriffen, the King of Gray Mountain, who had not yet been appointed marshal at the time, wrote in one of his works: "Unless one can inflict effective damage on the Liches in Madara's army, it is impossible to truly defeat an army of the undead." Yet when this Black Rose of Bromanto was truly defeated, the Bone Frames routed through the valley were actually no different from a scattered human army fleeing in all directions. The undead fled across the mountains and plains, and having lost their command structure, the Liches fought independently alongside the Skeleton Warriors they had summoned, becoming completely disorganized. Although the Undead Lords from the Sea of Dead Moons could still restrain their own subordinates, their only thought was escape, and they had completely lost their will to fight. The Blood Staff's army could no longer truly be called an army. From top to bottom, it had lost its purpose and will to fight, struggling only to preserve itself. It was no different from the armies of the northern nobles defeated at Ambersell.

However, careful observation revealed some subtle differences. Human flight after the defeat of a great army was often caused by inner hesitation and surrender to panic. The undead had neither of these emotions. They preserved themselves purely as a rational choice. They would not trample one another in panic, nor would they be slaughtered like ducks driven to market without daring to turn and resist. If they were caught, they would stop and fight back. Yet because of the selfish nature of dark creatures, they would never aid nearby comrades under attack—even if doing so might have benefited them more.

Count Jacques and Brando rode side by side