The Beginning

The Savedra Plain, the Imperial Wall.

A biting wind blew in, rushing into the fortress's ventilation shafts and making a piercing whistling sound.

On the vast wilderness, no living creatures were to be seen, the sky was dark and gloomy, and even the eagles flying over and skimming the earth seemed to be in a panic, as if foreshadowing something big that was about to happen.

Inside the bunker, officers and soldiers were busy, hurrying through the passageways and moving between different areas, while the voice of Imperial Marshal Dolo came through the loudspeaker, exceptionally clear.

"Soldiers, what lies before us is an extremely painful and severe test. You ask: What is our goal? I can answer with one word: Victory—to win at all costs! Because without victory, there is no survival. Everyone must realize this: without victory, there is no existence of the Embers of the Burned Empire, no existence of anything the Burning Empire represents! Twelve years ago, His Your Majesty Keosius personally created the Ember Nest, and in the years since, from the nest to the kingdom, and now to the empire, we have never failed! And today is no different! Twelve days ago, demons attacked the Triel Mine."

Nine days ago, demons attacked Storm Highlands Ranch.

Three days ago, demons attacked the Mar City.

Yesterday, demons attacked the train bound for Istaria.

These demonic insects from the Abyss have swarmed out, seeking to destroy the order of the Empire and ruin everything we possess! As Fighter of the Great Red Dragon, subjects of His Your Majesty Keosius, we cannot tolerate this insult and allow these demons to invade!

"The empire may be vast, but we have nowhere to retreat! Istaria lies behind us!"

Inside a command post somewhere in the bunker, George flipped through the supplies report and listened to a speech on the radio, casually remarking, "Marshal Dolo still loves to show off."

"Come in."

An officer knocked on the door and strode in, bringing the latest news.

"Commander, we've received a coded message from above. We might be the first to face the demons' onslaught."

"Okay, I understand."

They should be mentally prepared, remain vigilant at all times, and not imagine that war will be too easy.

Remember, this isn't a war for racking up achievements, and the demons aren't those cowardly the North.

George put down the paper report in his hand and said in a deep voice.

He stood up from his seat, looked at the map pasted on the wall, stared at the dense markings, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, "However, whether they can break through the lines today is still unknown."

George turned his head and looked out at the vast wilderness beyond the ventilation window.

The shoulder insignia, symbolizing the rank of "colonel" and adorned with a golden Wyvern, gleamed under the lights inside the bunker.

The Imperial Wall.

This massive defensive line stretches for hundreds of miles and is constructed of reinforced concrete, making it exceptionally sturdy.

It mainly includes the Hosi Fortified Area, the Ter Fortified Area, and the Lower River Valley Area.

The engineering structures are strongest in the fortified areas of Hossi and Ter. The Lower River Valley is protected by the Inaki River and Oryol River as natural barriers.

The defensive line was equipped with a variety of cannons, trenches, fortresses, kitchens, hospitals, and factories, and was exceptionally well-equipped. Larger fortifications even had passageways for Steam Engine Car.

There are 276 regimental-level command posts along the entire defense line, and the command posts communicate with each other via communication devices. A total of 550,000 people are on high alert along this defense line.

This was an unprecedented scale of war in the Anzeta region; the Scania People had never experienced a war of this magnitude in thousands of years.

The empire's accumulated war potential over the years was unleashed at this moment, with urgent mobilizations underway across the country, and Steam Engine Car loaded with soldiers and supplies rushing to the south.

If logistics personnel are included, the number of people involved in this war could reach one million.

If we also include those "indirect participants," then it can be said that the entire empire has been engaged in this massive National Defense War, and this terrifying War Machine has been fully put into operation.

However, the empire's enemies were no less formidable; they were the demon legions from the Abyss, who had destroyed countless mortal nations and slaughtered countless mortals over the long years.

The Abyss Legion is a true killing machine; they revel in rivers of blood, love pain and torment, and exist to spread evil, fear, and chaos.

The clash between empire and Abyss is about to begin.

"Commander, another message has arrived."

"Explain."

"At 9:45 PM last night, the front-line stronghold of Leo Village lost communication. At 10:21 PM, the stronghold of Ander Village lost communication. At 11:45 PM, the stronghold of Akad Village lost communication. So far, almost all the Starfallers have fallen. Most of the Starfallers have been resurrected in the magic circle, causing some stampedes."

George frowned. "So fast?"

Although those Starfallers were not very strong, there were still more than a million of them! Their strongholds were spread across thousands of villages.

Even if you slaughtered a million pigs, it wouldn't be enough for three days, but in just one night, all the Starfallers ' positions had fallen.

This can only mean that the strength of the Abyss Legion is beyond his expectations.

George drew his finely crafted pistol from his waist and gently wiped it with a handkerchief. "How much longer until they reach the Imperial Wall?"

The adjutant swallowed hard and said in a heavy tone, "According to the information from headquarters, it's probably... now."

The adjutant's tense words echoed in the room.

Suddenly, George felt the entire bunker tremble slightly, and ripples appeared in the water glass on the table.

He stood up, looked out the window again, and then gasped, his eyes filled with seriousness.

Even George, who was a seasoned veteran of countless battles, had never witnessed such a scene.

"Keosius above"

In the distance, a surging torrent appeared, almost occupying the entire wasteland and dyeing the horizon with mottled colors.

But what surged in that torrent was not water, but demons.

The lowest, cheapest Quasit thronged forward, emitting noisy, shrill screams.

The short, thin, crimson-red Barbed Devil mingled among them, moving swiftly like ghosts, their piercing laughter filling the air.

"Boom! Boom!"

Towering figures strode across the cursed ground, each step causing the earth to tremble and their breath filling the surrounding air with billowing smoke.

Its overly long arms were as thick as tree trunks, and it had a domineering, demonic bull's head with massive horns that stretched forward—it was the Gorebull Devil.

The Gorebull Devil's head and shoulders were bound to platforms, upon which stood slender demons wielding poison arrows and wands, making it resemble a mobile fortress.

A legion of powerful mid-level demons, including Glabrezu and Bargura Devil, roared and charged madly toward the distant bunker.

In the sky, the Quasit, the Kas Devil, and the Vrock flapped their wings, colliding and rubbing against each other, emitting hoarse cries.

The demons nearly covered half the sky, spreading out like rolling dark clouds and casting swirling shadows on the ground.

The entire south was shrouded in darkness, the sun blocked by the Magic Tide, unable to cast its rays upon the earth.

And this was just the beginning. In the distant snow-capped mountains, the demons continued to surge northward like a torrent, covering the entire mountainside without any sign of stopping.

There are probably hundreds of thousands of demons that have appeared in George's field of vision alone.

Moreover, in terms of individual strength, the thousands of Glabrezu and Bargura Devil Legions alone are far superior to ordinary Imperial soldiers.

This is absolutely the most terrifying enemy the empire has ever encountered in its history.

This also caused many soldiers in the bunker to doubt themselves for the first time—could they really defeat these demons? Could the Empire resist the Magic Tide, or even launch a counterattack?

As he gazed at the surging Magic Tide, George's expression turned serious, but the image of the Red Dragon spreading its wings and roaring with its head held high several years ago flashed through his mind.

Before that, when he was still a serf, George also thought that the army of the Northern Nobles was invincible.

Thinking of this, George glanced at his uneasy adjutant beside him, continued wiping his pistol, and said in a firm and calm tone, "The Empire will prevail. Just like always."