Prelude to War
Collins City.
This is the largest city in the North Aisel Plains, located at the confluence of the Ivo River and Mason River.
This place boasts flat and fertile land, and two wide rivers serve as natural barriers, making it an extremely advantageous geographical location to resist foreign invasion.
Hundreds of years ago, this was the capital of the Aisel Kingdom. After Aragon led the former Fadlan Kingdom to conquer North Aisel, he also carried out extensive construction in Collins City, making it a political, economic, and military stronghold in the north.
To this day, a bronze statue of Aragon I still stands in the center of Collins City, the once-mighty emperor pointing his sword northward with a sharp gaze, as if still carrying out his great conquests.
In the distance, the sun slowly rose from the horizon, dyeing the sky golden, and rays of dawn fell on the earth and also shone on the towering city walls of Collins.
"Your Grace, according to our latest intelligence, Berg City has also..."
"I understand, you may leave."
"Yes, sir."
At the top of the city tower, Angel Divine Descendant, clad in armor and wielding a longsword, gazed into the distance with a solemn and resolute look, a bitter smile playing on his lips, "I never imagined this day would come so soon."
Nineteen days—in just nineteen days, the entire territory of North Aisel had fallen. It seems I underestimated their military strength.
"Don't worry, Duke Walter, their arrogance is only temporary." The voice was strong and remarkably steady, and the speaker was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties.
He wore a long golden robe and had a neatly groomed beard. His deep, pale golden eyes revealed undisguised arrogance and integrity.
—This is Titus, the "Dragon of Dawn" and "Wings of Aurora" who helped the Dwarf resist the orc invasion, and also an important ally of Duke Walter, who was sent by the Gold Dragon Council as reinforcements.
Titus stroked his beard and continued, "Justice and righteousness will ultimately prevail, and those who are brutal will perish—this is the inevitable trend of history, and no one can change it."
Walter nodded. "Titus, I have the utmost respect for your kindness and wisdom." He raised his head, continuing to gaze at the distant Gunsmoke- filled horizon, his brow slightly furrowed.
"But I'm still worried about that Red Dragon."
"On Amanata, a hundred-meter-long Red Dragon —in nearly a hundred years, I have never seen any dragon with such an exaggerated size." Thinking of the enemy he had never met, he couldn't stop praying.
Walter turned to look at Titus and said softly, "As a fellow dragon, I believe you should understand what this means."
"Duke, this is the Third Era. After the devastating Dragonfall War, it is very difficult for dragons hundreds of meters long to appear in the Material Plane."
"You mean that the Embers of the Burned Emperor didn't actually reach that size?" Walter asked first, then shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Whether that hundred-meter-tall size is real or not, the power he displayed is beyond the reach of a declining divine descendant like myself."
Even I, who once shone under the Sun God, was no match for that Red Dragon, let alone the Holy Fadlan Empire that once stood behind me.
As the most steadfast "Fadlanist," Walter, like a hermit, sought to understand the empire's past, yet he knew the current state of the Fadlan Empire better than anyone else.
After the old emperor's death, this vast empire existed in name only, leaving only a massive corpse and his heirs vying for power.
Walter, unable to tolerate the infighting within his own ranks, resolutely launched a rebellion against the Thrace Kingdom.
Hearing this, Titus nodded and said solemnly, "Of course, but that Red Dragon is indeed powerful and brutal. But aren't Tiamat and Kareks even more powerful? And where are the gods of these evil dragons now? Afunas, the Screaming Void Tunnel, the Plane of Shadow. They once had the size of mountains, yet they were still exiled to those places full of sin."
The man, who looked like a middle-aged nobleman, said, word by word. "I firmly believe that the Material Plane will always belong to justice and light, as it has been in history and will be in the future."
He stepped forward, looked down at the land, and stretched out his hand, pointing to the wide, rolling river.
"Just as the waters of the Ivo River will eventually flow to the sea, unstoppable, so too will those cruel tyrants and wicked rulers be driven to the land of darkness, never to rise again!"
not to mention--"
Titus paused, his eyes gleaming with confidence, and his entire body radiating a subtle, shimmering light.
His voice grew louder and louder, finally turning into a thunderous roar, "You are not fighting alone!"
The middle-aged nobleman had disappeared, replaced by Golden Dragon standing tall and proud, instantly attracting the attention of countless people.
Its enormous body resembled a moving mountain, and its molten gold scales shimmered with a dazzling golden light in the morning sun, carved with mysterious and exquisite patterns, making the Golden Dragon appear as if it were wearing the most magnificent armor.
The Golden Dragon's eyes, like burning suns, were filled with wisdom and power. With a gentle flap of its broad wings, it produced a roaring sound that distorted the air and created a powerful hurricane.
Titus transformed into his Ancient Gold Dragon form, looking down at the still somewhat bewildered Divine Descendant Duke, and declared in a resounding voice, "Whether it be the sky, the earth, or the sea, all beings in the Material Plane who uphold justice and righteousness will stand behind you and resist the tyranny of the evil dragon!"
"Your Titus"
Duke Walter looked up at the Golden Dragon in the sky, his expression somewhat moved. Then he lowered his head and turned his gaze to his army.
In the dim light of dawn, the towering city walls stood majestically, banners fluttering in the wind, while an unprecedentedly large and imposing allied army gathered in the open space in front of the walls.
On the ground, tens of thousands of soldiers from North Aisel stood in neat rows, clad in gleaming steel armor, holding longswords or shields that flashed with cold light. Their expressions were resolute, their eyes were fervent, and their formation was as dense as an iron wall.
They were all elites drawn from all over North Aisel, including many extraordinary professionals. Many of them had followed Walter through thick and thin, enduring hardships and always firmly believing that the Duke could lead them to rebuild Holy Fadlan.
The mages stood at the rear, clad in magnificent robes, holding staffs, and surrounded by runic light generated by magic.
Some of them were deep in thought, while others were silently chanting incantations. Strong energy fluctuations filled the air, and points of light flickered at their fingertips from time to time.
Among these mages were former members of the Faldran Arcane Legion, reinforcements requested by Duke Walter from the City of All Laws, and righteous members of the Arcane Hermitage.
In the sky, nine Angel Divine Descendant, wielding Flame Longsword and flapping their wings, displayed their piercing gazes, showcasing the nobility and power of the Fadlan descendants. Among them were three legendary-level powerhouses.
The skies above Collins City are not only inhabited by the Angel Divine Descendant of Fadlan, but also by genuine celestial beings.
A melodious and ethereal hymn echoed in the sky, and a blurry figure appeared on the clouds with ripples in the space before gradually solidifying.
The angels of the Silver Heaven Legion, including the Herald of Justice, the God of the Herald of the Legion, the Herald of the Horn, and the Chanting Angel, stood in neat formation high in the sky. Their wings were as white and flawless as clouds, and their feathers trembled slightly, radiating a holy and gentle light.
The benevolent creatures of Mount Paradise, such as Pegasus, Cloud Giant, Celestial Spirit, and Celestial Eagle, also appeared at the top of the clouds, becoming part of the Celestial Legion.
Immediately following, accompanied by the starlight, a tall, silver figure appeared at the forefront of the Celestial Legion.
He held a longsword crackling with lightning, carried a gleaming Silver Horn, and wore a smooth violet robe adorned with star-like shimmering dust.
Its enormous wings, covered in white feathers, made its shoulders even more elegant, and its dark purple eyes looked down upon the earth with a compassionate gaze, shining brightly.
A majestic voice echoed across the land, "Walter, I have come at your invitation, representing the will of Mount Paradise, to offer assistance to North Aisel!"
From the moment he appeared, a gentle, orderly light filled the sky, bringing an unprecedented sense of tranquility to everyone present, as if the impurities and sins in their hearts had been cleansed.
Everyone held their breath and looked up, only to see the eternal night sky, the twinkling stars, and the silver moonlight appear behind that tall figure—it was the projection of Lunia, the Silver Heaven.
Walter's face lit up with joy, his eyes radiating even more confidence; he knew what this meant.
—The noble Lord of the Silver Heaven Lunia, and the protector of the messenger Barachiel, has descended upon the Material Plane!
Walter quickly flapped his wings, flew high into the sky, bowed respectfully, and said excitedly, "Good day, Your Highness Barachiel, the entire North Aisel awaits your arrival."
Titus also flapped its wings and came up above the clouds. Facing this noble Lord of Paradise, even the proud Golden Dragon had to bow its head and pay its respects.
Barachiel nodded to them, then took the bright Silver Horn from his waist and blew it.
Immediately afterwards, all the trumpeters and divine messengers of the Celestial Legion sounded their horns, while the harp angels softly sang hymns.
"Waaah—"
The bugle call resounded through the sky, like a battle hymn from heaven, bringing inspiring power. Everyone present could feel an unprecedented surge of courage and fighting spirit filling their hearts.
Their bodies shimmered with a faint glow, like the light of stars, which made the Fighter ' minds sharp and their bodies lighter and stronger.
Unlike those inspiring war songs that make soldiers fearless, the war songs of heaven can evoke the most beautiful illusions and the greatest desires in people's hearts, and urge them to do their utmost for them.
Walter closed his eyes, and in an instant, the magnificent Holy City and the towering Eternal Sun God Tower appeared in the distance. The sun shone brightly on the earth, and the faces of the people of Fadlan were filled with joy and confidence. He seemed to have returned to that glorious era, to that Ascension Ritual that he would never forget.
After a long silence, the Divine Descendant Duke slowly opened his eyes. Before him lay a massive and astonishingly large allied army.
Gods, humans, Half-elf, angels, Pegasus, Cloud Giant, and countless other kind and righteous beings gathered here. Their races were mixed, but their strength was by no means inferior, with more than a dozen legendary powerhouses among them.
Such an army would be a force to be reckoned with anywhere on the Feanso Continent, and even the Three Great Kingdoms would not be able to defeat them easily.
Over the past few months, Walter exhausted almost all his connections, traveled to various planes, and even set aside his dignity to gather such a massive coalition.
"I will win. I will lead the allied forces to drive that Red Dragon out of Aisel and reclaim the homeland of the Fadlan Empire." Walter gripped his longsword tightly and said, word by word. "Wherever the sun shines, that is the territory of the Empire." Suddenly, his pale golden eyes revealed an unprecedented determination.
The Divine Descendant Duke believed he had done everything he could, and he had no reason to lose, nor could he afford to lose.
With that thought, Walter flapped his wings and came to the forefront of the allied forces. He raised the longsword burning with golden flames, drawing everyone's attention to him.
"Today, standing here, I feel not only the severity and challenge of the upcoming battle, but also an unprecedented determination and strength."
Every inch of air on this land is filled with our vows, and every heart beats for the same goal—we will protect our homeland, defend our beliefs, and never let this land succumb to the threat of the evil dragon!
His voice grew increasingly impassioned and powerful, resounding like the pounding of drums in people's ears.
This is not merely a war, but a vow, a belief, and an unwavering resolve! Today, the dragon will see our sword, our shield, and the burning fury and brilliance in our eyes! Justice and righteousness will prevail, and the dragon's arrogance will be reduced to ashes before our mighty allied forces!
"Justice will prevail!"
The allied soldiers brandished their weapons, shouting and cheering that shook the heavens. The Golden Dragon dragon raised its head and roared, and even the angels showed fighting spirit on their faces.
However, Duke Walter was unaware that his hated enemy was brazenly present in the ranks of the allied forces, even cheering.
As the sounds gradually subsided, the allied forces in Collins City began their tense preparations for battle again. Walter and his two most powerful allies entered a secret chamber to discuss strategies for dealing with the Red Dragon.
"Call--"
The cold wind howled, the light of dawn illuminated the sky, and the golden banner of Holy Fadlan fluttered in the wind on the city walls. The air was heavy, as if the entire sky held its breath.
Everyone present knew that this war was inevitable. In just nineteen days, almost the entire territory of North Aisel had fallen, and Collins City was their last stronghold.
This is the final battle, a war that will determine the fate of North Aisel and even the entire Feanso Continent.