After years of war among the Four Great Empires, Fars and Byron, the two nations that had fought most fiercely, were the first to buckle. Inglima had expended enormous national strength by opening the Ojibwa Island front, leaving its economy even worse off than Byron's. At least Byron had plundered Black Phoenix and gained the allegiance of Duchess Mesu and Count Constantine.
The Lionheart Dynasty was doing slightly better, but it could not hold out alone. Besides, the battlefield was in Byron, and voices within the Lionheart Dynasty had long argued that there was no need to fight for the Byronians. After all, Byron's governors were all blood clans, fundamentally not on the same side as humanity. As emperor, Baldwin Asa could not defy the opinions of most of the nobility.
All Four Great Empires had grown weary of war. People continually contacted Zimmerman in secret, requesting a ceasefire.
Just over a month ago, Zimmerman suddenly issued a public diplomatic note to the Four Great Empires, demanding that they recognize the legitimacy of the lands he occupied and acknowledge his new nation. If he received recognition from the Four Great Empires, he could consider "restoring peace," as circumstances allowed.
The Four Great Empires barely hesitated before each dispatching formal delegations into Zimmerman's territory. Although the Four Great Empires and the New Continent's settlers had yet to sign an agreement, a ceasefire was already on the agenda.
During this time, Charlotte had moved the Emilia and the Holy Light Divine Kingdom to the battlefield and positioned them at the front lines. Around the Lord of Rot's domain, he had constructed twelve temples to the Serpent of Destiny and dozens of Lantern Towers, while turning all the surrounding land into a labyrinth. He was preparing to launch the final battle against this