Several days later.
The Sifa Army began to leave Badali Canyon.
When they set out,
there were clearly many new faces in the army.
These were surrendered soldiers of the Pale Empire. They had originally been only shallow believers in the Pale Empress.
Under the Sifa Army's mixture of persuasion and coercion, they changed their faith and betrayed the Empire for their own reasons.
Of course, the Sifa Army did not trust them because of this.
These surrendered soldiers would charge at the very front in the battles to come.
Only after surviving several battles
could they earn trust.
After leaving Badali Canyon,
there were no longer any natural barriers within the Empire. Towns, cities—everything lay exposed before the Sifa Army.
In the battle of Badali Canyon,
the Empire had nearly drained its domestic forces. Although some reserves remained available, they were inferior to the regular army in both number and quality.
Under such circumstances,
there was also no overall command from the royal capital.
The various counties and cities were practically fighting on their own.
Once the Sifa Army left the canyon, it was like floodwaters bursting through a sluice, surging through the Empire and sweeping in every direction.
For a time,
the flames of war were lit across nearly the entire Empire.
The towns and cities of the Empire's counties resisted actively, but the gap in strength was simply too great.
The Sifa Army was unstoppable, advancing triumphantly.
They planted their banners across town after town, city after city.
They showed every sign of conquering the entire land.
They rapidly marched toward the royal capital, White City.
That night.
White City.
Ethereal music, carrying a mysterious charm,
drifted through the sky above the city and into every corner.
Within the city,
residents emerged from building after building, dressed