It was just one day. One single day—that’s all it took for Burkhai to go from paradise to hell and back again.
All that effort, all that energy they’d hyped up to the max, had gone wandering aimlessly without a destination. Just like that.
In front of the advancing 7th Legion, they stood tall, ready to block their path with pride. Defenses and counterattacks were prepared and poised.
The momentum of the Imperial 7th Legion was impressive, yes, but Burkhai’s army? No joke—they weren’t pushovers either.
Every last soldier had been rallied; their forces were as formidable as the Empire’s legions themselves. Nothing to sneeze at.
”Alright, bring it on like last time. We’ll crush you flat again.”
There was confidence—no, scratch that, a faint flicker of certainty that they’d outdo even their own expectations.
They had mobilized absolutely everything. And there was still no sign of the enemy’s second wave of troops. If they kept stalling… well, Burkhai was more than ready to strike at any moment.
Yeah. That is, until the completely unexpected news started pouring in like nobody’s business.
”Urgent dispatch from the Pavilion region! The Empire’s 12th Legion is on the move! They’re breaking through Pavilion territory like a house on fire and closing in!”
”Bad news from the rear! Porland’s forces are mobilizing. Their military activity is intensifying near our shared border!”
What fresh hell was this supposed to be? The Pavilion region’s Imperial army moving now? Those guys who were supposedly committed to defense this entire time?
What the heck? Wasn’t their whole deal supposed to be holding and securing that area?
And breaking through? What about our allies who were supposedly stationed there? What exactly were they doing—or not doing?
And then there was the matter of Porland. Impossible. Their forces were already largely tied up elsewhere, right? That’s why Burkhai had pulled their border troops into this mess in the first place. No way could Porland afford to make any bold moves.
But then…
Burkhai’s strategists didn’t have to wait long for answers.
“Upon verification, the Porland unit in question is none other than General Bethel’s division from the Pavilion region! They’ve apparently withdrawn from the Pavilion frontline and returned to Porland.”
“You must be joking! If the Empire’s 12th Legion moves, they’d collide first with Porland’s forces—so how exactly did they manage to return…?”
Oh, snap. They’d gotten played. Played hard. Of course Porland would turn coat and side with the Empire. How else could they explain it?
“Caden! What’s Caden doing over at the Pavilion region?!”
“The front of Caden’s forces has reportedly been blocked by a portion of the Empire’s 12th Legion.”
“Tell me they haven’t lost?!”
“It’s not that. They’re just… locked in a standoff. No actual fighting yet.”
A standoff? So they were just… standing there, letting things unfold?
”Seriously? You’re gonna sit this out? Right now?!”
And now Caden, on top of Porland, was refusing to play ball? Why? What in the name of all things holy?!
We were practically winning against the Empire. We’d struck a blow to their influence in the eastern continent. How could they abandon their opportunity like this?
“N-no… this is ridiculous. A two-front war? No—a three-front war?!”
How in the world could they execute such an audacious, lightning-fast plan?
The Burkhai brass was thrown into chaos, but they quickly regrouped. The most pressing matter remained: the clash with the 7th Legion.
Sure, the 12th Legion might be moving, but allies were still in position there. They couldn’t stop them, but surely they could buy some precious time.
And on the Porland front? Border garrisons could hold out… at least for a bit. Porland’s main force may have withdrawn, but not without taking casualties. They’d likely get bogged down at the border if they tried to rush in now.
“Just hold on! Hold on just a little longer! If you manage that…”
“Dammit! We’ve been duped. We’ve been played!”
Oh, great. What fresh nonsense was this?
The commanders stared nervously at the screaming courier delivering the latest intel.
“The Empire’s second wave wasn’t lurking behind the 7th Legion after all! The 3rd and 10th Legions have appeared in the Pavilion region! They’ve swapped out with the 12th Legion, pushed us back, and are already ravaging the border regions!”
Wait… what?! The Burkhai leadership felt their brains freeze up. For a moment, all they could do was blankly stare at the ever-menacing figure of the Imperial 7th Legion hovering before them.
So THAT’S why the 7th Legion had been so cocky. THAT’S why the Princess had “arrived for morale inspection” instead of fleeing like she was supposed to. THAT’S why that “genius strategist” had supposedly been lurking around the 7th Legion, ready to unleash diabolical schemes.
Oh, this was rich. Every single thing—their terrifying momentum, the Princess’s presence, the “genius strategist” rumors—had all been a giant setup to distract and mislead Burkhai.
“This… this whole thing? A decoy?! Everything was just designed to keep our focus glued to that one point?!”
Crazy. There was no other word for it. The only explanation was insanity. How could they pull off something this elaborate?
All along, it was just a masquerade—an act, specifically tailored to manipulate and deceive. To play Burkhai like a fiddle.
“Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!”
Game over. Absolute defeat. Burkhai had played right into the enemy’s hands, step by step.
Was it because they were stupid? No, stupid wouldn’t have cut it. If it were just dumb luck, it wouldn’t have gone THIS far. The enemy had calculated every move, every detail, and made Burkhai dance to their tune.
Like puppets on strings, completely blind to what was unfolding around them. All because of one simple thing: greed. A single moment of being blinded by opportunity had led them here.
And now? The enemy was laughing—cackling even—as they tightened the noose.
“…but, but there’s still hope!”
“If the 3rd and 10th Legions weren’t factors, we’d have the upper hand against the 7th Legion! Even with support from the 17th Legion, Burkhai’s forces are still superior!”
“All we need to do is win. No matter what, we MUST win! If we can annihilate the 7th Legion—and by some miracle capture the Princess—there’ll still be room for negotiation!”
It was only three days’ travel from the Pavilion region to the capital. That time could be enough. Annihilating the 7th Legion and taking the Princess hostage? That would change the game entirely!
—
“Princess, the Burkhai forces will arrive shortly. At this point, it’s still possible to… evacuate…”
“My mind hasn’t changed, as I already told you. Are you mocking me?”
“Certainly not! It’s just that…”
“Your job right now is simply avoiding another defeat. That’s all. Yes, exactly. That’s why I came here for this ‘morale boost’ visit, and that’s why His Majesty and Her Highness personally sent a letter.”
Whoa, subtle blackmail, huh? The Princess, so sweet to the soldiers but stern as nails with the officers. Another warning: if you let Burkhai pull this off again, heads will roll.
The Princess’s stern words effectively silenced anyone who dared suggest she retreat.
“Alright, Lord Kael, anything you’d like to say?”
“No, I’m grateful to be accompanying you.”
“Nah, we’ve worked together this far. It’s only proper.”
Initially, Kael had planned to shadow the 7th Legion solo, thinking the Princess would be sent back early.
But no dice. The Princess insisted on staying. She claimed her presence here would keep enemy focus locked on the 7th Legion, leveraging her celebrity to maximum effect.
“You remember what you said, Kael? About us being the anvil and Pavilion’s legions being the hammer?”
“Yes.”
“And with me here, the 7th Legion could become an even stronger anvil, right?”
“That is correct, Your Highness.”
The hammer-and-anvil strategy. One little misstep and everything falls apart. Fear gripped Kael briefly before he shook it off.
Stay focused. Keep your eyes on the prize. War isn’t a game. It isn’t a joke. It’s raw, brutal reality.
This was something to be reckoned with, and something important to learn from. That’s why Kael stayed. He stayed with the Princess, with the 7th Legion, and braved the chaos together.
“Sigh…”
Not nervous? Are you kidding? Kael’s legs were practically jelly. He knew Burkhai would see this as their chance to strike—hard. If they could dismantle the 7th Legion, they might sway Caden again. And if they captured the Princess, the Empire wouldn’t dare escalate further.
Gently, Kael reached over and patted the protruding skull of his companion.
“Don’t worry, big brother. I’ve got your back.”
Through it all, his younger sister Kaya had followed him without a single complaint, radiating smiles and determination.
“Sheesh, Kael Lordship. Isn’t it a bit… odd to have your teenaged little sister guarding you?” the Princess teased.
Oh, they’ll see. Just wait till things get rough. Kaya’s far from ordinary.
—
“WAAAH!”
“AAAHHH!!”
The clash between Burkhai and the 7th Legion was fierce beyond compare. Every soldier seemed to burn with a desperate need to win. The weight of impending victory and past triumphs fueled them.
But the 7th Legion wasn’t backing down either. Their spirits had been revitalized, thanks to sheer grit and the sweet taste of revenge.
The sheer intensity made it impossible to declare a winner anytime soon. Ironically, this stalemate made them susceptible to smaller shifts in momentum.
And today, the shift came from the Empire.
Clopping hooves approached. A lone rider charged forward, spear in hand. Small in stature, almost comically petite for a man, yet radiating such raw menace it made seasoned warriors tremble.
The rider’s jaw tensed. Memories of a fallen comrade—a recent casualty from errant arrows—sparked a fire of unbridled fury.
Retribution would come first. Apologies could wait.
