The First Prince's Golden Aura
About a week later, the Guernica Plains lay outside the eastern border of the Empire. Clang! Clang! The sharp clash of weapons pierced through the air as soldiers swung their swords and spears with deadly intent beneath the clear blue sky. The scorching heat of the battlefield and the roar of battle cries erupted from every corner, while red blood flowing from the gaps in broken armor had soaked the vast plain.
"Soldiers of the Coalition! Never let the greedy Empire's army invade our homeland!" "Don't yield! Raise your swords and shields and fight!" The knights in armor engraved with the symbols of the Coalition raised their voices valiantly. Amid the tense flow of the battlefield, the soldiers squeezed every last drop of strength from the knights' resounding voices. Their faces, smeared with blood on their armor, were filled with the resolve to protect their homeland.
Even if the Empire boasted soldier power strong enough to command the entire continent, the Coalition forces were determined to die on this Guernica Plains. While they swung their swords with death in mind, dak-dak-dak—
A knight appeared on horseback, breaking through the wall of Coalition soldiers. Boom—!
"Aaaah! My arm!" "Damn it! The defense line has been breached!" "Her Highness, Vice Commander of the Imperial Royal Knights, Fiora! A Sword Graduate Knight!"
The appearance of Fiora, a red-haired knight with a sharp gaze, caused the Coalition forces to waver. Her level reached the very edge of Sword Graduate. Among the nearby Coalition knights, there was no one who could match her skill. Therefore, every time Fiora swung her long aura, dozens of heads floated into the air.
Whoosh—!
"Uwaaa, damn it!" "W, what?! This can't be stopped!" "Everyone step aside! I'll block it!" "Lord Alejandro!"
While Fiora was dancing a dance of slaughter, a burly knight wielding a spear pierced through the panicked soldiers. He was the commander leading the Coalition forces and the one responsible for guarding the Guernica region, Alejandro. Originally, it would have been appropriate for him to observe the overall battlefield from the rear and coordinate the troops, but given the current situation, he judged that he should advance himself as the maximum force.
"The hateful First Prince of the Empire is again invading our land. But it will never be as you wish."
Alejandro muttered with a hardened face. Immediately, he tightened his grip on the spear he held, whipped the horse strongly, and clashed his weapon against the spear that was mowing down the soldiers like scarecrows, the one belonging to Fiora.
Whoosh—
Boom!
"Stop! You can't advance even one step further!" "You are the commander of the Coalition forces, Lord Alejandro. I heard you've been wielding the spear for a long time, reaching the level of Sword Graduate. Impressive strength."
"Shut up! How dare you invade this Guernica Plains. I'll engrave the souls of the soldiers with your blood!"
Clang!
Alejandro raised his aura fiercely and swung his spear. The two knights who had reached the level of Sword Graduate clashed auras, causing the center of the battlefield to vibrate with the aftershock. In the trembling air, Alejandro's long spear relentlessly stabbed forward, targeting Fiora's openings.
Swoosh—!
Clang!
"Your aura level is quite high. Moreover, despite possessing great strength, your movements are quite fast, making it difficult to deal with." "Talkative! How long are you going to keep dodging!?"
Fiora's smooth movement deflected the spear, and Alejandro pressed forward with a domineering momentum. Compared to his reputation, Fiora's movements were somewhat passive. This made Alejandro feel a sense of unease. It wasn't the time to quibble over small things now. He just needed to focus on eliminating the intruder in front of him.
Soon, Alejandro steadied his mind, raised his spear high, and prepared to strike. Suddenly, Fiora withdrew her aura and stepped back far away, creating distance.
"What? Are you trying to flee in the middle of battle?" "Ah, sorry. The joy of hunting the enemy's commander is a right that only His Highness can enjoy. I hope you'll understand that I couldn't show you my full strength."
"What...?"
Alejandro's words trailed off in confusion. What was this woman saying? His Highness, surely... Is she referring to the First Prince of the Empire, Maximilian? According to rumors, he had already reached the level of Sword Master. But no such overwhelming aura was felt around. Was he hiding somewhere? Rather than that, hunting himself. Truly an arrogant expression, Alejandro's face twisted.
"Insolent. I'll kill you right here and send your head to the First Prince to let him know. If you try to invade the Coalition, you must pay the price." "It won't be like that. You'll die soon anyway."
"Still spouting nonsense!"
Alejandro roared and gathered his aura. There was no more time to argue with her. He had to settle the battle quickly and then lead the soldiers to seize victory on the battlefield. Just as he was about to swing his spear.
"?"
Alejandro hesitated at the obviously unnatural scene. The Empire's troops splitting left and right like clearing a path. Even if the number of troops visible at that moment was thousands, and including Fiora, all those many people were moving in perfect unison to step aside and create a wide corridor. What was going on suddenly? Could it be that the First Prince was nearby and had cleared the way? No. His aura wasn't felt nearby yet. Then why...?
The question that couldn't be resolved even when spreading mana wider to locate the First Prince's position. Alejandro swallowed dryly in confusion. The moment the mana spreading out reached its limit.
Kiiiiing—!
"!"
At the same time as detecting someone at the edge of the detection range, a massive golden light beam shot through the soldiers' corridor. "Damn it!"
Swoosh!
The moment Alejandro detected the attack, he condensed all his aura at the tip of his spear. Immediately, he raised his spear to block the golden light beam. Like erasing everything on the path, a devastating golden aura enveloped Alejandro.
Boom—!
"Ugh... First Prince!!!"
Alejandro shouted with a pained voice towards the owner of the golden aura who had shot it. He scraped together all his aura and poured it into the spear, but it was useless in front of the overwhelming golden light aura.
"Maximilian! You filthy invader! You'll taste an irreversible defeat against a much stronger opponent someday! Definitely!!!"
Alejandro cursed towards the enemy who had come to trample his homeland. The burly knight glaring at the place where the golden aura was shot with eyes bloodshot from rage. He was swallowed by overwhelming power along with his valiant shout. At the place where the golden light beam faded.
"Ah... Lord Alejandro?" "This can't be... Impossible... This can't be!"
The Coalition soldiers cried out while looking at Alejandro, who had half his body blown away and was lying on the ground. Taking advantage of their confusion, Fiora charged into the Coalition camp.
"The enemy commander has been lost! Crush them in one go!"
-Whoaah!
A thunderous battle cry erupted from the Empire's camp. With the confidence of victory, they rushed forward with high morale, and the troops who lost their commander crumbled like being swept away by waves. Watching from afar the scene of the Coalition camp gradually collapsing.
Maximilian, the First Prince of the Empire, draped in a magnificent cloak over his broad shoulders, withdrew his golden aura.
"Defeat against a much stronger opponent... Just a trivial curse." "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'll retrieve the remaining body of that person and throw it to the frenzied Greenskins."
"It's fine. You weren't particularly brave, were you? Desecrating a corpse by the Greenskins is not an honor for a warrior. Just feed it to the stray dogs." "Yes, understood."
The middle-aged knight answered decisively. Immediately, he headed to the battlefield to retrieve Alejandro's body. Maximilian brushed back his golden hair.
"Margrave." "Yes!"
"I heard that Albireo committed suicide in the dungeon. Did you hear that too?" "Yes... I did."
"I thought my brother's talent was necessary for the Empire. Excessive greed has backfired." "...It's a very unfortunate matter."
The man guarding the eastern border of the Empire, Kundred Margrave, bowed his head respectfully and answered. At that, Maximilian opened his narrowed eyes and looked at the Margrave. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Up until now, I thought the imperial succession competition was a two-way fight with my brother. But the situation has changed due to someone's appearance." "Are you referring to Grand Duke Behirith?"
"Yes. I heard that that arrogant bastard has allied with Yustia. Despite seeing how the previous Grand Duke couple met their end, he doesn't let go of the imperial throne. This is an issue that cannot be overlooked." "Indeed. There is information that a significant number of families have already joined the forces of the Grand Duke and the Imperial Princess. I heard that the Prime Minister is moving to counter this."
"The Prime Minister is already moving? Then it seems I won't be able to stay here any longer. It looks like I need to go tell the owner of the Empire who the owner is to this insolent bastard." "That...!"
The Margrave reacted immediately to Maximilian's words. Focusing all his nerves on the words to follow. Maximilian opened his mouth calmly, showing a red eye through the gap of his narrowed eyes.
"Shall we go claim the Emperor's seat now?" "Yes!"
The Margrave bowed with a spirited reply. Gradually, the sound of weapons on the vast Guernica Plains faded. With red eyes shining like blood scattered on the ground, Maximilian took his first step.