Prologue: Captured by the Elves
My entire body felt heavy. Even my two hands gripping the sword hilt refused to move properly.
"Fuck."
I spat out the curse. I'd been warned countless times not to use vulgar language, but right now, it felt justified.
"Where the hell is the reinforcement unit that was supposed to show up!"
"They probably bolted ages ago! Damn it, it's just us left!"
"Then how the fuck are we supposed to hold off those monster bitches! Goddamn cowards, ditching us all like this!"
The knights' voices hammered into my ears—raw screams of rage and despair, the kind only betrayed soldiers encircled by enemies could unleash.
That's right. We'd been betrayed. By our fellow humans. Abandoned by the royal family and military we'd sworn loyalty to, we were now in enemy hands, doomed to humiliation.
"Looks like he's finally spent."
"I heard he beat Captain Ardena. But he won't have the strength left to thrash around now."
The elf knightesses drew closer, their long, pointed ears a stark contrast to human ones. Elves. Renowned for lifespans far exceeding other races and their stunning beauty. Lovers of forests and trees. Strict isolationists who forbade mingling with outsiders. Obsessed with all things cute and beautiful, vegetarians striving to live in harmony with nature. Devotees of peace and eternity, or so the tales went.
---But.
All the common knowledge I held shattered that day.
"Gah!!"
"Fall back! Fall back!"
The armed elves launched a one-sided onslaught. Betrayed and surrounded, our soldiers tossed their weapons and surrendered in droves, begging to become elf slaves. With survival looking impossible, they chose captivity to preserve their lives.
Even these war-loving elves showed mercy to prisoners of war. The Liberia Elf Kingdom, land of the elves, ran on a slave system. War captives were prized as slaves and laborers, treated with utmost courtesy until shipped back and auctioned at slave markets.
"Everyone, retreat! I'll hold the rear!"
I bellowed at my men. They shouted back, "We can't do that!" "Aren't we in this to live or die together?"
I wanted to thank their brotherhood. But this wasn't the moment for it. Deep down, I hoped they'd ditch me and run.
"After clashing with Captain Ardena, he fought nonstop day and night for three straight days."
"Clearly exhausted now. Can't even grip his sword right. Even a Kingdom's Seven Swords powerhouse has stamina limits."
The elf knightesses closed in. The Helenwood Knights, elite order famed across the elf nation—subordinates of Ardena Valencia, the captain I'd bested in single combat. They were out for revenge on their leader's disgrace.
Our men had fierce loyalty; so did these elves. They'd hounded me for days to corner me, no doubt planning to haul me before Ardena for payback.
"Kingdom's Seven Swords of the Valua Kingdom, Yushin Gilliard! Even if my soul crosses to Valhalla, I won't go down easy to you demons!"
I roared, yanking off my helmet. The elves tightened their grips on their sword hilts. Dozens of them came at me in waves, methodically draining my strength.
Hated to admit it, but I had to. Elf knights were war professionals. They knew exactly how to break an opponent. Experience from countless battlefields shaped their tactics.
In the end, numb and battered, I fought another half-day before the elves took me prisoner.
"Holding out half a day..."
"Capturing a Six Sword Realm swordsman from the Kingdom's Seven Swords? That's a win."
"Our wounded sisters from this human fill the forest like trees. Not much of a win. Still, glad we nabbed him."
The elf knightesses peered down at my collapsed, drained form. Handcuffs snapped on soon after—special ones suppressing mana flow through the body. My already failing strength turned utterly limp.
"Nngh! Kill me!"
Mustering my last dregs of energy before blacking out, I yelled. The elves ignored it, awaiting orders from above.
Humans had lost. A war sparked by reckless human greed ended in elf victory. Thousands of our prisoners, myself included, were reduced to elf slaves.