Northern Night
The night in the north.
Standing alone amid the thick darkness, gazing across the endless plain, the man’s eyes burned with a crimson glow.
Though his gaze was coldly sunken, his eyes were so bloodshot that the whites were barely visible, and the throbbing veins that had risen from his neck to his jaw were etched with scars as sharp as wounds.
“…Is it a failure?”
“General Ulke… appears to be dead as well.”
“He was always teetering on the edge. If not for me, he would have been dead long ago.”
Four feather tattoos were about to be bestowed upon him, yet most of the merits he had earned had come at the expense of his own life.
The anomaly, however, was that Marhuldan had been leading the warriors as well…
Absorption of the Ether’s Heart
“That fool Marhuldan… must have been in an impossible situation.”
Marhuldan possessed three feather tattoos yet was nearly as formidable as Arteon himself.
His fierce temperament had prevented him from becoming chief, but his combat prowess was unmatched.
“Impossible… Could it be that brat?”
Among Imperial soldiers, those capable of slaying Marhuldan were few and far between.
Even if the Empire boasted abundant talent, few could match such raw power in equal combat.
Naturally, the face of Bowukartaon flashed across Arteon’s mind.
The man who had ruined his body and nearly driven him to the brink of death.
Arteon had only sliced his carotid artery to prolong the fight, but the real damage had been severing his leg tendons.
He would have limped for life had it not been for this power.
Still…
“…Are you all right?”
The aide beside him asked carefully, voice low.
Once, Bowukartaon’s skin had been fair as snow.
After the injury, however, his complexion had turned an unnaturally flushed red, veins protruding grotesquely across his flesh.
An eerie, almost demonic visage.
The sharp features of old were gone, replaced by something that made the word “monstrous” seem too mild.
Yet Bowukartaon paid no heed to his appearance, eyes fixed solely on the front.
Since they had already reached the midpoint of the plain, the journey ahead would not take long.
“Inform him of the current situation.”
“Understood.”
As the aide vanished, Bowukartaon remained alone, staring silently into the distance.
If they met again…
“I will make you regret the day you ever crossed me.”
“At that time…”
The fist clenched until knuckles whitened, eyes locked on a single distant point with unyielding resolve.
***
4th Platoon Barracks.
Upon hearing Arteon’s words, the squad members’ eyes widened in astonishment.
“Independent unit? What exactly is that?”
“A self-commanding detachment that moves independently. Basic operational orders are issued, but all tactical judgments and command during execution fall to the commander of the independent unit.”
“That… is truly remarkable, isn’t it?”
The short-haired man spoke cautiously.
Kamarkan of the Turak tribe—formerly a punitive soldier assigned to Arteon, now a member of the 4th Platoon.
Once savage and wild, he had grown strangely docile after training under Arteon and joining the platoon.
Of course, his immense strength remained untouched.
Barter grinned and replied, “Exactly right! What’s so complicated about it? Consider it a promotion for our squad leader. This battle has secured him an excellent position.”
Kamarkan nodded in agreement.
He had deliberately been placed in Barter’s 1st Squad.
Vargas Northern Spearmanship
“It was a wise choice,” he thought.
Similar temperaments, both men unyielding in strength—truly a perfect match.
Yet Grein wore a worried expression and addressed Arteon.
“One hundred men?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, excluding our platoon, we’ll need roughly sixty more reinforcements… Do we have designated personnel?”
“The Commander has granted priority. We are to receive reinforcements first, and fill any gaps thereafter.”
“We should hurry. Although the forward base is completed, it’s temporary, and we don’t know the departure schedule. I’ll proceed with immediate recruitment.”
Arteon let out a soft chuckle despite himself.
He knew only too well how rare a capable subordinate truly was.
“Thank you, Vice Platoon Leader. I’ll also entrust the independent unit’s second-in-command role to you.”
“I will do my utmost.”
Grein nodded, and Arteon turned to the other squad members.
From a cold perspective, the current 4th Platoon consisted of thirty original members plus ten newly added.
In terms of raw physical ability, they were comparable, but tactical awareness and differences in mana cultivation training created an undeniable gap.
The Ether’s Heart had begun responding. Mana flow accelerated, and the body’s limits were being quietly exceeded.
“Mana cultivation will have to resolve the remainder. Thus, the most urgent matter right now is…”
Arteon looked at the squad leaders and said, “Assign the newly recruited personnel to those with the strongest tactical abilities. But before that, we must set the example ourselves.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll ensure they can read each other’s minds just by meeting eyes.”
“Training will proceed without issues.”
The quick-witted squad leaders replied immediately.
Arteon addressed Grein.
“Tomorrow at sunrise, continue as planned. If any support is needed, request it from Chief Aide Claw. He assured us he would provide full support.”
“Understood.”
“The wounded will be treated immediately. Everyone, rest. The morale has completely shifted to our side thanks to today’s victory. This belongs to all of you.”
“We only followed your orders.”
“Thanks to your leadership!”
The squad members’ voices echoed thunderously through the barracks.
Arteon smiled as he stepped outside and saw the fires rising where the support cooks were preparing food.
The delicious aroma already wafting over made every squad member sniff with bliss.
“Although there will be no formal reward, those assigned to the independent unit will be exempt from forward base construction, dismantling, and all logistical tasks. And special rations have been prepared—eat heartily and prepare yourselves well.”
“Yes, understood!”
“Whoa, exempt from work!”
“I want more of that meat. I’ll stuff myself tonight.”
“No alcohol for the squad leader?”
Someone called out.
“Even a single drop in your mouth and I’ll carve out your lips.”
Grein growled, restoring discipline among the squad members.
Though they looked somewhat disappointed, they cheered when the cooks announced the meal was ready and rushed forward.
Arteon watched their retreating backs as Grein approached.
“Won’t you join us?”
“There are matters I must verify first. Enjoy the meal with the squad.”
“Understood.”
Once Grein had gone, Arteon walked alone to a quiet spot.
The time for food had passed; he had other things to confirm.
“…Hoo.”
Confirming no one was near, Arteon sat and exhaled softly.
Closing his eyes, he circulated mana through the Vargas Mana Cultivation Method.
The Ether’s Heart stirred in response.
It trembled.
The ethereal energy within the core began reacting.
“Indeed…”
The energy within the core diminished noticeably, absorbed by Arteon.
Vargas Northern Spearmanship
“During the last reconnaissance… forging the vessel, and this battle—has it truly elevated me to the 5-Star realm?”
In his past life, he had never reached it.
Yet the difference between 4-Star and 5-Star in handling aura was immense, though words could scarcely describe it.
Like the difference between wielding a pair of tongs and using bare hands.
Once at the 5-Star threshold, the tedious process of channeling mana into weapons and converting it into aura would vanish.
One would simply manifest aura through sheer will alone.
The gap in strength and duration would be staggering.
Even the absorbed energy of the Ether’s Heart was now clearly felt.
Absorption of the Ether’s Heart
“One more step…”
He could not predict how far he would go, but one truth was certain.
“I will never stop.”
Confidence swelled that he could ascend to even higher realms.
How much time had passed?
The northern night had grown denser, swallowing the surroundings.
Arteon slowly opened his eyes and exhaled.
White breath rose like cigarette smoke and dispersed into the air.
“They told us resting is a soldier’s duty.”
“But you forgot to say what must be done.”
“How can you practice mana cultivation so defenselessly without a single guard around?”
The squad leaders, including Grein, stood waiting nearby.
Arteon chuckled.
“Did you enjoy the meal?”
“Hah! I stuffed myself until my belly hurt. Thanks to that, the cold no longer bothers me.”
“Your nose is a bit too red for that, though.”
Ragnel, leader of the 2nd Squad, looked at Barter and remarked, “The cold’s nothing compared to that.”
Laughter erupted around them.
“Shut up! All of you!”
Barter shouted in exasperation, but they could not stop laughing.
The push toward the north.
A place that might become the fiercest war in Imperial history, yet to Arteon, the sight stirred memories of past comrades.
Those who…
“Were all precious to me.”
One moment of foolishness stirred by the Second Prince’s antics had cost them their lives.
Arteon clenched his fist tight.
“Just a little longer… just a little longer.”
He still had information to uncover and strength to cultivate.
He had reached the 5-Star realm his past life had never attained, yet he still could not confront them.
And…
“Facing the Second Prince while remaining hidden… is madness.”
But if he could disrupt their plans one by one like this…
“They would have no choice but to step forward.”
He would execute the plan he had prepared, deliver a decisive blow, and devour them whole.
Yet to do so…
“I must become even stronger.”
Strong enough to defeat anyone.
Arteon clenched his fist, recalling his own plans.
And…
“Lieutenant Arteon, the order has arrived.”
Direct command from the Commander of the Velkain Legion.
Arteon bowed his head in wait.
“Complete the independent unit as quickly as possible, then attack the enemy’s left flank and collapse their formation.”
“Left flank…”
Arteon turned his head to look in that direction.
Even without a map, it was unmistakable.
The reed field where he had faced death with Isaac and fled.
Arteon nodded immediately.
“I will obey the order.”
His gaze grew sharper than ever before.