Chapter 113: Preparation

滴!滴!

Drops of rain began to fall softly upon the grass, stirring up specks of dust that had once floated freely in the air.

Across the earth, knights galloped fiercely, circling a great pavilion as they commenced their display.

Not far from here, on another stretch of barren land, a grim tableau of corpses lay scattered, broken weapons and shattered armor slowly sinking into silence.

This was the remnant of a battlefield; from the looks of it, the fighting had ceased some time ago. Around the edges, scavenging beasts gnawed at the fallen, casting a desolate and cruel aura over the scene.

Among them, some monstrous beasts, twisted by dark magic, had been drawn by the thick, pungent stench of blood that still hung heavily in the air.

An unpleasant odor lingered stubbornly over the land, though the rain offered a brief reprieve, washing it momentarily away.

Alongside the battlefield, on a nearby road, several groups of knights rode swiftly, escorting a single distinguished figure.

Upon entering the main camp, the knights halted. A young man, richly adorned and striking in appearance, strode toward the center of the encampment.

“Harlan, you have arrived,” a deep voice resonated from within, heavy with commanding authority.

Harlan raised his gaze.

Inside the grand pavilion, a king wore a crown atop his weathered and solemn face, seated upon his throne, eyes fixed upon him.

Bowing his head, Harlan placed a hand over his chest and spoke: “Father, news has come from the north.”

“While we were pacifying the central lands and waging war in the southern region, the Yadis Duchy in the north simultaneously launched forces into the eastern territories, nearly having conquered them entirely.”

He paused before continuing, “Moreover, due to the great distance, this report is already four months old.”

“By now, they have likely secured complete control.”

“Remarkable speed!” The king sighed deeply, his voice tinged with both admiration and melancholy.

“From their inception to now, it’s been less than five years,” he mused, his thoughts drifting to other matters.

For a monarch aspiring to emulate his ancestors by uniting the world, the surrounding political landscape was a constant concern. Though the northern domain was considered remote and comparatively weaker, it remained a vast territory worthy of attention.

Since Yadis first rose to prominence and established the Duchy, the king had watched this newborn state with keen interest. At that time, the strong Inderli Duchy still held sway in the north. He had viewed Yadis’ ascent with cautious optimism, believing it might check Inderli’s ambitions and prevent swift unification of the northern realm.

During the decisive battle between these two powers, he had even secretly lent support to Yadis, hoping it might endure longer and forestall the complete consolidation of the north.

Yet the outcome stunned everyone.

At the most critical moment of the clash, five thousand cavalry launched a surprise assault on the rear camp, resulting in the defeat of Inderli and the death of its king on the battlefield—an unprecedented upset.

Afterward, the Yadis Duchy swept across the north with breathtaking speed, swiftly uniting the entire region and establishing itself as a formidable force.

Now, with dominion over the entire northern territory, Yadis had become the strongest kingdom under the royal court’s gaze.

Even the court had to acknowledge this power, dispatching multiple envoys to placate them and guard against threats from behind.

Following this, Yadis moved westward and then eastward, steadily and rapidly consolidating those regions, though the campaigns lacked grandeur, their success was undeniable.

At present, with Yadis controlling the east, west, and north, even though the royal court had seized the central and southern lands, it still struggled to suppress its rival.

Though central and southern forces were more robust, when compared to the combined strength of Yadis’ three territories, their power levels were roughly equivalent.

Reflecting on Yadis’ meteoric rise and considering the rival king’s advancing age, the elderly monarch could only smile wryly, murmuring, “Youth is formidable indeed.”

“Fortunately, I still have Harlan. Though he may never reach their level, he is nonetheless exceptional.”

He looked upon Harlan, who remained bowed, his face respectful, and found some solace.

“Are the troops prepared?”

Through the open pavilion, he watched the steadily gathering knights and then spoke.

Harlan hesitated briefly. “They are nearly ready.”

“However, Father,” he continued with a hint of apprehension, “the recent rebellions across the southern region have just been quelled. Is it not too soon to provoke the Yadis Duchy, who now control three domains in the north?”

He searched his father’s weary face, offering counsel: “After so many years of warfare, our soldiers are exhausted, and the nobility harbors a general weariness of conflict. Perhaps we should rest for a year or two before attempting another offensive.”

“Naive!” The aged king’s rebuke was sharp and resolute.

“Do you think that if we do not strike, our enemies will simply let us be?”

His eyes burned with authority as he faced Harlan. “Now, there are only two kingdoms left vying for supremacy. It is only logical to resolve this quickly while the opportunity remains.”

His voice faltered slightly, and he coughed, causing Harlan’s concern to deepen.

“Father, please take care of your health,” Harlan said, kneeling on one knee with genuine worry.

The king sighed softly, his expression softening.

“I know what you wish to say…”

After a moment, his composure returned. “We can fortify key positions and rest for a year or two before launching a northern campaign. That would be safer.”

“But if we do that, we lose this chance.”

Rising, he approached Harlan. “We have just subdued the southern lands and crushed the rebellions in the great city-states. Our soldiers are weary, true—but so are theirs.”

“Except for the north, which is stable, the west and east were conquered only in recent years, and peace has not yet been fully secured; there are said to be still uprisings.”

“Since their rise, Yadis’ forces have never ceased warring. Their soldiers are equally fatigued.”

“Thus, now is the more suitable moment. With our years of preparation, striking before they consolidate their hold on the three domains will come at a much lower cost.”

Harlan nodded silently in understanding.

“There is another reason,” the king’s voice took on a solemn tone.

“Recently, an ancestor manifested in the temple, delivering a divine oracle commanding me to march north immediately.”

Harlan’s eyes widened sharply, gazing at the aged king in disbelief.

…

Far to the north, in the majestic city of Yadis, the voice of King Yadis echoed.

“Immediately dispatch orders to prepare defenses along the border. We must be ready in case the royal court launches a sudden attack!”

Several generals responded promptly and departed to make arrangements.

After they left, Barton approached with a grave expression, accompanied by Nadiel and others.

“Your Majesty, our armies have been at war for years. The newly acquired territories are not yet stable. Our large reserves of grain have been depleted, and we now rely solely on this year’s taxes. Mobilizing the military further would place an enormous strain on the treasury.”

He looked earnestly at King Yadis, offering counsel.

Yadis merely shook his head. “Rest assured, it is not yet time to move south.”

“This preparation is merely precautionary against potential offensives from the royal court.”

Barton exhaled in relief, a trace of ease softening his previously stern face.

The long years of conscription and construction had indeed brought formidable logistical challenges.

Later, as they left the palace, Bazel, who had been silent until then, curiously asked Nadiel, “Commander Nadiel, do you believe the royal court will march north this time?”

The question caused a stir among those nearby, who turned their gaze to Nadiel, clearly concerned.

After all, their fates were now entwined with the Duchy of Yadis.

Nadiel frowned. “I do not know.”

“At present, both the royal court and we are exhausted. War could begin now or be delayed for a year or two; it is impossible to say.”

He hesitated, then added, “However, His Majesty seems quite certain the court will start hostilities this year, so that scenario is more likely.”

His words reflected deep confidence in King Yadis’ judgment.

Since his rise, the king’s decisions had rarely been mistaken, and as monarch, he possessed intelligence channels unknown to ordinary men.

Those nearby nodded silently, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety swelling within them.

Anticipation, because this final battle would decide the fate of the world. Victory would mean the Duchy of Yadis would unify the lands and usher in a new era.

Anxiety, because the royal court was the empire founded by ancient saviors, enduring through millennia, commanding awe and respect.

Though Yadis had been nearly invincible up to this point, facing such a colossal force stirred nervousness and unease among all.