The cold wind swept across the enormous military camp as thousands of soldiers continued organizing themselves outside Vailor.
The metallic sound of armor echoed from every direction.
Swords being prepared.
Shields lined up.
Restless horses.
Defensive spells being activated around the troops.
The war had finally stopped being a distant threat.
It was here.
Right before all of us.
I remained standing at the top of the castle staircase, watching the movement below while the golden energy of my armor slowly coursed through my body.
The girls stood nearby.
Scarlett at my side.
Liriel a little behind, gripping her staff tightly.
Vespera watching the military formations.
Lyannis silently analyzing everything.
Rai'kanna staring toward the northern horizon.
Elara sensing the currents of mana flowing through the wind.
No one looked calm.
Not even the most experienced soldiers.
The very air carried tension.
I slowly brought my hand to the hilt of the golden sword.
The blade reacted immediately.
Small glimmers ran across the weapon.
Then its voice echoed in my mind.
"Destiny has begun to move."
I closed my eyes for a moment.
"I know."
"There will be no turning back after this march."
I looked once more at the enormous military camp.
It was right.
Once we left this place...
Nothing would ever be the same again.
Then footsteps echoed behind me.
I partially turned my head.
The King of Vailor was approaching, accompanied by several generals and elite soldiers.
Drakarion was with him as well.
Along with representatives from the other nations.
The King stopped beside me, looking over the army.
"It is impressive."
His voice was quiet.
"It has been many years since so many nations fought together."
His eyes slowly swept across the camp.
"Humans."
"Elves."
"Dwarves."
"Demi-dragons."
"Cyclopes."
"All marching side by side."
Drakarion crossed his arms.
"The enemy forced the world to unite."
The King let out a weary sigh.
"Unfortunately."
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
We simply watched the preparations.
Then the King turned his gaze toward me.
"The adventurers are already waiting for your orders."
I nodded slowly.
"Understood."
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Takumi."
His voice became more serious.
"Don't carry everything alone."
I glanced at him quietly.
"Everyone here will fight."
His words were sincere.
Even so, I knew.
Much of this battle would ultimately fall upon me.
Especially when the First General appeared.
The King then slowly walked away with the other leaders.
Drakarion was the last to leave.
Before doing so, he stopped beside Rai'kanna.
"Come back alive."
She nodded silently.
Then he left as well.
The wind swept across the castle walls once again.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
I took a deep breath.
And finally began descending the massive staircase.
The girls followed close behind.
As we walked through the military camp, many soldiers began watching us.
Silence gradually spread wherever we passed.
Adventurers.
Knights.
Mages.
Everyone watched.
Some showed admiration.
Others, hope.
Others, only fear.
It felt strange.
Not long ago, I had been nothing more than an adventurer trying to survive.
Now...
Thousands of people expected me to lead a war.
We continued walking until we reached the center of the camp.
The adventurers had already gathered there.
Hundreds of them.
High-ranking adventurers from many different regions.
Some I recognized.
Others I had never seen before.
But all of them fell silent as I approached.
Scarlett stood beside me with her arms crossed.
Vespera carefully watched the surroundings.
Lyannis seemed to analyze every adventurer present.
I slowly climbed onto a small improvised wooden platform as the wind made the banners wave fiercely above the camp.
I looked at everyone before me.
The silence grew even deeper.
I took a deep breath.
Then I began to speak.
"The demonic army has already begun its advance."
Several adventurers immediately became serious.
"The enemy forces are coming toward Vailor."
I slowly looked around at everyone.
"But we are not the only ones prepared for this battle."
I subtly gestured toward the enormous military camp behind me.
"The nations are united."
"The armies are ready."
"And so are we."
The wind swept across the camp once again.
"The adventurers will form the first line of battle."
Some exchanged glances.
Others simply remained attentive.
"Our objective is to stop the demons' initial advance."
I gripped the hilt of the golden sword.
"Then fight."
Golden energy slowly flowed through the blade.
"Fight to protect your cities."
"Your families."
"Your lives."
The sword's mana began to intensify around us.
"Because if we fail here..."
I looked directly at everyone.
"The entire world will fall."
Silence completely took over the camp.
But this time...
It was not fear.
It was determination.
Then one adventurer raised his sword.
Another immediately did the same.
Then another.
Within seconds, hundreds of weapons were raised into the air.
The metallic sound echoed powerfully throughout the camp.
"We will win!"
One adventurer shouted.
Others quickly began repeating it.
The atmosphere of the camp changed completely.
Even in the face of war...
There was still courage.
I slowly stepped down from the platform afterward.
Scarlett glanced at me.
"You speak better than I expected."
"I didn't know that either."
She let out a small laugh.
Soon after, the final preparations for the march began.
The troops slowly took their positions.
The humans remained at the center.
The dwarves protected the heavy weaponry.
The elves positioned themselves along the flanks.
The demi-dragons would fight on the offensive line alongside the adventurers.
The cyclopes would reinforce the heavy defenses.
Everything began to move.
The war was finally set into motion.
As we walked toward the front of the army, I observed the overwhelming size of the military force.
Endless ranks of soldiers.
Magical creatures being prepared.
Support wagons.
Mages gathered in massive groups.
Banners waving in the wind.
The sky was partially overcast.
And to the north...
Dark clouds were slowly beginning to gather.
As though the world itself were reacting.
Liriel quietly approached me.
"You're thinking about him again?"
She didn't need to say his name.
I slowly nodded.
"The First General."
Liriel gently held my hand for a few seconds.
"You'll make it."
I looked at her.
Even though she was frightened... she still tried to reassure me.
That made my chest tighten a little.
Then Elara walked over to us.
"The mana currents are getting worse."
Lyannis nodded.
"The demonic concentration has increased significantly."
Rai'kanna looked directly toward the north.
"They're close."
Vespera slowly placed an arrow on her bowstring.
"Good."
Scarlett let out a small sigh.
"You really like battles."
"I don't."
Vespera answered calmly.
"But I hate losing."
We continued forward until we finally reached the front of the allied army.
That was where we would lead the march.
The strong wind constantly made my cloak billow.
I looked back one last time.
Thousands of soldiers waited.
Thousands.
The sight was overwhelming.
Then the sound of a massive military horn echoed across the entire field.
Deep.
Heavy.
The troops slowly began to move.
The ground trembled slightly beneath the weight of the army.
Another horn echoed soon afterward.
The soldiers began to march.
The sound of armor and footsteps spread across the battlefield like a single wave.
The war had officially begun.
I gripped the golden sword tightly as I advanced at the front of the troops alongside the girls.
The mana within the blade began to shine intensely.
Then its voice echoed in my mind once more.
"There is no turning back now."
I looked toward the dark northern horizon.
I could feel it.
Even from that distance...
The monstrous presence of the First General was still there.
Waiting.
I slowly took a deep breath.
The cold wind swept across the battlefield as thousands of soldiers marched behind us.
Then I tightened my grip on the sword.
"Then let the First General come."