Kallian gritted his teeth and pushed himself up, using his sword to support his body.
He couldn't give up now.
After repeating his life fifty times, he had finally found a clue. He couldn't lose it like this.
Seeing Kallian still moving, Cesar shouted in panic:
"Now! The monster of Valdormer can't use his power! Attack all at once!"
But Kallian's body wasn't listening to him.
Even though he tried to stand, his arms and legs—damaged by the explosion—wouldn't move properly.
He kept collapsing, barely holding himself up with his sword.
Still, he raised his head and looked straight at Cesar.
The enemy soldiers stared at him in shock.
Even in that ruined condition, Kallian's gaze accurately found Cesar behind them.
Cesar's face twisted in anger.
"What are you doing?! Attack him now!"
If they all rushed him at once, even Kallian wouldn't survive.
Just as Kallian clenched his teeth and prepared—
A knight suddenly ran to Cesar with urgent news.
At the same time—
A loud horn echoed from the opposite side.
Valdormer's reinforcements had arrived.
Kallian let out a dry laugh.
"They show up only after everything is almost over…"
Cesar, furious, pushed the messenger aside.
"Useless idiots! I'll kill Valdormer's leader myself!"
He drew his sword and started walking toward Kallian.
Kallian held his breath.
If Cesar came close—
He would use all his remaining strength to kill him and take the key.
But then—
The messenger whispered something into Cesar's ear.
Cesar suddenly stopped.
Then, as arrows from the reinforcement army rained down, he turned around and retreated with his knights.
Kallian tried to chase him—
But—
"Lord Kallian!"
It was Jared.
Seeing Kallian's broken body, Jared frowned.
"Are you alright?!"
Kallian's expression immediately hardened.
"Why are you here?"
Jared was supposed to be protecting Yuliana.
If he was here—
That meant—
Jared spoke urgently:
"Lady Yuliana is in danger."
Kallian froze.
"I came as fast as I could to tell you."
Kallian looked toward Cesar again.
But Cesar was already far away.
Kallian forced himself to stand and asked:
"Didn't Yuliana and Denian leave the imperial palace…?"
She had promised him.
But Jared's answer was worse than he expected.
"…It seems Lady Yuliana and Denian have been kidnapped."
Kallian felt like his heart dropped.
He stared at Jared, unable to breathe.
Jared lowered his head.
"…The one behind it is likely the Emperor."
That pain—
It was worse than all his physical injuries.
It felt like his soul was being dragged into darkness.
Inside a strategy tent, leaders of the vassal families gathered.
Rodrigo, heir of Highland, shouted angrily:
"What do you mean we're marching toward the imperial palace?!"
Kallian replied coldly:
"Half of Heister's army is heading there."
Rodrigo argued:
"So what, you want to attack the imperial family too?!"
Jared placed his hand on his sword, irritated—
But Kallian stopped him.
Kallian slowly looked around the room.
Then he said:
"The imperial family was originally just another great house. If they break the balance, they are no exception."
The room fell into uneasy whispers.
Rodrigo shouted again:
"This is rebellion! Are you trying to get us all killed?! My father would never allow this!"
Kallian's eyes turned cold.
"…Do I need permission from the Highland lord?"
Rodrigo stiffened but continued:
"All major decisions need majority approval from the vassal families!"
Kallian took out a dagger and spun it casually in his hand.
"That rule was made by the previous lord."
Rodrigo hesitated.
"Yes… that's correct…"
Kallian said calmly:
"Then the current lord can change it."
Rodrigo tried to argue—
But suddenly—
A dagger flew past his face and embedded into a wooden pillar behind him.
If it had been slightly off—
It would have pierced his head.
Rodrigo froze in fear.
Kallian walked up to him and placed his sword at his neck.
"During the war, when I was about to fall off a cliff… you ran away."
Rodrigo trembled.
"In war, abandoning your commander is punishable by immediate execution. Do you know that?"
Rodrigo collapsed to the ground.
Kallian looked at everyone else.
"You all did the same. You abandoned me."
Then he stabbed his sword into the ground.
His presence was overwhelming—
Even though he was injured, he didn't look weak at all.
"Valdormer will no longer bow to you."
"You have two choices."
"Be executed here for disobeying orders…"
"Or follow my command and march to the imperial palace."
Then he added coldly:
"Even if you try to contact your families, it won't matter."
"You are my hostages now."
No one dared to oppose him.
Even injured, Kallian looked like a monster.
Some loyal families immediately said:
"We will follow you."
The others had no choice but to agree.
"…Understood."
After forcing everyone's agreement, Kallian dismissed them.
***
When everyone left, Jared approached him.
"Can we really trust them?"
Kallian replied calmly:
"I never said I trust them."
Jared looked confused.
Kallian took out a piece of paper and began writing something.
After sealing it with the Valdormer seal, he handed it to Jared.
"There's something I need you to do."