Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1813
The monster onslaught lasted for a full ten hours. After conducting our counts, we determined that we had slain more than thirty thousand monsters.
Despite the hours of relentless combat, our casualties could be counted on one hand.
On the third day of the campaign, we passed through the third and fourth zones of the Kerbel Forest without incident. It seems the monster horde had been made up of creatures from the second, third, and fourth zones.
Now, we are about to enter the very depths of the forest—the fifth zone.
During the monster onslaught, I completely drained both my aura and mana reserves, yet this had a very positive effect on me.
What we call "rank" and "tier" do not determine a person's current power level, but rather their potential.
The true measure of potential only becomes apparent over time, but two people being in the same rank or tier does not mean they share the same potential.
A person's potential is determined by their lineage.
I possess extraordinary potential because I descend from the line of the 44th Emperor of the Ancient Empire and the 65th Lord of the Kislavein House.
To reach my full potential, training and duels are not enough—I need large-scale battles where I can push my aura and mana to their absolute limits.
That is why my father sent me to the Kerbel Forest Campaign—to push myself to the brink and become even stronger.
Thanks to the monster onslaught, I had the chance to use up all my aura and mana. With the battle experience I gained, I have become three times stronger than I was before the onslaught.
With the seventy years of life experience and fifty years of combat experience from my previous life, I am certain I will grow even stronger.
Kerbel Forest – Fifth Zone
Ricardo and his soldiers entered the fifth zone on the third day of the campaign, having lost only three soldiers so far—a loss so small it was hardly worth mentioning.
Compared to the previous four zones, the fifth was five times more dangerous. Extreme caution was necessary here.
When they stepped into the dense woods, the trees began to move.
"THORNKRAG TREES! MAGES, MOVE UP! WARRIORS, SHIELDS UP! DEFENSIVE FORMATION!"
At Ricardo's command, the Kislavein soldiers assumed defensive positions while the mages began casting fire spells.
The Thornkrag Trees, varying in size, lashed out with massive, whip-like branches. But the Kislavein warriors, their shields reinforced with aura, held firm.
Soon, the mages finished their incantations, releasing torrents of flame that turned the Thornkrag Trees' surroundings into a blazing hell.
A forest fire broke out, and nearly a hundred Thornkrag Trees were burned to ash.
Ricardo ordered his army to advance. They pressed toward the heart of the fifth zone, where they encountered a pack of Törmük Wolves numbering in the hundreds. Overhead circled the Nixxar Vultures, known as the "Eyes of Kerbel."
The vultures scouted from above and guided the wolves to their prey; in exchange, the wolves left the carcass scraps for the vultures after feeding. Such mutualism was extremely rare in Kerbel.
Ricardo thought to himself: "According to the book I read, Törmük Wolves and Nixxar Vultures are warm-blooded monsters and vulnerable to ice magic… that might be useful."
Turning his back to the army but still gripping his sword and shield, Ricardo called out:
"ARNHEID! ARLEK! GET OVER HERE!"
The two siblings rushed to the front line.
"Your orders, Heir of the House?"
"As you both know, the Törmük Wolves and Nixxar Vultures are weak to ice magic," said Ricardo.
"Yes, we know, Heir of the House," they replied.
"The Payrist House is famous for its ice magic—and all three of us carry Payrist blood," Ricardo continued.
The siblings understood immediately and smiled. The trio began preparing their ice magic, their chilling mana already unnerving the enemy.
"Now!" Ricardo commanded.
A massive wave of freezing air engulfed the wolf pack and the vultures. They tried to flee, but the icy cloud swallowed them whole. When it dissipated, it left behind frozen wolves and vultures falling lifeless from the sky.
"Well done, Arlek, Arnheid."
"We are honored by your praise, Heir of the House," they replied respectfully.
The Kislavein soldiers were stunned—three people had annihilated an entire massive pack in under a minute. They felt both awe and fear.
By day's end, the army had fought its way to the border of the fifth zone, their casualties now totaling four. Ricardo ordered a rest, and the soldiers set up camp.
Day Four – Sixth Zone
The sixth zone was small but filled with extremely powerful, dangerous packs.
Soon after entering, the army was attacked by the Garmok pack, towering between three and four meters tall, known as the "Tree-Eaters."
With bark-like skin, scythe-shaped arms, and mouths opening a full meter vertically, these creatures fed on the aura of living beings and could only be killed with magic.
Ricardo gathered mana in his palm, forming a fireball, and shouted to the mages:
"DESTROY THEM ALL!"
Hundreds of mages unleashed flames upon the Garmoks, but the monsters refused to die easily, their rage making them even more ferocious.
Just as Ricardo was about to cast his strongest defensive spell, a figure leapt into the sky—wielding a fifty-meter whip of pure fire, moving with the grace of a master dancer as she repelled the furious Garmok strikes.
When the last Garmok burned to ash, the figure descended—it was Marilin Kislavein, the untouched jewel of the Kislavein House. Her beauty was legendary, her grace rivaling that of a dancer, and her skill in both sword and magic unmatched.
The entire army gazed at her in awe and admiration, though they all agreed only one man was worthy of such a jewel—the heir of the Kislavein House, Ricardo Kislavein.
Ricardo approached, his voice betraying his admiration despite his usual stern demeanor.
"You were magnificent, Marilin. Dazzling. Thanks to you, no one was injured."
She bowed with a sweet smile.
"I am grateful for your praise, Heir of the House. I merely fulfilled my duty."
Ricardo, pride in his eyes, placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Well done. When this campaign is over, you will be rewarded."
Marilin's eyes sparkled with joy, though she replied with disciplined composure:
"I am grateful, Heir of the House."
Seeing the whole army watching them, Ricardo returned to his serious tone.
"FORWARD! THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT OVER YET!"
The Kislavein army advanced again, cutting down every monster in their path. At dawn on the fifth day, they reached the border of the seventh zone—the final objective.
Ricardo turned to his troops, shouting with triumph:
"SOLDIERS! WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN! WITH THE CONQUEST OF THIS ZONE, THE KERBEL FOREST CAMPAIGN WILL BE COMPLETE!"
The army roared with joy. They had lost only ten soldiers along the way—a number barely worth noting. Yet the inability to retrieve and bury their comrades' bodies still weighed heavily on them.
But in the Kislavein Army, built on a thousand years of military tradition, the rule was simple: if you are strong, you kill; if you are weak, you die.
Conquered Zones: 6
Surviving Soldiers: 3,490
Days Remaining Until Conquest Deadline: 2
Zones Left to Conquer: 1