A weary historian dies and finds himself in a different world awakened in a life as the notorious young Duke of a southern state. His nation is weakened, his army underfed, and his neighbors revolve around his lands menacingly. No one believes his land is going to hold out until winter.

But this newfound duke is no naive simpleton his enemies recollect. He carries with him the experience of centuries of war and empire, of starting and ending monarchies. From Caesar to Napoleon, from the Mongols to world wars, he has learned from each of them—and his strategy is to make history his very own arms.

He organizes his smashed levies into well-trained formations, rebuilds his castles, and turns his villages into supply centers. Where others see defeat, he senses opportunity. As he triumphs, rumors spread: of a pennant red as winter snow that shall not go to ground, of a bloody duke who writes his name in gore and flame.

Is he a savior who's constructing a new empire, or a tyrant who's going to bring the world to endless war?

*** Snowkeep Church - In the Dead of Night ***


The sounds of silence filled Snowkeep as Justinian and Cassia finally took their rest, their training proving fruitful for Justinian's recovery.


And with his sudden enlightenment, it was finally time for his body and mind to recover from the fatigue.


Justinian mumbled, having a hard time sleeping, an odd feeling considering his body and mind should undoubtedly be tired.


He wasn't even sure if he was awake or asleep.


He questioned, but despite that, everything was just pitch black; he couldn't even control his body, couldn't even see it, nor sense anything.


Like he was in a state of limbo, just like before.


Before he even realized it, he was on a battlefield, his banner and flag lying in ruins across a pile of dead bodies from both his own soldiers and an unknown opponent.


Chapter 65 - The Start of a Divine Duchy