A day passed.
When Rem woke up, the first thing she noticed was the emptiness beside her. She sat up, rubbing her tired eyes, and looked around the room. Julius wasn't there.
She quickly got dressed and left the room, finding Ram in the hallway. "Where is Julius?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Ram didn't hesitate. "He went to the capital with Anastasia."
Rem's stomach twisted. She had known it was inevitable, but hearing it still made her uneasy. "And Subaru?"
Ram exhaled sharply. "Nothing has changed. The empire is still marching forward. Julius and Anastasia went to prepare for what's coming."
Rem lowered her gaze, gripping her hands together. "If only... if only the letter had reached him sooner. Maybe this could have been prevented."
Ram's expression softened, but her voice remained firm. "It's too late for 'what ifs.' Right now, you need to rest. There's nothing we can do at this moment."
Rem swallowed hard, her heart heavy with regret. But deep down, she knew Ram was right.
The capital was in full war preparation. The streets were filled with soldiers, blacksmiths worked tirelessly to forge weapons, and banners of different noble houses fluttered in the wind.
Julius stepped into the war council chamber, only to be met with a hard punch to the face from Marcus. The impact sent him stumbling back, but he quickly regained his footing.
"That's for the mess you've caused," Marcus spat.
Julius wiped his mouth, tasting iron. He could feel the tension in the room—many of the council members were glaring at him, their displeasure clear. But technically, he had done nothing wrong.
The real focus was in the center of the chamber, where Felt and Anastasia stood before the Sage Council.
Felt crossed her arms, scowling. "This isn't my war. This whole thing is Anastasia's fault."
Anastasia smirked, unfazed. "The first thing you do is surrender to the empire? If the council wants a chance at winning, they need to crown me as the rightful ruler."
Felt clenched her fists. "You're full of it! Subaru wouldn't just go around killing innocent people!"
Anastasia turned to the council. "Would he? The man who declared war wrote that he intends to kill every knight and noble. He even swore to kill Julius's unborn child and force him to eat it." Her voice was sharp and unwavering. "Subaru has lost his mind. I am the only one who can save this kingdom."
Felt's eyes widened in horror. "No... he wouldn't...!"
Anastasia kept her gaze steady. "And yet, that's exactly what he's planning."
Felt turned to Reinhard, silently pleading for support. But his expression was cold, devoid of emotion.
Reinhard took a step forward. "I will stand with Anastasia."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber. The decision had been made.
Anastasia lifted her chin. "Knights, arrest Felt."
The knights moved quickly, surrounding Felt's allies.
Anastasia turned to Rom, the old man standing protectively in front of Felt. "If you and the others surrender, she will only be imprisoned for the duration of the war. Nothing will happen to her. But if you resist..." She let the words hang in the air, her meaning clear.
Felt stared at Reinhard, betrayal clear in her eyes. But his gaze remained cold—uncaring.
Anastasia was crowned as Queen, and the first thing she did was renew the commission with the dragon. Standing before the gathered citizens of Lugunica's capital, she addressed them with unwavering confidence.
"The Empire will face the wrath of our kingdom for daring to attack us! And as for the traitor, Natsuki Subaru—the spy who infiltrated our land under false pretenses—he will face retribution for his crimes."
The crowd roared in approval, their anger and patriotism ignited by her words.
After her speech, she retreated to the throne room, only to be met with an unexpected visitor—Roswaal.
She had sent knights to his mansion to interrogate his maids about his whereabouts, but it seemed they had some means of communication through a special magic stone.
Roswaal smirked as he stepped forward. "You wished to see me, dear Anastasia?"
Anastasia crossed her arms, studying him. "I assume the knights have informed you of my offer?"
Roswaal chuckled. "If what they say is true... that you can provide me with the blood of the dragon... then yes, I am interested."
Anastasia nodded, satisfied. She gestured to the container of dragon's blood and placed it in his hands. "Then go and see your teacher."
Roswaal's expression shifted, his usual amusement giving way to something more serious. He carefully secured the blood before stepping back.
Turning to Reinhard and Julius, Anastasia got straight to business. "The Empire has already begun attacking the cities. However, they haven't sent all of their Divine Generals yet." She met Reinhard's gaze. "But that doesn't matter. Go to Marcus—he will give you the signal for when to strike."
Reinhard bowed slightly. "Understood."
"And Reinhard," Anastasia added, her voice firm, "don't hold back."
Meanwhile, Roswaal activated a magical link connected to Frederica's stone—a connection discovered only after the knights tortured her. Through this, they had managed to communicate with Roswaal and draw him out.
With the blood secured in his grasp, Roswaal grinned. "Well then... let's see if my dear teacher still remembers me."
With that, he flew out of the capital, heading toward Echidna.
The Empire had gravely underestimated the Kingdom of Lugunica. Expecting an easy victory, they had launched their invasion with confidence, only to be met with utter devastation at the hands of Reinhard.
In just one day, Reinhard had obliterated two cities and crushed five battalions, sending shockwaves through the Empire's ranks. Morale among the Kingdom's forces soared.
Yet, for Anastasia, it wasn't enough. None of the Divine Generals had been killed, and that left her unsatisfied. She had intended to send Reinhard directly into the Empire's capital once their generals were deployed—to demonstrate that the moment they pressed forward, she would not hold back.
She had also anticipated assassination attempts, which was why she had secured Hannibal's protection. His skills had nearly claimed the life of Albat, one of the enemy's key figures, but the general had managed to escape.
Despite her frustration, Anastasia had to restrain herself. As part of her deal to secure Halibel's support, she had promised not to deploy Reinhard into enemy territory. That restriction kept her from executing her original plan, but she was already considering alternatives.
This war was only beginning.
Anastasia had been prepared for many things, but the sheer power of Felix caught her completely off guard. The sorcerer's skills had always been formidable, but he had pushed himself to new extremes by taking powerful, life-threatening drugs. Drugs that would kill any normal person were used to enhance his abilities. Felix would take these drugs, heal himself, and then repeat the process, over and over again.
His magical prowess was unlike anything anyone had expected, and soon, Felix discovered a horrifying ability—he could raise the dead from the battlefield. In the midst of an ambush within the Empire's territory, Felix used his newfound power, resurrecting fallen soldiers as if nothing had happened. The army, which had been on the brink of defeat, was now reinforced by the very soldiers that had once fallen.
The momentum turned in their favor. The army marched on the city, thanks to Felix's ability to bolster their ranks. However, there was a significant flaw. Anastasia didn't have an endless supply of the life-threatening drugs Felix needed to maintain this power. She knew that they couldn't keep this up for long, and they would have to come up with another plan.
But the Empire had no intention of retreating. Two Divine Generals stood firm in defense of their city, and it was clear the battle would be difficult.
To Anastasia's surprise, just before the battle commenced, Echidna arrived. The Witch of Greed had always been a wildcard, and Anastasia was suspicious of her sudden appearance. But Echidna explained that her presence was only to bring her entertainment, specifically to challenge Subaru, and that she had no intention of siding with the Empire.
Anastasia didn't fully trust Echidna—she knew better than to put her faith in someone as manipulative as the Witch of Greed. However, despite her reservations, having Echidna on her side was too great an asset to pass up. Even if it backfired, Anastasia understood that the Witch's knowledge and power could turn the tide of war.
It was a calculated risk, but in war, risks were sometimes necessary. Now, with the Empire's forces tightening their defenses, and with two Divine Generals in play, Anastasia had to rely on every tool at her disposal, even if they were dangerous or unpredictable.
The battle for the city had been nothing short of a nightmare. Felix's relentless resurrection magic and healing had made the Lagunican army seemingly unkillable, while Yorna's ability to redistribute pain and strength had kept the Empire's forces from collapsing entirely. It was a brutal, grinding conflict that stretched on for an entire week without pause.
At first, Anastasia had assumed it would be a swift victory, but Arakiya changed everything. The Divine General ignited Lagunican soldiers in flames, turning the battlefield into a sea of fire. Felix could heal wounds, but he couldn't extinguish the flames without disrupting his resurrection magic.
Echidna, acting as one of the strategic commanders through her communication magic, made the call—Felix was to continue healing, while Roswaal was ordered to attack Arakiya directly. Soldiers burned alive, screaming in agony, but the moment their bodies started to fail, Felix's magic restored them, allowing them to keep fighting. Soon, the blazing Lagunican soldiers began to charge at the Empire's forces, setting their enemies alight as well.
Despite the horror of the battlefield, Subaru did not call for a retreat, something that intrigued Echidna. She had expected him to recognize the impossibility of the situation and withdraw his forces. Instead, he continued pressing the attack, making her suspect that the Empire's advisors had deduced Felix's magic had limits.
Meanwhile, Roswaal was battling Arakiya, pushing her back with relentless magical assaults. But she wasn't alone—Empire snipers and dragons provided her cover, preventing Roswaal from dealing a decisive blow.
Eventually, the city fell.
Yorna had fought fiercely, but her magic had limits. She could redistribute pain, but her soldiers still suffered cuts, burns, and mortal wounds. As Lagunican warriors engaged in close combat, the flames continued to spread, consuming both sides. Yorna was forced to make the brutal decision to let some of her soldiers die to keep the fight going.
But in the end, it wasn't enough.
The Empire was forced to retreat. Lagunican soldiers, enraged by the horror they had endured, slaughtered the remaining training soldiers and civilians who had not yet escaped. It was a massacre born out of vengeance.
Despite the victory, Anastasia was unsatisfied. The two Divine Generals had managed to escape, leaving behind only destruction. But the city was theirs now, and the war was far from over.
The second major event of the week was another assassination attempt on Anastasia. This time, the Empire had sent two Divine Generals—Olbart Dunkelkenn and Groovy Gumlet—alongside Yoa, an infamous assassin who had joined the Empire after the Al Incident. Their target was clear, but standing in their way was Halibel.
Many considered Halibel to be on par with Reinhard and Cecilus, despite being dubbed the "weakest" of the three. However, there was one key difference—Halibel was a killer. A master of curses and the greatest assassin in the world. This battle would go down as one of the most intense assassin duels in history.
Olbart, being a seasoned veteran, didn't even attempt to use curses against Halibel. Instead, he relied on his explosive techniques, knowing that direct engagement would be dangerous. Groovy, however, was not as cautious. He swung his cursed blade toward Halibel, only for it to disintegrate into dust the moment it neared him.
Yoa, trying to take advantage of the chaos, launched her razor-sharp strings to ensnare and slice Halibel apart. But he simply caught the strings and turned them against her. With a single, precise motion, he severed her arm, leaving her staggering in shock.
Halibel smiled. "Do you want me to fight seriously?" he asked, almost amused.
Olbart took the opportunity to strike, catching Halibel by surprise with a well-placed Wild Boot kick to the head. But as soon as the attack landed, Halibel calmly removed his arms from his kimono sleeves.
The air changed.
A powerful curse erupted around him, rotting everything in its vicinity. The stone pavement cracked and crumbled, trees and grass withered to nothing, and even Yoa's strings disintegrated upon contact.
Realizing the danger, Olbart called out, "Yoa, go! Take care of Anastasia! We'll handle him!"
But Halibel only smirked as he watched her run. "In that room," he said, his voice dripping with confidence, "there's something far more terrifying than me waiting for her."
Olbart's expression hardened. He didn't know what Halibel meant, but he had a sinking feeling that Yoa was running straight into a nightmare far worse than the one they were facing now.
Olbart hurled his bombs at Halibel, expecting a powerful explosion to disrupt the battle. But what he saw next defied all logic.
The moment the blasts detonated, the shockwaves froze midair, caught in the grip of Halibel's curse. The flames flickered, trapped, unable to expand beyond their ignition point. It was as if even the explosion itself was being corroded by the overwhelming malice radiating from Halibel.
Olbart's instincts screamed at him—this wasn't normal. This wasn't something any ordinary warrior could handle.
Meanwhile, Groovy had seen enough. He turned to escape, knowing full well that this fight had already gone beyond their expectations. But as he reached the door, his blood ran cold.
Standing in the doorway was another Halibel, casually smoking his pipe, blocking the only exit.
Olbart clenched his teeth. Damn it... He knew about this. Halibel could create up to four clones, each one sharing his consciousness. The worst part? While the clones split his raw physical strength, his curses remained just as powerful.
And so far, Halibel had only been using one.
Olbart gritted his teeth and let out a bitter chuckle. "You're even worse than the stories say..."
This wasn't just a fight against an assassin—this was a battle against death itself.
Halibel chuckled, exhaling a puff of smoke. "I hear that a lot," he said, amused.
Groovy lunged at him in desperation, but Halibel moved effortlessly, catching him by the face. With a single leap, he slammed Groovy into the ground, pinning him effortlessly. If Halibel had wanted, he could have crushed his skull right then and there.
Olbart took the opportunity, throwing a kunai laced with an explosive spell. Halibel casually caught it between his fingers, but Olbart smirked—he triggered the explosion instantly.
A deafening blast engulfed the area. But when the smoke cleared, Halibel stood there, unharmed, having used Groovy as a human shield.
Olbart clicked his tongue. "Tch... crafty bastard."
Halibel dusted himself off, his expression calm. "Since we're the last of our generation, I'll be nice," he said, voice smooth and confident. "I'll let you walk away."
Olbart narrowed his eyes. "And what's the catch?"
Halibel smirked. "Simple. You switch sides. Give the Empire false intel—tell them you wounded Anastasia. Make them think the assassination attempt was a success."
Olbart considered it, rubbing his chin. Then, with a grin, he tipped his hat. "Well, ain't that just convenient? I think I'd be glad to take that offer."
Halibel sighed, exhaling another puff of smoke. "Shame about your companion that went to the throne room," he said lazily. "It's over for her."
Olbart narrowed his eyes. "What monster are you talking about? Far as I know, Reinhard's busy dealing with proxy attacks near the border."
Halibel chuckled. "Who knows?" he said cryptically.
Before Olbart could press him further, Groovy suddenly lunged with a cursed dagger aimed straight at Halibel's throat. But the moment the blade made contact, it disintegrated into dust.
Halibel barely reacted. With an almost lazy movement, he reached out and touched Groovy's forehead with a single finger.
Instantly, Groovy froze. His entire body began turning black, veins bulging and cracking like dry earth. Blood gushed from his eyes as his flesh withered—his body collapsing inward as if every drop of water inside him had vanished.
Olbart took a step back, grimacing. "Damn... what a nasty way to go."
Halibel simply smirked. "That's what happens when you touch something you shouldn't."
Olbart clicked his tongue. "Kids these days have no patience," he muttered, shaking his head as he looked down at what remained of Groovy.
Halibelt smirked. "That's the result of your 'new way'—getting too attached to the people who pay you."
Olbart sighed, raising his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright. You have my word—I'll feed the Empire false intel. And if you don't believe me, you can put a curse on me. If I lie, I die."
Halibelt chuckled, exhaling another puff of smoke. "Oh, no need. I already cursed you the moment you stepped into this room. I'll just modify it."
Olbart's eye twitched. So that was it—he had lost this fight from the very beginning. Halibelt had just been toying with them. But there was something even more unsettling.
Halibelt really wanted him to give false intel to the Empire.
And that meant things were about to get much, much worse.
Olbart sighed internally. He had no choice but to follow through with the deal. If he played his cards right, maybe he could slip a hint to the Empire that things weren't as they seemed. But right now, with Halibelt watching him like a predator, it was best not to even think about it too hard.
With a smirk, he tried to lighten the mood. "Shame about Yoa. She had a nice ass... and potential."
Halibelt exhaled a puff of smoke, completely unfazed. "Yeah, real shame," he said with an easygoing chuckle, as if they were talking about the weather instead of a failed assassination.
Olbart narrowed his eyes slightly. That reaction confirmed it—Halibelt had been ordered to spare them. Not out of mercy, but because someone wanted the Empire to receive false information.
Anastasia watched as the assassin girl convulsed on the floor, her body rejecting the very presence of Echidna. It was almost pitiful—almost. The moment their eyes met, the girl lost all composure, vomiting violently before her limbs seized up.
Echidna sighed, raising a single finger. A thin beam of heat lanced from its tip, piercing through Yoa's skull effortlessly. The girl barely made a sound before she collapsed, her body still twitching.
"It looks like the assassination attempt went exactly as planned," Echidna said casually, brushing nonexistent dust from her robes.
Anastasia narrowed her eyes. "Didn't you say we needed to spare them?"
Echidna smiled, unbothered. "Ease up. Halibelt will handle the others. We just needed to make sure the Empire receives false information. Besides, I already promised to help you. And what I want is in Subaru's possession, so you don't have to fear betrayal from me."
Anastasia remained silent for a moment, then smirked. "Good. Then let's continue."