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Galveron Maxkov, the Empire’s fourth Aura Master, asked as he glanced at the Third Corps Commander, Estevan. His question caused Estevan’s eyebrow to twitch slightly.

“…You could be more respectful, Count Galveron.”

“Oh, is that so? I was just curious. The Spanian Kingdom doesn’t seem to have much to offer the Baroque Kingdom. I was wondering how they managed to form an alliance.”

“The simplest explanation is that they might cede some of their borderland to Baroque. However, what’s more important than how they formed the alliance is how we respond now that they have.”

Estevan replied, suppressing his irritation. Why are all Aura Masters so arrogant and reckless? He couldn’t deny Galveron’s power, but power alone wasn’t enough to accomplish everything.

Estevan looked at the large map of the continent hanging on the wall and continued, “I’ll raise an army and attack the northwestern region of the Spanian Kingdom. Their attention will naturally be drawn there.”

“And while their focus is on that, I’m to strike the Tirkan Kingdom?”

“Yes. Once Tirkan falls, we can either move eastward into Spanian’s eastern territories or even advance straight into the Seilonian Kingdom.”

Their original plan was to focus on the Spanian Kingdom. Given its size, resistance was expected, but…

I didn’t expect the Baroque Kingdom to counterattack so fiercely.

From the first border skirmish with Spanian troops to the battle with the Iren Kingdom, and now even the crushing defeat of Piaran Tail’s Rose Knight Order, Baroque had fought back with surprising ferocity.

Estevan had already identified the key factor in these defeats: all three pivotal battles had involved the same unit.

“Once the Count successfully conquers the Tirkan Kingdom, we can expect that unit to appear again.”

“That unit? You mean the Baroque Kingdom’s force that defeated the Rose Knight Order? Their name was…”

“Caion Unit, I believe.”

“That’s right. That’s the one.”

Estevan was certain that the Caion Unit was bolstering its strength for future missions. He turned to Galveron and said, “Count, I’ll need you to wipe out the Caion Unit.”

Galveron smirked at Estevan’s words.
“A common unit? They aren’t even an order of knights trained in Aura. Once I’ve conquered Tirkan, we’ll discuss this again.”

With that, Galveron turned and walked away, the Empire’s newest sword ready for battle. Estevan, watching him leave, began preparing for the next stage of their plan.

* * *

It was time for the third and final test for the Caion Unit recruits.

After the initial archery and stamina trials, a significant number of applicants had been filtered out.

Following Damian’s orders, those who had failed the first and second tests were dismissed.

“Hey, how can they kick us out before the third test?”

“Aren’t we supposed to take all the tests before being judged?”

The number of applicants disqualified before the third test had been more than half of the original 150, which sparked intense protests. The discontent was far louder than during the archery trial.

However, Damian stepped forward, holding a spear, and silenced the crowd with a challenge.

“Step forward. If any of you can stand within this circle for 30 seconds without stepping out, I’ll pass you, regardless of your previous test results.”

The disqualified applicants gulped. Damian’s aura, even without moving, was overwhelming.

Is this… really a kid?

What kind of monster is he?

Damian’s presence, with the spear in hand, exuded a sharp, almost deadly pressure. Despite that, some applicants, oblivious to their own limits, stepped forward.

“I’ll give it a try,” one man said, volunteering.

The circle Damian had drawn was about 5 meters in diameter. Large enough to maneuver in, but small enough that it wouldn’t be easy to avoid attacks.

As the man approached the circle, Damian warned him,
“Just so you know, you might get seriously hurt. I won’t be using a training weapon; this is real steel.”

The applicant swallowed nervously.
“Can I use a shield?”

“Anything is allowed,” Damian replied, stepping into the circle. The man went over to the weapon rack and picked up a round shield and a short sword, the kind a hunter might use.

The Caion Unit members watched with interest as the man prepared.

The remaining disqualified applicants, watching nervously, gulped again.

Once armed, the man stepped into the circle, and Damian asked,
“Your name?”

“Alain,” the man replied.

At that, Damian glanced at Dianal, who nodded and began the countdown.
“Begin!”

The moment Dianal announced the start of the 30-second countdown, Alain crouched low and raised his shield, ready for a long-range attack from Damian’s spear.

The circle is big enough. If I can just parry a few strikes near the edge, I can survive for 30 seconds…

Damian lifted his spear, exhaling softly.

“Fuu…”

His eyes sharpened as he slowly moved into a stance, and Alain tensed, locking eyes with him.

Swoosh.

With a swift, precise motion, Damian began his attack.

But at that moment—

BAM!

“Ugh!”

In an instant, Alain felt a crushing pressure, his body almost giving in.

The impact made him scream as it felt like his arm, gripping the shield, was on the verge of breaking.

And that was just the beginning.

As Alain barely managed to block Damian’s first strike, Damian’s spear dipped low and then—

Whoosh!

Clang!

The spear swiftly struck upward, knocking Alain’s shield high into the air.

Alain bit his lip hard, focusing as best as he could. In the blink of an eye, his shield arm was forced up, exposing his upper body defenselessly.

Alain gritted his teeth, his eyes wide as Damian’s spear shot toward his shoulder.

“Ugh!”

Letting out a strange yelp, Alain hurriedly swung his sword, trying to deflect the attack. But just as he knocked Damian’s spear away—

Whoosh!

“…!”

Damian’s spear sharply changed direction in mid-air, stabbing right into Alain’s thigh.

Thud!

“Aaaaagh!”

Alain screamed as the spear dug deep into his leg. He never expected to actually get stabbed in a test like this.

Thud!

Damian withdrew the spear and reversed it, hitting Alain squarely in the chest with the shaft, sending him flying out of the circle.

Damian glanced over at Dianal.

“…12 seconds have passed.”

“It’s over. Anyone else want to try? As I said, if you can last 30 seconds, you pass.”

“…”

Silence fell over the field.

The only sounds were the faint groans from the fallen Alain and the nervous gulping of the other applicants.

“Damn it…!”

Alain lay on the ground, gritting his teeth in frustration.

Seeing that no one else was stepping forward, Damian spoke again.

“Let’s move on to the third test. As for those who were disqualified earlier, leave now.”

Damian began to turn away but paused, glancing back at Alain who was still writhing in pain on the ground.

“Take him to the medical tent and treat his injury. He’s the first one to pass.”

“…!”

“What?!”

The applicants who were walking away stopped in their tracks, eyes wide in disbelief.

Soon—

“I’ll volunteer for the test too!”

“Me too!”

Others hurried to step into the circle, eager to take the test, but—

“Turn around and leave immediately!” Dianal bellowed, and the would-be challengers froze, quickly retreating.

“I… I passed?” Alain, still bleeding from his thigh, asked with a stunned expression.

As he helped Alain toward the medical tent, Kyle muttered,
“It’s not necessarily a good thing. Hell is waiting for you from here on out.”

“H-Hell?”

Kyle just grinned, as if already pitying Alain’s future.

* * *

Although this wasn’t her first visit to the palace, Kiaran still couldn’t get used to its atmosphere. The place always felt artificial and insincere.

“What brings you here?”

Mateurus Jankoff, the chancellor of the Baroque Kingdom, greeted Kiaran warmly, though Kiaran, despite her polite bow, couldn’t hide her displeasure.

“What is going on here?”

“Ah, you mean the order to mobilize the 6th Legion?”

“Exactly.”

Kiaran’s tone was sharp as she asked the question, and Mateurus, as if anticipating this, calmly gestured for Kiaran to sit.

Without hesitation, Mateurus explained,
“The Empire has mobilized troops not only toward the northern part of the Spanian Kingdom but also toward the Tirkan Kingdom. We’ve also received reports that they are preparing their naval forces.”

“…Naval forces?”

Kiaran’s expression hardened. If the Empire was moving its fleet, that could only mean one thing—

“As you suspect, General. It likely means they intend to attack our kingdom directly.”

The Baroque Kingdom’s northwest was bordered by a vast sea. If the Empire launched a naval assault, they would be able to strike across a wide area.

“That’s why the 2nd and 3rd Legions are being repositioned to the west, and the 4th Legion is moving northeast to collaborate with the Iren Kingdom.”

Mateurus, fully aware of the recent strain on the 6th Legion, had anticipated Kiaran’s concerns.

Still, even Mateurus had not expected the Empire to act so boldly, and now, with the Empire’s movements exposed, the Baroque Kingdom was scrambling to react.

“Soon… a massive war may erupt across the entire continent. One of the scales we have never seen before.”

The Empire, with its four Aura Masters, possessed enough power to potentially declare war on the entire continent.

And to counter such a catastrophe, the Baroque Kingdom needed an Aura Master of its own.

“However, as you know, Aura Masters are not something we can just summon at will. They are gifts from the heavens, wielding divine power.”

All they could do was their best under the circumstances.

“That said, His Majesty has ordered that a reward be prepared for the 6th Legion’s efforts, General Kiaran. We are counting on you to continue your hard work.”

Mateurus skillfully mixed his carrot-and-stick diplomacy, prompting Kiaran to let out a sigh. *He’s impossible to argue with,* Kiaran thought.

Should I just be satisfied with the reward?

Still…

They’re preparing to move their fleet?

Perhaps, just as Mateurus warned, this might not be like any war they’d seen before.

Kiaran could only grimly contemplate the future, preparing for the worst as she left the palace with a heavy heart.