The Immortal Genius Spearman

Chapter 167

It was an overwhelming victory.

Before dawn could break, the battle had already ended thanks to the exceptional performance of the Caion Unit.

Yet, Damian remained composed, his focus already shifting to the next battle.

“What’s our next target?” Dianal asked.

“Nardern,” Damian replied calmly.

Neither Damian nor his troops celebrated the victory. They all understood one thing clearly: this was only the beginning.

Dianal quickly unfurled the map to confirm their next destination.

“We’ll need to head east from here,” he observed.

Nardern was located closer to the center of the Empire. From their current position near the southwestern border, the journey would take time.

“Once we take Nardern, Everblade will be only a day and a half away,” Damian noted.

“Which means we’ll be right at their doorstep,” Dianal replied.

Damian nodded, fully aware of the significance of the advance.

At that moment—

“Sergeant Damian! The commander is summoning you!”

“I’ll head there now.”

Damian made his way quickly to Kiaran’s tent, where she had gathered not only him but also the commanders from the Iren Kingdom and the Tirkan Kingdom.

“Well done, everyone. This victory is a testament to the effort we all put in together,” Kiaran began, distributing credit to everyone present.

However—

“The battles ahead will be far more intense than what we’ve faced so far. Stay sharp and prepared,” she cautioned.

“Agreed,” the other commanders replied in unison.

Kiaran then spread out the map, pointing to Nardern as she outlined the next steps.

“The castles in the Empire typically have low walls unless there’s a specific reason otherwise. So, breaching their defenses won’t be a significant challenge.”

This was a characteristic of most Imperial fortresses. They emphasized rapid mobilization over defensive fortifications.

“However,” Kiaran continued, “the archers will pose a significant threat as we approach. Their focus will be on reducing our numbers before we can close the gap.”

The early phase of the assault would heavily rely on the shield-bearers.

Kiaran then turned to Damian.

“Sergeant Damian.”

“Yes, Commander?”

“How is your condition?”

Kiaran was well aware of the physical toll aura mastery could take, especially on someone like Damian, who had only recently reached that level.

“I’ll be fine after a short rest, Commander. There’s no need to worry,” Damian replied confidently.

Satisfied with his response, Kiaran nodded.

“Good. Once we take Nardern, Everblade will be within reach. With three kingdoms combined, it would be a disgrace to let the Artian Kingdom get there before us. We must be the first to arrive.”

“Haha, I like the sound of that.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

The commanders from the Tirkan and Iren Kingdoms expressed their approval.

“Then let’s advance without delay. We’ll rest after we take Nardern,” Kiaran declared.

Riding the momentum of victory, the allied forces marched relentlessly toward Nardern.

***

“Lord Calon, the orders have been issued,” a lieutenant reported.

Calon Xanthos, one of the Empire’s Aura Masters, was stationed at a southern port.

He and his forces—30,000 elite troops—were on standby aboard dozens of warships, ready to deploy to either the Baroque Kingdom or the Artian Kingdom as needed.

“What’s the target?” Calon asked.

“The Artian Kingdom, my lord.”

“The Artian Kingdom?” Calon raised an eyebrow, surprised.

The Empire had already launched a naval assault on the Artian Kingdom previously, severely wounding their Aura Master, Kalen Diego.

“With Celestine likely stationed there, this could be a more challenging campaign,” Calon muttered.

Among the Aura Masters, Celestine’s abilities posed a uniquely troublesome match-up for him.

Still, he shrugged off any concern.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said dismissively. “Whoever stands in the way, I’ll cut them down.”

The lieutenant hesitated, then added, “There’s more, my lord. Recent intelligence confirms that Celestine is leading the allied forces that entered the Empire.”

“…What?”

Calon’s usually stoic expression shifted slightly at the unexpected news.

“So, that means the Artian Kingdom is without an Aura Master, aside from Kalen?”

“That remains unclear, but it’s confirmed that Celestine is commanding the allied forces.”

“I see.”

Calon rose from his seat and looked out toward the soldiers standing in formation.

The 30,000 troops were battle-hardened and ready, their sharp gazes reflecting their readiness for war.

Turning toward the ships, Calon gave his order.

“Begin boarding. We depart immediately.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Pwooouuuu!

The sound of the war horns signaled the start of the operation, and the soldiers moved with precision, boarding the ships in an orderly fashion.

Calon, his black cloak fluttering in the salty sea breeze, was the last to board.

The sight of the endless blue sea stretched before him, yet his gaze pierced beyond it to the blood-soaked battlefield that awaited.

“Set sail,” Calon commanded.

The fleet of warships surged forward, slicing through the waves with purpose.

***

“It’s an absurd strategy,” Benoit said, his tone sharp.

“Have you underestimated the fact that the allied forces are already on Imperial soil?”

“Of course not,” Ailes replied smoothly.

The tension in the meeting chamber was palpable as Benoit and Ailes clashed.

“How does it make sense to send both General Calon and General Galveron on the offensive? Now is the time to focus on defense!”

Benoit argued passionately against Ailes' strategy.

According to Ailes' plan, the Empire would have to endure significant losses.

But Ailes smirked coldly and countered.

“War is like politics, Chancellor. To gain something, you must sometimes be willing to give something up.”

“The Empire does not give! Our wars are fought to take everything!” Benoit shouted, his voice ringing with conviction.

Ailes could understand Benoit’s perspective. After all, the Empire had always fought wars in a way that seemed to only take, never give.

However, that belief was fundamentally flawed. The Empire, too, had always given up something in its conquests—it simply didn’t see it that way.

‘To them, the countless soldiers who die in every campaign are nothing more than disposable tools.’

The lives of tens of thousands of soldiers were never counted as losses. In their eyes, those lives could simply be replaced with more training and recruits.

This blind arrogance disgusted Ailes.

If the Empire had shown even a modicum of care for its people, it would have been an unbreakable force—

‘The entire continent would already be under their rule.’

Ailes massaged his temples as a sharp pain shot through his head. Engaging in further argument with Benoit or the other ministers was pointless. Their mindset was unyielding, and any discussion would lead nowhere.

At that moment, the chamber doors swung open with a resounding clunk.

Everyone turned to see the Imperial Chief Secretary stride into the room.

His rank did not grant him the right to attend these meetings, prompting Benoit to address him with irritation.

“What is the meaning of this? How dare you enter without prior notice?”

“I come bearing a direct imperial decree,” the secretary replied, his voice steady.

“A decree?!”

The room immediately fell silent. All the ministers present knelt on one knee, their heads bowed as the secretary unfurled the parchment bearing the Emperor’s seal.

“By the Emperor’s will,” the secretary began, “from this moment, full command of all military operations is hereby transferred to Ailes Vilzen. This decision is final and absolute, aimed at ensuring the unification of the continent. Any dissenting opinion shall not be tolerated.”

As the decree was read aloud, a wave of unease swept through the room.

Benoit clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white with fury.

‘All military authority to that traitor? What could the Emperor possibly be thinking?!’

Yet, the decree left no room for debate. The Emperor had made it clear: any opposition would be met with severe consequences.

Ailes rose from his seat, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.

“Well then, it seems we’ll need to restart this meeting,” he said.

This was the authority he had petitioned the Emperor for—a temporary but absolute command to rectify the Empire’s faltering position.

‘Of course, if I fail, my head will be the first to roll.’

It was power granted on a knife’s edge, with the full weight of responsibility falling squarely on his shoulders.

Exhaling quietly, Ailes turned to face the ministers. Their discomfort was palpable, but none dared voice dissent now.

He began issuing his commands.

“General Calon Xanthos will lead 30,000 troops by sea to the Artian Kingdom. General Galveron will take 20,000 troops and advance on the Tirkan Kingdom via land.”

Benoit immediately raised an objection.

“Galveron only recently returned from the frontlines, injured. Sending him back into battle now is unreasonable!”

Ailes' expression hardened.

“If he made the mess, he should clean it up himself. Should he fail again, I don’t care if he’s an Aura Master—I’ll take his head myself.”

“What?! That’s outrageous!” Benoit shouted, leaping to his feet.

Aura Masters were the Empire’s most valuable assets, each one representing an unparalleled source of power. How could Ailes dismiss them so casually?

Ailes' response was swift and scathing.

“Can you not see that this soft thinking is exactly what has brought us to this point?!”

The sheer force of his voice reverberated through the chamber, silencing the ministers.

Ailes' aura filled the room, its oppressive weight rendering everyone speechless.

“An Aura Master is the Empire’s sharpest blade,” Ailes continued coldly. “And if that blade dulls, it must be reforged or discarded. Failure cannot be tolerated.”

The Empire had grown complacent, blinded by its own power. Recent defeats had exposed the cracks in its overconfidence, yet some still failed to see the urgency of the situation.

One minister hesitantly asked, “Then how do you plan to defend Everblade? If their goal is Everblade, shouldn’t we prioritize its defense?”

Ailes smirked, his confidence unshaken.

“They won’t reach Everblade.”

“What? But you yourself said their objective was Everblade!”

“Their first targets are Statznal and Nardern,” Ailes clarified. “I will deploy reinforcements to both locations immediately.”

“Reinforcements? Who are you sending?”

Ailes' smirk widened.

“Statznal will be defended by General Alexandro Falcoz and 30,000 troops. Nardern will fall under the protection of Piaren Tale and his Rose Knight Order.”

“Alexandro Falcoz? You’re pulling him from the capital?!”

Alexandro Falcoz, the Empire’s First Aura Master, was the pillar of Jutermel’s defenses. Sending him to Statznal, a location far removed from the capital, was a bold and risky move.

“This war will determine the Empire’s future,” Ailes replied.

If Alexandro could pin down the Artian Kingdom’s Aura Master, Celestine Favela, it would deliver a devastating blow.

“The Artian Kingdom’s capital will burn for the first time in its history. Its fall will strike fear into every kingdom on the continent.”

The ministers exchanged uneasy glances. Ailes' strategy was bold but fraught with risks that could spell disaster for the Empire if it failed.

Yet, as Ailes stared them down, his conviction was clear.

This was not merely a battle. It was the move that would determine the course of the war—and the continent’s fate.