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The Gandian army, five thousand strong, deployed on the southern Balser Plains, faced a Logner force of six to seven thousand, according to reports, arrayed with the fortress at their rear.
Logner's formation spread like a bird's wings, poised to envelop and annihilate the outnumbered Gandians.
In response, the Gandian army split into four main units. Leongand directly commanded the elite vanguard, led by his royal guard. To their right rear, Lucion's first prince, Halberk Reus Lucion, led his detachment. Mion's assault general, Gilbert Hardy, positioned his unit just behind the vanguard. Lastly, the two hundred mercenaries, including Setsuna and Faria, held the left rear under Leongand's command.
"The enemy outnumbers us significantly, my lord. Your orders?"
Algazard Balgazal's breezy tone rang pleasantly in Leongand's ears. A renowned Gandian general, unmatched in defensive warfare, Algazard's grandfatherly demeanor—snow-white hair, wrinkled face always smiling, and long white beard—hadn't changed since Leongand's childhood, a fact that never ceased to amaze him. Known as the "White Elder," his presence was unmistakable.
Leongand, bolstered by the old general's unwavering smile, returned his gaze forward. His own expression, he noted with a wry inward chuckle, mirrored Algazard's calm.
(I'm buzzing, though.)
And why wouldn't he be? This was Leongand's first battle. For twenty-six years, as heir to Gandia's throne, he'd been denied the battlefield banned, rather, by his father, the great King Sius Cloud.
"Until you inherit the throne, you shall not fight."
The command still baffled him, but Leongand chalked it up to his father's inscrutable wisdom, refusing to dwell on it. No answer would come from pondering, and time was too precious.
In his stead, his younger sister, Rinoncrea, took to the field. She debuted in her mid-teens, earning renown as Gandia's war maiden through countless battles, while Leongand, barred from combat, was mocked as Gandia's fool.
He wasn't fragile enough to be wounded by mere insults. He'd done his duty, racing across Gandia to fulfill his role. If people thought him a wastrel, so be it. But the consequence—his people's despair upon his coronation silenced even him.
"No change of plans. We proceed as intended," Leongand replied lightly, raising Grassorion overhead. The ornate longsword's blade, impractical for combat, gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
His sword's radiance, held aloft on horseback, was visible to every soldier in the vanguard.
"Advance!" Leongand roared, slashing the blade toward the enemy.
"Let's go, you bastards!" Sigurd's bellow thundered through the mercenaries as Leongand's vanguard surged toward the enemy.
The response wasn't a murmur but a primal roar from warriors hungry for glory and coin.
(Incredible…!) Setsuna, swept up in the earth-shaking cries, felt awe and exhilaration. His soul trembled. Strangers from different walks of life united in a single purpose.
"Don't lose focus, Setsuna," Faria warned.
Snapped back to reality, Setsuna realized the mercenaries were already moving. Somehow at the forefront, he had to keep pace. His body had reacted instinctively, but without focus, he'd be left behind.
The lead man wasn't sprinting but moved with terrifying speed, pulling the entire unit along. Maintaining formation was critical, as was not letting one man claim all the glory. If the leader were a reckless fool blinded by reward, following blindly would be pointless.
But the vanguard was led by none other than Lux Vain, the Blue Wind's assault captain. Setsuna, having heard tales of Lux's exploits, understood why the mercenaries scrambled to keep up.
(But I…) No need to rush. His first battle, a whirlwind of tension and thrill, demanded calm. He couldn't let the frenzy swallow him.
Glory was expected of him. Recruited by the king himself, he was here to wield his summoned weapon and fell enemies.
Giving up on tracking Lux far ahead, Setsuna scanned his surroundings. Faria ran to his right rear, her monstrous bow in hand, breathing steady despite the pace. Setsuna struggled just to match the group's speed. To his left front, Sigurd Folia and Jin Clair led, followed by Blue Wind members and other mercenaries racing to keep up.
Looking forward, Setsuna saw Lux plunge into a wall of Logner heavy infantry. His long sword flashed, blood sprayed, screams rose, drowned by roars. Enemy soldiers swarmed him.
Lux's blade carved through thick armor, severing men in two. Crimson bloomed across the battlefield like frenzied flowers.
Witnessing lives snuffed out in moments, Setsuna couldn't suppress his shock.
(That's Sword Demon Lux Vain…!)
In awe, Setsuna thrust his right hand forward, shouting, "Armed Summon!"
Geometric light patterns flared across his body, erupting in a torrent of radiance. Amid overwhelming freedom, Setsuna watched the light converge into his right palm, coalescing into a rod-like form, revealing its twisted, sinister nature.
The light faded, and in Setsuna's grip was a monstrous black spear the weapon that had repelled fiends in the forest, crushed Lankain, his unique summoned arm.
(Let's do this, my spear!)
Gripping it, Setsuna felt a jolt like lightning. The shock hit his consciousness, igniting every sense. His vision widened, senses sharpened, power surged, and his body thrummed.
"—!?" A scream or something echoed behind him, but Setsuna knew he couldn't afford to care.
Ahead, Lux's solo rampage continued. At the enemy's center, Leongand's elite clashed with Logner's forces. Mion's unit moved to follow, while Lucion's White Holy Knights veered wide, likely aiming to flank the protruding enemy left wing.
Amazed at his own grasp of the chaotic battlefield, Setsuna calmly accepted it. With spear in hand, it was only natural.
He accelerated, overtaking Sigurd, the enemy lines looming close. He'd closed the distance faster than he'd realized.
Lux, surrounded by a dozen corpses, seemed stalled. The enemy, recognizing his threat, had formed a cautious encirclement, their heavy armor and shields daunting even for him. His initial assault had succeeded as a surprise, but now, wariness made him hesitate.
But Setsuna didn't care. His spear craved havoc. He had to unleash it. Without hesitation, he kicked off the ground, leaping into the enemy ranks.
Countless enemy eyes, and Lux's, locked onto him. A thrill shot through Setsuna.
"Setsuna!?" Lux's voice cracked with shock.
Landing in front of Lux, Setsuna didn't look back. Before him stood countless foes, their eyes behind armor wide with disbelief. Two lunatics charging alone into their ranks? Unthinkable.
A feral grin curled Setsuna's lips, its savagery unknown to him. Following instinct, he swung his spear. Then
"Have you ever killed someone?"
Faria's question flashed through his mind. Why now, of all times?
The answer came instantly.
Crimson flames erupted from the spear's tip, a blazing inferno unleashed.