Toonka's side had stepped back. The Empire's side had retreated back as well.

There was just the empty ground between the two sides that had their shields up.

"...Fire."

The fire that had shot down from heaven was burning in that space.

The legends said that a god had sent down the first fire to help the people, however, this time it felt like a punishment from heaven.

Duke Huten was subconsciously clenching down hard on the hilt of his sword.

"Duke-nim." He could hear the shaking voice of the high-grade mage behind him.

It was the person in charge of the Empire's First Mage Brigade.

"That is not magic."

"What?"

"That is just pure fire. I believe it must be an Ancient Power."

The brown robe. Duke Huten couldn't help but think of that person. That person had been standing next to Rosalyn.

Ancient powers and Rosalyn? Duke Huten naturally thought about someone as he put those two together.

Cale Henituse.

He couldn't help but think of that name. At the same time, he remembered how the Roan Kingdom had helped out at the Breck Kingdom's battle.

It made him suspicious.

At the same time, he didn't think that it was possible. If he had to name the two kingdoms that currently had a good relationship with the Empire, it would be the Caro Kingdom and the Roan Kingdom.

Furthermore, Cale Henituse had even received a medal of honor from the Empire.

'No need for useless suspicions.'

However, he knew he needed to be wary of that brown-robed individual. The arrogance slowly started to disappear from Huten's eyes.

On the other hand, Cale had to put some strength into his legs that almost gave out from being shocked at the unexpected power as well as the thrill that went through his body.

His body swayed a bit as he tried not to laugh out loud. 'Hehehe what a dream comes true... overwhelming power over the enemies... I've always wanted to do this...'

"...Ca-!" Rosalyn quickly shut up as the soldiers were nearby and grabbed his arm. She then observed Cale's face underneath the robe. '...Huh?'

Cale looked fine. Forget fine, he looked extremely energetic.

Here's a good comparison to what it looked like. It was similar to when a bookworm who had been studying indoors all the time decided to take a walk because it was a beautiful day. Once they come out and do some light stretching, color returned to their pale face and they looked much healthier than seconds prior.

That was how Cale's face looked right now.

His face that had been getting paler and making people worried had a slightly red tint to it, making him seem very healthy.

"...Are you okay?" Rosalyn asked as she looked toward Cale's eyes with concern. 'You look very happy for some reasons that I'm getting even more worried...'

On the other hand, Cale came to his senses after seeing the shock and nervousness mixed on Rosalyn's face.

'Ah! I should control my excitement.' He looked around.

The soldiers seemed shocked and the mages seemed even more shocked. Chief Harol had an odd expression on his face.

'Is the power too shocking? I was shocked as well.' Cale looked down below.

Toonka was looking at him from inside the shield.

– Human! Are you really okay? Hmm, you do seem okay, but that is weird! No! I got it! That fortification with the rain of gold must have been amazing!

Raon's relieved voice could be heard.

– If it is like that, let's fortify all the other ones as well! Then our Human will never be hurt!

He then heard Raon's voice turn sad.

– ...Never mind. We can't do it right now. Fortification requires a lot of money... I do not have much in my piggy bank just yet.

Cale wanted to laugh at the monologue of the cute little Dragon. However, Cale could not really pay attention to what Raon was saying.

Cale was looking at Toonka. Toonka was the only one who had a reaction other than shock.

The bastard was looking at Cale while mouthing something silently. 'Are we not doing it?'

"Hahaha..." Cale started to laugh lowly. He moved Rosalyn's hand away from his arm and started to speak. "Please start."

The gaze in Rosalyn's eyes changed.

The pillar of fire was still burning. This pillar of fire was almost as tall as the black towers made by alchemy. It was something that was giving off an aura that made it difficult to approach. However, the lonely pillar of fire looked shabby.

"Put out the fire! Move the formation!" Duke Huten's voice sounded like thunder as he commanded the Empire's forces.

The soldiers quickly came back to their senses and started to move their formation. They were going to dodge this pillar of fire.

'I don't know why the pillar of fire struck down over there, but it is useless toward us.'

The pillar of fire had not struck the Empire's formation. It had just hit down on empty ground. It was a useless power if it didn't kill anybody.

'There are many other paths toward Maple Castle.'

Maple Castle was located in the middle of a plain. You could approach it on all sides.

It would not be difficult for the Empire's forces to surround Maple Castle based on their numbers.

In addition, the number of Whipper Kingdom's warriors and soldiers were not enough to take on the large number from the Empire that could easily surround the castle.

This was especially the case as only tens of soldiers and mages were on the castle wall.

'We just need to be cautious of the Dwarves and that pillar of fire.'

It was just a matter of time before they won.

It was at that moment.

Ruuuumble- The quiet sky started to rumble again.

"Ah." Duke Huten realized something.

He had forgotten about it because of the shock that was caused by this fire that they believed was an Ancient Power.

Rosalyn and the unknown person's magic.

Black clouds were still covering the battlefield.

"Shit!"

"Duke-nim!"

Duke Huten urgently started to shout. "Activate the magic shields!"

It was now the magic spell's turn to strike toward the Empire's forces.

Just take a look.

Even the mages on top of the castle wall that was not covered by the pillar of fire were preparing red fire-attribute magic spells!

'It was so that they could protect Toonka!'

That red pillar was used to separate Toonka from the Empire's forces before they launched these spells.

Huten finally realized Rosalyn and the Whipper Kingdom's chiefs' strategy. That was why he was frowning as he urged the mages to cast shields as the soldiers and knights curled up together and lifted up their shields toward the sky.

Ruuuumble. It happened once the sky stopped crying once again.

Baaaaaang!

Baaaaang!

Red lights started to pour out from both the sky and Maple Castle.

It was different than that Fire of Destruction that looked like flowing blood. Fire and electric magic spells filled the area.

"Ugh!" The mage next to Duke Huten stumbled as the ground continued to shake.

It was intense.

Even Duke Huten got the chills as he watched the rose gold colored thunderbolt coming down from the sky. However, Duke Huten was able to slowly straighten himself back up.

He looked around where the magic spells had struck.

"...Duke-nim, nobody died."

None of the Empire's forces had died. There were some who were injured, but nobody was dead. However, Duke Huten could not laugh about this situation.

"What, what is that?!" Duke Huten could not hide his shock as he looked forward.

A wall was created with the blood-like pillar of fire at the center. A furiously burning wall of fire appeared in front of the Empire's eyes.

This fire with electric currents that was made from magic was burning up in the form of a wall.

"Duke-nim! All directions are blocked!"

Huten heard the knight's shout. He could see it as well.

A wall of fire was surrounding Maple Castle. It looked as if nobody could enter.

The Whipper Kingdom had repeated the same thing that the Empire had done in the past when they had left a wall of fire before retreating. However, one thing had changed.

"...They didn't block all of it."

They left an opening.

The Empire had left the everlasting flame made from alchemy on all sides of the castle in order to prevent the Whipper Kingdom from approaching Maple Castle. However, the Whipper Kingdom had left an entrance.

It was the spot that the blood-like pillar of fire and the rose gold thunderbolt had landed. There were no fires in those two locations. Only dust was flowing around in that area.

He could also see the gate into Maple Castle beyond that area as well. The Empire could try to take Maple Castle without touching the wall of fire if they went past that area.

"Hahaha-" Duke Huten let out a laugh.

Right in front of the gate.

In the area without fire.

He could see people starting to fill that area.

Toonka was the one in the front. Behind him were his subordinate warriors with the soldiers behind them.

The mercenary mages and Rosalyn were on top of the castle wall above the gate. He could also see the brown-robed individual.

The brown-robed Cale looked toward Toonka's back. Toonka felt his gaze and stood in the only opening within the wall of fire and glared at Duke Huten and the enemies.

He recalled the conversation he had with Cale prior to the battle.

"Cale, thank you for helping us out, but the warriors and I will fight."

Chief Harol agreed with Toonka.

"We just ask for your support. We will ask you to help if we are put in a dangerous situation, however, we want to try fighting with our own strength first."

A fight against the Empire.

The Whipper Kingdom needed to show that they could hold their own for a while. That would raise the soldiers' morales and make the Empire not try to aim for the Whipper Kingdom ever again.

In addition, Harol was planning on using this war as a chance to kill the king or turn him into a complete puppet. They needed results in order to do that. That was why they decided to fight.

Of course, Toonka had a different reason for choosing to fight.

"That is the Whipper way."

It was the Whipper Kingdom's style to fight. There was a reason that they were labeled as barbarians.

Cale had smiled at the two of them. "I wasn't planning on taking part in round 1 anyway."

Toonka could feel the heat of the fire, but Duke Huten's bloodshot eyes were still clearly visible.

Cale's voice tickled his ears.

"I will provide you a battlefield for you to run wild. Toonka, think about a narrow and deep gorge."

Cale wanted Toonka to think about the enemies coming into a narrow gorge that was filled with their allies.

An extremely deep but narrow gorge. It was narrow because both sides were blocked by high cliffs. Not only that, but these steep cliffs were made of fire.

Of course, fighting here at Maple Castle was different than actually fighting at an actual gorge. However, the results should be the same.

"The enemy will meet the Whipper Kingdom's warriors at the end of this narrow path."

No matter how large the number of enemies may be, they only had one way to get through to the Whipper Kingdom's side. They had no choice but to go through this wall of fire.

"Toonka, if they can't get past you and the warriors, then they cannot step into the Whipper Kingdom territory."

Toonka touched the pouch hanging on his waist. Cale had said that the marble inside this pouch was the ingredient for the pillar of fire used in the battle against the Indomitable Alliance at the Gorge of Death.

"The fire in the gorge will not go out. I will make it that way, so just look forward. What do you think? Is this the battlefield you wanted?"

'What do I think?'

It was perfect.

Toonka liked this battlefield a lot. He could feel the warriors lining up next to him, as well as the people standing on the castle wall behind him, and noticed himself becoming confident.

He was not scared of the large number of enemies. They would not be able to get past this path as long as he was alive.

Toonka found this battlefield to be amazing.

He heard an unexpected noise at that moment.

Screeeech- The castle gate opened.

Toonka saw someone coming out dressed like a soldier and standing next to him. This person was wearing a helmet.

Toonka started to smile. He could tell who it was even without seeing the person's face. "Didn't you say you can't use your aura?"

Choi Han, the helmeted man, took out a normal sword, the sword he got after Cale took him in, and stood up straight.

"Choi Han, you want to fight?"

"Cale-nim, even though you said that healing is important, but I think using my sword is a way to save them as well."

"Is that the only reason?"

"...Duke Huten uses aura. Toonka does not have any aura. It will be difficult by himself."

"But you can't use your aura right now."

Toonka and Cale had wondered about the same thing.

Choi Han held back a laugh as he recalled the answer he gave Cale and calmly answered back.

"It is still better for me to be there with him rather than for him to do it alone.

I am still strong without it."

Toonka started to laugh. The person who could not use his aura because he needed to hide his identity, the person who had beaten him up in the past, was standing next to him right now.

That was the truth. Choi Han was strong even without his aura. And that strong person was on his side.

Toonka felt an unknown emotion filling his heart.

"Choi Han, you're my friend too, right?"

"Shut up."

Clang. The tip of Choi Han's sword pointed toward Duke Huten as he told Toonka to shut up.

Choi Han and Duke Huten had never met before. It was because Cale had made Choi Han move separately from him in the Empire as he was worried that Duke Huten would realize the level of Choi Han's strength.

However, there was no need to worry about that. Although they were both sword masters, Choi Han's level and Duke Huten's level were worlds apart.

Duke Huten started to shout. "Third Knights Brigade, follow behind me!"

The Empire's Knights Brigade moved their horses forward as they charged toward Maple Castle with the Duke in the lead.

Ooooooong- The Empire's Mage Brigade started to cast spells as well.

Their mana headed toward the only entrance to the castle, as well as to the wall of fire. They were trying to kill everyone who was at that gap, as well as destroy the wall of fire.

Toonka was standing in the front as he thought about the people standing behind him and he shouted wildly. "You'll only get past here over my dead body!"

Choi Han was already rushing forward at that time.

A battle between the few and the many.

The battlefield that the few had wanted had been created.

The Empire's Third Knights Brigade rushed toward the only path between the fire.

"Get off your horses!" Duke Huten jumped off his horse as he shouted.

The horses were getting scared while looking at the red fire. Anybody who was scared was useless in battle.

'They are more of a hindrance in that small opening.' Duke Huten rushed quickly toward the opening in the fire after quickly making that judgment.

Clang-! His sword, no, his aura shot up toward the sky.

His silver-grey colored aura that resembled the color of his sword shot up to the sky.

The Sword of the Empire. Duke Huten had been given that title because he was a sword master and because the color of his aura was the color of a sword.

"Follow the Duke-nim!" The captain of the Third Knights Brigade gave the order and the knights who had gotten off their horses wrapped around the Duke as they headed toward the castle gate.

"Ahahahaha! You came down to the ground in the end! It's only fun when we are on the same level! Kahahahahah!"

Duke Huten could see Toonka charging toward him.

Once Toonka and the warriors moved forward, the soldiers behind them put up long spears and bows to cover the gap.

"You cocky bastard." Duke Huten grumbled as he kicked off the ground with the aura-covered sword in his hand.

Toonka and Huten.

The two of them were only looking at each other as they ran toward each other.

'You're just a damn arrogant barbarian! I'm going to kill you!' Huten's pride had been hurt.

They kept getting toyed with by the Whipper Kingdom and even the flow of battle had changed when he was the one to come with the overwhelming numbers.

He had rushed forward to change the flow of battle once again. It was also to buy some time.

And finally.

"I will kill you!"

It was to kill Toonka.

Toonka was now within Duke Huten's range. Duke Huten could now attack Toonka at a range that a stupid barbarian without aura could not reach him. He could do so because of his aura.

Just like how mages and regular citizens had different values, people with aura and people without aura had different values on the battlefield as well.

Ooooooong- The silver-grey aura shot up toward the sky. It then shot down at a quick speed.

'Kill Toonka.' Duke Huten's first attack that had the desire to kill Toonka had started. "I will step all over your-"

It was at that moment.

He suddenly got the chills. Duke Huten could feel it. 'An attack is coming. A sharp blade is heading my way.'

Huten turned his head to the right. He could see a black helmet. This helmet even covered the eyes area so that he could not see anything about the person behind it.

'...When? When did that, when did that person get here? I didn't sense him at all. A sword master like me couldn't sense him?'

However, he could not question it any longer. The helmeted swordsman was running like an average person toward him with an average sword in his hand.

Duke Huten quickly moved his arm that was covered in goosebumps. However, the black helmeted swordsman was faster.

"Ugh!" Huten's body staggered.

His eyes opened wide. He could see the person quickly moving toward his right side with a sudden burst of speed.

'How is this kind of speed possible......?! Is he a regular swordsman? Is he an assassin? Or... Is he a sword master?'

The silver-grey aura started to come out of Huten's sword again. He tried his best to look at the person's eyes through the completely covered helmet.

It was because he knew that the Whipper Kingdom didn't have a swordsman like this.

He could barely make out the eyes underneath.

They were red. He could see the red pupils through the gap in the helmet. These eyes reminded him of a snake that had crawled up from the fires of hell.

Huten subconsciously thought that he could see those fires of hell behind the black helmet. He then urgently swung his arm. The silver-grey aura headed toward the black helmet.

The black helmeted swordsman, Choi Han, jumped back as soon as he saw the aura.

Slash. However, a bit of his clothing ended up getting cut.

'As expected.' Choi Han started to frown while looking at his cut clothes. He then tightened his grip around his sword.

He observed Duke Huten with his red pupils that had been colored this way with magic.

"Raon, change Choi Han's eye color. We don't want him to get caught." Cale immediately asked Raon as soon as he heard Choi Han's reply.