Chapter 1 The Darkest Seven Days

The second week of September in the Solar Calendar 1798 was dubbed the Alliance's Darkest Seven Days by newspapers constantly being printed in various countries.

In a mere week, nine Rank 8 powerhouses from the Kingdom United Council Alliance fell, victims of the Twelve War Gods' purposeful encirclement and suppression.

The Kreither Empire, at the cost of sacrificing its own troops in suicidal offensives coordinated with the War Gods, forced the allied nations to dispatch reinforcements to key locations. Then, whenever a Rank 8 individual was isolated during transit, the War Gods would precisely target them in a three-on-one or seven-on-two configuration, ensuring a guaranteed kill.

Facing at least one War God specializing in strong control, one in strong offense, and one in healing, no Rank 8 could escape unscathed.

Even High Priest Loren was reported dead.

Meanwhile, the War Gods remained in peak condition, with no allied Rank 8 powerhouse managing to inflict effective fatal damage upon them before their demise.

...

Across the vast lands of the western Southern Continent lay the superpower known as Canberra.

Renowned not only as a leader among the various kingdoms of the Southern Continent in terms of overall national strength, but also for its years of serving as a central hub of peace and stability.

The Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association and the Card Maker Association both chose to establish their headquarters here, its territory far exceeding that of the Hutton Kingdom on the eastern edge of the Southern Continent.

Slovenia, the royal capital of Canberra, the highest deliberative hall of the Kingdom United Council.

Its architectural grandeur seemed to challenge the very heavens, with pure white walls adorned with intricate镂空 (lòukōng - openwork) patterns, through which sunlight streamed, transforming into countless golden lines that wove together to create magnificent tapestries reminiscent of the Age of Gods.

Deep within this highest deliberative hall was a sealed space filled with barriers and metal gates.

At this moment, several figures sat around a round table, their expressions solemn.

Inlaid in the mirror-smooth surface at the center of the round table was a chessboard, reflecting every ray of light in the room.

"The Twelve War Gods have only one goal: to hunt Rank 8s."

Someone broke the silence.

Every engagement of the War Gods so far had been merely a facade; capturing territory was neither their responsibility nor their greatest threat.

For any side, Rank 8 national guardians were irreplaceable top-tier combatants, and only time could slowly mend such losses.

In other words, the War Gods' blatant and precise targeting of Rank 8s was a calculated scheme.

Who exactly had leaked the Rank 8s' movements?

It was clear to everyone that there was a problem within the upper echelons of the Kingdom United Council.

The Kreither Empire wanted the Kingdom United Council Alliance to know this.

Now, the entire Kingdom United Council Alliance was gripped by fear.

The allied nations' residents no longer trusted the council's central authority.

The allied armies of various nations would no longer be willing to adopt high-risk strategies, but would inevitably choose the most secure tactics possible to preserve their own nations' top-tier combat power, refusing to heed the Kingdom United Council's commands and risk falling into a trap to support other countries.

Consequently, as the Alliance's conservative strategic policy was anticipated by the Kreither Empire, support between the various kingdoms diminished, and the battle lines began to officially collapse.

A heavy atmosphere permeated the air in the highest deliberative hall, and the figures seated around the table wore solemn, focused, even tense expressions.

"Could it be that, in addition to internal leaks on our side, the enemy also possesses divination術師 (shùshī - masters) of extraordinary caliber?"

One figure spoke with concern.

The more they investigated internally, the more fearful they became, as finding one leak seemed to reveal another.

"Regardless, the Kreither Empire has achieved its goal; once a crisis of trust is born, it can never be repaired,"

Another figure added.

The council members' gazes shifted between one another, seeking each other's positions and thoughts in silent communication.

"The Kreither Empire's strategy of attacking without defending, and its massacres targeting civilians, are, in fact, using civilians as leverage to force us to increase our defensive efforts and the frequency of reinforcement deployments."

Speaker Steven, sitting at the head of the table, pinched his brow and sought the opinions of the other council members,

"And once reinforcements begin to be deployed, top powerhouses must be stationed at key fortresses, otherwise we can only retreat the battle lines, ceding land, while countless civilians die to ensure the safety of our core combat power."

As individual high-level combatants, Rank 8s could move far faster than armies.

In all-out battles, they were equivalent to large military units that could be rapidly deployed.

The Kingdom United Council Alliance controlled too vast a territory, and the Twelve War Gods' whereabouts on the battlefield were often unknown. People from the Kreither Empire would often impersonate false War Gods, prompting the real War Gods to go out and attack.

Now, they were willing to pay any price to kill the Alliance's Rank 8s.

To defeat a Rank 8 powerhouse who had nearly stepped into the realm of gods, either another Rank 8 had to fight them,

or armies and large military city defense facilities, such as the Phantom Shock Tower, the Arcane Rift Cannon, and the穹 (qióng - firmament) Shield Array, were needed, all of which could inflict substantial effective damage on Rank 8 powerhouses.

Now, a choice had to be made.

Rank 8s were irreplaceable hero-unit combatants, and they determined tactical flexibility.

Once all the Rank 8s on the Kingdom United Council Alliance's side were wiped out, the chances of winning this battle would become extremely slim.

"If we compress our lines further, while it would be safer, what about the residents who can't escape? Are we supposed to cede most of our land to the Kreither Empire?"

After a long silence in the highest deliberative hall, one figure finally slammed the table in anger and asked.

"Then what do we do?"

"Why not take a gamble and concentrate all our advantages to attack the Kreither Empire!"

"The Kreither Empire's fighting style is such a bluff, it looks like they don't care at all whether we counterattack or not. They seem determined to tell us—if you dare come, they dare to trade bases with us."

"But we must be prepared to lose everything. If we fight like this, it will end quickly, and if we are surrounded from both sides, we will be in the worst possible situation."

The Kreither Empire's mad dog fighting style of attacking without defending made it clear that they didn't care about civilians. Correspondingly, they believed that the Kingdom United Council Alliance did care about civilians.

"What's more, even if we really plan to take a gamble now, can we persuade the various countries to cooperate and participate in this plan?"

Until this question was raised, the highest deliberative hall fell silent again.

Trust was gone, and the various countries would never all agree to a gamble like this. And if all the kingdoms did not work together with one heart, such a gamble would be meaningless.

After lengthy deliberation.

Finally.

The Kingdom United Council could only make a bitter decision.

For the sake of stability.

The various countries would actively shrink their lines and could no longer station their combat power in a scattered manner.

Only by abandoning land could the density of the army and defensive forces be increased, while ensuring the safety of Rank 8 hero units, and allowing multiple Rank 8s to fight together as much as possible.

If land is preserved but people are lost, both people and land are lost; if people are preserved but land is lost, both people and land are preserved.

Even so.

This decision doomed the Kingdom United Council to gradually abandon territory in the coming period, and tens of millions of square kilometers of civilians began the largest-scale escape and migration in history...

...

A few days later.

The Botson Kingdom.

District 1, south bank of the floral capital Parium.

In the afternoon at four o'clock, the autumn sun of the afternoon shone on the Seine River in Lussen Park, creating sparkling waves as if covered with a layer of gold纱 (shā - gauze). A gentle breeze stirred, blowing away bursts of mist.

Regardless of the external war situation, the capital, located in the Botson heartland, was still considered a safe place for the time being.

A thin young figure sat on a bench by the river bank.

He seemed to be in a daze, not moving at all.

After an unknown amount of time, another person finally came and sat down beside him, opening the newspaper in his hand as if no one else was around.

"Meeting by the Seine River, in good spirits."

Nigel said to himself, looking at the newspaper.

He had found Lan Qi. When he came, he had changed into plain clothes, dressing like an ordinary resident of the floral capital.

From the day he decided to help Lan Qi infiltrate the Kreither Empire, he would no longer contact Lan Qi under the identity of Lieutenant General Nigel.

"Rare to come across a sunny day."

Lan Qi shifted his gaze from the river to Nigel beside him, and smiled helplessly at Nigel.

"It's been raining or foggy all this time, I feel like my heart is rusting." Nigel also sighed, his eyes showing undisguised exhaustion.

The sound of the Seine River's waves continued.

"It won't always be like this."

Lan Qi looked at the Seine River again and murmured.

"I've taken care of everything for you. Tomorrow you will be going to the Kreither Empire alone."

Nigel said, flipping through the newspaper.

Lan Qi's shadow trembled, and a kitten peeked out from it, curiously jumping onto Lan Qi's lap.

"So sudden, meow?"

It asked Nigel in surprise.

Logically speaking, Nigel had guaranteed to take care of everything for Lan Qi within a month.

"It's not sudden, I took the initiative to ask to go to Kreither sooner, I have important things to deal with."

Lan Qi stroked the cat's head and replied.

Perhaps the identity would be a little more forced, such as the age and occupation being quite different from what he expected, but he could go to Kreither sooner.

Even one day earlier could save many lives.

"If you want to come back, you can publish a painting of yours in the 'Kreither Central Daily'. Someone will contact you and try to arrange for you to return to the Kingdom Alliance side."

Nigel handed the newspaper in his hand to Lan Qi.

Although it was just an ordinary newspaper, it contained the way Lan Qi could contact intelligence personnel from the Botson Kingdom in the Kreither Empire.

He believed that Lan Qi could remember it after reading it once.

"I understand."

Lan Qi took the newspaper.

"I look forward to the day when we can call each other comrades again."

Nigel stood up, put on his hat again, and said to Lan Qi.

"Take care."

With the voice of exhortation, he walked away without looking back.

In this war, every meeting could be the last.

Those in their line of work, once it became necessary, even their lives would no longer belong to themselves. Facing invaders, death was not scary, what was scary was dying without meaning.

"Take care."

Lan Qi murmured.

He gradually shifted his attention to the newspaper in his hand, flipping through it.

Looking at the photo of Loren's remains in the newspaper, Lan Qi suddenly became emotional.

Lan Qi finally stood up, standing by the river bank, by the stone pillar connected by iron chains.

He muttered the password, tore the key pages of the newspaper into pieces, and threw them into the river.

Closing his eyes, he heard the sound of a steam whistle.

The sounds from the ship's broadcast also became gradually clearer—

"September 17, 1798, Botson time 4:30 PM, South Acquitaine Territory Free Broadcast Emergency Interruption."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received battlefield reports from the front. The Second Chris Arcane Armored Division encountered an attack by the enemy's 11th Heavy Cavalry Corps at Harrison Fort in the southeast. After a day and night of fierce fighting, our army suffered heavy casualties, losing approximately 60% of our warriors and arcane machinery. Currently, the battle line has been forced to retreat to 30 kilometers west of the Isère River. At the same time, at the Brunt Highlands, our 55th Infantry Division is also surrounded by the enemy's 7th Mountain Division and 1st Air Assault Special Forces, and is in danger of being completely annihilated."

"According to the Supreme Command's battle report, in the past 24 hours, more than 25,000 soldiers of the Kingdom Confederation Alliance have been killed or missing. The enemy's advance is unstoppable, starting from Horzen in the south and advancing all the way, with our army retreating step by step along the way. In the north, the enemy's 4th Army Group has also broken through the blockade near the Illyria province and is heading straight for Austin Port."

"General Albion, the Supreme Commander of the South, delivered a speech this morning, calling on all Botson soldiers and civilians to unite as one and vow to fight the invaders to the end. He emphasized that although we are currently in a difficult situation, as long as we persist in resistance, the dawn of victory will eventually come. Let us join hands and greet the final dawn!"

The announcer's voice choked with sobs, unable to suppress the grief and indignation in his heart.

The stirring "Ode to Glory" was then broadcast——

"Forward, forward, brave warriors!"

"Raise the banner of justice and truth high."

"Use our blood and lives to compose immortal heroic songs."

"It takes courage to die."

Lan Qi lowered his head and stood for a while before returning to the dock.

He remained silent, sitting alone on the bench, facing the rising sun and the sea breeze.

The setting sun's afterglow sprinkled on the slowly flowing river, dyeing the water surface golden, and the clouds in the sky were dyed crimson by the sunset, like the color of dawn.

Lan Qi sat alone on a bench, wearing a simple white shirt. His face was full of sadness and grievance, and his eyes were filled with tears, unwillingly looking into the distance, as if recalling the time he spent in Itrite.

The music of the church behind him was gentle and distant, like groping for a path in the dark alone, but not speaking, just walking forward, not knowing how far away the light was.

The surroundings seemed particularly quiet because of his silence, with only occasional bird calls and the voices of children in the distance.

By the river under the setting sun, the bench, the breeze blowing his hair and the corners of his clothes, but he remained motionless.

"Lan Qi, meow..."

The cat boss raised its paw worriedly and patted Lan Qi gently.

It was the first time it had seen Lan Qi like this.

However, Lan Qi shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

He picked up the kitten and looked into the distance.

"Think of the good things, Lan Qi, meow, Loren may not be dead yet, after all, he's so strong, maybe he really has a way to escape, and maybe the Kreither Empire announced Loren's death just to打击 (dǎjí - demoralize) the Allied forces, and, and..."

The cat boss didn't know how to comfort Lan Qi.

It could only take out the counterfeit slate [Wind], and put it in Lan Qi's hand, hoping that he could have something to rely on.

Although the bodies of the strong killed by the Twelve War Gods would not be left behind, one could not insist that he still had hope of living just because he could not see Loren's body.

If he harbored such hope, perhaps when he saw the War God of the Kreither Empire using the original slate [Wind], he would suffer an even more desperate blow.

Lan Qi looked at the counterfeit slate [Wind], gradually clenched it tightly, and then raised his head.

"I'm going to Kreither, don't worry."

Lan Qi's emerald green eyes reflected the setting sun and the river waves, as well as the other bank of the river,

"I will persevere."

"As long as we are on the same road, we will eventually meet."

"When the day of victory comes, I will come and see you."

He said to himself firmly.

"I will inherit Loren's name and carry out his will to the end in the Kreither Empire."

He didn't know who he was saying the last sentence to, maybe it was to himself, maybe it was to the Hutton Kingdom, maybe it was to the Goddess of Destiny.

"..."

The cat boss looked at Lan Qi.

As everyone knows, there are two Lorens in this world.

When the surface Loren is gone, the inner Loren will go all out.

"Wait, Lan Qi, what if he's not dead..."

The cat boss suddenly became a little worried.

It was afraid that even if Loren was still alive, if Lan Qi, under his name, stirred things up too much in the Kreither Empire, he would not dare to show his face then.