Dragon Poor

From both sides, magical cannons that had been placed in preparation fired their shots and signaled the start of the war. 

Bang! Baang!

Hundreds of shells fell from the sky and the spells that the mages had prepared in advance were revealed.

Hundreds of layers of translucent film overlapped until it became a massive shield, and countless cannonballs crashed into it. 

The explosions continued without end. While many shells bounced off the shield and exploded in the air, there were more shells that tore apart the mages’ defense magic and attacked the soldiers. 

“Keugh!”

“Save me!”

Soon, countless people died as they were caught up in the explosions. Some of the terrified soldiers collapsed on the ground and curled up behind their shields crying. “You idiots! Do you think this is something that can be blocked by a shield? Just run! You’ll have a higher chance of survival!”

“You’re slowing down our allies!”

The infantry commanders shouted and bellowed as they grabbed the collars of the collapsed soldiers and hauled them up.

“What the hell are you doing standing there blankly?! Fire another shot in the time you’re standing and checking to see if they’re hit!”

The artillery officers tried hard to fire even one more shot before it turned into a close combat.

Bang! Bang!

“Run, you slowpokes!”

Once the cannon cooled down, it began firing again, one after another, and the infantrymen ran desperately for their lives through the downpour of death.

Princess Adelaide’s army was victorious in the first battle. The Iberian artillery had put in a lot of effort to overwhelm the princes’ army in both number and quality in order to make up for their lack of armor and absence of the aviation corps. 

However, the war had just begun. 

In a battlefield still full of gunfire, the infantrymen from both sides entered close combat.

“Die!”

“Keugh!”

Screams and wails were heard everywhere. In a matter of seconds, countless soldiers died and fell. Death didn’t discriminate and it was everywhere.

It was as if hell had come to earth. However, Princess Adelaide remained firm even as she watched this hellish scene.

“With the main group as the point, many magic mounts have appeared in the west! It’s the 13th Imperial Panzer Knights. Your Highness!”

“Iberian knights squads 4, 7, and 11 are responding, Your Highness!”

“The allied mages are ready for a second round, please give us the order, Your Highness!”

Even in the midst of all the hurried reports, she calmly carried out her duties and completed everything necessary.

“Mages will help the Iberian knights and deal with the enemy magic mounts.”

“The enemy cavalry is flanking our infantry, Your Highness.”

“Send the heavy armored cavalry of Asrael and intercept them.”

“The lieutenant-general of the infantry is asking for assistance, Your Highness…”

“The artillery is waiting for your new orders…”

Reports and commands continued without a break.

But even in the middle of this busy time, the princess never forgot for a single moment about the hidden foce that the enemy hadn’t brought out yet.

So far, only about 500 enemy mage mounts had appeared on the battlefield and they still had about 350 mage mounts left. 

“Your Highness, we are enduring because of the mages’ support, but the difference in mage mount is too great. Their mage mounts are the latest model and our older models cannot compete with the new heart amplification efficiency as well as its armor, Your Highness.”

The princess nodded at the officer’s report. 

This was something she also knew. Even if they didn\\\\\\\'t explain it, she knew very well that the Owner Knights were fighting a battle that was disadvantageous to them.

The only reason the current situation was maintained at this level was because their Owner Knights were fighting in the war with the determination to drag down their enemies with them if they died.

But no matter how hard their allied Owner Knights tried, the status quo could only be maintained without change. In their current situation, if the enemy increased their force, then there was nothing the princess’s army could do with only their spirit and determination. 

Not to mention, the force that the enemy was keeping behind wasn’t only 350 magic mounts. The enemy still hadn’t sent in their powerful aviation corps’ battleships into this battle. 

The battleships were truly the most dangerous force in this battle. While the princess’s army managed to somehow force an equal footing with their enemy, the princess did not possess a single battleship. This was because the Imperial Family hadn’t wanted to share the Empire’s sky with the Grand Dukes.[1] 

“What a pity. If only I had made a decision sooner. Then I wouldn’t have let my older brothers monopolize the aviation corps.”

It was useless to regret it now. In the end, the only thing she could do was put her faith in the artillery that Iberia had carefully nurtured.

But even that wasn’t enough.

The infantry had already entered close combat, and it was impossible for the artillery to distinguish enemy from ally and only fire at the enemy. However, she also couldn’t directly attack the fortress where the princes were staying. If she overreached and pushed the artillery forward, there was a possibility that her side might be exposed to the enemy’s artillery and airstrikes.

“Your Highness, for now, it’s best to break through the enemy’s defense lines while our Owner Knights put their lives on the line to stop the enemy’s mage mounts from running amok, Your Highness.”

It was just as the commander said. At this point, all the available magic mounts had been deployed and there was no way to help their Owner Knights.

“Sir Trail.”

Sighing regretfully, the princess summoned her own escorting knight.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Please ease the burden on our Owner Knights.”

Normally, Ingrid von Trail would have refused the order with the excuse of being an escorting knight, but this time, she didn’t reject the princess’s command.

From the moment she had received a sword that was stronger than any other magic weapon, Ingrid had known that she would not be able to stubbornly maintain her position as a knight of the Imperial Guard any longer. 

“I will do as your command, Your Highness.”

Ingrid bowed briefly and then ran towards the middle of the battlefield.

“Move!”

Running past the entangled infantrymen, Ingrid drew her sword. As if it had been waiting, the sword recited a scripture in a reverent voice. 

[With God’s caress, your torn flesh will heal and new blood will spring forth.]

A pure white flash of light that was qualitatively different from a sword energy’s light sprang forth and spread all over the place. It was the Holy Sword’s ability to heal wounds and restore energy.

“It’s the Knight of the White Light!”

“The Lady of the Sword is with us!”

The soldiers cheered when they saw the pure white light, but instead of responding to their cheers, she began cutting down their enemies. 

[Sang-Hee, it’s your turn now!]

A flippant voice rang through Ingrid’s head, then, the sword began trembling as it let out a wail. 

Kyaaaaaaaaaa.

In an instant, the pure white blade of the sword was dyed red. The sword had another side to it that had been hidden - the Heaven-Defying demon sword appeared on the battlefield. 

A black light spread throughout the battlefield, and the enemy soldiers\\\\\\\' eyes rolled back as they collapsed onto the ground when they heard the sword\\\\\\\'s cursed scream. 

The battle lines collapsed in an instant. 

“Follow the Lady of the Sword! We’re destroying the enemy camp!”

The fighting spirit of the infantry commanders of the Imperial Princess’s Army rose and they pushed their soldiers to advance. 

But before they could move forward more than a few steps, a magic shell fell from the sky with a bang. 

Despite the damages their own men would take, the princes’ army had started bombarding the battlefield.

“Mage! Mage!”

Terrified, the infantry commanders looked for the mages, but they were too far to help the infantry with their magic.

[Oh Heavenly Father! Please help these souls!]

At that moment, the blade turned white again as it shone with pure energy.

Bang!

In an instant, the white flash of light spread and became a shield that blocked the enemy’s bombardment. Thanks to that, the Princess’s army was able to avoid being engulfed in flames.

But Ingrid wasn’t happy at all. While they had cringed and crouched at the sudden bombardment, the enemy’s collapsed formation became solid again. And that wasn’t all.“The enemy’s magic mounts…”

The enemy soldiers had reorganized their formation, and behind them were the Iron Giants. The enemy’s reserve force had finally been deployed onto the battlefield. 

Ingrid turned her head. 

A distance away, the magic mounts of the Princess’s Army were struggling to deal with the enemy’s magic mounts. It didn’t look like they would have the strength to help the infantry.

“Haa.”

The Lady Knight took off her helmet and threw aside her scabbard. Even if it meant putting her life on the line, she was determined to stop the enemies here.

“We didn’t spend a lot of time together, but thank you. And please, I beg of you.”

Her voice was grim. However, the sword’s voice was flippant as ever as it responded.

[I don’t know what you’re begging me for, but can’t we do it later?]

The sword was not perceptive at all, but in this case, Ingrid was the one who was slow to catch on. 

[It’s been a while since I’ve seen Hyung-nim fighting. I really want to watch him.]

As soon as the sword finished talking, a golden object fell into the middle of the enemy camp. That object became a golden wind that swept through and destroyed the enemy’s magic mounts. 

About a dozen magic mounts were destroyed in an instant. It was a truly terrifying strength, but only a fraction of the magic mounts were destroyed and there were still hundreds of enemy magic mounts left. 

~

Almost as if it had been prearranged, the battle stopped. Both allies and enemies held their breath and watched the 1vs 300 fight. 

The giant magic mount was indeed powerful. The overwhelming difference in numbers didn’t matter in the slightest to it. When it swung its giant fist just once, one magic mount was always destroyed and because of it, the number of enemy magic mounts quickly decreased. 

However, that didn’t mean the enemies helplessly took the beating. 

The magic mounts of the panzer knights, which were created in the image of the Imperial Guards, retreated and in their place, a much larger and more flamboyant magic mounts stepped forward.

Unlike the normal magic mounts that were armed with long swords and shields, these new magic mounts had a different type of weapon and armor. 

“The Gradus Knights!”

Ingrid let out a groan. The Gradus Knights, who had reached the top and were known as the true knights, had appeared. 

[Ho, they look a bit strong.]

“They’re not just strong. There are several monsters among them that, without any armor, can destroy a single panzer knight.”

It was just as she said. Once the Gradus Knights appeared, the giant magic mount wasn’t able to achieve the same results as before. Supporting each other in perfect harmony, one hundred magic mounts wore the gigantic magic mount down.

“He must retreat. He can escape that encirclement if he shows the same flying skills he showed in Iberia.”

[You still don’t believe in my Hyung-nim?]

Ingrid did not respond to the sword’s question. In fact, she didn’t think he would be able to face one hundred Gradus Knights alone on the battlefield.

[I told you this multiple times. It’s been a long time since Hyung-nim has shed the restraints of humanity.]

The sword spoke in a way that seemed both recognizable and unrecognizable at the same time.

[I’m telling you this now, but even the beings you believe in as gods don’t dare to act recklessly in front of him…]

“You can still say that after seeing this?”

Ingrid cut off the chattering sword as she pointed at the battlefield. Her finger was pointing at the sight of the giant magic mount moving unnaturally. It seemed as if something was wrong. 

[Huh? Why’s Hyung-nim like that?]

The sword let out a confused sound when it saw that.

“It seems like something is wrong with the magic heart. Even if it’s now, I have to go and rescue him…”

[Rescue? Rescue who?]

Just a second ago, the sword seemed dumbfounded, but now, its voice returned to its usual easygoingness.

“You can say whatever you like, but I have to go save him.”

The moment she finished, the sword suddenly became heavy. 

The knight was strong but her arm drooped until it dropped completely. 

“What are you doing right now?!”

[Don’t do anything useless and stay still.]

“He is someone who is absolutely necessary to the Imperial Princess! I’m saying that he’s someone who cannot fall in a place like this!”

She tried her best to somehow lift the sword and move forward, but as if mocking her, the sword only became heavier. Now, it was hard to even hold it.

[Stop talking nonsense and tell the soldiers to step back.]

“Even if the soldiers are sacrificed, saving him comes first!”

[Never say that when Hyung-nim is around. He’s someone who hates people who think of soldiers as expendables.]

While she was arguing with the sword, the giant magic mount completely stopped moving. Then, the hatch opened and a man in lightweight clothes appeared. 

“I don’t have time for this. Even if I risk my life, I have to save him. So please, lend me your strength…”

Before she could finish her sentence, a horn sounded from afar.

“Ah…”

Puuuuuuuu.

She hadn’t heard it wrong. The long and short sound of the horn was clearly a sign to retreat. 

[Your master is smarter than you.]

Ingrid began muttering to herself with a bewildered look on her face.

“His worth is much more than just that powerful magic mount. And considering his symbolism, he must be saved. So why is Her Imperial Highness giving up on him?”

[Are you thinking that Hyung-nim\\\\\\\'s strength is only worth that iron toy?]

The sword laughed, dumbfounded.

[The magic mount that you think is such a cheat…]

The sword couldn’t stop laughing. It seemed to find it ridiculously hilarious.

[It’s just a seal that was sealing in Hyung-nim’s true power.]

“Krrrrrr.”

Over the sword’s laughter came the sound of an animal’s low growl. It was an unfamiliar cry of an animal they had never heard from before.

Shudder.

She got goosebumps all over her body. For some reason, her legs lost their strength. She had been determined to die with her sword in her hand, but her knight’s vow had long lost its meaning as her two hands dropped her sword. 

Belatedly, she tried to grab it again with her trembling hands, but she couldn’t.

“Kaaaaaaaah.”

Something burst out and roared. Her thoughts completely stopped. 

The War Dragon’s roar had made the continent tremble 500 years ago and even after so many years had passed, it was still enough to overwhelm its surroundings.

1. Because the Imperial Family didn’t share the battleships with the Grand Dukes, the Iberian Grand Duke didn’t have any for the Princess to use.