Chapter 1

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Chapter 1: The Lost Viscount

Blue rain slowly fell from the sky, soaking the blackened land. The dim clouds obscured the blazing sun, and also veiled the heart of the young boy.

The boy’s name was Elan Yalan. He was the son of Viscount Yalan, the young master of this viscountcy. But at this moment, he knelt in the rain-soaked, pitted graveyard, holding a handful of black earth.

“Father…” he murmured, his voice hollow as if his soul had been lost. His dark eyes gazed at the epitaph, the clear crystal-like lenses reflecting the words on the tombstone—

[To the Great Viscount,
Warrior of the Empire,
Both Glory and Blood will sing for you,
Yann Yalan,
Rest in Peace Here.]

He reached out and held the black earth above the tombstone, and as his ten fingers spread apart, the earth, thickened by the rain, fell with gravity, scattering over the gray tomb and the white base.

After finishing this, the boy stood up and looked to the sky, falling into a long silence. His upper eyelids drooped lifelessly as the increasingly heavy raindrops poured down on him, like countless blades piercing through him.

With a deep sigh, Elan’s gaze shifted from confusion to clarity. Draped in a linen-colored cloak, the young viscount left his homeland under the caress of the evening wind.

————

“Move aside!” a man roared as he charged forward, raising his blade to block a fatal blow aimed at his comrade.

“Ah, boss!” The thin man was clearly slow to react. It wasn’t until Yann took the blow for him that he snapped out of it, hastily casting a healing spell on Yann.

“Don’t lose focus on the battlefield!” Yann reminded him as he felt his body slowly recover.

But the enemy in front of him had not yet been defeated, there was no time to rest. He quickly judged that the recoil from the last strike had also hurt his opponent. Yann decided to push himself up, but the enemy also had a healer—judging by his attire, he was of a general rank—so his recovery would certainly be faster!

Sure enough, just as Yann rose to his feet, the enemy’s sword was already upon him! He could only raise his broadsword again to block the attack. The mithril broadsword trembled from the impact of the enemy’s sword, causing even Yann’s strong arms to quiver.

He gritted his teeth, lowered the broadsword, and clenched his fists. With sheer force of will, he managed to stop the tremors in his hands, but the enemy’s fierce and relentless assault was upon him again!

There was no time! He had no chance to pick up his broadsword and counterattack.

“Is this the end?” Memories flashed before his eyes, but he had no time to dwell on them.

Because a figure had already appeared in front of him—the young mage he had just saved, someone he had never met before, not even during the military inspections. The young man rushed forward, holding aloft his staff made of raw wood, a symbol of his identity and rank. The sword pierced through the novice mage’s chest! A bloody hole appeared on his back as the tip of the sword emerged, but the opponent’s movement stalled, as if the young mage had used his body to block the attack.

No, he hadn’t blocked it! Yann’s eyes narrowed.

The mage’s frail body couldn’t withstand the opponent’s immense power. The white-robed, golden-armored enemy barely hesitated before the overwhelming sword energy dismembered the mage, his body exploding into a cone of blood that rained down on the kneeling Yann behind him.

“Arghhh!” Yann roared, lifting his broadsword with one hand and swinging it back. In that moment, his strength surpassed his limits, briefly reaching the realm of a titled knight. Though the young mage’s sacrifice couldn’t fully deflect the attack, it bought Yann a precious second or two!

And that was all the time he needed to regain his fighting stance!

The broadsword slashed down from above, producing a deafening sound as it cut through the air! At the same time, the enemy’s sword pierced through his silver armor and into his chest!

Feeling the sword’s intrusion, Yann’s face twisted in rage. Despite the attack causing his body to stall, his sheer willpower drove him to continue. The broadsword descended with ferocity, as if delivering a death sentence from the gods!

He completely abandoned defense in favor of an all-out offense, turning into a madman who no longer cared about the consequences of his pierced heart! All his remaining strength was poured into the sword. When the golden-armored opponent realized that Yann was fighting with a “wound-for-life” strategy, he immediately tried to retreat, but a powerful killing intent held him in place.

Behind Yann, countless soldiers surged forward. Mages frantically cast shields and slowing spells on him as if they had infinite mana, but nothing could prevent the life from draining out of the man in front of him!

“Boom!” The storm unleashed by Yann’s broadsword collided with the enemy’s shield and armor, producing a thunderous explosion. Simultaneously, Yann’s heart was shattered by the sword’s energy, leaving a horrific bloody hole in his chest. The immense noise from their mutual attack stunned everyone on the battlefield, drawing countless eyes to the scene!

The broadsword finally came crashing down, shattering the hopes of the Red Maple Federation’s army. It cleaved the golden-armored man in half. The immense force gouged out a crater beneath Yann’s feet, and the remaining half of the opponent’s body tumbled uncontrollably into the pit.

As Yann saw the black figure of death approaching, he turned to face the young man, now half shattered, and smiled with relief. Under his smile, the golden-armored man’s remaining half finally disintegrated completely.

“The Third Prince of the Federation has fallen!”

The cries of despair and victory echoed across the battlefield. At the end of his life, death had already cradled his face. He was weary, ready to close his eyes, finally able to reunite with his wife, Gianna.

But he also wanted to spend more time with Elan, to watch Elan grow. Elan was still so young…

Yann struggled to rise, but without a beating heart, he lacked the strength. He knelt on the plains, using the last of his life force to turn his head, wanting to take in the battlefield one last time.

“You’ve done enough, Yann. Now we can only watch over Elan from above.”

In his final moments, Gianna’s voice suddenly reached his ears from an unknown place. His body, which had tried to stand, went limp. He closed his eyes, and Yann’s noble and courageous soul was gently lifted by death’s hands. On this blood-soaked land, before the eyes of all who bore witness, he embraced his wife and together, they ascended to the heavens…

[Heavy Silver Knight, Crescent Viscount Yann Yalan, died in the Third Battle of Salo Red Maple.]

[Salo Calendar 439-490]