Novel Full Chapter 221 : Chapter 221
Chapter 221. The Paths Are Indeed Different (1)
A massive sword of light that soared high into the sky.
A golden flash that erupted the moment that sword struck down.
The path illuminated by that flash was a road of glory leading its allies to victory.
Kwaaaaaang!
The outer wall of Haidern, the capital of the Flame Kingdom, shattered into smithereens.
And pointing at the shattered wall, the king commanded.
“All forces! Advance!”
“Wooooooh!”
“Let’s goooo!”
The moment the king’s order fell, the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom rushed forward without a moment’s hesitation.
Ordinary soldiers would naturally prioritize their own safety over the victory of the war, but the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom now rushing forward were charging ahead without a care for themselves, as if they had become valiant knights.
Glory over death….
They ran forward for the glory of victory.
Right now, they were all intoxicated.
By what?
It was this man.
Cierion Baisus Yusef.
From the very beginning of the war, he had led his allies to victory from the forefront.
And he was a monumental figure who had advanced to the enemy’s capital in just three months.
Before long, the world began to call him the Hegemon King.
His presence and the sword he displayed on the battlefield were enough to intoxicate the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom.
And separate from the Yusef Kingdom, whose morale had soared to the heavens, the soldiers of the Flame Kingdom collapsed, surrendering one after another.
The war, in effect….
“This is the end.”
Cierion nodded, watching his soldiers enter through the collapsed city wall.
At that moment, a young man with black hair approached his side.
Noah Gregory.
He was Cierion’s closest strategist, a figure who had slowly begun to reveal his presence in this war.
He approached and spoke.
“The king of the Flame Kingdom has already fled.”
“Is that so? His destination?”
“It seems he intends to seek asylum in the Kaisar Kingdom. He is moving west, pulling a wagon full of the royal family’s wealth.”
“Trash.”
Cierion let out a smirk.
“Should we pursue?”
“Leave him. It was expected, anyway. What’s more important is her. What is the Salamander Princess doing?”
“It seems she intends to resist until the very end.”
“I see.”
“Centered around the Spirit Knightly Order that follows her, she is holding out against our forces within the royal castle.”
“Do not let her escape. And she must be captured.”
“Yes. I have told Sir Karvan as much.”
Hearing Noah’s report, Cierion nodded as if that was sufficient.
The war was already over.
What was important was how to conclude it?
That was the question.
And the most necessary person for that was currently fighting inside that royal castle.
* * *
Inside the royal castle.
“Haaaaaap!”
A beautiful woman with impressive white skin contrasting her fiery red hair swung a longsword.
Following the trajectory of her sword, the flames imbued in it spread out in a fan shape.
“Uwaaaack!”
“No!”
The Yusef Kingdom’s forces, who had kicked open the palace gate with great vigor, were burned up without a trace by the flame aura she unleashed.
And she raised her flaming sword high and shouted.
“The war is not yet over. Knights of the kingdom. Repel the invaders!”
“Follow the princess!”
“Glory to the Flame Kingdom!”
Katherina bin Flame.
That was the name of the woman leading the knights in a last stand.
She was from a collateral branch of the Flame Kingdom’s royal family, making her a cousin to the current king by bloodline.
But despite being from a collateral branch, she was a figure whose legitimacy in the Flame Kingdom was more recognized than anyone else’s.
That was because she carried the royal family’s blessing.
According to the founding myth of the Flame Kingdom, their first king was said to have been born when his mother conceived a child of the Spirit King.
Perhaps that was why.
From time to time, those born with the energy of fire appeared among the royal family.
Just like Katherina right now.
“Haaat!”
Every time she swung a blow, a wave of fire billowed, burning the enemy.
Ordinary soldiers were helpless against her as she desperately fought, brandishing a wide-spreading flame aura.
She was that strong.
Though young, her skill purely as a knight was in the mid-6-star range.
She might even be able to aim for 7-star in the future.
Was it thanks to being born with the blessing of fire?
There were already talks that her skills were comparable to Sword Queen Leona Maybus of the Decator Kingdom.
Such a woman was leading the royal family’s final moments with all her might.
“Follow the princess!”
“Let’s drive out the invaders!”
The knights, uplifted by her struggle, also bravely pushed back the Yusef Kingdom’s forces that had invaded the royal castle.
At their performance, even the Yusef Kingdom’s forces, who had bravely stormed the castle, couldn’t help but flinch.
To break this stalemate, a knight from the Yusef Kingdom also stepped forward bravely.
“Katherina bin Flame!”
An aura of at least 5-star was gathered on the longsword of the knight who charged forward, bravely calling out his opponent’s name. And….
“My name is Rok Asiliu of the Yusef Kingdom….”
“Shut up!”
Kwaaang!
Unfortunately, the knight couldn’t even finish his introduction.
Katherina’s fist, which had jumped in, slammed into his face and exploded spectacularly.
And after kicking the fallen opponent away, she shouted.
“Who’s next? Any of you who covet my head, come at me!”
Her ringing shout sounded like the roar of a wild beast whose territory had been invaded.
Just as the knights of the Yusef Kingdom, whose morale had soared to the heavens, flinched….
“As expected of the Salamander Princess. Truly amazing.”
A figure who looked like an ordinary middle-aged knight appeared.
But Katherina could feel it.
This man, who remained calmly composed even in front of her, was a man of considerable skill.
“A big shot has appeared.”
“…….”
“Your name?”
“I am Matias Karvan.”
“…Right. It’s you.”
Flames blazed in Katherina’s eyes as she realized the opponent’s identity.
It was the flame of revenge.
“Did you kill my master?”
“If you mean Sir Taerion, he fought me with a bravery not shameful to his great name.”
“…….”
“If you respect his honor, do not bring personal grudges into a duel between knights.”
Katherina bit her lip hard.
Matias Karvan.
Before this war, he was an unknown knight, so much so that few even knew his name.
But the merits he left in this war in the Flame Kingdom did not leave him in obscurity.
Marquis Clabin Taerion, mid-7-star.
Marquis Vector Bridges, early 7-star.
Marquis Marius Shuraiman, mid-7-star.
They were the 7-star knights the Flame Kingdom prided itself on.
And all of them had fallen to this man.
Matias Karvan.
This man, who had been Hegemon King Cierion’s hidden blade, had made his skills known through this war.
And Marquis Clabin Taerion, who had been defeated by him, was also Princess Katherina’s master.
“Master….”
Katherina closed her eyes for a moment and murmured.
And after composing her emotions, she opened her eyes, raised her sword properly, and spoke.
“Very well. Sir Karvan. As a knight, I will not hold a grudge against you.”
“A good stance.”
“However….”
A flame aura surged from Katherina’s entire body.
Having heated the air inside the palace, she shouted with dignity.
“I have no mercy to show the enemy who has invaded my homeland!”
“…….”
“Prepare yourself. Invader!”
Her flames, unleashed with the resolve to abandon her life, were hot and beautiful.
“Come.”
Matias raised his own sword and took a stance to face her.
And Katherina….
“Haaaaap!”
She charged forward, loading her sword with all the flames she could muster.
‘I’ll forgo defense!’
A desperate attack.
Her strike, which disregarded her own survival and moved forward, was something even a 7-star swordsman could not ignore for a moment. But….
“Hup!”
A crimson Aura Blade formed on Matias Karvan’s sword.
Kwaching!
It was as if a bottomless pit had been condensed.
Having formed an Aura Blade of a completely different nature from a normal aura, he swung his sword down powerfully towards the wave of fire.
Chwaaaaaak!
A black line drawn vertically.
In front of the vast wave of fire that seemed to burn the world, it was but a single, tiny line. However….
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa.
The massive wave of fire could not cross the line Matias had created and split to the left and right.
Matias Karvan charged forward, relentlessly parting the wave of fire.
He parted the flames and clashed with Princess Katherina, who was rushing forward with desperate resolve beyond it.
Kwaaaang!
“Keok….”
A single. Blow.
It was a simple clash of power against power, but the outcome of victory and defeat was decided that clearly.
“Ugh….”
“Surrender.”
The fallen Katherina tried to force herself up, but the moment she saw Matias’ sword aimed at her neck, she gave up.
‘I’ve lost.’
Katherina bit her lip hard with a humiliating expression.
It was a complete defeat with no room for excuses.
* * *
The battle was over.
The sight of Cierion sitting on the throne of the Flame Kingdom was irrefutable proof of who the victor was.
And what appeared before him was the Salamander Princess, disarmed and dragged forward.
She stood before Cierion, but she did not kneel, instead glaring at him with sharp eyes.
Cierion met her gaze without avoiding it.
The two stared at each other for a long while.
The one who broke the silence first was Cierion.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“I just wanted to see.”
“…….”
“I wanted to see what the face of the villain who destroyed my country and killed my people looked like.”
At Katherina’s words, the knights of the Yusef Kingdom became indignant.
Some of them even put their hands on their swords, but Cierion raised his hand to stop them.
And he said to Katherina.
“So, what is your impression?”
“You’re more handsome than I thought.”
“That’s an honor.”
“Then kill me now.”
At Katherina’s words, Cierion laughed.
“Do you wish for death?”
“You won and we lost. It is a responsibility that the royalty of a fallen kingdom must naturally bear.”
“…….”
“I hope the victor’s rights extend only to my neck. Please, I ask you to bestow impartial good governance upon the people of the kingdom.”
Even the knights of the Yusef Kingdom were secretly impressed by the sight of Princess Katherina speaking her mind so confidently.
And Cierion rose from the throne and approached Katherina, saying.
“Excellent. Then I shall exercise the victor’s rights without hesitation.”
“…….”
Katherina closed her eyes.
Now, the Hegemon King’s sword would strike her neck.
It would be a lie to say she didn’t regret death, but if fulfilling her final duty as the princess of the Flame Kingdom meant death, she would gladly accept it.
But the reality that befell her was completely different.
“Princess Katherina bin Flame.”
“…….”
“As the victor, I take away your death. From now on, you will become my companion and stay by my side.”
At that, Princess Katherina’s eyes flew open and she shouted fiercely.
“Do you intend to insult me?!”
She could accept death as the princess of a fallen kingdom.
But being treated like a spoil of war and held in the arms of her enemy was an unbearable humiliation.
A faint flame aura rose from her body as she shouted with murderous intent.
The knights of the Yusef Kingdom tried to draw their swords, but Cierion looked around with stern eyes and said.
“No one is to interfere. That is my command.”
The moment the word ‘command’ left Cierion’s lips, the knights’ fighting spirit vanished as if doused with cold water.
And Cierion said to Katherina.
“I have no intention of insulting you.”
“How can this not be an insult?”
“I will give you the position of my official wife.”
“Hegemon King. Are you perhaps mad?”
Katherina looked at Cierion with a serious expression. It was as if she were looking at a madman.
Accepting the princess of a conquered nation as one’s official wife was a more serious matter than one might think.
Taking her as a concubine or consort could be treated as a victor’s spoil, but making her the official wife meant accepting all of the opponent’s legitimacy.
It could very well be like planting a bomb within the Yusef Kingdom. However….
“Think carefully. There are three reasons why you should accept my proposal.”
“…….”
“If you still dislike it after hearing all the reasons, you may refuse.”
“Go on, then. Babble away.”
To Katherina, who was grinding her teeth and showing hostility, Cierion said.
“First, for our two nations to merge into one in the future, we need an opportunity to abandon our hostility towards each other and unite. It would be most perfect if a child is born between us and becomes the heir.”
“…….”
“Second, if you die now, the bloodline of the time-honored Spirit Royal Family will be severed. The disappearance of the Fire Spirit King’s blessing would be a loss for all of humanity.”
“…….”
“Third, if you wish to fulfill your duty as the last royal of the Flame Kingdom, you must take responsibility for those who remain.”
And as Cierion gestured, the knights appeared with several figures.
The moment she confirmed their faces, Katherina’s eyes widened and she shouted.
“Master!”
There stood Marquis Taerion, who had taught her the sword. And Marquis Bridges and Marquis Shuraiman were there as well.
All of the 7-star knights that the Flame Kingdom possessed had survived.
‘They weren’t dead?’
They were bound in several layers of restraints, unable to use their aura, and their mouths were gagged.
But they were all alive and well, with all their limbs intact.
There were no signs of torture either.
All of the 7-star knights, the greatest strength and pride of the Flame Kingdom.
And Cierion spoke.
“They are enemies, but they are knights with excellent skills. They are talents too precious to kill.”
“Are you now threatening me….”
“I am stating the reality.”
“…….”
“If you die and the Flame Kingdom falls, they will not surrender to me. In the end, though it is regrettable for me as well, I will have no choice but to kill them.”
Katherina bit her lip hard.
And Cierion said to her.
“The choice is yours. Salamander Princess.”
Katherina chewed on her lip.
Just then, her master, Marquis Taerion, chewed and spat out his loosened gag and shouted.
“Princess! Do as you wish.”
“Master.”
“None of us wish to be your shackles… Keuk….”
“How dare you interfere in a secure area?”
A knight hastily intervened and firmly gagged Taerion’s mouth again.
But Marquis Taerion didn’t know.
He had spoken for Princess Katherina’s sake, but it had worked in reverse.
“If I surrender… will you spare them?”
“Of course. The knights who fought to the end following you will also all be spared.”
“…….”
“I swear to rule both kingdoms without discrimination. Should I ever break this promise, you may stab a knife into my heart in the bedchamber.”
Thud.
The sound of Katherina’s knees hitting the floor was heard.
And as her head lowered, she spoke in a voice wet with moisture.
“I hope… you keep your promise.”
The proud descendant of the Spirit Royal Family.
Katherina bin Flame’s head touched the Hegemon King’s feet.
It was the moment the Yusef Kingdom had completely annexed the Flame Kingdom.