Chapter 277

After leaving their fallen comrades behind in the Underworld, the allied forces immediately set about tallying their results and losses upon their return. The golems had been left behind, as there were many potential uses for them. However, the Titans required designated operators and maintenance, so they had to be returned to the factories.

Glancing around at the knights whose faces were bright despite their exhaustion, Demian muttered quietly to himself, “That bastard who spoiled things at the end left a bad taste, but there’s no doubt this is a victory.”

And he wasn’t wrong. Though the intervention of Crom Dubh meant they failed to completely seal off the Outer Gods’ invasion, their army had secured a decisive win. Eleven royalty-class Demoniacs had been slain; four of them were Named Demoniacs with legendary reputations. This meant both the scale and the quality of the enemy forces they would face in the final battle had been drastically reduced. Including Belial, who fell to Leonard, and those exterminated in the base sieges, the tally exceeded twenty.

Now that Hades had regained almost all of his divinity, he likely reclaimed much of his authority over the Underworld. That support alone was something to look forward to.

“Una, any casualties among the Order of the Golden Dragon?”

“None, sir. Three sustained serious injuries, but nothing beyond what their self-healing couldn’t handle. They’re already fully recovered.”

“Well, unless it’s a Named royalty, even royalty-class Demoniacs wouldn’t easily break your formation. Good work.”

“Thank you!”

The thirty-six Golden Dragon knights had fought endlessly in the most dangerous and brutal situations imaginable, yet not one of them had fallen. The offensive power of the noble-class Demoniacs simply wasn’t enough to pierce their defenses. Possessing stamina and recovery abilities that allowed them to sprint at full power for dozens of minutes with only a few deep breaths, these knights knew no fatigue.

Due to the influence from Ancestor Cardenas, their swordsmanship was flawless, and with the martial techniques Leonard taught them, the Golden Dragon knights had nearly reached the pinnacle. They could take on thousands alone. But what truly solidified their strength was the Eighteen Arhat Formation.

Even against the Named like Sabnock, they could certainly hold their own. The others, though... were not an ideal match.

The Named were by no means easy opponents. Beelzebub, who could unleash Class 9 supreme magic like a barrage, was a monstrous powerhouse that no formation could easily contain. Asmodeus wielded a telekinetic blade that could supposedly cut through space-time itself, posing a real threat to breaking the formation’s defensive resonance. And then there was Baphomet, whose sheer physical prowess could overwhelm even eighteen Golden Dragon knights at once—a dangerous adversary.

Only Sabnock, who relied on sheer numbers and war of attrition, was a target the Golden Dragon knights’ near-limitless endurance could handle effectively.

Still, beyond witnessing the growth of the Golden Dragon knights, I can see that many knights broke through their bottlenecks in this campaign. Even in actual combat, there’s a world of difference between large-scale and small-scale battles. They faced utter chaos, unable to distinguish friend from foe, and fought against legions of Demoniacs. It was inevitable they’d emerge stronger.

Some didn’t make it back, left behind in the depths of the Underworld. But the surviving knights used the victory as a stepping stone to further growth. If even one knight could cross into the Demigod Tier before the final battle, humanity’s chances would increase, even if it was only by a small fraction.

There remained a vacancy left by Uluka, the Green Dragon Commander—a spot still unfilled.

“We’ll head back first. If you have a need of us in the Underworld, don’t hesitate to call.” Simon, who had created the spatial portal to the Cardenas family estate, gave a simple nod before turning away.

Though the magic corps assigned to rear support had suffered relatively light losses, many had declined Hades’ offer. The gaps left behind by their absence were all the more palpable.

With the mages from the Arcane Society leaving and the Cardenas and the Jehoia family completing their preparations to return, Leonard said, “Let’s go home. To our home.”

That alone was enough. The army’s triumphant return had begun.

* * *

The moment the Arcadian Empire received news of the victory, they also learned of the grim countdown to the end times.

Three years—it might seem a generous window for drafting one’s will, but to prepare for the end, three years was far too short. Even without considering national-scale projects, any moderately sized public works would easily exceed that time frame. The revelation that evil gods targeting the Middle Realm would descend in three years struck some so hard it nearly shattered their sanity.

“Tch. Anyone fainting or despairing over this is useless to me! Drag them out and send them to retire. And make sure their mouths are sealed shut.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress, Laila, gave her order with a scowl.

As one dazed minister foamed at the mouth and was dragged away by the royal guards, Laila swept her gaze over the remaining officials. Her eyes flashed as she scowled.

“How disgraceful! Is this how you present yourselves before the loyal soldiers who returned victorious from the Demonic Realm? Despairing before even lifting a sword?! Just how flimsy is your faith in me and this Empire for you to collapse like that?!”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Everyone gathered in the chamber was fully aware of the Empire’s secrets and the roles of the Three Noble Houses. The Three Noble Houses were not mere politicians but heroes who had sacrificed their entire lives to uphold this world.

Just among the Cardenas family alone, hundreds of knights had reached the Transcendence Tier—figures who, outside the Empire, could enjoy untold wealth and privilege.

The higher their level, the more detached from humanity mages became. Even the successors of the Wickeline family had honored their ancestral oath made with the Founding Emperor through centuries.

And the descendants of the Dvergr—those of the Jehoia family—had always placed their vows above even their own lives.

“Your Majesty.”

But now was not the time for apologies or excuses.

The Minister of War stepped forward, kneeling before her. “Three years is indeed short if we are to mobilize for total war. To draw out the Empire’s full strength, we will need reinforcements not only for the War Ministry but also for the Finance Ministry. And furthermore—”

“Speak freely.”

“...We must conscript all external military resources available beyond the Empire’s borders.”

Until now, the Empire had deliberately concealed its noble mission and sacred duty, enduring jealousy and suspicion as the world’s greatest superpower. They had feared alliances of foreign races and external factions, the rise of Void Deities, and the explosive increase in demon worshippers.

But now? The Spriggan frontier had concluded with Yggdrasil’s fall. The Celestials had resolved to leave this world. The Demonic Realm had been dealt a devastating blow, with Crom Dubh’s schemes sealing them away for three years. No more summons. No more borrowed power from their kind.

Void Deities still couldn’t be entirely controlled, but by securing cooperation with one mighty Void Deity, they could potentially gain additional Demigod Tier forces.

“The Arcadian Empire no longer needs to concern itself with the scrutiny of outsiders. Though the Three Noble Houses might not be able to contribute further, if we gather the talents of the entire continent, it won’t be insignificant. They’ve enjoyed the protection of the Empire all this time—perhaps it’s time they offered their service in return.”

“Indeed. Minister of War, your words ring true.” The fury that had lit up Laila’s eyes shifted direction. “I’ve never cared for those leeches who’ve survived all this time thanks to the Empire yet have no sense of gratitude and only spew nonsense. Might as well use this opportunity to sweep them clean and teach them their place—top to bottom. Anyone who refuses the draft, drag them here even if you have to break their limbs.”

Arcadia had always possessed the strength to conquer the world at any time but simply lacked a reason. Conversely, if a reason ever arose, there was nothing stopping them from acting on it. With three major fronts essentially concluded, the power the Three Noble Houses could project outward had reached staggering levels.

Even the Mage Towers, known to be on par with the Arcane Society, revealed a massive disparity when examined closely; the difference in scale was nearly fivefold. While the Arcane Society boasted five Archmages, the Mage Towers had only a single Arch-Tower Master who had reached Class 9.

And unlike Simon, who was practically flying across the continent every day, the Tower Master’s very existence was often in doubt. For all anyone knew, he could already be dead.

“Send word to the Wickeline family. There’s no need to tiptoe around anyone anymore. Have them absorb and consolidate all Mage Towers across the continent. Extract every resource and mage they have. Any Class 6 or higher mage must undergo combat training until they’re prepared to join the final battle.”

If they failed to repel the invasion of the Outer Gods, the entire world would be doomed. There was no longer any reason to humor mages locked away in their towers, obsessed solely with their research. The insularity of the Mage Towers had always stemmed from their military power, which allowed them to resist external interference. But the Arcane Society could shatter that defense like cracking an eggshell.

With the Minister of War casting the spark, Laila’s rage flared in another direction—and the groundwork was laid for a set of policies bound to plunge the world into chaos.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

“Commander Corbin, step forward.”

“...Yes, Your Majesty.”

From the shadows behind Laila, Corbin appeared, wearing a sour expression.

The Light Dragon Commander—a man considered the very best when it came to handling information and understanding human nature. He could already guess the nature of the orders he was about to receive, simply based on the fact he’d been summoned.

“I’ll begin scouring the continent for any talents who might aid us in the final battle. I’ll bring them in as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

“In preparation for cases where there might be organized resistance or individuals who go into hiding, we should draft a minimum number of conscription officers from the Cardenas and the Wickelines. The Order of the Light Dragon specializes in espionage, reconnaissance, and ambush tactics—they’re somewhat less suited for direct, large-scale battles.”

“I understand,” Corbin said. “I’ll speak directly to Declan and Simon about it.”

Laila responded without hesitation, her decision made swiftly. Seeing no point in delaying further, Corbin slipped back into the shadows. It had been a long time since the entire Order of the Light Dragon had been mobilized for an operation of this scale.

Their mission was to locate talented individuals scattered across the continent, recruit them or force them into submission, and turn them into a vanguard capable of standing against the Outer Gods’ invasion. Most would feel nothing but resentment at being pressed into service without regard for their own will. Strong resistance was inevitable.

As the shadow of Arcadia, Corbin knew what had to be done, regardless of means.

For those blocked by the walls of their own limitations, we’ll offer elixirs or guidance. For those suffering under illness or curses, we’ll provide cures. If they’re bound by debts or political chains, we’ll offer liberation. There’s no need to reveal the full details of the mission at the start. Once they’re in a position where escape is impossible, then we can explain.

They would be offering these people a chance—a chance to have their names etched in history and to participate in saving the world itself. Shouldn’t they be grateful, even if conscripted against their will? After all, these were honors and glory usually reserved for the elite of the Three Noble Houses.

Justifying the abduction plan with the duty befitting a knight of Cardenas, Corbin’s eyes gleamed coldly.

For Arcadia’s glory, for the honor of Cardenas, and for the salvation of the world. Don’t resent us too much.

Thus, the curtain was raised for a continent-wide operation—an unprecedented campaign of forced recruitment, one that the historians and scholars of the future generation could possibly never fully express.