"O Lord."
It was a devout call.
Eugene opened his eyes. He had fallen into deep sleep while being aware of his surroundings. It was to bring his body and mind to an optimal state. Thanks to that, even though he had just awoken, his eyelids were not heavy, and his mind was crystal clear. In fact, Eugene felt sharper than ever, both mentally and physically, though he had just woken up.
"My Lord."
A soft whisper.
Eugene turned his head towards the gentle call coming from right beside him. That call made Eugene think of the distant past.
"Are you doing that on purpose?" he questioned.
Kristina tilted her head in confusion at the sudden question.
Eugene himself thought it was a foolish question to ask. Kristina and Anise did not know about his memory as Agaroth. Eugene rubbed his head in an attempt to erase the faint remnants of it.
"I’m wondering why you’re calling me like that all of a sudden," he corrected himself."Because today, of all days, Sir Eugene must be a god," Kristina replied with a faint smile.
He needed to be a god today more than ever. Eugene knew the meaning and weight behind her response and smirked bitterly.
"It's not just me who calls you that. Eugene, my god. Everyone in the Divine Army repeats it,” continued Kristina.
"I know," Eugene responded while placing a hand over his heart.
Simply being aware of it made the voices audible. The voices had grown incessantly over the past month, leading to today. He could feel the prayers and faith of those from all over the continent, as well as from his Divine Army.
It couldn’t be helped that the voices had grown stronger leading up to this day. The continent had been stirred over the month. Although an announcement was not made regarding the missiles and bombings, the very act of evacuation due to the war instilled fear in the citizens. The Divine Army in Neran felt the fear as well, knowing the onset of war was imminent.
They sought their god to forget their fears. In this world, their god was no longer far away. The very god who would listen to their prayers, confront the Demon Kings, and bring them victory in the war was right here. Because they knew this, their prayers were unceasing.
"The preparations for war are complete," Kristina whispered. She clutched the rosary around her neck as she bowed her head. "Everyone is waiting for your command, Sir Eugene."
"I told you that I didn’t want to do this,” answered Eugene.
"On a day like today, please say you will do it willingly, my God,” responded Kristina.
She raised her head again, and Anise, who had taken her place, glared at Eugene and snapped, "If not you, the Commander-in-Chief, then who else will declare the onset of war?"
"If it’s about qualifications, Sienna has plenty, and if it’s about trust, Lady Carmen also...."
"Please, Lord! You know how important today is, don’t you!" shouted Anise. Her expression was fierce as she berated Eugene.
"Yes,” Eugene chuckled and rose from the bed.
The sudden change in the atmosphere made Anise's shoulders twitch.
Stepping down from the bed, Eugene placed a hand on Anise’s shoulder and said, "Today is an important day. It could be the end of this era. Or, it might be the turning point that changes the end."
"My God," said Anise.
"Let’s not be too solemn, though,” declared Eugene.
Anise’s eyes fluttered angrily at his response. "Are you acting foolish just to ease my tension?" she questioned.
"I did mean to ease the tension, but I’m not joking when I say I don’t want to do it," answered Eugene.
"You really are…!" Anise started.
"I am indeed your God, and you are indeed my Saint. It’s true that today is important and special. But let’s not make too much of a fuss about it."
As Eugene spoke, he stretched out his hand, and a large jar nearby gently floated into the air. Anise blinked several times. She did not understand Eugene’s intent.
"Step back,” he commanded.
"Excuse me?" Anise questioned.
"Step back. It might splash,” he explained.
What could possibly splash? Anise did not understand, but she stepped back as Eugene had instructed. Meanwhile, the floating jar moved forward toward Eugene.
He quickly reached out and grabbed the jar. Instantly, the empty jar was filled with water.
"What are you doing...?" Before Anise could finish her sentence, Eugene lifted the jar above his head.
Splash!
The cold water poured down.
"What on earth…. What are you doing?" Anise gasped in shock.
Eugene shook his damp hair a few times, then reached for the Cloak of Darkness from a nearby coat hanger.
Swish!
The cloak flew towards him and wrapped around his body.
"A cold shower," Eugene said.
"Excuse me?" Anise asked.
"Just wanted to freshen up the mind as well,” he declared.
His previously drenched hair dried instantly and became fluffy. Eugene slapped his cheeks with both hands and then walked past Anise.
"Let's go,” he said.
Anise blinked as she followed Eugene, who headed towards the door. Soon, she burst into laughter and nodded, "Yes, Hamel."
"It sounds much better than being exalted as a god,” Eugene said.
"Really, if you wanted to relieve the tension for Kristina and me, hmm, there were plenty of other ways you could have done it," Anise hinted.
"I just woke up. I did it to wash up." Eugene chuckled casually and opened the door.
His officers were lined up in the long corridor, excluding Sienna and the Archwizards — knights and warriors unrelated to magic. Eugene saw Carmen, Gilead, and Gion standing closest to the door.
"Did everyone sleep well?" Eugene asked with a grin.
"I tried my best to get some sleep,” Gilead replied with a wry smile.
Many had lost their sleep as this day drew nearer due to a mix of nerves and excitement. This was true for most of the Divine Army, and the members of the general staff were no exception.
It was unavoidable. Their adversary was the Demon King of Incarceration, who had reigned over countless eras for an immeasurable span of time. Considering the eras he had crossed over, the time the Demon King of Incarceration had ruled could very well be discussed as eternal.
"You seem to have slept well,” Eugene commented.
"I tried my best to sleep." Gion's teasing reply drew a snicker from Eugene. However, the other officers couldn't manage to smile.
The war would begin today. Eugene, Sienna, and Kristina would ascend to Babel, and the Divine Army would block Helmuth's offensive on the ground.
Frankly speaking, the battle on the ground was not the source of fear. Many had already faced demons and demonic creatures in Hauria.
Carmen, Ortus, and Ivic had even experienced despair in a battle against a Demon King. No matter how fierce the battle on the ground might be, it would not be vastly different from the ones they had already endured.
The real issue was Babel. If Eugene's group, having entered Babel, were defeated by the Demon King of Incarceration — regardless of the outcome on the ground, everything would end. There was nothing the officers could do about that. Thus, their expressions were inevitably grim.
Eugene was strong, but the opponent was the Demon King of Incarceration. The members of the general staff could not possibly imagine the defeat of the great Demon King.
"You lack faith," Eugene commented.
He could feel the pervasive anxiety. As he walked among the members of the general staff, he placed a hand over his heart.
Whoosh.
Divine fire surged near his heart, instantly transforming the atmosphere in the corridor. The air, previously frozen with anxiety and tension, became permeated by flames.
"Ah...!" Ivatar exclaimed without realizing it. He turned his head and saw Eugene's back. Eugene’s presence felt like a beacon in the dark night sea as he passed the members of the general staff. The anxiety and tension in their hearts dissolved at the mere sight of his back.
No. That wasn't all, either. Ivatar felt something else from Eugene's back. It felt as if Eugene had become someone else. Strangely enough, Ivatar accepted this sensation as familiar and natural.
"Haha..." Alchester let out a low chuckle while clenching his fist. The sweat that had pooled in his hand was now dry.
Lack of faith, huh? It was true. One must not think of Eugene's defeat. One must not doubt his victory. Alchester swallowed his laughter and looked at Eugene's back. This was a sight he couldn't have imagined when he first saw Eugene years ago.
"Brilliant," Carmen murmured with a smirk.
Among the members of the general staff there, only Carmen was calm. She felt neither tension, anxiety, nor fear. She had unwavering faith in Eugene's victory and was confident that her Dragon Claw would contribute to a brilliant future beyond Incarceration and Destruction.
"Is it lacking?" Eugene glanced back as he asked, but no one answered.
All the members of the general staff in the corridor already stood behind him with unshaken faces.
"I shouldn't have asked,” said Eugene. He smirked and continued walking forward. The door at the end of the corridor opened on its own.
This building stood atop the walls of Neran. Eugene stepped out the door and immediately found himself walking along the wall. The sky was overcast. Clouds so thick it seemed they might burst into rain at any moment obscured the sun, giving the sky a grim, murky appearance. But it wouldn't rain.
Eugene glanced up briefly. Those weren’t ordinary clouds. Rather, the dark power of the Demon King of Incarceration had covered up the nearby skies.
"The weather's shitty today,” Eugene muttered to himself.
He lowered his gaze and stopped to turn around.
Woah!
The moment he looked down, a thunderous cheer erupted. Although this place had yet to become a battlefield, the sounds of the onset of war were imminent and close.
Below the high walls was the Divine Army, the strongest troops gathered from across the continent. They were positioned on the plains between the continent and Pandemonium.
The soldiers roared upon seeing Eugene.
"Took your sweet time, didn’t you?" Sienna's voice rang out clearly even amid the deafening cheers from the plains.
She suddenly appeared at his side and gently elbowed him in the ribs.
"It was you who told me to sleep off my worries,” Eugene said.
"I didn't expect you to sleep in this late,” Sienna retorted.
"It's still just noon. It’s not that late. So, how are things?" Eugene asked, taking in the Archwizards assembling beside Sienna.
"We’ve done all we can prepare,” Sienna answered.
The magical corps had been the most occupied over the past month, with Sienna and the Archwizards at the forefront.
They connected the Samar Forest to the World Tree, establishing a powerful defensive barrier, and erected similar barriers over each kingdom's major cities. Simultaneously, they had set up various magics in these plains to prepare for the battle and mass-produced magical scrolls to support the Divine Army.
Kristina and Anise, along with the priests, had also participated in the mass production of holy water and divine magic, but their efforts paled in comparison to Sienna and the wizards.
"I also visited Lehainjar in the middle of the night,” Sienna added.
Summoning Molon would leave Lehainjar empty. As such, Sienna needed to use her magic to artificially prevent the emergence of the Nur. Thanks to that, Sienna had been in Lehainjar until just earlier.
"What about Pandemonium?" questioned Eugene.
"It's empty. Doesn’t look like there's a second wave. It's impossible for them to strike us from the rear,” answered Sienna.
"Huh," Eugene chuckled dryly as he looked forward.
Pandemonium was out of sight. The end of the plains was not visible either. Beyond the Divine Army lay a vast army made up of demons and demonic creatures. It seemed as if all the demonic creatures bred in Helmuth had gathered on this plain. It wasn’t just demons, either. He could see humans here and there, and though not many, there were giants and a few beastfolk as well.
"Are we just going to smash into each other with all our might?" Sienna asked.
"The battle on the ground won't mean much to the Demon King of Incarceration,” answered Eugene.
Sienna stared darkly at the blackened skies of Babel. Even if the ground forces were annihilated, it would mean nothing to the Demon King of Incarceration. He was a Great Demon King, and he could sweep the continent alone if he wished.
"But not me,” continued Eugene. His left hand was still placed over his heart, and it emitted an increasingly fierce light. "If this is war, then I want victory.”
His left hand fell from his chest. Eugene raised his hand above his head, with all of the Divine Army watching him.
Whoosh!
The divine fire that had enveloped his left hand blazed fiercely. Eugene grinned and casually tossed the flames up into the sky.
Whoosh!
The flames soared high and swelled explosively. Amidst the magically darkened sky, a blood-red sun was forged. Just as Agaroth had done in the Age of Myth, Eugene crafted a miracle, conjuring a sun with his divine power.
"Ah...."
The Divine Army forgot to shout, entranced by the sun in the sky.
Everyone knew this was not the real sun, though it appeared so. Yet, for the troops on this battlefield, this artificial sun shone more brilliantly than the actual sun. They had roared to forget their fears and trepidations, but now, such roars were unnecessary as no trace of fear could be felt. Instead, feelings of faith and courage overflowed from their hearts.
"Sanctuary..." Anise exclaimed in awe, turning to look at Eugene.
Even during his battle with Noir, Eugene's sanctuary had not covered such an extensive area. But now, without even deploying Prominence, Eugene had turned the entire plain into a sanctuary. Within this sanctuary, the faithful could fight tirelessly. Wounds would heal rapidly, and divine power would enhance their mana. The mere presence of that sun drastically increased the power of the Divine Army several-fold.
"I'm not one for grand speeches," Eugene admitted as he caught the gaze of the entire Divine Army.
He extended his hand.
Whoosh!
The Lionheart banner, previously affixed to the walls of Neran, flew into Eugene's hand. Recalling the march in Hauria, Eugene grinned.
"Troops,” he said.
Creak, creak….
The ominous sound echoed from the flagstaff in his hand. Mana filled the staff and wrapped it in flames.
Crack!
From Eugene’s hand, the flagstaff shot forth, piercing through space and impaling the largest giant in the enemy's ranks. As it pierced, flames burst forth and caused the giant’s body to explode. The surrounding demons and monsters were instantly reduced to ashes.
"Let's survive to see this through,” he said with a smile.
In the midst of the enemy camp, the Lionheart banner fluttered boldly.
Openbookworm & DantheMan's Thoughts
Momo: That was a brilliant start to the war!