Chapter 624: Surrounded by the Empire
On the Ultras Continent .. the stage that held the war’s front line and the fiercest clash between the Empire and their eternal enemy .
three figures appeared out of nowhere near the encampments the Empire had made their base.
Frey Starlight set foot upon that dead land after an absence of several days, though it had felt far longer for him .. and for the others who’d been forced to face the Church and everything it hid behind its faith.
“We’ve been gone a while… I wonder what things look like here,” Snow asked, face bleak, as he took his first step toward the allied camp.
“We’ll face a harsh backlash, most likely… since the prince is no longer with us,” Uriel said, eyes on Frey’s back as he walked ahead with an expressionless face.
He had killed Aegon out of nowhere, catching them completely off guard .. they had never expected him to do such a thing.
Aegon had always been a filthy schemer, weaving his tricks in the dark and swaying those around him for ill or for good… but at the very least, he had fought on their side in this war.
Snow had thought that would be reason enough for Frey to spare him .. and the prince had seemed to have something up his sleeve that had stayed Frey’s hand.
“We no longer have time to waste. The war is entering its final phase, and there’s no point keeping the likes of Aegon around. From here on, you and I will end this war, Snow—and we’ll crush anyone who stands in the way,” Frey said, turning to Uriel.
“The fighting will be harsher than ever, and the death toll will far exceed the previous battles. With these hands, I’ll kill the Ultras—slaughter them to the very last.”
At the mere mention of what he was about to do, certain memories flashed through Uriel’s mind .. back to the days she marched with Frey at the vanguard of the war; how the corpses piled into mountains and the blood ran in rivers.
It was a sight she would never forget for as long as she lived—and here was Frey telling her he was ready to go even further.
“We’re not heroes. We’re soldiers now. Our job is to win this war. Our hands will be stained one way or another, and that may be too much for you… but if you’re still willing to walk with us regardless, your help would be a great gain for us, Uriel.”
Frey pressed Uriel to decide .. and she did not hesitate long.
“My hands are far dirtier than yours, Frey. I’m the one who, one way or another, caused the deaths of millions. So don’t worry—I set my feet on the Blood Path a long time ago.”
Uriel spoke, and Frey nodded.
“Good.”
With their resolve settled, the three made for the camp.
As they drew near, the sentries spotted them, and word of their arrival spread quickly through the ranks.
Frey and his companions found a large number of soldiers waiting, eyes upon them with every kind of look .. faces reflecting a storm of feeling.
Some were grateful .. these were the heroes who had put an end to the Church and its designs .. but they could not properly celebrate, not with the number of lives the confrontation had cost.
Most of those present had lost at least one person dear to them. Yet overall…
awe was plain upon their faces, as if they were looking at some kind of legends walking on two feet.
Even so, that didn’t stop many from stepping forward to thank Frey and the others .. foremost among them Phoenix Sunlight, who had recovered much of his luster and vigor after the battle against the demons and the Angel of War.
Approaching them, he greeted them with a gentle smile.
“Welcome back.”
“Phoenix…” Frey muttered, scanning the camp around him.
He realized at once that the soldiers were far fewer than the last time he’d seen them .. and he couldn’t sense the presence of those close to him, like Sansa and Ghost…
“What happened here?” he asked, and Phoenix shook his head.
“Let’s join the others first—we’ve been waiting for you to arrive.”
“We’ve been… waiting for us?” Snow Lionheart echoed, puzzled.
It seemed Phoenix had expected them, and the soldiers’ reactions didn’t look surprised at all.
But Snow didn’t dwell on it .. he simply followed Phoenix and his group as the two led the way.
“That was a hard battle you were forced to endure,” Phoenix said. “I’m glad you all made it back alive.” Frey nodded.
“We won .. and that’s all that matters. But the war isn’t over.”
“You’re not wrong,” Phoenix agreed. “The Ultras began launching assault after assault the moment you left. As a result, we’ve been fighting without pause ever since.”
With an irritated sigh, Phoenix sketched the present situation in brief as they walked.
“The fighting is still ongoing. We just received word that Oliver Khan’s squad clashed with one of the Hollows.”
“Oliver Khan’s squad…” Frey whispered.
That was likely the unit Sansa was with.
Slowly, Frey’s eyes darkened as he opened the Third-Person Player Perspective to check on her.
Should I go to them… Frey thought, ready to head out and join the battle in earnest.
His intent was plain to those around him, and Phoenix hurried to dissuade him.
“Do you really mean to plunge back into the war the instant you return, Frey? Take a rest .. even you need it.”
Frey shook his head.
“I don’t need rest. I’m in my best condition.”
He was stubborn enough to make Phoenix chuckle despite himself.
“You claim you’re fine even after fighting an SSS-tier warrior… Just how much power do you have, Frey?” Phoenix said with a dry, weighty laugh.
But at those words, Frey’s .. and the others’ .. faces darkened.
“An SSS-tier warrior… Phoenix, how do you know we fought an opponent like that?” Frey asked, the question that had been gnawing at him finally taking shape as he began to realize just how strange the situation had become.
Likewise, Snow and Uriel did the same.
“The way they were waiting for us… as if they’d expected our arrival from the start. And now Phoenix is talking about Blattier…” Snow said, standing beside Uriel.
It was strange indeed. Phoenix .. or anyone in the Empire’s camp ..shouldn’t have known what had happened; there’d been no way to contact them. For him to know about Blatir’s breakthrough into SSS-tier was certainly suspicious.
Phoenix, for his part, tilted his head, equally puzzled by their reaction.
“What are you talking about? We’re fully aware of what happened to you on the Sacred Island .. you told us yourselves.”
Phoenix’s words only deepened Frey’s confusion and distrust.
“You’re telling me you know everything…?” In those scant moments, dozens of possibilities raced through Frey’s mind.
Had Aegon informed the Empire when he fled? Or was it Calistis, who left the island before them?
All were possible .. but Frey didn’t believe any of them, for some reason.
By the time they reached the command tent the Empire had taken as headquarters…
a certain line Phoenix had spoken began to ring in both Frey’s and Snow’s minds at once.
“Phoenix… you said earlier you were glad to see all of us make it back alive,” Frey said, his tone heavy.