Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1838
The four million-strong army under the command of Southern Armies Commander-in-Chief Benjen I Victorius had come face to face with ten million Sapharos soldiers.
Benjen felt a great weight on his shoulders. He hadn't felt this weight even during the Second Great Lands War.
"I must be careful. A single mistake will cost the lives of millions of my people, and more importantly..." His eyes turned to the Kislavein Dynasty's only male heir beside him.
It had initially been planned for Richard, the Kislavein Dynasty Heir, to fight on the Northern Front. However, the fact that his mother was also fighting on the Northern Front could prevent Richard from displaying his abilities to their full potential.
For this reason, Ricardo decided that his son Richard should fight in the Southern Lands instead of the North.
Time continued to flow. Both sides were ready for battle. They were only waiting for a single signal.
As the wait continued, three cavalrymen emerged from the Sapharos ranks. They rode their horses to the very center of the field, raised their swords, made their horses rear up, and each let out battle cries.
"HURAAH!"
Benjen understood their intent.
"They want to duel. They're trying to gain morale before the battle."
Benjen thought of three assistant commanders to respond to the duel offer. But an unexpected voice called out from beside him.
"Commander-in-Chief Benjen."
Benjen automatically responded to the voice of the Dynasty Heir, Richard.
"Command me, Dynasty Heir."
Richard eagerly made a request.
"Commander-in-Chief, permit me to participate in the duels as well."
Benjen understood Richard's intent. But one-on-one duels were something no one could interfere with.
In a potential worst-case scenario, no one could save Richard.
Benjen did not want to approve this, but Richard did not seem like someone who would give up easily. Therefore, he thought of a logical reason.
"Dynasty Heir, I know you want to prove yourself. But I cannot risk you. When the battle begins, you can unleash all your power and fight to your heart's content. Please, do not put me in a difficult position."
Richard understood what Benjen meant. Concealing his disappointment, he withdrew.
Benjen felt a slight pang of conscience from young Richard's sadness.
"Forgive me, Dynasty Heir. Everything is for the Kislavein Dynasty."
Benjen called out to the candidates he had chosen for the duels.
"JOHN JULVER, DESMOND DORNON, HARLONNEN HARMEN!"
The three commanders whose names were called came to Benjen's side, simultaneously saying:
"COMMAND US, COMMANDER!"
Benjen turned to his commanders and pointed with his index finger at the three Sapharos commanders who wished to duel them.
"Take their heads."
The three commanders responded in unison.
"AS YOU COMMAND, COMMANDER!"
The three Kislavein commanders each chose an opponent and faced them. There was no conversation; the duels began immediately.
John launched a direct spear attack at the Sapharos commander he had set his sights on.
The Sapharos commander, Beelvirion, deflected the spear attack with his shield and shattered John's shield. Immediately after, he aimed his sword at John's throat.
John quickly pulled his head back, saving his neck from being severed by a fraction of a second. With equal speed, he shaped his Aura into a short but sharp dagger.
He swung his dagger and cut off Beelvirion's sword-wielding hand.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
Beelvirion screamed in pain. Blood gushed from his hand.
John hurled his Aura dagger at Beelvirion, who was in shock from the pain.
By the time Beelvirion noticed the dagger coming towards him, it was already too late.
The dagger pierced through his neck.
Beelvirion fell from his horse and died in agony.
The first victory in the commanders' duel belonged to the Kislavein.
The Kislavein army, having watched the duel and seen their first victory, let out a victory cry.
"LONG LIVE KISLAVEIN! LONG LIVE COMMANDER JOHN!"
Meanwhile, a duel with massive axes was taking place between Desmond Dornon and Aorellion Sapharos.
Each time the massive axes clashed, they produced an ear-piercing sound so loud that even a deaf person could hear it.
They swung their axes left and right, both waiting for an opening. Their potentials were equal, but in the end, the victor was Desmond.
At the first small opening he found, Desmond inflicted a small cut on Aorellion's waist. The wound might have been small, but the blood flow was severe.
"Damn it!"
Aorellion ignored the pain and continued fighting. But no matter how much he ignored it, his body could not ignore the blood loss.
After a while, he began to feel dizzy. He responded to incoming attacks with less success.
Desmond was aware of the situation.
"Victory is mine."
With a final blow, Desmond split Aorellion's body in two. Another victory belonged to Kislavein.
"LONG LIVE KISLAVEIN! LONG LIVE COMMANDER DESMOND!"
Desmond was enjoying the joy of his victory, his eyes turning to the final duel.
"Come on, Commander Harlonnen! Win! We believe in you!"
Harlonnen Harmen and Sapharos Commander Aijin Sapharos were swinging swords three times the length and width of a human being as if waving knives.
Their muscles burned. They had expelled all their water until their sweat glands dried up. Each breath burned their chests. They pushed their limits to avoid fainting.
When the two massive swords clashed for the final time, the swords shattered into pieces. Both commanders experienced momentary shock. The first to recover from the shock was Harlonnen. He clenched his fist and, with his remaining strength, delivered a hard punch to Aijin's face.
Aijin was thrown back by the force of the punch. His face had multiple fractures, and his jaw was dislocated to the left.
"This is the opportunity!"
Harlonnen plunged the sharp points of his broken sword into Aijin's neck.
"KRGH!"
Aijin felt the sharp points of the broken sword pierce and wound his neck and veins, cutting and tearing them. The pain was indescribable.
When Aijin's body fell onto the sand, the Kislavein soldiers shouted victory cries.
"LONG LIVE KISLAVEIN! LONG LIVE COMMANDER HARLONNEN!"
The three victorious commanders of the Kislavein Dynasty let out victory roars.
"HURRRRAAAAAA!"
Benjen had seized the psychological advantage.
"This opportunity must not be missed. We must attack now and crown our victory," he thought.
He drew his sword and pointed it at the Sapharos.
"ATTACK!"
"HAAAAAAH!"
The Kislavein soldiers charged at full speed towards the Sapharos ranks. The three commanders, who had expended most of their power during the duels, did not join the attack and withdrew.
The Kislavein army descended upon the Sapharos defense like lightning. The lines were quickly breached and shattered. The battle lasted until evening. Victory belonged to the Kislavein army.
After the battle ended, Benjen ordered his soldiers to bury the dead with respect.
The surviving commanders gathered in a tent. Benjen began the meeting.
"According to the counts conducted, all ten million Sapharos soldiers were slaughtered. We have lost three million of our soldiers and many invaluable commanders whose places cannot be filled. We will remember them with gratitude."
When Benjen finished his speech, the commanders spoke in turn, taking the floor.
The first to speak was Arda Constantinos IV, son of Erdinch Constantinos VI and the current Constantinos Dynasty Lord.
"What is our next objective, Commander-in-Chief?"
Benjen replied.
"We will rest for a while. Then we will go to the Eastern Lands, to the side of the Kislavein Dynasty Lord."
Eldherrion, son of Kaldrion, the Morning Training Master of the Blood Academy, took the floor and spoke.
"Commander-in-Chief, with all due respect, after everything that has happened, will there be a campaign to completely eliminate the Sapharos threat?"
Benjen was not entirely sure of the answer to the question, so he chose to give an evasive reply.
"Only the Kislavein Dynasty Lord can answer that. The only thing we can do in this matter is to obey the orders that come."
Eldherrion was not completely satisfied. It was a shame, but he was aware that there was nothing to be done. He sat back down and did not speak again.
The last person to speak was Resquel Karluk I, son of Emanuel Karluk and the current Karluk Dynasty Lord.
"Commander-in-Chief, what do you say we hold a celebration to celebrate our victory and boost morale?"
Benjen was pleased.
"Good idea."
Benjen stood up joyfully.
"Get up! Let's eat and drink until dawn!"
Upon Benjen's command, the Kislavein army ate, drank, and celebrated until dawn.
Months later, the survivors of all these battles gathered on the coast of the Eastern Region of the Eastern Lands.