The battlefield resembled a "Dynasty Warriors" scenario. They had only seized the outer layer of the fortress. With each layer they advanced into, the resistance and defenses would undoubtedly grow more intense.
After the first battle ended, everyone began tallying the casualties.
Saviadel had several dozen half-blood Wendigos at the front sustain minor injuries. Dozens of Gargoyles were lightly wounded as well. A few Goliaths were hurt, and several dozen Vampires suffered corrosion damage from the blood pool art. But there were no fatalities, and even the most seriously injured only needed a couple days of rest to recover.
Among the Emperor's Children, twelve unfortunate players were struck dead by Originium Arts as soon as they climbed the walls. Twenty-five more died fighting the blood serpent. The rest suffered only light injuries, easily healed by the medics in a few bursts of healing.
The final strike on the blood serpent dropped a piece of equipment, an artifact storing a Vampire's Originium Art. A member of the Warrior Team quickly claimed it. With this item, the Warrior Team might rise a tier in strength for the upcoming world championship.
After a brief rest, they began taking stock of their gains.
The entire outer fortress was now in the hands of Tomorrow's Development. The Eastern Army's supply routes were severed. Logically, they could simply surround the enemy and wait. The Eastern Army would collapse from within without another assault.
That was what the players believed, and even Felix shared the thought. But Luna pointed out that Vampires could sustain themselves by consuming fresh blood. And the Eastern Army had many Sarkaz mercenaries. In desperate times, those mercenaries could easily become food.
As for other gains, they had captured several hundred ordinary Sarkaz mercenaries. Felix made no plans for them. Anyone who remained loyal to the Military Commission at this point would be nearly impossible to sway.
A few hours after the first assault concluded, the second assault began. This time, the main force was no longer Saviadel's entire army, but the uninjured units, the Emperor's Children. They and Luna's Vampire troops launched the next wave.
Three hours later, after losing more than two hundred Emperor's Children, they captured the next fortress.
Five hours after that, the two hundred recently revived members died again, along with four hundred more. Even pro-team players suffered heavy casualties.
On Saviadel's side, the half-blood Wendigos were heavily wounded by Vampire counterattacks. Caren stood at the very front. Her teammates behind her were unharmed, but she herself was critically injured and nearly died. Thankfully, medics and doctors stationed at the rear saved her. Mudrock, Giles, and Luna all suffered injuries to varying degrees.
The next morning, Felix gazed at the final defensive line in the distance. Once breached, Kazdel would be unified.
However, some players were still on respawn timers. Some were close to entering the one-day cooldown if they died again.
Fortunately, Saviadel's warriors had recovered. After a night's rest, even the previously injured were full of vigor. They volunteered to shoulder the burden of the main assault.
Everyone would emerge from this campaign more mature. Both armies would grow closer, bound by shared life and death.
Before departure, Felix granted them exaggerated support buffs. In truth, it was difficult for Saviadel's warriors to die, since they wore advanced powered armor just like the players.
The reason players died so often was simply because they prioritized speed rather than minimizing casualties.
Felix was certain that if this were "Sword Art Online," they would grind down the wall's durability bit by bit before rushing in. They might even siege the fortress for ten days or half a month, starving out every Vampire inside.
The final battle erupted soon after. The Emperor's Children fought like men possessed. From beginning to end, they radiated unwavering loyalty toward their Emperor.
""Tennou Heika Banzai!""
Wielding their weapons, they charged through arrow volleys and Originium blasts without hesitation, striking fear into the retreating Sarkaz mercenaries and Vampires.
These people could not be killed.
"Yo, bastards, I am back again!"
A player who had just been stabbed to death reappeared full of energy and grinned maniacally at the Sarkaz mercenaries on the wall.
Luna calmly directed the battle. She wanted to keep casualties minimal, but the Emperor's Children were naturally reckless and dramatic. Still, since they reduced Saviadel's injuries and were immortal adventurers, the burden on her conscience eased considerably.
After seven hours of brutal fighting, after more than half of the Emperor's Children were down and on respawn timers, and after Saviadel lost several dozen warriors, the Eastern Army's final wall was breached. All troops surged inside. Leading them was Commander Luna, heading straight for the Vampire commander.
"You killed my brother, my sister, and my son. Are you here to kill me next?"
The mature-looking woman split her face into four sections, her voice thick with hatred and venom.
"This is the choice of your Eastern Army. For the sake of our shared Vampire lineage and our past acquaintance, surrender."
Luna continued with a soft hum. "To speak honestly, we are currently desperate for Sarkaz of special bloodlines. Because of the long war, the Vampires have suffered devastating losses. We need to rebuild our strength under Tomorrow's Development."
The elegant woman let out a shrill cry and lunged at Luna like a wild beast.
Luna sighed quietly. The blood-red spear in her hand pierced through the woman's body. The woman fell to the ground, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. "...The remaining Vampires are innocent. Spare them."
"As for me, my family died at your hands. I can never join Tomorrow's Development."
Luna lowered her head. Faced with a friend from her past, a faint sorrow surfaced on her face.
The mournful laments of the Banshees and the slow melody of bone flutes echoed through the battlefield, like a eulogy for those who would never return. Everyone cleaning up the aftermath of the war paused. The captured Vampires and Sarkaz mercenaries also stood still. They listened to the haunting tune, unmoving for a long time.
Luna let out a long sigh. She gently closed the woman's eyes, pushed herself up by her knees, and rose to her feet.
At the very moment of the woman's passing, in that single instant, everyone involved in the battle—The Emperor's Children, those stationed in Kazdel, and even the players who had once aided Kazdel—all received the same message.
Congratulations on completing the S-Rank Mission: [Dawn of Kazdel]
[Mission Requirements: Rebuild the Kazdel Mobile City (100/100)
Liberate Kazdel (100/100)]
[Reward: 100,000 EXP]
[Reward: 100,000 LMD]
[Reward: Title: Wings of Dawn]
Every player saw the mission marked as complete in their task list, and their character profiles now included the limited-edition title Wings of Dawn. For players who loved title collecting, this was pure delight.
Felix's mission window also showed completion, but the titles he received were King of Dawn, Founding father, and King of Liberation.
"So if we're all Wings of Dawn, then the pioneer who leads us must be the King of Dawn, right?"
Someone blurted this out. Others found it surprisingly reasonable. "Yeah, he's already our Emperor. Why shouldn't he have a more resounding title? We can't keep introducing our leader as 'the Pioneer'. It doesn't sound intimidating at all. After everything he's done, he deserves to be called a king."
The players immediately burst into noisy chatter.
Luna, Mudrock, Giles, and the other leaders returned to Felix's tent. Luna delivered the report of the battle's outcome. Even after fighting through the entire night, she was still brimming with vitality, her crimson eyes shining with a peculiar brilliance.
Felix looked deeply at everyone present: Luna, who had taken part in the battle; Loughshinny from the upper ranks of Tomorrow's Development; Kumori of The Emperor's Children; and many others. Some had followed him from the beginning, others had joined halfway, but all shared the same conviction.
Suddenly, Giles dropped to one knee.
"My lord, you pacified Kazdel in such a short span of time and liberated the entire nation. Your achievements will be remembered by all."
He placed a hand over his chest. "The former Sarkaz King has fallen, and the General is now in Londinium planning a different future. A country cannot remain without a ruler. I humbly ask His Highness the Pioneer to become the King of Kazdel."
"Giles…"
Luna clicked her tongue and glanced at Felix. "Giles isn't wrong. But the succession of the Sarkaz King should have required a crown. When Her Highness Theresa passed, the crown should have appeared by tradition. Did no one see it?"
Among those present, the only ones who had been there at Theresa's death were Felix himself, and of course Jesselton, who was currently guarding the city.
Felix shook his head.
Luna let out a helpless breath. "Even without the Sarkaz King's crown, I agree with Giles. Sarkaz King is a title, a form, and a responsibility."
"I agree," Mudrock said quietly with a nod.
Ines nodded as well. Hoederer spread his hands. "But we can't call His Highness the Sarkaz King, right?"
"His Highness is a ruler. That fact cannot be erased."
Qalaiša looked quietly at Felix, who sat upright in the main seat, her eyes shifting slightly. "Your Highness has liberated all of Kazdel. How about calling you the King of Liberation?"
Everyone felt it was an excellent name. Not only Luna, Giles, and Caren voiced their agreement, but Loughshinny, Ines, and Hoederer also thought it fitting. Even the Banshee HR lady nodded repeatedly in approval.
Only W was counting how many strokes were needed to write "King of Liberation," wondering if it had more than "Pioneer."
She couldn't write it at all.
W felt her head spinning, while everyone else grew more energized. The title clearly resonated with them.
Power was the symbol of kingship. In the old era, everyone believed this. On the land of Kazdel, the Sarkaz held the same belief: they followed whoever possessed greater strength.
To restore the Kazdel Mobile City to a state as good as new and unite the entire region in such a short time was something only the Sarkaz Kings of the past had achieved. Ever since General Theresis and Sarkaz King Theresa took over Kazdel, division had become inevitable. The once-peaceful land seemed destined never to return to what it once was.
Yet now, the impossible had become reality.
Felix nodded and accepted the title of King of Liberation.
"A king…"
The male warriors knelt on one knee, while the women bowed deeply, offering the highest respect to the Sankta seated before them.
Today, he became their king.
What does it take to be a true sovereign?
The Great King of Conquerors believed one should always stand in front, guide everyone, and shine brighter than all.
The King of Heroes saw himself as the only king under heaven, his words absolute. Everything in the world belonged to him, and all people should kneel.
The King of Knights believed in serving the nation and its people, doing everything for their happiness. She sought to be an ideal king and perhaps believed her own suffering was deserved. Yet her lofty ideals could not be understood by the people of Britain. Instead of praise, she received criticism and blame.
What then is the path of the King of Liberation? That is something Felix must contemplate and discover.
Although the official title of King of Liberation suited him, Felix still felt that the nickname circulating among the people, King of the Undead, fit him even better.
After leaving a portion of loyal Sarkaz mercenaries to guard the eastern fortress, the rest of the army returned to the capital.
Upon returning to the Kazdel Mobile City, Tomorrow's Development announced to the citizens that Kazdel had been fully liberated. After years of division, Kazdel was unified once again, and the one who accomplished this was the leader of Tomorrow's Development and the new ruler of Kazdel: the King of Liberation, Felix.
Though the Sarkaz people still muttered in their hearts—since they only recognized the term Sarkaz King—they did not deny the achievements of the Pioneer and the warriors of Tomorrow's Development. Their comrades and friends had fought alongside them. Even if this king was a Sankta, what did it matter?
More importantly, this king had earned the loyalty of the special Sarkaz races.
Within Kazdel, the Vampires, Wendigos (half blood), Goliaths, Children of the Soil (Gargoyles), Banshees, and Nachzehrers all pledged themselves to him, along with their leaders. The Liches, who were outside Kazdel, sent their congratulations through a messenger and strengthened their ties with the Kazdel Research Institute, with the lich leader stating they would return to Kazdel within a few years.
The Cyclops chiefs also sent congratulatory messages, and their main forces gradually entered Kazdel territory.
Even the Revenants haunting the Central Furnace had grown far quieter. When Felix passed by during an inspection, they asked him when they might regain their freedom.
With widespread support, Felix was crowned king. From this day onward, he was no longer merely a faction leader.
He was the King of Liberation, Liberation King of Kazdel.