For three whole days.
The icefield north of Frostfire Fortress was unnervingly still.
This wordless silence pressed down on the fortress's morale like an immense boulder, the pressure mounting with every passing second.
On the first day the attacks stopped, the soldiers could still catch their breath during the brief lull. But as time wore on, the dreadful silence before the storm began to hang over the Fortress Defenders like a dark cloud, slowly shrouding their hearts.
On the second day after the offensive halted, the youths in the training camp were put under confinement by military order, forbidden from leaving the underground fortifications on their own.
This was also the first time Reinhardt was qualified to enter the command tent, where he stood with the three vice commanders before a table laid out with a battle map.
With him were the captains of the Vanguard Brigade and Squads Three, Four, and Five.
Even in a simple pre-battle briefing, the squad captains' positions within the command tent were meticulously arranged. It was as if this wasn't Frostfire Fortress, where unity was essential to survive, but a negotiation table where politicians from the heart of the Empire squabbled.
Squad Two Captain, Knight Reinhardt.
Squad Three Captain, the Karamor Knight.
The two of them stood on either side of Vice Commander Erich, while the captains of the Vanguard Brigade and Squad Five stood with Vice Commander Sedon.
Squad Four Captain, Sir Holden, maintained a neutral stance, standing with Vice Commander Friedrich.
The captain of Squad One had tragically fallen in battle, and a replacement had not yet been appointed, leaving his position at the meeting vacant.
Having experienced so much, even though no one had explicitly told him, Reinhardt had begun to sense the current state of the Knight Order. The Steel Knight Order—the one the youths in the training camp saw as united, ambitious, and historically great—was now like a decrepit old man on his deathbed.
Vultures and jackals merely sat quietly by, waiting for the moment the Steel Knight Order would finally die, ready to swarm in and devour what little flesh and blood it had left.
The Abyss Legion was amassing on the Northern Icefield, its vast army bearing down on them!
The Fortress Defenders fought tooth and nail, and four Fearless Knights had already sacrificed their lives!
And yet, all this heroism seemed to be nothing more than a power game played out before the command table.
Tragic.
Absurd.
This meeting had been convened by Vice Commander Friedrich. He pointed to the western part of the battle map, his brow furrowed. "Gentlemen, we've received a message from Lord Hearn. The Dragonfolk of Scaya have been reinforcing their troops at the border, so he is unable to spare any more soldiers to support us."
Then, his tone grave, he pointed to the northern icefield.
"Scout reports indicate the Abyss is amassing a great army. Conservatively, they'll be upon the fortress within a day at most, but the high command has consistently denied our requests for reinforcements.
"Furthermore, the brass sent an order last night demanding we hold the fortress for seven days. During that time, Frostfire Fortress absolutely must not fall to the Abyss Legion."
After stating the reality of the situation, Friedrich looked at Erich and Sedon.
"I won't get involved in your personal matters, but the responsibility for the fall of this fortress… I'm afraid the three of us combined couldn't bear it.
"I hope you understand what I mean."
Erich declared he and his men would give it their all. Sedon, however, only said he would hold out until the seventh day. As for what would happen after that, only he knew.
...
It was afternoon by the time the war council ended. If one were to climb the fortress walls now, they could see the Abyss Legion appearing on the distant horizon.
War was imminent. Under the command's orders, Frostfire Fortress began to operate like a massive war machine, whirring to life in a frenzy.
Reinhardt was ordered to move out with Squad Three. Though a great battle was about to erupt, Knight Adrian, a member of the squad, looked completely at ease.
They were assigned to defend the eastern section of the fortress wall. Nearby, the soldiers of the Hearn Territory Guard all wore numb expressions, as if they had already resigned themselves to death.
The sun began to set.
Darkness shrouded the distant horizon. On the howling wind, one could faintly hear the terrifying sound of the Abyss Legion marching.
Adrian leaned against the ramparts and chuckled. "So that's how it is? In the old Steel Knight Order, a rookie like you taking Vice Commander Erich's Star Flash without a scratch would have been enough to brag about for a whole year."
"What a pity… what a pity…"
Though the blond Knight was remarkably handsome, with a warm and sunny smile, the sorrow and world-weariness hidden in the depths of his eyes was something the noble sons of the Imperial City could never possess.
It was the resilience of a Knight.
And the steely resolve of a veteran!
"Star Flash?"
Adrian chuckled and explained, "Vice Commander Erich loves teaching rookies like you a lesson. He must have forgotten to tell you that the move he used on you is one of his signature Combat Techniques, the one that made him famous years ago."
"Do you know how fast the speed of light is?"
'Of course, I know,' Reinhardt thought. 'Two hundred and ninety-nine million...'
But this was obviously Adrian's exaggeration to describe Vice Commander Erich's speed. As someone who had experienced it firsthand, Reinhardt knew all too well just how fast Erich's Combat Technique, Star Flash, truly was.
Leaving an afterimage in one's vision wasn't something mere high-speed running could achieve. If it were running, a Combat Technique that surpassed the speed of sound would have created a massive sonic boom, but Erich had appeared in complete silence.
So, Reinhardt guessed it was some kind of Special Ability, like Instant Movement or teleportation.
But the speed was simply too great, and his own power wasn't enough to see through Erich's movements.
Compared to the other Knights, Adrian had an easy, familiar way about him. Once he got talking, it was completely at odds with his otherwise cool and aloof image.
He clapped Reinhardt's shoulder with a laugh, then turned to look at the approaching Abyss Legion outside the fortress. "In this world," he said, "every Knight's Power is unique."
"There's no such thing as the strongest Power, only the strongest user."
"I heard from Vice Commander Erich that your Power is a speed-type Extraordinary Armament. Maybe in the future, you'll be able to see through his movements… Tsk. Are these the regulars this time?"
At his words, Reinhardt quickly stood on his toes and peered over the wall.
In the last vestiges of twilight, he saw hordes of Demons gathered together—a black, endless tide. They were even taller than Vice Commander Erich, with sharp fangs and claws. Flames burned eternally from their massive, curved horns, and their hard scales looked tougher than steel.
But that wasn't the most terrifying part.
Each of these Tier Two Demons could spew Abyssal Fire from their mouths. Legend told that Abyssal Fire would incinerate any flesh it touched, and even the soul would be turned to ash in the flames of the Abyss.
When the defenders on the wall saw this, they all cried out in terror.
"Convicted Demons! They're Convicted Demons! Quick, inform the general! The enemy is here!"
Before the soldier's cry could even fade,
a piercing shriek, like nails scraping across glass, tore through the distant sky.
Under the darkening sky,
one colossal beast after another beat its fleshy wings, swooping down upon the fortress!