Regressor In A Strange World

Chapter 8: Two Empires At War!



Opening his eyes proved to be far more difficult than he expected. But eventually, he succeeded.

A bright golden ray seeped into his pupils.

And then-,

He frowned.

The stench of metallic blood filled his nostrils.

Blinking against the blinding sunlight.

He realized that he somehow felt disoriented.

Not knowing the difference between his left and right.

That feeling... he couldn't really describe it in words.

But before long-,

The disorientation effect slowly started to wane.

Opening his eyes.

Thump... Thump....

Claaaassh!!!!

Claaaang!!!

"Aaaaaaargggghhh!!!"

He found himself standing amidst a chaotic battlefield, the roar of swords clashing echoing through the rumbling battlefield, the screams of the wounded piercing right at his heart.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

Just then-,

[Aspirant! Welcome to the Arcane Spell. Prepare for your first Trial...]

He heard it.

The spell.

A being...a thing or whatever it's that's responsible for bringing the Arcane Trials and Arcane Ascension to life.

...No one really knew if it was sentient or not. And to be honest, he could care less.

He realized that he had been brought into a trial that involved a battle between two empires.

The Roselle Empire and the Napoleon Empire- if he had to guess, from the third or fourth era of the mysticism age.

Not only that-,

"Emperor! We're being outnumbered."

A captain cried out.

But he was also the emperor of the Roselle Empire.

'Just damn it!'

Gritting his teeth.

His own soldiers were in full retreat, their lines breaking under the relentless onslaught of the Napoleon forces.

PUCHII!!!

Blood sprayed into the air, dying the icy floor red.

'Calm down Klaus. Calm down.'

As a young master of the Winchester family. War lessons, tactics and strategies had been indoctrinated into them from a very young age.

Hence, while his current situation was…

"Huff… Huff."

Overwhelming.

He was able to maintain a semblance of rationality.

Panting heavily, his chest heaved up and down as panic threatened to overwhelm him.

"Emperor! The lines are breaking!"

Another warrior's voice echoed through the thunderous battlefield.

Claaaang!!

Claaaang!!!

PUCHII!!!

All around him, bodies fell one after another.

Not only were they outnumbered, but they were also being suppressed by the enemy.

Gritting his teeth and with clenched hands.

'What should I do! What should I do!'

Various thoughts crept into his mind.

Each one threatening to break him, but alas-,

His eyes lit up.

"The runes."

Summoning the Arcane runes.

Name: Klaus

Origin name: -

Origin rank: -

Rank: Aspirant

Soul core: Dormant

Memories: -

Echoes: -

Attributes: -

Aspects: -

'...Wtf! Where the hell are my attributes and aspects!'

Just then-*

The system popped up before him.

[Main quest initiated:

[Complete the main objective of your Arcane Trial.]

[Reward: Unknown.]

His hands trembled, his deafening heartbeat echoing through the suffocating darkness.

Chaos ensued all around him and he was finding it hard to maintain his calm.

Biting on his lower lips.

An idea suddenly crept into the walls of his mind.

"Arcanist Status."

He muttered.

{Arcanist Status}

Name: Klaus

Origin name: -

Almighty Nexus: Dormant

Lord's Fragment: -

Chrono vestiges: -

Dimensional Double Manifestation: -

Aspect: sealed

Innate ability: sealed

Attributes: sealed.

He stood there, shaking, and…-,

Thump… Thump…

..At a loss of words.

He had never heard of anyone having their innate ability, attribute and aspects getting sealed.

There was no way anyone would survive an Arcane Trial without them.

'...That was simply impossible!'

And just as he was about to break down-,

Thump... Thump...

Just when despair was slowly crawling its way towards him.

A notification popped up.

[Gain Lord's Fragments to unseal your abilities.]

[...Attributes points gained can alo be sacrificed.]

Since all his mortal stats had been maxed out to the peak mortal state.

The system no longer gave him attribute points.

And-,

A light smile suddenly crept up his face.

'...I think I know just how to get the Lord's Fragments.'

If he was correct, it should be by-,

"Retreat!"

The voice of the Roselle's Empire commander echoed through the battlefield.

And just then-,

Klaus was brought out of his reverie.

Thump… Thump…

Panic threatened to grip him.

"Huff… Huff."

It threatened to drag him into an endless abyss.

But he was quick to regain his composure.

He was no longer the hunter he was, but the Emperor of a besieged nation, thrusted into the heart of a desperate battle.

'...He needed to act, and act fast.'

And then-,

Thump… Thump…

Amidst the deafening echo of his heartbeat.

"Hold the line," he roared, his voice surprisingly strong, cutting through the endless dark. "For our people! For our fallen brothers!".

He rallied his troupes.

Seeing that he had succeeded in garnering their attention, he proceeded:

"...No one is coming to save us. We've got two options: Fight or... die. Pick one my loyal warriors. Pick one!"

Klaus's voice thundered through the battlefield.

And then-,

"Fight! Fight!... We shall fight till the end!!!"

Claaaang!!!

Step-

He heard them, loud and clear.

"Aaaaaarghh!!!"

PUCHII!!!

"Die bastards!"

Within the endless dark, the Roselle Empire's troupe adorned in blue armors and the Napoleon Empire shrouded in obsolete dark armor clashed.

Round armors shattered, swords flew into the air, spears arced through the sky, piercing numerous bodies.

PUCHII!!!

Corpse after corpse.

PUCHII!!!

Blood after blood.

It was never ending.

Klaus scanned the battlefield with a grim expression, assessing the situation. His right flank was crumbling, while the center held precariously.

His gaze slowly shifted towards the cause of all this- Napoleon the third, astride a magnificent stallion, surveyed the battlefield with a cold, calculating gaze.

The emperor of the Napoleon Empire, a legend in his own time.

Klaus frowned.

'...The bastard is a formidable opponent. Not only that, but based on the knowledge I've. He seems to be a master of strategy and battle tatics.'

With a grim expression, he exhaled sharply.

'...This isn't going to end well.'

That he was somehow sure of.

Calming his rapidly beating heart.

He clenched his hands tightly, trying to stop the sonorous tremors running through them.

He was scared.

Who wouldn't be?

Finding oneself within the midst of thousands of warriors who were all out for each other's blood.

Anyone would be.

But-,

Thump… Thump…

He knew he had no choice but to calm down.

'...Or at least try to do so.'

Closing his eyes, he exhaled sharply.

And then-,

Gazing at his lieutenant general who was already engaged in a heated battle with Napoleon's Empire general.

He calmly assessed the situation.

Based on his knowledge and analysis, it was safe to assume that the Napoleon lieutenant had an attribute or aspect that enhances the sharpness of his battle axe.

With a grim expression.

He gave his first order:

"Alger! Intensify the pressure on him! Give him no breathing space!"

"Your command is mine to obey, my Lord."

Alger with his battle trance should be able to give him quite the headache. He just has to put in more effort.

And then-,

Gazing at the major general who was engaged with Tatiana- a giant like lady who wielded a flanged mace and was well known for her titan's grip- almost inhuman strength that enabled her to wield large objects with ease.

Thump... Thump...

Classsh!!!

Classsh!!!

"Protect the emperor!"

His warriors ran towards the incoming Napoleon soldiers- some cladded in black armors- who he assessed to be Napoleon's constructs and some cladded in crimson armor.

Those he assumed to be Napoleon's men- of flesh and blood.

Claaaang!!!!

PUCHIII!!!

Warriors clashed with inhuman precision, the constructs in particular were like fearsome devils as they easily spread chaos and carnage across the battlefield.

With a grim look.

...He gave his second command:

"Astaroth! Employ the hit and run tactics!"

With his kinetic momentum and blurred image. Astaroth was the perfect archi heels of Tatiana.

Katcha!!

The ground beneath Astaroth shattered into pieces and fragments.

And then-,

Boooom!!

He dashed towards her, shifting his body to the left, her flanged mace slammed onto the ground beside him, the ground shattering upon impact.

But,

Step-

He could care less about that.

Step-

He was already before her.

His kinetic momentum attribute came into existence and then-,

Slaaassh!!!

Slaasssh!!!

He slashed out consecutively, blood spraying into the air.

And just like the emperor commanded of him-,

BAAANG!

He retreated afterwards.

The ground he stood on moments prior shattering seconds later.

He sucked in a cold deep breath.

…He had no doubt about it, if that strike had landed on him, even if he didn't die, he would've been severely injured.

"Huff... Huff."

Panting heavily, he calmly made use of the hit and run tactics.

"Coward! Is that how your empire trains its men."

Tatiana spat on the ground.

"How pathetic."

Sword slashes ran through her body, a few dents appearing on her amor.

Astaroth wasn't in the best of shapes too. Some part of his body had been torn to shred, and blood was seeping out of the terrifying wounds.

But,

Thump... Thump...

He simply bit on his lower lips.

Not paying any heed to Tatiana's voice as he continued implementing the same tactic.

He continued with his emperor's command.

Meanwhile-,

Tok-

Tok-

Klaus was already moving.

With a spear in hand, he was like a war god. Tearing through the enemy's line, he swung and thrusted forth. Moving with inhuman precision, it almost felt like he could predict his enemies movements before they even made it.

Side stepping.

A sword slashed through the spot he stood on moments prior.

He paid no heed to it.

Slamming horizontally with every ounce of strength contained within him.

The shadow construct was sent smashing backward.

"Get out of the way!"

A warrior of the Napoleon Army roared out.

But it was already too late.

The construct slammed into numerous other constructs, sending tens of them backward at a terrifying pace.

Baaaang!!!! Boooom!!!!

They dug a long ridge along their line of retreat.

And seeing the opening.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

Klaus's eyes lit up.

"Attack through the opening! Give them no chance to fight back!"

His voice cut through the battlefield, each one igniting the fighting adrenaline within his warriors.

"Kill them!"

"Kiiiilll!!!!"

"...Kill the bastards!!"

Roars of defiance escaped their lips as they rushed into the opening, swords, spears and armors clashing in a tumultuous exchange of those who sought to destroy and those who sought to... protect.

Moving towards the general, Klaus whispered to his ears as he passed by him.

"Take out their colonel!"

'...The archery skills of the bastard were really starting to get on his nerves. But the bastard was being protected by his people. The only way to kill him would be to have someone with inhuman speed do the work.'

And what better person that the general- with his flash step attribute.

The general nodded subtly, making way towards the opponent's main line of advance.

Step-

Step-

Each step he took propelled him forward.

Step-

He would be here and then the next-,

Step-

He would appear short distances away, as though he w-ere... teleporting.

With this ability, he was able to weave his way through the chaotic battlefield with unparalleled ease and stealth.

Although it was but for a split second, Napoleon had caught a glimpse of the subtle contact.

He harrumphed coldly.

His lips curling into a smile.

"General Belmond! Keep their general occupied."

Turning his gaze towards the colonel beside him.

The one primarily responsible for protecting Wenchi- the empire's god-like archer.

His loud and crisp voice pierced through the air, sending chills down the spine of those who heard it:

"Groundbreaker."

"Yes, your majesty."

Groundbreaker knelt, his hand placed on his sword hilt with his head slightly bowed.

With a cold, almost detached expression, Napoleon gave his order:

"...Rush in from their left flank! Naeraza- take your rising flame unit and join in the seige."

"We heed your command, your majesty."

Naeraza- the captain of the rising flame unit bowed slightly.

And then-,

Step-

Step-

All hell broke loose.

Baaaang!!!

Baaaang!!!!

With his tower shield and war hammer, Groundbreaker was unstoppable.

Each step of his feet caused slight tectonic changes- the ground would cave slightly, disorienting his opponents and with his devastating tower shield ramming through the enemies battle line, and his deadly hammer showering them in splinters of bones and bright red liquid.

He was like a god among mortals, each strike of his dealing devastating damage to the Roselle's Empire army. He was quickly followed behind by Naeraza and his rising flame unit, who wasted no time in killing anyone who stood in their path.

'...What a cunning bastard!'

Klaus had to praise the bastard.

Where he'd attacked from was where the empire's battle formation was at its weakest.

'...Such a terrifying stretegist.'

He felt cold chills running down his spine.

If not for the teachings of the Winchester family and what he had to go through as the young master. He would in no way be able to compare with such a monster.

"Huff... Huff."

He thrusted forth with his spear, piercing through a warrior's head as he slumped onto the ground with a loud thud.

All around him was carnage: Missing bodies, broken bones and crimson blood flowed in his wake.

'...He didn't have all his parameters at the peak mortal state for nothing.'

"Huff… Huff."

Breathing heavily, he shifted his gaze to the left.

As he saw the left flank collapse under the relentless assault of the groundbreaker and the rising flame unit.

He calmly gave the order:

"Change formation!"

"...Form squares on the left. Triangle on the right!" Klaus bellowed. "Shields against their calvary."

He gave the orders smoothly one at a time, each one meant to combat a current precarious situation, while hoping to see a substantial opening to make use of.

Step-

Step-

Tok-

Tok-

Claaaang!

Soldiers scrambled into disciplined formation, their spears and swords bristling outward.

Gazing back at the weathered wall that stood grand and tall, imposing and magnificent, it protected the people of his empire.

...It stood between his enemies and his people.

It was a safe haven that was currently being threatened.

He gazed at the archers at the top of the towering tower:

"Archers, focus fire on their center formation!"

His voice echoed through the thunderous battlefield.

And then-,

Thump... Thump...

The archers took their stand and-,

Shot!

Swiiish!!!

Swiiiissssh!!!!

Swoooosssh!!!

Arrows streaked through the endless dark, piercing through numerous warriors who slumped onto the ground with a loud crashing thud.

Yells of pain escaped the lips of some as they got nailed to the ground, the empire's army making use of the opportunity to engage in a relentless assault.

"Von Anzel!"

He called out.

His voice loud and clear.

"Yes, my Lord."

Anzel known for his lightning reflexes and his iron body attributes responded with honed royalty.

"Keep groundbreaker on edge!... Offer him no breathing space!"

"I heed to your commands, my Lord."

And in the next second-,

With his rapier in hand.

Von Anzel was already before groundbreaker. With his iron body attribute, as long as he wasn't outrightly killed.

His wounds would slowly heal up and he could keep on fighting for as long as he... could.

Claaaang!!!

The terrifying tower shield slammed onto his round armor, the force sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the ground beneath him caving in tremendously.

Craackaaa!!! Craackaaa!!!

With his lightnight reflex, he could have avoided the strike.

But-,

A cold glint flashed across his eyes.

Amidst broken bones to the pain athat rippled through every fiber of his being.

He slashed out three times consecutively with his rapier, each one targeting vital points.

PUCHIII!!!

PUCHIII!!!

PUCHIII!!!!

"Aaaarggh!!"

Groundbreaker yelled in pain, slamming down with his war hammer with the remnant strength contained within him.

Anzel knew he could end this now if he could take the attack head-on.

But-,

He sighed inwardly.

He couldn't.

He would definitely die from the strike.

Hence-,

Step-

Step-

He was forced to retreat.

Naeraza was now right beside groundbreaker.

Eliciting a clicking of Anzel's tongue.

"What a pity. Just one more and you would have been in hell."

Groundbreaker glared at him.

Naeraza shifted his gaze away from the cocky adversary:

"Are you okay."

Biting on his lower lips, Groundbreaker nodded.

Gazing at Anzel, he spoke up.

One word at a time, each one radiating intense killing intent:

"I'm going to kill you!"

And then-,

All hell broke loose.

***

.

.

.

"Bartomorth. You know what to do."

Klaus spoke softly to the major general beside him.

Known for his flow perception- ability to see enemy movements as though in slow motion- he was the perfect specimen to take out the Napoleon's god-like archer.

The bastard was just too good. Each nock of his bow could take down three, four fully armed warriors. And he was fueled with a constant supply of them. It wasn't false to say that his army was suffering the greatest- at the archers hands.

Bartomorth with his stilleto and kukri was gone in the blink of an eye, easily weaving through the chaotic battlefield as he rapidly approached the colonel.

"Zareth!" His loud voice cut through the chaos. "Move in to support Bartomorth."

"Yes my Lord."

Zareth- the vice admiral, known for his battle recovery attribute was tasked with engaging with the enemy's front line.

With his halberd, he was akin to a war god as he easily tore his way through pile of armors and flesh. None could stand in his way. Not the constructs cladded in metallic dark metals, nor the humans cladded in crimson armor.

Swinging his halberd with devasting skill, tens upon tens of head were being severed off their body at an astounding pace.

Scanning the battlefield.

Klaus nodded.

Slowly but surely, despite the overwhelming number and inhuman adversaries he had to overcome, he was just one...perhaps two step away.

'The main problem was still:

He frowned.

Napoleon.

But before he decided on how to deal with him.

He still had one more thing to do.

'... Hah-aha- I really have to thank the old man.'

A light smile crept up his face.

And then-,

Thump... Thump...

He grabbed a bloodied flag from a fallen body.

The flag depicted a silver crescent moon on a midnight blue field.

In contrast to the Napoleon's that depicted an abysmal-like tree, a nightmarish tree that seemed to have been crafted out of one's worst nightmares- and perhaps even worse-.

The Roselle's Empire flag seemed fragile and certainly paled in grandeur.

But nevertheless-,

Thump.... Thump...

A grim expression crept up his face.

Raising the flag high up:

"Look around you!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Do you see cowards? Do you see defeat? …No!"

"You see men fighting for their homes, their families, their honor!"

Pausing for a second, he could feel it.

Sense it, even.

The ever-present fighting spirit.

I-...it was slowly crawling its way towards them.

I-...it was slowly swelling within them.

Step-

Step-

Each step of his sent tremors rippling through the chest of everyone present.

Tok-

Tok-,

Coming to a stop, he spoke up, raising the flag high up:

"...Stand with me. Fight with me! Follow me and we shall end it all!"

"Fight!!!!! Kill them!!! Kill them all!!!"

They roared out, their adrenaline igniting with a furious blaze.

And then-,

Claaaang!!!

Claaaang!!!

Kabooooommm!!!

Chaos ensued.

***

.

.

.

Watching the battle rage on, Klaus smiled inwardly, clearly pleased with himself.

All around him, the Napoleon army were being overwhelmed at a breathtaking pace.

But still-,

Something was unnerving him in ways he couldn't understand.

In ways he couldn't quite place his hands on.

Even in such a situation.

Napoleon was still as… expressionless as ever.

There was no crack in his indifferent feature.

It was almost as though he wasn't losing the...

War.

Klaus frowned.

Something's definitely wrong?

His frown deepened.

But-,

Thump... Thump...

'...What could it be?'

However, no matter what he had in mind, he could never have expected this.

Not in ten lifetimes.

PUCHIII!!!

A sword pierced through his chest.

"Ukh-."

Spitting out a mouthful of blood as blood dripped down his chest.

His lips trembled as he gazed backward.

'...How could an enemy infiltrate our line undetected?'

Gazing backward with difficulty.

His hands trembled, and before long, his body soon joined in the fray.

"...Why?"

Tears welled in his eyes, his lips trembling as he questioned.

Right before him was the Empire's commander- h-is...his brother in arm.

"Why Anarzel?"

Klaus questioned, anger seeping into his voice as he collapsed onto his knees.

Tears dripping onto the ground beneath him.

He could feel the bond they both shared.

The bond he had with the commander.

The arcane trial allowed one to take on roles, although rare, it wasn't impossible for one to inherit the emotions of the "role" they were taking part in.

"...Because you're weak Roselle. The empire crumbled under your reign. It suffered the most casualties. It fell from its grace. It was all under your reign!"

Each word pierced through Dean's heart, each word piercing deeper than he could have thought possible.

True.

Everything he said was the truth.

But-,

Tears dripped onto the ground beneath him.

Was he to be blamed?

He had done the best he could do. But in this era where the rise and fall of empires had become a constant change- was he to be blamed?

"Bastard!"

"Traitor!"

Voices roared out, but they were drowned by the warriors.

Brothers in arm who had now turned on them.

Right now-,

Betrayal was at its deepest edge as piercing screams tore through the air, crimson blood splattered across the endless dark and piles of body fell one after another.

The macabre sight sent a surge of something within him.

An emotion he couldn't understand at first.

But as he gazed at his trembling lips.

As he gazed at his trembling hands.

It slowly started to dawn on him.

Anger.

It was slowly crawling its way towards him.

Slowly eating him from the inside.

I-...it was slowly trying to consume him.

But ironically-,

Tears continued to well in his eyes.

He could do nothing.

He was barely even standing.

...He didn't even know how he was still alive.

Amidst the chaos that unfurled around them and as the Napoleon army seized the chance. Anarzel glanced at him with a cold look:

"Roselle. You aren't fit to be the Emperor."

Gazing at the smiling Napoleon from afar, he added:

"...Only the True Emperor. Only the conqueror is fit to be the Emperor, Roselle."

Klaus clenched his hands tightly, spitting out a mouthful of blood at Anarzel's face:

"...Over my dead body!"

Baaaang!!!

"You bastard!"

Anarzel struck out with his round shield.

The shield hit Klaus squarely on his forehead.

His face paled as he slumped onto the ground, blood dripping onto the ground beneath him.

Drip!

Drip!

As he gazed at the blinding sunlight.

Something started to spill out from his pupils.

…An unheld madness slowly ignited within his pupils:

And then-,

A crazy, maniac laugh suddenly escaped his lip.

It was at first low and subtle, but soon-,

Soon, it grew into an unsettling laughter that sent chills down the spine of those who heard it:

"Ha-hahah-aha-."

Gazing at Anarzel, he spoke up:

"...You better hope I die now, Anarzel. You better hope death find its way towards me. If not, I will hunt you down, Anarzel."

"Kgha- Kgha."

Coughing out a mouthful of blood as the endless darkness inched closer, he added with strained difficulty:

"...I will hunt you down to the end of the world, Anarzel!"

Anarzel felt cold chills slithering down his spine, each word piercing right through his heart.

Thump... Thump...

His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he bit on his lower lips, suppressing the fear swiftly rising within him.

And then-,

"Uf- Uff."

Klaus took a deep breath as the endless darkness swallowed him whole.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.