“Sir Marcus! The enemy forces are advancing towards the capital!” a soldier shouted as he walked into the commander’s room.

With a dissatisfied expression, Marcus struck his palm on the military map that was atop the table.

Bam!

“f.u.c.k!”

It was a series of defeats after defeats.

In the east were the 72 Demon King’s and their army, the Frost Giants in the north, the Eastern Conquest forces in the west, and the Vampire Clan in the south. All of them were advancing towards the center of the Theresian Empire.

‘This is absolutely not a coincidence. This is definitely a play they’ve planned in advance.’

Marcus was convinced that someone had masterminded these events.

And the only person who could do this on the Eeth Continent was…

‘The Hero King… it’s his strategy.’

His most recent operation, to land at the sh.o.r.es of the Croix Princ.i.p.ality, had ended in utter failure due to the appearance of the Kraken and pirate s.h.i.+p.

He recalled the deep resentment that he felt when Aleister told him that it was the Hero King’s work…

However, this time, the Hero King had gone on the offense and forced Marcus into a corner.

“S-Sir Marcus…” the soldier managed to stutter out. He was awaiting the commander’s orders.

“I have to ask for help. I have to ask the Hundred Wars Hero for a.s.sistance.”

Hermion, a legendary martial warrior of the Ancient Aperian Empire.

Hermion greatly contributed to the expansion of the ancient empire’s territory by successively winning battles. He had even drafted a tactical textbook that was still in use.

“Sir, the Hundred Wars Hero?” the soldier asked, thoroughly confused.

“You can go out. I have something to do something personally.”

After Marcus expelled the soldiers tending to him, he sat in a chair and summoned Hermion’s higher spirit.

[Do you need my help, Marcus?]

“I’m in trouble. I’ve already been pushed to the brink of disaster.”

[If so, I will lend you strength since you still have one chance remaining.]

Whenever he pushed beyond his limits, Marcus could receive help from Hermion.

Just as Woohyuk summoned Nakron the Lich King when fighting the 72 Demon Kings.

“Currently, the eastern part of the empire is being overrun by the demonic camp, and 80% of the western part of the empire has been subjugated by the Hero King’s Eastern Conquest forces.”

Marcus unfurled the military map and explained the situation to Hermion.

Hermion nodded his head and reached out his hand.

[Okay. If so, lend your body to me. I doubt your soldiers will properly follow my orders, so I’ll need to give them through you.]

“My flesh and blood body…?”

[To be precise, we’ll be sharing the same s.p.a.ce. It won’t harm you, so don’t worry.]

“Alright. If so, thank you.”

Marcus couldn’t be stubborn at this dire moment.

Soon, Hermion’s higher spirit merged with his body…

[That’s better. The warmth of a living body warms one’s soul.]

“Ahem. It’s not the time to be enraptured in appreciation. No matter if it’s you, this won’t be easy to resolve.”

Marcus handed control over his physical body to Hermion.

[Well. That’s something that we’ll need to check and see.]

Step. Step.

After checking his equipment and status, Hermion headed straight to where the soldiers were awaiting.

“Sir Marcus! Are you done with your personal business?” a soldier said aloud in a nervous voice.

“Get ready to set off. I will clash with the advancing Eastern Conquest forces in the western region.”

“Sir? 80% of the area has already been taken over by their forces. If we just barge in, then…”

Slice!

The neck of the soldier who was answering Hermion just a moment ago was slit clean through.

“I won’t say it twice. Get ready to go out right now. And keep this in mind. If you hesitate in following my orders, things will only get worse.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

The soldiers, whose complexions had turned blue, replied loudly and disappeared as if they were running away.

Hermion looked at them pathetically and then climbed onto his horse.

‘It seems I’ll be able to clash with a truly worthwhile adversary. How long has it been?’

Anyone who drove Marcus to this extent was probably an excellent commander.

Hermion, the Hundred Wars Hero, pulled the reins with a swelling heart filled with antic.i.p.ation.

“… Marcus is leading his army and coming this way?” Woohyuk asked, doubting the report he heard.

“Yes, it’s clear hi based on the black lion-shaped flag,” the scout reiterated.

The scouts had reported to Woohyuk, who was preparing for an operational meeting at the fortress.

Woohyuk tilted his head with a confused expression.

‘I thought he was going to lock the castle gates and scream his head off in frustration. How strange.’

He immediately felt that Marcus’ unusual behavior was caused by something external.

“Lord, isn’t it rather good? It’s a lot better for us to battle in this area.”

“It’s hard to figure out his purpose. I don’t think he’s trying to buy some time…”

There was no other way to interpret Marcus’ actions except for his intention for a head-to-head match.

‘Are you getting help from your higher spirit? If so, that could certainly explain the situation and this weird action.’

Woohyuk had no idea about the higher spirit who a.s.sisted Marcus.

Woohyuk fell into thought for a while and then called on Song Anna.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“I need you to take control over this guy,” Woohyuk said as he summoned the Thunderbird.

Song Anna looked confused.

“Is this for a reconnaissance mission?”

“Well… I guess you can call it that.”

Finding out which higher spirit was backing Marcus would greatly help him prepare for the upcoming battle.

After a while, as Song Anna possessed the Thunderbird, Woohyuk ordered it to fly off and viewed the rapidly pa.s.sing scenery by mana tapping into Song Anna’s vision, who saw through the Thunderbird’s eyes.

‘By now, you’re probably coming across the Pleades Plains.’

He had already given Song Anna instructions on the expected flight route.

After a few minutes, he saw a vast plain unfolding, and a large Imperial army appeared in the horizon.

‘It looks like they’re bringing about 250,000…’

It was a little less than the current Eastern Conquest forces.

Excluding the troops to be stationed in the capital, it looked like Marcus had brought the rest of his forces.

Among the troops, Woohyuk tried to find Marcus the Lightlord.

‘He’s over there.’

Marcus was riding his horse about a third into the procession.

However, Woohyuk couldn’t see any higher spirit.

When he realized something was off, Woohyuk focused his attention on Marcus once more…

‘That’s interesting.’

Woohyuk soon realized that the higher spirit was within Marcus.

He was able to sense the foreign spirit because of the pa.s.sive Calm Heart ability that he obtained after defeating DemiG.o.d Atreus.

Meanwhile, Hermion felt a suspicious sensation and looked up at the sky.

“… That’s a Thunderbird.”

Along with the Phoenix and Crane, they were often called the Legendary birds.

He instinctively realized that it had flown all the way here for a reconnaissance mission.

“I can’t let you keep spying here.”

Hermion pulled a bow and aimed toward the sky.

He injected high-density mana into the arrowhead.

No matter if it was a Thunderbird, it shouldn’t be able to escape his attack.

Hwi-Ing!

The arrow tore through the air toward the Thunderbird.

Woohyuk, who was watching this scene unfold, hurriedly woke Song Anna from her remote possession.

“Get up, it’s time to get up.”

“Hmm…”

Song Anna slowly opened her eyes as if she was waking up from a nap.

“Is your body okay?”

“Yes, before the arrowhead hit the Thunderbird, I released my intent.”

It was truly a breathtaking moment.

If she was struck by the arrowhead while in remote possession, she would have been severely damaged mentally.

Hermion, a master of martial prowess, possessed excellent martial art abilities.

“I don’t think the higher spirit that supports Marcus is ordinary,” Woohyuk said silently.

“How are you going to deal with him?”

“Small numbers and skirmishes won’t work. So, we have no choice but have an all-out war, just as he wants.”

This higher spirit, like Nakron, was a person who failed after attempting to reach the Divine Thrones.

Woohyuk didn’t know the name of this higher spirit yet, but the higher spirit must have been famous historically.

Therefore, although Woohyuk was in an advantageous position, he needed to be very careful. He started feeling a little nervous.

“Leifina, call the commanders together. We have to prepare to greet the incoming party.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leifina quickly exited the strategy room.

Woohyuk looked at her back for a while and then turned to the military map.

For some reason, this conquest plan felt a little different than what he expected.

A field with an open view.

The armies of both sides were preparing for battle, facing each other.

‘Is he the Hero King?’

Seeing the young man with black hair riding a horse at the forefront of the enemy camp, Hermion made an interested expression.

While moving, he heard a lot of stories about the Hero King from Marcus.

Hermion could count on one hand the number of people he remembered who achieved so much in such a short period of time.

‘I am very lucky to have this opportunity.’

Hermion had never been defeated on the battlefield in his lifetime.

What made him eventually kneel was the power of the Wind G.o.d.

He was cursed for burning the Temple of Conquest, fought against the wind G.o.d, and eventually died.

That was why he became the higher spirit of the new Divine Throne seating system.

From Hermion’s perspective, who had been bound and restricted for a long time, this was a great entertainment occasion, much like a picnic.

[How will you deal with the Hero King now? In terms of troops and supplies, his side has the advantage.]

[War is an ad-hoc trick. If one responds flexibly depending on the situation, one can fight against the enemy even in adverse situations and win.]

Hermion rea.s.sured Marcus by recounting and sharing his past experiences with his thoughts.

If one was at an advantage, one must win, and even if one was at a disadvantage, one must turn the crisis into an opportunity.

Such a battlefield was very familiar to Hermion.

‘It’s important to divide the enemy’s large army into more manageable pieces as much as possible. That way, we can start searching for gaps and cut off the enemy’s head.’

The ideal situation was to flank the enemy camp and cut off its side forces and have allies confront the enemy on both sides. He’d then lead a small number of cavalry units with quick mobility to dig into the enemy camp.

Of course, in order to do that, he had to make sure his forces on the right and left wing could contend against the enemy’s side forces.

After raising the morale of his soldiers, Hermion moved his troops forward in the form of a somewhat crooked question mark shape.

‘Now, how will you come out, Hero King? I can quickly cope with either side you choose to attack.’

The skilled master’s battle sense came through. He was awaiting a gap to show up to dig deep into enemy lines and cut off the enemy’s head.

Soon, battle broke out. The enemy’s right wing cavalry unit began to slam the cavalry and light infantry on Marcus’ left wing.

Chae-Cheng! Chaeng! Chaeng!

Woohyuk’s intention seemed to revolve around confronting the enemies left wing, causing the forces to gather together, and then surrounding them.

Reading this intended strategy, Hermion left the left wing to fend for themselves and advanced the heavy armored infantry unit in the center and the cavalry unit on the right wing.

Chae-Cheng! Chaeng! Chaeng!

The right-wing cavalry struck the enemy’s (Woohyuk’s) left-wing cavalry.

Meanwhile, Hermion, with his few cavalry troops, watched for a gap to appear from the center and the right wing of their formation.

‘If we press the center like this, there will be a gap on the right side.’

The the right wing calvary was fighting better than expected.

When Hermion led a small number of cavalry units towards the center of the enemy camp, the enemy’s (Woohyuk’s) light infantry unit in the rear came up to meet them.

However, Hermion ignored them and pressed onward toward Woohyuk’s main unit with heavy armored infantry in the center.

‘So, you’re a master of strategy.’

Woohyuk watched admiringly as Hermion gradually dug deeper into his lines.

The higher spirit had the decisiveness to read the war situation accurately and boldly pierce the weakness of the enemy camp.

The higher spirit was easily the best commanders Woohyuk had ever faced.

‘But you met the wrong person today.’

For Woohyuk, the higher spirit’s intentions and actions were accurate and piercing, but it just wasn’t enough. The higher spirit was like a moth approaching the bright candlelight, only to meet its demise.

Woohyuk took out Verserios and calmly awaited for Hermion.