War on the East: Final Report
Barbarians: Annihilated
Beast Kingdom: 1,484 deaths
Anarchy Empire: 1,793 deaths
Inside the Emperor's Chamber
Val, the Royal Knight Commander, stepped forward into the grand, dimly lit hall. The heavy doors creaked shut behind him as he knelt before the Emperor, his expression grim.
With a swift salute, he delivered the urgent report.
"The eastern front has been conquered. The barbarians have been annihilated. However, due to the intervention of the Beast Kingdom... we've lost many soldiers. Including Royal Knight Captain Claire."
A heavy silence followed. Isla, the Emperor, remained motionless on his throne. The loss of soldiers was expected—acceptable, even. But the death of a Royal Knight Captain? That was a blow, even to him.
"Understood," Isla finally said, his voice calm. "Ensure the families of the fallen are compensated generously."
He paused briefly, then continued:
"Send word to Herald. I want a wall built immediately to separate us from the Beast Kingdom. Place banners across the plains. Let it be known—the Barbarian Territories now belong to the Empire."
Val bowed deeply once more and exited. Soon after, he penned a message and dispatched a swift envoy eastward.
Beast Kingdom
Targan returned with the pride of a victor, his steps echoing through the grand bone-laid halls of the Beast King's palace.
The Beast King, towering and feral, threw back his head and laughed heartily.Targan raised his hands,signalling the ambush was complete success.
"HAHAHAHA! That's what they get! The price for daring to mess with us!"
He rose from his throne, the bones beneath his feet creaking. Raising his chalice high, he roared:
"Let us feast!"
The hall erupted in cheers. Meat, wine, and blood flowed freely. Targan had brought them vengeance and glory.
Empire Camps on the east
The remaining soldiers stood in silence, gathered beneath the pale sky. Their armor was scorched, their bodies bruised, and their spirits weary—but they did not falter. Before them lay the bodies of their fallen comrades, carefully wrapped and laid in rows.
The mood was heavy. Grief weighed on every man's heart. Still, with dirt-stained hands and aching limbs, they dug graves and carried the dead with reverence. Even in pain, they honored the fallen with the respect they deserved.
Herald stood alone on a hill overlooking the camp. Wind swept through his gray-streaked hair as his gaze fell on a small object resting beneath a scorched tree.
Claire's necklace.
His fingers trembled as he picked it up.
It had once shone proudly against her armor, a small symbol of her identity—his brightest student, his most loyal captain. Claire wasn't just a subordinate to him; she was like a daughter. He had trained her, fought beside her, and watched her rise.
Now, she was gone.
His eyes grew misty, but no tears fell. Not yet.
"I'll deliver this to your husband myself," he whispered, clenching the necklace tightly. "They'll know who you were… and what you accomplished."
Her head, once taken by the enemy, had been recovered and reunited with her body. Her burial would not take place here in the bloodied barbarian plains—but in the capital. There, she would be honored by the Knight Captains and receive a hero's farewell.
Not long after, the royal envoy arrived.
Herald read the Emperor's orders quietly. As his men buried the dead behind him, he stared across the charred plains. Pride and shame swirled in his chest.
Yes, the Empire had won. The barbarian tribes were destroyed. The land was theirs.
But the cost…
Too many had died. And not just soldiers—friends, comrades, a captain.
And it was his fault.
He had brought too many troops. Why? Because he had intended to immediately build a stronghold—laying claim to the region before any counterattack could come. But his ambition had created a vulnerable, oversized camp.
It was that miscalculation that allowed the Beast Kingdom's ambush.
If only he had come with a smaller elite force…
Maybe the Beast Kingdom wouldn't have struck.
Maybe Claire would still be alive.
He clenched his jaw. But he did not allow himself to collapse under regret. Regret could not rebuild what was lost.
"It's better to repay than to grieve forever," he muttered.
The Emperor's will was clear. Reinforcements arrived the next week. Builders worked without pause, beginning with fire-repellent barracks and defensive structures. The first outer wall was raised by week's end.
More materials came from the nearby counties. The capital sent engineers and veteran scouts. Camps expanded into fortresses. Patrols were doubled. Scouting units now rode deep into the unknown woods and beast territories.
The Beast Kingdom remained silent—for now.
But if they returned, they would find the Empire prepared.
There would be no next time.
The Emperor would not tolerate another mistake.