NOVEL NEXT Chapter 181
The scenario of the Zers Empire in the “Three Kingdoms” chosen by the Emperor was set in the same time frame as the present.
The Emperor immediately began to execute the plans he had in mind.
“First, let’s start producing 100 Magic Armor Knights.”
The first step was mobilizing the Irene School to begin the production of 100 Magic Armor Knights.
Despite the enormous costs associated with Magic Armor Knights, it was not an issue with the empire’s financial strength.
Materials began to gather in Irene Land for the creation of the Magic Armor Knights, and a popup appeared.
< [Magic Armor Knight] Remaining lifespan: 1 year >
One year… It took slightly longer than expected, but it was still within an acceptable range. After issuing the order for production, the Emperor moved on to the next action.
“Now! Spread evidence of the terrorism for all to see! Unveil the dirty side of the Ra Kingdom and the Yura Republic!!”
Next, he set about creating a justification for war. He publicly announced that the high-ranking officials of the Yura Republic and the Ra Kingdom were involved in terrorism from 15 years ago, on the day of his coming-of-age ceremony. He also pledged to find and punish all those responsible.
Naturally, numerous petitions began to flood in.
[Your Majesty! While punishing the sins of the former Emperor's enemies is justified, this approach may lead to unnecessary conflict.]
The Emperor thought about the courtiers’ words. Conflict was inevitable. That was the goal. If a war broke out with the Ra Kingdom and the Yura Republic over this incident, it would be a perfect pretext. Even if there was no war, he would use this incident as a justification for invasion.
This was not a meaningless war. All was for the sake of a united continent and country. Much blood would flow, but with minimal casualties, he aimed to make this war the last one in human history.
With that thought, the Emperor ignored all the courtiers’ advice and pushed forward.
[Relations with the Ra Kingdom are worsening.]
[Relations with the Yura Republic are worsening.]
The relations with both the Ra Kingdom and the Yura Republic deteriorated rapidly. Separately, both nations sent various proposals through diplomatic channels.
[The Ra Kingdom has proposed to extradite suspects related to the founding day terrorism.]
[The Yura Republic has presented a compensation plan related to the founding day terrorism.]
The Emperor scoffed at their proposals. Did they think they could beg for forgiveness now?
Ignoring all that, he sent his own proposals.
[I wish to receive the eastern city of Laor from the Ra Kingdom as compensation for the terrorism.]
[I wish to receive the western city of Phyllis from the Yura Republic as compensation for the terrorism.]
Laor, the eastern city of the Ra Kingdom, was closely tied to the Zers Empire and was the granary of the Ra Kingdom. Similarly, Phyllis, the western city of the Yura Republic, was also closely associated with the Zers Empire, housing mineral resources for magical engineering.
Both regions were irreplaceable territories for their respective nations, and naturally, the Ra Kingdom and the Yura Republic expressed their refusal.
“Then it’s war alone.”
As both nations expressed their refusals, the 100 Magic Armor Knights were completed. The Emperor declared war on the Ra Kingdom as planned. The reason for first declaring war on the Ra Kingdom was simple. The Ra Kingdom’s military power was stronger than that of the Yura Republic, and it was relatively easier to invade the Ra Kingdom than the Yura Republic, which was difficult to invade directly due to its mountain ranges.
The Emperor believed that if he swiftly conquered the Ra Kingdom, the Yura Republic would fall easily afterward.
[The Zers Empire has declared war on the Ra Kingdom.]
Along with the 100 Magic Armor Knights, the Imperial Army crossed the border and invaded the Ra Kingdom. The power of the Magic Armor Knights was truly overwhelming.
They began to conquer the territory of the Ra Kingdom much faster than expected, and the Ra Kingdom’s pride, the Dragon Riders, also fell helplessly before the blades of the Magic Armor Knights.
The horrific scenes of war were vividly presented to the Emperor.
One notable difference about “The Three Kingdoms,” created by Yuren, was this. Using all the accumulated know-how, Yuren vividly depicted the horrors of war.
“AAARGHH!!!”
“Please save me!!! Save me!!”
The soldiers of the Ra Kingdom were mercilessly slaughtered by the Imperial Army’s magic and firearms. The Dragon Riders burned in flames while soldiers of the Imperial Army perished, and the Dragon Riders were shredded by the blades of the Magic Armor Knights, leaving their insides scattered on the battlefield.
While the Imperial Army won, what did it signify? For those fighting here, it was simply hell.
“Is… is this war?”
For the first time, the Emperor was shocked by seeing war.
He knew it in theory. And that’s precisely why he wished to unify the continent to eradicate such hell. However, the horrifying spectacle of war he witnessed before him was something he could never forget.
“Ugh… Urgh!!!”
The smell of burning flesh was so realistic in “The Three Kingdoms” that the Emperor felt like throwing up. Yet he held it back. From the moment he resolved to eliminate war, he knew he would walk this bloody path.
He couldn’t afford to show weakness now.
“Do you need water or something?”
“No, I don’t!!!”
The Emperor snapped at Interren. No matter how much she was an NPC, he couldn’t show weakness in front of someone he could see.
Despite the rivers of blood shed, within just a month of the war, 50% of the Ra Kingdom had already fallen to the Zers Empire.
Then a request for a peace treaty came from the Ra Royal Palace.
[The Ra Kingdom has requested a peace treaty.]
The Ra Kingdom wanted to end the war in exchange for returning the territory it had lost until now. However, the Emperor couldn’t allow that.
The goal of this war was to create a united nation. If it ended here, all the spilled blood would have been meaningless.
The Emperor rejected the request for a peace treaty and continued the war.
Then a guardian deity appeared to protect the Ra Kingdom.
[Fire Dragon Ragnix has attacked the Imperial Army.]
“There it is, Fire Dragon Ragnix.”
The divine beast of the Ra Kingdom, Fire Dragon Ragnix, appeared with the intent to scorch the earth, but the Emperor was not particularly afraid.
If Ragnix existed for the Ra Kingdom, then the Zers Empire had the sacred deer Sirael.
The Emperor requested Sirael’s help to counter Ragnix.
However, something unexpected happened.
[Sirael has declined the request for assistance.]
“What did you say!?”
In disbelief at Sirael’s reaction, the Emperor requested a conversation with Sirael.
[My little lamb, cease this meaningless bloodshed here.]
[If you do that, I will lend my assistance.]
Sirael expressed that while the terrorism was unfortunate, it wasn’t enough to warrant the destruction of the Ra Kingdom, urging the Emperor to end the war.
“Who thinks I want this war to happen!!!?”
The Emperor felt wronged. He was trying to end the war as well, and it was frustrating that Sirael didn’t understand his feelings.
“If the divine beast won’t cooperate, I’ll just manage without relying on you!”
Ultimately, the Emperor continued the war without Sirael’s support.
But an unexpected event did not end there.
[The Yura Republic has declared war.]
“What!? The Yura Republic has declared war!?”
The Yura Republic had begun to invade. Since all forces were concentrated on the Ra Kingdom, the units along the border with the Yura Republic had significantly decreased in number.
Of course, the Emperor wasn’t foolish. He had left enough Imperial Army to adequately keep the Yura Republic in check.
What the Emperor didn’t anticipate was the shift in public opinion due to the prolonged war.
<“We declare independence from the mad Emperor of war!!”>
[The Ain tribe city of 'Kaval' in the Zers Empire has declared independence.]
The Ain tribe city of Kaval, which was closely adjacent to the Yura Republic, declared independence and aligned itself with the Yura Republic.
In other words, it was a rebellion.
In an instant, the borders of the Empire were breached by the rebel forces and the Yura Republic’s army, and they began to invade.
To swiftly halt the Yura Republic, the Emperor had to quickly annihilate the Ra Kingdom.
Yet, no matter how powerful the Magic Armor Knights were, the strength of the legendary Fire Dragon Ragnix from the mythological age was formidable.
For a rapid resolution, the Emperor launched an all-out war by committing all forces to the Ra Kingdom.
The Ra Kingdom simultaneously prepared for a final battle to determine the fate of their nation.
Thus, the last battle between the Zers Empire and the Ra Kingdom unfolded in the Royal Capital, Hamont.
The battleground turned into a hellscape, engulfed in flames from the struggle between dragons, steel golems, and wizards.
The once beautiful capital of the Ra Kingdom, Hamont, was reduced to ashes during this ultimate confrontation.
However, the Zers Empire also suffered grievous losses.
Over 1.2 million warriors fell, each one a precious scientist and combat weapon, with thousands of grand wizards losing their lives.
Moreover, in battling the Fire Dragon Ragnix, 56 Magic Armor Knights suffered damage so severe that they were irreparable.
The scale of the damage far exceeded the Emperor’s estimates by thousandsfold.
Staring at the unimaginable carnage and the burning land, the Emperor found himself utterly speechless.