The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

The Emperor's reinforcements had arrived!

Helmgart was saved!

With the fresh troops joining the battle, the situation changed instantly. The cunning Skaven warlord Oseid immediately abandoned the fight, fleeing with his personal guard and leaving behind a disorganized rabble.

Emperor Karl Franz wanted to pursue the Skaven warlord, but he ultimately ordered his forces to aid the desperate survivors first.

Now was not the time for glory; rescuing the survivors was paramount.

Ryan himself stood as a barrier at the front of the human lines, completely crushing the last Skaven resistance. Then, the charge of the demi-gryph knights and Rick guards shattered the Skaven forces completely.

The Skaven were driven out of the Chapel of Justice, and the survivors finally had a moment to breathe. Many soldiers and refugees fainted on the spot from exhaustion.

The battle continued as the Emperor's army marched into Helmgart, thoroughly cleansing the town under Karl Franz's command.

With the greatswords joining the fray, the Skaven's defeat was inevitable, and Ryan could finally relax. The Lady's champion had single-handedly defeated the Grey Seer Spatt and his entire army, including the Plague Monk regiment, the Gutter Runner troops, and the warp-lightning cannon.

Thanks to Ryan's efforts, the Skaven lacked the support of their ranged troops and siege weapons during the siege of the Chapel of Justice, allowing the refugees to hold out until now.

"Is that so? Veronica and Theresa are both injured?" Ryan sighed with relief as he sat down, holding Sulia's small hand. The Lady's champion had fought tirelessly for a day and a night, yet his armor remained pristine, seemingly untouched. "What about you, Sulia? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," the female knight shook her head repeatedly. "The Skaven couldn't breach my defenses. I'm just a bit tired, nothing serious. You should go see Miss Theresa; she's the most seriously injured and poisoned."

"Alright, I'll leave things here to you. I'll go check on Theresa and Veronica." Ryan patted Sulia's shoulder, not needing to say much more—they were husband and wife, and he didn't need to stress his concern further.

Opening the door to the inner chapel, the smell of blood hit Ryan, making him frown. Several Skaven corpses lay on the floor.

Veronica, dressed in her fiery red leather coat, leaned against a chair. Seeing Ryan enter, the Garon witch smirked. "I knew you'd come."

"Of course, I had to come." Ryan smiled wryly, feeling uncomfortable under Veronica's teasing gaze. "How is Theresa?"

The sorceress was asleep, heavily injured. Veronica's potion could only temporarily stop the bleeding and stabilize her condition, suppressing the poison. She needed a long time to fully recover.

"I wonder what kind of charm you put on this little Garon princess? How many times has it been now? She really gave it her all for you." Veronica tied her black-brown hair behind her, her tone sour. "She only went on one adventure with you."

"Veronica, don't say it so harshly. I know you're also willing to give your all for me." Ryan lifted the Garon witch onto his lap and kissed her lips. "You don't say it, but I understand."

Veronica hummed lightly, her face still blushing. She let Ryan hold her for about five seconds before pushing him away. "Alright, go detoxify Theresa. The dimension stone is highly poisonous. Sulia wouldn't have risked pulling out the dagger otherwise."

"I know." Ryan nodded, aware of the dimension stone's potent poison and chaotic energy.

"Go quickly. I'll close the door for you... That sounds strange. I really wonder if Theresa did this on purpose." Veronica walked to the door.

"She didn't know." Ryan shrugged.

"But she got her wish!" Veronica closed the door, casting a small spell that silenced the noise outside.

Ryan sat by the sorceress's bedside, a strange smile on his face. "Alright, Theresa, I know you've been awake."

The pale sorceress, wrapped in bandages, finally opened her eyes, her silver pupils showing a trace of panic. "Sorry, Ryan, I..."

"The one who should apologize is me." Ryan gently stroked the sorceress's black hair, speaking softly. "Now, let me detoxify you."

"Detoxify? What do you need to do?" Theresa's face turned red as she stammered, "Could it be..."

"Yes, exactly what you're thinking." Ryan continued to smile, lowering his voice. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle. Besides, haven't you been looking forward to this for a long time?"

"But I don't want it here. What kind of place is this!" Theresa whispered her complaint. "And I'm still injured!"

"There's no choice. Your body can't wait. The dimension stone's poison needs to be cleared quickly." Ryan held her left hand. "I know you want a beautiful memory, and I don't want this either. But you don't want any lasting side effects or scars, do you?"

"Alright then." Theresa hesitated for a moment before finally closing her eyes.

Memories flowed like water through her mind.

From Winterfell to Karlsheim, from Middenheim to Marienburg, from Castle in the Sky to the County of Glamorgan, from Brunswick to Helmgart...

She couldn't think any further because Ryan gently kissed her.

The overwhelming sensation drowned her consciousness.

...(Details omitted)...

When Ryan had settled everything and stepped out of the chapel, it was already noon.

Emperor Karl Franz was leading his army to camp within Helmgart. The massive imperial tent was well-equipped, with rows of tents covering the square in front of the chapel and atop the city walls.

Demi-gryph knights and Rick guards surrounded the Emperor's tent. The atmosphere in the camp was tense, as soldiers provided water and food to the refugees, who, in turn, hungrily devoured the provisions.

Apart from the joy of surviving, there was an endless sorrow.

Helmgart was nearly destroyed. The fire had consumed the once-prosperous city. Less than ten percent of the buildings remained intact. Corpses of both humans and Skaven littered the streets. The marketplace, vibrant a day ago, lay in ruins, all goods looted. When the Imperial army cleared the city, they found only bones.

Bones stripped clean by the Skaven.

The Count's castle was razed to the ground. The Skaven had taken everything they could from it, destroying what they couldn't. The greatswords searched futilely for any of the Count's family or surviving relatives, finding only bodies and shattered walls.

The shanty town of hovels had become a massive cesspool and swamp, filled with excrement, mud, and the dimension stone's poison. The merchants' shops and the mansions of the wealthy were destroyed. Refugees searched for their loved ones and belongings under the army's protection, the city filled with cries.

After the search, the Imperial army would "purify" the city with fire, deciding later whether to rebuild.

Ryan walked silently toward the Emperor's tent, noting the hero's welcome for the Rick guard rookies Rudolf and Wagner. They had upheld their duties under extreme circumstances, not only protecting Ryan's family but also rallying the remaining troops for a brave resistance until reinforcements arrived. They had proven their worth. Even the stern Rick Marshal Helborg clapped their shoulders hard. "Well done!"

Rudolf and Wagner could hardly believe Helborg's approval, feeling honored.

Captain Hubert also received commendation, now the highest-ranking survivor in Helmgart.

"Lord Ryan, you're finally here. The Emperor is waiting for you." Helborg, seeing Ryan, adopted a serious tone. "Please hurry; His Majesty has been waiting for you."

"Sorry, my courtiers were injured and poisoned." Ryan explained briefly.

"That's not important. The important thing is that His Majesty is waiting. I don't care what delayed you." Helborg was unyielding, walking quickly in full armor. "Please hurry."

Ryan shook his head, noticing the runefang 'Grudgebearer' at Helborg's waist.

Grudgebearer was the runefang of the Elector Count of Solland, but during the Three Emperors' Era, the famous Greenskin warlord Gorbad Ironclaw invaded through Black Fire Pass, reaching Brunswick. Duke Aldred of Solland was killed in single combat with Gorbad, and the runefang was lost, Solland was destroyed, and its lands absorbed by Wissenland. The runefang was later found by Dwarves in a Greenskin stronghold and returned to the Empire, becoming the symbol of the Rick Marshal's authority.

Helborg's brisk pace and commanding presence were reminders of the grudge the sword symbolized.

Ryan followed Helborg, curious about the Empire's quick response. "I didn't expect the Empire to react so fast. Knights can mobilize quickly, but the greatswords too?"

"The Griffin Greatsword Regiment is not the city garrison of Brunswick. They are the Emperor's personal troops, funded by the Franz-Friedrich family. One command from the Emperor, and they must march overnight, or be expelled from the army. The Brunswick demi-gryph guard is the same." Helborg explained gruffly.

"Personal funds?" Ryan nodded, understanding that each Elector Count had their own private guard, and the Emperor was no exception.

Entering the tent marked with the golden griffon family crest, Emperor Karl Franz was already seated, speaking with the High Grand Master of the Witch Hunters, Ernst.

Ernst was over four hundred years old, born in the Three Emperors' Era, having fought in the Vampire Wars and the Great War. The tall,

 white-haired High Grand Master had deep lines on his face and eyes filled with a hidden killing intent. "My lord, I still don't understand why you let the refugees live. They should be tied to stakes and burned to purify the city."

"Calm down, Master Ernst. Someone vouched for the refugees, believing they showed strong will against the Skaven and are unlikely to be corrupted. Our investigation shows the refugees in the chapel are healthy." The Emperor's face was grim.

Under his watch, the Skaven had destroyed a city in his territory—a disgrace. If not for Ryan's group, Helmgart would have been completely lost before he could arrive.

"Vouch? Who?" Ernst asked.

"Me." Ryan entered with Helborg, addressing the High Grand Master. "I vouched for them. I purified the remaining refugees with my power, and any with issues were dealt with."

Ernst seemed ready to argue, but another Rick guard entered. "My lord, we found Count Reinhardt."

"Where is he?" The Emperor gestured for Ryan to wait, anger in his voice. "I entrusted Helmgart to him, and this is what he returns to me?"

"We found his body, my lord. We don't think it's necessary to bring it here."

"Why?"

"Count Reinhardt's body was stuffed into a pipe, stretched out. We identified him by his signet ring." The guard's face twitched as he reported.

"Very well, cremate him and his family remains. They are history now." The Emperor nodded, dismissing the guard.

The guard had just left when he returned moments later. "My lord, a group of Dwarves requests to see you and Lord Ryan."

"Dwarves? Let them in!"

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