CHAPTER 698: SURRENDER OR PERISH ( 698 )

The Human Kingdom.

Border Wall.

Panic swept through the soldiers like wildfire.

A line of horns echoed from the outposts.

From the top of the wall, all they could see in the distance.

Marching in perfect formation, was an overwhelming sea of silver. Glinting under the morning sun, like a tide of steel slowly creeping forward.

"What the hell is that!?"

"That’s the Armand emblem!!" a scout shouted, his voice shaky.

"What!? Are you sure!?"

"What should we do!!" another soldier yelled, clutching his bow tightly.

"Captain!!"

The captain gritted his teeth, eyes scanning the advancing forces. "Like hell I know! How many troops do we have on this wall!?"

"Just over 2,000, sir!!" someone shouted back. "The main camp already deployed their soldiers with the king’s march toward Armand!"

"And now these bastards are at our doorstep!? SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!!" The captain turned and barked, "Get me an estimate, NOW!"

A lookout with a scope trembling in his hands replied, "Captain!! From what I can see... we’re outnumbered! They’re in full plate! Mithril armor and weapons! There’s no way our spells will break through that, not if they’re enchanted!"

"Damn it..." The captain wiped sweat from his brow. "Everyone knows mithril is the bane of magic! Most spells bounce off or get cut by half!"

He grabbed one of the nearby soldier by the shoulder.

"Send a horse messenger to command immediately! Fastest one we have! Tell them we need reinforcements NOW! We’re not dealing with a skirmish, this is an invasion force!"

"Y-Yes Captain!!"

Hooves thundered as the rider rushed off, galloping toward the rear encampment with all haste.

The rest of the garrison stood in place. Tension choking their throats. Eyes glued to the shimmering wall of armored puppet knights standing silently in formation.

The captain stood proudly on top of the border wall, his cloak billowing in the wind as he shouted to the chaos below.

"Prepare the knights! Horseback units, get ready at the rear! All infantry, line up in formation! We hold this wall, or we die trying!"

Below him, soldiers hurriedly moved like ants, their weapons clashing as they drew steel and formed ranks. The magic archer unit on the upper part of the wall was already in place, bows ready, mana flickering at their fingertips.

One of the junior officers ran up to the captain, his face full of panic. "But, Captain—!!"

"No buts!!" the captain snapped, veins bulging on his neck. "If we leave this wall, we’ll be dead before sunset! You know how King Edmund treats deserters! We fight. Got it!?"

The man flinched. "Y-Yes, sir!!"

Another soldier yelled from the side. "Captain! What if those flying magic weapons show up again? We saw what happened to the wyvern unit! If they send even one—"

"I KNOW!!" the captain shouted, cutting him off.

He clenched his fist, jaw tight with frustration.

"Call the Defender Unit! Send the heavy shield formation to the top wall! We’ll use them to protect the spellcasters and archers, move!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Orders echoed across the ramparts. Moments later, a group of soldiers with enormous, tower-sized shields marched to the top of the wall. They’re bulky, slow, but trained to absorb punishment head-on. They lined up, kneeling in place to create a sturdy barrier behind which the spellcasters could hide.

Mana began to surge through the air. Arrows hummed with magic energy. Some trembled, others were held with trembling hands, as they prayed for safety.

The captain clenched his teeth, staring at the distant, unmoving wall of forces from Armand’s side.

We’re not just fighting soldiers...

We’re facing monsters born from magic and tech...

He could feel it deep in his bones.

A cold dread crept down his spine.

Inside his mind, the captain’s thoughts spiraled in desperation.

It’s all because of that damned king...

Why!? Why did he have to provoke the Armand Region!? Didn’t he read the war report from the last noble coalition!?

Complete destruction.

Not a single casualty from Armand’s side.

And back then, they only used two unknown weapons.

His hand trembled as he clung to the edge of the battlement.

We still don’t even understand what those weapons were...

That massive cannon... and those strange guns that tore through wyverns like paper.

And now—?! Now they’re back with even more!?

His eyes darted toward the horizon.

Nothing was moving yet.

But that was the worst part.

They’re waiting... watching... calculating. Just like last time.

He forced himself to breathe, trying to steady his nerves.

"SHIT!! NOW WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!"

The captain’s voice shattered through his thoughts as he yelled down the wall.

"FASTER!! FORM A DEFENSIVE WALL!! ARCHERS BEHIND THE HEAVIES!! MAGES, SPREAD OUT TO AVOID AREA SPELLS!!"

Trumpets blared, and boots pounded on the stone surface.

The air grew heavy with tension.

That suffocating feeling right before a massacre.

He clenched his fists, teeth grinding.

Why did I ever accept this promotion...?

The captain’s eyes widened.

A figure had appeared.

Riding a massive orange Pekko bird, standing calmly.

The young man was... smiling?

He held something up to his mouth.

A small device glowing faintly with mana.

A moment later, his voice echoed loudly across the entire battlefield.

"Ahem... test, test—"

The sound bounced off the stone walls, crisp and clear.

"Honorable guard of the Human Kingdom!"

The young man waved lazily. "This is Javier De Armand—ehem—surely you’ve heard the name... well, whatever."

The captain swallowed hard.

That’s... that’s the son of Count Garius?

The so-called magic prodigy? The puppet knight creator? The drone craftsman? That’s HIM!?

Javier adjusted his seated position slightly, lifting the loudspeaker again.

"So here’s the deal! Surrender peacefully and become prisoners of war. That’s the best offer I’m gonna make.

Otherwise... total annihilation. You all know.."

Suddenly, buddy stomped its foot, shaking its head aggressively.

"Eeekk!! Buddy!! I’m talking!! Don’t move too much!!"

Javier wobbled dramatically on the saddle before regaining his balance.

He coughed into the loudspeaker.

"...Anyway. Like I was saying. You won’t win. We’ve already locked onto this entire area."

Javier steadied himself on Buddy’s saddle.

His playful smirk vanished.

His voice, through the loudspeaker, now carried weight, firm and cold.

"Surrender now!! Or prepare to fight."

He let the words sink into the wind as the soldiers on the wall froze in place.

"And let me make one thing very clear..."

He lifted his gaze, eyes sharp like steel.

"If you don’t surrender—"

A heavy pause.

"We from Armand don’t take prisoners after negotiations."

Gasps rippled across the human kingdom defenders.

Javier continued, calm and clear.

"Raise the white flag. Open the gate. Drop your weapons.

Do that, and I promise—every single one of you will be spared and taken as prisoners of war.

You’ll be fed. Treated with basic dignity. Your safety will be guaranteed."

He paused again, letting silence stretch like a blade.

"But if you won’t..."

Buddy let out a deep, echoing squawked, stomping once.

Javier’s voice lowered.

"Then prepare your own graves."

He turned away.

Facing his puppet knight formation, calmly giving a nod toward one of the drones hovering behind.

The battle drone’s eyes flickered red.

A targeting grid appeared silently in the air behind Javier, only visible to his unit.

( End Of Chapter )