Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1837
News of the Sapharos race's invasion came one after another.
Ricardo had sent orders to the Five Lands. The armies had gathered to drive the Sapharos back into the sea from which they came, and had set out on a campaign toward the Eastern Regions.
Ricardo would command the two million Ashterah soldiers in the Eastern Lands.
The four million-strong Marclavein and Payrist forces under Heinricht's command would fight in the Northern Lands.
The four million-strong force consisting of Kislavein and Cyrus soldiers under Benjen's command would fight in the Southern Lands.
Before leaving for the Eastern Lands, Ricardo was passing on his knowledge about the Sarcophagi and the Genetic Scientists to his son and Heir, Richard, in accordance with tradition.
"Do not forget what I tell you, Richard. We are likely the last ones who know of the existence of these Sarcophagi. After I die and you ascend the throne, take the power of all the Sarcophagi. Do not approve any marriage without the consent of the Genetic Scientists."
Richard listened to his father's advice while trying to digest the information he was learning.
"Alright, Father."
"Good, my son."
Ricardo stood up to leave the room.
"Father, I want to join the war with you."
Ricardo refused.
"No. You are not yet of age. I will not allow a child to join a war. It is against the laws and traditions. Besides, you are my only Heir. If you die, the Kislavein Dynasty ends."
Richard stood up to insist, asking again with a serious expression and pleading tone.
"Father, please. Everyone keeps criticizing me. People say I don't deserve the throne, that I'm only lucky because I'm the only male Heir."
Ricardo turned around and looked at his son.
"So, you want to prove yourself?"
Richard nodded with all seriousness.
"Yes."
Ricardo thought for a long while.
"Very well. I permit it. You will fight with me in the Eastern Lands."
Richard nodded with a bright smile.
"Thank you, Father."
Ricardo cut off his son.
"However, my words still stand. You are my only Heir. If you die, our Dynasty ends. Therefore, I will give you my best guards. Throughout the war, you must not stray from the word of your Master, Gertruardo."
Richard was somewhat disappointed.
"I was going to prove myself to everyone by fighting tooth and nail in this war. How can I do that with people protecting me?"
At that moment, a brilliant idea came to him.
"Alright, Father, I accept. But I have a request."
Ricardo appreciated his son's bold initiative.
"Let's hear it."
Gathering all his courage, Richard stated his condition.
"They will not intervene unless I am face to face with death."
Ricardo grew angry.
"Did you not understand anything I just said?"
Richard shook his head.
"No, I understood perfectly. But when you were a young man barely of age, with no one's protection, in the Kerbel Forest, during the Pleyciş Rebellion, during the Northern and Southern Invasions—you emerged victorious from all of them. Even with few soldiers against enemies many times your number. I am your son. Your blood flows in my veins. Allow me to prove myself in this war."
Ricardo began to laugh, his chest swelling with pride.
"Hahahahah! Well done, well done, my son! This is the Heir I want. You are right. You will not fight by my side. You will fight in the Northern Lands alongside your Master, Gertruardo Kislavein. Face to face with death, as you wish."
At that moment, butterflies of joy fluttered in Richard's stomach.
"Thank you, Father. I will never disappoint you."
Ricardo stroked his son's head.
"I hope so."
Weeks after this conversation, all war preparations were complete.
Benjen took command of the two million soldiers assigned to him, mounted his horse to head south to aid the Cyrus Dynasty.
"I will return victorious, Dynasty Lord. I promise you."
"I believe in you, Benjen. You have always been a loyal warrior who keeps his word."
Benjen's chest swelled with pride at his Lord's compliment.
"With your permission, My Lord. Hah!"
Benjen galloped his horse to the head of his army.
"FORWARD TO THE SOUTH! WE WILL BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO OUR DYNASTY AND OUR FAMILIES!"
The soldiers in the army responded in unison.
"AS YOU COMMAND, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF!"
Two million soldiers, under the command of Benjen at the forefront, began marching towards the Southern Lands.
"Only two years have passed since the last war. No one has properly rested. No one has forgotten their fatigue or the pain of the loved ones they lost in the war. And now a new war begins. The timing is too perfect."
Ricardo was thinking the same thing as Richard, but he wanted to use this opportunity to test his son's intelligence.
"What do you mean, my son?"
Richard looked at his father and shared his thoughts.
"The timing is too perfect. The end of the war and the beginning of the invasions happened simultaneously."
Ricardo was proud of his son once again.
"You are right, my son. They likely sharpened their teeth for years to avenge their defeat from long ago, and they attacked at the most opportune moment—when the war had ended and we were at our weakest."
Richard asked with doubt.
"Can we win?"
Ricardo grew angry at his son's hesitation.
"Pull yourself together. You are my Heir. Such an attitude is unbecoming of the Heir to the Kislavein Dynasty."
Richard quickly composed himself.
"Yes, Dynasty Lord."
"In the war years ago, even in many fronts of the Second Great Lands War, we were outnumbered. Yet we emerged victorious from most. Our generation were the most perfect individuals of genetic crossbreeding spanning centuries. Naturally, our immense power and unshakable discipline always carried us to victory. They will carry us again. Never doubt that, Richard."
Richard bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"Yes, Dynasty Lord."
Three great battles, on three different fronts in three different Lands, would be Ricardo's final war and conquest as the Kislavein Dynasty Lord.