At the same time, at a fortress on the Northern Continent, Azariah Raizen stood atop the towering defensive wall, overlooking the endless expanse of snow beyond the fortress.
His gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, as though he could see through the enormous barrier separating humanity's territory from the monster-infested lands beyond.
He could feel it.
Something had changed in the air. An approaching storm, a disturbance that even the thick barrier could not entirely conceal.
War was coming.
A smile slowly spread across his lips.
Who didn't welcome war? It was an opportunity for achievement, a chance to earn glory and strengthen one's position. As the highest-ranking military authority beneath the Emperor, Azariah had everything he needed to make his ambitions a reality.
Perhaps this was finally his opportunity to prove to the world that he was number one.
The strongest.
