Just as Rian and Ria's party was about to reach the Kingdom of Altechna, they met with unexpected resistance. As their steam carriage arrived at a wide plain, three people were there, blocking their path. They were Elahar, Brakka, and Karon, waiting for the party, each with their distinct characteristics on full display. Elahar's gaze was cool and analytical, while Brakka was swinging his giant axe, preparing for battle. Karon was gathering a mystical magic at his fingertips, exuding a calm but overwhelming atmosphere.
Elahar looked at Rian and Ria's party and spoke calmly. "The last fight was very enjoyable. It was a pleasure to see your skills improve, but I wonder if this will be the last time."
Rian looked at Elahar and said firmly, "I am stronger than last time, and I will surpass you."
Brakka swung his axe and spoke in a playful tone. "Haha, fighting like this is a joy for me! I see my opponents are ready for me, are they? It's best to meet them head-on. Let's have a proper go at it!"
Rian stared at Brakka and said, "Then, we will properly test your strength. If you're ready, let's begin!"
Karon added in a cold voice, "You can only win if you analyze the situation correctly. It is important to plan carefully and approach with caution. In this battle, we will have a perfect grasp of your strategy and be prepared for it."
Rian shouted to his party to get ready and charged forward. This time, he didn't charge at Elahar, but at Brakka, swinging his greatsword to clash with Brakka's axe.
Brakka and Elahar were puzzled by Rian's action, but they responded fiercely, as they had to fight them all anyway.
Ria and Eris countered Karon with the power of their magic. "We are your opponents. The skills and strategies of us all will play an important role in this battle."
The strategy was for Marielle and Brunok to handle Elahar. Brunok's gun and his animal companion, Silverfang, would restrict his fast movements, while Marielle's morning star, empowered by the light, would block his close-range attacks.
Brakka swung his powerful axe and launched an assault. His strength shook the earth, and the impact of the battle caused the structures and tents of the nearby camp to collapse. Rian, rather than meeting his force head-on, dodged his attacks bit by bit, nullifying them. And from time to time, he would swing his greatsword, attacking Brakka with a shockwave, but it seemed to have little effect on his tough skin.
Elahar continued his attacks, moving with high speed and using Blink, but Marielle's barrier and defensive ability managed to block him. When Elahar retreated or got close, Silverfang would restrict his movements, and if he was far away, Brunok would respond with his firearm.
Karon's dark magic was fast and precise. But Ria and Eris's combined magic disrupted his hand signs and incantations. Eris attacked Karon with shamanistic magic while simultaneously activating a totem that increased her allies' speed, which was proving to be a great advantage in many ways.
Rian cast an enhancement spell on himself, and with the speed-increasing totem from Eris in effect, he moved with much lighter steps. He identified the trajectory of Brakka's axe, parried it before it could reach full effect, and struck Brakka hard with a powerful kick.
Enraged that his attack had been parried and that he had been kicked, Brakka attacked even more fiercely. The battle between the two continued, negatively affecting their nearby companions as well.
Elahar was greatly annoyed by the combination of Silverfang, which persistently chased him, Brunok, who would fire at him whenever he retreated, and Marielle, who would engage him up close. He approached Marielle at high speed and attacked, forcing Brunok to stop shooting, and Silverfang, not stopping, charged at Elahar. Elahar, not missing the moment, used Blink to get away, causing Silverfang and Marielle to collide and lose their stances. Elahar, not missing the opportunity, swung his sword.
As Brakka charged in, Rian moved quickly to protect Marielle and blocked Elahar's sword.
Seeing Brakka charge again, Ria briefly entrusted Karon to Eris and created a wall of ice near Rian's head. As he had practiced so often with Ria, Rian stepped on the ice wall near his head to evade Elahar's and Brakka's attacks, and at the same time, he brought his greatsword down from the air, forcing them both back.
He didn't have the same power as last time, but by changing his battle strategy, it had become a little easier to deal with them. Because while each of them was strong, their cooperation and teamwork were weak, so their combined strength was not a simple 1+1=2, but barely even 1.5.
Rian and Ria's party faithfully carried out their roles, leading the battle to their advantage. Brakka's axe was powerful, but his attacks were nullified by Rian's evasion and counters, and Elahar's and Karon's strategic attacks were blocked by the cooperation of Marielle and Brunok.
The party combined their strengths to prepare a coordinated attack. Rian signaled to Brunok to break through Brakka's and Elahar's defenses. Brunok used his gun to divert the two enemies' attention, while Silverfang simultaneously controlled Elahar's movements. Ria manipulated her ice magic to clear Rian's attack path, and Eris activated her speed-increasing totem to maximize the party's combat abilities.
Rian swung his greatsword high, beginning a downward strike from the air, and Ria created an ice wall to give him a space to evade Brakka's axe attack. Brunok landed a precise shot on Elahar's position, weakening his defense. Marielle strengthened her magic shield to block Elahar's attack, and at the same time, formed a protective barrier against Brakka's axe.
As all these attacks were carried out simultaneously, Elahar and Brakka were flustered by the party's organic assault and momentarily lost the flow of the battle. Elahar, with a surprised expression, said, "Well now... this is unexpected!" Brakka, swinging his giant axe, shouted, "To be hit by a joint attack like this, it's quite a novel experience!"
Eris activated a powerful shamanistic spell to interfere with Karon's magic, and together with Ria, she disrupted his casting, breaking through his defense. Karon said, "I've never seen such cooperation. But... this won't do!" His magic crumbled, unable to stand against the party's assault.
In the end, Rian and his companions broke through the enemy's defenses with their individual strategies and cooperation, moving toward victory with a powerful joint assault. Their teamwork surpassed their individual skills, surprising their enemies and leading them to victory. At the end of the battle, the party, with their weary bodies, looked at each other and reaffirmed the importance of teamwork as they concluded the fight.
***
Episode : Arrival at Altechna. And Chaos
Though twenty years had passed since Alexander ascended to the throne, factions that still did not recognize him existed in Altechna. They were the relatives of Alexander's half-brother, Lucas, and as high-ranking nobles, they owned lands near Altechna. Although they did not challenge Alexander's claim to the throne, internally, they held dissatisfaction and opposing opinions regarding his rule. In the current war situation, it was difficult to suppress them with simple force.
Lucas was now working to help his half-brother Alexander for the development and well-being of Altechna, but he was still surrounded by factions seeking to use him. Even in this complex situation, Lucas was striving for the stability of the kingdom.
When Rian and Ria arrived in Altechna, Lucas, despite the busy situation, welcomed them with a heartfelt reception. Lucas sincerely expressed his gratitude to Rian and Ria and explained the kingdom's current situation in detail.
"Rian, Ria," Lucas said with a serious expression. "You've come here even in such a difficult time. Your visit is a great source of strength for Altechna. I have been trying to help my half-brother Alexander, but it has not been easy due to internal problems. Your support is desperately needed."
Rian expressed his gratitude for Lucas's sincere welcome. "Thank you for welcoming us at such a critical time. We will solve the problems Altechna is facing and will not spare any support we can offer."
Ria also expressed her thanks. "Your efforts and dedication are playing an important role in the well-being of the kingdom. We will also do our best to contribute to the development and stability of Altechna."
Lucas let out a sigh of relief at their words. "Altechna's situation is complex, but your help would be a great asset. Let us work together to overcome the current crisis and stabilize the kingdom. My companions and I will provide all possible support."
Rian and Ria were deeply impressed by Lucas's passion and decisiveness. They decided to carefully analyze the situation and formulate a strategy, taking into account both the kingdom's internal conflicts and the external threats.
During dinner, Rian asked Lucas for more information on the kingdom's internal conflicts and external threats. Lucas explained in detail the complexity of the internal conflicts he was experiencing, confessing that he was struggling to gain support for the kingdom's governance. He revealed that some of his own relatives, in particular, were still opposing Alexander's rule, thereby intensifying the kingdom's political instability.
Rian and Ria began to formulate a plan to resolve Altechna's crisis based on the information and support from Lucas.
That evening, the party had a meal together, discussing the kingdom's problems. Sir Edward was also invited to this gathering. Sir Edward was a supporter of Alexander, the Magic Swordsman who had trained Rian and Ria's party, and one of the key figures in Alexander's army.
During the meal, Sir Edward shared the strategies and tactics he had experienced in battle, providing useful advice to Rian and Ria on the current crisis. "To overcome the current situation in Altechna, you must consider both military and political strategies. Especially in a situation where you have to resolve internal conflicts and external threats simultaneously, each person's role is crucial."
Rian thanked Sir Edward for his advice. "Then, thank you for helping us to further strengthen our plan. Your experience will be of great help."
Ria also added, "A precise strategy and tactics will be the key to overcoming this crisis. Sir Edward's wisdom will be a great help."
Sir Edward nodded. "I am also glad to be a part of your efforts. Let us work together to overcome this crisis for the well-being and development of Altechna."
Based on the support of Sir Edward and Lucas, Rian and Ria's party began to formulate a plan to resolve Altechna's crisis. They would put forth all their efforts for the stability and development of the kingdom and would continue their journey to brighten the kingdom's future through cooperation.
After the meal, they relieved their battle fatigue and, with a renewed will for new challenges and cooperation, they finished their preparations to work with all their strength for the future of the kingdom.
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