Roan watched the ruthless efficiency of the invaders who inevitably got closer to his Inner Sanctum. Their tactics were simple but efficient, not allowing his forces to regroup. He always thought that limiting the space within his labyrinth would prevent anyone from advancing this fast and even allow his forces to rout the enemy long before reaching the last floor. But it seemed like the enemy was accustomed to fighting in narrow passages and confined spaces. The Korreds, who looked like Dwarves, were excellent front-line soldiers, pushing relentlessly forward, hidden behind their giant shields which made them nigh impervious to melee damage. Behind them were ranks of Hobgoblin archers and Cave Kobolds mages who cut down his undead defenders without giving them a chance to strike. The enemy scions, so far, had refrained from attacking but they weren't hiding. He was aware of their location and he wondered what they were waiting for. However, that was just another insult. The foot soldiers alone were unbelievably powerful but his elite denizens were able to kill them. Still... The elite monsters had such trouble killing the regular ones that it was hard to accept. Roan expected the enemies to be strong but not so overwhelming.

"Have I made a mistake, Tristan?" The Necromancer King looked at his scion, silently waiting for his orders.

"I don't know, Master." The Vampire lowered his head. "The one called Balin was strong, but I could fight him and win. But..."

"The Fenrir?"

"I don't think we could stop him back then." Tristan looked solemnly upwards. "I don't believe that we can stop him now..."

Roan stood silent for a moment before he cursed under his breath. "I wasn't expecting them to attack me directly. They ignored all the defences I set up!"

Tristan closed his eyes and kept to himself that it was better this way. Many innocents would have died if their enemies had conquered the country.

"The enemy army was too well prepared, my Lord." He decided to say it loudly instead. "We have only ten thousand denizens and a few thousand friendly mortals who could fight. The enemy is not only more numerous but they have airships."

"It's true..." Roan admitted with bitterness in his voice. "I'm afraid that those airships will decide the outcome of this battle..."

Tristan was staring at the tips of his shoes before he closed his eyes. His Master was wrong. The enemy was more experienced in the ways of war and they were simply better prepared. The fate of this battle was decided long before it started.

•••

"My Prince! We received light signals from the fleet that a large group of people is approaching the blockade line from the north. HMS Victory, additionally, warned us that there are monsters mixed with the regular people." Captain Palcy reported. "The detection range of the rest of the fleet is significantly higher than ours."

"It looks like we have much to learn..." Prince Islur sighed. "I'm going to split our forces into three formations. One is going to keep the rear guard, the second will prevent any monsters from reaching the wall. My ship is going to be in this formation. The last formation will be tasked forward to intercept the enemy group no less than five hundred metres from allied forces. They will only use stun settings. Standard ship composition in each group!"

"Aye, my Lord!" Captain saluted and began relaying detailed orders.

Prince Islur gripped the railing tighter and glanced at Victory. The huge ship of the line was sending the light signals. His face froze in a serious expression when he realised they were warning them about another group of monsters approaching from the east.

"Captain, our formation is going to focus on the group of people mixed with monsters. Relay to Victory that we might need help with the other group."

"We should be able to deal with the threat..."

"We should, doesn't mean that we risk the unexpected. First and foremost is the safety of the battle group. The Dungeon can't receive any reinforcements." He narrowed his eyes as he glanced at the Captain.

"My Lord, our forces can easily-"

"Enough, Captain! It was an order, not a suggestion!" Islur turned towards Captain Palcy who instantly mellowed down upon seeing his expression.

"As you wish, my Prince." The Captain said in a defeated voice and went towards his officers.

The Prince slowly exhaled and smiled as he shook his head. "I began to understand how the others saw my remarks."

He was about to move towards the higher observation deck of his galleon but felt a sudden buildup of mana.

"What is she doing?! She can't be in..." His eyes went wide and the words stuck in his throat when Victory's rolling broadside sent lances of blue fire towards the distant enemies. "...range..." He swallowed and shook his head in disbelief. "Do they even need my help?"

His ships split into three groups and he nodded with satisfaction seeing one of them speeding toward the enemies. They started firing their guns as soon as they reached range. Prince Islur calmly observed as the people and the undead monsters fell tumbling to the ground, paralysed. He quickly realised something very important and raised his voice.

"Set every second gun of our formation to stun! Priests! Prepare your spells against the undead!" He yelled. "I want to make sure we don't unnecessarily kill anyone!"

•••

"I wasn't expecting to see him grow so quickly..." Arletta whispered looking at Prince Islur as he was issuing orders.

"He is intelligent and only slightly stubborn." Tuul'kara's soft voice startled her as he appeared behind her. "I guess you should find him a teacher who can teach him how to be casual with people. He worries too much about what other people think of him."

Arletta very slowly turned around and tried to smile at him but, somehow, she was too embarrassed. She felt her blush spread from her cheeks to her pointy ears but she couldn't do anything about it. She slightly bowed her head, both to mask her reaction and to honestly thank him.

"I'm happy for your kind words during the previous meeting. I'm also thankful for your blessings that you spread over my people as well, God Tuul'kara."

"I don't think that we have to be so official... I think that all these titles are unnecessary between the equals." He cringed slightly but tried to cover it with a stiff smile. "If you don't mind, of course..."

"I-n-no, it's fine!" She straightened up and looked at him again.

He was even more charming up close than she imagined. She clenched her fist and pretended to mask her cough, trying to clear her throat. Arletta internally scolded herself and tried to remain calm.

"God... I mean, Tuul'kara, there is so much I would like to ask you..." She smiled.

"I would gladly spend time chatting with you, Arletta..." He smiled and, for a very brief moment, she could swear that he blushed. But he exhaled with a defeated expression she wasn't expecting and turned serious. "Unfortunately, that will have to wait. The Arcadian forces will need about three more hours before they reach the Inner Sanctum. The undead of Falcia put up a fierce, but ultimately futile, resistance."

"You seem certain that our forces can't lose that battle..." She involuntarily looked at the distant mausoleum.

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"I saw the fall of Berna when the Empire of Arcadia was fighting alone against a, seemingly, overwhelming foe." Tuul'kara walked closer to her and the ship's railing. He crossed his hands on the railings and looked in the distance. "Emperor Theon Avalon is not fighting according to rules understood by the people or, even, by the Dungeons of Aderon. His Naval usage doctrines and complex overhaul of warfare served him well during his previous wars. Back then, Arcadia was alone and won decisively. Now, he is surrounded by friends and allies."

"I... I wouldn't have attacked the Cursed Lands or, even if I had, I would probably have withdrawn the army upon seeing that the people live here in peace." She shook her head. "I see how conflicted Prince Islur is. All their lives, Ebrusians lived in the shadow of the fog wall and grim stories about the Cursed Land, only to discover it was a peaceful Kingdom. A Kingdom that we are currently conquering... My people want to prove themselves after the countless blunders they committed but the fact that they are participating in what they see as bullying the weak remains."

"Funny isn't it?" Tuul'kara rested his elbows on the railing and observed the exemplary leadership of the young Prince who relentlessly bellowed orders. "Your people were willing to risk their lives during the war with Vestargo but they are compassionate about those who would rather hide and allow others to die. People of Falcia are not innocent. They were fully aware of Vestargo and his ambitions and, yet, they chose to hide themselves. Most of them are afraid of our fleet and our army to the point that they won't respond to help their benefactor... They were dulled by centuries of an easy life. They were mellowed by Roan's promises of peace and safety. But only a handful of them understand that, without their King, their Kingdom will fall..."

She looked at him carefully and followed his gaze. He looked at the few thousand monsters and maybe a few dozen people who bravely, or foolishly, tried to break the blockade of the Dungeon. She idly started playing with a strand of her long, pink hair. A willingness tick she developed through the ages that somehow helped her think more clearly.

"So you say they are cowards? Are the people of Falcia somehow cursed by prosperity?"

"Undeserved prosperity, yes..." He nodded with a sigh. "I know what you are thinking. Aren't the people of Arcadia the same? Or, should they become complacent, they will end up like the people of Falcia?"

She let out an amused sigh and looked at him. Tuul'kara was smiling brightly at her, making her blush again. She leaned into the railings, a half step from him, and smiled in kind. "It's unfair to read the emotions of your fellow Goddess, Tuul'kara."

"I would never! That was just an educated guess!" He grinned and, somehow, she believed him. "I don't believe that Arcadians are going to end like that. According to what our spies gathered, basically as we speak, the people of Falcia were provided with most of what they have by a small percentage of the entire population. The local adventurers who delved the Dungeon generated enough mana for Roan and the rest of the population had never seen a monster. In Arcadia, most of the population, literally, lives inside Dungeons. Not only this, but the memories of life under tyrannical rulers of Cridia and the supremacist church of Berna are still fresh. They are going to be remembered and taught to the next generations. But... There is a bigger difference between the two. The Empire of Arcadia provides endless opportunities for everyone willing to seize them, while the Kingdom of Falcia offers an easy life for obedience."

"Hmmm... So you are saying that the people of Arcadia have to constantly work for their prosperity?"

"Indeed. Even we, the Gods who allied ourselves with Theon Avalon, are not exempt from that rule." He laughed. "Nothing is granted. Everything is earned."

"Hmmm..." She thoughtfully lowered her head.

"Even safety is earned, Arletta." He said quietly in a tone that sent shivers down her spine. "That's why we are invading a seemingly peaceful country. Because they are not willing to earn their safety. What's more, Roan's existence was a huge threat to us all. Especially for the Kingdom of Ebrus."

"What do you mean?" Arletta whispered as her eyes went wide but she was too afraid to look him in the eyes.

"Individually, among all the countries of the North Aderon Treaty Organisation, Ebrus is still weaker. It's not disdain, scorn, or pettiness on my part, but mere stating facts. Due to unfortunate circumstances, your country is a harsh and inhospitable place. A cold wind that blows from the north makes it difficult to properly or efficiently settle the country. It also makes living in the north extremely dangerous. Your people are not numerous and are struggling to survive between poor harvests and running out of places where you can safely fish. This makes your people the most vulnerable to any attacks. Especially if said attack came from the Cursed Land."

Arletta watched in dulled horror of personal realisation as the Prince directed his ships and killed the returning defenders of the Dungeon of Falcia. Even for a second, she hadn't considered the possibility that someone might attack Ebrus from the Cursed Land. But, it was so obvious now. She had a better understanding of the Dungeons and familiarised herself with the secret documents the Arcadian Emperor shared with her and Prince Islur. But, only now, a few missing pieces clicked in her mind, creating a complete picture.

"Some people will hate him..."

"Generally speaking, that's their problem," Tuul'kara explained further with amusement in his voice. "Why risk a potentially devastating attack that would bring death to countless people if it can be avoided? Theon Avalon is not a knight on a white horse in shiny armour. Have you seen his armies? The black armour of his soldiers isn't a particularly well-received symbol. If anything, more people involuntarily think of Arcadia as an evil empire. He is the Hero we need to keep us safe and to achieve that end. He won't hesitate to do what he thinks is best for Nilmerthis. Do you think he cares if you accuse him of having imperial tendencies?"

The ships of the Ebrusian Navy were circling the wall made by the allied ships and stunning anyone trying to get near. Her priests and clerics dispatched enemies with powerful spells that worked only against undead. She watched an improbable feat of restraint and discipline never before displayed by the Ebrusians. Her people were ignorant of the fact that they were making sure that their homes would be secure.

"I'm starting to believe that he would meet such accusations with laughter..."

"Or he would be offended by the insinuation that he would risk the life of his subjects and allies..." Tuul'kara chuckled. "But one thing is for sure: He is right. In the ever-changing tides of the future, I can see many futures where Falcia is subjugated by evil forces and how they destroy Ebrus, Iceleon, Metaka, and finally, Arcadia..."

"You told him about your visions?" She glanced at him but he stared somewhere over the horizon.

"No. Lord Theon never needed to hear about my visions." Tuul'kara shook his head, his blue hair shaking slightly like water. "He calculated the risk of leaving Falcia and decided it wasn't worth it. I'm here to see what kind of future he will choose for this country..."

Arletta sighed as she rested her head on her hands. Arcadia was vast and prosperous and she never considered its wealth in terms of endless work and removing problems as soon as they were spotted.

"After this single battle, the war in Falcia will be over." Tuul'kara straightened and rubbed his neck with a carefree smile. "After it, Ebrus will be invited to the economic treaties on equal terms. I can see it in the tides... But... Don't expect military magitech to be given to you or even allowed to be sold. Fortunately, it's not what you want or even need. With patience and hard work, at least the latter is nothing strange to your people, the Kingdom of Ebrus will enter its new golden age."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't want you to feel used or betrayed. You will have to use the wisest diplomats of Ebrus to strike the most beneficial deals. But that path is open to you and your people." Tuul'kara smiled softly at her. "You can be proud of your people. Prince Ebrus chose mercy over ambition when he decided that no lethal force was the best way to protect his allies. He proved to be a reliable ally when he followed the orders of the fleet's Commodore. He showed everyone that he could swallow his pride when it counts when he asked for Victory's help earlier."

She smiled, feeling unreasonable hope. "Thank you, Tuul'kara..."

"Don't mention it!" He smiled, then he cleared his throat and blushed slightly. "I was thinking if you wouldn't mind if I invite you for dinner, maybe?"

Her heart started racing as her lips slightly parted in shock. She wasn't sure how exactly she prevented her jaw from dropping. She wasn't going to ruin anything this time. She took a deep, calming breath and smiled as charmingly as she could. "I know a very good pastry shop in Avalon..."

•••

Prince Islur was focusing on the battle below and was very proud of his efforts. Not a single enemy reached the grounded ships of the allied forces and everyone was listening to his orders. The battle lasted almost three hours and his crews were tired and drained of mana. Fortunately, there were far fewer attempts to breach the encirclement than he anticipated. He noticed that God Tuul'kara appeared near his Goddess and they were discussing something. She looked concerned, happy, and proud in turns so he couldn't guess what they were talking about. However, a tall and proud God of the Northern Ocean was a figure that could easily gain followers in the Kingdom of Ebrus. He felt inspired by his presence alone.

"We eliminated all threats to the allied forces, my Lord!" Captain Palcy reported with a tired expression on his face. "Our crews are exhausted and we will have to rest before going anywhere else..."

"Let's fall back for now. Leave the rear guard in the air and inform our allies that we would like to land and take a rest." The Prince ordered.

The Captain simply nodded and relayed his order. They were signalling towards Victory who was hanging in the same spot since the battle began. Islur rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn as the Captain returned.

"Admiral Wildhoff agreed to your plan, my Lord. They will send the assault crafts from the carrier to support our remaining vessels. We should land inside the protective wall just in case. Victory is going to cover us from anything that emerges from the Dungeon but at this point it's very unlikely. The JDF army is breaching the Inner Sanctum so it will be over soon."

"Excellent..." The Prince finally yawned. "Let's catch some sleep, Captain. We deserved it."

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