Chapter 162: Heroes of the Turbulent Era 1

The Kingdom of Polandia.

A nation that fielded the famed Winged Hussars – the mightiest knightly order on the continent – and had served as the church’s northeastern bulwark for generations.

Though its power had waned in recent times, Polandia remained a formidable force, with the Winged Hussars’ reputation undiminished from its glory days.

Yet despite such lofty renown and might, the Kingdom of Polandia currently found itself struggling in a recent war.

“That man has appeared again!”

“Damn it! What are the mages doing? Go and stop him!”

Amid the frantic commands from officers, mages pushed through the ranks of soldiers toward the vanguard.

Though each was reputed for their individual prowess, in that moment, they could muster no confidence in their abilities.

Their eyes beheld an ominous sight – the dread Northern Lion King, his entire being shrouded in azure mana, charging toward them like a living thundercloud.

“All…Attack him together!”

Tremors laced the officer’s order as the mages unleashed their mightiest spells.

From their staves poured torrents of flame, ice, and gale-force winds capable of shattering boulders – a hellish barrage converging upon the Lion King’s unfaltering advance.

Yet…

“Haaaaah!”

With a piercing battle cry, the Lion King momentarily amplified his power output.

Countless bolts of lightning erupted from his body, clashing against the coordinated mage assault.

And…

-BOOM!

“!”

“Th…This is…”

Amid the deafening blast, the mages’ attacks dissipated before the Lion King’s eyes.

The overwhelming disparity in sheer might left the mages’ faces etched with despair.

Unfortunately, they had no chance to dwell on their consternation in that moment.

The Lion King’s thunderous onslaught did not merely nullify their spells.

“Gaaaaaahh!”

“Sav…e us…!”

-CRACKLE CRACKLE!

In an instant, the very lightning that had dispelled their magic now lashed out, reducing the 20-odd mages of the 4th and 5th ranks to ash.

Witnessing this, the Polandian troops lost all will to fight.

“A monster… That’s a monster…”

“R-Run! There’s no way the likes of us can prevail against such a fiend!”

With a single strike, the Lion King had sent mages capable of decimating thousands of ordinary soldiers to their demise.

Such a display was enough to instill utter dread and despair, prompting many soldiers to abandon their posts and flee.

Meanwhile, having routed the enemy vanguard with a mere handful of his elite guard, the awe-inspiring might of the Lion King left the Kalmar Union’s troops in admiration.

“So this is the power of an 11th-rank mage… The pinnacle attainable by mankind…”

“Truly befitting of our sovereign. To wield such might single-handedly…”

On the battlefield, the power of a formidable mage could directly decide victory or defeat.

In that regard, the Lion King’s feat of shattering the enemy’s spearhead was a tremendous morale booster for his forces.

In contrast, the enemy faltered, momentarily losing their resolve amid the confusion.

The commanding officers swiftly seized this opportunity to press their advantage.

“General, now is our chance! His Majesty has cleared the path – it is our turn!”

“Excellent. Let us charge forth with fervor!”

With those words, the generals drew their blades.

Sensing imminent victory within their grasp, they issued thunderous orders:

“The entire army, advance!”

“Trample these Polandian curs underfoot!”

“For the Kalmar Union!”

Accompanying their commands, the Kalmar troops surged forward with formidable momentum.

Having gained the upper hand from the initial skirmish, they swiftly overwhelmed the disarrayed Polandian forces.

Amidst the fray, the indomitable Lion King, Gustaf Adolfus, left an indelible mark, denying the enemy any chance to counterattack as he relentlessly turned the tide of battle.

Approximately two hours later…

The clashing armies concluded their fierce engagement with the Kalmar Union’s victory banners raised high.

“Woooohooooo!”

“We’ve won!”

“Long live the Kalmar Union! Long live King Gustaf!”

Soldiers raised their voices in celebration of their triumph and their heroic sovereign.

Having secured yet another victory, the Northern Lion King, Gustaf, savored the jubilation alongside his men as their commander and monarch.

However, beneath his seeming guise as a peerlessly valorous mage-commander, his mind swiftly calculated their present circumstances.

‘This brings us within striking distance of the Polandian capital, Warsaw. Yet further advances will prove arduous. Our supply lines grow precarious, and the troops are weary from successive battles. Moreover, the scattered Winged Hussars I have deliberately dispersed will soon regroup. From our perspective, it would be wise to negotiate terms at this juncture.’

An unparalleled warrior whose prowess secured victory, Gustaf also understood how to leverage such triumphs.

Mere battlefield supremacy was insufficient.

More crucial was how to translate it into tangible gains for his Kalmar Union.

In that regard, the king recognized the time had come to conclude the war with Polandia.

‘With our current strength, outright annexation of Polandia is impossible… Moreover, an even greater conflict looms before us. We must conserve our might and avoid overextending ourselves.’

Harboring ambitions of unifying the entire northern continent under the Kalmar Union’s banner, Gustaf’s primary focus was the tumultuous Holy Imperium.

That eternal adversary, which had thwarted their southward expansion for generations while occupying the pivotal central domains – a perennial thorn in the Kalmar Union’s side.

Their present upheaval, incomparable to Polandia’s might, presented an unprecedented opportunity to resolve the Kalmar Union’s long-standing grievances.

‘To the north of the Holy Imperium, a faction known as the Heretical Alliance has taken root – a Bohemian-led force rebelling against the Emperor. Fortuitously, we share their heretical doctrines, facilitating an alliance.’

As he contemplated these prospects, a faint smile graced Gustaf’s lips.

The prospect of planting the Kalmar Union’s banner in the heart of the vast Holy Imperium filled him with anticipation.

While Gustaf remained embroiled in the Polandian war, another individual sought to exploit this situation and escape the formidable king’s dominion.

Duke Christopher IV read a timely letter from an unexpected source, a smile forming on his lips.

“An alliance proposal from the Elector Friedrich?”

“Yes, my lord. Apparently spearheaded by his wife, Lady Elizabeth.”

“Hoh… Now that is an intriguing offer. Pray tell me more details.”