The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth-Chapter 326: The Imperial War (2)

The warfront moved rapidly. Following the empire’s declaration of war from the north, every faction began deploying unprecedented forces to support their chosen powers.

The Three Kingdoms of Istria worked to stabilize the most vital territories in response to the evolving war situation. Lady Viola began the restoration of Istan and Tevanel, leading with the two veteran commanders of the Twin Armor at the forefront.

Thanks to how highly esteemed the veteran leaders were among the people, there was no opposition to Viola’s rule following the defeat in the Three Kingdoms War.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Fenria was completely under the control of Greys Fanpinel’s knights, and the primary rebel factions had already been subdued by Miliana, leaving only Viola’s supporters behind.

The people of Fenria, who had long criticized the kingdom’s incompetent politicians, now welcomed Viola’s rise with enthusiasm. No longer seeing themselves as part of the the Three Kingdoms of Istria, they embraced the new identity of a united front against the empire, under the banner of the alliance led by Viola—the Ranion Alliance.

With the emergence of Viola’s new faction, the clouds of war spread over the continent.

“Is everything ready?”

“All forces are assembling at the frontline at the Twin Armor. Everything will be ready within a month”

“Hurry things along. We’re the last ones to move. This time, we can’t afford to lag behind. The empire must already be prepared, and we need to join the battle.”

“I understand.”

Greys nodded toward Viola, who stood on the palace terrace, gazing down below. The streets bustled with activity as carriages moved in all directions and soldiers streamed continuously through the open city gates. It had been a long time since the capital had been so full of life.

“It’s impressive,” Viola murmured, her tone hinting at admiration. She had grown sharper and more refined—both in demeanor and presence. It wasn’t just her appearance; time had tempered her, giving her the grace of a queen.

“Indeed. It’s a first, isn’t it?”

Greys, who had also grown stronger, subtly exuded the might of a Sword Master, evident even in his stillness.

“What do you mean?”

“The Three Kingdoms had always been superficially united through alliances and treaties, but in reality, they were too busy keeping each other in check to grow. Now, under your leadership, they’re truly united as one. This is a genuine alliance.”

Viola smiled faintly at his words.

“Yes... It’s just unfortunate that this unity is for war, not peace.”

Greys nodded in agreement.

“True, but this war is necessary to secure peace.”

After his attempt at consolation, Greys raised his hand, signaling for someone. A servant approached, holding something in both hands.

“I found this in the royal treasury. It’s a family heirloom, but His Majesty seems to have not used it for a long time.”

Greys grimaced as he knelt and offered the long object to Viola.

“Perhaps it’s for the best. If my father had mishandled and broken it, the kings of old would have wept,” Viola said as she gazed down at the slender sword.

“The Silver Wrath.”

The thin, delicate rapier seemed perfectly suited for Viola’s graceful form. The golden jewel embedded in the hilt gleamed with brilliance.

Srring—

Viola drew the blade halfway out of its scabbard. The sharp edge seemed to hum softly, as if eager to be wielded.

As she looked at the Silver Wrath, she whispered to herself, “Now we’re ready.”

***

As the southern regions and the Three Kingdoms of Istria began to move, the atmosphere of war spread even across the sea to the principality.

Thud— Thud—!

Chiiiiiik...!

All around, the sound of machines echoed. In the underground ruins beneath the Northern Frost Plateau, countless people moved in perfect coordination.

“The mass production of armor for the golems has been completed. We’ll begin equipping the smaller golems as quickly as possible.”

“You work fast. The designs were only just finalized.”

“It’s all thanks to the support from the Gnome Kingdom, right?”

The bags under Anthem Howard’s eyes suggested he hadn’t slept in days, and his complexion had paled considerably from spending too long underground. Still, he seemed like he could keep going.

Wingel Hart, golem engineer and magitechnician, nodded in agreement.

“We couldn’t have done it without Lord Calypson’s help.”

“You’re too kind. We didn’t do much,” said the old gnome as he tinkered with something at his large metal desk. He didn’t even turn his head, seemingly focused on his work.

“The gnomes’ craftsmanship is something we can’t hope to match. Their help has been invaluable. We’ve already confirmed their strength during the war of the Three Kingdoms of Istria,” said Wingel Hart with satisfaction.

“Thanks to that, we were able to refine the core of Revol, advancing it to the next level. The only regret is that we couldn’t create the power core for Ascalon. If only he had helped, things might have been different.”

“Not everyone shares the same goals.” Anthem Howard clicked his tongue in frustration. Before leaving, Karyl had given him two tasks—the development of golems and the creation of a tactical formation. Anthem had considered Darryl Harian, leader of the Golden Magic Society, the perfect person for the second task.

Known as the Magic Bullet, Darryl led the Golden Magic Society, a group formed to find Polsetia, a legendary grimoire from the Mythical Era. Although they had lent their strength to the principality, with its fall, they had refused further support, focusing instead on fulfilling their own purpose.

“A legendary grimoire... does that really exist?” Calypson asked as he worked on refining a magical stone.

“You never know. The Golden Magic Society might reveal an unexpected twist,” Wingel responded.

“Perhaps, but let’s hope that twist benefits us.”

“If it’s Karyl, he’ll probably brush aside even those variables.”

“True.”

With that, they all shared a light smile.

“At least we won’t be empty-handed. We have something to show him,” Calypson said as he placed a white stone onto the desk in front of Anthem.

“What’s that?”

“It’s still a prototype, but I just managed to finish it in time. It’s the colorless elemental stone he requested.”

Calypson placed the stone into a small box.

Click—

With a series of clanks, the mechanisms within the box engaged, sealing it with multiple layers of locks.

“You’ve been making golem and dragon equipment day and night... and you still managed to create this?” Anthem marveled.

“Well, you’re no different, my friend. You’ve come up with a new tactical formation, haven’t you?”

“It’s still a work in progress,” Anthem admitted modestly.

“You say that, but I can see the excitement in your eyes,” Calypson chuckled. “You can’t wait to show him. Is Karl waiting in the port?”

“Yes,” Anthem confirmed.

Karl, once a mere apprentice of the famed McMeister in a past life, now commanded all of Tatur’s naval fleets in Suan’s stead. Though some of the rough sailors had initially doubted him due to his young age, Karl had gradually earned their respect, eventually cementing his position as the undisputed ruler of the straits.

Calypson stood up.

Thud— Thud—!

Below, gnomes trained by him were working diligently, crafting elemental stones with precision. He watched the bustling scene, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment. It was a sight he had long dreamed of. At his old age, the gnome realized that his last wish was to preserve this vision—something he had never thought he would live to see.

Turning to Anthem, he said, “Let’s go. It’s time to fulfill our duty.”

***

The old man gazed intently at the chess piece that had been moved on the board and let out a low sigh.

“How long has it been since you arrived here?”

“It’s already been three months.”

“Haha...”

At first glance, it appeared to be a game of chess, but the size was anything but ordinary. The board wasn’t even resting on the desk; it hovered in the air, appearing faint and translucent like a hologram.

Snap!

The old man snapped his fingers, and the chess piece moved. But the chessboard in front of them wasn’t the usual 8x8 grid. Instead, it was three times larger—a massive 24x24 board with 576 squares in total. Moreover, aside from the king and queen, the pieces were quadrupled, making the game resemble an actual war.

“Incredible. It’s only been three months, and you've already mastered the Resonance, the legal text of the Dawn Society. The society acknowledges your deep understanding of magic, just as you hoped.”

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

While the entire continent was stirring with the news of war, there was one place seemingly detached from the chaos—the Ivory Tower, the headquarters of the Dawn Society, a major branch of the continent’s magical academies.

The old man pulled out a small box from under the desk.

“This is the magical compendium compiled by Kaye Aesir. Until now, no one has managed to replicate such magic, but I believe you are different. The magic you demonstrated when you first arrived here bears a striking resemblance to the power of the dragon hunters from 250 years ago."

“That’s not what I’m after.”

"Your talent is comparable to Serga’s, though in a different sense.”

“How can I meet him?”

“From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I recognized your unforeseen talent. That’s precisely why I kept you from meeting Serga.”

“You keep evading the point. I must confront him.”

“I fail to see why you are so insistent. You’re already a highly capable sorcerer.”

The old man’s voice carried the weight of immense power, and his actions were marked by a dignified grace, evident from his many years of experience.

Clad in an ivory robe, the old man’s deep-set eyes carried the weight of wisdom and time. He was Berchi Blano, master of the Ivory Tower and head of the Dawn Society, said to possess the greatest magical prowess on the continent. His strength, nearing the 8th Class, was palpable in the very air around him.

“Mikhail.”

Berchi gazed at the person across from him.

“So the Dawn Society has decided to protect him. I thought this society was supposed to remain neutral. I didn’t expect someone of your caliber to delay me with a mere tower trial when you could have killed me outright.”

A subtle yet powerful aura emanated from Mikhail, wrapped in countless protective layers, akin to an onion.

“Serga is a remarkable disciple, and it’s not because you’re an outsider. He’s a sorcerer who trained at the Imperial Academy. Engaging in a duel with him could spark a conflict with the empire.”

“And so what? They’re already our enemy.”

“...What?”

Mikhail smiled as he spoke. In fact, the Ivory Tower might have been the first to unofficially declare war against the empire.

Boom—!!!

And at that moment—

“Hold the line!”

“Protect the tower gates!”

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed from the lower part of the tower.

“...”

Berchi Blano’s face hardened as he turned to look at Mikhail.

“Mikhail!!”

A familiar feminine voice called out from below the tower, causing Mikhail to smile slightly.

Boom—!!

“Aaagh!!”

“Gugh...!”

Smoke surged up from the stairs below, and where it touched, everything started to freeze.

“To be honest, I was conflicted. I wondered how I could prove myself to my lord. The tower master said that if I reached the top of the tower, I could issue any challenge. But now I understand—this magic society fears the empire. He’s not here, is he?"

“You...”

As Berchi Blano’s magic stirred, Mikhail felt a tremendous force press down on him.

“Do you intend to turn not only the empire but the entire Dawn Society into your enemy? Your courage is admirable, but do you really think you can leave here unscathed?”

“Indeed, it would be impossible on my own,” Mikhail agreed.

At that moment, the door to the room burst open.

“What are you doing? It’s been ages since Karyl sent for you, and you’re still here?”

Serica Lauren strode in, slamming her massive scythe-like spear onto the floor. She looked very different from the person Mikhail remembered. Her once delicate frame now seemed sharpened like a blade, and the scars marking her body spoke of intense training.

“This is no time to be idly chatting with an old man. Don’t let yourself get played by him.”

She casually rubbed her nose, then grabbed Mikhail’s hand and pulled him along.

Whooosh...!

Suddenly, black smoke began to rise around her, and strange soldiers wrapped in bandages appeared.

“What are these...?”

“Slaves. They’re an undead army created by the necromancers of the Immortal Council.”

Mikhail gazed in shock at the undead soldiers, who looked like mummies.

“But why are they here?”

“It’s a direct order from Karyl—no, from our lord. We are to open the first salvo of the Imperial War by bringing down the Dawn Society.”

Magic is the key variable that can sway any battle. The moment the sorcerers of the Dawn Society, who supported the empire, joined the war, predicting the outcome would become nearly impossible.

However, the soldiers of the Immortal Council were not human; they were undead. Even if the attempt to bring down the Ivory Tower failed, their army would suffer no real losses, making this strategy all the more advantageous.

“And there's a personal message as well. If you fail this mission, I won’t let it slide. Aidan delivered Simon Coden’s head, after all. That’s what he said.”

“Haha...” Mikhail couldn’t help laughing drily at the message.

“Aaagh...! Aaaagh...!”

The clash of battle and screams echoed from below, where the slaves of the Immortal Council had been summoned.

“You wretch...! Do you have any idea where you are!?” Berchi Blano roared as he unleashed his magic. It was so powerful that it felt almost suffocating.

Simon Coden, the master of the Eastern Kingdom, had been a formidable opponent, but Berchi Blano, the man standing before Mikhail now, was in a league of his own. His magical prowess was on par with the 8th Class, marking him as one of the most powerful sorcerers alive.

Mikhail was starting to doubt whether he could actually take down such a mighty foe.

Clang—!!

But Serica, without a moment’s hesitation, swung her massive scythe-like spear directly at the old sorcerer's neck.

“There’s no point in showing etiquette when fighting. If you’ve decided to attack, don’t ask for permission—just sink your teeth into their throat.”

Crack... Crack...!!

Her attack was effortlessly blocked by Berchi’s shield spell.

“Is this all you’ve got to offer? A spear-wielding sorcerer? What an ill-bred mongrel...!”

“So what?”

Instead of showing fear or hesitation, Serica simply swung her spear once more.

“The war has already begun. Watch your neck. Even a stray dog can bite hard.”