Chapter 573 – Buying Time.

The sound of hooves grew louder, rhythmic and deep like thunder rolling over the plains. Dust curled up behind a great column of cavalry and foot soldiers clad in blue and silver. Banners bearing the stag of House Valerian rippled in the wind as Alphonse, Knight Commander of Theodore Valerian, rode at the front of a force nearly three thousand strong.

They came in orderly lines, disciplined and deadly. Their armor gleamed, untouched by battle, and their mounts were well-groomed. At the center of the formation marched a trio of siege towers and enchanted rams, prepared to tear down walls if necessary. But as the army scaled the final hill overlooking Aldbourne, a ripple of confusion passed through the ranks.

The city still stood. Its outer walls were intact. Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys, not the aftermath of destruction they expected. People moved through the battlements, not fleeing from their army, just curious. Evidence of a magical battle stretched in every direction. Craters of all sizes scarred the ground.

However, something was amiss. There were no intact monster corpses in sight. Only trails in the dirt remained, as though the bodies had been dragged away in haste. Here and there, parts of dead abominations still lay scattered, but anything of value had been taken. It was as if the people moving through the aftermath were salvage experts, determined to profit at all costs.

“This is most improper.”

Alphonse narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the city. Their intelligence had reported enemy forces taking control of Aldbourne, but nothing had prepared them for this. The outer walls showed little damage. Claw marks covered much of the surface, yet most of the stone fortifications had held firm. He had expected the gates to be breached and the battle to spill into the streets. He had assumed the city was only captured after the monsters had forced their way inside. But no such breach had occurred. To make matters worse, strange metallic contraptions were now attached to the walls, their purpose unclear and unsettling.

The strange metallic contraptions clicked and buzzed, their movements accompanied by a silent mechanical noise and bright flashing runes. From within their metal frames, tube-shaped appendages extended, resembling cannons. One by one, they shifted their aim, as if they had been waiting for someone to come within range. Alphonse sensed that something was wrong and immediately raised his hand in a clear signal.

“Raise thine shields!”

The front ranks complied at once, raising enchanted tower shields as the constructs began to glow. A heartbeat later, beams of concentrated mana shoot out from the walls, slamming into the shields with explosive force. Soldiers staggered. One unlucky group failed to raise protections in time and was blown off their feet, their armor scorched by heated mana.

“Fall back! Withdraw, beyond their reach, immediately, I say!”

Alphonse barked out orders while pulling his mount to a halt. The troops quickly retreated to a safer distance, shields raised and mages casting defensive barriers as the constructs paused, their mechanisms stopping as they recharged. Alphonse cursed under his breath and scanned the walls once more. Then, without warning, a figure rose into the air. It was a man clad in ornate, unfamiliar armor. He hovered effortlessly, as if the sky itself welcomed him, and a moment later, his voice carried across the entire field.

“I am High Commander Wayland of Albrook.”

“It’s him!”

Alphonse looked to his side, where one of his men shouted in indignation. The man floating above the city was the one responsible for this knight’s downfall. Not long ago, he had been a promising Knight Commander, but after suffering a crushing defeat, he was demoted. Despite the disgrace, his strength as a tier-three class holder remained unquestioned. He had been given another chance to prove himself, now serving as a Knight Captain. Yet he had never forgotten the humiliation that Commander Wayland had dealt him.

“Steady thyself, Emmerson. Let not thy heart betray thee.”

“…”

Emmerson gritted his teeth but listened. Alphonse’s eyes stayed locked on the floating figure. He knew who Roland was, and he had met the man before. His strength had been confirmed with his victory over Emmerson but he didn’t believe that he would lose himself if it came to a proper fair battle.

“By request of Aldbourne’s acting mayor, we responded to the dungeon break. The local forces abandoned the city. Under noble law and the crisis edict, this territory is now under the protection of Arthur Valerian.”

A stunned silence fell over the soldiers behind Alphonse. Even Emmerson, who seethed with unspoken fury, paused at the boldness of the declaration.

“This city did not fall because of our efforts. Theodore Valerian abandoned it. He has no right to claim it. That is why you should all leave now, you are not welcome in these lands. If you do not retreat, we will see this as an act of war!”

Alphonse sneered. It was clear the man had come prepared, perhaps even expecting this confrontation. Still, this was not how the world worked. The strong always rose to the top, and from what Alphonse could see, their opposition lacked a proper army. Most likely, their own city had been struck hard by the dungeon break, and they could only spare a handful of soldiers to defend Aldbourne. This was the difference between the man he served, Theodore, and the upstart named Arthur. Theodore’s forces had been gathering for years, backed by superior resources and planning. Taking this city would not be difficult.

“Speak not thy justifications to mine ears. I care naught for twisted laws nor borrowed banners. This soil is sworn to Lord Theodore Valerian, by blood, by bond, and by birthright. Thou art trespassers all.”

He raised his arm, signaling to his officers. Mages began chanting, counter-barriers forming to intercept another volley from the wall golems. However, before anyone could attack, something unexpected happened, something not even the man floating up in the sky was counting on.

“I challenge you to a duel, face me!”

Emmerson’s voice rang out over the field, cutting through the rising tension like a blade. All eyes turned to him, his steely gaze locked onto Roland, and his voice was filled with barely contained rage. Alphonse turned, surprised, but did not stop him.

“I’ll settle this with him, here and now.”

Roland’s eyes narrowed behind his rune-etched helm. He had not expected this turn of events, but he saw the opportunity immediately. What he needed was time. The plan had been delayed, but everything was still progressing within acceptable limits. If these people were offering him a reason to stall, he would take it without hesitation.

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“I accept.”