The Absolute Spear, Patracion, advanced to the Abyss Plains alongside the Cataphract.

Not long ago, Patracion had been gathering forces to drive out the progenitor of vampires, Tirkanjaka. Patracion thought this operation was only natural. The progenitor of vampires was too significant to roam the land freely, both politically and militarily. Moreover, the Military Nation had many things to hide.

The Military Nation was a country built by dismantling and reassembling all forms of systems and technologies in the world. Even the methods of the Holy See were included in that. One could wonder what the progenitor would think when faced with that... although curious, Patracion had no desire to test it out. Quietly driving her out seemed the most reasonable course. That was the mindset with which Patracion undertook the mission.

Of course, this was all just an ‘excuse’ to be able to fight, but the real reason Patracion took part in the mission was simply that he was a battle maniac.

Thus, Patracion nearly disobeyed the command to head to the Abyss.

“What on earth? Suddenly telling us to go to the Abyss?”

Perched on top of the Cataphract, Patracion ran his hand through his hair. He had received a report that Jiseon had gone to the Abyss without saying a word. The report from the communications officer detailed how Jiseon had performed the ritual to release the Abyss, regardless of the presence of the progenitor and several others residing within Tantalos.

However, seeing was believing. No matter how much he’d heard, nothing could compare to witnessing it with his own eyes. Faced with the outcome, Patracion was left speechless.

A surreal, enormous hole, and next to it, the overturned Tantalos lying eerily on its side. The concrete ground, unable to bear its weight, had snapped and formed a slanted slope. It looked as if a giant had flipped open the lid covering the hole and departed. The sight alone was enough to inspire awe. Patracion spoke to Majang.

“So, the Earth Mother really does exist, huh? Right, old lady?”

“All faiths have their reasons. Even if it’s not a god, if it has power comparable to one, then it’s no different from a god. In the past, magic too was called the power of the gods.”

“…I wasn’t asking for a lecture on magic, old-timer.”

“I participated in the operation to move Tantalos to the Abyss. It’s nothing new to me.”

“Not exciting at all.”

Patracion shook his head in disinterest, staring at Tantalos. Then, he noticed something prowling around it and frowned.

“What’s that?”

Suspicious figures loitered around Tantalos, a precious asset of the Military Nation. Their appearance didn’t resemble anything familiar, which made Patracion recognize them. After all, he’d encountered them most frequently when he served as the Northern Commander.

“Wolves already gathered in a pack? Those bastards have a damn keen sense of smell... Wait a minute.”

It was natural for wolves to be attracted to such a large prey as Tantalos. They, scattered everywhere, would have sensed the anomaly first. But no matter how he looked, there was a figure too large to dismiss as merely a ‘wolf.’

“A Juggernaut?”

Like the sun slowly emerging from behind the moon, as Patracion drew closer, a massive structure concealed in Tantalos’s shadow gradually revealed itself. It was a ship drifting on land. A colossal ship, the size of a hill, creeping forward on dozens of auxiliary wheels.

The only thing in the Alchemical Nations that could be called a ‘city’ on the move. Although smaller than Tantalos, its movement, despite its enormous size, was awe-inspiring.

Majang’s expression grew grave upon seeing it.

“A Juggernaut… isn’t that one of the bigwigs of the Alchemical Nations? They never set foot outside their homeland. What are they doing here?”

“Maybe they intend to make this place their new homeland,” Patracion muttered as he looked off into the distance.

“Out of nowhere, we were told to go to the Abyss. Doesn’t seem like a mere sightseeing trip.”

“Indeed. The size of the gathered forces was excessive for dealing with just a few individuals. Could it be that the High Command anticipated this from the start...?”

“Facing a Juggernaut isn’t something a single unit can handle.”

As the approaching enemy grew larger, Patracion’s shoulders began to tremble. Majang quietly watched his back before speaking.

“Patracion.”

“What is it, old lady?”

“Are you smiling?”

Without answering, Patracion nodded.

As they got closer, a small shadow darted out from the Juggernaut. A four-legged beast landed on the ground and charged forward at a formidable speed. The rider halted in front of Patracion and Majang’s Cataphract, calling out to Majang from a slight distance.

“Military Nation sure is convenient. It’s obvious at a glance who’s in charge. Are you the leader?”

“I am Commander Frelybior of the Military Nation,” Majang replied with a nod, and the rider’s eyes widened in surprise at the familiar name.

“Oh ho! The renowned Six General herself! We’ve got a big shot here!”

“Are you the envoy of the Juggernaut?”

“You could say that. But tell me, what is the Military Nation’s legion doing near the border?”

With arms crossed, Majang replied,

“…We should be the ones asking that. Why is the Juggernaut approaching the Military Nation’s territory?”

“Hahaha! Why would wolves like us be here? We heard there was a commotion, so we came to see if there’s anything worth picking up!”

“With the Juggernaut?”

“Looks like there’s plenty to pick up! To carry loads that won’t fit in your hands, you need a cart. And for those loads that won’t fit in a cart, you need a bigger wagon! Seemed like our little jaws couldn’t handle all this on our own, so we brought the Juggernaut! But… wait a moment.”

The rider’s expression shifted as he continued.

“But don’t you think it’s strange? While it’s typical for folks like us to show up, the Military Nation, who isn’t even at war, brought their slow-moving legion here as well?”

Majang answered calmly,

“This is Military Nation territory. Our forces can come here.”

“No, this is the border. When did the barren Abyss Plains become part of your territory?”

“This land was under the Kingdom’s control since ancient times.”

“Ha! What a joke. You’re the Military Nation, not the Kingdom. So why bring up the Kingdom? Are you finally installing a new king? After killing the last one with your own hands?”

The rider laughed, provoking those memories of the Kingdom that unsettled even those loyal to the current government. For those who had opposed the king, it was a reminder that they were responsible for his death. No matter how tyrannical he was, he had still been the king.

In Majang’s case, she had been among those who rebelled. Yet even she, a Six General, hadn’t wanted the king to die. Like most participants in the coup, she’d thought to hold the king as a hostage to bring about change, thinking it easier to fix what existed than destroy and rebuild.

But the king had died by accident, trampled in the rage of the crowd. Since his death was unintentional, ironically, no one could be blamed for it. His end was hollow.

Majang’s expression grew even darker, and the rider smirked as he pressed on.

“Back then, this wasn’t even your territory. And now, a bunch of rebels, who killed the king with their own hands, think they can inherit the Kingdom’s borders? What a spectacle!”

“Enough with the sophistry! Tantalos is a Military Nation asset. Conquering the Abyss was the Military Nation’s feat. Whatever your reasons, you have no justification to plunder Tantalos with the Juggernaut! Are you declaring war without a word of warning?”

“War? How absurd! If this land truly belonged to you, you wouldn’t have needed to bring your army. Who brings an entire legion into their own land? You felt guilty, didn’t you?”

The rider scrutinized their surroundings before continuing,

“Really makes one wonder. Juggernauts can move fast, so we arrived here quickly. But why did the Military Nation gather its legion here almost at the same time? Did you intend to start a war from the beginning?”

“Now that’s just delusional.”

“Delusion? We arrived only an hour ago! Only a single Juggernaut arrived, just one! Yet you brought twice as many troops as us! Who’s the real invader here?”

Even as one of the Six Generals, Majang found it difficult to answer. She had only acted on orders from the High Command, unaware of the situation here until she arrived. It was almost impressive how the High Command had foreseen and gathered forces in advance.

“Why so quiet? What, did you see the future? Are you a saint now? Preparing for a war before it even starts, huh?”

However, she couldn’t reveal sensitive information about the High Command to the enemy. Just as Majang hesitated to answer,

“Now, now. Let’s all calm down.”

Patracion, who had been sitting at the edge of the Cataphract, intervened in the conversation.

“No matter how much you argue, it all comes down to this: the Earth Mother’s curse has been lifted from this land. The Abyss, which sucked in everything, is gone, and the land will grow fertile again. Naturally, neither side wants to give it up.”

The Military Nation had negotiated directly with Jiseon to build Tantalos and cast it into the Abyss. Although it had been a price Jiseon demanded in return for creating the Meta-Convayer Belt, the Military Nation undeniably had a significant stake here.

And the Alchemical Nations sought land where they could settle.

The Abyss was a hole that devoured everything. In a place where weight equaled value, losing something to the Abyss represented a permanent loss. They had been terrified and avoided it, but now that it was gone, they couldn’t expand any further without establishing a foothold here.

A land neither side could afford to yield. With both countries vying for it,

“There’s only one way left.”

Patracion slung his spear over his shoulder, saying the words no one wanted to utter.

“—War.”

Words have a strange power. Although everyone had thought it, no one had fully visualized it. Yet, as Patracion spoke that word, it became a certainty, as if something had spilled over and solidified.

The first to react was the rider.

“…So you finally show your true colors! You started this!”

Dust clouds rose behind Majang.

Her Cataphract had been slightly exposed while talking with the rider, and the followers hadn’t noticed or stopped the approach. In that moment, three assailants leapt out of the ground, launching themselves at Majang.

The rider shouted in joy,

“That’s what I like about the Military Nation! It’s obvious who’s in charge!”

The Alchemical Nations were the land of alchemy. Their fundamental skill was transforming touched materials at will. The combat alchemists had tunneled through the ground using impromptu alchemy for a sneak attack.

A completely unexpected assault from below. However—

“Foolish.”

Before they could even mount the Cataphract, a round hole appeared in the chest of the attackers.

A red mist spread backward. The sand, soaked in blood, clumped and fell. Though they were seasoned warriors with decent armor fitting of the Alchemical Nations, they fell without surviving even a single move, returning to the earth.

There was no doubt who had done it. He was still seated, with his spear extended.

“Yes. This is it. I’d forgotten for a long time… but this is it.”

“A spear… Don’t tell me…”

Patracion was neither wearing a coat nor a rank insignia. Yet, the sight of the spear master standing beside Majang left no room for doubt.

The rider, his voice trembling, uttered the name,

“Patracion? The Knight of Rebellion?”

There was no need to confirm it. Instead, Patracion raised his spear and pointed it forward. Smiling a long-restrained smile, he aimed it at both the rider and the distant Juggernaut.

“After all, a duel needs a worthy opponent—someone who stakes body and soul on something they desire. The progenitor… had a good feel, but lacked the resonance of the soul. This is far better than dragging along someone who doesn’t want to fight.”

The word "war" encapsulates countless tragedies. It’s terrifying and sorrowful, which is why people tremble in fear at its mention.

Yet Patracion was smiling. His trembling held only exhilaration.

The man who dared to challenge an entire nation to a duel and succeeded—Patracion.

The rider, recalling his story, muttered a curse.

“…Madman.”

“It’s a duel. Take up your weapon. Victory is justice, and the victor will claim this land. Heaven… or rather, the Earth Mother will watch over the winner.”

But there was no retreat. If their opponent was willing to go to war, surrender would only lead to greater loss.

This is why, despite everyone’s aversion to war, it never truly disappears. The rider shouted,

“I won’t back down!”

“Hahahaha! Just as I wanted!”

The war between the Military Nation and the Alchemical Nations began with a single cry.