At least for soldiers of the Heiner Empire, there was no mistaking what this signal meant. Theo’s face hardened as he quickly moved forward, with Luke unconsciously following behind.

"Luke, have you forgotten you’re currently suspended? Stay where you are," Theo ordered firmly.

"Ah…." Luke stopped in his tracks as Theo swiftly exited the dormitory and headed toward the headquarters’ situation room. Along the way, he encountered other captains who joined him, and together they proceeded to the final quadrant of the headquarters where the central control room was located.

The situation room was the nerve center for detecting anomalies like enemy invasions or monster attacks. It also served as the primary communication hub for all branches of the imperial military.

"What’s the situation?" Theo asked as he entered.

The person in charge of the room was Captain Roena Serlien of the 2nd Division, the only female captain in the empire’s military. Her fiery red hair was tied up high, and she let out a deep sigh as she addressed the gathered captains.

"Two minutes ago, the eastern branch reported a sudden surge in magical energy. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that a large number of monsters have appeared near the eastern border. The report also states that the Kingdom of Mambern is leading the invasion."

"Mambern?" Theo’s eyes widened.

"It seems our empire has been thoroughly blindsided," Roena said bitterly.

Following the Harnus family scandal, Mambern had been forced to back down completely. After being caught planting spies in a wartime nation—a morally reprehensible move—they had no choice but to bow their heads. Espionage and underhanded tactics between nations were common, but the issue lay in whether or not such actions came to light. Unfortunately for Mambern, their schemes had been exposed, forcing them to extend a peace offering.

Mambern had initiated peace talks after previously fighting over control of the Rotelli maritime zone. The sudden shift to diplomacy had lulled the empire into a false sense of security.

"The peace treaty… it was all just a ruse to catch us off guard," Theo muttered, clenching his fist. This was, without a doubt, a failure on the empire’s part. They should never have let their guard down, no matter the circumstances.

"They brought monsters. Does that mean they’re invading on land?" asked Leo, who, for once, had dropped his usual playful demeanor.

"Exactly," Roena replied. "Unlike before, this time they’re approaching by land instead of sea."

Given Mambern’s status as a nation built on maritime trade, they were far more adept at naval battles than land-based warfare. For them to abandon their strength and invade on land meant they must have developed new strategies—or perhaps new weapons. The monsters they brought with them seemed to be a key part of this shift.

"Are they relying on monsters to make up for their shortcomings?" Theo asked.

"That’s highly likely," Roena confirmed with a nod.

"Currently, they’re advancing toward the third barrier of the eastern border. They’re using the monsters to break through the barrier, and at this rate, they’ll reach the main barrier in no time. Judging by how quickly they’re destroying the barriers, they won’t hold for long."

At that moment, the doors to the situation room opened, and Veil, the Commander-in-Chief, entered. His presence immediately silenced the room as all the captains snapped to attention, their conversations ceasing mid-sentence. They quickly formed ranks and saluted.

"I will issue commands now," Veil announced, his booming voice reverberating through the room. There was an unmistakable gravity to his tone, one that underscored the severity of the situation.

"Their objective is to seize control of the eastern branch and the key regions surrounding it."

By doing so, Mambern would effectively hold the eastern territories hostage, forcing the empire to completely relinquish their claim to the Rotelli maritime zone.

"The 1st, 7th, and 3rd Divisions will move to the eastern border and engage on the front lines. The 5th Division will cross the Uric Mountains to the east, cut off their retreat, and locate and eliminate their base of operations."

This assignment would normally fall to the Detached Force. Operating independently from the main battlefield and carrying out high-risk missions was typically Luke’s domain.

"The 2nd Division will oversee operations from the situation room, coordinating all communications via the enchanted crystals. The 4th Division will join forces with the eastern branch to prioritize the evacuation of local residents. Under no circumstances can we allow them to succeed! Move out!"

Veil’s commanding voice galvanized the captains, who swiftly left the room to carry out their orders.

***

Bright sunlight poured over the streets, casting a warm and serene glow. The tranquil scenery itself was the very symbol of peace. As always, Rudrain Plaza was bustling with citizens going about their day, their faces free of worry or fear.

The Heiner Empire, often praised as one of the best places to live. That reputation implied not only a nation rarely touched by danger but also one with the strength to confront and overcome any threat. A nation's prosperity is built on wealth, enriched by culture, and safeguarded by its military. Behind that belief and strength stood the imperial army, known as the sword and guardian deity of the empire.

In the magic preservation zone, an uncountable number of soldiers had gathered. Clad in their combat uniforms, they stood in perfect formation, not a single one out of line. From above, it would look like countless dots arranged in precise intervals.

"We will now move to the eastern border," Theo declared, standing confidently at the forefront. On either side of him stood Leo and Myles.

"Forget everything you know about the Mambern we’ve fought until now! They have brought a new weapon into this war—monsters."

Theo’s voice was both commanding and heavy with authority, causing the soldiers to swallow nervously.

"But even that poses no problem for us. Whether it’s monsters or men, it’s our duty as soldiers of this empire to annihilate anything that threatens its safety!"

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers roared back in unison, their voices echoing across the field.

"From this moment on, there are only two things you need to focus on," Theo continued, his tone sharp and unyielding.

Behind him, a massive warp magic circle began to form, its intricate patterns glowing as it activated.

"Eliminate the enemy, and no matter what, do not die."

With those final words, a thunderous cheer erupted from the soldiers. The warp circle shimmered to life, its energy surging as it activated, swallowing the enormous formation of soldiers in one sweeping motion.

***

"Fale!"

"Y-Yes, sir?"

Fale, who had been obediently following Theo’s instructions to keep out of the way, was crouched against a wall when Luke’s sudden shout startled him so badly that he practically leapt to his feet.

"You’re with the administrative unit, right? You should be able to figure out what’s going on."

"Uh… yes! I can!" Fale stammered, glancing at the crimson-glowing crystal before nodding resolutely. He had already guessed what Luke wanted and immediately sprinted out of the dormitory.

A short while later, Fale returned with information. He explained the sudden invasion by Mambern, the deployment of monsters, and their strategy to seize control of the eastern region.

"Mambern is using monsters?" Luke asked, his brows furrowing.

"Yes, and it doesn’t seem like they’re just lower-tier monsters," Fale replied, still catching his breath after running back.

Mambern’s military strength had always been significantly inferior to that of the empire. Their ability to sustain a prolonged war with the mighty Heiner Empire was primarily due to their dominance in naval warfare, where they were considered a powerhouse. Battles with Mambern had always taken place at sea, never on land. For them to now launch a land invasion against the empire—renowned for its ground forces—and to do so by catching the empire off guard, could only mean one thing.

"They must have something up their sleeve," Luke murmured.

Mambern was far behind other nations when it came to magical sciences. As other countries increasingly leveraged magic to enhance their military strength, Mambern had struggled to keep up. Utilizing monsters required a specific type of magic known as enslavement magic. This was a rare and challenging field of magic, and the number of mages skilled in it was limited. Did Mambern, a nation lagging in magical advancements, suddenly acquire a capable practitioner of such magic?

"This doesn’t feel right… Fale."

"Yes, sir?"

"Do you know the current deployment of the imperial army?"

"Actually, I thought you might ask, so I found out," Fale said, pulling out a map that detailed the eastern region.

"This area along the border, the critical zone where Mambern is invading, is being handled by the 1st, 3rd, and 7th Divisions," Fale explained, pointing to the locations.

Theo and Leo were among the most skilled captains in the imperial army, and even Myles, as much as Luke disliked him, was a powerful mage whose combat abilities were highly effective.

"And the 5th Division is here," Fale continued, sliding his finger across the map. The imperial garrison was positioned at the rearmost part of the region, surrounded by the Uric Mountains. This mountainous terrain, known for its treacherous paths and labyrinthine routes, was infamous even among seasoned soldiers for its difficulty.

"The 5th Division has been tasked with crossing the mountains to flank the invaders, locate Mambern’s base of operations, and neutralize it," Fale added, his tone cautious as he glanced at Luke.

Originally, such a mission would have fallen to the Detached Force, led by Luke. Operating behind enemy lines and striking at critical points was their specialty. But with Luke suspended, he was effectively sidelined while everyone else was mobilized.

"Uh… Captain," Fale began hesitantly.

"What?"

Despite his suspension, Luke seemed deeply engrossed in understanding the battlefield’s dynamics. Fale couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern. Should he really be giving Luke this information so openly?

"You’re not planning to… join the war or anything, right?" Fale asked cautiously.

Luke, who had been scrutinizing the map intently, lifted his gaze. His eyes met Fale’s, and a sly grin spread across his face.

"Come on, what do you take me for? I’m suspended. How could I possibly do anything?"

"Right! Of course. Haha, I was just worrying over nothing," Fale replied, laughing nervously.

"I’m just curious, that’s all. Sure, it’s a shame I can’t join the war and rack up achievements, but what can you do? I might as well use this time to relax."

Luke stretched lazily and let out a mock yawn, giving every impression of someone planning to spend the day doing absolutely nothing. Fale let out a quiet sigh of relief. No matter how unpredictable and reckless Luke could be, surely even he wouldn’t act rashly while under suspension.

"Fale, I’m planning to spend the whole day locked in my room, sleeping. There’s no need for you to bother monitoring me. Just go handle your own work."

"Understood, sir!" Fale saluted sharply.

Luke turned away, leaving Fale to his own devices. But as soon as his back was to the young soldier, Luke’s expression hardened. His face betrayed a steely resolve, one that had been absent just moments before.