Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Enemy of the Revolution

“The enemy of the revolution.”

The statement from the mysterious individual was delivered with utter serenity, provoking an immediate and unanimous response among the riders of the Iron Brigade.

“Assume combat formations!”

“They are opponents of the revolution!”

Panic seized the surrounding crowd, which began to scatter in a stampede as cries pierced the air.

Clank, clank!

The mystical cuirasses, the hallmark of the Iron Brigade, reacted as if they possessed a life of their own, coupling firmly to the bodies of their wearers. The exterior metallic framework adjusted completely, infusing a great current of energy into the warriors.

The fighters of the Iron Brigade raised their arms at the same time.

In that instant, the mechanical limbs of their protections modified, adopting the shape of gun barrels. A fine layer of dark powder began to cover the surface of the cannons.

Despite this, the dark residue never reached the stranger, as a barrier of frozen blasts emerged from the ground to intercept them.

“Assault forces, advance!”

The front of the Iron Brigade spurred their mounts and advanced with determination amidst the tumult of people fleeing in terror; even so, the squadron did not lose the order of its formation.

Nonetheless, the situation did not change.

The mysterious man raised his arm unhurriedly toward the troops. At the same time, the dark cloak that covered him began to flutter and transform in an almost organic manner.

The edge of the dismal cloak molded into sharp blades of penumbra that struck violently, acting as a set of spears directed against the approaching riders.

Thud!

The phalanx of shadowy swords intercepted the advance, causing the steeds to collapse one after another.

Despite the spectacular fall, the riders of the Iron Brigade did not allow the bewilderment to slow them down; they regained their stance with agility and continued the offensive.

“The only destiny for opponents of the revolution is death!”

“……”

The fighters rushed forward brandishing weapons imbued with magical flows, but the individual did not show the slightest alteration.

From the dense darkness projected beneath his feet, multiple dark appendages of great length sprouted.

Slash!

“…!”

These branches of shadow rose rapidly, imprisoning and tearing apart the limbs of the soldiers. The scene transformed into an absolute execution, devoid of any martial balance.

“How… how can this be happening?!”

Colonel Bourbon contemplated the scene with profound stupefaction as he watched the elite of the insurgent forces fall. It was something entirely outside of all logic.

“From what place did such an aberration emerge…?”

It was inconceivable.

In an era where the flows of magic were dying out drastically, there still existed a user of the mystical arts with such a level of destruction.

“Aaaah, aaaaaah!”

The harrowing laments multiplied everywhere.

The imposing armors ended up dented, split, and shattered into pieces. Blood, tissue, and bone fragments erupted through the tears in the metal.

The respected defenders of the uprising ended up being manipulated like simple puppets under the whim of a merciless entity.

Facing such a panorama, Colonel Bourbon took an immediate resolution.

“Retreat! Order a general withdrawal!”

That had ceased to be a confrontation. Continuing to send soldiers lacked logic. The priority at that moment was to safeguard even a small group and ensure the escape.

The survivors of the Iron Brigade spurred their horses in the opposite direction, while the stranger observed their retreat in absolute silence.

It would have taken him a minimum effort to hunt them down and exterminate them completely, but he preferred not to act.

He simply shifted his gaze toward the girl, who was contemplating the carnage consumed by a deep panic.

“What impression does it make on you?”

The man inquired. Despite the intense clarity of the surroundings, the penumbra projected beneath his vestment remained dense and impenetrable.

Noticing that he was approaching, the young woman, Yufi, dropped to the ground because her lower limbs lost all firmness.

“I… I…”.

Yufi managed to articulate, with her eyes fixed on the human and material remains of the combatants.

“Even if you obtain your retribution, the spirit does not find the peace one would expect, right?”

“……”

Yufi did not utter a single word, while her slender shoulders did not stop trembling.

The demonstration of power that the individual had shown her previously came to her mind. However, she realized that that was merely the prelude to the abyss represented by his true capacity.

Although the terror she experienced was not directed toward the person of the man.

“What kind of horror have I unleashed…?”

“It is enough.”

Fear and remorse invaded her as she processed that she had brought about such a terrible slaughter through the use of such force. The stranger did not claim anything from her nor did he prolong the sermon; he simply directed his gaze elsewhere.

After a brief lapse of stillness, the subject spoke again.

“My name is Dale.”

“What…?”

“That is my name.”

“M-Mr. Dale…”.

Yufi pronounced, causing a slight hint of laughter to sprout from inside the hood. It was the first occasion in which she witnessed such a gesture from him.

“To what is it due… to what is the laughter due?”

“It is of no importance.”

Dale moved his head slightly to dismiss the matter.

“Shall we get moving?”

“Toward which direction?”

Yufi wanted to know, but Dale kept silent for a few moments before issuing an answer.

“Toward the outside.”

Dale obtained a mount and moved away from the borders of the town.

By his side traveled Yufi, a girl whose features bore an immense similarity to those of his deceased sister, Lize.

As night settled in the middle of the journey, Yufi ended up overcome by sleep next to the campfire. Dale focused his eyes on the immensity of the firmament, allowing himself to take a rest.

Escape never represented a real way out. No matter how much he intended to separate himself from everything, the environment always ended up dragging him back.

And even when he did not seek to evade reality,

He perceived a subtle movement among the shadows. The characteristic snap of a dry branch breaking.

“Show yourself.”

Dale sentenced, keeping his gaze straight ahead without flinching.

—Ah, please, do not get the wrong impression, traveler! I harbor no bad intentions!

A hurried voice, trying to conceal the startle, was heard in the darkness. Dale kept silent with incredulity as a figure became visible. Yufi, alerted by the unexpected event, sat up immediately due to the surprise.

“I am nothing more than a simple street informant, a rat.”

The silhouette finished showing itself under the light. Upon hearing that self-description, Dale understood the identity of the subject.

“I was a witness to the events that occurred today in the town. I was completely shocked by the way you reduced the revolutionary forces!”

“You have been following me since I departed.”

“Hehe, I suppose you were aware of my presence at all times, right?”

“Do you have some business to discuss with me?”

Dale questioned, maintaining a neutral attitude.

“Are you heading to any destination in particular, traveler?”

“I am looking for a safe place where this young lady can remain without running any danger.”

“…!”

Yufi held her breath upon hearing Dale’s intentions, and the individual who presented himself as a rat continued speaking.

—Ah, in that case, I know the ideal place! With total certainty, it is the most secure refuge for the damsel in all this territory!

“What place is it?”

“The fortress of Marquis Rosenheim, a noble highly devoted to the figure of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Do you provide your services to that noble?”

“In fact, yes. Given that you eliminated those insurgents from the Iron Brigade, I am fully convinced that the marquis will grant you a very generous retribution! What do you think about it?”

The environment never allows you to pull away easily. Undoubtedly, things presented themselves just as he foresaw.

Facing the situation, Dale made a gesture of assent with his head.

“I accept the proposal.”

After completing about a week of travel on horseback, Dale arrived at the fortress of Marquis Rosenheim, who received him with great enthusiasm.

“Oh, be very welcome! We awaited your arrival with anticipation!”

Yufi, entirely unacquainted with the courtesies proper to the aristocracy, held her breath caught in astonishment. Dale, for his part, raised his gaze with absolute serenity.

The member of the nobility who stood before him was not among his acquaintances of the past.

The dynamics of power taking place in this territory, called the “Ninth Empire,” were alien to Dale. Neither did they arouse his interest.

When he was released from his confinement in the ice and returned to reality, the environment no longer bore any relation to the one he remembered.

He had remained in isolation during endless periods, and that was his current reality.

In a time where Saxon no longer existed nor any of his loved ones, he found himself in absolute helplessness.

On the other hand, the vestiges of the Blue Tower, characterized by falsehoods and secret machinations, did not figure in the historical records. Because of this, he lacked the means to understand the desires or plans of Lize, as well as the outcome of her destiny.

Under that profound solitude, his only option consisted in prolonging a conflict devoid of purpose.

He continued with a perpetual and directionless march. That was all he had left.

Transiting from one point to another in an incessant manner, he kept moving like an individual trapped in a labyrinth, returning time and again to the same place of origin.

“The reports reached my ears that you possess an immense mystical prowess, capable of subjugating the Iron Brigade!”

Marquis Rosenheim manifested, leaving a deep admiration evident in his words.

“My emissary assured me that your capacities turn out to be astonishing in an epoch where the mystical arts find themselves in frank decadence!”

“……”

Dale did not issue an answer immediately, opting to maintain his hermetism. It was an undeniable reality. The dominion of the sorcerers and the influence of the great schools no longer possessed the weight of yesteryear. The same decline affected the use of combat energies and sword techniques.

In today’s society, technical advances supplied the degradation and lack of mana flows. The equipment of the Iron Brigade served as a clear testimony of said transition.

“For having contained the advance of the Iron Brigade in the domains of Leven, our state will not skimp on compensating your actions. What compensation do you request? Feel in total freedom to ask.”

Listening to the offers of Marquis Rosenheim, Dale directed a sideways glance. Yufi remained attentive, observing him timidly.

“She…”.

However, at the moment of formulating the request, Dale opted to interrupt his own sentence.

“Forget the matter, it is nothing. Allowing us to remain in this building for a lapse of time will be more than sufficient.”

“Understood. What is the staff doing standing there? Arrange everything immediately to attend to our distinguished guests in the best manner!”

“Mr. Dale…”.

Yufi experienced a sudden relief upon hearing Dale’s determination. Immediately following, a slight smile drew upon her face, reflecting her tranquility.

“Never in my military career did I witness a user of magic with such a destructive capacity!”

Colonel Bourbon, in command of the Iron Brigade, expressed himself manifesting a profound stupefaction that he could not contain.

“As far as my knowledge reaches, there did not exist in all the Empire a fighter capable of facing him.”

In a time where the mystical arts were agonizing, the historical periods in which an exceptional fighter could decimate a hundred opponents formed part of the past. At present, the course of military campaigns did not depend on outsized individualities, but on strategic planning and the coordinated work of the units.

Despite this, that individual, that being out of the ordinary, broke with all that preestablished scheme.

“If the Empire counted among its ranks an element of that magnitude, we would have received previous reports in that regard.”

After processing the data provided by Colonel Bourbon, the silhouette that was listening nodded with serenity.

“Even if he proclaims himself a detractor of the revolutionary movement, we lack indications that confirm he serves imperial interests. There still exists the possibility to engage in a dialogue. Continuing with his persecution would only derive in an unnecessary military attrition.”

“I understand.”

“Our main goal lies in overthrowing the obsolete structures of the old regime. That constitutes our cause and our duty. For the moment, concentrate your efforts on destabilizing the positions of the aristocracy defending the Empire.”

Colonel Bourbon made a movement of his head giving his approval to the approach.

“In addition, the Iron Brigade, provided with the Type 2 protection systems, finds itself in total readiness to initiate its initial maneuvers within the territories controlled by the Marquis of Rosenheim.”