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Horizon, standing before Obitus, felt his heart swell with emotion.

It had been a long, long time.

He had endured countless years of patience to stand in this very place.

Horizon was a descendant of Terodamas, who was said to have been annihilated.

Of course, he wasn’t a direct descendant.

When Terodamas was killed for betrayal, his family left in the capital was also executed to prevent any seeds of rebellion.

However, Horizon’s ancestor, who had secretly left to carry out Terodamas’ orders, managed to survive, preventing the complete annihilation of the Terodamas lineage.

But survival wasn’t the end.

His ancestor could only survive because he was a collateral descendant, not a direct one, and the rebels believed the Terodamas family had been wiped out, allowing them to deceive their enemies.

If they ever realized that a descendant of Terodamas still lived, they would stop at nothing to eliminate them.

Horizon’s ancestor, well aware of the danger, thoroughly hid his origins. They descended from the highest place to the lowest.

They concealed their family, passing the secret only to the heir.

Horizon, being the eldest son, was told the family’s secrets.

He felt both shame and pride in being a descendant of the Lion King.

He was not a lowly person living at the bottom but a conqueror born with noble blood, destined to be an emperor.

Perhaps it was inevitable that Horizon’s lifelong goal was to become the Lion King.

He had the talent and ambition to set such a goal.

Horizon dreamed of becoming the Lion King, and the time had finally come to take the first great step toward that goal.

He had engraved secret techniques into his body to endure decades or even centuries, waiting only for this day.

There were still a few things he needed to achieve to become the complete Lion King, but it wouldn’t be too difficult.

From Obitus, where the Lion King was said to have met his end, a new legend of the Lion King would be born.

Unable to contain his rising bloodlust, Horizon shouted.

“Now, at this moment, we begin the war to overthrow the Empire. The starting point is Obitus, where the Lion King was said to have fallen. This will be a declaration of war to the Empire and the beginning of a new Lion King’s rise.”

He discarded his usual grandfatherly tone.

That had been a disguise to lower people’s guard and wait for the right moment.

In this historic moment, announcing the Lion King’s return, he awakened the imperial blood within him. No trace of his former gentle demeanor remained.

Facing the members of the New Resistance, he looked as majestic and awe-inspiring as the Lion King who once ruled the continent.

The members, inspired by the presence of the Great Sage Horizon, who was renowned across the continent, felt their morale soar.

Even those who had doubted the possibility of overthrowing the Empire were swept up in the momentum.

“Do not fear. I stand behind you. Now, advance. Today, we seize Obitus.”

“Horizon! Horizon!”

As countless troops began to move, chanting Horizon’s name, the war had begun.

***

[Commander Gilbert. Your role is crucial.]

Gilbert, who had been calming his mind inside the cockpit of the Colossal Mech, opened his eyes at Seraphina’s communication.

On the screen, Seraphina appeared with the decisive and resolute demeanor of a ruler.

If only she could always be like this.

Thinking of Seraphina’s breakdown related to the sub-scenario, Gilbert couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

Even the system judged the current situation as dangerous, sending periodic warnings.

If he made even the slightest mistake, it might not be Horizon but Seraphina who would bring about the world’s destruction.

Though he didn’t know how the “Doom Ending” would play out, the word itself didn’t suggest a happy conclusion.

If Seraphina, known as a genius, were to use her talents to destroy the world…

Gilbert didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Understood. Please don’t worry too much.”

“I’m not worried. If I don’t trust Commander Gilbert, who else would I trust? You will be my first sword.”

Her trust was evident in her eyes and tone. Gilbert pondered where this trust came from.

Was it because of his achievements?

Or her keen judgment?

Or perhaps her personal affection for him?

Maybe it was all three, Gilbert thought, nodding slightly.

Being her first sword meant becoming the captain of the First Princess’s personal guard, but Gilbert couldn’t refuse.

Refusing the Princess’s offer would likely be seen as a great insult.

Until now, he had tactfully declined, considering their friendship, but once she firmly secured her position as the heir, the situation would change.

She was the future Emperor of the Colossal Empire Infractus, the center of future power.

Seraphina had already extended her influence into the Empire’s political arena, securing a majority faction. She was just a few steps away from absolute power.

In such a situation, refusing the offer to lead her personal guard would only mean opposing her.

Moreover, with the Doom Ending of the sub-scenario looming, refusal wasn’t an option for Gilbert.

“Then I wish you good luck. My first sword.”

“As you command.”

The phrase “will be my first sword” had already changed to “my first sword.”

It was a sign that she had made her decision and wouldn’t accept any objections.

As the communication magic ended, Gilbert let out a sigh he had been holding back.

He sighed in frustration, unable to figure out what to do about Seraphina.

[Gil. The battle is near. Calm your mind.]

CT-777, sensing Gilbert’s unstable mental state, spoke to calm him. Gilbert shook his head and steadied himself.

Though the situation was chaotic, as CT-777 said, it was time to prepare for battle. Entering combat with a troubled mind would be life-threatening, so he pushed all complicated thoughts aside.

As an ace pilot, Gilbert switched into combat mode like flipping a switch. He cleared his mind and simulated the battle scenario.

This was his routine before every sortie, honed over years of experience. It was a habit to focus solely on flying and increase his chances of survival.

Even though the world had changed and the mechs he piloted were different, this habit remained the same.

“CT, set the mission.”

[Confirmed. Mission set.]

“Target: New Resistance. Completion condition: Total annihilation of the New Resistance.”

[Target: New Resistance. Mission completion condition: Total annihilation of the New Resistance.]

Listening to CT-777’s voice, also in combat mode, Gilbert waited for the order to sortie.

As his mind calmed and became still.

[All units. Move out.]

With Seraphina’s command, the battle for Obitus began.

***

Gilbert was a commander but also led the vanguard. Seraphina’s decision to utilize his exceptional Colossal Mech Piloting skills was a strategic move.

Gilbert also agreed with her decision.

Despite her feelings for him, placing him in the most dangerous position showed she hadn’t lost her rational judgment.

Of course, he couldn’t be too relieved.

The system, which had helped him so far, indicated that she was at a dangerous level.

If his life were ever in danger, Seraphina might act unpredictably.

Ultimately, Gilbert had to fight on the front lines while ensuring his life was never at risk. No matter the situation.

How motivating.

Gilbert gripped the controls and steadied his mind once more.

The Colossal Mech units led by Seraphina and the other heirs, and the New Resistance forces led by Horizon, slowly closed the distance between them.

Currently, the continent’s wars avoided siege battles.

Before Colossal Mechs, the strategy was to capture key cities and territories, avoiding direct confrontations that could cause massive casualties and property damage.

But with Colossal Mechs playing a crucial role in war, the situation reversed.

With the firepower to sweep entire cities, winning a siege battle would mean winning nothing. Like modern warfare, areas bombarded would turn into ruins.

Naturally, sieges were avoided, and battles were fought in open fields or mountains, far from cities.

As a soldier, Gilbert felt relieved to fight where civilians weren’t present.

Though fighting in open fields with no cover was dangerous, it was no different from flying in the open sky.

With a lighter heart, he watched the New Resistance’s Colossal Mech forces approach.

The number of Colossal Mechs they had gathered was far greater than those brought by the heirs.

Of course, the heirs’ Colossal Mech Knights were of higher quality, but in war, numbers couldn’t be ignored.

Just as humans have physical limits, Colossal Mechs have operational limits, and in prolonged battles, the side with more mechs had the advantage.

Ultimately, the key to victory in this battle was how quickly it could be ended.

In other words, leveraging the superior quality of the Colossal Mech Knights was crucial.

The New Resistance and the Heirs’ Alliance faced each other, the tension palpable. The moment anyone moved, the fragile balance would shatter.

Breathing in, breathing out.

The Colossal Mech pilots steadied their breathing and calmed their minds.

Finally, with the leaders’ shouts, the battle began.

– Begin!

Gilbert led the vanguard, forming a wedge-shaped assault formation. Charging into the enemy’s artillery fire was madness, but it was also the most effective strategy.

He had the skill to break through their barrage, and with Brynhild’s intuition and CT-777’s calculations, he minimized damage.

“Stop them! Stop them now!”

One of the New Resistance officers shouted through the communication magic channel.

They formed a tighter net of fire, but Gilbert, wielding an iron sword, unleashed golden mana, closing the distance.

“Brace for impact!”

To stop the charging Colossal Mech, the New Resistance deployed heavy-armored mechs in front. Their plan was to use the lighter mechs as shields against the barrage.

“Brynhild!”

[Leave it to me!]

Following Gilbert’s shout, Brynhild, who had been closely maneuvering, stepped forward and swung her crimson iron sword in a diagonal slash.

Gilbert mirrored her movement, slashing downward, and their mana interacted, swelling dramatically.

“What, what is that?!”

One of the New Resistance members in a Colossal Mech exclaimed in shock.

What unfolded before him was something he had never seen in his life.

The two Colossal Mechs leading the enemy vanguard swung their swords, creating mana slashes.

While it seemed like a common Colossal Mech tactic, the result was anything but ordinary.

Gilbert and Brynhild.

The slashes they unleashed distorted space itself.

 

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