I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

262 - Start of the Great War (1)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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The beginning of the great war that would determine the world's fate was unusual.

While normal wars typically started at the boundary between two forces and gradually pushed into enemy territory, the war Zion initiated began much deeper inside, beyond the border between empire and demon realm.

The Plains of Invasion - the first major region connecting the border to the demon realm.

The Border Corps and Five Great Military Units, who had secretly approached the plains through previously established routes, ambushed the demon realm's main forces there at Zion's signal. Simultaneously, Evelyn's forces departing from the border carved a path between them and the empire, perfectly connecting supply lines.

It had happened in the blink of an eye.

Though the demon realm belatedly tried sending additional forces in response, they couldn't properly execute this.

Because the Plains of Invasion wasn't the only place Zion had ordered attacked.

The combined forces of the Fairy Forest and Giant Colony, along with the Beast Sea.

The moment fierce battles broke out in the Plains of Invasion, they began using sea routes to penetrate both sides of the demon realm.

War erupting simultaneously from three directions.

The demon realm couldn't properly respond to these unexpected movements, and thus three days after the war's outbreak, the situation slightly favored the empire.

"The start seems promising."

In the supreme leadership's meeting tent within the temporary base near the Plains of Invasion.

Evelyn Agnes, seated directly left of the head seat, spoke first.

Given both her status and military achievements since the war's start, no one objected to her current seating position.

"Indeed, if this flow continues, we should be able to clear the outskirts including the plains and advance further inward soon."

Like Groud Ozlima who spoke these words, most people present had deep admiration and surprise in their eyes.

And those eyes were directed at Zion, seated in the head position.

They knew.

That their lord who had ascended to emperor in his early twenties lacked proper war experience.

Though he had fought countless battles before reaching adulthood and ascending to emperor, this was clearly his first time conducting such a large-scale war. ꞦÄɴO₿ĘŠ

Yet Emperor Zion was perfectly reading the war's major flows and giving precisely appropriate orders as if it were natural.

Like a veteran commander who had fought countless wars throughout his life.

An utterly impossible situation.

'It's truly hard to believe he's human like us.'

As Groud was clicking his tongue internally with that thought-

"However, it seems the demon realm has nearly straightened their battle lines that were disrupted by our surprise attack. They'll surely counterattack to reverse this flow."

Thierry, watching the large map spread on the table in the center of the meeting room, carefully spoke.

He had revealed his identity to people at the war's start and was now officially participating in meetings.

"Counterattack how?"

"Beyond sending additional troops... there's a high possibility they'll attack our rear."

Answering Evelyn's question, Thierry drew a line on the map before him.

That line cut straight through between the Plains of Invasion and the border.

"Though Lady Evelyn's efforts have opened a path this far, that doesn't mean imperial forces have completely conquered the area behind the plains. From the demon realm's perspective, there's no easier way to break through."

"...That's certainly true. But it seems difficult to prepare for this in advance."

Sword King Ludwig carefully spoke while intently studying the map beside Thierry.

"The area is too wide. If imperial forces try defending this entire space, we'd need to move troops from here too, which could hinder our occupation of the outskirts."

Just then-

"No, we don't need to defend everything."

Zion, who had been quietly listening to them, spoke for the first time.

"We just need to make our desired location the battlefield."

"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"

Though questions filled the eyes of Ludwig and several others who asked this, understanding rather than confusion showed in the eyes of Thierry, who was practically Zion's aide.

It was a method his lord Zion had frequently used until now.

"You mean making the enemies come to where we want them. Do you have a location in mind?"

"Resources would be a better term than location."

Answering Thierry's question, Zion carved something on the table with his finger while slowly continuing:

"Don't clumsily set up ambushes or station troops in advance. Of course, this information mustn't leak outside either."

Zion thought the demon realm was absolutely not foolish.

No, they were more quick-witted and perceptive than anywhere else.

Therefore, they wouldn't fall for it unless he thoroughly deceived not just the enemy but his own side as well.

"Your Majesty, but if things go wrong, the tide of war could turn."

Just then, Droian, head of Silent House, spoke with slightly anxious eyes after seeing what Zion had carved.

"If we make a mistake, we could suffer massive casualties from the start and have to withdraw our forces."

High risk for high reward.

In his view, Zion's proposed operation matched this exactly.

But Zion's expression didn't change at all at Droian's words as he quietly answered:

RUMBLE!

Something filling their entire view approached at mad speed in formation from the edge of the dark red earth.

"What in..."

Yornan's eyes trembled.

He knew well how important the supplies he was charged with protecting were.

Therefore he had been moving after thoroughly understanding the route and surroundings through multiple scout patrols and magic.

Yet where had such a massive force suddenly appeared from?

"Nothing was detected at all..."

Had they fallen from the sky or sprung from the ground?

As they drew closer and Yornan could make out what they were, his face twisted further.

SCREECH, SCREEEECH!

They were humans.

No, more accurately, they were "things that had been human."

Monster mouths on human faces.

Dozens of human heads attached to snake bodies.

As if monster parts had been forcibly combined with human bodies.

These incredibly grotesque creatures approached while endlessly screeching.

Behind them were black mages commanding these monstrosities.

It was the Black Magic Legion.

"How can we..."

The soldiers began backing away with pale faces, terrified by the waves of overwhelming demonic energy radiating from them.

Though they were all veterans of countless battles, they had never felt such powerful demonic energy before.

The overwhelming difference in power was clear without even fighting.

'How can such beings be at the demon realm's entrance when this is just the outskirts...'

But the crisis facing Yornan and the 7th Corps didn't end there.

"Commander! Over there too!"

At his vice commander's urgent cry, an even stranger sight entered his vision as he turned his head.

Exactly opposite from where the monster army approached, countless beasts revealed themselves much closer.

"What is this..."

Far more beasts than Yornan had faced in the past.

How had the Monster Army they had destroyed in the past reappeared from the demon realm?

One thing was certain - this was the greatest crisis he had ever faced.

ROOOOOAR

The Beast Army charged toward the 7th Corps with a roar that seemed to shake the entire earth.

"ALL FORCES PREPARE FOR BATTLE!!!!!!"

Yornan shouted through gritted teeth as he watched this scene.

Of course, he knew.

That their current forces couldn't handle even one of the two armies approaching from both sides.

But he was a soldier.

A soldier entrusted with a crucial mission that held the empire's fate.

A soldier had to carry out their mission until their dying breath, so Yornan had no intention of retreating or giving up.

RUMBLE!

Meanwhile, the ground shook violently from the Beast Army that had already reached right before them.

Just as the soldiers' eyes trembled while grimly gripping their weapons, having inherited their commander's will-

The next moment,

"...Huh?"

Something they never expected happened.

ROOOAR!

The beasts passed between the supply cargo and the 7th Corps protecting it without causing any harm.

Then the Beast Army-

BOOM!

Began clashing with the Black Magic Legion.

"What is this..."

As a blank voice flowed from Yornan's lips while he stood watching this unbelievable scene- CRACK!

Along with a sound like the world splitting, black meteors began falling from the opening sky.

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