Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Suddenly, Dominic sensed something approaching them at lightning speed.

This familiar aura… It’s from a messenger bird. He raised his head and saw a small black dot in the sky.

“It’s Alaric’s messenger bird.” Lucas’s voice drifted into his ears.

Hearing this, Dominic furrowed his eyebrows.

In the next moment, a tiny black bird descended from above and landed on his shoulder.

Dominic removed the letter tied to the bird’s leg and opened it. The first thing he saw after opening the letter was the seal of House Silversword.

It’s indeed from Alaric. With a deep frown, he silently read the message.

A minute later, he burned the letter with his mana and muttered. “We need to hurry.”

“What’s the matter?” Leroy asked with an eyebrow raised upward.

Dominic glanced at him and responded. “The empress is getting impatient. She wants to attack the heretic cult now.”

“It seems like something bad has happened on their side. I will go and inform the troops to march faster.” Lucas said before he turned and left.

***

Later that day, Alaric received a response from Dominic. He immediately went to find the empress to inform her about the situation.

“According to Lord Dominic, the Astanian Army will reach the Veronican borders within five days.”

“Five days?” The empress took a deep breath.

She let out a sigh and mumbled, shaking her head. “Alright. I will wait for them, but if they are not here after five days, I will-”

“Please excuse me, Your Majesty! Something urgent has come up.” An imperial guard came rushing in, breathing heavily, struggling to catch his breath.

Yskaela was displeased, but she held her anger and asked. “What is it?”

The imperial guard noticed her displeasure so he quickly explained. “Commander Bai’s troops have been defeated! Of the ten thousand soldiers that we sent to support her, only six thousand managed to retreat.”

Yskaela’s face fell upon hearing this.

Bai Seol-hwa was defeated?

She found it incredulous.

Looking at the empress’s shocked face, the imperial guard added in a solemn voice. “According to the report, it was because of Crazy Sen. He suddenly appeared and released tens of thousands of humanoid monsters which caught Commander Bai’s troops off guard.”

The empress’s face turned cold when she heard the name.

So it’s the crazy old bastard!

“Your Highness, we cannot wait any longer!” Yskaela turned her head to Alaric, her face looking increasingly colder by the second.

Sensing her fury, Alaric found himself unable to respond.

“If we leave that old man be, he will definitely turn all the residents of that city into humanoid monsters! I cannot allow such a thing to happen!” The empress stated in a gloomy tone.

Alaric let out a deep breath. He had been trying to stop her from making a rash decision, but it looked like he couldn’t stop her anymore.

No matter how he thought about it, he could tell that this was another trap. However, he knew that he could no longer change the empress’s mind.

“I understand. I won’t stop you, Your Majesty, but let me remind you for the last time…” Alaric paused for a moment and stared deeply at her.

“This might be a trap they set up to lure you out. Are you sure about this?”

The empress clenched her fists, her rage palpable from her eyes. “I must go there and save my people! I don’t care if this is another trap. I cannot allow that old bastard to harm the citizens of Veronica!”

She then rose to her feet and summoned the Grand Commander.

The Grand Commander came in and saluted. “Is there something you want me to do, Your Majesty?”

Yskaela looked at him and commanded. “Assemble the troops. We are setting off at once!”

The Grand Commander grimly nodded and replied. “I obey your command!”

With the empress’s order, the Veronican Army was quickly assembled. Over three hundred thousand warriors had gathered to answer her call. There were still more, but they were instructed to remain in Ulmunsan to guard the city.

Looking at the assembled troops, the empress opened her mouth and announced.

“Warriors of Veronica, the heretic cult has once again attacked and harmed our people! We cannot sit still anymore! We must destroy them and put an end to this madness!”

While she was making her speech, Alaric and his subordinates watched the scene with grave faces.

“Your Highness, are we going to follow them to this battle?” Asked William.

Alaric rubbed his temples and responded with a sigh. “I have already decided to help Her Majesty. We cannot back out now. You guys had better prepare yourselves. The coming war will be on a much bigger scale and there will be stronger enemies!”

William and the others felt a wave of gloom wash over them.

After saying those words, Alaric put on his battle armor and walked towards his warhorse. “Let’s go!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” His subordinates responded in unison.

Meanwhile, Nivis clicked her tongue with a look of annoyance.

This guy is tied up in so many matters. It looks like returning home will take a much longer time…

When she first met Alaric, she was still hesitant to follow him, but after getting to know him more, she came to realize that following him might not be so bad after all.

He was a fickle man, but he always stuck to his promise.

While she was immersed in her thoughts, Alaric had already climbed onto his horse. He secured his feet on the stirrups and grabbed the reins.

He looked around and saw Fredrinn, scribbling down on a piece of paper.

Feeling curious, Alaric squeezed his legs and urged his horse to approach him.

Fredrinn stopped writing when he noticed him and smiled in embarrassment. “Your Highness.”

“What were you writing?” Alaric asked.

Fredrinn replied with a faint smile. “I’m writing a letter for my wife just in case I don’t make it back home.”

Alaric was surprised to hear this. He then smiled at him and replied. “We will all make it back home.”

Fredrinn chuckled at his words.