Overwhelming Firepower

Deep in the forest in a village, within Stellhart, a few members of Thornefang were hunting monsters.

The sound of gunfire echoed through the forest. Smoke curled upward as Veronica lowered her Arquebus: Thunderstorm, the barrel still sizzling from the continuous shots. Without missing a beat, she slung it behind her and smoothly shifted into a spear stance.

A lupine creature, twice the size of a normal wolf, its fur like icy thorns, burst from the thicket. Veronica easily stabbed the creature as it pounced.

”That’s all of them. Let’s head back to the village.”

She looked over her shoulder. The other Thornefang members were already checking their gear, efficient, disciplined, nothing like the ragtag group they had once been.

In the past few weeks, since Lucen’s return to Ironhold, he had started sending Thornefang members on missions to deal with the growing monster problem within Stellhart.

The attacks were increasing, but so was Thornefang’s capability. Every member was sharpening themselves for the storm Lucen kept hinting at.

In another area, Harlik was leading a team defeating a few monsters reported by another village.

Harlik, who recently gained his third aura mantle, was in high spirits. He, alongside the original Thornefang members who were once his mercenary subordinates, defeated the monsters in the area.

”Okay, we’re done here, let’s head to the next area!” Harlik spoke enthusiastically.

”The captain is so motivated now,” Renz spoke while wiping the blood from his sword.

”Well, he did just recently grow stronger. He’s just excited that after such a long time, he finally improved his aura mantle.” Greg commented.

”Hey, why are you talking like I can’t hear you. Also, you’re making it sound like I’m some old man, I’m just three years older than you.” Harlik joined the conversation.

”Compared to us, you are the oldest in the group.” Mark chimed in.

”Enough! Let’s just head to the next area!”

***

During this period, Thornefang’s fame was skyrocketing. Knowing that they were Lucen’s personal battalion made them even more famous.

Requests for assistance poured in from villages all across Stellhart. Some wanted protection. Others requested weapon repairs, monster subjugation, or escort missions.

A few even wrote letters directly addressed to Young Lord Lucen, letters filled with gratitude, fear, and hope.

Normally, the Stellhart knights would deal with such things, but Lucen asked his Father if his men could do it themselves to gain experience.

The Iron Duke agreed almost immediately, as he felt that something was coming, so he wanted the Stellhart Knights to be able to move at a moment’s notice.

Their black coats with crimson lining flashed between the trees as they traveled from village to village.

The silver-thorn insignia curled proudly on their sleeves, a dragon’s fang wrapped in a gleaming spiral of thorn, catching the winter light with every step.

To the people of Stellhart, that symbol had already become a promise: When the silver thorn appears, safety is guaranteed.

Even though the Stellhart knights did the exact same job, they felt less human to the people. As for Thornefang and its members, they were relatable; most of them came from small villages, and they were once farmers, hunters who turned mercenaries.

They laughed with the villagers, they shared meals with them, they listened to their worries, they told their stories, and they comforted them.

They didn’t grow up in the North. They weren’t accustomed to the endless winter, but they knew hardship, the kind born from poverty, wandering, and fighting for one’s next meal.

They understood the struggles of ordinary folk in a way the rigid, disciplined Stellhart knights could not. Because once upon a time, they too were in the same situation.

***

One afternoon, in a village near the Frostmark River, a group of children ran excitedly toward Veronica’s squad the moment they arrived.

”M–Miss Veronica! You came again!”

”You saved our uncle last time! His legs had finally healed.”

”When I grow up, I’ll join you in Thornefang!” One child proudly held up a wooden toy shaped like the Thornefang insignia, a crude but heartfelt carving of a dragon fang wrapped in a thorn.

Seeing this, Veronica smiled ever so sweetly. ”Then do your best.”

”Yeah, we’ll be waiting for you, kid.” Another Thornefang member spoke.

”You’d better grow strong, kid. Thornefang ain’t a place for weaklings.”

***

Everywhere Thornefang went, similar scenes played out. Doors opened to welcome them, and meals were offered to them. Villagers asked for training or advice.

Children chased after the silver-thorn insignia stitched on their sleeves, the symbol of the dragon’s fang wrapped in a winding thorn.

Most of the members of Thornefang weren’t from the North; they weren’t of noble birth, nor were they true knights, but they were here.

They fought and bled for Stellhart; they protected the Iron Duke’s people. They were now growing alongside the land they now called home.

***

News of Thornefang’s success was spreading in the kingdom of Norvaegard. A few nobles were starting to worry about the growing popularity and strength of Stellhart, which not only had the Stellhart knights, one of the strongest knight orders in Norvaegard, but now they’re raising Thornefang as well.

Unfortunately, they could not do anything about it. Not only was Thornefang the direct battalion of the Iron Duke’s heir, but Norvaegard was having a monster problem.

It wasn’t a monster wave, but the increase in monster activity had most nobles trying to protect their assets.

Of course, there were many nobles who did not care about the people in their territory and did not bother sending soldiers to help, like what Lucen did.

Of course, there were also a few nobles who did their best to protect their people, a good example were the other ducal households.

Elyra was finally able to gain the battle experience she so wanted. Kaelvar had allowed her to join monster subjugations in their territory.

The same was happening to the other ducal heirs like Mireya Aeromont and Evander Judicar, who were going out to the field protecting their people and territory.

Even the Marquis Crowlorne, despite lacking the sheer military might of a ducal house, defended his lands with admirable resolve.

Lysette herself did not join the monster hunts. She wasn’t trained for frontline combat, but she worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

She organized food distribution, managed evacuations, comforted displaced families, and oversaw the reconstruction of damaged homes.

To the people of Crowlorne, she became a gentle pillar of support, one whose kindness held their spirits together when swords alone could not.

***

But as the heirs of other noble families found themselves fighting alongside their retainers, a subtle shift began spreading through Norvaegard: The next generation was rising.

Some rose because they desired honor. Some rose because circumstances demanded it. Most of them did so because they had no choice.

Yet among all of them, one name continued to spread faster and shine brighter than the rest, and that was Lucen Thornehart, the ever-victorious.

Every report sent to the capital carried his mark. Every village protected by Thornefang strengthened his reputation. Every monster slain by his growing battalion added another spark to Stellhart’s rising influence.

And though Lucen himself remained focused on practical matters, resource gathering, weapon development, training, and fortifications, the world was beginning to shift around him.

***

Seeing the growing unrest in the kingdom, the King finally made a move. A newly created unit armed with new weapons, a similar weapon to what Lucen used in the Royal Academy Tournament, appeared.

The group of elite soldiers the king sent to train with Thornefang to learn how to use the arquebus returned to the capital and taught a few more people.

Lucen had also provided the king’s new unit with arquebuses and gunpowder. Of course, it wasn’t for free.

He had demanded proper compensation, mana stones, rare ores, high-grade iron, and long-term trade access to certain royal channels.

This new unit, called the Iron Wolves, were sent out by the king to help with the growing monster problem in the kingdom.

The Iron Wolves wore leather armor in muted shades of gray and brown, fitted closely to their bodies for both agility and a sleek appearance.

Their pauldrons and gauntlets were subtly embossed with wolf motifs, lending a touch of menace without excess. Black wool trousers tucked into polished boots completed their uniform silhouette.

Half-helmets with narrow visors and chainmail coifs framed their faces, emphasizing precision and discipline.

Powder flasks and pouches hung neatly from their waists, and slung over their shoulders were their arquebuses.

The priority of the Iron Wolves were those areas that the foolish nobles did not protect.

Wherever the Iron Wolves arrived, the thunderous cracks of their arquebuses shook the air. Villagers who had never seen such weapons before watched in awe as monsters were felled cleanly from a distance, no struggling, no casualties, no desperate last stands.

If before the sound of thunder made the people feel fear, now for others, that sound had reassured them and made them feel safe.

Norvaegard had entered a new age of warfare, and the king wanted everyone to know it. He was also anticipating what the spies of the other kingdoms and empires would say about this new development.

This was a double-edged sword; it would scare a few hostile forces, or it could make them fearful and act recklessly.

Either way, the king was ready, since a storm was approaching either way. As a kingdom of warriors, it would be best to show everyone that our fangs and claws are still sharp.

Yet even with the rise of the Iron Wolves, one truth spread quietly among the common folk and nobles: the weapon came from Stellhart; they came from Lucen Thornehart.

***

While everyone was talking about the increasing monster activities, Thornefang and the Iron Wolves, those hidden in the dark were growing restless.

The increasing power of Stellhart, of the Thorneharts, was truly becoming a problem now. If they continue to wait and gather power, they might not be able to take down the Thorneharts.

Some of them were even thinking about switching targets to the Runescar household instead.

There were also many who wanted to immediately declare a territorial war against Stellhart. Of course, those were denied in the end, and they opted to continue to wait for the right time.

Either in the dark or in the light, the kingdom of Norvaegard was slowly shifting.