Overwhelming Firepower

While everyone from Norvaegard was stressing about the upcoming Styhord, the people of Stellhart weren’t that worried.

They had lived their entire lives on the edge of danger. Monster waves, barbarian raids, winters that killed the weak and spared only the prepared, and outer threats.

Generations had been tempered by ice, steel, and fire. They knew death walked beside them daily, and yet they rose each morning stronger than before.

Fear had long since lost its grip on them. No matter what came their way, they fought, they won, they survived, and they always would, today and to the unknown future.

They knew the enemy could be countless, stronger, or crueler than anything they’d faced, yet their hearts were unshaken, their resolve unwavering, their loyalty to Stellhart unbreakable.

Their lord, the Iron Duke, the unbreakable shield of Norvaegard, had never failed them. As long as Vardon Thornehart stood, Stellhart stood with him.

The people were even more sure now that the Iron Duke had his son with him, Lucen Thornehart, the ever-victorious.

In fact, after hearing about the Styhord, many men and women, from young to old, wanted to join in the battle to protect their lord as their lord had protected them.

In front of the gates of Ironhold, many have gathered, ready to fight for their lord. They were farmers, craftsmen, hunters, and many more.

A few did not know how to hold a spear properly, but that did not stop them from wanting to fight.

They wanted to stand between their lord and the enemy, just as he had stood between them and countless threats before.

The sight alone was enough to move even the hardened Stellhart knights. Vardon Thornehart stood before the people and spoke using his aura to enhance his voice so that everyone could hear.

”People of Stellhart! I know you wish to join me in this upcoming Styrhord, and who am I to deny warriors their battle?! Come and join me, and we will show those twenty thousand-strong army what a true warrior’s steel looks like!”

Vardon lifted his own longsword upward, making the people and the knights pound their chests. One of the men then shouted, and the others followed.

”For Stellhart!” ”For Stellhart!”

”For Norvaegard!” ”For Norvaegard!”

”For the Thorneharts!” ”For the Thorneharts!”

”For Duke Vardon!” ”For Duke Vardon!”

For a long moment, Vardon simply stood there, his sword raised. After waiting for a few more seconds, he lowered his sword and sheathed it and planted the scabbard into the stone before him.

The sound of the scabbard hitting the stone echoed. The crowd then became silent as they once again focused on Vardon.

”You have bled with me. You have buried your dead beside mine. You have stood against monsters that would have broken lesser people.”

He gazed at all the people present and spoke with a tone filled with pride.

”Win or lose, I’m proud to fight beside you all.”

Once Vardon was done talking, the crowd once again cheered even louder than before.

***

In his room, Lucen, who had heard about the Styrhord for the first time, had expected Marquis Valeire to make a move, but not in this way.

’Damn, this is the first time I even heard about this Styrhord thing. In the game, there was never such an event. Yet based on what they’re telling me, this sh*t is a much bigger deal than what was originally going to happen.’

In the original timeline, which was in the game, Stellhart’s fall was due to a monster wave happening alongside a territorial war.

Even after losing that war, Cael Thornehart was able to live properly. Yet now with this so-called Styrhord, if they lose, then all with the name Thornehart will cease to exist.

’This is the first big change from my knowledge of the game. There have been minor changes here and there, but they still followed a similar pattern to the game. Yet this is completely different, and the timing is also wrong... I already expected something like this, but...’

Lucen shook his head as negative thoughts were about to fill his head, but he quickly shook those off as he strengthened his resolve instead. A smile of confidence then showed in his face.

’Yeah, it doesn’t matter if the change is this big; in fact, this is better. This is what I wanted: to change everyone’s fates. I have already made a lot of preparations for this event. It might be different from the one I know would happen, and it might be called Styrhord or whatever, but it is essentially a war.’

Lucen looked at the few letters he received from the people he knew. Lysette, Evander, and even Mireya offered to help him.

Of course, he rejected them, seeing as his father would never allow other nobles to help.

’Well, even if Father rejects help from nobles, maybe we can get aid elsewhere.’ Lucen was already thinking of another plan, which he would talk to his father about later.

’Still, to think that Marquis Valeire would have twenty thousand people under his army. Also, if it’s him, even with this kind of advantage, he would prepare other things as well. Since he’s using everything at his disposal, and the original fate of Stellhart was to be attacked during a monster wave, it’s possible that he will somehow initiate a monster wave.’

Lucen’s fingers tapped lightly against the desk as his thoughts continued to race. He was already expecting a monster wave during the Styrhord, since the events were somehow similar, with only the stakes being worse now.

’That would mean we’ll be fightng in different fronts. Seeing as even if a natural disaster happens, there is no stopping a Styrhord when the time has been set. So either I face the monster wave, and Father faces the army of twenty thousand, or vice versa.’

Lucen exhaled slowly. He could think about many ways to survive, but he needed to know what his father’s plans were. He also needed to ask his father for his opinion about one of his ideas.

Making a decision, Lucen stood up from his chair and headed to his father’s study, where he was after talking to the people outside of Ironhold.

***

Lucen met with his Father and after greeting he quickly got to the topic he wanted to talk about.

”Father, regarding the upcoming Styrhord. I know you don’t wish to let other nobles send us troops. I also understand your reason for doing so. But we need allies for this war, and I know who could be great allies that won’t let Norvaegard bleed more than it has to.”

Vardon looked at his son with the same stoic expression as always and did not reply immediately. He simply stared at Lucen for a few seconds, and Lucen waited patiently for his response.

After a few more seconds of silence, Vardon spoke. ”Tell me what you have in mind.”

”I want to get the barbarians to fight with us.”

When Vardon heard those words from his son’s mouth, his facial expression, which was almost always stoic, almost cracked.

”Is that another reason as to why you made that play, Honor beyond one’s words? Did you plan this far ahead?”

Lucen shook his head immediately. ”No,” he answered honestly. ”It’s a coincidence, but one we can use to our advantage.”

The play had eased the people’s feelings about the barbarians despite their raids. It’s not like all barbarians were the same. Because of the play, they understood that the barbarians’ culture is one of battle.

Vardon looked at his son. Even though he fully believes in his son and his words, one does wonder if everything truly was a coincidence. Sometimes it feels like his son can see through fate itself.

”A coincidence,” he repeated, as if weighing the word itself. He turned away from Lucen and walked toward the window of his study, looking out over Ironhold.

”The barbarians,” Vardon said after a pause. ”A few tribes have a truce with us, others frequently raid our borders, and a few keep to their own. Do you think it is wise to bring in such people as allies in this Styrhord?”

Lucen’s mouth curled upward ever so slightly before he responded. ”The tribes are an unbridled hound, but it is possible to point in the direction that they bite. I’m certain that we can get them to fight alongside us.”

”The barbarians are not cowards,” Vardon said slowly. ”That much I’m sure of. They do not hide behind schemes, nor do they strike from the shadows. But they are not subjects of Norvaegard. They follow their own laws.”

Lucen nodded. ”Exactly. And that’s why they’re suitable.”

Vardon turned back to face his son and looked him in the eye. Lucen did not falter and continued talking.

”They do not betray,” Lucen continued. ”They do not feign loyalty. If they accept a battle, they fight it head-on until the end. If they refuse, they will tell you to your face. So why not let them fight with us?”

Vardon smiled a little for a brief moment when he heard what his son said. Instead of saying fight for us, Lucen instead said fight with us. Vardon then closed his eyes and thought about it for a second.

”Alright, if you’re able to convince the barbarian tribes to fight with us, then they can come join us in the upcoming Styrhord.”

”I will do my best, Father.” Lucen showed his confident smile as he did a knight’s salute.