I created my own system

Attacking the capital wasn't the only plan they had in mind.

Far from the main battle, monstrous roars and the metallic march of homunculus soldiers echoed, their aim is to attack those in close relationship with the emperor. One of them is the Mage Tower, from the four forest that surrounds it. A massive army of homunculus army arrive, accompanying them are cannons and battling ram. From afar it seems they are determined to raid the walls.

"It seem its starting" Apollo mumbled while Alicia stood beside him.

"I need to go now" she said her expression became unreadable even for Apollo.

"Ah.... could it be that you are worried about the capital?"

He realized and Alicia nodded, Apollo couldn't help but understand her, though he wasn't worried knowing its capacity to protect itself. Still he can't ignore his friend acting like that.

"Ask Aaron to teleport you, I will take care of everything here"

He said wanting to reassure her, but it seems that his words didn't help.

"What are you worried about?" He couldn't help but ask not understanding her worried expression.

"If I were to go, would I affect your plan?"

"Ah" the boy thought, "So that was making her worry" he added in his mind. He never thought that Alicia would think in that way. He never anticipated in such dire situation, and with the importance of the imperial family to her, she would still consider his plan. one that selfishly lead the event to this war. Though its something that cant be avoided, Apollo's involvement could have lessen the damages.

However despite knowing the scale of the incoming disaster the main reason why he didn't interfere, was because he doesn't need to.

"Alicia" he smiled, feeling a sudden lightness. "Go, even with your interference my plan wont be affected nor change"

He look on her face remain the same but soon it return to its usual coldness. Apollo couldn't help but smile, satisfied that she finally lossenup.

"Go, if I am needed there I will follow you" he added reassuring her, and with a nod as an answer she left the tower leaving Apollo looking at the window.

"Apollo, what do you plan to do?"

McKenzie appeared from the side, asking as if he wants to be involved to. Apollo shook his head this time, denying his involvement.

"We are not allowed to be involved this time" he answered even though his back is filled with the fulll view of the enemies, his face didn't reflect any kind worry or hesitation.

"This time leave this matter to the adults" he said surprising even Mckenzie.

"If you are confuse since they let us be involved with the blood season despite it being dangerous, its because at that time, the tower's power need to be split up into multiple places. And so we were included just to mak for the lack of man power"

His expression then became gloomy as he remembered something painful.

"As you know the empire's power has weakened due to the breakout in Evaristo so at that time, we were needed. However unlike before they attack when all of our strength are at one place, sure grandpa should be in the capital but that doesn't mean we are losing this battle" from his gloomy expression it turn into a calm and compose one, as if everything is within his palm.

"I know that so far every problem we face we always rely on ourselves to solve it, but now" he smiled as trying to reassure his friend. "Let them handle this, I grandfather reassure me, we have nothing to worry"

Those words was very unexpected for Mckenzie he thought for a moment that Apollo would instruct them with their own task, but contrary to his expectations, he told them to stay down.

His eyes reflected his desired to help, something Apollo was prepared to see. He was ready to convince him to stay down. Until Mckenzie's gaze change causing for his friend to be surprised.

"McKenzie?" He cautiously asked, he was worried that he might have hurt his feelings. For a moment he thought that his secretive nature had cause his friends to feel that he does not rust them. Hurriedly he try to explain..."Hey I know I didn't talk about this with everyone but trust me...I"

"Apollo..." His voice made Apollo shiver as if his friend is about to scold him.

"You know.....I really find the tower really pleasant, the mages here despite being always being busy still found ways to interact with us. Talk with us and have an nonsensical chatter that doesn't have anything to do with magic....this place....despite not being made for children always feel like home to us. And I know you share the same sentiment as we do"

The evening breeze was strangely colder than before and between Apollo and Mckenzie. The atmosphere became serene.

"Apollo, before meeting you we have lost everything with the Monastery...we don't have families to return to... And even the small fraction of people from our past have their own lives as well. This place...is the only place we have right now" Mckenzie's gaze was softened but their was a hint of determination on it as well as pain. Something Apollo knew well where it came from.

"The main reason why we always wish to be involved whenever things like this came up, is because we don't want to feel that same hopelessness we felt when we saw our home burned, when our love ones died one by one....." His expression darkened as he remember those buried memories.

"We couldn't do anything.....we don't....and we can't...but now....your appearance made us feel powerful. We felt like with you always on our side we could protect what as left on us. Apollo you are our strength....please know that you gave us hope more than you could ever imagine. You help us get revenge, and mourn the death of those we once love. And now you gave us a place we could call a home"

His words were true and genuine causing Apollo's emotion to raisen in a different way. He never anticipated those feelings come crashing at him, given the situation they are in, he thought they would only listen to his plan like they usually would. But now, it seems they are being vocal on what they wanted, though its rare for them to do that.

Apollo found himself running into the halls of the kitchen having left his position of cutting onions.

Jeremiah's voice clicked in his head, precise and unshaken.

[Report incoming…]

One by one, the images materialized before Apollo's eyes—shifting panes of light showing each cardinal territory.

The North—Duke Draven's domain—was already a battlefield of ice and fire. Snow whipped through the sky like razors, but the defenders stood firm against beasts that moved like shadows under the blizzard's cover. Their roars were muffled by the wind, but their glowing eyes cut through the storm.

The East—Duchess Isolde's lands—burned under a siege of winged homunculi. They fell like hail from the clouds, talons tearing into rooftops, forcing civilians to cower in the underground vaults. The eastern legions fought fiercely, their ballista bolts tracing arcs of fire through the night sky, but there were too many.

The South—Duke Raegan's coastal hold—was drowning. Sea serpents and amphibious constructs clambered over the breakers, dragging soldiers into the surf. The tides themselves seemed weaponized, crashing against the fortress walls with unnatural force, powered by some unseen magic.

The West—Duke Valter's fortress-city—faced something different entirely. Colossal siege golems, powered by stolen mana cores, battered the barrier in steady, merciless rhythms. Each strike sent ripples of light across the dome, weakening it by degrees. The defenders scrambled to dismantle them, but the constructs adapted—shields unfolding like steel wings to deflect every counterattack.

[All four territories are engaged in high-intensity combat. Probability of one or more falling within forty-eight hours: 78%.]

Apollo's jaw tightened. "So that's their move. Not just the capital, but the pillars of the empire itself."

This wasn't chaos—it was a web. Every attack was synchronized, meant to pull apart the foundation until the empire's center collapsed under its own weight.

Jeremiah's voice pressed on.

[Creator, prioritization required. Where shall we strike first?]

Apollo didn't answer immediately. The eternal oath still burned in his veins, urging him to act—but he was no longer just a weapon bound by duty. Mckenzie's words lingered in his mind like a second heartbeat. We don't want to lose you.

"Jeremiah… get me the fastest route to all four. I'm not picking one over the others."

[Understood.]

He summoned Clonis, but held it back from full deployment—splitting his strength without draining himself completely. His copies would be weaker this way, but enough to tip the scale in each battle, if only to buy time.

As the spell matrix formed around him, the scenes of burning skies, freezing winds, crashing seas, and shattering stone burned into his mind.

The empire was bleeding from four wounds at once. And he would be the hand to close them.

"Let's see," he murmured, a faint smirk touching his lips despite the gravity of the moment, "how much of a mess I can make without breaking Alicia's no-overexertion rule."

The air warped—and Apollo vanished into the night.