Immortal Creed

Dawn broke.

Nearly a hundred thousand troops, fully arrayed, marched towards the distant city. Tall battle standards pierced through the lingering morning mist, and their synchronized steps created an earthquake-like roar, causing birds in the distant dense forest to scatter in a panic.

Liens walked to the front of the army, watching as the distant outline gradually became clear. His eyes grew more serious, and his grip on his sword tightened.

According to the plan made at the meeting, when the two armies truly faced each other below Baker City, there would likely be no pre-battle declarations, but rather a direct outbreak of war.

What would this battle turn into? Did they truly have a chance of winning? He didn't know.

Last night, he had wanted to test in the instance whether the Rebel Army's preparations this time could capture Baker City, which meant fighting a preliminary battle in the instance to see the situation.

But this idea did not materialize.

This time was different from when he led the Adventurers' Association to withdraw from Cara City; he was merely a newcomer who had just joined the Rebel Army, not the Rebel Army's savior.

Although he became a member of the Rebel Army's high command upon joining due to his considerable strength, he was not important enough for Balder and the others to casually alter the Rebel Army's original siege plan.

Moreover, the operational plan had already been disseminated to all levels of Rebel Army generals and soldiers, so it couldn't be changed on a whim.

"Why, you look a bit nervous? Is it because it's your first time participating in such a large-scale battle?"

Lucrezia's calm voice sounded beside Liens.

"Nervous? Probably not… I just feel an indescribable complex emotion welling up in my heart at the thought of soon battling that Sword Saint."

"I don't know if nervousness or unease exists within this emotion, but it's more likely excitement… Hmm, perhaps I've been infected by the belief within the army; they are the same."

"Don't worry, this emotion cannot truly affect me. I am just more looking forward to a true confrontation with that Sword Saint."

Liens shook his head slightly, then steadfastly gazed at the increasingly towering city wall in the distance, and the blurry army below it. He knew that there was a powerful existence there whom he could not yet contend with.

"Is that so… I myself am a bit nervous, after all, this battle is very important to us; victory and defeat will send us in completely different directions."

Whether to comfort Liens, or for some other reason, Lucrezia said this to Liens.

Although she spoke of nervousness, there was no sign of it on her face; she still wore that faint smile, though the smile lacked some of its usual charm and gained a cold, murderous edge.

At this moment, Lucrezia was also armored, but it was not a full-body armor like Liens', but rather a half-body armor protecting her upper body.

It was somewhat similar to the armor she wore when she served as a 'Princess Knight', but it lacked the Hollow design meant to highlight allure, instead providing solid protection for critical areas.

After donning the armor, Lucrezia's demeanor also underwent a significant change.

The metallic glint of the hard armor shimmering in the sunlight diminished her charming enchantress aura, replacing it with a heroic and resolute fortitude.

"Whether we succeed or fail depends on whether our methods can pose a threat to that Sword Saint… Get ready, the army formation has already begun to unfold; this probably won't escape the notice of that Sword Saint."

Balder suddenly walked over and interjected.

Liens and Lucrezia nodded in silence upon hearing this, their internal power beginning to circulate, and their aura starting to rise.

Soon, perhaps a few minutes later, the keenly perceptive Liens could already see the neat formation of the opposing army, and even sensed the Sword Saint standing at the front of that army.

"Hmm?"

Alfred frowned slightly as he gazed at the massive army approaching. He sensed a subtle anomaly in the Rebel Army's formation.

That anomaly came from an unusual flow of surrounding elements.

At first, he merely attributed this to the Extraordinary Ones of the opposing Rebel Army pre-charging their power, until he noticed the elemental flow becoming increasingly obvious and moving in a unified direction, only then realizing something was amiss.

"Attack immediately, the Rebel Army is preparing to launch some kind of special assault."

Alfred sternly ordered his own generals, and then, without waiting for their reaction, he himself transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards the Rebel Army, intending to interrupt the Rebel Army's unknown maneuver.

He was incredibly fast, and in the very next instant, he was already on the verge of plunging into the Rebel Army's ranks, as if in another moment, he could slaughter his way into the Rebel Army.

However, a figure had long anticipated his actions and blocked his path in advance.

"Clang!"

Blades clashed, and the two figures paused at the center of the boundary between the two armies. The sound of whistling wind rose, and dust flew in all directions.

Alfred looked at the figure before him, a hint of surprise in his eyes, not surprised that someone from the Rebel Army could stop him.

After all, in his opinion, Balder, the leader of the Rebel Army, and Robert Ferdinand, who had joined the Rebel Army, possessed some strength.

His surprise was directed at the person before him; he could feel the aura on this person that harmonized with the surrounding world, indicating that this person had already entered the Grandmaster Realm.

Those who could comprehend the Grandmaster Realm were rare, so naturally, he felt a degree of astonishment upon suddenly encountering an unfamiliar Grandmaster.

Therefore, he did not immediately use more power to repel his opponent, but instead used his ability, "Mirror Lake," to investigate the other party's situation.

But the subsequent situation added a few more layers of astonishment to his heart.

He had not expected that this knight, who in his perception had only just stepped into the Grandmaster Realm, could instantly remove the "Mirror Lake" imprint he had placed.

"Interesting."

Alfred muttered to himself, looking at the young face hidden beneath the knight's helmet, a hint of admiration added to his gaze.

However, admiration would not affect the force of his blows.

Power surged, and Alfred struck Liens with a single sword, the immense force sending Liens flying back into the Rebel Army's formation.

Using transparent hardened blocks condensed in mid-air, Liens quickly stabilized himself, then used the void to propel himself forward, charging with Balder and others to jointly besiege Alfred.

Just now, the reason Alfred did not pursue Liens after repelling him with a single sword was also because Balder and the others, who had been poised for attack, launched their assaults on him from various directions.

Magic, divine spells, sword techniques, spear arts—various powerful attacks realized through elements swarmed towards Alfred.

"Flow."

Alfred's expression remained calm. He swung his sword horizontally, and where the tip of his blade passed, a flowing, water-like trace appeared, followed by the sound of rushing river water in everyone's ears.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

A massive torrent then appeared, flowing around Alfred's body. Most of the attacks from the Rebel Army were washed away by the torrent, with only a few able to approach him.

And these few were a massive orange-yellow light sword and a faint azure phantom.