New World - A New Beginning

JEAN LYMINE'S POV:

The sparkling white armor of the Fei battalions marched forth, their coordination terrifying to any force on the battlefield. My eyes were able to identify both S-ranks almost immediately, their silhouettes dominating the frontline of the army.

It was true that we wouldn't be able to defeat them, but we could definitely hold them off. Due to all of our fronts being defended, King Roy had supplied my army and Amelia's with high-ranked adventurers. If we could take out one of the capitals of the opposing nations, then their entire supply lines would crumble, and the Dominion alliance at large would shortly follow.

I refocused my attention on the oncoming army. If we were to trade short-ranged blows, then the fierce discipline and coordination of the Feis were sure to demolish us within minutes, especially with the aid of two S-ranks.

"Archmages!" I yelled, signaling the beginning of our attack.

The backline of the Imanian army swirled with bind as dozens of high-ranked archmages prepared devastating spells. If casters utilized the same spell simultaneously, the effect of the attack would be amplified. A sequence of spells had been prepared, the first one being the terrifying fire spell 'Meteor Crash.'

Rena Vye had already realized what we were planning, but it was too late to turn her army around. The pace of the Fei army picked up, quickly turning into a sprint in an attempt to close the distance as fast as possible.

"Power circle," I muttered, keeping a close eye on the distance between our forces. Our sequence was sure to be canceled, but even landing one attack would obliterate the enemy lines. A golden ring encircled the area, bright yellow auras swirling around the archmages as their bind levels soared.

I smiled. Rena had both anticipated our actions and fatally blundered at the same time. She knew that setting up magical barriers would be pointless when faced with such an attack, but charging headfirst into our force was not the right move.

She had had enough time to separate her army in an attempt to reduce the damage, but maybe the thought didn't cross her mind.

"Now!" I roared, pointing my rapier upwards to act as a visual trigger.

"Meteor crash!" echoed the archmages in harmony, all of their bind swirling upwards like neverending threads. The lines of energy linked together, forming a massive ball of fire as it was sent crashing onto the enemy's position.

Rena gritted her teeth, surrounding herself with layers of protection. Lio mimicked his sister's actions, preparing for the impact of the blast.

"Begin the attack," I ordered, dropping my arm and pointing my rapier forward. The cry of thousands of soldiers boomed across the battlefield, the sound quickly being silenced by the stampede of iron-clad soldiers rumbling across the earth.

BOOOOOOMMMM

The meteor crashed into Fei soldiers, the sheer blast of the attack resembling that of a nuclear warhead. I shot to the front of the Imanian army as it charged forward, preparing a small shield to protect the frontlines from the shockwave that followed the eruption.

"Holy wall!"

I plunged my thin sword into the ground, creating a barrier just in time to absorb the transparent blast that was expanding outward from the point of impact of the meteor.

I stood up, sensing my soldiers approaching my position unharmed.

"Wipe them out," I echoed, the Imanian morale flying to uncontested heights as they leaped onto the dazed soldiers that had miraculously survived the primary attack.

A roar of anger arose from the smoke in front of me as Lio surged forth. His buff figure was contained immeasurable strength, but it severely diminished his speed. I twirled to the side, avoiding the first attack before sending my foot right into the back of the Fei's skull.

The S-rank crashed into the ground, creating a crater resembling a dug-out grave. I quickly scanned my surroundings, attempting to locate the other sibling before Lio recovered.

I caught sight of her a few dozen mels away, massacring oncoming adventurers with ease. I scowled, turning my attention back to Lio as he stood up again.

Do you really think you can ignore me and kill my troops, Rena?

BOOM

I crashed into Lio, causing him to slide back. He had managed to set up a defensive stance and block my blow, but the pain it caused couldn't be ignored.

I reappeared beside the S-rank, performing quick slices with my rapier as the thin blade radiated with holy power. I enhanced my speed, manifesting myself on Lio's other side right when he attempted to counter-attack.

I thrust my weapon into the Fei's skin, immediately wrenching the blade loose as blood gushed out of the wound. Another strike came from above, my body changing positions instantly as I came slamming onto Lio's position.

"!!"

A golden arrow shot at me, barely missing my head as I swerved just in time. Rena approached her sibling, lending him her hand. The bulky Fei groaned as he accepted his sister's aid, rebalancing himself and igniting his arms in dark velvet flames.

"Remember who our opponent is, brother," said Rena calmly, eyeing me with discontent.

"Of course, sister. I was simply toying with her."

Seriously? I thought, hiding my annoyance with a neutral expression. If you had given me two more minutes, you would be dead by now, Lio Vye.

"Right," muttered Rena, sharing my disbelief at her sibling's words.

A bright trail of blue erupted in the sky as blasts of water slammed into the Fei's backlines. I smiled, recognizing the second large-scale ability within the sequence. As long as we could hold off the frontlines, the archmages given to us by King Roy would devastate the Dominion forces, but holding off two S-ranks was beyond even my power.

Rena pulled back the glowing strings on her divine weapon, a shining arrow forming out of thin air and resting on the bow. I readied my weapon, my eyes darting between both opponents and awaiting the first move.

Lio dashed towards me, commencing the fight that would determine the outcome of the entire battle. I could tell our forces were beginning to be pushed back by the superior training of the Fei soldiers, but if I were to miraculously come out on top in this brawl, then their advance would mean nothing. An S-rank could rival the power of an entire army singlehandedly, and all that mattered in this world was which S-rank remained standing.

This was no longer a world focused on technological races. Magic trivialized most basic technologies, and all that mattered was individual strength. We had struck the opponent with a blast unlike anything seen in ages, but it would all be pointless if I were to fall amidst the conflict.

Those with power controlled all the lives around them. Victory meant a massacre of the opposing forces, and defeat meant the annihilation of one's own army.

Everything fell into the hands of those with power.