In a vast open plain, where gentle breezes rustled the small shrubs and plants, a wide gravel road stretched across the landscape.
This was the Lifaus Highway, a vital route for travel and trade in the kingdom of Lugunica, serving as the main connection between the capital and the western part of the realm.
However, its significance went beyond mere connectivity; many other roads and highways also led to the same destination. What truly set this highway apart was one remarkable feature.
Towering majestically beside the road stood what could be described as nature's attempt of a skyscraper in this world—a humongous tree.
Known as Flugal's Tree, it is the largest tree in existence, symbolizing the beauty and resilience of nature, with its height reaching up to the clouds.
Despite its name, the origins of Flugal's Tree remain a mystery; no one knows who planted it. The name comes from a large carving on its trunk, facing the highway, which reads, "Flugel was here."
However, none of this was of importance as of this moment, beneath the bright full moon, the base magnificent tree provided an ideal temporary base for an army on a crucial mission.
To find and hunt the Great Mabeast of the Fog.
Crusch Karsten walked through the encampment, surrounded by makeshift tents and siege equipment. Her dark green hair, framed her honey-colored eyes, while her grey armor, accented with golden trim, protected her chest, shoulders, and forearms. A striking red cape draped from her back, adding a touch of nobility to her appearance.
By her side was her knight, Felix.
"Mew has checked on everyone, the watchers have just been rotated, and the soldiers are weady at a moment's notice, nyan!" he reported, dressed in his knight's attire instead of his usual blue and white garb.
Crusch acknowledged his update with a nod. "That's good. How is Anastasia-san's force faring?"
"They're prepared as well, with some keeping watch alongside our troops," he replied, gesturing toward the hastily constructed fortifications.
They had arrived late the previous night, and since there hasn't been any sighting of it here, they had erected makeshift watchtowers and minor defenses to stay vigilant.
At that moment, she spotted the familiar white robes mingling with the armored soldiers of her army.
To one side, she noticed Ricardo, the captain of the Iron Fang, flanked by his vice captains, the small kitten-demi humans, Mimi and Hetaro.
"Good," she said with a nod. The Iron Fang were well-known mercenaries, and so far, they had been diligent, unlike many mercenaries who often slacked off.
Continuing their walk through the camp, the candidate and her knight checked in on everyone, from the cavalry to the magic users and the cannons she had acquired.
There was just one more important person she needed to see, someone deeply invested in this hunt.
Her attendant, famously known as the Sword Demon, Wilhelm.
Some seasoned veterans had informed her that he was outside the camp, and if she had to guess, he was likely tending to the flowers just beyond the perimeter.
But before that…
"You can confide in me about what's been troubling you, Ferris." Crusch's sudden tone startled the femboy, causing him to flinch in surprise.
"C-Crusch-sama?!" he stammered.
"You might try to hide it, but I know you well. Something has been bothering you lately, and while I respect your privacy, I want you to know that you can share what's been weighing on your mind," she said, her voice gentler than usual.
Felix gazed at his lady for a moment before letting out a weary sigh. Of course, she would sense that something was off. After all, she was Crusch-sama, the valkyrie!
"Mew's been worried about Julius-Kyun," he finally admitted, earning a curious look from her.
"Julius-san? Is he okay? Is his treatment not going well?" she inquired.
Felix shook his head softly. "No, Meow's fully recovered, but it's his mental health that Ferris-chan is worried about," he explained.
Noticing that Crusch remained silent, he continued, "Ferris has visited him several times, but each time, he could see the light in Julius's eyes fading. Julius-kyun just sits in bed, staring blankly and insisting that he's fine. It really worries Ferris."
He clenched his fists tightly as he recalled the cause of his friend's condition. "It's all because of him," he hissed.
Natsuki Subaru, the butler boy working for the Margrave, was someone Felix found amusing to tease. He knew from Old Man Wil's assessment that the man was a formidable warrior, but he never imagined that the butler could be strong enough to break his own friend.
Felix loathed him for what he had done to Julius. He despised that he had to be powerful enough to defeat Julius in their duel, and he hated how he shattered Julius's spirit, leaving him a mere shadow of his former self.
Seeing his friend lying there, bloodied and broken, ignited a fury within him. If he hadn't restrained himself, he might have tried to attack him.
"..."
Crusch remained quiet as she absorbed her knight's troubles. It was clear that the duel had left a significant mark on Julius, and not in a positive way.
She found herself torn between admiration and disapproval for the Natsuki Subaru. On one hand, she respected his bravery and unwavering loyalty in defending Emilia in front of others. Such fierce loyalty is a rare treasure these days.
On the other hand, she disapproved of how he handled the situation. Responding to disrespect with more disrespect only perpetuates a cycle of hate and conflict. Additionally, his insults directed at the knights were hurtful, damaging their honor and pride, which ultimately led to the duel that brought them to this point.
Crusch didn't need to voice her thoughts to convey her feelings about Julius's state. While it was commendable that Subaru managed to take down one of the finest imperial knights, the methods he employed were, in her view, too far.
She recognized Julius's stubbornness in refusing to yield, but striking a knight who was already down was simply wrong in her eyes.
"Ferris," she said, her voice steady and commanding, a tone that always drew attention. Felix turned to her immediately.
"Do you remember what I told you when we first met? Keep your gaze up; if you look down, your eyes may become clouded, and you might lose your will to live," she reminded him.
As he listened to her words, Felix gradually found his composure, feeling the purpose they instilled in him.
"Julius is one of the most honorable and strongest knights around. He may be facing tough times now, but he will overcome them. Anastasia-san won't allow her knight to fall into despair."
She placed a reassuring hand on Felix's shoulder. "And he has you as a friend, Ferris. Don't forget that."
Looking into her honey-colored eyes, filled with determination and confidence, Felix felt his anger fade away, replaced by a strong resolve.
A resolve to support his friend.
"Crusch-sama is right! Mew will help Julius-kyun bweak free from his shell and will stand by his side, nyan!
Crusch smiled gently at this. "That's great, Ferris. Always Remember your determination. Now, let's go find Wilhelm-san."
The duo of candidate knights departed from their makeshift camp and made their way around Flugel's tree. Crusch had a feeling she knew where her attendant was.
And she was right. Sitting among a cluster of light yellow flowers was Wilhelm, lost in thought as he gazed at them. Although Crusch couldn't see his face, she could sense the nostalgia radiating from him.
They both remained quiet, not wanting to disrupt the serene atmosphere. The sword demon appeared tranquil, a state she hadn't seen in quite some time.
Eventually, he rose from his spot and turned to face Crusch and Felix, his expression a mix of sorrow and peace.
"…You miss her deeply, don't you?" Crusch asked the sword demon, who nodded in agreement, sadness evident in his eyes.
"Every single day. Not a day goes by without longing for her smile," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion.
"She had a gentle heart and always adored the flowers, but the sword chose her, forcing her to live for it. I took the sword from her, allowing her to live as she always desired, to spend as much time with the flowers as she wished."
He clenched his fists in frustration. "But that wasn't enough. Duty came, The sword called to her once more, and she once again accepted its burden. That ultimately led to her demise."
Felix's tail dropped as he empathized with Wilhelm's suffering. "Old man Will, Mew can only imagine how painful this must have been for you."
Crusch nodded in agreement. "I understand. I can't fathom the depth of love you must have felt for her to still endure such heartache."
Crusch felt a deep sympathy for the old warrior. She was aware of the story between the sword demon and the former sword saint—the man who had interrupted the ceremony celebrating the demi-human war just to declare his love for her.
Yet, she also felt a twinge of curiosity. The love he experienced was something she longed to feel herself. There was someone special in her life, the reason behind all her efforts… but he was no longer alive.
Perhaps if she hadn't been so oblivious, something beautiful could have blossomed back then.
"But," he started, his eyes filled with determination and fury, "today is the day I will achieve what I have sought for over a decade. Today, I will take my revenge on the monster that stole my happiness—the one who took Theresia from me!"
Crusch nodded, sensing the resolve radiating from him. "The White Whale has claimed many lives and shattered families. But this ends now, I promise you that."
Felix chimed in eagerly, "Nyan! With Crusch-sama by our side, the White Whale doesn't stand a chance!"
Wilhelm also nodded, convinced that today would be the day he would rid the world of this monster.
He turned to Crusch, "Crusch-sama, have the scouts reported back to you?" he inquired.
Crusch looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean? I haven't sent any scouts…" Her voice trailed off as horror washed over her.
She had dispatched reconnaissance teams throughout the day—five of them—to alert her if the White Whale approached. So why hadn't she sent any now, especially in the dead of night?!
Her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
Before she could give the order to return to camp, she heard it. A loud rumbling, as if the earth itself was cracking, accompanied by vibrations that shook her where she stood.
She turned, her expression morphing into one of terror. From the makeshift camp they had set up, a massive cloud of dirt and debris was rising ominously.
They were under attack, with a massive creature soaring overhead, casting a vast shadow even in the dead of night. It was clear who was responsible for the assault.
The Great Mabeast of the Fog
The White Whale.
Adrenaline surged through her as she shouted commands to her attendants, "Felix! Wilhelm, to the camp, NOW!" She sprinted back to her encampment, with Felix and Wilhelm trailing her, their faces reflecting shock and disbelief.
In an instant, she arrived at her camp, which was in utter chaos. A deep gash marred the center of the area, destroying everything in its wake. Torn tents and wrecked carts lay scattered, and she could see mangled bodies and limbs strewn across the ground.
Clenching her teeth in frustration, the White Whale had taken them off guard, all because of her incompetence.
"Men! Get on your mounts and form up! The beast is here. Cannoneers and mages, prepare yourselves!" she commanded, her voice resonating as she amplified it with her wind magic.
Despite the sudden onslaught, her soldiers obeyed her orders, donning their armor and brandishing their swords as they mounted their ground dragons. She noticed the Iron Fang also springing into action, readying themselves for battle.
Turning to her knight, she instructed, "Felix! Heal the injured and assess how many cannons we've lost, understood?!"
Felix nodded, "Of course, Crusch-sama!" He replied, rushing off to tend to the wounded.
She then faced Wilhelm, who was glaring fiercely at the beast. "Wilhelm, I need you with me. We have to buy some time for the men to regroup!"
"We'll help you out too!" She turned to see Ricardo mounting his liger, flanked by his co-captains and a few members of the Iron Fang.
"Alright, follow me!" she said, as she and Wilhelm hurried to their respective ground-dragons.
As all of this unfolded, the White Whale soared through the skies, its howls reverberating across the desolate plains, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
However, Crusch remained unfazed; succumbing to despair would mean certain doom for her entire army.
She and her companions rode out, glaring fiercely at the creature above, which seemed to regard her and her entourage as nothing more than an insignificant insect in its path, choosing not to attack as it had before.
"Don't you dare look down on us after all the destruction you've caused, you monster!" she shouted, her sword radiating a brilliant green light as she unleashed a powerful slash at it.
"One Blow, One Hundred Felled!" With her divine protection and wind magic, a bright green gust of wind surged toward the White Whale, striking its underside and inflicting a deep wound that caused blood to pour out.
This was her signature move, the one that had earned her the title of "Valkyrie" when she had previously defended against the Great Rabbit years ago.
The whale let out a roar of agony from the attack, its large yellow eyes locking onto her as it twisted in midair, launching itself at her with its mouth wide open, ready to devour her.
Crusch readied another strike, but Wilhelm strode forward, his sword held firmly in front of his face as he faced the approaching beast.
"For years," he began, his voice deep and resonant, "I have awaited this moment, for years I have dreamed of this day. Fall here, and leave your carcass behind."
As the whale drew nearer, he leaped from his ground-dragon, spinning and twisting in the air as he shouted, "You vile monster!" His sword came crashing down onto the creature's face.
The sounds of slicing and cutting rang out over the whale's roars of pain as it writhed in the air, blood gushing from its wounds.
"Hey, don't hog all tha' fun' as well!" Ricardo called out from nearby, charging forward with his liger and leaping high into the sky. He jumped from his mount and landed on the beast.
Wilhelm and Ricardo teamed up as they relentlessly attacked the White Whale with their blades, a fierce dance of steel and iron clashing against flesh, causing the creature to bleed profusely.
Mimi and Hetaro raced toward the white whale on their Ligers, getting nearer to the creature under assault by the pair. "Hetaro! Now's our chance!" she exclaimed as they leaped high into the air, approaching the whale.
With a synchronized effort, they both opened their mouths and unleashed a powerful scream. A massive wave of destructive mana surged forth, striking the whale and inflicting a deep wound.
"One Blow, One hundred Felled!" Crusch shouted, executing her signature move with her sword as she joined the battle. The Iron Fangs unleashed a barrage of fire, gusts of wind, and icicles at the beast, each strike embedding itself deeper.
The assault pressed on, with the small group diverting the creature's attention, its agonizing roars resonating across the plains, but they remained undeterred.
Suddenly, "Crusch-sama!" she heard the unmistakable voice of her knight. Turning around, she saw him riding in, flanked by her army and the Iron Fangs, all geared up for battle. Cannons and magic users trailed behind him.
"Felix! Give me a status report!" she commanded.
"We've lost around a hundred men, and we've lost a quarter of meour cannons, but the Night-Banisher is still operational," he reported.
Crusch felt a pang of guilt; a quarter of her forces had died due to her oversight. Why hadn't she deployed scouts? They could have detected the threat much earlier!
She shook off the doubt; she couldn't afford to let uncertainty cloud her judgment now!
The army was prepared, the cannons were primed, the Night-Banisher was ready, and the Iron Fangs stood firm. Though they had taken a hit, they were still on their feet and ready for action.
They got this!
With determination, Crusch pointed her sword at the White Whale, her voice ringing out across the plains, "Magicians, Cannoneers, Fire—"
An unexpected turn of events unfolded as the white whale, seemingly fed up with the relentless attacks, took matters into its own hands. It dove straight down to the ground and rolled onto its back, scraping against the earth and tearing it apart.
Meanwhile, Crusch and her army watched in deep concern for their comrades, but an even greater threat loomed over them.
A shower of Debris was thrown directly towards them!
"Disperse! Disperse now!" she commanded, riding away as the debris rained down around her.
The army, witnessing the massive rockfall, descended into chaos as they scrambled to escape. Some ground dragons lost their footing while making sharp turns, trapping their riders beneath them, while others collided, creating a chaotic tangle of limbs and cries. Cannons were struck by the falling rocks, and several mages were crushed under the debris.
It was utter pandemonium, a scene that Crusch struggled to understand.
'How could this happen? We prepared for everything! We accounted for every possible scenario and made contingencies! So why is this happening?!'
As she ran, she watched her army being overwhelmed by the relentless rock shower.
Once again, doubt crept in, heavier than before. Her soldiers looked to her for guidance, trusting her to lead them to victory, and yet here she was, leading them to disaster.
A screech from the whale took her attention, and she looked up to see a massive cloud of fog beginning to emanate from it, obscuring visibility and enveloping the entire plain in a thick white mist.
Now she truly understood where the White Whale got it's nickname from.
"Men! If you're still alive, retreat to Flugel's tree and regroup! I repeat, retreat to Flugel's tree and regroup!" she shouted with all her strength, mounting her ground dragon and heading toward Flugel's tree, or at least where she believed it to be.
This situation was still salvageable; if they could regroup, perhaps they could still turn the tide–
"No, no, no—!"
"It's here! We need to run—"
"Run! Get away!"
"It's chasing us!"
"Oh no—!"
All around her, cries and shouts filled the air, pleading for help, for survival, but as the ground continued to crack and crumble, the sounds quickly faded into silence.
Before long, an unsettling quiet enveloped the area. Crusch found herself utterly alone, surrounded by a thick, white fog so dense that she could barely see through it.
"Men?! Can anyone hear me?" she shouted, using her special technique to disperse some of the fog, but it was futile. No one came to her, no one responded to her.
She was completely alone.
The tough demeanor she had been trained to uphold since childhood began to falter as fear and despair gripped her heart, accompanied by a heavy sense of guilt and shame.
Her men were being slaughtered, and she felt powerless as their cries still echoed in her ears. Her army, her pride, lay in ruins. The whereabouts of her knight and Wilhelm were unknown, leaving her as potentially the last one standing.
At that moment, she recognized her own arrogance.
The White Whale had already slain the previous Sword Saint, one of the strongest warriors in the kingdom. So why did she believe she was any different? Why did she think she could succeed where Theresia Van Astrea had failed?
She had managed to fend off the Great Rabbit Before, but her prestige and title had clouded her judgment, leading her to this dire situation.
The ground trembled beneath her, her ground dragon shrieking in terror, a fear she began to share as she glanced toward the area where the fog had cleared.
The White Whale, mouth agape, was hurtling toward her, its eyes locked onto her as it prepared to devour her whole.
It was too close; she couldn't escape, nor could she defend herself with her sword. All she could do was watch as her demise approached, her once stoic and stern face now betraying a look of fear and despair that was uncharacteristic of her.
She could only resign herself to her fate as death loomed ever so closer–
A sudden flash caught her attention—a brilliant red light that momentarily blinded her. She could hear the whale's anguished roar, but then there was an eerie silence.
As she blinked to clear her vision, she realized the whale had vanished. She was safe.
What just happened?
"Phew, talk about a close call," a voice said nearby. She turned to see someone in strange, otherworldly attire looking down at her.
Wait, looking down? When did she end up on the ground?
"Yo, Crusch Karsten, was it? Man, that's one hell of a coincidence to run into you now of all times, right?" he remarked.
That voice was unmistakable; it could only belong to one person.
"Natsuki Subaru?!"