"C-Captain Hak Foo..." The messenger stumbled over his words—the man's name was so unusual that it didn't fit any conventional naming sense. Who would name someone like that? It was obviously a servant's name... though, come to think of it, Captain Hak Foo was Great General Selene's personal retainer.
Shaking off those stray thoughts, the messenger continued hastily, "Captain, the order to attack has been issued. In one minute, you are to begin the assault. The Great General has commanded that you capture the northern tribe's chieftain—Numa Seika—alive."
At the front of the formation, Hak Foo, clad in pitch-black heavy armor, answered with a deep, booming voice, "Understood... Tell my master she won't be disappointed in me."
After years of brutal warfare and Honkai energy reinforcement, Hak Foo had changed beyond recognition. His physique was now massive and muscular, his entire body brimming with raw power. His crimson hair stood upright like flames, and the air around him radiated iron-blooded ferocity.
Turning his head, Hak Foo's black eyes locked sharply onto the young man standing at the forefront of the enemy army—the one clad in silver armor.
"Prepare for battle!" Hak Foo commanded, lowering his matching black helmet onto his head.
"Yes, sir!"
As the order rippled through the ranks, the Imperial soldiers at the front drew their blades in unison and began their advance in tight, orderly formation.
...
On the other side, at the head of the northern tribal army, a young man clad in silver armor and holding a long spear stepped forward. Turning back, he swept his gaze across his people.
He was Numa Seika—the so-called Hero of the North.
Numa Seika, prince of the northern tribes, was a warrior who had never been defeated while holding his spear. Undefeated across the frozen north, he was known not only for his formidable combat prowess but also for his sharp strategic mind—earning him the unwavering trust of his people.
Since taking power, Numa Seika had fortified his capital—a stronghold city—and methodically expanded his influence southward, encroaching upon the Empire's borders. His ambition was clear: to replace the millennia-old Empire and become the new ruler of the continent.
That was—until Selene appeared. Her sudden rise had completely shattered his plans. Her overwhelming might crushed his every advance, forcing him into retreat.
And now, as the Imperial Army marched into his homeland, Numa Seika knew there was no longer any way back.
Even with fear gnawing at his heart, he forced his expression to remain calm. Drawing a deep breath, he raised his voice to the soldiers behind him.
"My people! This war will decide the fate of our tribe!"
"There is no retreat! Behind us lies our capital—our homes, our families!"
His voice echoed across the snowy plains, clear and strong, reaching every warrior's ear.
"This battle... we must win!!" Numa Seika raised his spear high into the air.
Roused by his words, the northern warriors roared as one, raising their weapons to the sky.
"This battle—we must win!!"
"This battle—we must win!!"
...
"There is no retreat... Behind us lies our home, our families..."
From afar, Selene listened with her enhanced hearing, recognizing the all-too-familiar speech. Her brow twitched slightly.
"Tsk, tsk... why does this scene feel so familiar? Oh, I see—same desperate speech, same snow-covered battlefield, same 'defend your homeland' rhetoric... except this time, I'm the invader."
"Kinshasa!!"
"Y-Yes, Milady!" Kinshasa flinched violently at Selene's sudden shout.
"If you don't secure an overwhelming victory this time, when we return, you can find a basement somewhere and blow your brains out!"
"Yes, Milady!" He had no idea what "blowing one's brains out in a basement" meant, but he could tell one thing—it wasn't good. Winning wasn't enough; he had to win beautifully.
Turning around, Kinshasa drew his greatsword and bellowed, "All units, advance as planned—attack!!"
Across the field, Numa Seika, having finished his speech, charged forward on horseback, spear in hand.
"Full assault!"
"Kill them!!"
Moments later, the two armies clashed violently. Blades flashed cold in the snow, and in the blink of an eye, limbs and blood were flung into the air, painting the white ground crimson.
From the very first exchange, the vast difference in individual skill between the northern tribes and Selene's Imperial troops became painfully clear.
"Kill!!"
No matter how fearlessly or furiously the northern tribes fought, the Imperial soldiers remained unmoved. Their faces were cold and emotionless as they cut through their enemies, slaughtering them with the efficiency of butchers—each swing of the blade ending another life.
It was a crushing difference in both hard and soft power—something that courage or conviction alone could never overcome.
If it were any other Imperial army, the northern tribes might have been able to resist for a while, using their home-field advantage in the frozen wasteland.
But their opponent today was Selene's army—armed to the teeth and unmatched across the continent.
In weaponry, they benefited from Academy City's modernized, standardized production lines. Even without complex weapons, their armor coverage alone reached a full one hundred percent.
In physique, though not as enhanced as those who underwent specialized Honkai energy augmentation, every soldier had spent years strengthening their bodies through the daily use of the T-R1 serum. They were tall, muscular, and—most importantly—free of training injuries.
In willpower, the subtle influence of the 'Mental Seal' constantly reinforced their obedience and resolve.
What did the northern tribes have to compare with that? How could they possibly win?
From above, the battlefield looked like a river of black iron flowing steadily forward as the Imperial troops advanced without pause, devouring the gray-white masses of the northern tribes. The snow-white landscape was soon splattered with crimson, painting a ghastly, blood-soaked canvas.
"How... how can this be?!"
Staring at the slaughter before him, Numa Seika was struck with disbelief. The gap between them was beyond comprehension! He had thought that, even if their weapons were inferior, the Imperial soldiers—pampered men from their comfortable cities—would struggle in the freezing cold.
But reality shattered his expectations.
Suddenly, a shadow fell from the sky, landing directly before him.
"Meteor Smash!!"
A roar shook the air.
Before Numa Seika could even react, a massive force exploded before him. The front line of his guards was obliterated—literally blown apart into a spray of blood and steel. Half of his personal escort vanished in an instant.
Then, from the rising snow and debris, a towering figure leapt forward.
"Elephant Fist!!"
BOOM!
The impact hit like thunder.
Before Numa Seika could even open his mouth to speak, his vision blurred, and his body folded over like a shrimp under the blow. It was as if he had been rammed by a Super-class Danger Beast—sent flying backward in a single motion.
He crashed through a line of northern warriors, sending bodies flying like rag dolls before finally slamming into the snow with a deafening thud.
Through the swirling snow and chaos, a deep, booming voice rang out—
"So, you're Numa Seika, huh?"