Duke Ottestis reverently knelt under the eight-pointed star in the Great Sanctuary of Pisces.

He prayed softly to the eight-pointed star of the cross for God's forgiveness and protection.

He prayed to the gods to forgive him for all the sins he had committed before, and he prayed to the gods to bless him for everything he was going to do in the future. He prayed to the gods to bless him and his army from invincibility on their march to the east.

The bishop of the Templar dipped his fingers in the water of the Holy Grail, which was said to be capable of burning demons. The bishop sprinkled his finger dipped in holy water on the sword of the Oath held up by Otistis's hands, sending him the blessings of the gods.

While Ottistis was receiving his blessing in the Great Chapel, the army of 80,000 Landi outside Pisces City who were preparing for an expedition to Azor in the East had been assembled.

At the forefront of the 80,000 expeditionary army, close to Pisces City, it was none other than the Starlight Knights, one of the two most elite knightly orders under the command of Duke Ottistes. The knights of the Knights of the Starlight stood majestically and majestically, wearing steel helmets, shielded spears, broadswords, and metal armor, waiting for their lord, Duke Ottistis, to emerge from the Sanctuary of Pisces.

In front of the starry knights, who looked like a metal wall, a young general was slowly pacing his horse. He has a handsome face, flowing blonde hair, he is dressed in heavy armor, his heroic posture is free, and his eyes are full of confidence and vitality. He is the head of the Knights of the Starlight, the confidant of the Duke of Ottistis, Baron Mioro.

Mioro turned his head and glanced up at the banner held in the knight's hand beside him, handing it to one of his attendants, handing it the heavy helmet between his elbows. On the vertical rectangular flag, countless purple irises are embroidered on the cloth with a purple frame and a white background, and on top of the irises, a pair of double fish representing the mother and child are embroidered, the tail of the double fish is tied by a ribbon, and they are inseparable from the cross star around the eight-pointed star. Looking at this Pisces cross iris flag, Mioro knew that this flag would be the object of protection of the whole army in the future journey, because it was the family crest of Ottestis and the flag of the whole army.

The banner swayed gently in the wind, and Mioro took a few steps forward, looking around the banner and looking in the direction of Pisces. Soon after, he saw a procession of men emerge from the open gates, and among them was the Duke of Ortstis.

Having completed his prayer and blessing, Otistis rode out of the Sanctuary on horseback under the protection of his knights of the guard, and at this moment he was receiving the blessing and farewell of the people who stood on both sides of Pisces.

The people who saw off Duke Ottestis sprinkled with blessed flower petals and wine, and at the same time cast expectant eyes. Ottistis also felt the expectations placed on him in the pious eyes of the people.

As soon as he stepped out of the city gates, he quickened the pace of his horses, and he came to the assembly of the army, accompanied by dozens of Templar monks who were also riding horses.

After riding around the two of his own most elite legions, the Knights of the Astrale and the Knights of Iris, at the front of the army, Ottestis turned back to the center of Miort's army, where his banner was. After looking at his own banner and the resolute and brave eyes of the knights of the Knights of the Starlight behind Mioro, he suddenly pulled out the sword of the "Oath" from his waist that he had just received the blessing.

With the reins of his horse in one hand and his sword in the other, Otestis rode his horse slowly along the line. After riding up to a mound above the ground, he stopped his horses, looked at the army that was ready to go, and after a little contemplation, suddenly said in a loud voice to the vast soldiers in front of him, "Warriors of God, you have all heard that the evil heretics of the East are pressing on us step by step. They have slain many innocent gods, they have awakened demons from hell, they have caused a terrible wave to submerge our homeland, and they have spread a terrible plague to our homeland. They have caused us to lose our land, our parents, our children, our brothers and our lovers. They want to crush us, they want to destroy us, they even want us to turn our backs on the gods and submit to the devil. Soldiers, I ask you, can we tolerate such an act of the enemy?! ”

"Nope! No! ”

Eighty thousand warriors shouted in unison, and their voices shook the earth.

"Of course we can't tolerate it!" After the army had quieted down, Otestis continued to shout loudly to the warriors, "Face those demons, warriors of the gods! Don't hesitate! Don't hesitate anymore! For salvation and hope! For the glory of my God! Let's move forward! We will conquer the Land of Listening, we will purify the Holy Land of Eden, we will destroy the laigh lair and their great altar of evil, and we will slay all the demons of the world under the protection of God! ”

Duke Ottestis raised the sword of the "Oath" in his hand high, and he shouted, "God bless Randy! ”

"God bless Randy!" The Randy warriors also raised their weapons in their hands, and they shouted in unison in response to their lord. The roar of the warriors reached the nearby Pisces City, and the civilians in the city couldn't help but be moved when they heard the shout. Because in the eyes of the civilians in the city, these warriors are here to fight for the safety of Randy, to fight for the elimination of demons, and they have embarked on a difficult and unusually long journey from which it is difficult to return.

"The whole army obeys the order and marches east!"

Mioro turned around and said loudly to give orders to the troops after seeing the actions indicated by Otistis.

The army of Randy in the Kaia region under the command of the Duke of Ortstis set out from Pisces and made their way through the rolling hills of the Kaia region, and two months later first reached the Nac Mountains at the junction between Randy and Garan.

One fine day, Ottestis went up to a high mountain near the march with his guards and servants, and he looked north from the top of the mountain, but saw a vast ocean in the distance.

"Mioro, it shouldn't be the sea in the first place, right?" Ottestis asked Mioro as he looked at the ocean in the distance.

"Duke, it's true that this is not the sea, it's a low-lying land that has only recently been flooded by the sea." Mioro also looked at the ocean in the distance and said.

"What was there before it was submerged?" Ottistis continued to ask Mioro.

"Duke, that is the domain of the Marquis of Daniro. Before it was submerged by the sea, it was a fertile land with numerous vineyards and farms. Mioro turned to the side and said, "From there, a little north and east, there is the bustling port of San Michiel." ”

"Oh. Port of St. Michill. It is said that the area around the port of Saint-Michel is now completely swallowed by the sea. Most of the people who were originally on the northern coast went to the area of Goat Town. Ottestis said.

"Yes, Duke." Mioro said, "The princes and marquis who relied on the port trade are now in great trouble. ”

"I hear that even the Earl of Eva has now migrated south with many of his subjects." Ottestis said.

"Yes, Duke. After leading his subjects to the Southern Realm, the Earl of Eva will soon lead his army to attack the southwestern part of Azor by sea with the army of the Duke of Lasvenis. Mioro said.

"I know their plans." "With the help of Duke Lasvenis' naval forces, they will quickly pass through the Sea of Dreams and land on the territory of the original Hurons. ”

"I'm afraid there's going to be a brutal and unusual naval battle there." "The Azorians are very capable of fighting in the coastal waters. Had their ships not been damaged in the rising waters, the Duke of Las Vines would not have had much of a chance of winning. ”

"Las Venis, they'll have to go all out to win, because that's the only way they'll be able to meet us up in the Tus-Twilight area as planned." Ottestis said.

"You're right, Duke." "But... I think they'd better not be so quick to get to the Tuski Twilight area. ”

"Baron, why do you say that?"

"Duke, you should remember that according to the previous agreement in front of the Pope, whoever captures the city in this crusade will belong to whom." "Tuski Twilight is extremely important, not only because the surrounding land is fertile and far from the coast, but it is also supposed to have a lot of treasure and grain. Occupying it first will play an extremely important role in our future development. ”

"I know that. But it was also the capital of the king of the West, and there the people of Azor would be heavily defended, and we would have to pay some casualties to take it on our own. "If we suffer too many casualties there and lose too many well-trained knights, it will be difficult for us to capture the Listening Land in the later stages." As for the completion of the eradication of the pagan demons, it is impossible to talk about the holy mandate to save the people of God. ”

"Duke, sacrifice is inevitable." "Even so, we should do whatever it takes to get there first." You know, the water is still rising, and we don't have time to wait or hesitate. ”

"I understand that." Ottestis thought for a moment, then said to Mioro, "But before we can do that, we need to conquer Lionheart, Garland's old land. Do you have any good advice for there? ”

Mioro thought for a moment and said, "Duke, Lionheart City in Garland's old land is the gateway to Tuski Twilight City, which is not only the heart of Garland's eastern region, but also a strong fortress, and if we want to take it, we must obtain enough wood in advance to make a tall siege tower. ”

Otstis nodded, then said, "I plan to relocate a large part of the people of the Kaeya region once I occupy the area west of the Garland River. I plan to establish my new territory there. ”

"Duke, your plan is good." Mioro stepped forward and took a step closer to Ottestis and whispered, "But we have to be fast. According to sources, the Marquis of Minavia on the western coast is also planning to organize his people to begin moving eastward. If this continues, more and more lords will realize that the whole of Randy is very low, and the sea will eventually swallow it, and then desperately move eastward. ”

"Welcome them." "Once I've taken over Lionheart and Tusage Twilight, any subsequent people and princes from Randy will have to submit to me if they want to survive there. ”

"That's good, Duke. But you know, their armies will also march and get there. We still have to take precautions against this. Mioro said.

"A rabble like the Marquis of Minavia is nothing to worry about." "Once I take control of the grain producing areas around Lionheart and Twilight, even if more troops arrive, they will quickly lose their combat effectiveness because they don't have supplies from their rear homes. ”

Mioro thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Tell me about the upcoming arrival of Sigalan, Mioro." Ottestis said.

"Yes, Duke." Mioro turned to look at the mountains to the east and said, "Beyond the Nak Mountains, it is the border of the Garland Empire. It is reported that the northern plains there have been swallowed by the sea. The Emerald City, its national capital, has lost its strategic value due to its proximity to the sea and its low-lying location, and it is inevitable that it will be swallowed by the sea. For now, our best route is to avoid the Emerald City area and instead cross the Essland region of Garland, and after crossing the Garland River and capturing the city of Waiya in the Essland region, we will move on to Lionheart. ”

"Well, do you have any good advice for going to the Essland area?" Ottstis asked.

"Duke, in the land of Garan, I think we should try to recruit as many Garans as possible who have the courage to resist the rule of Azor to join our army." "In that case," said Mioro, "we will be able to further strengthen our army, and second, they will provide us with more information about Garan and the Azor, and third, we will be more popular with the Garan people on our way." ”

"No, I don't agree with your suggestion. I'm not going to recruit too many Garlandites who don't believe that the Messiah has come. I don't want to waste precious military rations on them. "When you get to Garland, you just need to get me some reliable Garland guides to make sure that my army takes shortcuts and doesn't get lost in the mountains." ”

"Duke—" Mioro hesitated, he was about to say something more, but when he saw the determined look in Ottistis's eyes, he replied instead, "Yes, Lord Duke. ”

"Well, let's go back to camp." Ottistis waved his hand and said, "I've seen enough of the water in the distance. ”

As the group descended the mountain with Ottistis, one of the Templar monks who was accompanying him suddenly approached Mioro, who was dragging behind the group for some reason, and after approaching him, he whispered to him, "Baron Mioro, I think the Duke must have a strong prejudice against the Garland people. ”

Mioro turned his head to see that it was Promper, a former servant of the Pope's side who was now a military priest.

"Perhaps, Father Prompo." Mioro shrugged his shoulders and said to him.

"But the suffering Garans are also God's people, and although many of them, like the Hurons, do not want to admit that the Messiah has already come, suffered, and risen, they still believe in the one God." "The Duke," said Plumper, "should not be so prejudiced against them. ”

"Father Plumper, you are different from most clergy." Mioro said, "There are fewer and fewer clergymen like you who have compassion and compassion for the Garlandians in Randy. The duke's prejudice against the Garlanders is actually mostly due to the malicious portrayals of the Garlands by other priests. ”

"Although many people are slandering the Garlands, you still stand by your opinion, Baron, don't you?" Promper said.

"I do have sympathy for the poor Garlands, and I have heard that the odious heretics have destroyed their churches and crucified their priests." "This is an unforgivable sin. ”

"Oh, those horrific crimes, I've heard about them, too." "May the gods bless them," Plomper said. ”

Mioro sighed lightly, then looked up at Promper and said, "Father Prompo, did you come to me to tell me something?" ”

"Baron, I heard your suggestion to the Duke. To be honest, I appreciate your proposal. Plomper whispered, "We should have delivered all God's people from the pagans. If we can attract more gods and people to the east to rid the demons, we will receive more forgiveness and blessings from the gods and fathers. ”

"Father Promper, thank you for your affirmation and support of me. But unfortunately, the Duke is the one who decides everything. "We have to follow his orders." ”

"God bless all beings." Promper muttered, and then said, "Mioro, as the duke's right-hand man, you ought to insist on your own opinions, and keep your own opinions, and you should insist on making the right suggestions to the duke. ”

"But Father, the Duke, he always likes to ask for advice after he has thought of his own plan. When he listens to other people's advice, he sometimes sticks to his own opinions. "Sometimes a lot of my advice is really just advice. ”

Promper spread his hands, and then said, "The road to the East is long and treacherous, and it is difficult for us to anticipate how many brutal battles and difficult choices we will encounter, and if we continue like this, even if the Duke is very shrewd, I think he will inevitably be negligent." He needs to be surrounded by someone who can assert himself to correct some not-so-correct thoughts. ”

"Father, believe the Duke, he must have his considerations." Mioro said, "Just as I am confident that you will pray for the forgiveness and blessing of the gods for all our warriors. ”

"It's nature." Promper said.

Seeing Otistis walking away with a group of retinues on the way down the mountain, Mioro suddenly whispered to Promper, "Father, what do you think of the rumor that the Azor people built the Great Tower of Evil in the Garden of Eden, to be honest?" ”

Promper looked at Mioro and said seriously, "It's not a rumor, Baron. It is a fact that the pagan Athollians built their wicked altar in the sacred Garden of Eden, which was bound to anger the gods. And the angry gods will also condemn the world. ”

After speaking, Plempper made a cross on his forehead and in front of him with his palm, and then whispered a prayer for the gods' forgiveness. Mioro did the same.

"May God appease his wrath and forgive all beings." Mioro then whispered.