--- Mutual Defense Alliance. --- Northern Star Republic

The empire began a large-scale invasion of the countries in the northern region of the continent a week ago. Anticipating this move by the empire, these countries formed a military alliance.

The primary and most powerful country in the region is the Northern Star Republic. This country is one of the most powerful in the northern region, but is now facing a major crisis. Its neighboring countries that share a border with the empire are being attacked by a massive imperial force, and it is the duty of the Republic and the alliance to protect all countries in the northern region. Thus, a great war has begun.

The entire alliance managed to gather an impressive military force of 200,000 soldiers. Unlike the empire, the alliance prohibited the use of magical creatures in the ranks of its joint army.

Despite assembling a large army, the empire continues to advance rapidly. Simultaneously, it besieged the capital of the Kingdom of Louduria and the United Principality of Baston. If these two countries fall, the next target will be the Northern Star Republic. If the republic falls, unfortunately, all seven remaining nations will fall as well.

---

Gideon, the Prime Minister of the North Star Republic, paces his office with a look of concern. His secretary watches, uneasy, his leader's restlessness. "Tell me what's on your mind," Gideon requests, while continuing to pace back and forth in the room, "I know you have something to say."

"My lord," the secretary begins, "I fear this war may be lost. We are holding out, but our soldiers and knights will soon succumb to the empire's endless ranks." He pauses before continuing, "No matter how many of them we kill, they always send more soldiers and monsters."

Just as Gideon seems ready to respond, the door opens. A man enters, a sexagenarian wearing black armor with a white star on his chest. "General Cornelius, what brings you here?" Gideon asks.

"I believe I have a solution that may delay, or even halt, the empire's advance," the general responds. Gideon and the secretary look with curiosity at the general, who remains imposing in the room.

"Go on..."

The general's strategy is desperate, but simple. His science institute had recently completed the project of a new weapon for infantry - a handheld cannon. The mechanism is simple, powered by magical fire and air gems. Each shot requires a reload, which takes 5 to 10 seconds, depending on the shooter's skill. The projectile is a small, aerodynamic steel dart, the size of a pen, capable of piercing any armor due to its speed. Gideon is immediately interested in the new weapon but has doubts about how to equip his men on the front line with it. The general promptly responds: they have already produced 10,000 units in two weeks, but the war has left the factory with few workers. However, he has a plan to work around this problem.

The plan consists of ambushing enemy columns and forming a defensive perimeter with the new 10,000 weapons. He knows that eventually, the lack of sufficient weapons will allow the empire to break through their defense, but this will give enough time for all the other remaining nations in the alliance to mass-produce the new weapons.

Gideon is amazed by the plan and gives his full authorization, but in his mind, there is a question: why was he not informed about this new weapon? He would have to address this issue if the general's plan worked.

The general leaves the room, confident and determined to defend his freedom and ideals.

--- Hurdian Empire, one month before the invasion of Campinas ---

The magic university was bustling as the emperor was on his way; his objective was to see what the Grandmaster had discovered and thus finalize the preparations for the invasion and domination of this new world.

When the emperor arrived in his carriage, all the professors and staff of the school formed a line that resulted in a corridor. At the end stood the Grandmaster and his two assistants. As he stepped out of the carriage, everyone bowed, feeling the emperor's imposing presence as he walked in his navy blue military uniform.

"Pleasure to see you, Grandmaster."

Stolen story; please report.

"The pleasure is mine, my emperor," he bowed.

After exchanging greetings, they entered the university. It was a huge place with five individual buildings, each with its own specialty. The building they entered was for magical research and enhancement.

---

Arriving at the testing room, the emperor sat in a chair that had been prepared for him.

"So, show me what we've accomplished," he said.

The Grandmaster nodded to have the door closed and began to speak. "From our analysis, we will be able to open a portal, albeit at the cost of a great magical power supported by magical gems. Once opened, there is a disadvantage; we do not know a way to close it." When the emperor heard this, he felt a slight chill, but it quickly subsided when Colt resumed speaking. "The good news is that we managed to open a kind of window. We cannot physically see what is on the other side, but we can sense and analyze it."

"So we know what awaits us in this new world, even if we cannot see it?"

"Yes, my emperor." The Grandmaster filled a glass and took a sip before continuing. "Even though we cannot see, we can sense, and from our data, this new world has no magical powers, and there are only humans and other creatures that we agree are merely wild animals."

"A world of only humans and no magic, they are probably not even civilized; magic is the basis of everything for a society to function," the emperor said, crossing his arms.

"Exactly, my emperor. We believe that this new world has abundant lands but no official government."

"Indeed, they are surely barbarians," the emperor said, rising with an imposing voice. "Show me one of these windows you opened."

"Of course, my emperor." Both exited the room and went to another, where the Grandmaster's two assistants were waiting.

Upon entering the room, the emperor immediately saw a small portal the size of a window open on a wall; it had a transparent color and undulated like a peaceful ocean.

Colt noticed the emperor's confused and curious reaction.

"This small portal is what enabled us to analyze the data and characteristics of this new world."

"This is fantastic!" exclaimed the emperor in a burst of happiness.

"Prepare everything necessary; the portal will be opened at the end of the month," ordered the emperor before leaving the room.

The Grandmaster looked at his two assistants, then at the portal, and thought, "I hope we are doing the right thing."

---

In the city of Matique, located a few weeks from the capital of the Hurdian Empire, was an adventurer (Freelancer) named Selina. She had just received a good reward for capturing a criminal who had escaped a few months ago.

She made her way to a tavern she usually frequents after her missions. She sits exhausted at a table near a wall. The tavern is relatively large and calm compared to other taverns.

One of the staff members approaches her. "Looks like you had another productive day, Selena." A calm and friendly smile spreads across the waiter's face.

"Yeah, but this last job almost finished me," Selina said as she looked at her sword in its sheath. "But you're here now, you're alive, and I'm sure you got a good reward."

Selina laughed in agreement.

"So, what will you have today?"

"The usual, my friend," she said with a smile.

"Alright, I'll be back in a few minutes."

While waiting for her meal, a group of five people, apparently adventurers like her, enter the tavern, all visibly excited and discussing something of great importance. Finally, one last person enters the room: a tall and slender elf, wearing a green cloak and carrying a beautifully ornamented bow. Selina immediately recognizes this elf; her name is Thalassa, and they have shared many missions together.

Selina hopes not to be noticed, as she just wants to eat her meal in peace and leave. But to her dismay, the elf looks at Selina, recognizing her. Thalassa walks over to her with a smile on her face. Even though Selena wants to be alone, she recognizes that it's nice to see a friend once in a while.

She sits at the table. "Long time no see, my friend."

"Well, it's only been 2 months," Selena said.

"Still, you decided to go alone to capture that criminal," Thalassa removed her hood and continued, "and apparently, you succeeded since you're here now."

"Your meal," said the waiter as he placed a plate on the table, a large piece of meat pie.

"Finally! Thank you very much," Selena smiled at the waiter, who nodded in return.

"I remember when we first met, it was because of this meat pie," said Thalassa with a slight smile as she watched Selena savor her meat pie.

After finishing the pie, Selena asked the elf why she was in this region; she would normally be in the sacred forest.

"Well, several of my people were called to join the ranks of the imperial army as auxiliary troops, of course, we will be well paid for it."

Selena looked surprised and asked, "But you never showed interest in helping the empire in its military campaigns."

"I know, but now it's different," Thalassa leaned back in her chair. "My people need money; the financial situation for the villages in the forest is terrible, and the empire is offering great pay. They even paid in advance."

Selena understands her friend's reasons, but something confuses her. She heard that the empire is currently at war with the Northern military alliance, so why would they be gathering troops here, a city near the sacred forest and far from the North?

"By the way, I have permission to recruit as many people as I want too. And if you want, I can give you a contract, and you just need to sign."

Selena thought for a moment. "I don't know, working for the empire... I don't know if I could do it." The reason Selena hesitates is that her old kingdom was assimilated by the empire, like many others.

"I understand, my friend, but we won't do anything excessive, just be auxiliary to the main army, and they will pay 1000 gold coins and let us keep the spoils."

This piqued Selena's interest; 1000 gold coins were a huge amount, and to earn that she would need to work for almost 10 years. Even though she had reservations about the empire, this amount of money "So, what do you say?" Thalassa asked with an excited smile.

"Look, sometimes I forget you're 300 years old," Selena said sarcastically, looking at her friend's expression of happiness.

"Alright, give me that contract!"

Selena briefly read the contract before signing and returning it to her friend, who then said, "Looks like we're a team again, huh."