"Sir Edward!"
Rushing into the tent designated for commanders, the Knight shouted.
"We have significant losses on the right flank!" he continued.
Edward, standing by a large table with a map of the terrain, clad in armor, surrounded by the strategists of the empire, shifted his gaze from the map to the Knight.
"Order the reserves to join the battle!"
"Yes, sir!" the Knight exclaimed.
"Sir Edward, what should we do? If things continue like this, we may lose a significant portion of our forces," one of the commanders expressed.
"'If things continue like this?'" Edward retorted with a hint of reproach.
"Then I will have to enter the battle."
"But you can't! You are the hero of the empire. If you perish, we face inevitable defeat," another argued.
"IF," Edward said firmly, drawing a massive sword from a appearing portal. "Order the support to follow me!" Ember commanded.
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"We heed your command!" everyone at the table exclaimed in unison.
---
Emerging from the tent, Edward observed the battle raging around him. Blood, flesh, fire, and magic. It all seemed beyond his imagination. Just a few years ago, Edward wouldn't have dared to even think about such things. But fate had turned his gears into an inexplicable future.
Scorched earth, cries of despair, and pleas for help were all he witnessed.
"It's probably my 'end,'" he thought, raising his sword onto his shoulder. "But I hope SHE will appreciate my sacrifice."
Heading towards the battlefield, Edward recalled his 'past,' a past similar to what was happening now.
"Is it like this everywhere?" he pondered with sadness in his eyes.
"Is this all the human race is capable of? Resources... Slavery... Greed... POWER..." he mused.
---
Kneeling, he whispered, "Oh my protector, my queen, my angel... defend your warrior, grant him strength to battle the spawn of hell."
A beam of light rose above him, its warmth imbuing him with strength and courage before his next trial.
In his mind, he heard the words, "You haven't let me down, my hero."
With a smile on his face and a blessing in his heart, he rushed into the battle.
---
As Edward entered the fray, his sword blazed with fire, and his steps cleaved through the enemies as if he were a raging storm. Amidst the cries, the roar of battle, and the scent of burning, he advanced, battling the infernal creatures that stood in his path.
Within him burned an insatiable thirst for victory, a power granted to him by his protector. With each sword strike that met an enemy, with each magical attack he repelled, he felt his strength grow, making him more formidable than ever.
In the distance, multiple gates loomed, dark voids in reality from which merciless forces of evil emerged. Edward knew that the hand of the "Reaper of Worlds" was behind them.
Suddenly, in the midst of the battle's chaos, he spotted a silhouette, a black shadow, standing aside and observing the events. Edward froze, recognizing 'his' "General" - Akvaritius.
--
This was one of the embodiments of the power of 'greed' across worlds.
--
"And here you are..." Edward whispered.
The Shadow turned its gaze toward Edward, smiling.
---
"Edward?"
"EDWARD!"
"ED!"
"Huh, what?" Waking up, Edward responded.
"You fell asleep?" Pak asked.
"Sorry, I got a bit 'lost in thought,'" Edward said, wiping his brow.