Oscar led Adam through the fortress with Avril and Erden, red light peering through the windows of the wide hallways. Once they entered the room, Adam exclaimed. Oscar groaned and sat on his chair, staring at the large stacks of papers and scrolls piled on his table. Avril brewed him some tea, placing it before him, the smell helping to ease the uneasiness brewing in his thoughts. After taking a sip, Oscar waited for Adam to speak.

"This is a lot. I'm shocked at the sheer amount." Adam grabbed a couple of documents, glancing over their contents with a serious expression, unlike his previous brutal smiles. Oscar knew from training with Adam that there was more to the man than just his joy of battle. Adam finished reading through the documents and placed them down, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. "I'm glad that we found you two before enacting the plan. If not, then I would have been the one to develop a force in the outer region."

"Then, what's your role right now? You and Sevon have been quiet about your part of the plan." Oscar reorganized the documents into a neat pile. "Isn't it about time to tell us everything?"

"Elder is roaming around the center region with Tort, slowly digging in the trenches under their noses. The other Lords won't be able to interfere with us as long as he stays watch unless some wildcards move." Adam sat down and took Oscar's tea without warning.

Adam's rude actions irritated Oscar. Avril set another tea for him, and he let it go for now. Sipping more tea, Oscar continued asking, "What wildcards?"

"Though the Ein and resources in the Burning Valley aren't suitable for a Marshal Exalt to continue their training, some might still be here. Either from their idiotic wish to rule a small corner of the world or a part of the enemy." Adam gulped down his tea. He pulled some crackers from his space pocket and asked for a refill. Avril looked annoyed, serving him some tea.

"Then, what is this enemy?" Avril asked, this time to Oscar's surprise. Her eyes glared intently at Adam with a harshness of a scolding mother. "She's tired of waiting for an answer and worries not knowing may harm them."

Adam stood up, staring at Avril, towering over her. She never faltered, not breaking her gaze. Adam smiled and then started to chuckle. "Looks like the Elder trained you well. But, little sister, only when the Elder deems you two ready would you learn the truth. Right now, focus on taking down the Lord of Brightburn."

"Hmmmm." Avril pouted and crossed her arms in frustration. "Don't call me your little sister."

"It's alright, Avril. We just have to make do. But I want a certainty that you'll pull through for us during this battle." Oscar stood beside Avril with Erden, staring eye-to-eye against Adam. "If the outlook is bad, I want your assurance that you won't disappear. You have to help us get away."

"If you're so worried about that, you should make a better effort to create a victory." Adam lost his smile as his eyes widened dangerously, his pupils like windows to the abyss. The tension made Oscar sweat, facing the dangerous air around Adam. Beside him, he could feel Avril and Erden preparing for a battle. However, Adam started to chuckle. "Even after seeing my power, you still stand so defiantly. Well, that's fine. No need to be so doubtful. Part of my role is to ensure your victory."

"And how will you do that? Your powers are great, but you're only one person." Oscar poured out some tea for Avril for her to settle down. "What were you doing for the past eleven months?"

"The Four Lords aren't all-powerful. Some within their ranks despise their rule. The butcher rumors were to sow the seed of possibility within them. To show the Four Lords could be waning in power will make them more willing to try to rebel." Adam scoffed. "Once I offered them pretty much the same deal you offered your fellows, they quickly changed their tunes. Once you begin your siege, they will act from within. How's that for your chances of victory?"

Oscar smiled and poured out some tea for Adam. The uneasiness in his head lessened by a great margin. "That's more than enough. However, can you trust those you gathered?"

"And can you trust the people under you?" Adam retorted. "You seem so insistent on arguing with me on every topic. Well, I don't dislike it. It's like having a rebellious younger brother."

"I'm not your younger brother. We're just partners working for our goals." Oscar sat in his chair again. "We set out tomorrow for Brightburn City. Will you be staying here?"

"Naturally. I'll need a room. Goodbye, little brother and sister." Adam left, guided by a servant to his quarters in the fortress, set aside for him by Oscar.

Once the storm known as Adam left, Oscar could finally breathe freely. He reviewed more of the documents in front of him. Reports from his ten captains and Fenu told each army's current standards, health, and progress. Next to those reports were more reports from each squad leader. The captains should take care of these, but Oscar wanted copies to get a better understanding. Next to those were secret reports from individuals in each division to give the truth.

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He couldn't trust them all completely yet. Though the many battles and training they've done together helped them bond, he was still careful not to allow them to abuse their stations. He burned away the secret reports, nothing contradicting the captains and squad leaders. All was well so far.

Next, he turned his attention to the possessions of the five envoys. Their armaments were good and well-forged, good rewards for his captains and others. Other than that, they didn't have much other than some elixirs and ores used as currency. But the most important was the account books they had. Looking at it, Oscar's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. The Lord of Brightburn was taking excessive wealth away from the outer region.

Just how much wealthier was the center region? How deep were their resources and means? Oscar wondered if they could break through an enemy who ruled and stomped over the regions for many years. His head felt heavy, and he tapped his fingers on the table. Frowning, he knew the battle might be costly. It might be the largest loss of life so far.

"Frowning doesn't suit you. She uses her hands to stretch out Oscar's cheeks to see him smile. She understands the worry he carries, but it will be alright." Avril pinched his cheeks and uplifted his frown.

"Ouch. Your hands are so cold. Why is that?" Oscar took her hands off him, holding them with confusion, caught off-guard by the chill on her skin. "Were you in a cold sweat earlier? You should say if you're feeling unwell. Was it Adam? That bastard…."

"No…it's just that we're going to a city, and I remember the last time we walked into a town together." Avril sighed. "You never went into a town to avoid me going into one. That much was obvious."

"If you want, you can stay outside the walls," Oscar sighed. "You don't need to push yourself so much."

"Rejected. I need to do this." Avril sat on the table. "If I become a mess, you can leave me behind or have someone take me back. I just need to see if I can do this." Her tone was forced, a rush of breath consistent with nausea. Seeing how she was trying so hard, Oscar patted her head, and her lips curled up.

"Just stick close to me, and it'll be fine. I also need your scroll anima and wood spells. It'd be a shame not to have my reliable partner by my side." Oscar laughed.

"That's right!" Avril perked up. "She wants to get this part over with so they can resume their grand adventure away from the Burning Valley. It'll be bad for either of us to go alone."

"That's the spirit!" Oscar stood up. "Get some sleep. We set out early tomorrow."

…….

The next morning, Oscar gathered his forces outside the fortress. Three thousand Exalts lined next to each other neatly and uniformly in their divisions. His ten captains stood at the forefront of each division, their eyes blazing with confidence and anticipation, unlike yesterday. Adam's display of power had boosted their spirits.

"Good morning, everyone. It has been a while since our last battle. We've spent many months training after annexing all the territories around us. We were all enemies at one point, but now we're all allies. And now, all divisions! We march for Brightburn City. Do any of you have any objections?" Oscar shouted to his grand army.

"None!" The army cheered.

"All division captains!" Oscar shouted.

"First division stands ready!" Desmond, captain of the first division, smiled fiercely.

"Second division stands ready!" Arc Ashwolf, captain of the second division, sharpened his axes.

"Third division will fight for Lord Demon and Sir Arthur!" Lilian Harris, captain of the third division, hummed and winked at Avril, who was still disguised as a man.

"Fourth division will leap through fire for you!" Novis Meyer, captain of the fourth division, ate his piece of beef jerky.

"Fifth division ready to break through our foes!" Alda Irongrip, captain of the fifth division, cracked his knuckles through his gauntlets.

"Sixth division, all accounted for. Not a single person is missing." Rowan, captain of the sixth division, lifted his glasses to his eyes.

"Seventh division will cleave through the enemy!" Eveline, captain of the seventh division, rested her large battleaxe over her shoulders.

"Eight division goes where Lord Demon wishes." Matthew Drake, captain of the eighth division, petted his Exalt Beast flame salamander.

"Ninth division will not falter from the task." Mangus Steele, captain of the ninth division, opened his eyes from meditation.

"Tenth division, ready to provide aid." Asher Wiele, captain of the tenth division, coughed into her handkerchief.

"Azure Sea Company! Move out!" Oscar held his hand to the horizon, pointing toward the center region. The massive army stomped and began their march, a large gathering focused on their target, Brightburn City. Oscar rode out with Adam and Avril, guiding them from the front. They marched past the rivers of lava and the volcanic wastelands.

Before long, they entered the center region, and what a difference it was. The wealth could be seen in the deep obsidian colors and fields of fire plants and herbs, which grew plentiful in the ash and soot. They trampled along the fields with their large army. Their coming was long noticed by the towns nearby.

Finally, they came upon a large city. Its obsidian walls were lined with red metals. Oscar never saw such a city in a long time, not since his time in the Brilliant Drake Empire, a sprawling metropolis with large towering buildings of strange jagged architecture. Suddenly a semi-transparent red barrier enveloped the city.

"The moment we intruded, they must have consolidated their forces in the city. That barrier is made from a good power source. My men on the inside will need time to act. However, we need to weaken the barrier or keep it in flux." Adam smiled at the large city.

"It's too much trouble for a direct attack with Exalts. Thankfully, I have the means to sort that trouble out." Oscar waved to his troops, and they wheeled over many large objects covered in cloth. They unveiled the objects. Large cannons were mounted on wheels.

"Cannons? Sure, they can work. But the resources needed to use them are expensive. Are you sure you won't run out without doing some damage?" Adam seemed confused.

Oscar smiled and poured his Ein into one of the cannons. Sections of its shaft spun in opposition as a glow spilled from within its hole. Unlike the usual cannon, there was no slot for an explosive round. "Let me show you the Stonewell battle method, a great invention of golem crafting. These aren't your ordinary cannons. They are specially made by one of the greatest inventors who existed."