On the outskirts of Eckhart County, a group of knights clad in silver chestplates charged through the dense forest. Each chestplate bore the Eckhart dragon crest, intricately carved and gleaming even under the dim canopy.
Their thin blades sliced through the encroaching vegetation, clearing a path as they pressed forward. The rhythmic clinking of their armor mingled with the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of forest creatures.
The leader of this squadron of knights, a clean-shaven man with dark brown hair, shouted out, "Stay alert, men! The bandits couldn't have gone far!"
Further advancing through the forest, they caught sight of a shadowy figure darting between the trees.
"There! I see one, ahead at three o'clock!" One of the knights called out, as the squad tightened their formation, wary of an ambush.
In front of the knights, a shadowy figure slowly stepped out from behind a tree.
He was massive, his muscles bulging beneath ragged clothing. Clutched in his hands was a heavy, battle-worn axe.
"Enemy spotted. I'm engaging—"
The knight was cut off mid-sentence as the man's axe hilt slammed into his head with brutal force.
He didn't even have time to react. In an instant, his skull was reduced to a grotesque mess of pulped flesh and brain matter, resembling a horrific, soupy mass.
The knights behind him froze in their tracks, horror etched into their faces as they processed the savage display of brute strength.
The first to recover was their leader, who barked out a command. "Everyone, snap out of it! The enemy is right ah—"
He never finished.
The massive man lunged forward with incomprehensible speed, closing the distance in a heartbeat. One moment, he was a blur; the next, he was upon the leader.
Swinging his axe downward with inhuman strength, the brute's strike collided with the leader's sword.
Through sheer instinct and years of experience, the leader reacted just in time to avoid a fatal blow. But even with his successful block, the impact reverberated through his arms, leaving them trembling and feeling like mush.
His knees buckled slightly, the force nearly driving him to the ground. This guy is a monster... who exactly is he!
Pushing through the pain, the leader parried the strike to his left, twisting his body and blade in an attempt to land a blow on the monstrous man. However, his effort was futile as the man caught his blade with his other hand, ice forming around the palm of the monsterous man hand.
"Crack!"
The sound of breaking bones echoed as the leader felt the excruciating pain shoot through his ribs. Before he could react, a powerful kick slammed into his stomach, sending him hurtling backward with a sickening thud. His vision blurred, and his body ached with the unbearable impact, leaving him gasping for air.
"Not bad." The monstrous man mocked with a huge grin, his teeth gleaming in the dim light as he tossed the sword he'd caught to the ground.
"Charge! We will attack him together—don't give him an opening!" A red-haired knight shouted, rallying his squad as they surged forward in an attempt to overwhelm the monstrous man with their numbers.
With weapons raised and battle cries echoing through the forest, the knights rushed in from all directions, hoping to use their coordinated assault to exploit any weakness.
"No... Don't..." The squad leader whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible, but filled with desperation as he tried to warn his fellow knights.
But it was too late.
In the next moment, a chilling gust of air swept through the forest. The temperature dropped dramatically, and frost began to form on the trees and the grass beneath their feet. The blood the squad leader had coughed out from the previous blow started to freeze in the air.
Then, without warning, five massive ice spikes shot out of the ground with explosive force. Each one found its target, impaling a knight with brutal precision. The sound of crunching bones echoed as the knights were skewered by the jagged spikes, their bodies frozen in place, hanging in the air.
The remaining knights didn't even have time to process their anger or mourn their fallen comrades before the attack resumed.
"Argh!" one of them cried out.
In a blur of motion, the monstrous man dashed toward them with blinding speed, slicing through the knights as if cutting through butter. Blood splattered everywhere, and as the temperature continued to drop, it began to freeze mid-air, adding a grim, crystalline quality to the carnage.
The remaining knights were quickly cut down, their dying screams echoing in the leader's ears.
"No!"
"F*ck you!"
"Help! Aston!"
"I—I don't want to—"
The leader's heart broke with each cry, but all he could do was lie there, bloodied and broken. His vision began to blur, the cold creeping through his body as his eyelids grew heavier.
No... You bastard... You monster! The leader cursed inwardly, his thoughts growing foggy as he struggled to keep his consciousness.
In a deep, guttural voice, the monstrous man spoke, his towering form casting a shadow over the dying leader. His words dripped with cold menace.
"Don't worry, I won't let you die yet..." The man crouched down, his icy breath washing over the leader's face, chilling him to the bone.
"You have to live. I need you to report to the Eckhart dogs of the empire."
The leader's heart pounded weakly in his chest, but he had no strength to speak, no power to resist. His body trembled, blood pooling beneath him, freezing in the cold.
"Tell them," the monstrous man continued, his grin widening, "Tell them all that the era of the sun is over, and our goddess will bring us eternal salvation once again."
The man then placed his hand on the leader's chest, cold energy pouring into it. Ice began to form on the surface as the leader's heartbeat slowed down.
"This should keep you alive until your reinforcements arrive." The man stood up and walked away with a smirk. "I would say see you again, but that won't be likely."
He laughed, the sound echoing throughout the forest, before vanishing into the thick vegetation.
"I swear... I'll kill you...!" The leader's consciousness faded as he slipped into a deep, cold sleep.
...
Back in the lounge of the imperial palace.
Roland and the others sat in awkward silence, the atmosphere feeling suffocating.
Man... This is so awkawrd... Should I break the silence and start a conversation with Alice? But what do I even talk about... Roland thought.
A light suddenly turned on his Roland head, as he reached into the pocket of his pants. Out came a glowing gemstone that emitted a cold breeze.
I still have to return the moonstone!
"Ahem. Uh... Lady Albertine, I still have your moonstone," Roland said as he opened his palm, revealing the blue gem.
The cold and refined Alice turned her head, looking at the gem with her emotionless eyes.
She then spoke in an indifferent voice, "You can keep it for now."
What? Why? Seeing that the cold lady had no intention of explaining herself further, Roland didn't press the matter and leaned back into the soft, comfortable sofa.
She really doesn't know how to hold a conversation, does she... Even I wasn't this socially awkward in my original world! Roland complained inwardly.
The awkward silence hung in the air, louder than words.
"Creak."
The door to the lounge slowly swung open, and a gust of fresh air filled the room.
Finally, someone else! I don't have to sit in this awkward silence any longer! Roland thought, overjoyed.
Walking through the door was a well-built noble young man with orange hair. He wore a simple white shirt and long black pants, his outfit completed by a cape embroidered with golden threads.
The crest on his cape depicted a lion, its body engulfed in the sun.
Behind him was a thinly-built man, the complete opposite of the muscular noble. He wore a pair of glasses and an outfit resembling that of a butler, albeit made from higher-quality materials.
The muscular young man then turned toward Roland, scoffing as he spoke.
"Oh, look who showed up. I thought you had secretly passed away, Roland Eckhart."
I take it back, I prefer the awkward silence... Roland scoffed inwardly.