After showing the seal, Grant told Cyric that he has been selected as the hero by the Goddess.
Cyric feel silent after hearing the news, it was a bit too unbelievable at first but then it all started making sense to him as to why the Goddess had taken his son away five years ago.
Soon after a sense of excitement rushed through his body.
His son is a Hero!!
A Hero!!
Hahahha the rise of the of the Ashdown family is but a given now.
Looking back at Grant's face which matched his own, a sense of immense pride rushed through Cyric's chest.
Raising his hand Cyric patted Grant's shoulder and said in a loud voice.
"Good Good son! what an excellent news you just gave me, now that useless duke Cornbell will not even dare to look at me in the eyes and those filthy demons..."
A hesitant look appeared on Cyric's face as he asked Grant in a low voice.
"Grant are you sure we can beat the demons?..."
Seeing Grant gave him a confident nod, Cyric's spirit lifted up a little as he slowly sat down on his chair and released a mouthful of air.
Sitting on his chair, a dignified look appeared on Cyric's face as he stared straight into Grant's eyes.
"I will make sure that the our army is ready for battle in five--no in four days I will get it all done."
Cyric choose to believe Grant, he decided to place all his chips on him.
It wasn't just because he is the hero selected by the Goddess.
If Grant wasn't his own blood then Cyric would have still retreated even if the Goddess has sent another hero.
Cyric choose to believe in the Hero.
But even more so he choose to believe on his own son.
If a father wouldn't help his son then who else would?
At most they will have to leave the Empire with more losses.
-----------------------------
Five days passed by in an instant.
Currently a huge mass of black could be seen standing a good distance away from the imperial capital Luinas.
It was none other than the demonic army 120,000 strong led by none other than the great demon general Io.
Even the weakest demon is able to match 10 humans in battle, currently the imperial capital has 200,000 soldiers and the location advantage as well given by the sturdy walls of the capital.
But even with all the advantages the mood inside the imperial capital was anything but good.
Heavy expression could be seen on the faces of the soldiers stationed on top of the walls.
After all the Stella fortress had almost five times more number advantage with even better geographical condition but they still nonetheless suffered from a crushing defeat.
The old Emperor could also be seen stationed on top of the walls with his ministers present beside him, the old general by his side was looking at the demonic army by using a telescope, the general managed to spot Io and said in a heavy voice.
"One of the four demonic generals Io commanding the army."
Io was quite infamous among the human countries, infamous for killing thousands of humans on the battlefield, hearing his name was enough to make the commanders shudder.
"Since it has already come to this let us make sure to make the demons remember a fight they will be unable to forget."
"General has the queen, prince and princesses been sent away to safety?"
A dignified looking middle-aged man came forward and said.
"The prince and princesses are on their way to leave the capital your majesty...but we were unable to find her highness..."
The Emperor frowned, his wife has always been a devoted follower of the Goddess and he has no idea what she had been upto all this time, just a few days ago she came to him and started telling about a hero sent by the Goddess but till now he hadn't gotten any news of such a person and now even she herself has gone missing.
"We have more important things to worry about now, If you can't find her then forget it..."
A war for the imperial capital was about to begin, it was far more important then going around and looking for his wife.
"My king."
A soldier suddenly rushed upto the Old Emperor in a hurry.
The royal guards standing around the Emperor quickly rushed forward and stopped the fellow from advancing.
"Let him come."
The old Emperor said as he waved his hand, letting the royal guards move back to the sides, but they still made sure to keep a close eye on the man in case he tries something funny.
"Y-Your highness."
The soldier got down on his knees and greeted the Emperor.
"What is it soldier."
The Emperor asked.
"I-it's the Ashdown family!"
The Emperor frowned, of course he knows about Marquis Cyric, but by now almost all nobles have fled the capital with their tails between their legs, unfortunately right now the royal family wasn't powerful enough to stop them either.
Plus with the looming threat of the demons on their heads they had no time to pay attention to those traitors either.
Suddenly hearing Marquis Cyric's name the Emperor was a bit taken aback but then soon a satisfied expression appeared on his face thinking that there were indeed some descent nobles left in the Empire willing to give their strengths in the battle against demons.
"Hmm Marquis Cyric.....a true noble indeed, how many soldiers has he gotten to support us soldier?"
The Emperor asked in a pleasent tone, this was the first good news he has heard since the morning.
"N-no your majesty t-the Marius has gone crazy H-he..."
The General frowned when he saw the soldier shutter.
"Speak clearly men."
"T-The Marquis has taken ower the West gate!!"
"...."
The West gate.
The demons army was present in the west side....
*Dadada*
At the same time the sound of war music started playing.
Everyone quickly looked at the West gate and to their horror they saw the gate has been opened from the inside and a cavalry unit was slowly making it's way out from the open gate.
"Has the Marquis gone crazy?"
"Don't tell me he is revolting at this time?"
"That crazy bastard!!!."
Curses rang out of the ministers mouth, they were speechless and dumbfounded by the Marquis's action.
"How many soldiers does the Marquis has?"
Someone in the crowed asked.
"2-20,000....."
The soldier said in a small tone.
"That imbecile!!"
They didn't thought that the Marquis was trying to side with the demons or something because it has happened before and the demons killed those humans without any mercy.
They said that they couldn't trust someone who would betray their own race.
"Close the gate if that idiot wants to die then let him!!"
"Hurry up and close the gates, what are those useless soldiers doing!"
By now everyone present has already termed Cyric as a madman, the best they could do now was to quickly close the doors before the demons made a move.
The middle-aged general who was shouting at his men, quickly turned towards the Emperor who was looking in the air in a daze.
"You majesty this isn't the time to be distracted."
The general said as he grabbed the Emperor's arm.
But the old Emperor's next words made him stop in his track.
"Who is that..."
The Emperor suddenly pointed at the sky catching the attention of those around him as they followed his gaze.
It was a man wearing metal armour, with the Ashdown family's crest on his back, it was a flame burning in ashes.
Slowly raising his hands the person took off the helmet from his head letting a trail of long bright golden hair fall down.
By this time the entire fortress has fallen silent, knowingly or unknowingly all of their gazes were fixed on the person standing in the middle of the sky.
With a wave of his hand, an ancient looking staff staff of primordial dignity appeared in his hand.
As everyone was wondering what was going on.
A crystal clear voice resounded throughout the battlefield.
"O Spirit of Light which looks over us, I ask for your Benevolence....."