In the northeastern part of Pangea, the High Kingdom of Muscovy, with its capital in Moscow, stood strong.
Fifty kilometers away from the capital, a military installation housed Zarina's personal army. Mostly serving as a training ground for new recruits, it was now hosting both fresh and seasoned soldiers undergoing retraining.
"Come on, you bastards, pick up the pace! It's just 10 kilograms of rocks in your backpacks!" a draconian instructor shouted at a company-sized group of soldiers. They were carrying their standard-issue rifles and the weighted backpacks as they ran through the biting cold.
"Fuck, this is harder than wearing heavy armor," a veteran gasped, sucking in freezing air to catch his breath.
"Did I say stop!? Get moving already! Imagine your enemies catching up to you on horses—how will you get to safety then?" the instructor barked, jogging alongside them.
"Damn, this training is harsher than it was a week ago," one soldier grumbled as they pushed forward, adapting to the ever-intensifying regimen.
But that was only the infantry section. Over at the artillery grounds...
"Come on, hurry up and set up your positions! Do you think the enemy army will wait for you to finish?" another instructor bellowed at new recruits scrambling to position a breech-loading cannon. They hastily set it down, one soldier dialing in the coordinates while another loaded a shell.
"Fire!" the instructor shouted.
A recruit pulled the string to trigger the cannon.
BOOM!
A target three kilometers away erupted in flames upon impact.
"Good. Only Team 5 failed to set up in time," the instructor observed with a nod. Though disheartened, the team was motivated to improve next time.
On a high command post, Axe overlooked the various training sections of the camp. Zarina stood behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Seems like your army is coming together," Axe remarked, observing some soldiers moving into bayonet training.
"The instructors that arrived were very helpful. How's the officer re-education coming along?" she asked, her mood unusually light—a side of her reserved only for Axe.
"Well, it's a work in progress. It takes a few beatings and some disciplined training, but the new tactics are taking root. That said, taking the initiative is a double-edged sword. They might lead their men to victory—or straight to their deaths," he replied. Zarina's plan was to build a professional military force of over 300,000 troops, a necessity given the growing threat from the Winter Lotus faction.
The Winter Lotus had been making moves, but their influence was being contained—thanks to Assassin X. However, their military force, already 600,000 strong, was daunting. Thankfully, most of their soldiers were untrained conscripts. Zarina had implemented a similar measure, but she drew upon a suggestion from Alex.
"Register every family," Alex had advised during a victory party. "That way, you'll have an accurate count of your adult population. It can also serve as the foundation for unifying your kingdom. You can divert the female population into factory work or other suitable roles."
"In the next year, we'll have the full population count of my controlled lands," Zarina muttered to herself. "Once that's done, we can raise an army to match theirs and begin industrializing the rest of the territory."
"Exactly. My Assassin X units might have to withdraw from Winter Lotus territory after 'lighting the fire.' Once that happens, we can move in and create chaos," Axe added.
"When will my army get tanks?" Zarina asked abruptly.
"Not until unification is complete. Maintaining tanks won't be cheap, and spare parts are scarce. You'll have to build new factories. Most tanks were scrapped or sold to the Novoros Duchy. From the last inventory check, they had about 7,000 medium tanks and 1,000 heavy tanks, along with 200,000 rounds of ammunition. But steady supplies can't be guaranteed until your economy and politics are stable," Axe explained.
Both Axe and Zarina had accepted their roles in the plans Alex orchestrated. Though Alex wasn't interested in romance himself, he often teased Zarina and Axe about their partnership. Alex, however, seemed more preoccupied with larger matters, such as expanding his empire and contending with Athena.
"In a few months, Alex will shift focus to the Tyrell continent and establish a resource collection depot in the Demon World," Axe noted.
"Well, let's hope we can set a date for our wedding," Zarina said sheepishly.
Axe chuckled, turned to hug her tightly, and responded, "After unification, we'll need a morale boost for our people."
He then lifted her effortlessly, blending into the shadows as they headed toward the royal palace.
Manuel's Perspective – Coast of Frustora Region
At the military port of Frustora, Marshal Manuel stood near the unfinished docks, watching as a cruiser approached. Onboard was his second-in-command, General Cornaro, carrying a triangular case.
"Sir, it's good to be back!" Cornaro saluted as Blackwatch guards formed a perimeter.
"It's been awfully quiet without you. How were the celebrations in the capital?" Manuel asked, curious about the end of the war.
"The emperor killed Chronos single-handedly," Cornaro replied. "The casualties, though... higher than expected."
He handed Manuel a letter and a folder marked with a confidential stamp, bearing the sigil of Assassin X. The title read: 'Thanatos Empire Information Dossier.'
Manuel tucked the folder into his coat with a silent nod, his expression darkening.
"All right. Let's head back to base. Summon Mathias and the other generals," he ordered a Blackwatch soldier.
Cornaro added, "I brought reinforcements—2,000 more Blackwatch recruits. They're green but promising."
Manuel sighed. "How much did it cost?"
"Ten million Dracs... Your account now has five million remaining," Cornaro admitted.
Manuel clenched his fist, cracking the wall slightly. "You should've informed me! My retirement fund is practically gone."
"My apologies, sir. I thought you wouldn't mind investing in increasing the ranks," Cornaro said sheepishly.
"Damn it! What about the cash prize for reaching Marshal rank?"
"You'll receive it once your campaign is complete," Cornaro replied hesitantly.
Manuel screamed in frustration. "Fuck! I thought I could hand off the front lines to someone else. Now I'm stuck!"
He opened the rectangular case, revealing the Marshal's Baton—a unique artifact imbued with the essence of war. It provided tactical clarity, enhanced vision, and could transform into any weapon imaginable.
"Sir, your new uniform and ceremonial sword are included," Cornaro added.
Manuel left to change, returning minutes later in his full regalia. The room fell silent as everyone stared in awe.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked, adjusting the coat of his new attire.
The uniform combined ceremonial splendor with combat readiness: a dark gray tunic with gold accents, reinforced trousers, and a detachable cape adorned with a golden dragon emblem. The peaked cap bore a matching insignia, and the outfit featured both ornamental sashes and concealed tactical gear.
"Well, let's discuss our plans for the next few months in this region," Manuel said, gesturing for everyone to sit.
To be continued…
PS: READ THE AUTHORS THOUGHTS BEFORE READING FORWARD