The battlefield was a chaotic mess of shouts and clashing steel. Soldiers yelled orders, their voices drowned in the rising panic.
"I don't know how much longer we can hold them off," one soldier panted, gripping his sword with trembling hands. "Where are our reinforcements?"
"There's no time!" another soldier cried, eyes wide with fear. "The raiders are closing in, and our walls won't hold much longer. If only the prince and princess would—"
"We can't rely on them forever." The first soldier gritted his teeth as the sound of marching feet grew closer. "Get ready. They're coming again!"
Meanwhile, in the sky, Zephyron frowned as he observed the unfolding situation.
[Master, if we don't act fast, the wall will fall,] Nova's voice echoed in his mind. [Nasca will be defenseless.]
"I know." Zephyron clenched his fist, his voice a low growl. "But why are they attacking Nasc? With both of them heading toward the battlefield, they'll surely die at the hands of these raiders." He used his universal sense, detecting both Rudra and his sister approaching. They were young, only 14 and 13 years old, yet both were Rank C—a miracle in this era. But against a Rank B opponent, they'd surely die.
[They must be working for someone,] Nova muttered in reply.
"That may be," Zephyron said, narrowing his eyes.
[We need to know why the plot is different.]
"We don't have time to figure that out, Nova," Zephyron shot back.
Without another word, Zephyron dove down from the sky, making his way to the wall. As he approached, soldiers turned to watch, their fear momentarily replaced by awe. Zephyron stood before them, his aura commanding attention.
"The wall's about to collapse!" a soldier shouted, panic evident in his voice.
Just as the wall began to tremble under the impact of the raiders' siege weapons, Zephyron stepped forward. His immense and powerful aura washed over the battlefield, bringing an eerie stillness.
"Enough!" Zephyron's voice boomed, cutting through the chaos like a blade. "You dare attack innocent people? Now that I'm here, you'll pay for your actions."
As he released his "Hero's Haki", a golden aura spread across the battlefield. Everything fell deathly quiet. Raiders froze where they stood, their bodies stiff with terror as the temperature dropped. In moments, the aura around Zephyron became so overwhelming that the raiders felt compelled to worship him as a god. Weapons slipped from their hands, and their faces locked in expressions of pure fear.
One raider gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Wh-What is this? I can't... move!"
Another raider stumbled, his eyes wide with horror. "He's... he's a monster!"
The leader of the raiders, a B-rank warrior, fell to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. He struggled to lift his head, his eyes meeting Zephyron's cold gaze.
"Please, spare me!" the warrior begged, his voice trembling. "It wasn't my choice! The orc lord... He forced me! He told me to destroy this kingdom, kill Rudra, and... bring his sister to him!"
Zephyron's eyes narrowed at the mention of the name. "The orc lord is behind this."
The raider nodded frantically. "Yes! Please, I had no choice! Let me go, I'll never return to this land!"
Zephyron stood silent for a moment, his gaze cold. Then, with a swift motion, the pressure surrounding the raider tightened.
"You'll live," Zephyron said, his voice devoid of emotion. "But only to deliver a message. Tell the orc lord that if he wants to destroy Nasc, he'll have to come himself. And when he does, I'll be waiting."
Too terrified to respond, the raider nodded frantically before stumbling away, his legs barely able to carry him.
Commander Orin approached Zephyron, his face pale with disbelief. "You... you stopped them all. Without lifting a sword. Who are you?"
Zephyron's voice was calm, but his eyes burned with intensity. "I'm just someone who couldn't stand by and watch innocent people die. My name is Zeyron. don't worry, when your prince and princess arrive, I'll introduce myself properly." Zephyron said hiding his true name.
Orin nodded quickly. "At once, my lord."
Zephyron turned toward the horizon, his thoughts already focused on the looming threat.
[It's possible the orc lord is a reincarnated person like you, who knows the plot and is trying to kill Rudra,] Nova's voice sounded in his mind, [Maybe he plans to add his sister to his harem.]
"Maybe," Zephyron muttered as he walked back toward a tent offered by the soldiers.
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