The sky burned with hues of crimson as the sun set over the western front of the kingdom. Min Hee stood at the edge of the battlefield, her breath heavy, her uniform drenched in the blood of the monstrous abominations they had just fought. For two years, she had served as a soldier of the Magic Force, climbing the ranks not by status or birthright, but by sheer will and overwhelming power.
She had thought she knew hardship—she had trained from childhood, endured sleepless nights honing her magic, and fought Leywin, her greatest rival, in battles of wits and strength. But this battlefield was different. It was no tournament. It was no competition. This was war. And in war, there were no second chances.
A New Battlefield
The northern borders of the kingdom were under siege by an endless swarm of Abyssal Beasts—creatures that crawled from the dark depths of the world, feeding on mana and leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. They were unnatural, grotesque entities that twisted and evolved in response to magic. No amount of training could prepare anyone for the horror of seeing comrades devoured alive, their souls siphoned into the endless hunger of the Abyss.
Min Hee had seen it happen to her subordinates—her squad of twenty, handpicked and trained by her, was reduced to six in the span of a single night. The memories haunted her dreams, their screams echoing in the back of her mind every time she closed her eyes.
She clenched her fists. No more.
She refused to lose anyone else.
As the youngest Commander of the Magic Force, Min Hee bore a heavy responsibility. She had taken this path to find the truth behind her father's death, but now, she was burdened with something far greater: the lives of the people who depended on her strength.
The Commander's Struggle
"Commander Min Hee!" a voice called from behind. It was her second-in-command, Captain Roland, a veteran mage who had served the force for over a decade. His weathered face bore fresh wounds, and his armor was cracked from the battle.
"Report," Min Hee ordered, wiping the blood from her sword.
"The third battalion suffered heavy losses. They need reinforcements at the eastern front. If we don't act fast, we'll lose our entire defensive line."
Min Hee closed her eyes for a brief moment. They had been fighting for forty-eight hours straight with no rest. Every muscle in her body screamed for respite, but there was no room for weakness.
"Gather all remaining mages," she commanded. "We launch a counterattack in five minutes."
Roland hesitated. "Commander, our men are exhausted. Another push might—"
"—If we hesitate, they'll be slaughtered," Min Hee cut in sharply. "We have no choice."
Roland sighed but nodded. "As you command."
Min Hee turned to face the battlefield, her fingers trembling as she prepared to cast another large-scale spell. Her mana reserves were nearly depleted, but she refused to falter. She had vowed to protect those who followed her. That was her burden as a leader.
A Moment of Reflection
As she prepared her spell, Min Hee couldn't help but think back to her past—back to the days when she had trained alongside Leywin.
Would he have handled this differently? she wondered.
Leywin had always been brilliant, always thinking several steps ahead. If he had been here, he would have devised a strategy to win without sacrificing their forces. But he wasn't here. He had vanished, leaving nothing behind but painful memories.
She gritted her teeth. I have to do this on my own.
With renewed determination, Min Hee raised her staff, the ground beneath her feet vibrating as she gathered the last remnants of her mana.
"Elemental Convergence—Meteor Storm!"
The sky darkened as fireballs rained down upon the battlefield, incinerating the Abyssal Beasts in a brilliant display of destruction. For now, they had won. But she knew this was only the beginning.
War was far from over.