The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

Translator: Pai_

[You have cleared the second story of the Apocalypse. Rewards will be determined according to your contribution.]

-All those who participated, even briefly, in the battle against the Ancient Species will receive rewards.

-With the clearing of the Apocalypse Quest, all of humanity will receive a certain reward.

-Those who remained on the battlefield from beginning to end will receive bonus benefits.

With the news of victory in the war against the Ancient Species, the bodies of all humans began to shine brightly.

As humanity received rewards for clearing the second story of the Apocalypse, each person's unique abilities were enhanced.

While all humans were busy receiving rewards, Iron's entire body also began to shine as the rewards poured in.

[You have achieved the highest contribution in the second story of the Apocalypse.]

-As a reward, your Steel Body increases to Stage 4.

-The Giant King's Body skill is further enhanced. The temporarily enhanced body can now be maintained for a longer duration.

-A portion of the Essence of Nature is implanted into your body.

-It reacts with the Essence of the World Tree. As a result, the powers of the Divine Beasts are further strengthened.

-The power of the Two Moons becomes more complete.

-The power of the Phoenix becomes more complete.

-The power of the Thunderbird becomes more complete.

-The summoning duration of Hræsvelgr becomes slightly longer.

-Part of Baepsae's hidden power awakens.

A tremendous amount of notification sounds echoed in Iron's ears.

The moment the deafening notifications ended, the natural energy in his body reacted and began to emit a massive amount of mana in all directions.

'I Ca… can't endure it.'

The amount of mana was so enormous that even the strengthened Steel Body couldn't withstand it.

The Essence of Nature created a synergy with the Essence of the World Tree and emitted mana endlessly, and it was so overwhelming that even Iron, who had reached Grand Master level, couldn't endure it.

So, he used the Giant King's Body.

He barely managed to endure it, but still, the amount of mana being emitted was too great.

'I'll release it outside.'

If he tried to contain it out of greed, he might die, so without hesitation, he released the pure mana from his body.

Then, before he knew it, the entire office where Iron was located began to fill with a highly condensed concentration of mana.

Mana, which normally should not be visible, became so materialized that it could be seen with the naked eye, completely filling the space.

Not only was it materialized, but it also reached a level that could threaten the lives of those nearby.

Faulden, who had been about to return after receiving his rewards, hesitated and retreated a distance, which said everything.

Naturally, others also stayed as far away from Iron's office as possible.

"Everyone, fall back as much as you can!"

"If you get too close, you'll die from mana poisoning!"

"Pull back the soldiers as far as possible! Unless they're officer-level, they can't survive within 10 meters of the building!"

Faced with the immense concentration of mana, the officers hurriedly issued commands.

As the materialized mana slowly spread throughout the building, the mages forcibly pushed the mana outward to buy time to evacuate the area.

Thus, the soldiers retreated as far as possible, and the officers along with the mages deployed barriers.

Despite that, the high-concentration mana enveloped the building, eventually forcing all officers to exit.

"Is… is this even possible?"

"Well… maybe it's because he's a Grand Master?"

"Nope. It's only possible because it's Commander Iron."

Everyone nodded at one officer's words.

They themselves didn't believe even a Grand Master could pull off something like this.

Even as they chatted, they moved their subordinates further away and controlled the area around the building.

"But… wouldn't training here be a good idea…?"

"Hmm… certainly."

The dense concentration of mana could be a great help to those with lower levels.

Of course, it could also be helpful in its own way to those with higher levels.

"Still, training inside there is a bit…"

"That place is a death trap."

"To go in there, you'd have to risk your life."

The mana became materialized, forming a bluish wave, and as people watched the flow of mana with their own eyes, they all shook their heads in disbelief.

Even in the chaos right after receiving their rewards, everyone scrambled to distance themselves from the high-density mana that Iron had created.

However, the very person who caused all this chaos, Iron, was so overwhelmed by the mana filling his body that he had no idea what was happening outside.

"Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!"

Iron, half out of his mind, was exhaling heavily, doing his best to control the power he had received as a reward, when suddenly another notification sound was heard.

[The humans have handed over the remains of Heurimre, trapped in a massive block of ice, to the Frost Giants. As a result, the Frost Giants will side with humanity in the final story.]

[The humans spared the surviving Ancient Species. This will affect the final story.]

-We pay tribute to humanity's decision to show mercy despite being able to obtain more rewards. This decision will return as greater rewards in the upcoming final story.

The sudden notifications left Iron looking confused as he fell into thought.

But that thought was quickly erased from his mind.

He was too busy trying to control the mana and Divine Beast power generated as part of the rewards.

Meanwhile, the officers and soldiers who had evacuated outside the building were reacting differently.

"They spared the Ancient Species?"

"Huh... is that really a good thing?"

"The final story? I guess it might help us then?"

"The Frost Giants will be on our side?"

Everyone listened to the notifications and fell into contemplation.

Some argued that it would have been better to eliminate the Ancient Species entirely to remove any threats and secure rewards, while others believed this was the better outcome since the Ancient Species might side with them in the future.

However, more people agreed with the latter opinion, mainly because the system's message had regarded the decision positively.

With the message indicating that greater rewards would return in the final story, everyone concluded that there must be a reason for it.

Just as there was much talk within the Western Army, the Imperial Central Government was also engaged in intense debates over the issue.

"Won't they become a future threat?"

"But didn't the system itself judge this action as favorable?"

Those opposed to sparing the Ancient Species tried to argue, but the system's positive message added strength to the pro side.

"Hmm… still, if we suddenly try to shake hands with those who were enemies until now, the soldiers' morale..."

"But we can't afford to make more enemies, can we? We're already too busy trying to focus on the war with the Holy Alliance!"

"Think about the dissatisfaction among the people and the soldiers! If their morale drops, the war could become even harder."

"This is a strategic decision! The people will understand!"

Even within the parliament, debates and opinions clashed from all directions.

But in the end, they had no choice but to respect the decision.

Before their arguments could deepen further, a new notification sound was heard.

[The third story of the Apocalypse is beginning. Overcome the threat of the Outer Gods and achieve victory!]

As the third story of the Apocalypse began, the confused humanity quickly began to unite.

Sparing the Ancient Species?

That was now just a minor issue.

In the face of a foretold great threat, humanity had to stand together as one.

[Sub Quest 'Survive!' has been created.]

-Rewards will be given to those who survive at regular intervals.

[Sub Quest 'Kill the Outer Gods!' has been created.]

-You will receive tremendous rewards for every Outer God you kill.

[Sub Quest 'Save the Deluded Humans!' has been created.]

-You will receive rewards each time you save humans who have been deluded under the influence of the Outer Gods.

(Continue below)

With the creation of one Sub Quest after another, the beginning of the third story was announced in a grand manner.

The number of Sub Quests far exceeded those from the battles against the Ancient Species.

Seeing that, people realized that this war would be no easy battle.

Sensing that this war could possibly lead to the extinction of humanity, people became more cooperative with the government.

Of course, even at such a moment, there were those who only sought to profit.

"We need to sell off the war supplies at high prices! This moment is the last opportunity!"

Merchants driven purely by extreme profit started to move in to seize the opportunity.

And they weren't the only ones.

As chaos spread with the beginning of the third story of the Apocalypse, others took advantage of the situation to sell drugs or promote gambling.

However, the citizens of the Empire took care of such people themselves.

Even with destruction looming, the Empire's citizens boycotted or gathered together to destroy buildings belonging to groups that smuggled drugs, committed crimes, or embezzled taxes.

As the citizens independently suppressed forces that were causing disorder, the government was able to focus on the western region.

"How far along is the railroad construction?"

"We need more time!"

"Why is the golem production slow?"

"We're expanding the factories as much as we can!"

Though the goal had been to complete everything before the third story began, the war with the Holy Alliance had begun earlier than expected.

As a result, supplies were being transported via airships on a temporary basis, but the volume was nowhere near enough.

They were doing everything possible to supplement more soldiers and supplies before the war started, but the enemy wasn't foolish enough to wait for them.

Iron was too busy organizing the power he received as a reward, and the troops in the northeast had yet to arrive in the west.

The Eastern Army had only just started building strategic strongholds.

In other words! From the Holy Alliance's perspective, this was the perfect time to break through the western front.

-The enemy has begun advancing!

"What's the scale?"

Upon the scout's report, the Western Commander immediately asked.

-One aerial fleet and five corps are moving first!

"Pull all scouts in that area back for now! We mustn't waste troops pointlessly!"

-Yes, sir!

At the Western Commander's order, the scouts all retreated at once.

-The northern aerial fleet has started moving!

"Corps in that region will start moving too. Pull the scouts back."

-Yes, sir!

The aerial fleets in the southern and northern regions moved all at once, and ten corps began moving toward the western front. On top of that, according to information detected by the Mobile Field Army's Rangers, there were also signs of movement in Saintrea of the Holy Alliance.

"Are they planning to break the western front first and then launch a full-scale war? This is a complete all-in."

Sensing the enemy's full determination to break the Empire's western front, German ordered his prepared aerial fleet into motion without hesitation.

Responding to German's order, the aerial fleet directly under the Mobile Field Army's headquarters also moved.

Since the enemy had made their move, it was only right for them to respond accordingly.

With the Western Army and the Mobile Field Army now in motion, the pace of a few corps that had been racing toward the front started to slow down.

Thanks to the preparation done so far, the scale of the Western Army's aerial fleet was considerable, and above all, the sheer number of troops gathered from all over the Empire was massive.

Even if they weren't elite forces, the unique abilities granted by the system alone made them a threatening force.

In the end, the corps of the Holy Alliance that had been charging at the front chose to wait for their aerial fleet.

And a few days later, at last, two aerial fleets arrived in front of the western front.

***

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