Rise of the Warborn

Within the grand chamber of the Radiant Holy See, an oppressive silence loomed. The tension was palpable, like a storm gathering on the horizon.

Knight Commander Vance, his face contorted with fury, was the first to shatter the silence.

"The royal bloodline of the Lann Duchy has been completely wiped out. Our envoys were ruthlessly executed. We've already missed the best opportunity to intervene. At this point, we must strike immediately! We can no longer afford to sit idly by!" His voice rang out, firm and unyielding, each syllable carrying an unmistakable thirst for war.

However, Cardinal Caro hesitated, his expression betraying deep concern. In a measured tone, he countered, "But the one-year truce decreed by the Holy Light Covenant has not yet expired. If we act rashly, we risk provoking the Holy Light Alliance and bringing divine retribution upon ourselves. This is a grave risk we cannot take lightly."

Vance shot to his feet, his fury boiling over. "If we seize the Lann Duchy swiftly and decisively, securing absolute control, the matter will already be settled. Do you truly believe the Holy See would declare war on us over a mere technicality? We must stop cowering in hesitation! If we continue to delay, the Dawn Theocracy will only grow stronger, making it even harder to overturn the situation in the future."

All eyes turned toward the supreme figure seated at the head of the chamber—Pope Kais. A heavy frown creased his brow as he lapsed into deep thought. Moments later, he exhaled slowly, lifting his gaze. A glint of resolute determination flashed in his eyes as he declared, "Then we shall march at once. In this world, it is the victors who write history."

Thus, the forces of the Lorant Theocracy surged forth like an unstoppable tide, descending upon the Lann Duchy.

The Lann Duchy's royal guards and city garrisons scrambled to mount a defense. Yet caught off guard and ill-prepared, they suffered devastating losses, their ranks crumbling under the relentless assault.

The suddenness of the attack was only part of the issue. Rumors of the royal family's massacre spread like wildfire, shaking the morale of once-loyal soldiers. Panic and despair took hold, eroding their will to fight. With its defenses in tatters, the duchy teetered on the brink of collapse.

At the frontlines, Commander Blair of the Dawn Templars received word of the invasion. Without hesitation, he rallied the remaining forces to launch a desperate counteroffensive. Leading his knights personally, he held the line through sheer grit and strategic brilliance, managing to halt the enemy's advance—if only barely.

In the royal palace, Rowan convened an emergency war council. As he announced the dire news, the grand hall erupted in shocked murmurs. The war had arrived far sooner than anyone had anticipated.

Fixing his gaze upon Duke Lanskarr, Rowan issued his orders. "Duke Lanskarr, you must immediately mobilize all available resources to support the frontlines. Ensure a steady supply of provisions and reinforcements. At the same time, maintain order within the duchy—we cannot afford internal chaos."

The duke stepped forward, bowing solemnly. "Rest assured, Your Holiness. I shall see it done without fail."

Turning next to the Chief Inquisitor, Rowan commanded, "Ian, deploy all inquisitors to enforce martial law. Anyone found exploiting this crisis for personal gain—bandits, traitors, or enemy spies—shall be executed on sight. We cannot allow disorder to fester."

Ian's expression was as cold as steel. "Understood. I will personally see to it."

Finally, Rowan fixed his gaze on Raymond. "Raymond, Lorant has blatantly violated the Holy Light Covenant, launching an unprovoked assault. This is an unforgivable act of aggression. Send word to our envoys in the Holy Light Alliance—file an official protest at once. If the Holy See refuses to act against Lorant's treachery, then we shall no longer be bound by their decrees. Instruct our envoys to spare no effort in exposing Lorant's atrocities. They may exaggerate, embellish—whatever it takes to force the Holy See's hand."

Raymond nodded in understanding, knowing full well the gravity of the situation. Without delay, he dispatched urgent missives via messenger hawks to their emissaries within the Holy Light Alliance.

Three days later, within the hallowed halls of the Holy Light Alliance, a council was convened. Delegates from various factions sat in tense silence, their expressions a mixture of concern and calculation.

The envoy of the Dawn Theocracy, face dark with fury, was the first to break the silence. His voice thundered through the chamber, brimming with barely restrained anger. "From the moment I received the message from my church, I knew this was a matter of grave injustice. The Lorant Theocracy launched an unprovoked attack without so much as a declaration of war! This is nothing short of blatant aggression!

Furthermore, they have violated the sacred one-year truce ordained by the Holy Light Covenant. This is not merely an affront to my church—it is a direct assault on the order that governs this alliance! I demand that the Holy Light Alliance deploys its forces immediately to crush this treacherous act of war! Justice must be served!"

The envoy of the Radiant Theocracy, however, had his own agenda. Under secret orders to stall the proceedings, he adopted a languid, dismissive tone. "Hmph. Spare us the melodrama, Dawn Envoy. Let's not forget that it was your church that conspired with the Lann Duchy's royal family, slaughtering the entire lineage and butchering our envoys. That, my dear envoy, was the true catalyst of this conflict. If anyone is guilty of aggression, it is your church. Do not attempt to shift the blame."

His words were laced with deceit and provocation.

The Dawn Envoy's expression darkened, his fury barely contained. "Your theocracy secretly colluded with the Lann royal family—your ulterior motives are plain for all to see. Our actions in the duchy were carried out in accordance with our sacred mission. Who are you to question the righteousness of our cause? Are we to believe that any church can now fabricate an excuse to justify an invasion?"

His voice reverberated across the chamber, filled with indignation and challenge.

At this moment, the envoy of the Glorious Theocracy, tasked with further stoking the flames of war, spoke up with a sly smirk. "The Radiant Envoy does have a point. The Dawn Theocracy's methods were far too extreme—you wiped out an entire royal lineage. That is an undeniable act of political sabotage. In that regard, Lorant's actions could be seen as a necessary measure to restore order. I, for one, support their intervention."

Tension in the hall reached a boiling point.

The Dawn Envoy clenched his fists, his gaze burning with fury as he glared at the Glorious Envoy. "So this is how it is? Are you telling me that any church with enough power can now fabricate an excuse to invade another? If this is the so-called justice of the Holy Light Alliance, then tell me—does that mean my church should prepare to march on yours as well?"

The chamber erupted in discord, the fragile unity of the alliance splintering before the storm of war.

And so, the fate of nations hung in the balance.