Lest flew through the sky using magic, arriving above the Great Border Bridge.
Spanning a massive river to connect the two nations, the bridge was two hundred meters long and wide enough for two carriages to pass one another. It was a stone structure built upon nine arches, with small forts constructed at the eastern and western ends by the Empire and the Kingdom, respectively.
While it had been originally built for trade and diplomacy, it had now become a brutal battlefield where both nations fought tooth and nail.
"Attack! Move out!"
""""""Oooooooooooh!""""""
On the eastern side was the Geisel Empire. Soldiers clad in the same helmets and armor as the detached unit Lest had previously annihilated charged forward, spears in hand.
"Defend! Hold the line!"
""""""Oooooooooooh!""""""
On the western side stood the Margrave Lavender House. Soldiers in purple-tinted armor raised large shields, bracing against the Imperial Army’s assault. From the fort behind them, arrows and magic were unleashed as covering fire.
Although the Imperial Army had the advantage in numbers, the narrow terrain of the bridge prevented them from utilizing that strength. As a result, the two forces were locked in a stalemate, with the front line swaying back and forth in a desperate tug-of-war.
"Thank goodness... they’re somehow holding on."
Lest let out a sigh of relief. The Imperial Army’s momentum was fierce, but it didn't look like they would break through immediately. That was undoubtedly why the Empire had attempted to send a detached unit across the river—to bypass this bottleneck and throw the Margrave Lavender House’s rear into chaos.
"I want to help, but... where should I even start?"
Lest hovered in the air, looking down at the Great Bridge with a frown. If he interfered carelessly, he might end up being more of a hindrance than a help. He pondered his next move.
"Imperial Magic Unit, fire!"
""""""Hah!""""""
"Hmm...?"
Just then, a robed group appeared on the eastern side of the bridge.
He felt a massive surge of mana. This group of mages was channeling and condensing an immense amount of magical energy, clearly preparing for a major strike.
"This is bad...!"
Lest’s instincts screamed at him. He activated his magic before he could even process the thought, and a black sphere manifested in his hand. The sphere—the Dark Star that swallowed everything—drank in the surrounding light. The area grew dim, as if thick clouds had suddenly obscured the sun.
"[Amaterasu]!"
A second later, a beam of solar light erupted. Distorted by a Gravity Lens, the light strike rained down upon the Imperial mages like a bolt of divine punishment.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaah?!"
"Guwaaaaaaaaaah?!"
A massive explosion followed immediately. It wasn't caused by Lest’s attack alone; rather, the magic the Imperial mages had been preparing misfired and detonated, resulting in a colossal burst of flame and smoke.
"I knew it. I’m glad I stopped that. If they’d actually fired that spell, there’s no telling how many people would have died."
From the look of it, that had been a strategic-class offensive magic cast through the cooperation of multiple mages. It was a spell Lest didn't recognize, but it was certainly one of the secret trump cards the Empire had been holding back.
"The Imperial Magic Unit’s been hit!"
"There! That man in the sky did it!"
Members of the Imperial Army noticed Lest and shouted, pointing their fingers at him.
"Kill him! Take him down!"
"""Ooh!"""
Several knights surged out from the Imperial ranks. Clad in magnificent armor with cloaks fluttering behind them, they took to the sky and rushed toward Lest.
"Is that the Imperial Magic Knight Order...?" Lest muttered, narrowing his eyes.
They were a special forces unit and one of the Empire's primary military pillars. An elite group said to have mastered both magic and martial arts, every member was purportedly the match of a hundred ordinary soldiers.
"Being able to use flight magic means they’re at least at the level of a Court Mage."
Lest fired another laser of light. However, the magic knights evaded the linear strike and continued to close the distance.
"Knock him out of the sky!"
"Tch..."
Lest increased his altitude, but the knights pursued him relentlessly. They dispersed, fanning out to surround him with the practiced ease of veterans.
They’re used to group combat... and they know how to fight in the air, Lest noted.
Despite his internal praise, he had to acknowledge that the enemy possessed far more practical experience than he did. They were a true elite force. The realization that mages of this caliber also possessed martial prowess made him realize just how terrifying the Geisel Empire's military power really was.
"Go!"
""""""Hah!""""""
The magic knights surrounded Lest in mid-air and began their coordinated assault. They circled him rapidly, peppering him with fire and lightning spells.
"[Flame Bullet]!"
"[Thunder Bullet]!"
"[Wind Shield]...!"
Lest deployed his defensive magic, refusing to be outdone while he searched for an opening.
"Hah!"
"Ngh...!"
During the exchange, one of the magic knights closed in for a melee strike. The tip of the knight's blade pierced through the wind barrier and grazed Lest’s shoulder, leaving a shallow gash.
"[Wind Blade]!"
Lest counterattacked with a blade of wind, but the opponent had already darted out of range. Once again, they began circling him, maintaining their magical barrage.
"That was close... These guys are seriously troublesome."
The most daunting thing about them was the sheer quality of their coordination. They supported one another perfectly, systematically narrowing Lest’s options. If he tried to attack one, another would suppress him from the flank. If he tried to intercept a frontal assault, someone would strike from his blind spot. Even if he did manage to land a hit, the injured knight would simply retreat to the rear to be healed immediately.
He was confident he could win decisively in a one-on-one fight, but taking down a unit that moved like a single, multi-headed organism was an entirely different challenge.
"Let's end this! 'Flying Bee Formation'!"
""""""Hah!""""""
The magic knights shifted their formation. They began to fly in irregular, high-speed patterns around Lest, attempting to overwhelm his vision and tracking. They moved with such precision that they never collided, suggesting a complex underlying logic to their movements—one that would be impossible to decipher in the heat of battle.
"If that's how it is... I’ll have to try something a bit dangerous."
"3... 2... 1... GO!"
The soldiers, who had been circling erratically, suddenly converged on Lest from every direction. It was a simultaneous thrust from the front, back, left, right, above, and below. Evading such an attack was physically impossible.
"[Kagutsuchi]!"
Lest didn't even try to dodge. Having abandoned the idea of evasion from the start, he triggered his magic.
"What—?!"
"Impossible...!"
A massive explosion erupted with Lest at the epicenter, instantly swallowing the magic knights who had been closing in for the kill.