Even as the battle raged on, Iricobert broke out in a cold sweat.
The infantry, who made up the bulk of the Third Army, were completely surrounded. Even if he tried to fight his way to their aid, the Dragonia regulars stood in his way, a living wall of iron.
It was impossible for his unit to break through such a thick line on their own.
"Someone... notice it. Someone has to realize what's happening," Iricobert muttered through gritted teeth. "If they don't, we’re all going to be wiped out."
There was only one path left.
Meanwhile, with Leo.
"We’re surrounded," I said.
"Huh?! We’ve been surrounded this whole time!" Flare shouted back. "It's a melee! Of course we're surrounded!"
"No, it's not just local chaos. The entire infantry force has been encircled. And I suspect what’s coming next is..."
The prediction came true almost instantly.
Knights mounted on Emblem Horses—likely the enemy’s regulars—began to intervene in the chaotic melee one after another.
Their target was obvious.
"Guh! Dragonia regulars! Return fire!"
It was our own regulars—the Knight Commanders, like Campari.
Normally, the infantry and the Royal Guards would stand as a shield for their commander. However, in the middle of this absolute chaos, with enemies pouring in from all four sides, those meant to protect found themselves unable to defend anyone.
Knights were being cut down left and right.
Campari drew his sword, his expression hardening with grim resolve. "Don't you dare look down on me! I am a One-Star as well!"
"Protect Lord Campari!"
"Infantry! Risk your lives! Surround him!"
This was bad. I started running.
Dragonia infantry filled the gaps, creating a sea of bodies between me and the commander, while their regular knights blocked the way. I slashed through them, but the regulars were different. They were trained knights; even in a one-on-one fight, they took far too much time to dispose of.
And then, it happened.
"Gah... To think... I would fall... in a place like this..."
Our Knight Commander, Campari, was swarmed and cut down.
His death signaled the formal defeat of the Knight Order.
All around me, the knights and infantry collapsed to their knees. The light faded from the emblems of Squad Leader Laphroaig and every other soldier in the vicinity.
The Dragonia knights watched the light vanish and began to laugh.
This was their strategy.
Utilizing the chaos of the melee and the pincer movement, they focused solely on assassinating the Knight Commanders to efficiently neutralize entire units. By killing a single man, they could render hundreds of soldiers powerless in an instant. It was cold, calculated, and terrifyingly effective.
In a frontal assault, the infantry could have shielded him, but in this level of confusion, the enemy could strike the commander directly.
Screams filled the air.
With their emblems deactivated, the infantry were being slaughtered unilaterally. Knights remained slumped on the ground, unable to find the strength to stand. The balance of power had tipped in a heartbeat. On a battlefield where the wind blew thick with the scent of blood, the outcome had already been decided.
It wasn't just the tactical advantage—their spirits were broken.
One by one, the other Knight Commanders were being hunted down. The collapse was accelerating.
"It’s over... we’ve lost," Laphroaig whispered, tears streaming down his face. "We're all going to die here."
Everyone was giving up. They were abandoning the very idea of survival.
They would die here. People who had promised their families they would return home were going to die in the dirt. Children would be left without fathers; families would be shattered.
I really don't like the thought of that.
"Flare! Help me!"
"Leo?!"
I summoned my Emblem Horse, grabbed Flare’s hand, and pulled her onto the saddle behind me. Then, I spurred the horse forward.
The only ones left who could still fight were Flare—who for some reason possessed her own independent emblem—and me.
My target was the head of the Knight Commander who had killed Campari.
However, the enemy noticed our approach.
"—?! Why do you still have a sword and an active emblem?! Tsk!"
The enemy's Royal Guards moved to intercept us.
"Honestly... you’re so pushy," Flare sighed. "But fine. I get it. I’ll open the way."
Flare leapt forward, her blade meeting those of the Royal Guards. In a blur of steel, she cut them down in an instant. She was incredibly strong—perhaps even stronger than a One-Star Knight Commander.
Who is she, really?
I pushed the thought aside. It didn't matter right now. Thanks to Flare drawing their attention, a path had opened. It was a straight shot.
Run.
"—Guh!"
I slashed at the enemy commander.
He parried.
I slashed again.
He parried again, though he had to put more weight into it.
I didn't stop. I unleashed a flurry of high-speed consecutive strikes, accelerating with every parry, pushing my velocity further and further.
Eventually, the inevitable happened.
"Wh-what... are... you..."
He could no longer keep up with my blade.
Red blood sprayed as I cut the Knight Commander down. He fell from his horse, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
It was a crude method, but it was the fastest sword technique I could manage. It didn't have a name. It was simply a move I had cobbled together by mimicking Lord Gaia's movements—imitating the way he reached top speed from a standstill and simply repeating that explosive burst. It wasn't a technique of power, but one entirely dedicated to speed.
The surrounding knights stared in stunned silence as their emblems flickered and died.
While I had stabilized the immediate area, Knight Commanders were still falling all across the field. In this state, the chain of command was nonexistent.
I rode my horse toward Campari’s corpse. Reaching down, I touched the emblem on his hand.
Thank god... I can still feel it.
"Alright... this should work."
"Leo! What do I do?!" Flare asked, standing guard.
"Just protect me for a moment, Flare!"
"Understood!"
Since awakening to the Regalia Emblem, I had become acutely aware of the power supplied through the mark. For example, I was currently providing emblem power to my mother back home. Because her legs were bad, I sent her strength to help her manage her daily life. When I closed my eyes, I could feel that energy flowing out of me.
Emblems bound by a Master-Vassal relationship were connected.
Of course, there was a limit to the range, so I couldn't feel the connection to my mother right now. However, I could still feel the "vestige" of the connection lingering within Campari’s emblem.
If I could feel that connection—if I could just touch the physical mark—then I could act.
"Leo... the way that emblem is glowing..."
From this point, I could deliver my own power.
I focused on the Master-Vassal connection through Campari’s emblem. I poured the power of my own Regalia Emblem into that empty, severed path.
In an instant, the mark erupted with light. The connection surged, linking my emblem to every soldier who had been under Campari's command.
"Wh-why?! My emblem!"
"The power... it's back!"
"What's happening?!"
I stood tall on the back of my Emblem Horse and shouted as loud as I could.
"It's not over yet, Arcadia!"
The infantry and knights nearby all turned to look at me. I knew that in a situation like this, a white lie was a necessary tool. Some of them had seen me take down a Dragonia One-Star.
"I am the Three-Star Knight, Sora!" I declared. "I am taking command in Campari's stead! I have just granted you the power of my own emblem!"
The knights might have had their doubts, but the vast majority of those present were infantry—commoners. There was no way they would know every knight's name and face. Laphroaig looked completely stunned, but I didn't have time to explain.
I had to use strong words to move them. I had to give them a reason to fight.
"Lift your heads! Grip your swords! If you want to survive—if you want to see your loved ones again—then follow me!"
""YES, SIR!!""
The roar of the soldiers shook the air. Every man there was now under my lead.