"An attack on the capital? Could it be the Eye of the Midnight Sun?"
Ethan Hayes immediately connected the dots upon hearing the news.
In the original storyline, the Eye of the Midnight Sun launched a sudden attack on the royal capital, which occurred during the conferment ceremony. Yet, after that event in this altered reality, nothing happened, leading Ethan to believe his presence had disrupted their plans. But clearly, the attack wasn't canceled—it was merely delayed.
Ethan muttered to himself, "The damage is likely to be far worse than in the original story..."
During the conferment ceremony, three captains—Charlotte of the Blue Rose, Nozel of the Silver Eagles, and Fuegoleon of the Crimson Lions—were present. Their combined forces quickly rallied and counterattacked despite the surprise.
However, in the current situation, only the Golden Dawn was stationed at the capital, while other squads were scattered across their bases. Adding to this precarious position was the betrayal of the Golden Dawn's captain, William Vangeance, who was a double agent. Under such circumstances, the attackers had a real chance of seizing the entire capital.
"Have the other squads been notified?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, sir! But we need you to rally your members and head to the capital immediately!"
Rally? What members?
Ethan thought bitterly. He was still alone—a commander without a squad. Whether it was a team fight or a solo challenge, it was all on him.
"There's no one to rally. The squad's just been established, and I haven't even recruited anyone yet. But one person is still a person. Asta, I'm heading out first!"
With that, Ethan summoned his four-leaf grimoire. The wind swirled around him, raising dust as he prepared for his departure.
Despite his base being relatively close to the capital, it would still take nearly twenty minutes even at full speed.
"Let's hope the Wizard King doesn't take this lightly like in the original story," Ethan muttered. "If he does, the capital might actually fall!"
In the heart of the Clover Kingdom, King Augustus Kira Clover XIII was basking in luxury. Reclined on a grand bed, he enjoyed fruits fed to him by two beautiful attendants while receiving a relaxing massage.
Of course, his enjoyment would have been greater without the incessant banging sounds outside.
"What's going on out there? Are they celebrating some kind of festival? Why all the fireworks?" Augustus asked lazily.
Arrogance, incompetence, and self-indulgence—these traits defined his reign. Without sparing a glance at the kneeling guard before him, he continued enjoying his pampered life.
"Sire, the capital... the capital is under attack!" stammered the guard. "The outer city has already fallen!"
"What?"
Augustus sprang upright, panic flashing across his face. Today wasn't April Fool's Day, and no one would dare joke about something so serious.
"Explain yourself! What exactly is happening?" he demanded.
"Your Majesty, the attackers appeared out of nowhere. We were caught completely off guard!"
"Where is the Golden Dawn? What is Julius doing? The enemies have reached the inner city, and they're still asleep?" Augustus fumed.
His paranoia flared. "Could this be a ploy by Julius to get rid of me? I need to find a safe place to hide!"
In a frantic rush, Augustus scrambled out of bed, barefoot and disoriented, searching for a secure spot in his chambers.
Meanwhile, the capital was in chaos. Once bustling streets were now engulfed in flames, with buildings crumbling and panicked citizens—nobles and commoners alike—fleeing through the alleys.
"Are those... dead bodies? But how can they move? And there are so many of them!"
"Where are the soldiers? Where are the Magic Knights? Why hasn't anyone come to save us?"
Amid the despair, the enemy forces reveled in their success.
"Who would've thought it'd be this easy to invade the capital? That man's power is truly extraordinary!"
"Yeah, I expected more resistance. This is almost boring."
Rades grinned maliciously. "Clover Kingdom, your reckoning has come!"
Once a Magic Knight himself, Rades had been a member of the Purple Orca squad. However, his forbidden necromancy magic led to his expulsion and exile. Today, his long-buried hatred for the kingdom burned bright.
"Necromancy Magic—Army of the Dead!"
All around, the streets filled with undead creatures, summoned from the lifeless remains of former citizens. These monstrosities had no thoughts or emotions, driven solely by an unrelenting urge to kill and destroy.
"Gods, someone save us!" cried the desperate voices of the citizens.
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