‘Destiny is not written by those who wait.

  If there is a duty before you, rise, and do it.’

  By Fourth Hero of the Shiena Kingdom,Duke Felix von Heaort.

  "Your orders are to take 3,000 soldiers and reinforce the 4th Corps on the Eastern Line."

  Those were the first words I heard when I entered Brigadier General Devon's office after being humiliated by him. I was still in my pajamas, of course.

  "Beg your pardon, sir?" I asked, still trying to process what he had just said.

  I knew the Shiena Kingdom was in dire straits. I had even heard rumors that the 9th Corps would be redeployed to the Eastern Line while the 8th Corps took over our position on the Northern Line.

  But it wasn't as simple as just marching to the Eastern Line with a cheerful "Ta-da! We're here to help!"

  Even though we had successfully repelled the recent attack, Imperial troops still occupied Fort Estonal. One wrong move on our part, and they could strike while we were vulnerable.

  To make matters worse, the 9th Corps had swelled to 40,000 strong with fresh recruits. Large armies moved slowly. Yet Marshal Vespera Sinhope, commander of the entire military, had ordered us to reinforce the 4th Corps within a week.

  A week. It was impossible. Even under ideal conditions, reaching the Eastern Line would take two weeks on foot. We could cut that time by riding Sakys, but we didn't have nearly enough mounts for 40,000 men. And there were no enchanted items or magical artifacts capable of speeding up an entire army.

  Well, there was one: the Flag of Emerald, which could boost the strength, morale, and magical power of up to 100,000 soldiers. But it was locked away in the capital's treasury since it was too valuable.

  That was why General Cedric had proposed a staged deployment: send small, fast-moving groups ahead to support the Eastern Line while the main army followed at a slower pace. The 8th Corps would temporarily hold the Northern Line in our absence.

  Cedric had gone away again, this time, to near the Plain of Imoras for taking down all the minor forts and watchtowers.

  Anyway, the proposal had been accepted. The first wave would consist of two separate forces of 3,000 soldiers, followed by a second wave of 5,000. After that, the remaining 29,000 would march together.

  I understood that part.

  "But sir, why was I chosen for this?" I asked, hoping Devon would give me a straight answer.

  What I didn't understand was whyI hadI'd been selected to command the first wave. A force of 3,000 soldiers typically required a seasoned Brigadier General, someone with battlefield experience and a proven track record.

  I, on the other hand, had spectacularly failed to protect 1,000 men and nearly led them to annihilation. Yes, some had died due to their own mistakes, but more than 700 deaths were directly my fault. I had been court-martialed for it.

  Sure, I had been awarded the Crown of Emerald, a medal bestowed only four times in the kingdom's 500-year history, and slain two Major Generals. But those achievements didn't erase my failures. I was far from the most qualified officer for this mission.

  "That's the order from General Cedric," Devon said wearily, glancing at the report in his hands. "Major Aria will lead 3,000 soldiers to reinforce the 4th Corps. On your way, make sure to pick up the new MPA-64 from the capital. The orders have already been processed."

  "Already?" I asked, surprised.

  MPA, Mana Powered Armor, was enchanted gear that enhanced the wearer's strength and agility. It had both saved and hindered me in my last battle. The weight and size had made me a sitting duck against that Wild Magic user, basically turning me into a punching bag.

  "Yes, of course. Apparently, the Research Division was already developing a new model after determining that the MPA-63 was unstable. They had a replacement ready to go." He paused. "They're requesting another field test."

  I pretended not to hear the words "test" and "unstable," despite feeling very much like a lab rat. Though I suppose that was accurate, considering I was a homunculus. At least it was somewhat comforting to know the last model hadn't catastrophically malfunctioned mid-battle. It had simply been punched through by Major General Caelen. This new version might actually hold up better.

  "You'll be leaving today," Devon said, placing both hands flat on his desk. "You're dismissed."

  "Of course, sir."

  The firm look in his eyes told me there would be no convincing him to let me off this mission. Though I would definitely need to change out of my pajamas first.

  "One more thing." Devon's voice stopped me just as I reached the door. "What do you think of Instructor Demo?"

  "Instructor Demo, sir?" I turned back, genuinely surprised.

  Instructor Demo had been my trainer, or more accurately, a borderline abusive taskmaster who had nearly killed me during training multiple times. I hated him in many ways, but I was also somewhat grateful. He had made me strong enough to survive.

  That wasn't what surprised me, though. Despite being brothers, Devon and Instructor Demo rarely mentioned each other. Devon had only brought him up once before, and Instructor Demo had never mentioned Devon at all.

  "I think... he's someone I resent," I answered carefully. "But at the same time, someone I owe my life to. I wouldn't have made it this far without his training."

  Devon stared at me for a long moment, something shifting behind his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again and sighed.

  "I apologize for that last question. You're dismissed."

  "Yes, sir," I replied, confused. What was that about? Has something happened to him or Instructor Demo?

  My thoughts were cut short when I stepped outside and found Deryk waiting, laughing as he saw me. Apparently, a rumor had already spread that the Fifth Hero had been walking around the fort in pajamas.

  I beat the hell out of him to shut him up.

  [(0)]

  Brigadier General Devon watched Major Aria walk out the door. Once she was gone, he sighed heavily, her words about Demo still echoing in his mind.

  "I have no idea what you're doing, Demo," Devon murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Our parents are worried sick, you know..."

  He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a brown wanted poster. His brother's face stared back at him; Instructor Demo, written in clear details. Last seen in the capital about one week ago and was on the run. The reward was staggering: 10,000 gold pieces and wanting dead or alive.

  The charges listed beneath made Devon's stomach turn.

  "Why would you kill a hundred people?" Devon whispered. "And magisets involved in the homunculus project, of all people..."

  He stared at the poster for a long moment, then carefully placed it back in the drawer and closed it. Devon could only sigh for what felt like the infinite time. He had no idea how to break this news to Aria after hearing her response about him.

  The weight of it pressed down on him like a physical burden.

  [(0)]

  "Major General Remnell and Caelen are both dead?!" General Khile, commander of the Eleventh and Twelfth Legions, was visibly shaken.

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  He had dispatched two divisions from the Eleventh Legion to secure victory on the Northern Line. All that had returned was a report of catastrophic defeat and the deaths of both commanding officers.

  "Yes, sir," Colonel Elten, Khile's aide, confirmed. "Major General Ayas is now in command of the 27,000 remaining troops."

  Khile could order those forces to continue pressing the Northern Line, keeping the 9th Corps occupied. Twenty-seven thousand men was hardly an insignificant force. But the problem was the commander himself: Major General Ayas, third son of Duke Ember. The man had somehow managed to lose a campaign with 80,000 troops against a mere 35,000. There was no telling what disaster he might cause now.

  "Tell Colonel Aylsia to assume command," Khile said after a moment's consideration. "Give her full authority to make decisions and ignore Ayas if necessary. I'll handle Duke Ember myself."

  Elten hesitated. "Are you certain, sir?"

  Khile nodded, though the decision left a bitter taste. The second northern campaign had failed spectacularly, and he saw no point in throwing more resources at it. They had already lost too many soldiers. With the Eastern Line on the verge of collapse, every remaining man was needed there to secure a decisive victory.

  His mind made up, Khile knew the path forward: crush the Eastern Line quickly, before the 9th Corps could arrive to reinforce it.

  But then a darker thought struck him. His expression hardened as he turned back to Elten. "Tell me," Khile said, his tone sharp, "who was responsible for their deaths?"

  Both Remnell and Caelen had been formidable warriors. Caelen, though hot-blooded, was a Wild Magic user, which meant he was far beyond what ordinary soldiers could handle. And Remnell, while not possessing Wild Magic himself, wielded a powerful enchanted sword. Khile couldn't fathom how both had fallen so easily.

  "It's... unclear, sir," Elten said carefully, meeting Khile's gaze. "But several witnesses reported seeing the Silver Death."

  "The Silver Death?"

  Khile knew of several named enemy officers who posed significant threats, like General Cedric, widely known as the "Moon Bringer." But those individuals had been on the battlefield for years, and intelligence on them was well-established.

  He had never heard of anyone called the "Silver Death." The name was completely unfamiliar, which made it all the more unsettling.

  "Yes, sir. Our soldiers have begun calling her that, a girl with silver hair who appears on the battlefield and turns the tide. They say she brings victory wherever she goes, like some kind of savior to her allies."

  "Why do we have so little information about her?" Khile demanded.

  "Because we expect she is somebody new," Elten said grimly. He paused before continuing. "The best intelligence we've gathered suggests she was personally trained by Demo, the Deathgod of the Eastern Line."

  "If that's true, then she's extremely dangerous."

  Khile fell silent, considering the information. Finally, he spoke again.

  "Find out everything you can about this 'Silver Death.' And get me in contact with the commander of the Knight Order. I need him to finish off the 4th Corps before reinforcements arrive."

  “Yes sir.” Elten said as he exited the room, leaving Khile sighing what felt for the hundredth time.

  [(0)]

  After departing Fort Kespare with 3,000 cavalry troops, we made our way toward the capital of the Shiena Kingdom, Heartspire.

  Sadly, my temporary aide, Nora, was stuck on the northern side as she was one of those soldiers who were clearing out the Imperials after our big battles in the Forest of Jades. And thus, I would be commanding the troops alone.

  As it turned out, another group led by Colonel Cameron, commander of the mage division, would take a different route. His force of 3,000 troops, including 70 mages plus Deryk, would head directly to Fort Cainhorn while we stopped at the capital, made a brief visit to Staedergh Citadel, and then rendezvoused with them at Fort Cainhorn.

  "See you at Fort Cainhorn!" Deryk called out cheerfully with a massive bump on his head, where I had hit him this morning for mocking me about the pajama incident.

  After several days of travel, we finally reached the capital city, my home, if anyone could call it that.

  The city was vast, now that I had a proper look at it. Towering walls encircled the central districts, while the outer sections were protected by lower, less imposing fortifications.

  Our arrival wasn't smooth. The 8th Corps, stationed in the capital, hadn't been notified of our approach. It took nearly an hour of confusion and verification before we were cleared to proceed.

  Apparently, the new MPA armor wouldn't be ready immediately, so most of my troops would rest in the 8th Corps' barracks while a small escort accompanied me to collect it.

  We were led to a research facility on the city's outskirts. To my relief, it wasn't the underground facility I remembered all too well. This one was above ground. A cluster of white buildings bearing the military crest.

  As we approached, we were greeted by someone who could only be described as a "mad scientist." His hair was wild and white, though not silver like mine, and his eyes twitched occasionally behind thick glasses. He wore a rumpled lab coat and had that unmistakable gleam in his gaze. The kind of insanity I had grown accustomed to seeing in the military.

  "So, you're Major Aria," he said, his voice brimming with excitement. "I'm Magisets Felix Mareth, head of the 5th Research Division."

  "Major Aria of the 9th Corps," I replied, snapping a crisp salute. The soldiers behind me followed suit.

  "Oh, you can drop the formalities. I know you prefer to be easygoing, and honestly, I do too."

  "Then why did you ask to see me specifically?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

  I had already figured out he wanted something from me. He was one of the few people who knew I was a homunculus. According to Brigadier General Devon, Magisets Felix had contributed a lot in the homunculus project.

  There was no other reason the head of a research division would personally meet with a field officer. And from the look of him, he seemed like the type who preferred to be left alone in his lab.

  "Well, you know," Felix said with a knowing grin, completely unsurprised by my suspicion. "I want you to test the new MPA-64, and... discuss your special circumstances."

  I eyed him warily but nodded.

  "Fine." I turned to my escort. "You will stay here."

  The soldiers saluted as I followed Mg. Felix into the facility.

  He led me through the research complex; a bizarre blend of medieval and modern. People worked on all manner of projects: enchanting artifacts, dissecting monsters, testing MPA armor, while mages demonstrated spells in controlled environments.

  Then, as Felix turned down a shadowy corridor, he placed his hand against what appeared to be a solid wall.

  "Huh?" I muttered as the section of wall shifted, revealing a hidden passageway.

  "Come," Mg. Felix said with a small laugh, stepping inside. "And try not to get lost."

  I hesitated, unsure whether to follow, then sighed in resignation and entered after him. We descended a long staircase. Above us, artificial lights, much like the fluorescent lighting from Earth, illuminated our path.

  At the bottom, a white corridor stretched before us. Stepping inside felt like entering a completely different world. This looked modern.

  "This is the secret laboratory," Mg. Felix said, a hint of pride in his voice as he cackled. "This is where we conduct research that... can't be done publicly. And where we keep our most advanced technology hidden."

  We continued down the hallway, passing rooms with observation windows. In one, a man was being surgically fused with monster parts, his screams echoing despite the soundproofing. In another, an enchanted sword endured catastrophic environment tests. Unfortunately, the wielder was still holding it, enduring the same punishment.

  Eventually, we reached a door labeled simply: HOM.

  Mg. Felix pressed his hand against a scanner. The door slid open, revealing a large room dominated by a massive cylindrical tank filled with blue liquid.

  "Strip and get in," Mg. Felix said with a grin. "We need to run diagnostics on your performance."

  "...And the MPA-64?" I asked. "I thought we were going to discuss that?"

  "You're quite the comedian," Mg. Felix laughed, then his expression suddenly turned deadly serious, his voice cold. "Now get in."

  Sensing genuine danger if I refused, I quietly began removing my clothes without much hesitation. First, I was a man in my previous life, so showing my body to another man didn't bother me. Second, this body wasn't even human, which was somehow comforting. And finally, in battle, clothes got torn and destroyed anyway, wherever I liked it or not.

  I stepped into the tank. Blue liquid began filling it rapidly as I instinctively held my breath. Just as it covered me completely, it drained away just as quickly. I blinked as the door opened.

  "All your bodily functions appear normal," Mg. Felix said, examining data on a screen. Seriously, was this world medieval fantasy or sci-fi? "Your mana response is almost non-existence, but with a mana crystal or two, you might see improvement."

  "Really?" I asked, pulling my clothes back on. "Does that mean I might be able to use my own mana?"

  "Don't know," Mg. Felix said dismissively, then waved his hand at the wall. A section of the wall parted, revealing gleaming armor beneath bright lights. The suit was silver, noticeably lighter and more skinnier than what I had worn before.

  "The new MPA-64," Mg. Felix’s voice echoed from somewhere beside me. "Take it upstairs and give feedback to the magisets on how it performs. I've got work to do. Oh, and magisets are the people in white coats, basically our research staff, if you're wondering."

  I nodded and approached the armor. It was much easier to put on, thanks to its reduced size and weight. I found a mana crystal beside it, slotted it into place, and pressed the activation button. The armor hummed to life, and this time it felt natural, like a second skin rather than a burden.

  "Wow," I said, flexing my hands and testing the joints. "It feels like I'm not wearing armor at all!"

  "Good," Mg. Felix said, finally looking at me with a slight grin. "After all, this is our masterpiece."

  He walked over and pointed to another button right next to the activation switch.

  "Try that one."

  When I pressed it, I felt myself lift slightly off the ground. The heels of the armor shifted, and metal wheels extended from seemingly nowhere. I couldn't find my balance and immediately tumbled to the floor with a short yelp.

  "After you complained about needing more agility, we added wheels powered by the same mana crystal as the armor," Mg. Felix explained. "The trade-off is reduced battery life, thirty minutes instead of an hour, and they're still unstable. You might get a better version in the MPA-65, but that's a story for another time. For now, use them only in emergencies."

  "Alright, thank you," I said, grinning despite my fall. While the balance was tricky, this feature was definitely fun, and potentially lifesaving.

  "Now get going," Mg. Felix sighed, yawning. "You've got a lot ahead of you, don't you? The hundred MPA-64 units for your troops are waiting upstairs."

  Then he simply walked out of the room, leaving me behind.

  This time, though, I didn't follow him as he gave an approved nod as I asked him to practice the new armor in the room. I tested the armor's functions a bit more, impressed by how responsive it was. This would definitely help against any Wild Magic users I might encounter.

  "But... where's the exit again?"

  My voice echoed in the empty room. I had absolutely no idea how to get out of this secret laboratory.