Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Meanwhile, three miles away from the former village of Hilbram, the Silvaran army started preparing their counter-offensive. They began building a temporary village to the northwest of the enemy.

The two leaders of this army were Royal Knight Bernard.

He left the king's side to serve during this battle beside the half-goliath Barbatos.

Barbatos didn't seem to have much action since the end of the search for Prince Valos ended in vain; however, watching the south, his body trembled with a faint smile showing under his plate helmet, a rare occurrence.

"Barbatos, are you excited to fight your old friend and rival again?"

"Sieg strong, magnificent warrior."

Bernard could only let his smile twitch at this simple but powerful man. He would lose if he fought against him alone, yet the big guy seemed to respect Bernard, which led to a strange friendship that had grown over the years.

"Lorem?"

"She is helping heal some students with her magic."

"Lorem has changed. Become a better warrior." Barbatos nodded, convinced by his own words, before turning to face the other royal knights guarding the wooden walls.

"Hurry and get those stakes deep into the ground!" A male Rank C Royal Knight barked orders at some of the first-year students.

It seemed common logic that those in the first and second years would be useless.

Because the average power of those in the two years was Stage Two and Three, people like the princess, Mu Xue, Asura, and Xavida were rarities which many people called monsters.

The average students now helped build the camp without a say.

"That guy is bullying the weak again."

Bernard tried to tell the knights and others to avoid letting their role as Royal Knights go to their heads.

However, most of the weaker knights struggled to do so.

He watched the students hammering and digging in the middle of the night, drenched in the rain and wondered if this was the right call.

****

Meanwhile, in a medical tent, Mu Xue and Xavida both lay on the soft bedding while Lorem's phoenix flame healed the wounds caused by the holy sword.

She gazed down at them with gentle eyes. "You girls did your best and protected so many other students. Well done."

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Although they were rivals for Asura's affection, Lorem still treated them like her students and felt pride when learning the pair avoided severe casualties from the monsters and Aldric's attack.

"Did they escape?" Mu Xue's eyes fluttered as she asked Lorem in a rough voice. It seemed she remembered the reason they fought so hard: to protect the other members of their units.

"Yes, the girls you protected came to find us, and we rushed to meet you faster. You fought hard, student Mu Xue."

"Hehe, thank you instructor."

Mu Xue paused for a moment before Lorem noticed her body shudder. Curious, she couldn't help but ask.

"What's wrong, student Mu Xue?"

"One does not become a Royal Knight or gain a title like him just for strength or power," Lorem gently explained to Mu Xue. "It comes with painstaking practice for years through sweat, blood, and tears until reaching the pinnacle."

Mu Xue and Xavida caught the meaning behind Lorem's words and became enlightened.

"Does that mean Asura might reach a similar level of strength one day?" Mu Xue asked her.

"That will be up to him," Lorem smiled gently. "After all, he is an exceptional talent. Also, he practises harder than most of your entire year combined."

Mu Xue felt relaxed to hear these words but became curious at the same time.

"Instructor, is it true that a demigod can leave for another world?"

Lorem laughed lightly as her eyes darted towards the top of the tent, where rain fell.

'Maybe, but who would leave the world where he exists?'

It was the familiar face of the two girls she saved.

"Mu Xue!"

"Mumu!"

Xavida's nickname for Mu Xue had already begun spreading through her small friend's group, which caused Mu Xue's eyes to twitch as she felt pain in her muscles when trying to sit up and complain.

"Liz, Brenda, don't call me like this stupid girl does."

Despite her frowning, the two of them could only giggle before placing down a small box of fruits.

"We bought them at the small mining village. These berries are said to help with recovery and skin condition, so since you were cut so many times, we thought they would help."

Mu Xue stared at the two of them in confusion and disbelief.

"Thank you so much! These look so delicious, the frosting is so sweet~ I want to eat these again together."

"For sure, haha, but let's get them at the capital next time."

"Of course."

The two girls explained and opened the lid as if excited to show the food, causing Lorem to grin as she could feel their positive feelings.

Lorem then left the room, trying not to disturb them. Her eyes noticed that many of the Royal Knights seemed upset with this task, complaining or just ordering the students around without care.

"So they are getting drunk and enjoying themselves after not fighting a single monster..."

"You have no right to say anything. Don't you remember drinking too?"

Bernard laughed lightly and shook his head while Lorem simply smiled as if she had done nothing wrong.

Barbatos tilted his keg of beer before watching Lorem walk to the edge of the wall. Her eyes focused on the southern ruins, a former village of Silvara now burning with the corpses of the defenders pinned to the new walls.

"Our enemies seem to have foul taste, huh," Lorem whispered before closing her eyes and letting out a sigh. "Are you sure you are doing the right thing, Bernard?"

The royal knight could only remain silent and keep staring at the black clouds blocking the light from the moon.

"I trust the king. This is a sacrifice worth making."

"Indeed."

The sounds of splattering mud reached their ears as heavy footsteps began approaching.

It seemed many of the royal knights couldn't help but approach upon seeing the three legends of the last generation.

However, Lorem didn't notice; in her mind, there was only Asura, and that he would arrive tomorrow made her feel that something would happen because of his presence.

They already knew about the duke seeking the cult's divine son, and although the kingdom didn't know, Lorem and Lucia sure did.

Unfortunately, she was helping with the wall and base maintenance.

'Come to think of it, since meeting her again, Lucia became so serious and focused. Has Asura changed her that much? How?'

Lorem didn't enjoy these glory seekers, the ones that became Royal Knights for status or the fake honour, not needing to fight for real. All so they could parade in the capital and act superior.

The following day, Asura and Verana wore their light armour; there wasn't any need to equip or use their battle forms when taking a teleportation crystal later with the other people of their units, and the sun was too hot.

"Shall we go, Verana?"

"Mm, it seems a little strange to leave the same place as you. It feels really exciting."

Asura didn't want to admit he felt the same and would only grin while scratching the back of his head.

The two of them left the mansion and found many other students standing in line where the teleportation crystals and dozens of carriages existed, waiting for them all to be accepted.

"Please do not push you will be summoned according to unit and groups. Thank you."

One of the poor instructors tried his best, but there were hundreds of students and that caused a bit of mayhem. Asura looked towards Verana and felt a sense of worry; their units were different, and they would soon split apart.

"Verana... when we are separated, please be careful."

"Ah?" Verana's eyes widened for a moment as she didn't expect Asura to speak such words. "You are so cute when you worry, Asura."

Her eyes glimmered as she replied in a small voice, "Thank you. I'll try my best, okay? I won't lose to you."

Asura could only smile slightly and nod.

"Well, I can see my group. Don't be lonely without me, darling."

"I won't, Verana. Let's meet up the moment we arrive at the camp."

The line moved up slowly; unfortunately, some students complained because of their incompetence. However, Asura spotted the other members of his group already seemed huddled together.

'I wonder why they didn't bother to contact me, feels a little strange.'

"My unit, there's the leader, Cynthia Vars, the Royal knight and former Valkyrie. Bella Ruse a powerful mage type fourth year, she should have great power after four years. Simone Cheff, another female specialised in martial combat and was a second year. The only other male was third year Akkrum Sveta, who seems interested in Bella."

"All women? Haha, she hates competing with other women."

Since Verana left, Asura thought it was about time to meet his unit, so he approached them while the queue reached the portal. He wondered how they would react or if they even knew his name, which made Asura feel a little excited.

"Oi, you're the last member of our unit."

Cynthia turned around and held a small piece of slate in her hand, which seemed to contain their information and pictures.

"Hello, I'm Asura..."

"Oh, the famous son of Duke Garrett... you don't have to say your name. You are only a first year, so we expect nothing from you."

Cynthia spoke with a strict tone, but her eyes didn't show any ridicule or offence; she just seemed to be an earnest and focused woman. However, Akkrum felt different. He seemed to hate Asura the moment he laid eyes on him.

"Oh? A handsome first, yeah, lucky!" Bella Ruse said with a sultry voice before skipping to Asura and offering her hand.

"Hello, handsome~ I'm Bella Ruse, a fourth-year ice mage. Nice to meet you."

Asura reacted awkwardly at the fourth-year's cheeky behaviour and tried to maintain an appropriate distance between them as he shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, too, Bella."

The tall, muscular female, Simone Cheff, with pale green eyes and brown hair, approached next. She placed her hand on Asura's shoulder, and a smile appeared on her face. "Nice to meet a fellow warrior. Your physique is amazing. I hope we can train together in the coming weeks!"

Somehow, the journey seemed interesting for Asura, who nodded, always happy to train against strong opponents.