Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1461 The battle raged on with a ferocity that turned the sky to dusk and the earth to mud. Blood, corpses, severed limbs, and agonized cries filled the air, suffocating Mount Whitemist in their wake.

Death came with the daylight, and the mountain was bathed in a thin, warm golden hue.

Rafael rode in, shouting for them to surrender and hand over Victor.

Victor shouted equally loudly, retorting that the people of Starhaven were treacherous. Once they laid down their weapons, only death awaited them. But if they fought on, there was still a slim chance of survival.

Yet, how could they hope to fight? The Starhaven forces were armed to the teeth, with six-barreled matchlocks capable of picking them off from afar.

It was a battle they could never win.

One by one, Victor's men fell, lifeless in the blood-soaked earth.

Victor raised his sword, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions: failure, death, despair.

Once, he had stood tall on the Southern Frontier-a hero among his people, his family's name soaring to new heights thanks to his victories. He was the pride of Sandoria, cherished and celebrated.

Now, everything he had gained from that land was slipping away, lost to the very land he had conquered.

He looked at Rafael, but the hand holding his blade had no strength left. Trembling, he could only point it weakly at his old enemy-there was too much unwillingness to accept reality in his heart.

blade on himself. Even with swords from all sides pressed against his neck, his blade reached his chin, cutting a thin line

head, locking eyes with Rafael, a cold fire burning in his gaze. "You cannot kill me. I will die by my

his head back, the blade cutting

first to withdraw his blade. "You may choose to die by your own hand. It matters

black crows and eagles circled, their wings blotting out the sky. Their cries

last thing he saw was

had slowed, and the vast gaping hole in his neck no longer caused anger

-

They were too hungry and exhausted, and even breathing was difficult. Slowly, they began to drop their weapons, one after another. Surrender was their only option now. Perhaps as prisoners, they

to the Starhaven capital,

dispatch. No news had come to

themselves

bearing the report of victory. His shout of "A great victory for the Southern Frontier!" echoed through the

way to Royal Street. The dispatch was swiftly delivered into

hands trembled

almost greedily. When he finished, his heart burned with pride,

victory had been hard-won, but

He had done it.

also read the report, and with each line, his smile grew wider. He couldn't hide