The castle was full of tension after the Blood Ruler’s visit. The pleasure from taking over the capital was only for a moment; now, they had to face the hopeless reality where they had to fight back against the awakened Blood Ruler.

  After helping the people from the capital, Ereka called a meeting to set up the next strategy.

  “The Blood Ruler came back stronger. Now she is level 8, and her ultimate skill is a great threat of mystery.”


  Ereka explained the situation to Sungjin.

  At level 8, your Heroic Power becomes stronger and upgrades your basic skills. But that was the least of their concerns. The real threat was the Blood Ruler’s new ultimate skill. They had no idea what her new ultimate kill would be.

  “Rumors say she defeated all three of her knights with one blow, and the other heroes were in fear watching it.”


  “Hm, at least that is a clue. At least it is not an anti-personnel skill.”


  “Yes. The problem is how we can fight against them with our absolutely unbalanced power. I’m checking to see if we can get some help from other countries ……”


  “There will be no country who wants to help us to fight the awakened Blood Ruler,” Sungjin said with a reason.

  “You are right. I tried to remind them about our long relationship dating back to our ancestors, but it didn’t work.”


  “It okay. We can do it by ourselves.”


  Ereka found hope in his confidence, although the hope was as tiny as a tiny boat in a storm.

  “Is it…… possible?”


  “Really, Sungjin Oppa?”


  “Could it be possible?”


  When all three of them asked him at once, Sungjin smiled.

  “Yeah. They are dominant in power, but I have a plan.”


  “Tell us.”


  “Okay. The basis of our plan is that we are on defense.”


  “Defense. Of course.”


  “The battlefield in the capital has a 3:3 map, which will minimize our weakness of having only 3 leveled heroes, while the Blood Ruler can only bring two of her knights. Compared to a 4:4 battle, this is much more advantageous for us.”


  “Correct.”


  But that didn’t make them feel comfortable. They already knew that much.

  “And the real key is our right to build the base. Which means we can use the geographic advantage that we have created for ourselves.”


  Sungjin’s eyes sparkled like those of a wild animal.

  “Geography?”


  “Yes. I can think of hundreds of shapes in a second to make the base useful for us. I will pick only a few of them, but that should be enough to defeat them.”


  “Surely…… since it is you doing it, that would be possible.”


  All three were filled half with hope and half anxiety. The Blood Ruler’s incomparable power and name made them anxious while Sungjin’s strategy that was beyond his level was a powerful tool.

  There was a chance for them to win in a defensive battle where they could prepare for it.

  “Only one thing that you guys need to do. Hold out until the Blood Ruler declares the war. If you can do that, I will make you win.”


  “I will trust you and follow you.”


  Ereka promised herself to trust and follow only Sungjin.

  “Good. But keep one thing in mind. The Blood Ruler is not bad. She will be aware of the disadvantage of attacking and will try to do something to make us declare the war. Just hold out. Her ambition is not to take our country, so if we hold out long enough, she will initiate the attack to save time.”


  Sungjin already looked through the Blood Ruler. She was careful and cool-headed, but her ambitions were much bigger. He knew what her move would be, so he articulated the importance of a defensive battle. If they were on the defensive, he was confident that they would win.

  “If we win this time, the Blood Ruler will become our prisoner. That means that will be the end of this war,” Rittier endorsed.

  “Then the princess will win, and everyone will be happy! I really hope that will come true,” Jenna said as she flapped her tail with happiness.

  “Sungjin Oppa. Work on a perfect defense strategy! Then I will marry you!”


  “Haha. I appreciate your gesture.”


  But I mean it.

  Jenna kept flapping her tail. Even if the princess married him as a first wife, there would be endless concubines who would follow him. She thought she had to get in to satisfy him where the princess couldn’t and check on the other concubines.

  That was the way for her to serve the princess and Sungjin who both helped her.

  Well, I don’t need to tell them now.

  “But I promise us victory.”


  Ereka’s heart started to pound again as she looked at Sungjin’s confident smile.

  That confident and manly smile…… very charming…… I still have nightmares when I think of the Blood Ruler…… Sungjin, you are a real man.

  “That’s it for now. Just remember to hold out whatever the Blood Ruler tries to attack.”


  “Okay.”


  That was the end of their strategy meeting. But they were not the only ones who had a strategy meeting.

  At that time, the Blood Ruler was having a strategy meeting with her heroes.

  “So what about the information I ordered?”


  “Your Highness. Through the priest, we found out that the extra had a mock battle with the wizard kid against the princess.”


  “And?”


  “Surprisingly, the wizard kid won.”


  “I know she has no experience, but how can a level 4 wizard defeat a level 6 knight?”


  “How terrible a knight she is, even though she has level 6 power. Tsk.”


  Riad stamped her foot hard to stop the heroes from talking down the princess.

  Crash.

  Even the ceiling shook with a loud noise.

  “You silly things! It was not the weakness of the princess nor the strength of the wizard! It was he who made the wizard win!”


  “But Your Highness, he is a mere ext…… Ugh!”


  The Blood Ruler pushed her magical sword into the hero’s throat. He fell down spouting blood.

  “I approved of him after meeting him. You have insulted me.”


  “Forgive us.”


  All the other heroes bowed down flat.

  “Report to me how well she did.”


  “Unfortunately, the priest didn’t see everything, but it seemed like the wizard lured the princess into the forest and set the forest on fire.”


  “Set the fire on the forest?”


  “What…… What is that…… such a low……”


  Battle was supposed to be a fight between heroes using martial arts, skills, and power given by God. But defeating the opponent by setting fire to the forest? That was a cheap and shallow trick of a cowardly extra.

  The heroes were annoyed, but on the other hand……

  “Ah, haha. As good as I heard. Okay. So a level 0 can use the geography for his plan. He is the next level up from the people who use the turrets.”


  Riad laughed with satisfaction.

  “Your…… Your Highness.”


  “Hmm. A level 6 knight didn’t fall for a fire for sure. I’m sure there was more to it. One clear thing is that he is better at using geography than me.”


  “How can he be better than you, Your Highness!”


  “That is nonsense! You are the strongest and the best! Please don’t compare your greatness with a mere extra.”


  “All you can do is cover your incompetence with cheap, sweet-coated words.”


  “They are not sugar-coated. We are telling the truth.”


  “Hmph. Hmm. We should not initiate the attack.”


  “What?”


  Riad’s words shocked the heroes again.

  “With your absolute power…… perhaps you are too careful.”


  “Hmph. A person who is drenched by the daydream of the princess not being a threat to me. Lions take unpredictable factors into account while trying their best to chase even if it is just a rabbit. I will make the princess initiate the fight.”


  “Knowing your absolute power, would they try to initiate?”


  “I might not be a master of geography, but I’m a master of human psychology.”


  Riad’s smile showed her magical power. She sipped a virgin’s blood with her bloody red lips.

  “All you have to do is to follow my orders and prepare things. I will do the rest.”


  “Yes, Your Highness.”


  Riad started to work on her own strategy.