Emperor Renardier stood fearlessly at the forefront of his army in his full set of Low-level Rank 5 golden-white armor. He also had a Low-level Rank 5 greatsword sheathed and strapped to his side and held his sallet helmet in his left hand.

By simply standing in front of his army, Emperor Renardier easily boosted the soldiers' morale. They felt like he was going to lead their attack, which he did intend to do.

The Kingdom of Black Rose may have shattered his confidence in strategies, but he still had absolute confidence in his strength.

After Emperor Renardier put on his white sallet helmet, he pulled down the visor for full facial protection. Then, he drew out his greatsword with a firm grip and an increasingly intensified gaze.

Although it was important to conserve his strength for unexpected variables, he was also the only person who could take down Fort Whitebridge's defense without consuming a gargantuan amount of resources.

"Begin the attack!" Emperor Renardier commanded, pointing his greatsword ahead.

In that instant, the soldiers immediately fired the large ballistae with deafening, resonating twangs, launching sets of two giant tungsten arrows across Stormwind Lake with great momentum as they dragged the long chains and wooden planks attached them.

Due to the sheer weight the tungsten arrows carried with them, their momentum rapidly declined as they traveled across the body of water.

By the time they reached the other shore, they had lost all power to reach Fort Whitebridge's wall, let alone penetrate its defense.

Even so, the tungsten arrows abruptly reached the end of their flights as the chains attached to them suddenly pulled them, causing their sharp tips to directly slammed into the ground, becoming firmly rooted in place.

The back end of the chains had been nailed into the earth. And with the front end firmly rooted in the ground as well, solid wooden plank bridges were formed across Stormwind Lake; they barely shifted under the windy weather.

"The path has been laid. All units, charge!" the lords and commanders immediately commanded their troops.

Although the bridges were only wide enough for the empire's soldiers to run across them in single profiles, thousands still found themselves on the bridges at once.

..

Meanwhile, Fort Whitebridge didn't stay idle once they saw the wooden plank bridges.

"Destroy those bridges! Do not let the empire cross!"

"Protect the bridge, even if you have to shield it with your bodies! We mustn't let their spells hit the bridge!"

Following Artemis's orders and the empire's, thousands of spells were quickly fired at the wooden plank bridges as the empire's soldiers desperately protected them.

Fire arrows, icicles, wind blades, earth spikes, and all kinds of sharp offensive and destructive spells were thrown.

Some landed, but they only destroyed the wooden planks. The chains holding the bridge remained firm. Some also landed in the water, rocking the lake with large waves and geysers.

However, many were either cut down by the holy soldiers' aura-enhanced swords or blocked with their sturdy armor.

Of course, not everyone was successful.

Only The Aura Lord-rank soldiers could repel the attack spells with some effort. On the other hand, the Aura Grandmaster-rank soldiers were blown away by the powerful spells; their bodies smashed into the lake and sent geyser-like columns of water rising into the air.

As for their fates, it remained to be seen.

Nevertheless, several bridges went loose after the battle witches' spells targeted the tungsten arrows and destroyed its surrounding earth.

Without anchoring support, the bridges lost their strength and plunged thousands of soldiers into the water.

Nevertheless, a red flare soon fired into the high sky from the empire's central camp, signaling the western and eastern camps to also commence their attacks on Fort Dragontail and Fort Ironhaven.

Within a short instance, a full-scale war between the two countries was underway.

Under battle witches' strong barrage of spells, the Holy Knight Empire quickly lost thousands of soldiers within a matter of seconds.

"W-What kind of firepower is this?! Just how many High Witches does the Kingdom of Black Rose have? Don't tell me they've all been gathered in Fort Whitebridge?!"

Without a surprise, the Holy Knight Empire was shocked by the Kingdom of Black Rose's show of strength.

Several dozens of High Witches was understandable. But when there were thousands, it became mind-boggling and unreal to the empire.

The empire's people couldn't believe what they were seeing and facing.

Emperor Renardier frowned at the situation.

"Even if the bridges hold, our soldiers won't be able to cross the lake under such a strong magic barrage without a hefty price! Deploy the bomber fleet!"

Following Emperor Renardier's order, a large fleet of white magic airships quickly took to the skies. They were originally scouts, but once equipped with the magic bombs from camp, they became carriers of mass destruction.

With the impending threat from the sky, the Kingdom of Black Rose was forced to divert some of its offensive spells at the empire's airships.

"Shoot them down! Don't let them fly over our heads, or there will be hell to pay!" Artemis roared.

Boom! Boom!

Hundreds of spells shot toward the fleet of magic airships, but magic barriers obstructed their path and protected the fleet of magic airships.historical

Evidently, the magic airships had their own magic defense systems and couldn't be taken down quickly.

..

"Buff me, my concubines!"

Following Emperor Renardier's sudden shout, his twelve witch lovers in the back clasped their hands together like they were praying.

In that instant, Emperor Renardier felt twelve different sources of mana channeled into his body through their invisible contract link, giving him overall empowerment in all physical abilities.

Even his aura was augmented as it surged out of his body explosively, blowing wind in all directions and causing waves in the river.

Emperor Renardier was already a Late-stage Aura King. But after the empowerment of his twelve concubines, who were also his supporters, he emanated the pressure of a Peak-stage Aura King.

Boom!

With a powerful step, the ground cracked widely as Emperor Renardier threw himself toward Fort Whitebridge with a giant leap – His jump was so big, he was practically flying.

At the same time, Artemis and several battle witches quickly spotted Emperor Renardier's rapidly closing figure.

A threatening sense of death instantly gripped their hearts when they saw him raise his aura-empowered greatsword above his head with both hands, ready to swing down at their wall.

It was then that Vaan stepped forward..