Chapter 1308, Igniting the Last Hope

Imperial calendar 2525, midsummer, the northern border of the empire, the occupied area of ​​Ostermark province.

The towns that used to be used as important docks and ports and sold Ostermark high-quality wood, animal skins, and high-quality pack horses are now only rubble and ruins. The Yankee campfires are burning. Even in midsummer, the Ostermark The cold and lonely territory still makes people feel chills.

A few Yankees from Kurgan were sitting in the ruins of the town, leaning on a pig's thigh and lighting a fire. Around them, the corpses of the empire's people had begun to dry after months of hanging, and the strong stench Nor could it stand the ravages of time, a long row of gallows and wheel torturers stretched along the road to the south, each with the hapless corpse of a crumbling and convulsing Imperial soldier hanging from it, the River Snett was still red Yes, though the unappetizing gray moss and taut vines had weaved from the silt-packed shore, choking the remaining flow.

The Yankees drank heavily, ate meat, and at the same time cursed the cowardly decision of the Chaos Lords. They didn't notice that a guy in a black cloak appeared behind them, and they were still arguing about where to try their luck today At that moment, a glaring rune sword pierced the chest of one of the unlucky ones from behind.

The coming man was very powerful, his steps were fast, and his swordsmanship was superb. Between lightning and flint, he drew out the rune sword, held the hilt of the sword with his hand and sent it forward, piercing through the breastplate and piercing the Yankee's heart.

"Wow!" The remaining Yankee picked up a throwing ax in his hand, and the notched blade of the ax was swinging in the air. He smashed his helmet on the head of a Yankee, and the Yankee fell unconscious.

The visitor immediately made up a sword, and the three Yankees died. Only the crackling flames in the fire and the pig thighs hanging from it remained. The visitor hesitated for a moment, and looked around, as if weighing wearing something.

After a few seconds, the visitor decided to sit down anyway. He collected some leftover food from the Yankees, shook the glass bottle and found that there was still a few sips of barley wine in it, and couldn't help drinking it straight up, although there was no The smell of too much beer, but it was a great relief to the smoldering throat of the visitor. He roasted the pork leg seriously, and when he felt that it was almost done, he quickly put the roasted pork leg and the side The two pork chops put away and sneaked out of town.

The visitor came to the forest outside the town quickly, and a giant griffin was waiting for him in the forest. The big griffin was in good spirits, but its wings were broken. Seeing the visitor, the big griffin stretched out The paw signaled him to hurry up.

"Old man, we are lucky, we can have a full meal today." The visitor hurried to the big griffin, he took out the food he got from the Yankees from under his backpack and cloak, and hid in the big griffin. Among the trees and bushes, people came greedily gnawing on the roasted pork leg, while the big griffin ate the raw pork chop with big mouthfuls.

The hood was removed, revealing the face of the visitor. Now his hair is messed up, his beard is full of dirt, he is eating like a wolf, and he is more like a beggar than his former noble status.

Karl Franz, Grand Duke of Brunswick, Grand Prince of Reichland, Elector, heir to Charlemagne's sacred heritage from mountains to seas, Emperor of the Empire.

He is not dead.

In the Battle of Heffungen, he was defeated at a critical moment by the Grand Master of the Blood Dragon Knights, Valazi-Haken, and fell among a large group of Chaos Warriors.

At first, he thought he was doomed.

But fate did not abandon Karl Franz, Charlemagne's blessing still bless the emperor, a champion of Chaos eager to kill him squeezed the hordes of Chaos warriors to rush towards him, and Schwarzhammer and Helber Grid's attempt to save the Emperor had some effect - the Chaos Champion was fired upon by a volley of silver-bullet musketeers, and a bullet hit the head, causing the Chaos Champion to collapse and sink the Emperor beneath him, sinking into the muck.

Karl Franz survived like this,

It was only after a day and a night after the Battle of Heffungen that the army of Chaos continued to march south, or collapsed due to the death of Archaon's adjutant Kron-Conqueror.

The emperor survived, and he was the only one.

He thought he was doomed at first, because the poisonous air, the rotting moss vines, and the infection of fatal wounds on his body would hasten the death of any mortal.

But the silver seal of the imperial artifact proved its worth. This artifact carried a huge and lasting magic power. In the dark and cold night, he could feel the energy of the wind of magic warming his chest, which would threaten his life. The worst injuries were kept at bay, wound infections quickly subsided, the noxious air was purified, the toxins spewed from the rotting moss vines were driven out, and the emperor struggled to survive.

He found his rune fang, the dragon's tooth sword, under the belly of a Yankee, and in the days that followed, he had a dozen or so brushes with death, and was nearly killed twice by armed patrols. His wounds were found festering in the damp air, and more than once he passed out from starvation and dehydration, forced to drink salt water even though it made him vomit, and gobble up food looted in warehouses.

Poisonous water and poisonous food are not a problem. The power of the silver seal can purify toxins, and the continuous healing magic of the artifact gradually restored the emperor's health.

The emperor began to look for a partner. He found a mount in a Kurgan camp that had been tortured and had dozens of wounds on his body—the Death Claw Griffin. He carefully planned a night attack. Killed more than two dozen Yankee guards and rescued Deathclaw, and the big griffin was temporarily unable to fly again.

But it was still very powerful. Relying on the power of the silver seal, Deathclaw regained some strength. The pair of golden partners killed the entire camp and escaped from the Yankees. The emperor and his mount were like this In the huge wilderness and forest of Ostermark, a guerrilla war of one man and one beast against Chaos began.

At first, Karl Franz was a little optimistic about the status quo. The emperor thought that maybe the situation was not so bad. He had imagined that he could meet those fighters and towns who still insisted on resistance during the guerrilla, and then unite them. As the days go by, word will spread.

Soon he will find a way to get in touch with Helberg and Schwartzhammer, they must still be fighting somewhere, they will fight side by side again against the invasion, the enemy may be very powerful, but this is his territory, They are his people, the news that the emperor is still alive will inspire all the imperial people to fight on, they will send an army to save him, even if the imperial northern army is almost wiped out, middenheim, avrheim, brun Famous cities such as Rick, Nur, and Talabheim are still alive, and it is impossible for elves and dwarves to ignore the empire, as well as his best friend, the Sun King of Britannia.

For months, reality slapped Karl Franz, and then and again, until he was numb.

No more, no more resistance.

There were no Imperial subjects or armies left, and the invaders drove out every single one of them, or killed them all, or turned them all into slaves.

In the past few months, the emperor has walked through and emptied almost all the fallen villages and strongholds in Ostermark. Every hut is empty, and every row house echoes a terrible silence. Some ruins can be found Remnants of food, but he hadn't met a single living Imperial, not one.

Only corpses, countless corpses, only ruins, broken tools and pots and pans, smashed looms, broken dung forks.

After a few months, the emperor cried. He found a safe place and burst into tears.

It was a kind of despair and powerlessness that could not be described in words.

Since his accession to the throne, Karl Franz has spent most of his life fighting to protect the empire. He can't count how many wars he has experienced and how many times he has fought in person. Thirty years have been like a day, the emperor of the empire Urging himself with an absolute sense of responsibility and mission, this is the country he wants to protect with his life, and there are people who rely on him to protect it.

Similarly, he spent his whole life teaching his people, planting food, clearing up arable land, harvesting crops, building temples, and arming himself. He spent his whole life convincing his people that as long as they persist in resisting, the emperor's army will come to save them.

Did he try his best?

Yes, Karl Franz swears he did his best, much more than his grandfather, more than his father.

He really has given it all.

But his grandfather Leopold and father Luitpold were able to enjoy peace and prosperity, but Karl Franz could only face the largest Chaos invasion and the most tragic defeat in history.

The emperor couldn't find a solution to the problem, he didn't know what else he could do.

This is the most hopeless.

"Karl, Karl, can you hear me?" At this moment, the emperor faintly heard a mysterious voice, which was exactly the same as what he heard at the most critical moment in the third battle of Black Fire Pass.

"I can hear it! I can hear it!"

"Listen, we're running out of time, Karl, Tarabheim is ruined, most of the empire has fallen, but... there's still hope, in Solland, in Avryland, in Wessenland and Nuer, in Middenland and White Wolf City...there is still an established army. Nuer has repelled the siege of the Ratmen, and there is still a powerful army...must...return, must defend... Middenheim is surrounded..." The voice faltered and then disappeared.

No matter how the emperor called, the voice never responded.

But that was enough for the emperor.

Hope is still there!

The emperor clenched the rune tooth tightly, and the rune on the dragon tooth sword is still bright after two thousand years.

Yes, that is true.

What we have been accumulating all along is not all in vain.

In the future, as long as we don't stop, the road will continue to expand.

And my resistance, Karl Franz, will never stop...

……… I am the never-ending dividing line………

At the same time, the Empire, Rick led the border city of Uberserik.

A courier of the empire was crawling on the ground, with two fatal wounds on his back and waist, and the stage horse had already fallen dead.

The loyal imperial courier took another look at the document on his chest with the wax seal of the imperial cabinet's coat of arms.

He knew that the Yankees hadn't found the request for help.

Yes, the imperial cabinet sent five couriers to deliver letters at the same time, and five identical requests for help were handed over to them. Four of the couriers were intercepted and killed while crossing the extremely dangerous Reckwald Forest, and he was the only one. The man managed to pass through the creep, the black forest, the interception of several Yankee tribes, and the pursuit of the Skaven, and came to the vicinity of Ubethric.

Unfortunately, as he was approaching the town, he was also spotted by several Yankees from the Bear Pine Woods tribe. A fatal wound.

The messenger finally got rid of the pursuers and fled into the city.

The scene in front of him made him extremely desperate. Ubercerik was obviously also attacked by the Chaos tribe. Part of the entire city had been destroyed, but fortunately the other part was still there.

Must, the information must be sent, the news of the call for help must be sent!

The courier crawled hard on the ground, the blood stained the cobblestone road in the block, until he came to the door of a building named Red Moon Tavern, and he knocked on the door of the tavern vigorously, this was his last strength, Then he lay down on the doorstep.

The darkness gradually fell into sight, and the messenger slowly closed his eyes. Before he died, the sincere and hearty smile of Emperor Karl Franz appeared in his mind.

Mosribu's evil moon hangs high, and a chaotic storm sweeps across the land.

The door of the tavern opened, and the owner of the tavern, Lona Franz, ran out: "Who are you? From Brunswick?"

The messenger uttered the last words in his life, and he sent the blood-stained request for help to the boss Lona: "For the empire..."

The people in the tavern came out and carried the messenger inside.

Empire Captain Marcus Kruber shook his head: "Charlemagne, he is dead."

The drake voice of Charlemagne Templar Victor Saltzpire screamed: "Another warrior has fallen! I swear, the Yankees and the Dark Gods will pay for it!"

Ranger Kerillian played with the arrow behind her: "What happened to the short-lived ghost?"

Badin-Goreksh, the dwarven ranger, was very sentimental: "That's a good job, good fellow."

Sienna Fognasas, a flame wizard, sighed: "Now I really think about going back to Brunswick after the matter is over."

"Okay, everyone, you have a new task." The tavern owner took out the request for help and looked at it for a few times, and his expression changed drastically: "This matter is related to the survival of the old world. Since we have encountered it, we are duty-bound!"

"Understood!" The five heroes shouted together.

A few hours later, among the corpses of the Plague Allied Forces strewn all over Ubesselik, the Tower of Ludwig the Savior, the Five Little Powers rushed all the way to the top of the tower and blew the giant horn.

"Beep beep beep beep~"

"Beep beep beep beep!"

"Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo~"

The majestic horn sounded.

"It's the horn, the horn of the Tower of the Savior has been blown!"

"Light the Beacon Tower! Light the Beacon Tower immediately!!!" In the hidden imperial outpost on the gray mountain, several border guards heard Ubeserik's horn, and without any hesitation, they took out their torches and lit the pile of firewood .

The pillar of fire soared into the sky.

The owner of Red Moon Tavern, Lorna, stood by the window on the third floor of the tavern, staring into the distance: "Tal is on top!"

"Hope remains."

The flames at Tarkhov Outpost were the first to ignite.

Through the mountains and sea of ​​clouds.

Through the storm and the stars.

A pillar of fire burns like a star in the majestic peaks of the Gray Mountains!

The flame of hope lights the last hope on the top of the snow-capped peaks.

Dallaro Twin Peaks Outpost.

Eternal Heart Outpost.

Monrefort Outpost.

Mount Doom Outpost.

Frozen Heart Outpost.

Even in the haze of the storm, the light of the beacon tower is still so bright, it crosses the night, the sky, the stars, and the peaks.

From Hermgart to Montfort, from Guisole Oaks to the Pale Lady Hills, from Hartmont Castle to the capital city of Courona!

Marshal Callard, who was eating lunch in a manor near the capital, held a large ox bone and gnawed on the chewy beef. He raised his head inadvertently, and saw the beacon fire burning on Hartmont Castle at a glance!

Calad was stunned for a moment, he immediately realized what was happening, took two deep breaths and immediately got on his horse, heading straight for the Krona Palace.

At this time, the headquarters of the Britannia Supreme Command is conducting an informal meeting, and there are Ryan, Morgiana, Suria, Bohemond, François, Beria, Katalin, etc. People, they were discussing the possibility of supporting Middenheim.

"Boom!" The door of the hall was knocked open by brute force, and Karard rushed up. The marshal shouted at everyone present: "Gray Mountain! It is the Gray Mountain, and the beacon fire of the Gray Mountain is lit! Your Majesty, everyone!"

"Empire calls on us, Brunswick calls on us!!!"

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