I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Zod moved with ease through the barrage of bullets and blades.

Each time he dodged, he perfectly avoided the attack; with each swing of his sword, one or more Holy Kingdom soldiers fell to the ground.

His voice rang out in a low, guttural tone amidst the chaos.

"Flying Gear—"

Another shot flew from his fingertip, and yet another person fell to the ground.

"Ling Feng Po—"

The blade suddenly exploded into dozens of arcs of sword energy, and the surrounding Holy Kingdom soldiers screamed in agony at the same time.

"Crescent Moon Slash—"

A crescent-shaped slash swept out, and three soldiers who tried to flank from the side were all cut down.

These martial arts techniques were all learned by Zod through a desperate struggle during his time in the Empire's special training camp.

The names sound fancy, but frankly, they're just a few common applications of the abilities of a level one "Hakuja".

By concentrating 'potential' on the sword and fingertips, and releasing it in a specific way, a destructive power that surpasses ordinary physical attacks is created.

But at this moment, these "routine applications" became scythes for reaping lives in Zod's hands.

Facing an enemy several times his size, he had no room to hold back.

Every move is aimed at vital points, and every sword strike is intended to be swift and decisive.

Because he knew that in this chaotic battle where the enemy outnumbered him, any hesitation or mercy would cost him his life.

……

……

"It must be Lieutenant Zod!" Cassius stared at the flickering firelight on the hilltop, and could vaguely hear the metallic clash of weapons and the sounds of chaotic fighting.

Although he couldn't see the figure fighting alone against the Holy Kingdom's army on the hilltop, he had a feeling that the person could only be Zod.

There couldn't possibly be any other imperial troops nearby, and it's even less likely that anyone could appear here so quickly.

Only that man could always think one step ahead and take one step further than others.

Furthermore, Zod himself said that he would follow and rejoin the troops.

He never broke his promise!

He must have finished dealing with his own affairs and was preparing to rejoin his troops when he happened to encounter this Holy Kingdom's army.

A smile bloomed on Hitis's face: "That's right, it's Lieutenant Zod!"

That sixth sense that comes with being a woman is absolutely never wrong!

Now that they knew the man on the hilltop was Lieutenant Zod, there was no doubt about what they should do.

Zod was like a beam of light piercing through the darkness; all they had to do was follow that light and rush forward.

"Warrant Lieutenant Hitis!" Cassius's hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, poised and ready to be the first to charge to the top of that hill.

Hitis stood up abruptly, raising her rifle high. Her clear voice pierced the night, drowning out the fighting and gunfire on the hilltop:

"All soldiers—"

"Lieutenant Zod is up ahead! He's fighting a bloody battle alone against the Holy Kingdom's army!"

"Now, it's our turn!"

"For Lieutenant Zod! For victory! For glory! Attack the Holy Kingdom's army!"

Before she finished speaking, she was the first to leap out of the cover and sprint toward the high slope.

The name itself implies a sense of security.

That man always appeared when they needed him most.

At this moment, he was on the hilltop, fighting alone against those damned Holy Kingdom troops.

A light, completely different from what it had been moments before, ignited in the eyes of the Imperial soldiers.

Just moments ago, they were huddled behind their bunkers, pinned down by bullets raining down from the high ground, so frustrated they were practically grinding their teeth in frustration.

Now, this suppressed anger has finally found an outlet.

"Charge!"

"Second Lieutenant, provide backup!"

"For victory!"

"For Lieutenant Zod, forward!"

With a roar, the soldiers leaped out of their bunkers and charged toward the high ground without hesitation.

Rifles were held level in their hands, longswords gleamed coldly in the night, and footsteps pounded over rocks and bushes. No one hesitated, no one retreated.

Meanwhile, the Holy Kingdom soldiers on the hilltop were caught in a dilemma. They had to divert some of their forces to deal with Zod, the menacing figure who had attacked from the rear, which naturally weakened their firepower to suppress the firepower below the hill.

For a time, the firing density of the imperial army below the slope even surpassed that at the top.

Cassius and Hitis would never let such an opportunity slip by.

Hitis knelt on one knee, the rifle firmly against her shoulder, the muzzle moving rapidly with her gaze.

With each shot fired, a firing point on the hilltop would fall silent, or a Holy Kingdom soldier firing would fall to the ground.

Cassius moved swiftly forward during the lulls in the gunfire.

He lowered his body and, using the undulating terrain and the rocks for cover, moved up quickly and silently like a hunting dog pouncing on its prey.

Every step shortens the distance to the top of the hill, every step is in the blind spot of enemy fire.

……

Faced with the unusually rapid offensive of the imperial army below the slope, the Holy Kingdom's defensive line at the top of the slope finally showed signs of collapse.

The two sides were evenly matched in terms of military strength, with the Holy Kingdom even having a slight advantage.

However, the successive blows completely disrupted their plans. First, Zod attacked from the rear, throwing their plans into disarray.

Immediately afterwards, the imperial army surged down the slope like a tidal wave, suppressing and even overtaking them with firepower.

Besieged on all sides, the Holy Kingdom's once solid defenses began to crumble.

Taking advantage of the weakened state of the Holy Defense Line, Cassius led a small squad of Imperial soldiers up the high ground.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, Cassius saw that familiar figure moving with ease among the soldiers of the Holy Kingdom.

With each sword strike, each skillful dodge, and each martial arts move, all were clean and swift, like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. One after another, the soldiers of the Holy Kingdom fell to the figure's attacks.

Cassius was not surprised that Zod appeared on the high ground, because he knew and trusted Zod too well.

Zod had previously said that he would catch up with Cassius, and he will do so.

Cassius raised his Imperial Sword, pointing it towards the Holy Kingdom's army, and commanded in a firm, resounding voice, "Attack! Launch an attack on the Holy Kingdom's army and provide support for Lieutenant Zod!"

The sword slashed forward and landed on the nearest Holy Kingdom soldier.

The moment the vanguard saw Zod, it was as if they had instantly found their leader.

Led by Cassius, they charged headlong into the Holy Kingdom's army, which outnumbered them far more than their own.

Faced with a defense line riddled with holes, the Holy Kingdom's army had to divert some of its forces to deal with Cassius's attack, even if it would weaken the Imperial army's forces defending the slope below.

……

Just then, Zod caught a glimpse of Cassius rushing up the hill, and a relieved smile finally appeared on his face.

If they don't come up soon, he'll really have to consider issuing a military order.

The feeling of fighting alone was even harder to endure than he had anticipated.

Enemies are on all sides; you have to be on high alert every moment, because you never know which direction the next knife or bullet will come from.

Fortunately, everything went as Zod had predicted.

The moment Zod saw Cassius charging up the hill, he also began to move closer to Cassius.

No matter how capable you are, fighting alone is not a long-term solution.

Under his relentless onslaught of "Hakuja" techniques, the Holy Kingdom soldiers were forced into a steady retreat.

Zod pushed past the fallen enemies and steadily advanced toward his own troops.

Just as he was getting closer and closer to Cassius and the others.

"Don't even think about running, Imperial Lieutenant!" A dark figure darted out from behind the Holy Kingdom's army, rushing straight for Zod under the cover of night.