Warrior Training System-Chapter 471: No Time for Graves

Boom.

The sudden blast made Naset look up sharply from his work. The air went still right after, an uneasy silence settling over the camp.

Before he could issue a single order, Alix rushed into the tent. "Commander—the cult has begun their attack."

Naset stood at once, his expression hardening. "Bring out the cannons," he said without hesitation. "And get me Princess Aria."

The camp, which had been calm only moments ago, snapped into alert as the realization spread—an attack was coming.

Lumine scanned the area anxiously before grabbing Wanni by the arm. "Have you seen Cassian? He was just here a moment ago."

Wanni shook her head, worry etched across her face. "No... have you seen Robert? He’s been missing too."

The silence that followed felt heavier than the noise of any alarm.

The horn blast cut through the camp, sharp and ugly, followed by shouted orders snapping into place. Torches flared to life as soldiers poured from tents, half-armored, weapons clattering as they ran to their posts.

Lumine’s unease spiked—but then she spotted Cassian running toward them. Relief washed over her face immediately. "Where were you?" she asked.

Cassian slowed, his expression troubled, almost heavy. The question hit harder than it should have. He didn’t answer right away.

Lumine noticed. Her brows drew together. "Where’s Robert?" she asked carefully. "He’s missing too. Did you see him?"

Wanni turned as well, eyes fixed on Cassian, waiting.

Cassian was silent for a moment. Then he said, quietly, "The cultists got him. I couldn’t save him."

Both women noticed it then—his torn clothes, cracked armor, blood smeared across him that clearly wasn’t all his own. Their faces went pale.

Before either of them could say anything—before shock could turn into grief—a voice rang out across the camp, heavy with authority, as if it was speaking directly into their ears.

"Brave warriors of Magisteria, Karmen, and all courageous souls," Naset’s voice boomed. "The time has come. The enemy has reached our gates. Steel yourselves. Tonight, we spill the blood of evil."

In the center of the camp, Naset appeared like a pillar of light, his presence impossible to ignore as he continued speaking.

The voice rolled across the camp like a drumbeat, steady and impossible to ignore.

"—this is the hour the cult chose," Naset continued, his presence carried by magic so every tent, every line, every nervous breath could hear him. "Not tomorrow. Not after reinforcements. Now. They come thinking us divided, thinking us tired, thinking fear will do their work for them."

Torches flared brighter as soldiers straightened without realizing it.

"They are wrong," Naset said flatly. "You stand on ground bought with blood already paid. You stand with allies at your sides. And tonight, we remind them why they hide in shadows."

Lumine swallowed. Her fingers tightened around her sword hilt.

"Hold your lines. Trust your commanders. Kill what breaks through. And if you fall—make sure you take something with you."

The light dimmed. The voice vanished. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

For a heartbeat, there was silence.

Then the camp exploded into motion.

Armor clattered. Orders snapped. Lines formed with practiced speed.

Before Lumine or Wanni could say another word, Shera came running toward them, breath sharp, eyes focused. "No time," she said quickly. "Right flank. First deployment, second line. We move in two minutes."

She finally looked at Cassian—really looked this time. The blood soaked into his armor, the torn straps, the stiffness in his posture, the expression he hadn’t managed to wipe away yet.

Her eyes widened. "What happened to you?"

"Robert’s dead," Cassian said quietly. His voice was flat, stripped of everything unnecessary.

Shera went still for a heartbeat.

Then her jaw set.

"We’ll mourn him with the blood of our enemies," she said, fury igniting as her Domain surged outward, a grey, raging halo wrapping around her body like a storm ready to break.

Wanni and Lumine’s sadness hardened into fury as well. They both nodded.

"We’ll turn the ground red," Lumine said, her voice low and steady.

Cassian felt a twist of guilt in his chest. He was lying about Robert’s death—hiding the betrayal, burying the truth.

But he had to. He couldn’t afford them losing heart now. Not when Robert had been a comrade, someone they’d fought beside, someone who’d saved their lives—and whose life they’d saved in return.

If they knew he’d been a traitor all along, it would shatter something that couldn’t be fixed on the eve of battle.

Cassian nodded with them.

"We will."

The camp snapped into motion. Armor was strapped on, weapons grabbed, formations formed with practiced speed. Within minutes, everyone was moving toward their assigned positions.

Cassian and his unit took the right flank—open ground, no cover. Cannons were already lined up at the front, crews working fast. Mages stood behind them, chanting in low, steady rhythms as layers of defensive barriers shimmered into place around the artillery and ranged units. Others moved along the lines, weaving buffing spells into the soldiers, tightening formations, sharpening focus.

The battle was coming. And it was going to be the largest Cassian had ever taken part in.

Even knowing he’d played a role in setting it off, he couldn’t deny it—this clash was inevitable. It would’ve happened sooner or later. If anything, Robert had just accelerated it.

That thought didn’t erase the guilt, but it dulled it enough.

Cassian exhaled, letting his body loosen, his mind settle. He glanced sideways at Lumine and gave her a small smile. She looked energized now, the grief she’d felt earlier hardened into something sharper, more dangerous.

As they waited, Cassian leaned in just enough to mouth the words, "Don’t die."

Lumine smirked and answered softly, "You too."

Soon, the enemy appeared.

Wide mana circles flared across the sky as the cult arrived, teleporting in waves. Thousands came through in seconds—then thousands more. Before anyone could properly count, their numbers had already crossed ten thousand.

On Cassian’s side of the field, they barely had eight thousand.

The imbalance was obvious, and morale dipped as the realization settled in—until Commander Naset rose into the air once more.