Several days ter-

  Having received word that Findirhan has fallen to the Sniestein Empire, Legate Proculus Loreius Bestia, who was also a provincial governor, took his border legion and auxilia and marched eastward to a nearby border town.

  At this time, the seasoned Camp Prefect of his army, Tyze Phenix Ashir, spoke his worries.

  "Sir, it is very unwise to march our army like this without proper intelligence. I highly suggest we retreat now and perform reconnaissance with some scouts first and wait for the other legions for reinforcements."

  In truth, the Camp Prefect was helpless about this. This was merely an order to march to a nearby border town, and not to attack a fortified city in a suicidal charge. Even if he had high prestige in his legion, rejecting this simple order would be interpreted as cowardice, possibly rebellion.

  "Don't be ridiculous, Camp Prefect. A famous oracle has given me a clear sign that there will be a great victory after throwing two lions into the river! We will surely succeed!" The legate self-assuredly said.

  "Then I hope he is right..." The seasoned soldier replied with pursed lips.

  Soon, just as their army reached the border town-

  Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da*

  Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da*

  Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da* Da*

  "ENEMY CAVALRY!"

  "CATAPHRACTS! HORSE ARCHERS! HORSE LANCERS!"

  The Camp Prefect's face turned ashen as he began barking orders.

  "ALL SOLDIERS! DOUBLE TIME INTO THE TOWN AND BLOCK THE ENTRANCES! MOVE!"

  The legion quickly entered the town, even abandoning some supplies, before blocking the entrances and alleys like a living wall of shields and spears.

  But surprisingly, the cavalry stopped, not continuing the attack.

  "What are they doing?" The legate warily asked, not hearing the sounds of the expected fighting.

  The Camp Prefect's eyes flickered, having a bad feeling. And then, something clicked.

  "Wait, where are the townsfolk?"

  With an ugly look, the Camp Prefect immediately gave an order to a nearby auxiliary commander.

  "Check the houses and search for people and supplies! Now!"

  "Yes, Sir!" The auxiliary commander saluted, organized some soldiers, and had them search the houses.

  However, several nerve-wracking minutes ter, news arrived. And this news plunged the hearts of all who heard it into the abyss of despair.

  "Sirs... Only the sick and elderly remained, and all the food supplies and valuables were taken. The town has been emptied..."

  It didn't take a genius to understand what was going on. The Camp Prefect certainly understood the unsightly situation, and the legate, who was blinded by superstition, finally woke up and realized what he had just done.

  "It was a false oracle... I doomed us all for a conman's lie..." The legate muttered with shaking lips, his eyes vacant as if he had lost his soul.

  The Camp Prefect faired better, but he still had an ugly look to behold.

  "Sir! What was done was done! I need command over the troops!" He said to the legate, holding himself back from cursing the bastard who doomed them.

  Losing all his energy, the legate just sighed and waved his hand.

  "Take it, it's yours... I caused enough trouble as it is, and I shall atone for my sins."

  And with that, he retired into a random house.

  The Camp Prefect closed his eyes, knowing what the legate meant, took a deep breath, and then opened them. If they were going to die, he would take down as many enemies as he could with him.

  "I, Camp Prefect Tyze Phenix Ashir, officially take command! And my first order is to fight to the st man and kill as many of these bastards as you can! Even if your arms are torn off, and your legs are broken, crawl and bite their balls off if you have to!"

  "Yes, Sir!" Many of the soldiers shouted, their morale raised.

  However, the Camp Prefect knew that this morale would only st for a day or two. When starvation kicked in, and they were weak, it would be the moment the enemy would strike.

  "Three days... We can only st for three days. Please, God of War, give me a miracle and send reinforcements..." The Camp Prefect prayed.

  However, his prayers were fated to be unheard or ignored.

  .

  .

  .

  Three days ter-

  Ssh* Spt*

  "Gya!"

  Woosh* Woosh* Woosh*

  Thud* Thud* Thud*

  "Gh... ah..." Slump*

  "I don't want to die... I don't want to die..."

  "Ancestors... I will see you in the underworld soon..."

  "FIGHT!!! KILL— Ssh* Psh* Thud* Slump*"

  On the third day, as Camp Prefect Ashir predicted, their legion broke. Having not prepared enough supplies and being harassed day and night, their energy and morale quickly colpsed.

  Horse archers harassed and sniped defenders. Heavy cavalry broke formation apart. Light cavalry picked off stragglers with spears and sabers.

  It was a one-sided massacre, a neat and clean sughter.

  Army Chief Dariush Safavi, riding his horse, witnessed the sughter, his eyes cold, almost bored.

  This victory was easy. Too easy. At the same time, he felt greatly disappointed.

  "Were they that unprepared? This couldn't be everything, right? I believed I could at least trap another legion or two... That way, the coming battles would be easier. Did this idiot underestimate us that much? The Romans got lucky." He muttered to himself.

  In his eyes, destroying only one legion wasn't an achievement. All it did was wake up the sleeping giant that was the New Roman Empire.

  Just then, a rider arrived, carrying a head.

  "Army Chief! I have the head of their general!" The rider proudly said, knowing he would get a reward.

  Dariush looked at the head, especially the helmet, and frowned. It wasn't because he was displeased, but because-

  "That is not their general. It is their Camp Prefect, a military advisor, and a senior logistical officer. However, I suppose that he was also the acting general, given how Roman Legates are usually incompetent in a real battle... Unfortunately for them, this one wasn't even an Epic Warrior, but an Extraordinary one." Dariush said, expining to the soldier.

  "Ah..." The rider felt sad, thinking he wouldn't get his reward.

  "Don't worry, you will get your reward," Dariush smiled at him.

  "Thank you, Army Chief!" The rider saluted.

  At this time, another rider arrived and reported.

  "Sir! I have found their legate! He is trying to commit suicide via starvation." The second rider said.

  Dariush's eyes flickered, a hint of understanding fshing in his eyes.

  "I see... So I was right. He realized his stupidity and committed suicide." Dariush muttered.

  After a moment of thought, he gave an order.

  "Leave him. Let him die in penance."

  And then, he looked south, to the province of Mecisli.

  "Now... we continue to retake our other nd, before the Romans wake up and send their elite northern legions. We have until next summer..."

  .

  .

  .

  Two weeks ter-

  The new Co-Emperor of Rome, Aulus Fvinius Clement, a 40-year-old schorly man, read a report that made his hands shake, his eyes bloodshot.

  An entire Border Legion, the 25th legion, was destroyed by the Sniestein Empire, without even one man spared. Each legion had over 5,000 legionaries and an equal number of auxiliaries. That meant over 10,000 were lost! It was a devastating blow!

  The Legate reportedly starved himself to death, ashamed of leading his men to their deaths due to the false prophecy of some conman.

  And now, the Sniestein forces were heading to the province of Mecisli!

  "It's too te to send troops now..." Emperor Clement muttered, feeling a headache.

  Winter was coming, and mobilizing troops now was a horrible idea. By the time orders reach potential reinforcing legions, it would already be too te to mobilize them.

  "This means the local legions would need to fend for themselves until reinforcement arrives. Dammit... their legions are low-end. They will likely make it, but their casualties would be severe..."

  Rubbing his aching forehead, the Co-Emperor turned to his advisor.

  "Gather the senate for an emergency meeting... And summon my brother. He will need to make a trip to the east."

  "Yes, my Emperor!" The advisor saluted and was about to leave when the Emperor stopped him.

  "Wait... Also, search for that so-called oracle and judge him for fraud." Clement said with gritted teeth.

  However, the Co-Emperor's revenge was fated to be fruitless. Using his amazing charisma, the false oracle quibbled his way out of allegations by stating that-

  "I said there would be a great victory, but I never said on which side."

  Hence, he was let go.

  Later, attempts were made on his life, so he fled to a Greek isnd until he died five years ter from gangrene on the foot caused by myiasis at the age of 70... But that is another story.1 It's true, lol. I didn't make up anything. Alexander of Abonuteichos is this genius's name.

  .

  .

  .

  One month ter-

  In the 17th legion's fortress, at sunset-

  Legate Tertius Pomponius Fastidius looked at an imperial messenger, who rushed all the way from New Rome to the frontier, bearing an imperial decree.

  "The Sniestein Empire has vioted peace treaties and invaded the provinces of Findirhan and Mecisli. Additionally, the 25th Legion has tragically fallen into a Sniestein trap and was annihited.

  In response, the 17th Legion is to send its 1st to 8th Cohorts as a detachment in aid of the Province of Mecisli as soon as the ice thaws next spring, and the remaining cohorts are to remain stationed. Additionally, the 8th and 11th Legions will send their own detachments, and the 17th Legion is to join them, under the wise leadership of the Co-Emperor Herius Caesetius Dacian.

  End of the decree."

  The messenger then handed over the scroll he had read from to the legate.

  Fastidius suppressed his emotions, took the scroll, and spoke.

  "Okay, thank you. I received the decree, and the Emperor will have his soldiers. Go and rest."

  After the messenger left, Fastidius pinched his nose bridge and sighed.

  "Hah... Thank goodness I sent my nephew back already. He won't need to endure the cesspool that is to come."

  Agaptus already returned to New Rome and was repced by an actually competent tribune. At least, in function, that is.

  "Originally, I only needed to serve as Legate for another year and begin my political career, but it seems like I will need to extend that tenure for a few years..." Fastidius tiredly sighed.

  When duty called, he couldn't shirk responsibility. If he did, that would be the same as a career suicide. They might even execute him for cowardice. After all, he wasn't earning a fat sary for nothing!

  "Hah... I need to break the news to the scary old man." Fastidius sighed again, got up, and walked out of the office.

  Soon, accompanied by several bodyguards, he arrived at the Camp Prefect's house. Leaving his guards outside, he went inside and met the Camp Prefect in his office. Primanus, at this time, took off his armor, revealing many battle scars, the trophies he earned over the years of battle.

  "At least I have a reliable, battle-tested commander." Fastidius thought.

  "What brings the honorable legate to my abode at this hour? Are you here for a drink?" Primanus joked.

  "I am afraid I am not in the mood. Orders have come, and we are to mobilize our troops to the south." Fastidius got to the point and handed over the imperial decree.

  Primanus's expression turned serious. Taking the order, he carefully read it, closed his eyes, and sighed.

  "Okay, I know more or less what is going on. Those idiots didn't listen to my warnings, so they fucked up big time, and now we have to wipe their asses."

  "That is a foul way to put it... But yes," Fatidius helplessly said.

  Sharing a wary smile, they both sighed.

  "Okay, what now?" Fastidius asked.

  "You are the legate, so you must lead the troops. In the meantime, I will hold the fortress here against tribal opportunists from the north." Primanus tiredly said.

  "Hah... I thought you would want to go and die in a bze of glory in the south." Fastidius said, surprised.

  "Look at me, I'm old. The travel itself might just kill me, and by the time they return, I will likely be dead. Let the younger ones have their glory." Primanus said with a half-joking look.

  "Well, with you remaining here, I feel relieved even if only the 9th and 10th Cohorts remain," Fastidius said with a smile.

  "Thank you for your trust. If that is all, I'll retire now. I have dinner with my family." Primanus said, about to enter his house.

  "Speaking of younger ones... what about your new son-in-w? Don't you want to let him get merits and glory?" Fastidius asked with a hint of envy in his eyes.

  He naturally knew of Apollox's brilliance, and he regretted not trying to recruit him in other ways, like matching him with a subordinate's daughter. With his performance, becoming an Epic Warrior by 30 was a forgone conclusion. That was a top genius in the whole empire!

  Unfortunately, Primanus was the early bird who caught the worm, and his daughter caught the prize. Honestly, he was surprised that Apollox could even stomach her, having heard the terrible rumors about her and even meeting her once. She is beautiful, but that was the extent of her likability. There were rumors that she was also a magic genius, but to most men, that was a huge minus. Few men wanted a scary wife at home. This is doubly so for Apollox, who has high prospects. Why he agreed to marry her was beyond him.

  Not knowing what Fastidius was thinking, Primanus shook his head.

  "He will stay here. There would be enough merit and glory to have from the northern tribes. I can already predict that they will start probing within the month after you leave. Rather, the REAL war will likely be here after you guys are done pying in the south... But I will likely not live to enjoy it."

  "I see... Then, have a good night. We have much work tomorrow." Fastidius said and left.

  After Primanus saw Fastidius leave, he tiredly sighed while rubbing his aching shoulder.

  "I'm too old for this shit."