Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 96 - Lightning, Betrayal, and the Turning Tide

96 Lightning, Betrayal, and the Turning Tide

"I believe they left it partially intact on purpose," he murmured. "As if they wanted to keep us in place."

The First Prince scoffed. "And for what? What could they possibly do with us here?"

He gestured broadly to the landscape.

There was a small forest some distance away, but it was far enough that any enemy movement would be noticed long before they could launch an ambush.

Setting a fire would be equally ineffective—the area was too open, and they were by the water’s edge. Any flames would be easy to evade.

Blasker hesitated, acknowledging the logic in the prince’s words.

And yet, the unease in his gut only grew stronger.

Yes, this terrain isn’t suited for military action. But what if…

What if the enemy had a warlock? Or a long-range spellcaster? Something they didn’t need to be close for—something they only needed…

His thoughts clicked into place.

Magic.

Water.

Blasker’s breath caught.

There was a particular type of magic—one that thrived when a large number of soldiers were gathered near water.

His mind raced. If the enemy had a mage capable of using it, then—

A shadow fell over the camp.

A distant rumble rolled through the sky.

Thunder.

The soldiers stirred uneasily.

"Strange," one muttered. "The sky was clear just a moment ago."

"Is it going to rain?" another murmured.

Blasker’s heart sank.

He snapped his head up toward the sky—

Thick, ominous clouds now loomed above them, unnatural in their formation.

His blood ran cold.

No.

"No, no, no—!"

Lightning tore through the air.

A blinding flash. A deafening roar.

And then—Chaos.

Colin exhaled sharply, his body humming with exhaustion.

It had been a long time since he’d cast a spell of this scale. The near-total depletion of his mana left an unpleasant sensation in his chest, but it was nothing compared to the satisfaction that followed.

Especially when he saw the expressions of the Krefeld commanders.

The same ones who had mocked magic mere hours ago were now staring at him in stunned disbelief.

Colin smirked.

"My part is done. The rest is up to you."

The Krefeld officer, still visibly shaken, coughed and quickly nodded.

"Y-Yes. Indeed. With power like this, you would be well-suited for—"

"I already told you," Colin interrupted, irritation lacing his voice. "Just pay me in coin. Keep your empty titles to yourself and focus on the battle."

The officer frowned but wisely chose not to argue.

He turned to his men, raising his voice.

"Attack! Show the Empire the might of Krefeld!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the Krefeld forces as they surged forward.

Their numbers were inferior to the coalition army’s, but that hardly mattered.

The lightning strike had shattered their formation, throwing them into disarray.

This was the perfect opportunity to strike.

The officer barked orders before rushing off to join his troops, but Colin simply watched him go with a smirk.

He could already predict what would come next.

Once the battle was over, they would come crawling back, groveling for him to stay in Krefeld.

Hilarious.

Do they take me for a fool?

As if he would ever tie himself to a nation that had just broken the Grand Accord.

Even now, as their supposed "ally," they had treated him as disposable until they needed him.

And the state of Krefeld itself? Laughable.

Sure, they might win their independence now. The Empire was weakened. Victory was within their grasp.

But what about afterward?

Do they even realize the consequences of what they’ve done?

The moment the Grand Accord fell, true war had begun.

And when the dust settled, when the world needed a scapegoat for the bloodshed, the first name they would curse would be Krefeld.

Their leaders were blind.

They dreamt of freedom, but they had no vision for what came after.

It was almost pitiful.

Almost.

Not that it had anything to do with him.

He would take his payment and leave before everything collapsed around them.

With that thought, Colin turned his gaze back toward the battlefield.

The lightning strike had done significant damage.

Yet, at the heart of the chaos, one section of the coalition forces still stood.

Colin narrowed his eyes.

The command center was still intact.

"That old man’s still standing, huh?" he muttered.

Blasker.

It seemed he had managed to conjure a barrier in time to redirect the lightning, shielding the leadership.

Impressive. The old man still has some fight in him.

But it wouldn’t be enough.

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Even if he survived, he wouldn’t have the strength to cast large-scale spells anymore.

Not in a battle like this—where friendly fire could be just as devastating as enemy attacks.

Colin leaned back, folding his arms.

"Krefeld’s victory is inevitable," he mused.

"I might as well sit back and enjoy the—"

A flare of color caught his eye.

Bright streaks of light shot into the sky, bursting in vivid, unnatural patterns.

Not combat magic.

A signal.

A warning.

Colin’s smirk vanished.

His stomach sank.

"No way…"

BOOM.

The sky erupted with fireworks of shimmering blue and red.

William smiled.

"Finally," he murmured.

The flare had gone up from precisely the location he had anticipated.

Blasker had sent the signal.

Which could only mean one thing—

The First Prince was in danger.

And that meant his time had come.

"Lord William!"

He turned at the sound of a familiar voice.

Cedric approached, his expression sharp with urgency.

"This is it," the Second Prince said. "Our agreement—does it still stand?"

William’s smile widened.

"Of course," he said. "Lead the charge and rescue His Highness. I will command the army."

"Under your banner?" Cedric asked knowingly.

William nodded.

"Under House Hern’s banner."

Cedric hesitated—then let out a short laugh and dipped his head in acknowledgment.

"A fair deal."

Their arrangement was simple.

William would lead the charge, but Cedric would be the one to personally save the First Prince.

They would split the recognition.

Cedric would gain favor with the Emperor, while William cemented his influence over the army.

A mutually beneficial arrangement.

William chuckled.

"Consider it my gift to you," he said lightly. "Of course, I expect full repayment in due time."

Cedric smirked.

"A terrifying man, as always."

Even so, he extended his hand.

William grasped it firmly.

Then, without another word, he turned.

Before him stood one thousand elite soldiers of House Hern—his men, waiting only for his command.

He exhaled slowly, This was it.

"The time has come," William declared.

"Advance."

At his word, the army surged forward.

The future had already begun to shift. And this time, history would not repeat itself.