Divine Sword Art System

Chapter 8. Ceasefire Agreement

Tobias stopped his mount when he realised something was happening to him. He stopped at a house quite a distance from the two villages attacked by Valcke's troops as border troops passed by with a note for Tobias to be careful.

"Amu? Who Amu?" the young man asked, confused.

[I'm your system. You can ask me anything]

The panel continued to appear in front of Tobias, the same shape as the information panel that told him about the Divine System. The similarity made Tobias convinced Amu was part of the divine system.

"What is Cultivation?" asked Tobias; such terms were completely unknown to Tobias.

[Cultivation is a method to extend one's life to the limit of immortality by learning specific techniques]

"Techniques? Are Myurajin Moon sword techniques included?" asked Tobias.

[Yes. Your Myurajin Mountain Moon sword skill includes techniques to activate basic physical techniques. There are two different paths to gaining immortality; the Basic Physical Technique path or the Basic Qi Gathering path]

[The Basic Physical Technique path can only be unlocked by a physical process, such as a battle that uses physical strength]

[The Basic Qi Gathering path can only be unlocked by a magical process, such as the use of internal energy in a fight]

"So, I'm in the Basic Physical Technique?" asked Tobias.

[Yes. You are entering the first stage in the process of achieving your immortality: Mortal Descent]

[Each stage has a level to pass, ranging from level 1-10]

[Each level up will add attributes according to the stage]

The discussion was getting more and more interesting in that place. Tobias didn't expect that he would gain such extraordinary power in this new world. When the young man was about to ask another question, he was startled by clattering steps coming from the north.

"Damn, they don't seem satisfied with taking over those two villages," Tobias explained.

The young man quickly stepped closer to his black horse without turning off the blue panels that kept appearing. He sped his mount up to high speed to avoid being chased by Valcke's troops.

In the distance, he saw many border troops taking cover across the river. There was only one bridge on the river, and it was the only way to get to the city centre. Tobias crossed it quickly, seeing Giselle behind the border guards.

"Are you alright, Tobias?" asked Giselle, looking worried from her expression.

"I'm fine. What about the villagers?" asked Tobias.

"The villagers are safe, but there are wounded among them," said Giselle, turning to look at the wounded villagers, most of whom were men.

"I couldn't have prevented their deaths in the next village if only I had arrived earlier," said Tobias, resentful for failing to save the dead villagers.

"The most important thing is that the majority of the population can be rescued. After we take the territory, we'll bury them properly," replied a man.

The man was seen walking along with five people behind his back. The man was Ronald, accompanied by Thompson, Darwin, and the remaining three men. They arrived at this place after the villagers in the north had been completely evacuated.

"Thompson," Tobias said, surprised to find the man in this place.

"Call me father. You are my son!" snapped Thompson with both eyes glaring.

Ronald was seen walking ahead until he got behind the barbed-wood barricade. He stood directly in front of his troops, trembling at the number of Valcke's troops.

They were seen surrounding the area across the river. The number of Valcke's troops in that place reached 4000 people, in contrast to the number of border troops, which was drastically reduced due to the battle earlier.

"You have killed many Equestrians and destroyed dozens of houses in the northern village. The Kingdom of Equestria will not tolerate your actions," Ronald explained, threatening them with his stern voice.

"The order from King Valcke is absolute. The territory of Atrea must be under the rule of the Valcke Kingdom!" said another man from the enemy army, the commander of the Valcke assault force.

Tobias continued to watch Ronald's face, a look of distress mixed with fear. Not only him but the rest of the troops as well. Tobias whispered to Giselle, asking about the distance from Equestria's capital to the Atrea region.

"If the weather is good, the journey will take about 3-5 days," Tobias said.

That was enough time to hold off Valcke's army until reinforcements arrived. Ronald didn't want to leave his responsibility to chance. Although Atrea's territory was on the kingdom's edge, it was important because it bordered Valcke and the Forbidden Territory.

"That is if we manage to hold off their attacks," Tobias said.

Tobias' eyes travelled to Ronald, where he was trying to negotiate with Valcke's troops. The young man had no idea what they were discussing, but from Ronald's stern expression, Tobias was sure the man was seeking a ceasefire.

As they talked for a while, Ronald returned to his troops, as did the commander of Valcke's troops. All eyes were on Ronald, hoping their conversation would lead to something good.

"The ceasefire is agreed upon for one day," Ronald said.

"One day? But the distance from the capital to Stratham is so far, reinforcements can't possibly arrive in one day," said one of the border guard soldiers, disagreeing with the ceasefire outcome.

"One day is better than us continuing our current war with them," Ronald replied, putting on a stern face.

Thompson mediated between the two of them. While the middle-aged man agreed to the truce, he told everyone to prepare for the worst.

"For now, the evacuation centre will be in the courtyard of the Archibald residence. You'd better get some rest for now," Thompson said, inviting the entire population of the two villages in the north to head towards Archibald's residence.

They nodded obediently. No one dared to dispute the words of the ruling noble leader of the Atrea region. Thompson glanced at Giselle and Tobias, telling the two to lead them.

Tobias complied. He and Giselle got back on their horses and walked on different sides of the line of refugees. Thompson and Darwin were still in that place, which could be considered the temporary border between Equestria and Valcke.

"Do we have a chance to win?" asked one of the young women, her face dirty with dust from the battle in the northern village.

The young man smiled as his eyes looked thoughtfully at the young woman. Tobias said that there was always a chance of winning; it was just a matter of who was luckier in this war.

"You don't have to worry. We will win this war," Giselle said kindly.

The woman nodded her head, her heart relieved to hear the words of the two nobles. However, it was different with Tobias and Giselle, who were quite hesitant, considering a large number of Valcke's troops.

The villagers arrived in front of the gate of Archibald's residence. The gate opened immediately upon seeing the arrival of Giselle and Tobias. Giselle told the guard soldiers to prepare an emergency tent.

The residence door opened, Lussie and Luke came out accompanied by several maids. They couldn't hide their surprise when people arrived at Archibald's residence.

Tobias dismounted from the horse, walking towards Lussie and Luke in clothes quite stained with Valcke's troops' blood. Those who saw Tobias' appearance were naturally shocked and curious about what was happening at Atrea's northern border.

"Did Valcke attack?" asked Lussie, worried.

The third child nodded slowly, looking not enthusiastic but sad and anxious. He also explained that the people who came with him were refugee villagers.

"Father told them to evacuate to this place," Tobias said.

Lussie looked carefully at Tobias' condition, especially at the young man's clothes, which seemed stained on several sides.

"Are you okay, Tobias?" Lussie asked.

Giselle arrived near Tobias. Unlike the young man who fought Valcke's troops up close, she didn't look as bad as Tobias because she was fighting at a distance.

"He's not doing so well. His face looks exhausted, different from usual," Giselle said.

"Then get some rest. We need your strength to guard this territory," Lussie pleaded, ordering Archibald's maids to lead Tobias back to his room.

There was no denying that he was exhausted, especially when he used the fifth technique of his Myurajin Moon technique. Tobias unhesitatingly followed the maids into the house.

"If you need anything, don't be shy to call me," the maid said, smiling broadly as she bowed.

Tobias smiled back. He walked in and immediately laid his aching body down on the bed.

"What should I do now, Amu?"