Reincarnated with the Country System
Chapter 281 - 281: The War to End All Wars

"We need to investigate the Hollow Rift," he said, voice even but low. "If there's an origin point—dimensional breach, anomaly—whatever it is... it could be the key. It might be what pulled us here."

Raihan stepped forward.

"Agreed," he said, steel in his tone. "A fracture like that doesn't occur by chance. Especially not one that spawns creatures twisted by unholy essence."

Solas crossed his arms. The Knight Commander's gaze shifted toward the northern horizon, where the treeline bent unnaturally and the earth lost its color.

"It could also be a trap," he warned. "If this realm was shaped—tainted—by one of the Eldest Evils… then that rift might not be a door. It might be something worse."

The wind picked up, ash swirling across the broken farmland.

Elara's voice cut through it.

"We can't go. Not yet."

She stood barefoot among the dying embers, her white robes now gray with ash. Her presence was quiet—but not soft. A Saint of the Holy Church, trained in sacrifice and clarity of purpose, even when the divine light had left her powerless.

Kain turned to her, frowning. "Explain."

She didn't flinch under his gaze. Instead, she turned slightly, gesturing behind them—toward the remnants of Nareth.

"There are over a thousand people here, Commander," Elara said softly. "Children without shelter. Families with nothing but burned earth. If we leave now, what happens when the next wave comes?"

Kain didn't respond immediately.

Smoke curled from the blackened husk of the food warehouse. Livestock pens lay open and empty. The survivors had no idea how many they'd lost—there were too many missing, too many unrecognizable bodies. One of the elders had whispered, "A hundred dead, maybe more."

Kain exhaled through his nose. He was a soldier of the Bernard Empire. A commander. A loyal servant of the Emperor, whose orders had been clear: Secure the Dungeon. Eliminate all threats. Return victorious.

This world wasn't part of that order. If y.o-u're not on M$V#L.EMPY-R@, y^o*u'!re- vie!w*ing a c$opy#.^

And yet…

He remembered the face of the child who had clung to his leg during the last attack—crying, trembling, whispering, "Don't let it eat me."

He looked to Elara. Then to Solas. Then finally to Raihan.

"We'll stay," Kain said at last. His voice was low, but final.

"For now."

Solas nodded once, silent approval. Elara gave a small breath of relief.

"But make no mistake," Kain added. "Once the villagers can defend themselves—once they can stand—we move north. We have to find that rift. If there's a path home, it's there."

Raihan tilted his head slightly. "And if there isn't?"

"Then we carve one ourselves."

___________________________

(Proxima Center)

16-5-1561 WC

♦♦♦

The Palace of Versailles

Alberto sat behind his desk.

Prime Minister Elizabeth stood beside him.

"Are you serious that you want to declare war on the whole world?"

Alberto's response was immediate, unshaken. "Yes. I have to do it. I have to conquer three continents."

The room stiffened.

He turned toward General Marcus, who stood with his hands behind his back, helmet under one arm.

"Are we able to do it?" Alberto asked him.

Marcus nodded, voice calm but firm. "The situation in Britannia is very stable. There are no rebel factions remaining. Our internal surveillance system has mapped every major dissident cell and neutralized them."

He flipped a digital map onto the table's surface, showing highlighted zones.

"Amazonia and Harnas are also stable. There's minor unrest in the border villages, but nothing the regional governors can't contain. We've expanded the Exo Knight garrisons in key cities and installed automated suppression systems."

He tapped again.

"Jimland is now fully under our control. The resistance was shattered after the Stormbreaker Operation. The royal family has been eliminated — aside from Princess Kiera, who remains under observation. Latvia, too, is returning to order. The cultists responsible for inciting rebellion have either been executed or detained. Nia and Nile were neutralized."

Elizabeth exhaled, visibly relieved. "Then we no longer have to worry so much about the evil gods."

But Alberto's face darkened.

"No," he said slowly. "We just bought ourselves time. It's not over. The threat still lingers. We defeated their servants. Not the gods themselves."

General Marcus grimaced. "According to our latest report, the seal that binds IN'THERAK is weakening. We don't know exactly how long we have before it breaks."

Alberto's eyes narrowed. He opened his system with a single mental command.

SYSTEM: Analyze integrity of IN'THERAK's seal.

A moment passed.

ANALYSIS COMPLETE. Current seal integrity: 12%. Estimated time until failure: 5 years, 2 months, 17 days. WARNING: Corruption leakage has begun. World anomalies detected.

Alberto closed the interface. The chamber was quiet.

"We have five years," he said at last. "Five years before that thing breaks loose. And other Cults are still active. Who might be able to break the other seals."

He turned to Marcus. "Then you start working. Prepare the army."

Marcus saluted. "As you command. I'll issue mobilization orders immediately."

But Elizabeth stepped forward again, her brow furrowed. "Your Majesty, forgive me, but the situation is finally stable. If we start a war now, we risk undoing everything we've built. We'll exhaust the economy, split our forces, and invite rebellion. The people are weary."

Alberto stood, slowly.

He walked to the edge of the chamber, where tall glass doors opened onto a marble balcony. The sun was setting behind the hills.

"You speak as if peace still exists," he said quietly. "But peace is an illusion."

He turned to face them.

"We're not facing nations anymore. We're facing extinction. The Eldest Evils are not defeated. They are caged. Temporarily. The seal around IN'THERAK is breaking. The others will follow. Tzeriel, Va'Kesh, Xhal-Turath, Orzai… They're still whispering. Corrupting. Planning. And if we don't unite the world — all of it — they will return to a divided, disorganized species. And finish what they started."

His voice grew harder.

"I don't want to fight every nation. But I will. I'll burn a thousand cities if that's what it takes to forge a world that can survive what's coming."

Elizabeth was silent.

He turned back to the table. "This will be the war to end all wars. And when it's over, there will be one banner left. One army. One language. One law. One Ruler. And it's me"

He looked each of them in the eyes.

"And this is my order. As your Emperor."