I created my own system

Chapter 406: Variables

"This war was no longer operating under the rules I calculated," Apollo muttered.

The pressure was on, with lives at stake.

The power of the oath unconsciously powering his instincts to step up to defend the empire.

The enemy force kept showing new signs of improve weaponry leaving even Apollo in awe and fear.

Everything was new.

His plans shattered like glass.

He could no longer rely on them.

Now with things happening and slipping out his control.

A bitter sense of regret hit him.

He should have made a move.

He should have never ignore his chances.

Something he never thought much about before.

Because he had always believed he was one step ahead of his enemies.

However, it was a mistake.

He failed to analyze the scale of how prepared the Aileenians were. And now he was facing the consequences of all his mistakes.

Apollo pushed the power of the authorities to aid the withering shield.

The power surged, and the inevitable slowed down.

Apollo didn't back down. Using the Knight as a medium, he cast a spell that could enhance the authorities without putting a burden on him.

Right now, everything he was using was his.

Not borrowed.

Not given.

It was something he could claim as his own.

"Please work!"

Apollo's mana surged into action as he cast different spells at the same time.

Fortunately, his friends were there.

With their help, the Knight's blessings resonated with theirs, creating a symphony of authorities that enveloped the dome completely.

With their assistance, the weight on Apollo's shoulders lessened.

Soon, the barrier responded—not resisting—but trembling.

As if it was waiting for Apollo.

"Good… it's working!"

The young man felt relieved seeing the tears closing, though very slowly.

Apollo convinced himself he was doing okay…

But then—

Another rumbling shook the capital.

Apollo's concentration wavered.

And in that sliver of distraction—

It broke.

The dome shattered like glass.

Fragments of light scattered across the sky, dissolving into nothingness as the protection that once sealed the capital vanished completely.

For a single moment—

the world froze.

Then—

everything moved at once.

A force hidden within space descended.

Everyone gazed upward only to see the sky itself completely disappear.

The dome's destruction was like a signal for the enemies to pour in.

And they did.

Aileen's main force burst out from a separate space, and without wasting another second, they launched an attack toward the unguarded city.

A massive magic circle emerged from the sky, one that even spell breakers like Alicia failed to destroy.

The spell was about to activate when Apollo used the Knight to break the formation.

"It worked!"

Apollo rejoiced after destroying the magic circle before shifting his gaze toward the massive army.

"We need more data."

The boy realized he knew nothing about the incoming enemies.

He needed to observe the battle first before making any action.

Apollo's inability to interfere made him feel useless.

"Should I just attack despite not knowing anything?"

The boy wondered, but deep down he felt something was off.

For now, he decided to see how things would unfold.

Because he was not the only one capable of protecting the empire.

As the enemies poured in, a powerful slash cleaved through the air.

A compressed wave of energy spread into massive shockwaves that scattered the enemy forces.

The attack didn't stop. It continued forward until it was blocked by a sword.

"Wow… I say, I am impressed," a voice said while the surrounding mana slowly gathered in a single direction.

And then—

from the four corners of the capital, power rose.

Another layer of shield formed. Though weaker, it was enough to push back the smaller flies.

As for the bigger ones—

they would be dealt with separately.

The strongest weapons that laid the foundation of the crown's protection—

had emerged.

Four overwhelming presences erupted into the sky.

Their mere existence smashed into the enemy armada and shook it violently.

The Dukes.

Each one stepped forward with authority that crushed the battlefield beneath them.

Behind them—

legions.

Imperial soldiers surged outward, formations tightening, banners rising as if the empire itself had awakened.

The ground shook.

The sky trembled.

And across from them—

the enemy moved.

From the side of the rebels stood the Pillars.

Aileen's most powerful soldiers.

Their numbers unknown.

Their strength unknown.

To fight the Cardinal Dukes, four members of the Pillars emerged.

Their powers quietly hidden behind a veil.

Apollo moved his console, and immediately his entire body swelled from excessive mana usage.

However, as soon as he neared depletion, the system flared up to stabilize his reserves.

"Twelve more,"

Apollo muttered as he accurately calculated the remaining Pillars.

"Alright… our targets are clear."

The console glowed once more, its symbols becoming brighter than ever.

Fueled by his belief in the empire's strength, Apollo prepared to attack.

Although he planned to do it subtly.

"Now then… shall we keep observing?"

He finally pushed another button, urging the Knight to move.

The clouds darkened once more.

Another phenomenon akin to a world-ending disaster.

Everyone moved intentionally.

A guided action with purpose.

Another variable emerged.

A being akin to a champion.

It flew among the other soldiers.

Still, its oppressive presence alone was enough to make it stand above the rest.

Apollo's expression was unreadable, but his hands kept clenching while his gaze remained fixed on analyzing everything.

Beneath his calm exterior, his mind was being swept by chaos.

Even so, he didn't dare expose himself.

Whatever things the enemy threw at him, he planned to take them all—

and return the damage a hundredfold.

Suddenly, mana began vibrating.

Something massive descended.

An army.

Not soldiers.

Not champions.

Something else.

Countless figures filled the horizon, their forms warped, their presence suffocating.

Under the command of that mysterious being, divine energy twisted into something unnatural—

something wrong.

"What is this?"

Blair muttered in disbelief.

It was his first time seeing a being born from an unknown blessing.

Normally, no matter the authority a champion possessed, they could roughly feel its existence.

However, this time, they couldn't form any connection with the being.

As if its powers didn't come from the gods at all.

Keith couldn't help but gulp.

Their eyes could no longer see the city.

All they could recognize were countless silhouettes filling the horizon.

The Aileenians no longer held anything back.

Their final force.

Their last answer.

Had finally arrived.

The battlefield expanded.

Dukes.

Imperial Army.

The Knight.

The final enemy host.

All gathered.

At once.

Above it all—

Apollo watched.

Sweat dripped down his face while pain throbbed inside his head.

"…So it begins."

He could only say it in total defeat.

He never anticipated any of this.

Even with his preparation, the situation still escalated.

He had realized now how arrogant he had become.

Because his plans kept succeeding, he expected everything to unfold exactly as he prepared it to be.

Now he realized how wrong he was.

How he had taken every situation for granted, believing it would always go his way.

With this shameful truth crashing into him in full force, the boy couldn't help but lower his head.

"No…"

he whispered.

The console no longer rested in his fingers.

His hands were locked together instead, as if trying to stop himself from doing something reckless.

Between his self-mortification and the worsening situation, a hand suddenly pressed onto his tense shoulder.

"Apollo."

It was a calm and collected voice.

Looking up, Apollo saw Arabella.

Her expression hinted at worry, but Apollo merely shook his head.

"I will be fine."

His reply wasn't taken positively, and before Apollo knew it, his friends had already circled around him before pulling him into a group hug.

"What?"

Apollo's expression turned bewildered. He couldn't understand what was happening.

"It's okay."

"We are here."

Arabella said, and her hold was so warm that it immediately melted the walls Apollo had erected to protect himself.

With an embrace he never expected to receive, the boy finally broke down.

And like a dam bursting open, tears began falling from his eyes.

"Shit…"

he muttered.

Now he didn't know whether he felt embarrassed or shy for appearing weak.

"Shhhh…"

"Everything will be okay."

Agnes consoled Apollo as her hands repeatedly stroked his back.

"Sorry, we are not Alicia, but we can still help you, you know."

McKenzie teased lightly, but as soon as he saw his friend trembling, he gently stroked Apollo's sunset-colored hair.

"Let it out," he added softly.

Apollo's sense of responsibility toward the empire had placed so much burden upon him that it had now turned into chains weighing him down.

"Everyone…"

Apollo finally spoke, and all attention turned toward him.

"I'm scared."

That declaration earned no scornful comments.

Only understanding.

"Don't worry."

Casper smiled before continuing,

"We are in this together."

The entire kitchen fell into solemn silence until a small smile broke through the melancholic atmosphere.

"Okay."

Apollo finally said.

"Let's continue."

This time—

he would give them not war.

But an ending.

One fitting for their deeds.