Chapter 372: [370] The War Begins
"Has the Empire's army arrived?"
"What should we do now?"
"We've run out of options. It's a fight to the death."
"But it's Esdeath, how can we fight her?"
"That woman is a complete monster. There's no way we can match her."
"We're doomed."
...
Numa Seika gazed at the tribal leaders with a face full of frustration. They were already giving up before the battle had even started.
The current forces were five to one—500,000 soldiers against 100,000. Such a massive advantage should have been overwhelming.
But Numa Seika had no real grasp of the terror that Esdeath represented. He had been sheltered in the harsh northern lands, hearing only rumors about her might. In his mind, Esdeath was nothing more than a myth, magnified by stories and fear.
For years, both the southern and western tribes had been defeated by her. The only reason these tribes were still alive was because she had spared them, not because they were strong. Numa Seika, who had never lost a battle since gaining his teigu, believed that Esdeath had been exaggerated by her enemies.