The group headed towards Regna Ferox where to their shock, they saw the kingdom was already under attack as they battled forces from the Empire and Alliance.
"So this place is under attack." Dan said.
"And there is our attacker." Edelgard said seeing a young man with orange hair leading the soldiers. "Ferdinand…"
"And he's not alone." Natyal said, spotting a young woman with long white hair in purple and white attacking them with magic.
"Lysithea too…" Claude said.
"The Kahns may be able to hold them back but it's uncertain how long." Azura said.
"We should get in there as quick as we can then." Sakura said.
The group dropped onto the battlefield and quickly helped out the Feroxi with both Empire and Alliance troops.
"Well, look who's here." Basilio noticed their arrival.
"Well I'll be damned, there's some faces I haven't seen in awhile." Flavia said. "And some new ones as well."
"Good to see you two again." Hope said.
"In time too…the enemy is overpowering us." Basilio said.
"We couldn't really go against two armies at the same time. Think you can even the odds?" Flavia asked.
"As if you even needed to ask." Leopardmon said.
"Leopardmon, you lead a squadron against Ferdinand. Crusadermon and I have got Lysithea." Sachiko said.
"Divide and conquer, perfect plan." Glimmer said.
"Haha! Get out there and fight!" Ajna said.
With that, the group split off and simultaneously dealt with both attacking forces.
"Hmph. So they've brought reinforcements." Lysithea said.
"So the emperor has become yet another enemy. No matter. The trap is set. Begin the cascade!" Ferdinand called out as magic orbs started to fire bolts of magic at the walls, breaking them down bit by bit.
"They've got Magic Artillery? Oh, I'd love to get a closer look at that… well, if it wasn't on the enemy's side." Entrapta said.
"We need to deal with them quickly before any more damage is done." Dhar said.
"If we deal with Lysithea first, that should stop the bombardments." Gemini said.
"We're on it!" Sachiko said.
"Don't underestimate me like I'm some child!" Lysithea said as she knocked the incoming warrior back into the walls of the kingdom.
"Sachiko, are you alright?" Y'shtola asked as she casted cura on her.
"Yeah. I've been pelted with worse." Sachiko said. "Her magic is strong for someone so young."
"Hey, is it just me, or is anyone else sensing both Light and Dark Magic coming off her?" Glimmer said.
"That's because she's a Gremory…she can use both magic effectively." Claude said.
"A Gremory? That's a new one." Roy said.
"If she can use both magic sides, we can't afford to make mistakes." Ichiro said.
"Right…I got it." Felix said as he ran at her.
"Hey! Don't you come anywhere near…" Lysithea began.
"You know…I saw you when you were…" Felix said.
"Hey! Don't you even…" Lysithea said before she was knocked in the back of the head by Felix's swordhandle as she collapsed.
"There…it's all handled." Felix said as the Magic Orbs continued their bombardment.
"The Orbs are still going. There must be another source." Sachiko said.
"The 'source' is the number of mages we have at our disposal." Ferdinand said as he stood there. "You think defeating one would stop our attack? Think again."
"Well… Not really, but it does help." Sachiko said. "Guys, don't worry about me and Crusadermon. We'll take care of the mages. Just focus on Ferdinand."
"We have it covered. Don't you worry." Leopardmon said.
"You people…are truly naive to what war really is. I am Ferdinand von Aegir…I will see to it that this kingdom is ours!" Ferdinand said as he rode towards the group.
"Oh, quite the contrary. We know the ethics of war all too well." Leopardmon said.
"In that case, I see no reason to judge you otherwise. Have at you!" Ferdinand said, thrusting his spear at Leopardmon.
"Ha…" Leopardmon let out his breath as he fought back against Ferdinand with quick strikes. "Seems he isn't all talk." he said seeing parts of his armor broken.
"Neither are you." Ferdinand said just as injured as he is.
"Just like Craniamon with the Death Knight. It's another even match. The Empire is certainly very well trained." Alphamon said.
"Now we finish this!" both Ferdinand and Leopardmon said before thrusting at one another before both of them collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"Wow, you were right, Alphamon… Very evenly matched." UlforceVeedramon said as he saw the scene.
"It seems as time goes on, there will be opponents that can make even us look weak." Alphamon said. "Either way…seems all is won here."
Back on the Galaxy King, Ferdinand was laid to recover from the battle. With all the Black Eagles together, it was now time to update those who were conscious on the situation.
"Wait, seriously?! We were being manipulated into attacking other kingdoms?" Caspar asked.
"Apparently that mercenary has been playing all three sides and has gained control of our armies." Hubert said. "Both the Empire, Kingdom and Alliance are under his command."
"I can't believe that Shez masterminded all this." Dorothea said.
"And to think we sanctioned their entry into Garrag Mach as a student." Manuela added.
"So, now what? Are we just gonna leave the Empire in chaos?" Caspar asked.
"Of course not. First, we'll have to reclaim the capital from the wretch Duke Aegir." Hubert said.
"We still need to locate Ashe, Annette and Leonie before we head back and solve all the problems on our hands in Fodlan." Hope said.
"Leonie probably won't happen. She ran off with a mercenary group before the war started. Jeralt's mercenaries." Claude said.
"And we wouldn't even begin to know where Ashe and Annette even are. Neither of them would lead an army." Dimitri said. "Unless following someone else…"
"The Church." Edelgard said.
"Hmm… Yes. It could be possible." Omnimon said. "After all, you did mention that you sheltered Rhea after the Empire took Garreg Mach."
"The only church members we have fighting at the moment are Seteth, Flayn, Catherine and Shamir." Dimitri said.
And if this Shez is as powerful as you say they are, there is a chance they are not immune to their machinations either." Crusadermon said.
"Probably not. But…" Dimitri said.
"Hmm…" Jet said checking an alert. "We need to head back to Altea."
"Another attack?" Alphamon asked.
"They've broken through the castle. Apparently, they're trying to kill Marth now." Jet said.
"Well, we certainly can't have that, can we? Let us move." Alphamon said.
"Roger, Alphamon. Erm… Sachiko, can I talk to you for a moment?" Crusadermon asked.
"Of course." Sachiko said.
"You remember what Alphamon said, correct? About how there may be enemies that would even make us Knights look weak." Crusadermon said.
"Hard to forget something just said today." Sachiko said. "What about it?"
"Well… Us Knights have been around for a very long time. And though we all have our own ways of doing so, we have always protected the Digital World for as long as we have been active. The thought of someone stronger than Ogudomon, who we couldn't even defeat ourselves… It's kind of a scary thought. And with humanity's power slowly growing more broad… There may even come a time where us Knights might not even have what it takes anymore." Crusadermon said.
"That is a scary thought." Sachiko said.
"But… For some reason, I am not as worried as I should be. We have led very fulfilling lives throughout our time, and even travelling with all of you." Crusadermon said. "I know you have this on your mind as well. Ever since Digitalis."
"Yeah. I remember aRPeGe saying that Digimon aren't native to the Data Universe because of the possibility of carrying viruses." Sachiko said. "To tell you the truth, I… I have been thinking about helping Digimon development in the All Science Go Corporation once I get out of university."
"You… You have?" Crusadermon asked.
"Yeah. You and the Royal Knights… You all inspired me, you know?" Sachiko asked. "It's gonna take a few years, but I want to help them develop so that they can live peacefully no matter where they are, or what kind of lives they have. Kind of like you and the other Knights have."
"I am honored." Crusadermon said.
"So don't worry about a thing, Crusadermon. You and the Royal Knights will still be in good hands." Sachiko said. "Oh, and by the way… Being alive for centuries just means you guys are old-fashioned, not obsolete."
"Of course…" Crusadermon said with a bit of a chuckle at her joke.