Reincarnated with the Country System

The undead invasion was over. Help from the surrounding cities had arrived to eliminate the undead. In addition, Bernard Empire planes had bombed and destroyed more than half of the Residential District and Commerce District, which were filled with undead. While this had stopped the invasion, it had also left the city in a state of devastation.

Many adventurers had also started coming to the capital from other cities to eliminate the monsters. In addition, food and other supplies were sent from surrounding cities to help the people of the city.

The death toll was staggering. Over 50,000 lives had been lost—nearly 10% of the capital's population. The streets were lined with bodies, some of them unrecognizable, others reduced to ash. The damage to property was equally catastrophic. Homes, businesses, and landmarks had been destroyed, leaving countless families homeless and destitute. The night of the invasion would forever be remembered as the **Cursed Night**, a tragedy unlike any other in Britannia's history. It was the first time a member of the royal family had been killed in an attack, a blow that shook the kingdom to its core.

Bernard Empire helicopters continued to patrol the skies, their rotors cutting through the morning air as they hunted down the last remnants of the undead. On the ground, Bernard Empire military vehicles moved alongside Britannia's soldiers, their combined forces working to rescue survivors, burn the remains of the undead, and identify the dead. The process was slow and gruelling, but it was necessary.

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Britannia Royal Palace

The atmosphere in the palace was tense. The grand hall, usually a place of opulence and grandeur, now felt heavy with the weight of despair and uncertainty. The high-ranking officials of Britannia had gathered around a large table, their faces etched with worry. At the centre of the table was a detailed map of the kingdom, its borders marked with red and blue flags indicating the movements of enemy forces.

Queen Maria sat at the head of the table, her expression stoic but her eyes betraying the grief and anger that burned within her. She had lost her son, her daughter was missing, and her kingdom was under attack. Yet, she remained composed, her voice steady as she addressed the room.

"How far has the invasion of the Latvia Kingdom entered?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Duke Farl, the ruler of Farlstone and the lord of the north.
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Duke Farl's usual confidence was replaced by a palpable sense of dread. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice heavy with concern, "they have occupied the territories of Count Alden and Baron Hargrove. Their forces are now advancing toward the lands of Viscount Ellsworth. They have also completely destroyed my navy."

The room erupted in murmurs of disbelief. The destruction of Duke Farl's navy was a significant blow. Farlstone's naval forces were among the strongest in Britannia, and their loss left the northern territory vulnerable.

"Duke Farl," Maria said, her tone sharp, "you assured us that your navy had been strengthened. How did this happen?"

Duke Farl sighed. "I had indeed strengthened my navy, Your Majesty. But the armada of the Kingdom of Latvia was far beyond anything we anticipated. They attacked with thousands of ships—far more than we could possibly match. They also employed sea monsters, creatures of the deep that tore through our defences with ease."

The room fell silent. The sheer scale of the Latvian invasion was staggering. Thousands of ships? Sea monsters? It was almost unimaginable.

"How did they build so many ships?" one of the nobles asked, his voice trembling.

"We don't know," Duke Farl admitted. "But their fleet is not only vast—it is also advanced. They have large warships, heavily armed and armoured, capable of withstanding our strongest attacks. And their army… it is massive. They have brought soldiers of every race—human, Orc, Snakemen, Minotaur, and even Troll."

The gravity of the situation was not lost on anyone. The Kingdom of Latvia, once considered a peaceful nation, had grown into a formidable enemy. Also, their sudden rise in power was both baffling and terrifying.

A noble from the southern region, visibly shaken, spoke up. "Can't we just surrender? Fighting them like this will only increase the casualties of our people. They have become stronger beyond our imagination."

The suggestion was met with immediate backlash. Another noble, his face red with anger, slammed his fist on the table. "Have you forgotten what they are doing between Amazonia and Jimland?! If we surrender, is there any guarantee that they will not slaughter us? The King of Latvia is a humanoid beast—a monster without mercy. If we have any self-respect, we must fight back!"

The room erupted into arguments, voices rising in a cacophony of fear and frustration. Maria raised her hand, and the room fell silent.

"Enough," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "This is not the time for division. We must fight with all our might. This is not just a battle for our land—it is a battle for our existence, our culture, our very way of life. If we lose, we lose everything."

She turned to Duke Gorge and Duchess Milana. "Duke Gorge, Duchess Milana, I want you to send your forces to Duke Farl's territory. We must reinforce our northern defences."

Her gaze swept across the room, daring anyone to contradict her. "Admiral Nikolas. How many ships does our Royal Navy have?"

" Your Majesty, we have a total of 65 warships and 200 patrol ships. But against Latvia's thousands…"

"It will have to suffice," Maria interrupted. "Requisition every merchant vessel, fishing boat, and pleasure craft along the eastern coast. Arm them with whatever weapons you can forge—ballistae, firepots, even scythes strapped to their hulls. If Latvia wants a war, we will drown them in blood and splinters."

Murmurs of approval rippled through the nobles. Duchess Milana, leaned forward. "Your Majesty, We can conscript every able-bodied man and woman also."

"Do it," Maria said. "But do not stop there. Empty the cities. The slums. The prisons. If they can hold a spear, they will hold the line. And if they refuse…" Her voice dropped, cold and unyielding. "...hang them as traitors in the town squares. Let their corpses remind the people what awaits those who defy their queen."

A young noble raised a trembling hand. "Your Majesty, conscripting ordinary citizens—they're untrained. Unskilled. Sending them to battle is… it's a death sentence."

Maria's eyes blazed. "Death," she hissed. "My son is dead. My daughter is missing. My people lie in ashes. Do you think I care for skill? I need bodies. I need time. Every peasant that falls to a Latvian sword is a moment our soldiers can regroup. A moment our mages can prepare. A moment I can find the ones responsible for this carnage and tear out their throats with my teeth."

The room fell silent again, the nobles exchanging uneasy glances. Maria's grief had curdled into something feral, something dangerous.

"Also, where is Duke Barco? I don't see him here. We need his strength now more than ever. His army will be crucial to our defence."

"Hasn't he been informed about the attack?" one of the nobles asked. "This is a critical moment for our country. We need to stand together."

Duke Farl, spoke up. "Your Majesty, if we can get help from Duke Barco's air force, we might stand a chance against the Latvian invasion. His wyvern riders are the strongest in the kingdom, second only to the Royal Air Force. And with the Royal Air Force weakened by the undead attack, his forces are now more important than ever."

"Has his territory also been attacked? Have we made contact with him?"

Before anyone could answer, a knight entered the room. He approached Maria and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, we have received a message from Duke Barco's territory."

The room held its breath as Maria took the magical orb from the knight. The orb, a rare and powerful communication device, glowed faintly as she activated it. A holographic image flickered to life, revealing the face of Strom Barco, Duke Barco's eldest son.

Strom's expression was cold and resolute. He addressed the room with a voice that carried both authority and defiance.

"To the nobles and leaders of Britannia," he began, "I, Strom Elysian, hereby declare that from this day forward, the Elysian Archipelago is an independent nation, separate from the Kingdom of Britannia. We will no longer bow to your rule. Furthermore, I declare war on Britannia. May the gods have mercy on your souls."

The image faded, leaving the room in stunned silence. The betrayal was complete. Duke Barco's territory, once a bastion of Britannia's strength, had turned against them. Their forces were not only a significant part of Britannia's military strength but also controlled key trade routes and resources. Without their support, the kingdom's ability to resist the Latvian invasion was severely compromised.

The kingdom was also now facing a war on two fronts—against the Latvian invasion in the north and the rebellion in the east.

Maria's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Maria couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. Duke Barco had been a loyal ally for decades. What had driven him to this? Was it ambition? Fear? Or something darker?

The weight of the situation was almost too much to bear. But she knew that now, more than ever, she had to be strong. For her people. For her kingdom.

"Prepare for war," she said, her voice steady but filled with resolve. "We will not fall. Prepare all our everything! Announce my order everywhere. Assemble the biggest army ever assembled! It's not a war to be won. It's a war for our existence. And I can go to any extent to survive in this fight."