In the books, the Great Collapse occurred due to the fall of the Northern Wall.

It all began when the first monster subjugation mission, shortly after Grand Duke Roano's death, ended in tragedy. The then Grand Duke Roran Valtoria had not awakened his Dragon Flame and refused to leave the castle to "mourn his father's death" as an excuse. Because no Valtoria had personally led a subjugation team in many years, everyone thought it was normal and proceeded as usual.

However, grave news shook the entire Duchy after three days.

The Ember Knights' First Company of the Blaze Battalion were wiped out in a monster ambush. The most talented and skilled group of warriors that had protected the North for years were gone in a blink of an eye.

The only survivor was their leader, Knight Captain Kaelan. Kaelan, absolutely devasted by the loss of his men, left to roam the lands behind the Wall. There, he did nothing but slaughter monsters that came into his path. As an aura user who was at the peak of Guardian Level, close to reaching Master Level, it was easy for him to take on any of the monsters at the foot of the Monster Forest.

However, a month into his crusade he found the truth. His men were not ambushed by monsters.

Some humans were controlling the monsters, causing them all to go berserk.

Kaelan tried to run and inform the Grand Duke. But it was all in vain. He was caught, and before he could demand answers, they slit his throat.

Just like that, a powerful warrior of the Valtoria Family fell, alone and in despair.

Things were different in the current reality. Roran was here, and he would never let that tragedy happen.

He will stomp out any sign of Apex on their land.

Time to catch some rats.

-----

Roran stood before the castle entrance, Ember Knights lined behind him on their horses and carriages carrying their supplies. Their steel gray and red armor glinted under the magic lights, while Roran's black and red armor seemed to absorb all light around it.

His attention though, was focused on the little sleepy bundle in his arms that insisted on sending him off.

"Go back to sleep. It's not even dawn, yet," he said.

"See...you...later," Aleron said in sleepy mumbles. His lids kept fluttering, trying in vain to fight off sleepiness. "Come back...safe...soon."

Roran's heart squeezed in his chest at his cuteness. He hugged him close and kissed his messy red hair. "Eat well. Play well. Sleep well. Focus on your studies. I will check what you learned when I come back," he said. "If something happens go to Herard or Commander Zakan."

He got a sleepy nod as an answer.

Roran looked up and found the two maids in their early 30s who were currently in charge of Aleron's care. Two pairs had been hired previously, but they each lasted a day. Aleron and Roran quickly saw them for what they were. The two before him were hired on the third day and had stuck around ever since. Aleron seemed to like them, seeing as he even mentioned their names to him a few times a week. Using his own eyes, Roran found that the two people genuinely cared for their little young master.

"Marsha and Ira, correct?" he addressed the two. Marsha was a woman with brown hair and warm earthy eyes. Ira also had a darker shade of brown hair and dark blue eyes.

They were startled at his address but quickly bowed. "Yes, Your Grace."

"Good job on caring for Aleron the past week. He will be in your care from now on."

They looked up, eyes flashing in excitement and joy. For the second time, they bowed even deeper. "It will be our greatest honor."

Behind them were the rest of the staff who were there to send him off. He saw how their eyes widened at his praise for Marsha and Ira. All week since he became Grand Duke, they were all tense and afraid. He even heard how he was cold and scary and would be a very difficult person to serve. He did not care.

They will learn soon enough how he treats competent and incompetent people.

He turned to Herard, nodding in the direction of the Aleron's maids. The old man understood and bowed, indicating that he would take care of the necessary procedures for the new permanent maids.

With one last hug for the child who had fallen back to sleep, he handed him back to Marsha. "See you later, little hatchling."

When he turned his back, his soft expression became neutral and distant. He strode to Tempest, the most temperamental and fastest horse in the stables. It had taken him two days to tame the large black animal. He already knew how to ride, so he spent a few days pretending to learn and impressed the horse-riding teacher. It was a good thing one of his former subordinates was a beast tamer, and she taught him a lot of things when dealing with animals and magic beasts.

He got on Tempest's back and turned him to face his knights.

"Move out!" he shouted.

"Yes, sir!" was the chorus of all 50 men.

-----

After using the teleporter, they arrived a few kilometers from the Wall. They spent the better part of the morning traveling on horseback and carriages. The paved road had a bit of damage, making the short journey a bit difficult. He would need someone to come for repairs.

Roran looked up at the Heaven Mountain Range. It was perfectly visible from the horizon of Ember City, stretching into the distance and shielding the entire North from what lay beyond. Now that they stood at the foot of it, Roran felt awed at the sight of white snow and evergreen trees covering the entire area. He had to crane his neck, to see the top of the mountain.

As awed as he was by the mountain range, what really caught his eye was the structure standing in the valley between two tall mountains. A black castle, smaller than Valtoria Castle, stood in the valley. It was connected to a ginormous wall with ramparts and parapets. The entire structure gleamed under the light of the noon sun.

Obsidian Castle was its name. From the books he read, his dragon ancestor, Valtarion had created the entire thing from an obsidian mountain that used to stand there. Using his Dragon Flame, he melted and shaped the entire mountain to form Obsidian Castle. It was even stated that he spent quite some time and magic to polish the entire thing so it would gleam under the light of the sun and moons.

It was in this castle that the first three generations of Valtoria grew up. It was the oldest property belonging to their family.

Soon enough, they arrived before noon. After being informed by the advanced scout they sent ahead, the people had already opened the large gates.

The moment he arrived, they fell on one knee and bowed their heads, tapping their chests with clenched fists.

"Greetings to the fire and shield of the North, His Grace the Grand Duke," they shouted. "May your flame burn eternal."

Getting off of Tempest, and giving him a soft pat of thanks, he turned to the Shield Battalion of the Ember Order. "Rise," he said. "May your strength never falter amid a storm."

He could see more than a hundred men get up, and he knew that there were more up on the Wall and the rest of Obsidian Castle. For centuries, the defense of this place always took priority, and would never stop even for the arrival of the Grand Duke, and even the Imperial Family.

Vice-Commander Bandar, who had arrived three days earlier than them, came forward with his signature mischievous grin. Trailing behind him, were a man and a woman. The man seemed to be in his early 30s, while the woman was in her 40s. From the files he read before, Roran recognized them. They were the Battalion Commanders for the Shield and Blaze Battalions.

"It's nice to see you again, Your Grace," Vice-Commander Bandar said. "How is Knight Commander Zakan?"

Roran's lips twitched. "He mentioned how thankful he was that I would be near you for two weeks," he said. "Something about keeping you on a leash."

The older knight gave a short burst of laughter. "Don't worry, Your Grace. I do not slack in Obsidian Castle."

So you slack everywhere else?

Realizing what he just said from the look Roran gave him, Bandar coughed and changed the subject. He gestured to the people behind him. "Your Grace, may I introduce two of our Battalion Commanders."

The two people stepped forward and bowed with their fists clenched over their chest. "Greetings, Your Grace."

"I am Galen Arandor, Shield Battalion Commander," the man said. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace." He was almost as tall as Roran's six feet but wider and bulkier. His tanned skin was covered in scars, with one particular scar running over a gray eye that was slightly lighter in shade than the other.

"Evelina Solarian, Blaze Battalion Commander. At your service, Your Grace," the woman said, black eyes meeting his own. Her salt and pepper hair was tied into a neat bun behind her head.

He held out a hand to each of them and shook their hands. "It is an honor for me to meet you too," he said. "I apologize if it took so long."

"Our condolences for the late Grand Duke," Galen said. Evalina said the same thing before adding something.

"Also, your poor health is nothing to apologize for, Your Grace," Evelina said. "This old woman is happy to know that you have awakened your Dragon Flame. The flame burns eternal."

Roran nodded at their words. "Thank you."

After that, they proceeded to have small talk, as they led him to the ramparts. Behind him, Captain Kaelan had ordered his company to unload the supplies and get some rest. They would be really busy starting in the morning.

As they climbed the stairs of one of the towers, he proceeded to ask.

"I've read the reports from the past few months," he said. "Has the number of monsters really increased?"

Vice-Commander Bandar spoke. "Since last year, monster activity has increased," he said. "The late Grand Duke was worried and had an investigation team go into the Azureleaf Forest.

They arrived on the ramparts and Roran moved to the parapets.

He was standing on the Northern Wall.

A small gasp escaped him. On the other side of the Heaven Mountain Range, a vast sea of green and blue trees stretched into the horizon. The trees were covered in small smatterings of snow, causing them to glitter under the sun. Azureleaf Forest was the most beautiful sight he had ever behold, even in his past life.

Too bad it was also called Monster Forest by most people.

"The findings?"

"The monsters' reproduction rate has doubled. Some species that were known to have one offspring at a time now have two or three more," Battalion Commander Evelina said.

"Did you find the source?"

"It was a river in the forest, closer to the middle section," Battalion Commander Galen said. "The investigation team had no idea what to do, so the late Grand Duke called on some mages for help."

Roran turned his head with a sharp movement, startling Galen. "Mages?"

"Y-Yes, Your Grace. Three mages came to assist the investigation team," he said. "For the last year, they keep coming back here to gather samples for further analysis."

"Their progress?"

Vice-Commander Bandar spoke once more, brows furrowing. "They say that they are coming close. They found traces of some new magical material that they had never seen before. It is making the monsters more active and powerful. Once they find out what it is, they can create something that can counteract it."

Roran fell into thought. In the book, when the ambush occurred, Captain Kaelan managed to survive because he was saved by the investigation team and three mages.

However, as with most stories, twists and betrayals were a staple. The mages were the ones responsible for the increase in monster activity. Since they arrived, they had only been making things worse. When Kaelan found out, he was immediately killed without hesitation.

Roran turned to face the three leaders and leaned back on one of the parapets. His dragon eyes bore into their own. "Where did my lord father find these mages?"

The Knight Vice-Commander looked a bit confused but answered nonetheless. "The late Grand Duke mentioned that they came at the recommendation of Marquis Thalorin."

The image of a man in his 50s from the funeral appeared in Roran's mind. He had been one of the people who had glared at Aleron and subsequently looked down when Roran had ordered them to do so. Herard had told him that he had been his father's close friend since childhood.

Unknowingly, a grin appeared on his lips. The three in front of him visibly flinched, which caused him to suppress said grin.

"Do these mages happen to be here?"

From behind, Gael answered with a bit of hesitance. "...Yes, Your Grace. They arrived four days ago and entered the forest. They usually stay a week inside for every visit."

"I can't wait to meet them."

At the same time, a gust of cold wind blew through the ramparts, ruffling the fur lining on the neckline of his cloak. The three shivered, though whether from the wind or his words, he did not know.

He turned around, placing a hand on the parapet as he looked out into the Azureleaf Forest.

He tapped the obsidian stone once. Twice. Thrice.

"This will be fun."