In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Sigmund, wearing a rare smile, raised his hand to gather everyone's attention.

"Then, the joint forces shall consist of: 5,000 knights below Grade 5, 1,000 high-grade knights above Grade 5, 5,000 magical beasts, 1,500 mages, 1,000 warriors, 50 shamans, and 1,000 healers."

His violet eyes gleamed.

"With this, we now move toward a common goal: the fall of the Holy Nation of Radiance."

His firm voice echoed through the chamber, and the room erupted in cheers.

But just as he joined in their applause, Sigmund's expression abruptly hardened.

"Before we dispatch our troops," he said, "we must unify the chain of command."

His gaze swept across the room.

The sudden shift in demeanor caused every king present to focus on him with bated breath.

Was he about to claim leadership of the campaign himself?

Tension filled the air.

Sigmund's experience in actual warfare was relatively unknown.

Seizing an imperial throne was one thing; leading a multinational campaign against a powerful state was another entirely.

Everyone waited in tense silence.

After a moment of quiet reflection with closed eyes, Sigmund began to speak again, slowly letting his gaze drift from monarch to monarch—until finally settling on Michael.

"This war is not a simple conquest," he declared.

Everyone leaned in, listening. Sigmund nodded, pleased by their focus.

"This is a war of ideologies," he continued. "And because our objective is to strike swiftly and seize their capital, we need brilliant military strategy."

He paused to assess the room.

The leaders bore anxious expressions.

"The moment we march on the Holy Nation, we will change the course of history. Should we fail, Radiance will only grow stronger—and a new era of darkness will descend."

A hush fell across the room.

All of them were remembering the dark days when the Holy Nation ran rampant.

When Radiance first appeared, the world had cheered.

At the time, rogue priests and corrupt mages, hiding behind the names of old gods, had committed atrocities across the continent.

Ordinary people, with no divine or magical power, had to endure it all.

Radiance, shining with divine light, seemed like the salvation of the oppressed—

No matter his true intentions.

Riding a wave of popular support, Radiance and his followers mimicked the rituals of ancient deities.

They slaughtered in the name of god, and even kings bowed to them.

Those who researched unorthodox ideas or taboo knowledge were labeled heretics.

Mages, shamans—anyone who defied the dogma—were hunted down and executed.

Inquisitors dragged scholars and magic users to torture chambers across the continent.

Even knights who refused to become holy warriors were treated no differently.

Most of the continent's strongest had been absorbed into their ranks, leaving no one to oppose them.

The Holy Nation of Radiance carried out executions in public, branding the condemned as heretics.

They didn't hide their cruelty—in fact, they flaunted it. It was all part of instilling fear.

Their holy knights and militant friars traveled from town to town, claiming to spread the will of the gods while burning villages and taking captives.

No country had been able to stop them, and as a result, magic and knowledge had declined drastically.

Ancient gods were labeled as false deities and hunted to near extinction.

The few that survived were banished—turning into true outcasts.

It was all part of Radiance's master plan to monopolize divine and magical power.

But few saw the truth behind it.

And they didn't stop there.

They incited famine by unleashing locust swarms and spread forbidden divine relics across the land—

Only to stage miraculous rescues when the disasters inevitably followed.

To those unaware of the truth, Radiance appeared as a savior.

But now, those very schemes had been laid bare.

Sigmund's voice lowered, drawing them in.

"That is why the role of Supreme Commander is of the utmost importance," he said. "It must be someone who is not only a master of battle and strategy but also trusted by the people and the soldiers alike."

His tone was grave—rarely had he ever been this earnest.

No one disagreed.

The rewards from defeating the Holy Nation were significant, but that wasn't the main point.

Everyone present had come to understand the true nature of this war.

The Emperor's gaze turned to Michael.

"And there is only one man suited for such a role."

The room filled with murmurs as the assembled rulers exchanged shocked glances.

They understood exactly what Sigmund was suggesting.

That arrogant emperor... is recommending someone else, not himself?

Is he serious?

Anticipating this reaction, Sigmund raised a hand, silencing the whispers.

His voice rang out again, firm and resolute.

"I nominate Archduke Michael as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces."

A heavy silence descended over the hall.

The rulers looked to one another, trying to grasp the meaning behind Sigmund's sudden move.

Those already aligned with Michael—like Oswald—could only marvel.

When did he manage to win over even Emperor Sigmund? His skill is astounding.

But Sigmund wasn't done. He continued his case with unwavering conviction.

"Archduke Michael is not just a knight—he is known as the Divine Marksman."

His voice was filled with confidence.

"Who among us could stand against the Archduke's arrows? He has already triumphed in battles against ancient champions—multiple at once."

That much was true.

No high-ranking knight could fight so many formidable foes at once and live.

And more importantly…

"Michael possesses the rare ability to read the flow of the battlefield," Sigmund continued. "He has both strength and strategy—an uncommon combination."

Henry III of Elonia nodded in agreement.

"Our kingdom can vouch for that. He secured victory after victory against the aggressive forces of the Pamir Empire. I believe everyone here knows what happened afterward."

Oswald's face flushed red.

He opened his mouth a few times to argue, but in the end, only sighed in resignation.

It's true. There's no denying it. Arguing now would only humiliate myself.

Sigmund smiled subtly.

"That's precisely my point. If we want to win this war through tactics and strategy, there is no better choice than the Archduke."

He kept building momentum.

"Moreover, the Archduke has two extraordinary companions: the first-class divine beasts, the Sphinx and the Dragon."