Through two victorious pitched battles against the barbarians, along with the strike launched by Cheban against Abar in the west, the barbarian tide was finally halted near Kelaridi. Yet, though large-scale military confrontations had ceased, the death and flight of various lords and the collapse of the border town militias had left the former Eastern Towns a lawless "no man's land." There, the barbarians continued to carry out their wanton destruction without restraint.

　　During this time, Mobi-Lite and his Sirleid forces made a bold advance into the region between Alahus and Birni, establishing fortified camps and effectively launching his personal odyssey. This land had originally belonged to the lords of the Eastern Towns, but after suffering the ravages of the barbarians and the scars of war, it had become a desolate wasteland, haunted by the constant threat of renewed attacks.

　　The subsequent siege of Gebilun saw Mobi-Lite raise the banner of victory over its sturdy walls. Bolstered by the fervent support of the local populace, he transformed the city into an impregnable bastion. While others were still recuperating at Alahus, Mobi-Lite drew up his lines and marched boldly toward the northwest. He shattered every barbarian warband he encountered, spreading the news of his victories to the terrified people who had been hiding in the shadows.

　　His prestige reached its zenith after he crushed the barbarian chieftain near Gethalas. Following the victory, Mobi-Lite personally escorted a vast throng of refugees—young and old alike—to Alahus to begin their lives anew. Before his defeat, this barbarian chieftain had played the part of a lord, extorting regular tribute from the locals, yet he had failed to restrain his own men, leaving the region plagued by murder, robbery, and atrocities against women.

　　Mobi-Lite’s triumphs inevitably stirred jealousy among the Sirleid nobility. Although the Marquis issued various decrees to continually withdraw frontline troops, Mobi-Lite had already secured the unwavering devotion of the local people. Furthermore, the soldiers from Longedis remained steadfastly under his command, driven by a deep sense of gratitude.

　　These men were once minor lords who owed fealty to the Border Alliance. In their struggle against the barbarian invasion, they had raised the Alliance banners only to be met with the disdain of the "Royal Army" and the Eastern lords. They had suffered catastrophic losses in a series of brutal battles; had Mobi-Lite not extended a helping hand in their hour of need, they would have eventually been annihilated in their lonely struggle.

　　Far from being defeated by the barbarians, Mobi-Lite used his masterful command to build an immense personal reputation in the region. He provided safe haven to the refugees he escorted, settling them in the Alahus and Birni areas. When the Marquis learned that Mobi-Lite was planning new operations, he attempted to freeze his military actions near Kelaridi, using the excuse that they must wait for reinforcements from the East.

　　In a previous great battle, Mobi-Lite had not only repelled the barbarians but had saved a desperate Eastern Town army from the brink of extinction. Their lord had vanished, and their commanding officer had fallen in battle. Believing themselves abandoned and without support, these men had been prepared to make a final, suicidal stand against the encroaching barbarians.

　　To win the lasting loyalty of this army, Mobi-Lite planned a move toward Kelaridi—not only was it the home of these soldiers, but it was also still plagued by barbarian remnants. However, as Mobi-Lite prepared his strategy, he discovered that a massive barbarian host was already there, led by Amuda, a loyal follower of Cheban.

　　Faced with the Marquis's written order, Mobi-Lite feigned a posture of anxiety and hesitation before his subordinates. During this brief, engineered delay, the barbarians grew suspicious and scrambled to prepare for battle. In response, the commander ordered his troops to withdraw a short distance, informing the Marquis that his forces were shifting toward Dilawiwo to facilitate contact with Eastern reinforcements and await his Lord’s further commands.

　　The Marquis, however, quickly sent a new decree that ignited the fury of Mobi-Lite’s officers. Under the pretext that an "unauthorized retreat" had led to military failure, the Lord ordered his commanding general to return to the capital to face interrogation. It took every ounce of Mobi-Lite’s influence to ensure that the innocent Sirleid messenger did not suffer the wrath of his outraged men.

　　Mobi-Lite urged his subordinates to obey the Sovereign’s commands, warning them against any rash actions that might invite disaster. After dismissing the incensed crowd to their respective tents, he withdrew into isolation—refusing to issue a withdrawal order, declining to leave the camp, and barring even his closest officers from his presence.

　　In this tense silence, all eyes turned to Phelam and Lierde. The former was a minor lord from Longedis, while the latter shared a bond forged in the fires of long service, having once fought alongside Mobi-Lite to drive wild beasts from the Marquis’s estates. As an old comrade-in-arms, Lierde understood the commander’s true mind better than anyone.

　　After a brief consultation with the others, Lierde burst into Mobi-Lite’s tent. He told the commander that while he had no wish to defy orders, the soldiers outside—who had risked everything, bringing their wives and children to follow him—deserved to have their voices heard. Before Mobi-Lite could even offer a response, a company of soldiers led by Phelam swarmed into the room.

　　Following an ancient rite, they hoisted the commander upon a massive shield and carried him into the midst of the host. The surrounding multitude signaled their fierce support by clashing their weapons and raising a deafening roar of acclamation. The army mobilized with startling speed. After a short, inflammatory speech, the troops raised the banners of both Sirleid and their general, turning their march toward Desalair.

　　They passed through Sibilis without resistance, only to find their path blocked by an armed force under Loscum. However, Loscum's field commander, Miles, had once served under Mobi-Lite. After being persuaded by secret envoys—and accepting a substantial sum of coin—Miles decided to support Mobi-Lite's cause. Finding himself betrayed, Loscum was hemmed in and detained within his own tent by his own deserting troops.

　　When Mobi-Lite appeared before his patron, he maintained a submissive and humble demeanor. Loscum initially met him with a torrent of rebukes, even threatening to take his own life in protest. Once his patron's fury had cooled, Mobi-Lite explained that this was no rebellion; rather, he was leading an army of the aggrieved to purge the traitors from the Marquis’s side—those sycophants who poisoned the Sovereign's mind with lies and marginalized wise counsel to preserve their own power.

　　He further argued that while the barbarians continued to ravage the borderlands, the suffering people looked longingly for the arrival of the Limidian army. Yet, some were willing to turn a blind eye to the public good for the sake of private gain. "The barbarians," he warned, "would relish nothing more than to see Limidians turn on one another, giving them the chance to strike back and render all our hard-won victories in vain."

　　Mobi-Lite implored Loscum to support his movement to cleanse Sirleid of these traitors, thereby ensuring the frontier campaigns could proceed without interference. He promised that Loscum would occupy a pivotal position in Desalair, clearing the way for the Sovereign to make righteous decisions.

　　After a brief deliberation, Loscum sent a personal letter to the Marquis, advising him to rescind the summons against Mobi-Lite and order the general to lead his army back to the border immediately to prevent a barbarian counter-attack. Shortly thereafter, an envoy from Mobi-Lite appeared before the Marquis as well.

　　The messenger stated that despite the many victories won by the Limidians, vast numbers of subjects in the west still lived in agony. He petitioned the Sovereign to permit the Sirleid army, in conjunction with its allies, to continue their operations and rescue the people from the brink of ruin. He added a subtle, chilling hint: should the army fail to return to its post in a timely manner, grave consequences would surely follow.

　　Meanwhile, Mobi-Lite’s forces arrived at Desalair, seizing control of the vital routes leading into the city. The Eastern lords, who had only just withdrawn their own troops for "resupply and rest," grew alarmed at the sight of Mobi-Lite’s aggressive presence and hastily sent their own envoys to the Marquis.

　　These envoys reminded the Marquis of the barbarians' ferocity and the dangers of the front. They argued that if the defenses at Alahus were left hollow, the enemy would surely pour through the gap. Furthermore, they pointed out that keeping this formidable general on a distant battlefield would neither threaten Sirleid nor diminish the Marquis’s own prestige and honor.

　　The Marquis initially hoped Mobi-Lite would come to the capital in person so that he might invest him with high authority through a grand ceremony. However, the envoy immediately declined, citing the urgency of the military situation. Left with no choice, the Marquis surrendered the ceremonial robes, armor, banners, and bow—the symbols of supreme command—to the envoy to be delivered to Mobi-Lite.

　　Even after receiving his commission, Mobi-Lite did not depart. Once Loscum had safely returned to Desalair and ousted his rivals to take a leading role in the government, his persuasion—backed by the looming threat of Mobi-Lite’s army—bore fruit. A few days later, the Marquis signed the order that sent his former favorites and confidants to the scaffold.

　　Mobi-Lite immediately hoisted his commander’s standard over the camp, donned the robes of his high office, and struck camp to return to Alahus amidst a thunderous roar of acclamation. After a brief respite, Commander Mobi-Lite issued orders to resume military operations against Kelaridi.

　　The army’s vanguard launched various maneuvers to probe the strength and movements of the barbarian host. Although they shattered a barbarian detachment in a subsequent skirmish, seizing abandoned grain and baggage, they found no trace of the main barbarian body during the pursuit.

　　Just as Mobi-Lite was preparing to lead his troops back to Alahus, an old shepherd guided him to the hidden enemy. The barbarians had intended to strike at his rear the moment he withdrew. The two sides immediately locked in a pitched battle on an open plain. Relying on their confidence, courage, and the unwavering trust they placed in their commander, the Limidians crushed the army of Cheban’s followers. They captured the wounded Amuda and sent him in chains to Desalair to face the Marquis’s judgment.

　　The local populace was overjoyed to see the returning Limidian army triumph once more, offering what little food they had left to reward the soldiers. This victory, however, caught the attention of the Great Steppe Conqueror himself. Cheban, turning his gaze away from the situation in Abar, spoke with open contempt before his court: "So, there is still someone in the South who dares challenge my authority." Without delay, he sounded the clarion call for war.

　　At that time, Cheban’s grand host included not only the steppe tribes but also lords and kings from distant lands, all encamped around the conqueror. Yet, while the aged Cheban still possessed the fire of a young man, his frail body could no longer endure the grueling hardships of the march.

　　Upon hearing the news of Cheban’s death, some of his followers scattered like birds in the wind. However, the majority chose to follow his heir, Agar. After a short pause, Cheban’s son led the massive host south through the Hemira Corridor.

　　Before the battle, Mobi-Lite dispatched secret envoys to several of the vassal commanders. He suggested there was no need for them to march vast distances to die in a strange land. If they sought plunder, he argued, they could freely take it from the defeated barbarians; they could withdraw in safety, laden with spoils, without fear of retribution from the victors.

　　In the ensuing struggle, the barbarian army was betrayed by its own ranks. Mobi-Lite had issued a reward decree before the fight, and after the victory, he ordered his troops to scatter in pursuit, allowing his followers to claim their spoils to their hearts' content. Without a moment's delay, the victorious Mobi-Lite dispatched a battle report and a wealth of trophies to the Marquis of Sirleid.

　　News of the victory swept through the East. Wherever Limidians lived, cheers erupted and lanterns were hung in celebration. The collapse of the military campaign triggered the disintegration of the vast empire Cheban had built by fire and sword. Distant kings and lords openly defied the authority of the successor, Agar. Cheban’s other sons began forming factions to seek support, adopting an arrogant posture before the legitimate heir their father had designated.

　　The Pirater army, hearing of Cheban’s death and the failed campaign, prepared to leave Abar and return to their homeland. For a long time, to counter the surging Aklanians, Cheban had used the pretext of "protection" to harbor pagan refugees in Abar, tacitly allowing them to persecute the followers of Borizidi. To maintain control, he had stationed the Pirater army there as a garrison.

　　To escape this, the Pirater army reached out to an Aklanian governor through a spy. This spy, originally an Aklanian operative, had been caught and arrested by city guards while scouting. The Pirater commanders sought Aklanian aid to throw off the barbarian yoke; in exchange, they would allow the Aklanians to enter Abar unopposed.

　　When the Aklanian army stormed Abar and began a merciless slaughter of the pagans within, the Pirater army safely departed the city. However, they faced a new trial: they had to fight their way through barbarian-occupied territories to reach their home in Pirater.

　　Upon entering the ruined lands of Hural, they fought a bloody engagement against a hostile force. Winning a Pyrrhic victory, they rested briefly before deciding to seek refuge in Limidian lands to the south. They initially stayed under the banner of a local chieftain before eventually submitting to Mobi-Lite’s army. Mobi-Lite signed an order permitting them to stay or to pass through the Eastern Towns to return to their homeland.

　　The leader Agar, hoping to use the swords of Pirater to weaken his brothers, told his three siblings of their father Cheban’s great deeds in the Pirater Highlands. He promised that whoever could once again bring these wavering people under the tribal banner would become the legitimate ruler of that land.

　　While two brothers remained silent, Doros alone believed his elder brother’s rhetoric. He led a host toward the Stony Highlands, only to be met with fierce resistance from the local farmers and shepherds. In the battle of Fereno, he lost his final shred of dignity and his remaining strength. He eventually crawled back with only a few hundred followers, forever losing his voice in the affairs of the tribes.

　　As barbarian incursions grew sporadic, the Limidians began restoring defenses along the eastern border. Following the defeat of a raiding party, a confident Mobi-Lite ordered the march to continue through the Hemira Corridor to reclaim the Western Towns.

　　He first sent the silver-tongued Recobil, bearing the envoy’s tokens and flying Mobi-Lite’s banner. Upon entering the region of Netes, they were met with a hostile Limidian force. Its leader, Manyas, a former commander under the late Lord, was skeptical of the banner Recobil carried.

　　His soldiers stood with swords drawn and in high states of alert, yet none dared move without an order. Ultimately, the envoy’s eloquence proved sharper than the soldiers' blades. Mobi-Lite arrived in person at Netes to meet the leader. For a long time, Manyas had relied on the terrain and his sword to provide sanctuary for suffering refugees, launching raids to seize barbarian supplies. The barbarians, unable to dislodge him, dared not provoke him in Netes, and even Chieftain Agar had tried to buy his loyalty.

　　Manyas accepted a commission as a commander from Mobi-Lite’s hand. In the following days, he assisted in reclaiming the Hemira Corridor, serving as the vanguard in the westward advance. Recobil continued his vital service by his commander’s side. To scout enemy movements and gather intelligence, he moved in many guises—sometimes as a refugee seeking shelter, sometimes as a merchant, and sometimes even as a bandit chief.

　　During the operations against Dagle, Recobil used his fluent barbarian dialect to infiltrate the city. A man named Lardinos styled himself as the City Lord, claiming to provide refuge for the displaced. In truth, he was secretly engaged in human trafficking, conspiring with bandit gangs and barbarian warbands outside the walls.

　　Mobi-Lite’s troops refused any parley. They besieged the city, tore down the enemy's banner after a struggle, and publicly denounced the crimes of the man who went by Ildiris. He was executed with public humiliation, and Mobi-Lite’s men pursued the bandits and barbarians who had shared in his evil trade. During the assault on the city of Covens, a barbarian warband led by their chief surrendered and swore fealty to Mobi-Lite and his army.

　　Continuing his streak of victories, Mobi-Lite once again presented his spoils to the Marquis of Sirleid. He sent a letter detailing his military successes and subtly expressing his intentions. His bought-and-paid-for allies at court seized the opportunity to approach the Marquis, suggesting he secure a Royal Decree of Lordship for Mobi-Lite from the court of Hedlim. This, they argued, would remove Mobi-Lite from Sirleid without ceding Sirleid’s own lands; it would earn Mobi-Lite’s eternal gratitude while ensuring he remained as a bulwark in the borderlands against the barbarians.