Riding on the back of his hawk, it took little to no time for Rex to reach the city that was to be his next target. The main reason why it took almost a day for earth bound transportation to reach the small village was due to the topography. Large swampy forests with quite a few river tributaries were in the way, making the path way more roundabout that one would like for speedy travel. The small villages were just that- too small to incite any of the ruling lords to actually bother with a proper infrastructure and road systems for ease of use. Even between the larger cities the roads were often questionable at best. Rex had seen enough roads in disrepair or worse. The rulers cared little for the people of their realms, depending on their armies and the faith to keep them in line. It had worked so far, so Rex reasoned that was also one of the reasons why so many of the people in power here had sick and sadistic hobbies, often at the expense of the lives of beastpeople or other demihumans they could aquire.
Once Rex was relatively close to the city he has his hawk descend, and once Rex was on the ground he sent the bird back to Elysion. The world shard was quite wonderfull place that the bird had taken liking to. Rex noted he should hunt down a few dozen of its kind to have them populate his small world. They were the perfect mount for speedy travel after all. The rest of the day he had, he spent sneaking around the city walls from outside, mapping it out properly, using his sensors to scan the city for powerfull warriors who could pose proper threat for his army, as well as strategic locations that should be taken over and controlled as soon as possible, like for example the gate hub. And while they would not be in danger of people from other barrier zones getting over, those from Nor territory could, since Rex did not have enough time or interest in developing and modifying a working barrier that fulfilled all his needs already.
The city had no notable combatants to speak of. Even the percentages matched with human dominated areas. From what Rex had gathered the chart regarding human population and the responding power levels went something alone the lines of: fifty percent of humans were mortal plebs whose talents did not exceed E class, they barely even tried or did not have the opportunities to try and grow stronger. These people were your average farmers and servants all around. Thirty percent of people ranged in the potentials from D to C. While these people could theoretically earn their living with dungeon exploring, many still chose the life of farmers and the like, since dungeons were a guaranteed death trap, where one moment of distraction could cause ones death. Then fifteen percent could reach B class. Those who learned their aptitude was at least B would almost always search for ways to reach sad limits since B class was more than enough to be mostly safe in the C and D level dungeons floors to earn solid living and even taking care of a family. The last five percent were A rankers, Most lords and rulers would spends quite the summs of money to secure as many of them as they could, often even having their spies in other noble territories to poach and coming tallents. A class were the absolute elites of any human armies and would often be the deciding force in any military campaign between noble houses. S class entity tallent appeared in less than one out of every five thousand, making them nigh heroes. Most of them would become boses of their own mercenary companies since they could sway batlefield in one sides favour even better than A class unit of elite troops. SS and above were unicorns, and would appear less than once per five million people. As for SSS class, they were said to appear once a millena, if not rarer, though it was hard to speculate since SS class were already heaven defying for most normal people, so SSS class was just out of their imagination for the most part.
When compared with other baseline races humans were generally weaker, since most of fantasy races have little to no people in the lower brackets of power levels and tallent. Only at most a quarter of their peopel were E class or below. Thirty five percent D to C class. Another quarter of their populace were B class, and aproximately fifteen percent A class. S class peopel appeared aproximately once per ten thousand. Where humans exceled were the absolute peak of power. SS and above for general fantasy races were born half as often as humans. Svergi for example were one of the exceptions. Their adults were no weaker than B class entities with most of them actually being of A class. Though S class and above for them came much more rarely than others, and that heavily depended on the purity of their bloodline.
"Roughly ten thousand residents means five hundred or so A calls fighters." Rex quickly calculated as the night was slowly aproaching. "Three thousand A class Svergi should be more than enough to plow through it, with me providing a minimal amount of cover and assistance."
He spent most of the evening and part of the night to thoroughly scout the place and once he was more than satisfied, he found a well secluded place from where he slipped into Elysion to relax and send a night with his girls and was back out of his shard world in early morning to run one final check pn the city about to enther a siege.
With everything ready Rex plopped down his slate and a large gate matherialized in a few moments. And soon after, heavy symphony of footsteps started to resound in the place Rex had chosen as the anchor, as rows upon rows of over two meter long, muscular, dressed in leather armor and wielding greatweapons or axe and shield combo, men walked out of the gate. Each and every one of those giant men was grining from ear to ear, eager to partake in one of their favourite pasttimes- fighting. The fact they could have fun with races not of their own was just an icing on the cake. And while Jorg himself was not leading the army, since these small counties most likely couldnt even entice him, the blood of the chief was still present, since one of the mans sons was here to do that in the chiefs place.
"Jirgen was it?" Rex asked the man who looked around thirty or so, as the son of Jorg stood by his side, and with affirmative nod in his dirrection Rex continiued.
"I will only provide support from time to time to lower the casualities a bit. Since they have no S class or above within the walls or anything. Most of the siege is purely your fun to be had, sicne Jorg said the men would have it no other way."
"Yes sir. Its been a while since the last time we actually had the chance to have such fun. So I trully speak for us all when I say that I am thankfull for the opportunity."
"Ow right, keep the devastation and pillaging to a minimum in two quarters of the city" Rex spoke as his mana drew a quick city plan on the ground in front of them, where he marked two locations.
"Why is that sir?"
"This here is the Red light district." Rex explained and understanding the mans questioning gaze he explained "Whores. most of the people there are whores. So, keep a hand of the ladies, since most of them are non humans anyhow and slaves to boot already." Then he pointed to another place "Foreigners district. Non Echlisiarchy people. Also not to be pillaged. We have no interest in antagonizing a lot of other countries. Besides we will be starting a proper siege and all, so most of the foreigners will be asked to evacuate the city with their biggest valuabes, or we will see if they work out a proper alternative idea."
"Understood sir. I will relay the orders right away." And with that said Jirgen dissapeard among his soldiers, his shouts resounding in the clearing every now and then and less than an hour later the three thousand troops marched out, their target clear in their sights. The city called Provedence.
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As they marched upon the city, and since they made no attempt to mask their aproach, some of the hunters and messangers accidentally stumbling unto them ran for their lives and delivered the news of the aproaching army to the city. In the castle in the very heart of Provedence, around a rather large adn heavy oak table sat a group of older and slightly fat men. Clear worry and nervousness visible on their faces.
"Three thousand you say?" one of the men at the table asked.
"Yes, our scouts returned just moments ago. The city is already on high alert, militia is being summoned and soldiers armed as we speak." answered a knight standing by the table behind the man sitting in a slightly evelated seat above all others.
"Any chance they are not coming towards us?" another question resounded from side.
"No, their path is straight to us. Whats worse is that the men are gigantic. Two to three meters tall and built like bears, if the scouts are to be believed. And whats worse is they are not wearing any insignias or carrying any flag."
"Some sort of dungeon break? I have read that sometimes the dungeon dwelling races rarely come out for whatever reasons. And that ussually leaves fire and death in their wake."
"How soon will they be here?" Aske the lord of the place.
"In less than an hour, by our estimations sir." Once again responded the knight.
"What is the level of the army and what are our chances to defeat them. Numbers wise we should have more than enough to repell them no?" ask a particularily fat merchant, a small girl of around thirteen in tattered clothing standing by his side. Fresh bruises clearly visable on her arms.
"I would like to get back to educating my nevest purchase after all." the fat merchant added with a sleazy expression on his face.
"There is some sort of mana story around the army. We cant tell as of now." Replied the knight, earning a few scoffing remarks from the fat merchant and few other decision makers.
"Our lord is with us and will give us strenght in our time of need." Spoke just as fat priest from another place at the table.
The next hour was spent planning and ordering the solders around to better prepeare for the siege, untill finally they heard a horn resounding outside their city. The foreighn army was at their gate, and from the clanking of their weaponry that could have been heard quite far in the city, said army was more than ready to start their attack.
Still, Rex had to show the modicum of decency, if not for the Echlisiarchy then for the foreigners who right now resided in the city. So he and Jirgen aproached the gate with a white flag that had a black mark on one of its corners. Said mark indicated their desire to have a quick exchange before the inevitable fight, unless their every demand is met obviously. An action that Jirgen could easily understand, They had something similar after all. And after a few minutes of waiting, a couple of men on their horses arrived in front of them, countless men on the walls with bows looking suspiciously at the duo from the oposing army.
Rex had made a very small change to his attire, now sporting a relatively concealing cloak with a hood that hid his eyes quite well from the aproaching group. Rex was conclealing his power as well, so those with sharp senses could estimate him to be semi S class entity. While not quite there, by their estimations, he would be considered the greatest threat to be in the coming battle should it escalate there. Jirgen was also peak A class entity, so they both exuded enough pressure and threat for the representatives of the Providence city.
"May we inquire the purpose of your army here. WE dont think we have done anything to incur the wrath of your people, whomever you might be." one of the riders spoke to Rex and Jirgen as soon as they were close enough for teh conversation to be held.
"Ow, but you have. Not only you, but your entire nation. And as it just so happens, the retribution is starting now." replied Rex.
"So, the conflict is unavoidable then?" sighed the same man. "No matter. We have more warriors as well as the advantage of fortifications. And while I am sure we will suffer some losses dealing with you two in particular, we will come out as victors in the end. So, go ahead. Speak your words and lets be done with it."
"Non Echlisiarchy peopel and slaves, as well as the whores are to huddle in their own districts. Those of these categories who happen to live outside those zones should still take refuge there for the siege and during the sacking of the city. We plan to leave nothing but ruins in our wake." Rex said, his voice cold and uncaring. then he added another sentence as he was removing his hood, his identity as archon now in full view of the representatives of Provedence.
"Just like how you tried multiple times to end me purely for existing."
Hard gasps came from the other group in front of the gate, and Rex even sensed a few bows being drawn as they were still conversing.
"Better make sure your zealots dont do anything that will ensure your prolonged suffering." Rex added, pointing to the flag he was holding "That one is quite the sacred thing among all races. Then again, it does not really matter. Not like any of you are getting out of this." with that said Rex raised one of his hands in the air, and with that signal his warning to the select few groups for shelter was repeated by a couple of casters on the Svergi side who amplified the sound, ensuring that the entire city heard the warning. The peopel were given an hour before the siege of the city starts as well as a fair warning not to shelter and hide Echlisiarchies people, since they had brought this disaster upon themselves.
With that said Rex and Jirgen turned around and left the meeting place, and as expected just after a few steps had been made in the dirrection of the Svergi camp, a few arrows flew aimed at Rex back. none of the arrows actually reached Rex, as he used raw aura as a shield, causing arrows to impact it and fall on the ground. In response Rex drew Limitless, infused its blade with quite large amount of ebergy that was a mix of mana and aura and slashed in the dirrection towards the place most arrows came from.
Swirling green and blue energy mass shot forwards from the swing of the blade, ominous aura being expelled from it for the whole moment it was in flight. Then a lound explosion thundered out, obscuring the nearest few dozens of meters around the impact location in heavy could of dust and smoke.
"Fortifications eh?" Rex snickered in volume that was clearly heard by the group of representatives, then he half yelled, infusing his voice with mana, once again remainding the city of the timer.
"You have an hour!"
With that they both returned to their camp, not a single arrow was launched towards them this time. A lesson had been given clearly. A few minutes later when the dust settled the guards on the walls and ones cloer to the impact area had true terror reflecting in their eyes. That single slash had obliterated more than ten meters wide part of the wall, giving the attackers a perfectly prepeared breach into the city. The news of the absurd firepower the forsaken had was delivered to the decision makers of the city, giving them yet another headache to deal with.
"Have you verified it?" asked one of the big wigs sitting at the large table in the Provedence castles main hall. Every man present here was sweating rather cold sweat right now, not liking their chances after that insane attack was delivered.
"Yes, the same eyes as reported by the small remote village we sent two exorcists to yesterday." replied guard captain.
"Think that was a ruse?" asked another one.
"A test or something more likely." replied a rather old man with quite the hunched back and pointy ears. "It would not be the first time such trials are used when judgeing someone. The powerfull have always had weird ways to dispense their own brand of justice."
"Tch." a tongue click interrupted the gathering. "We just have to strike him fast and hard as soon as the battle starts. Doesnt matter how strong technique he has if he cant land it and dies before utilizing it on the bulk of our forces or elites." arrogantly spoke a man in his early thirties, dressed in half holden armour, that was brimming with enchantements.
While they were once again finalizing their last second changes REx and the Svergi just chilled a bit in their camp. No booze or food though for now. They had to be slightly irritated and hungry, to let their inner savage out better during the siege. Rex had also given the men free reign once the city was properly breached and most of the combatants were eliminated. They were given green light to let loose and unwind. The people of Echlisiarchy were their property and toys to do with as they pleased.