---Minas Mar-- For hours Seth had worked on a formation and he was just putting the finishing touches to the carving at the center of a workshop-adjacent room. With a strained sigh, he lifted the engraving tool to wipe away his sweat and look at his work when the door flew open and a hectic cat girl stormed in. “M-Mina?! Why are you almost breaking my door? ” the blacksmith cried out in surprise. The thought of the amount of work that could have been ruined, had she done that just a moment early, froze the blood in his veins. “I don't care, things are getting serious outside and you wouldn't pick up your orb or answer the phone!” she exclaimed in a hurry. Feeling slight guilt, he glanced at the communication orb and his phone, both buried under a bunch of blueprints and papers on a workbench. In his concentration, he had not noticed their commotion. “Okay, okay, it's my fault. Calm down and explain what is going on,” the blacksmith quickly gave in and asked her to explain what was happening outside. He frowned when Mina explained what happened so far and how they had to release the tree. The blacksmith had been quite confident in their preparations, to the point that he even doubted that they would have to release the tree on the enemy. To think Natina had managed to amass this many legends. Maybe it would have been better to call in the guardians and Python, there was enough time in the past two weeks. However, his frown turned into confusion, when she explained what happened after the tree was released. Of course, the tree went on a one-sided slaughter, as expected of a hanging tree, but the enemy's actions were weird. “So Natina pulled out her undead when the portals opened and four parties led by legend came out to attack the tree?” For a moment he tried to make sense of their actions. Was this all their plan from the start? Make them show all their cards, before infiltrating Delta with a new set of legends to raid the Tree and then pulling out her undead to take away the tree's source of food? Especially the fact that Natina also pulled back. Even if they low-tier undead were no help, if she used used her undead legends to work together with the parties they would have had a better chance. Not that Seth was worried for the tree. Not in the slightest. Even if there were several legends raiding it, Seth couldn't believe they had a chance to destroy it. Especially since its core root was still in Minas Mar. If they were really strong, they could destroy the main body, but the tree would regrow given time and resources. All of this seemed overly convoluted for a strategy, however, there was one explanation that fit the current situation quite well. Spatia was not as united as they expected and the two groups were not actually allies. “Looks like someone fucked with Natina's plans. I will finish soon, just leave the Legends to the tree until then.” “Really? This fast?” Mina asked, having experienced when Seth needed almost a week of non-stop work to finish a single mount. “Well, whether this works or not is still questionable, but I will definitely finish soon. I can only hope the tree won't finish them off without me,” he added jokingly. “I'm sure it will succeed. Let's call Leana and tell her.” --- World 234Z, Empire of Spatia--- The tree had taken action at 8 places within Delta, six of them turned out to become gates to a different world. Before it could break the barrier on four of them, legends appeared to protect them. However, this left two portals unprotected. As it guarded those gates in anticipation of food. that would substitute the undead army that suddenly ran away, a single, curious vine made, and crown-blowing discovery. The gates went both ways. “If we enforce the power here and here, we might be able to reinstate the barrier on the other side without passing over...” and couple of hex-technicians were inspecting the giant gate, talking about ways to keep it out. What insolence! It had just made this discovery, it couldn't allow this. With a touch of the vine, the technicians turned to dust and the nutrition was sent back to the trunk, together with an idea. ... “Close the goddamn gates! I told you to close them!” Byron hollered from his seat, overlooking the great column. In anger, fueled by anxiety, he looked at the ring of gates. Two of the eight gates were overgrown by vines and roots. The thick vines rushing out of the portal pressed against the defensive shield on this side of the gateway. The inter-dimensional gate could barely be seen through the giant thicket that tried to invade their world. “W-We already cut the mana input and rerouted it to the shield! The problem is those vines, they are supplying the gate with power to keep it open!” one of the hex-technicians shrieked, fearing for his life. “Reinforce the barrier further, do it for all of them. The troops will help. I don't want that thing to come through those gat-!” his speech was interrupted by a shattering sound that almost blew out his ears. The barrier had exploded under the pressure of the vines! “Go! Stop those things! Don't let it take root on my land!” Byron commanded his generals and the armies jumped into battle. .... ---Delta--- “The alarm has been triggered at the Tower Barrier!” one of the operators suddenly exclaimed to overpower the bustle of the command center. Cursing inside, the princess commanded the man to put it on the big screen. In the past two weeks, Minas Mar did their best to evacuate the citizens of Delta, but there was no way to deport tens of millions in a matter of weeks, not to mention that there was not enough space where they could be brought. This led to Delta being split into two parts. Three quarters of the city were completely abandoned at this pointed. Although it was best to avoid battle in the city, if it had to be, this was the designated area to do so. The rest was the district was protected by the magic towers' own barrier, which existed as a secondary barrier below Delta's main barrier. Although it is called secondary, it was actually the main defense, as all people that could be evacuated, were moved here. The Tower barrier was the last line of defense. If anything got past it, they would have to expect civilian casualties. On the big screen, the scenes of the two places appeared and showed two more gates that had been completed before they could notice them. The enemy had put two gates right at their doorstep. They had just started taking shape, but there was nothing that could be done to stop them, once the gate stones were activated. “Get everyone to prepare, we will attack what and whoever will come out from those gates.” Leana gave her commands to rearrange the troops they had kept in Delta and called back when the Guardian tree stepped in. The named Golems, the members of the Field teams, the ordinary golems, and the locals, as well as the elites under Rich, the Slavemancer. Suddenly, Leana's personal communication orb vibrated. “Seth?” the princess asked surprised, angry, and a little relieved. “Hey, Leana! How's the situation? I'm ready for the party.”