(3rd-Person Narrator: Aurea)

Out of around 14,000 people, only 3,000 survived with 1,400 not severely ill. After distributing the medicine made by Cleansing Hand and his team, everyone recovered control of about 1/2 of their energies. And so, they continued their evacuation underground to the Emergency Teleportation Circle, on the 6th Underground Level.

With 700 Aurea battle-ready and preparing for the invasion, the remaining 2,300 took all the Aurea valuables to be teleported. They took all that they could: artwork, memoirs, supplies, tools, etc. No one would benefit from attacking Aurea now. And one day, Auream Regulam would be avenged. So, they focused on escaping to Meteoros, on Expert Island. Hopefully, there would be survivors.

The 700 ranged from 7th Rank to the single 9th Rank. They stocked up on projectiles, recovery potions, various weaponry, and a single set of standard armor. Aurea were honest people but fought in the dirtiest of ways. These invaders would regret encountering their defenses and guerrilla attacks. Merde! It was going down...

-MEANWHILE-

(3rd-Person Narrator: Invading Armies)

It was a long journey for the Yalta Confederation, as they gathered 1 million strong and marched around Wyvern's Gulf, to the northeast. They met with 300,000 of Luthan troops and Adrian Floda, who went straight north from the Ancient Rainforest. Then, they all gathered in the Plains and united with 400,000 strong from the Kaizen Empire.

There were many struggles for supplies when traveling southwest and passing through the Dry Desert and The Badlands. Yet still, they persevered and now were ready to claim their rewards. It always was lucky to have Adrian, as he sped up their travel dramatically with his Earth Magic carrying troops and supplies. He scared away any rampaging monsters and intimidated the Generals into cooperating. It seemed he carried the entire invasion himself.

They also were fortunate that settlements in the backwater provided more troops as others died from accidents, sickness, ambushes, and starvation. Raiding them also boosted morale as there were no women on this journey because they were "unsuited" for War. That is, except for Adrian Floda and his Academy which accepted anyone strong enough to prove it.

From leaving so many Outposts, their numbers dwindled to 700,000 from Yalta, 200,000 from Luthan, 300,000 from Kaizen, and all 120,000 from Floda Academy. But they were still confident in subjugating the remainders of the Aurea.

Right now, they congratulated each other for having such great progress. They cleared Peak's Pass and most of them camped onto the more solid and forgiving Mountains. Around a million of undead spawned by their High Necromancers were sacrificed just to clear this territory. Hordes of them swarmed about and triggered traps left and right. Falling boulders, pitfalls, quicksand, poisoned nettles, retractable spikes and many other devious traps shocked the Generals.

It would have cost much more to infiltrate through the Logos Mountains, where an in-built laser system vaporized any hostiles. If they tried to climb the rocky terrain, it would be much worse. They were lucky the Peak's Pass was an entrance, and therefore guarded by people rather than an automated system. And since the Aurea were sick, no one was left to protect it.

The Generals of the Kaizen, Luthan, and Yalta convened a meeting with their top strategists and their Guest of Honor, Adrian Floda. Initially, Adrian Floda created this Coalition with his Academy as an incentive. Then the possibility of taking great fortunes from the Aurea arose, with Adrian on their side. Although the Aurea were unbelievably strong, they couldn't stand against the sheer power of the Great Nations Coalition. This became much easier when news arrived that the Aurea fell ill and a majority died.

Currently, they were in the Command Tent, around the Convened Circle Table. They received reports by various Transmission Crystals from the scouting Undead and High Necromancers. This one was from the Kaizen Empire.

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(?) "Report Corps 1."

Stated the burly Kaizen. Their forces were skilled in the Unattributed arts which included Necromancy.

(Soldier) "Corps 1 reporting in. Our Undead Brigades 1-16 found that the Jungle of Death already is cleared! The creatures are already dead and even the trees show no sign life. Their Mana was drained, almost like something leeched off from them. Employing Single Line Sweep! Approaching deeper... Corrupted signatures are off the charts! Losing control!"

(?) "What do you mean losing control? You imprinted them!"

(Soldier) "After reaching a mountain of corpses, Undead Brigades 1-10 have gone rogue. Undead Brigades 11-16 are retreating. These are our Support Units, General! Requesting Shut Down Sequence!"

The Luthan and Yalta troops glared at the Kaizen General. He grumbled and decided to end this farce.

(Kaizen General) "Initiate Shut Down Sequence."

(Lieutenant) "Yes, General! Your Lieutenant, out."

The Transmission Crystal clicked off and soon Kaizen General Fernando was mocked.

(Yttrian) "Can't handle the situation, mighty Muerte Clan Leader?"

(Luthan) "This is why we rely on hired hands and not fancy-schmancy Magic. A good Army of our Mercenaries will fix everything."

Although the two other Powers wanted to win, they had several ulterior motives. The Luthan Kingdom wanted more slaves, riches, and reputation. But the Yalta Confederation United Arms was filled with ambitious men of all ages. This specific General was from Yttria, which was the worst of the 6 Confederate Nations. And so, his armies were made from the worst of the worst and marched for finding Glory. All the Yttrian General Cobalt needed was something to show for his efforts.

(Kaizen General) "Which of the 3 of us did the most, hmm? Technology, food, equipment, tactics. All provide by the Kaizen Empire and our Inquisition. Your Luthan Sprezzatura do 1/2 as much and waste 4 times more than the United Arms! And those troops under you, General Cobalt, are worthless! How many have you lost so far? Some 100,000?"

General Fernando wasn't having this shit. His goal was to find the Reincarnated people detected by the Inquisition and kill them all. There was also the optional objective of finding the Great Doru, which the Dryads lost long ago. Waiting 500 years for this opportunity was long enough.

(?) "Calm down everyone. That's only 1 of our scouting units."

Just Adrian Floda's voice was enough to quiet down the officers and bickering Generals. None of them could even measure up to him so they didn't even try. Some cocky Yalta Brigadiers were pulverized in their 1st meeting as a precedent of his severity.

(Adrian Floda) "General Gutenberg, why don't you show us how your Sprezzatura handle this?"

The Luthan in question gulped. He picked up his Transmission Crystal

(General Gutenberg) "Sprezzatura Corps! Begin tactic 'Slash-and-Burn' with our entire force."

(Sprezzatura) "But Sir! We might-"

(General Gutenberg) "Profits be damned! Just handle these Undead and clean up the Aurea! It's that easy!"

Adrian's gaze gave General Gutenberg confidence.

(General Gutenberg) "Heh ehe he! Watch us smoke out our prey!"

(Adrian Floda) "Say what you want, General. My Students will be watching."

Adrian Floda left the room alone and made the atmosphere lose all its tension.

(General Gutenberg) "Fuck this shit! My Mercenaries are going to ask for more pay! This was not part of the contract!"

(General Cobalt) "Should have known this would happen. At least I have an easy victory. My soldiers didn't even need to do anything! Ahahaha!"

(General Fernando) "Quiet you human pigs. Do your jobs and then leave!"

General Fernando left with his officers. He, for some reason, did not camp on the Logos Mountains, like Adrian had. They both seemed to prefer the Badlands than conquered enemy territory. Suspicious codgers, they were called.

(General Gutenberg) "Ah, fuck it, General Fernando. What did we do to fuck your ass? If I remember, we don't have Dryad slaves, so I couldn't have raped your sister."

(General Cobalt) "He's a major contributor. Deal with it! Either of those two could kill us."

(General Gutenberg) "Doesn't mean I like it."

(General Cobalt) "Face and status mean nothing out here, General Gutenberg. War is determined by strength... And we are weakest."

The two Generals and their officers drank and ate well that morning. It was a great time for a final meal. And so, the Peak's Pass activated its Self-Destruction Sequence and killed a majority of the invaders at the cost of Aurea Guard Towers.

Roaring Thunder watched in the distance. It was a bright flash and rocks flew up into the air. Then, Peak's Pass collapsed in on itself, either crushing or trapping enemy soldiers. Piles of smoke billowed out from the remainders of the Pass. Today was a good day for war.