After the capturing of Fort Caca, Kei's army quickly captured Fort Dunka from Runis State since Major Kris left it wide opened for capture.
With new reinforcement and increased of numbers, their next objective was the conquest of Runis State.
The SGs were reevaluating their previous actions and battles. Fort Caca and the battle with the Chesire Kingdom's army of 50,000 was disappointing. The results was expected that they will be victorious but as the top of chain of command providing stragetic and tactical planning, they felt they don't deserve their rank.
Losing 20,000 was an overwhelming blow to their ego since they had the advantage in numbers. Relying heavily on numbers would bring their downfall and short sightedness.
They know the kingdom's army are on their way but planned no ambush and want to fight head-on like battle maniacs. Their numbers can be replenished but now they are in a different nation from their Lord. Receiving reinforcement would be long and keep asking for more will make them look incompetent.
Seeing their errors of their ways, they are learning and adapting. They had knowledge, they only need to apply it.
The new reinforcements are filled with different creatures and monsters, so Kei decided to renamed them Deco Parade.
And he made a flag for their campaign: A black flag featuring one side of Deco, holding a star in her bony palm at the center.
Yes, Deco Parade has declared to the world that they conquer and kill in the name of the Goddess of Death, Deco!
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After Chesire Kingdom's lost of 50,000 men and capture of Fort Dunka, this has sent an alert to the world. The mysterious destruction of the capital from strange creatures had gave more panic. How can this be not a coincidence?
There were already conflicts around the world: the recent coup d'etat in Eluvia, Cloq Dukedom's invasion of Islands of Kitar, the skimishes between Jules Domain and Kelm Dukedom, and occupation of Gevia Country and Jules Domain's territories by Runis State. While the Alliance still exists, it gotten fragile with conflicting interests and past grudges.
Now this new force was fighting in the name of the death goddess and already causing a large death toll, and had entered the playing field.
This had shaken the Alliance. They already had infighting but this could be also a chance to reform relationships.
They only knew that they were in the Runis State and only assumed they are mostly demons who wanted to get their revenge by forming a rebellion.
The world was watching if this new player can take on Runis State, which was a militaristic state.
All powers didn't want to help Runis State and want to focus on their own home, unless they had to hear the call of Church of Light. The Church of Light care less about the fighting between nations but this was grave matter and a smack in the face of their faith.
The Church of Life declare a holy decree! All nations surrounding Runis State (Eluvia, Gevia Country, and Jules Domain) must assist to elimate this threat!
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[Location: Temple in Jules Domain]
"THEY DEMAND OF THIS SOVEREIGN TO HELP THOSE HUMANS!"
A glossy, silver hair, golden eyes, and tan skin elf was sitting on her throne made of the finest, oldest tree from her jungle.
Her words roared throughout the temple.
"They take my land and my people, and now they demand my people's blood!
This sovereign will give nothing!"
"Your sovereign, we should help. At least deliver a small number of our weakest warriors."
The sovereign slammed the bottom of her golden, wooden stave onto the floor and the whole temple got hotter! Steam was rising from stone floors and walls!
"Useless! All of you scared of this church! Those beast people will not care for those humans as well!"
Even though she had little to zero contact with Gevia but she knows the Runis State are also invading them. Why would they help?
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She was tapping on her nails on her armrest, trying to figure out what to do. Help the church or face punishment? Fight the Deco Parade and risk being invaded? She heard this force was destroying villages and towns, leaving no single living being alive except livestock. If she did sent in people, Deco Parade will recognize Jules Domain as their enemy and write it in blood on their grave stones.
"Do nothing." She said softly.
"Yes, your sovereign?"
"I said do nothing!"
"Yes! Your sovereign, we obey."
They were all her servants and loyal aides. Her word was the law, offering difference of opinions or pointing out her flaws just irritates her.
Sovereign of Jules Domain: We will wait and see. Take no one sides. If this army of death managed to rid of the country of humans, then we must offer peace.
She leaned on her elbow and sighed.
"Anyword of my niece?"
"No, your sovereign."
"If there nothing else to say, then we rest."
Jules Domain was considered an isolated nation, that keep it to themselves. The only connection to the rest of the world are the old familial ties with the ruling family of Eluvia. When the coup d'etat happened, Elen was supposed to escape to Jules Domain for shelter but something happened. Sending a search party will only give Runis State a nonsense reason to continue invading into her lands.
What she doesn't know was that another event was taking place at Eluvia.
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[Location: Capital of Gevia Country - Castle's throne room]
A tall, muscular man with fiery hair similar to a lion, sat straight on his throne with his queen sitting to his left.
"I see... sent in 10,000 men for assistant." The king demanded.
"Father! You can't be serious on helping them after what they did!"
"If we don't help then the church and Vita Empire will invade us! We're practically next door!
After the Runis State, where would they go next! If we don't stop the Deco Parade then our people will be in the slaughter house!"
"Dear, can we contact the leaders of Deco Parade for a truce?" The queen asked.
"Ha! Why should we believe in the worshippers of the death goddess? If the church caught wind of this, they definitely come for my head. Besides, from the intel from Runis State, they're only 30,000 of them. They kill innocents and move on to this next town like animals. Nothing but rabble.
Son, you will be the commander of 10,000. Do not disappoint me."
The prince/son stared wide eyed by hearing, but at the same time still angry about helping them.
"I understand what you are feeling, maybe the Runis State will owe us a favor."
Prince: I seriously doubt it.
"I do my best father."
The prince bowed and left the throne room.
"Dear, are you sure. He's still young and experiencing battle is..."
"Don't worry. He need experience for he will be future king. A few good men will guard him and help him along the way. He definitely make it back home."
He grabbed onto his queen's hand and kissed her it.
King: There is really no worry. He'll be back home.
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[Location: Capital of Runis State - war room within the castle]
The king of Runis State and his various high rank officers are in one room discussing.
The king was reading a letter from Gevia Country and was surprised.
King: "10,000 men from Gevia. I'm surprised they put some effort to aid us."
Random Officer 1 (RO1): "They're only saving their own skin in the end. They only want to stop the death army before they go to their lands. Despicable."
The king was rubbing his temple, the loss was so great. He need every man available to end this. Luckily, there are only 30,000 of them. Before they can reach the capital, they will have a direct confrontation to end this. The king ordered every of his man to be pulled from the frontlines of Gevia and Jules to fight this battle, and hopefully the last.
King: "Any word from Kelm or Eluvia?"
RO2: "Our messengers said that Eluvia is in a state of civil war. Kelm will not send anyone unless they are compensated."
BANG
RO3: "What the hell! Aren't we the same race! Those damn worshippers are on our doorstep!"
They had a few clashes with Deco Parade and none came back alive, except for stragglers. The total number of Runis State's army were 60,000, with Gevia's 10,000 they had the number advantage. They wanted to completely crushed their foes while minimizing their lose to rebuild. What better way to do that than use others as fodders.
King: "How much do they want?"
RO2: "They want the share of mana stones from Eluvia mines."
RO3: "Dammit! How do they find out!"
Everyone in the room became distressed about their little secret agreement with Eluvia's new ruler. Then again, even that agreement was beginning to shake with the civil war. They received a request from Eluvia for reinforcement to fight the former princess.
Now, the king was weighing his choices.
King: "How much men they will be sending if we give them what they want?"
RO2: "They will send in 20,000 for 1,000 kilograms of mana stones."
King: "Done."
RO1: "My king, this is outrageous! That's at least a third of our total reserve! Besides, this is overkill!"
The king waved his hand to stop any naysayers then silence filled the air.
King: "Gevia's and Kelm's men are nothing but fodders. As long with have majority of our army, we can just pressure Eluvia for more mana stones no matter who rules it.
Any word from Jules?"
RO2: "No sire, they gave no response."
King: "HMPH! Once this is over, demolish their jungle and ripped their trees from their roots!"
...
...
After the meeting, RO1 was currently in his small office, writing down all necessary informations about the Runis State's battle plans and location.
Then a shadowy figure jumped out of the shadow of a nearby bookshelf!
RO1: "Here, pass it towards the SGs. These will prove useful."
The shadowly figure took the documents and disappeared into the night.
RO1: "Everything is coming to together, hehehe."
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[Location: Somewhere in Runis State]
The SGs had received the documents and finalizing their plans as well. The shapeshifters had prove very useful.
The battle will take place at a hilly grassland, with a river splitting the battlefield and a forest mostly surrounding it.
Everything was set.
The SGs and their aides stepped out of their tent. They were standing on top of the hill looking over their comrades of 1,000,000.