News That Come Timely

Several days later, on a day that was being celebrated… everywhere, was also the day that Ciemnosc was becoming 11 years old...

Under Ciemnosc's basement, because the garage itself was way too little for his commanding vehicle, Ciemnosc was working hard on his baby, giving it checks every day every 8 hours after getting rid of a batch of prisoners and after every morning meeting with the other commanders and so on. Right now, it has been some days since the first test of the ships began, and it is now nearing phase 2.

Previously, the test was to make sure that all ships were operable and useful for traversing the waters of the Little Lake, as they were the only ones who had always become the utter defeat of all cultivators alike. These were completed without any faults, only some mediocre accidents of sluggish sailing of the ships which were naturally understood, but nothing else happened in ‘phase 1’ of the testing for these ships and their functionality.

Then came phase 2, which was the potential and capabilities of the ships themselves, but for that, there had to be enough understanding of the preparation and training for sailing these ships which was a completely new thing for all cultivators.

Yet, it was enough with Ciemnosc proportioning some of the knowledge he accumulated from ‘mortal’s’ ancient history of their conquering of waters, for a of the cultivators to slowly make an idea of ‘how to’ and so did Situ Shi put his intellectual ones to work in devising the best methods and strategies for such a matter.

Phase 2 was not only going to be about going at high speeds within the Little Lake’s waters at night and in the day but to also ‘form formations’, not for battle but for the pure sake of testing, placing ships close together to formulate the best real occurrences that could happen and that will be taken care of with subsequent trial and error.

There was no fear of destruction as, first, there weren’t any weapons installed in the ships of today, cannons haven’t even started being built by the Craftspeople yet as well. And second, the material that these ships were made of, some of the tallest trees around had some either affinity or resistance to the Water element, which allowed it to have a much easier time resisting the water itself and collisions when within it or in contact with it.

But there was also the protective array, which was 1 for projectiles coming from the far outside of the nearby space of each ship, and another for emergencies such as sudden collisions and assaults from other ships. All of that had to be tested, in this phase 2, as well.

But, right now, Ciemnosc was under his mini mansion doing the last few bits of additions to his commanding vehicle while the commander under him that is the most prepared and ready for any kind of possibility even in peaceful times - Situ Shi, and to grow to an even greater height than the current Ernesto is currently in, was in charge of the testing.

Nobody knew exactly what Ciemnosc was doing, but since he didn’t bother creating any other array other than detection, and for sudden, emergency-type protection, everyone could hear large objects being moved around, mostly metal but in general, all of them were really heavy if not large.

That was what could be deduced from sounds alone. As for what Ciemnosc was doing, only he knew, and Mosto could only try and figure it out as he wasn’t allowed in, but it was okay for him. He really didn’t mind…

Hell, Ciemnosc even allowed Mosto to carry most of the things that he was using to modify and alter his commanding vehicle. From circular, bulge-like objects that were heavier than even 2,500 kg and only Mosto could carry it with his two arms and strong long legs in the entire stronghold on his own without needing any extra eyes and extra brains around as well as possible unknown, hidden tools…that Ciemnosc would notice anyways.

To even large plates of seemingly both metal and other kinds of ores, it was impossible for Mosto, an ignorant of all creation in Craftsmanship, to know. But for Ciemnosc, these were extremely precious. And so, he made many sparks fly about all day long, only spending 2 rounds of 5 hours to keep eating people under the prison every day instead of spending all 24 hours in 3 rounds of 8 hours.

The rest was either in dealing with matters for his army, the stronghold, the outposts, or in the meeting. But mostly for the modifications he was making to his sweet baby. It had been days since he started working on it, so, according to his capabilities of even making several hundreds of top notch quality full equipment a day, it could already be imagined what Ciemnosc was going to end up changing in his sweet baby.

No cannons nor extra wheels were being transported though. Only rough materials and even some tiny raw materials were being moved directly from their storages or who knows where to Ciemnosc’s mini mansion’s basement.

In any case, as it was very dark in the sky, it was actually just another morning and it was a morning that was not going to be as normal and uneventful as the previous few days. Fortunately, though, another million enemies wouldn’t appear out of nowhere in just a few days after the largest battle of Ciemnosc’s army yet had concluded.

And just as Ciemnosc was making rounds around his commanding vehicle, which looked completely the same as always and didn’t even have a change of its windows. Mosto entered the basement, sleepy and slowly but still without any sign of being less mentally active as he was on guard, especially since he didn’t know when a Conflagrate realm or even a crazy Obsidiafying realm would come knocking at their door.

It was Ciemnosc’s achievements that have been the most shining over the last hundreds and even thousands of years, doing what General Hanato Wang wasn’t even interested in doing during his time.

Creak…

“Oh, Mosto. I’ve finished. You don’t have to move around dubiously, just come in and take a look if you want.” Ciemnosc said, giving Mosto a relaxation from his shoulders which he hadn’t been feeling since days ago. He slumped their shoulders and threw a letter to Ciemnosc’s chest, which he noncommittally caught and opened without rebuking the shoulders-slumped Mosto walk away and even scratching his lower back a little.

“Mnn, the sect is no longer ignoring us, eh?” Ciemnosc said out loud, and from afar, he heard Mosto utter a grunting ‘uughn’ while opening the fridge and getting some roasted man’s torso-large chicken leg into his right away. “Okay then, let’s go, I’ll just take a little shower from the Little Lake’s water, and then we go there, byee~.”

Fwoosh- step, step, step step...

“Grruaaaghr~~!” As Ciemnosc zoomed upstairs and took the only bathroom that could use water from the Little Lake in the entire outposts and stronghold territory, a frenetic Mosto hurried up as well but was much slower than Ciemnosc. As such, the grease-mouthed Mosto could only roar to the sky with a grunt with his knees against the cold, solitary floor.

. . .

An hour later, within the center of command in the headquarters.

“...” - “... “ - “...” - “...” - “...” Ciemnosc had arrived at the room with a Mosto who was still with some parts of his body still somewhat wet, which he didn’t bother cleaning with his own Power Energy, for some strange-whatever reason. The 3 outposts’ commanders, the stronghold commander, and Schnell were all curious. But they were all ignorant to Ciemnosc’s scheme of stealing all of the Little Lake’s water for himself, HEH HEH HEH.

But, as soon as Ciemnosc sat on his chair, not the throne, and began requesting some information from each outpost and the stronghold, the commanders straightened up their backs on their respective chairs and began briefing the Commander.

Since the last battle fought, their strongest sect disciples’ numbers were decreased, and quite some Spirit Gathering realm and Phrenic realm had died, mostly from the former as the battlefield at the central outpost was the harshest, especially with its utmost sudden closing.

The stronghold even fought the largest number of enemies all at the same time, their funeral had already ended, but each trooper was necessary for keeping the port and its defenses safe from the enemies of the Self-Mutilating Honores Sect.

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Now, the stronghold’s strength totaled more than 563,000 sect disciples and more than 530,000 subordinate cultivators. While outpost 1 had now 223,571 sect disciples and 410,000 subordinate cultivators.

But definitely worst of all, outpost 2 ended up with just about 180,000 sect disciples. As for its subordinate cultivators from before, all having perished with their melted remains having been sent off already, there were only more than an average of 400,000 subordinate cultivators at the eastern outpost.

Is the outpost with the least casualties and only needs tens of thousands of Inferior grade Powerful Stones to be used for the repair of the first defensive barrier. The southern outpost; outpost 3, had now a total of more than 215,000 sect disciples and more than 420,000 subordinate cultivators.

“...Shidar,” Ciemnosc suddenly said, attracting everyone’s attention as they garnered all of their focus on whatever Ciemnosc would say next. Maybe it was reflexive, instinctive already as well, perhaps, but definitely not with the hopes of seeing Shidar being humiliated as they no longer didn’t know anything about Ciemnosc, or his ways.

“Yes, sir Commander?” Shidar responded. Her image from the array projecting her in her own headquarters was really docile, and looked back at Ciemnosc while moving on her seat to also face him directly.

Ciemnosc nodded slowly looking at the front, before tilting his head to the right, his eyes on her as he began, “Well, you showed a really good decisive commanding nature like never before, which I’m sure you won’t give up because of the results of the last battle, right?”

“Of course not, sir. I may or may not feel guilty, but I may never fail my troops and those who still can live for them. who are no longer beside them.” Shidar answered, somewhat absentmindedly, as she had both thought about those things in these last few days herself but also became aware of them right away after experiencing them. As no matter how one sees warlike, or death, losing tens of thousands and the majority of the casualties of a large-scale battle from their own forces is something really difficult to imagine - let alone go through.

“Good,” Ciemnosc said bluntly. He then took a look at Ernesto and then at Situ Shi before continuing his words in a whole other matter, but still about outpost 2 and Shidar. “Ernesto will send its people today, let it be a few weeks more or less until they have to come back, choose your most prestigious and capable men and women, as well as those who volunteer.”

“You can deal with those who are not capable later on as they show themselves incapable, or not.” Ciemnosc’s words gained him a nod from Shidar and another slower one from Ernesto, not surprising them in the slightest, though Ciemnosc then added rather ‘naughtily’. “Most of Ernesto’s capable direct subordinates are women, so choose well how to make connections with that grandpa. Oh well…”

Everyone: “...”

Shidar: ( ๑>ᴗ<๑ )

“Ernesto,” but then, as everyone in the room was feeling…a little funny. Ciemnosc looked to Ernesto and began saying with a neutral voice, “You won’t have to worry about giving some of your people to Shidar, nor any of the other outposts. This is what the stronghold is for.”

Ciemnosc looked at Situ Shi without any askance on his face, then continued, “The stronghold is a very vital part of this mission, but also, and mostly; for the sake of keeping the port safe and the ships in our hands and nobody else’s. This is something simple, and everybody knows it, but the stronghold more than that is the main resource point of my army.”

The faces of the commanders and Schnell changed little by little, a feeling of belonging that had already been planted there just as Ciemnosc had left to go back to the sect time ago, was now accompanied by the sensation of brother/sisterhood.

“To relay the forces, resources, and even weaponry in the future - from the stronghold to the outposts isn’t a thing that should happen only in the worst case scenario. Today, I will give the example: I am now officially moving 50,000 sect disciples from the stronghold to outpost 2; to Shidar’s outpost!”

“!!” The entire room fell silent, but the minds of the commanders felt a strike hit the deepest of their heads while their eyes began shining with docility more and more.

“From now on, the commanders from their respective outposts are authorized to request, solicit - troop resupply from the stronghold. Not authorized for directly moving them, and even to be punished if any of you dares to move a single person with any kind of propaganda or extra promised benefits.”

“Only the stronghold’s commander can decide whether to or not approve of such solicitation, while the commander is also to notify the rest of the outposts of this before making any decision. The outposts’ commanders are not to have any say in the matter. But there can still be talks, but only if the stronghold commander and the requesting commander of said outpost allows it.”

“And if it so happens that the stronghold commander decides due to rivalry, competitiveness or grudge, the responsible ones for acting as such will just make me come to the table and begin distributing punishments to those who violate the…’new rules’ of this agreement, understood?”

Ciemnosc’s voice might still be child-like, sweet, and cute, just like his appearance, but he was still the one and only Commander in their eyes and minds. Nothing could take away the kinds of things he is capable of and the things he has shown them.

“Yes, sir, I am very thankful, my outpost 2 is truly honored to serve you.” With a tranquil voice, gentle tone, and a smooth-flowing set of words - Shidar stood up from her chair at her own headquarters and bowed, her left hand forming a fist and placing it against her left breast, pushing it a little and pronouncing it on its lower side thanks to that.

Her demeanor wasn’t as ecstatic as it had once been, it showed the little growth she had gone through since the last battle, which was by far the hardest and most lamentable one fought from her side. Yet, she maintained herself with her chest out and her head high as she sat back down on her chair and her words echoed within the other commander’s and Schnell’s ears and mind.

“...” Naturally, and being the first time he ever heard such words, with sincerity and heartiness being spoken to himself, Ciemnosc fell a bit absentminded. His lips moved somewhat. Only he knew that he was repeating her words… even inside his little, harsh thumping heart that goes as fast and powerful as the flow of his Power Energy inside his body.

“Well then, now, there is one more thing to board in this meeting,” Ciemnosc said after a few more seconds went by after Shidar’s words, which was now slightly awkwardly silent and made her blush with her obscure-brown skin very beautifully. He took a few non-opened letters from his Covert Space bags, showing them a little to the commanders and Schnell before opening them.

“First, the sect had sent a letter addressing our progress and follow-up missions after the port mission was reported to be completed,” Ciemnosc said. The commanders became visibly tensed, the slight roughness between their Commander— and hence themselves, all of his army —and the sect not being secretive even for the recently recruited subordinate cultivators.

“They are first congratulating every ‘leading figure’ within the army from finally completing the mission, and from also having been able to repel such a powerful force from the enemy major organizations.”

“Such a thing surprised them, and they ‘notified’...us that they would be investigating the matter of how and why so many managed to escape from the borders of the north, south, and east. They are also passing on the request of me going back to the sect to first ‘officially’ complete the mission and then be rewarded with another follow-up task for conquering the shallow-section waters of the Little Lake.” Ciemnosc made a slight pause after speaking up to her, semi-resuming the letter’s contents.

“...” In retrospect, knowing that there wasn’t such a thing as an ‘official’ completion of a mission by going back to the sect, the commanders had an ever so noticeable change in their facial expressions right away from a worrying one - to a clearly suspicious one.

But Ciemnosc addressed not their concerns and merely continued reading the letter, his face expressionless and eyes lifeless. “The bright commanders Makis, Ernesto, Situ Shi, and Shidar are welcome to return as well, if they so wish to, only that doing so would also require them to participate in other missions such as border patrolling, commanding an entire corps of their own there before returning to the port and guarding an outpost; perhaps.”

“What do you think about that? Oh, it is all that it says,” Ciemnosc asked, then passed the letter for each array to visualize the letter’s contents, not hiding anything from his subordinate commanders; starting with Shidar and finalizing with Makis reading through it.

“No. Of course not, Commander.” Ernesto replied first, then continued with almost everyone nodding in return. Only Makis didn’t, but he remained silent and listened to Ernesto, almost like the others. “Receiving the sect’s recognition is of course what we’d like, but that would only be recognition. We would rather keep on serving ‘the sect’ from here and keeping the outposts away from any possible harm.”

“Yes, Commander,” Shidar seconded the notion, with Situ Shi nodding with his left-handed fingers covering his philtrum, closing his eyes, and nodding.

“Well,” seeing his commanders react as such, Ciemnosc spread his arms to the sides and semi-shrugged his shoulders a tiny bit before taking out another letter from his Covert Space bag. The first letter, from the sect, had a white main color and a steel and bright red seal on its front. But his second, last letter, was totally white, with its front having a purest, thin ice-like smallish but sophisticatedly designed seal.

“This one second, last letter I received today, is from the Preferential Light Justice Sect. Wanna read it?” Ciemnosc lifted it up to the air with his right hand above his head and waved it, giving ‘the choice’ to his commanders, as they weren’t stupid little brats.

“Is this a proper apology on their part?” Spoke Schnell right away, being the most annoyed at the situation of whoever leads that major organization sect’s disciples for breaking the agreement that Ciemnosc had painstakingly gotten from them. Then again, if they didn’t, a great opportunity would’ve been lost. Though of course the commanders nor Ciemnosc knew that there were some strange occurrences for the last battle to have happened so soon.

“Mm,” Ciemnosc shrugged his shoulders, opening it and passing it to Schnell, and as he did, Ciemnosc also added. “Perhaps.”

The lack of words distracted Schnell, who was already taking the letter out and unfolding it to read it aloud. Just as he was about to begin, he looked at Ciemnosc, with pure ‘malice’ in his narrowed eyes, before looking back at the letter and this time he fully began reading it aloud.

…