Tense Encounter

Crackle, crackle crackle. Zzzz, splash, gurgle gurgle.

Ciemnosc was still standing on top of the ship from before still. He was now looking around, standing on the battleship that had been sailing at incredible speeds, was now 'anchored' and not moving at all. In the middle of the shores between the east and the west, he was on one of the slimmest places the ship could go to as it was nearing the absolute beginning of the Little Lake.

Behind his ship, the captains of both battleships were resting differently, while their battleships were also a bit behind Ciemnosc's battleship. The one on the left was still behind the helm and looking around, energized and ready for whatever more but getting tired. The one on the right was clearly weary, which could be seen by how he had to sit down on the deck and take a breather, some injuries on his right arm and shoulder, and a scar that was prompt to be gone after a few days of meditation and cultivation from the right section of his forehead to his right cheek bone.

The crew of the battleship on the left was now returning from the shore on the west, where only a few camps and some enemy cultivators had been around at the time of the attack. While the crew of the ship on the right was still at the other shore and beginning to swim towards their battleship.

Of the 3 ships, the one that was worse off was the battleship on the right, which had so many places broken and a couple of medium-sized holes, making it look quite a bit terrifying and tricky to believe it could still float. The one that was the least damaged was the central battleship, and the one that received some damage but didn’t do as much as the battleship on the right was the one on the left.

That battleship moved all around, its crew almost remaining within the seats and being held tightly by some contraptions whenever it was not time to fire the cannons away. It was exhausting on its own. But this job required incredible maneuverability and manipulation. Only the best of the best in Ciemnosc’s troops could have joined this mission and would have been capable of doing all that.

Right now, the battleship on the right needed repairs, and after looking around for a little, the crew of that battleship returned with some brand new cut-down trees on their shoulder and a few more rocks and sand on their hands. Ready to use their recently collected materials to do as much repairing as was necessary.

It wasn’t that Ciemnosc or anyone else didn’t think about bringing some extra items and scraps in case anything broke or was damaged to the point of no repair; fixing ‘kits’ so to speak. But today’s mission wasn’t only to evaluate the sailors’ capabilities, it was also for their survival skills on the water when not having anything in their storage to repair but having land quite near them. In any case, the mission wasn’t over until they returned, so although they knew they were victorious upon inflicting damage to the enemy, they kept it until receiving the end result from their Chief.

In one part, it was due to this simply being a successful attack on an enemy base, treating illness but not its root. On the other hand, they were more to celebrate the result of their efforts rather than the deaths of just other cultivators. After all, in war, dying was just too simple, and winning was another thing entirely. The way to win was even more so important. But for these students to think about winning the war on their one was even more stupid.

Hence, like most other students in the base, they simply focus on Ciemnosc’s orders. To receive his praise and acknowledgment.

Before, even the old students of the base, the first to arrive, settle and build - might have had thought of who would be ‘general’ and who would either be ‘soldier’ or who would shortly live as the ‘cannon fodder’. But now, after Ciemnosc’s treatment of their erroneous thinking and ways of war, they were all just thinking of one sole thing, focusing on it and slowly building it up to the moment the most difficult times came or death and life were to be decided.

All around them were flames… because some armored cars ended up showing up to face off the invading battleships but were blasted off by both the central and leftwards battleship. Meanwhile, the battleship always towards the east continued to drift around and shake the enemy on the last— 4th —enemy ship. Receiving a final amount of a dozen casualties…

Every team lost a little of their own in this mission. They had lost the lives of those they were in accordance with, perhaps since becoming an elite student.

A lot of the grass that had regrown around was now gone, not even charred, simply gone and without a tiny bit of its previous image of growing back up again visible anywhere around the port and the near installations. But the females didn’t go beyond the height of 2 meters, but they made a reverse ‘U’ encirclement that left those on the only ship in the water feeling slightly hotter.

It was now noon, and the warm water of the Little Lake was about to turn the warmest it could, but the sailors and Ciemnosc didn’t think of taking a rest. Now that would be the epitome of stupidity. Instead, they looked around a bit more. After the captains confirmed that there were no more signs of life around— not that it mattered —the battleships slowly and securely turned around with their agility ship sails turning up and then becoming dim.

Then, half the speed ship sails glowed before the simple formation of 3 battleships began to return to the base. It was a successful day. Now, all that was needed to end was the return and to hear their end results from the Chief in Command’s mouth. From then on, anything could happen, but they, especially the battleship towards the east, needed rest as it became the battleship to the left of the one Ciemnosc was on.

… When the battleships returned, their titles and honors were gained by battle and hardened by general death. As their hulls parted the water in front and below, the sight of water being beautifully splashed around was an ever-so-exciting sight for those around the shore. And when they saw the ‘scars’ of the battleship to the east, they were even more enthralled but could only wait until they arrived at the port.

Only when the battleships returned did they begin analyzing the happenings of the battleships and their crews in the mission. Noticing that there was less crew on the battleship to the east, the students fell silent, mourning but also… honoring their fellow felled students whose bodies were unboarded after everyone did and pushed onto the port by the captains themselves even came to help the battleship’s captain.

Some time passed. Thinking cleverly, the students simply accompanied and opened a path on the port for the captains and the closed coffin-like boxes carrying that ‘scent’ of the deceased, only discernible with one’s Spirit sense.

It wasn’t until all the way where the coffin-like objects were taken away and were being prepared to rest on top of a large raft that the students, sailors, and captains seemed to feel lighter, maybe just not better. That Ciemnosc also finally took a step forward and to a higher standing point n top of his commanding vehicle and began speaking out loud as the bodies, parts of, and complete bodies in their encasement were placed on the raft as it very slowly began to drift away from the shore.

“Those fallen today; they are already being recorded in our list. Long list, but short still.” Ciemnosc immediately attracted their attention, but their hearts and in line with how their Spirit Sense reached out in the direction of the raft slowly drifting away, they were still ‘observing’ the fallen students and bidding them farewell with said things.

“There is no need to speak about how broadly difficult it would get later in this war. Currently, our enemies are still moving resources and building through and on land. Let me start with the results,” Ciemnosc calmly spoke, his hands to the sides of his hips and shoulders standing at rest, but the students all, in general, stood with their firm and straight backs.

“The success of the mission was, without a doubt, there, even as there were concerning points during the mission… Captain Lons’s choice was too headstrong, but it was one easy way to deal with the problem. The alternative would’ve been the maneuvering of the other 2 battleships to relieve some pressure. But the array formation cannot be deactivated, so, in the end, the crew of that battleship ended up sacrificing a lot.”

“As a result, not only were the other 2 battleships left mostly intact once the attack was over. The crews of the other battleships also didn’t suffer more than a minor injury, with the number of injured already being so small.” As Ciemnosc narrated, the students below and around him had their eyes shine through and through. Some even grinned a little, understanding the possibilities and the pressure of ‘just a mission’ -. Hereon, they were to give it their all in each mission, if only, to honor captain Lons’s crew.

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“The only thing that could be done to help them at that moment should’ve been destroying and relieving as many of the targets that Lons’s battleship was aiming and connected to simultaneously. Not just travel along and see if they could handle it. That’s not how more than 1 battleship sailing together should ever act! It is not playing around, but war… and thankfully, that was how it was followed by captain Mon and captain Stevan.”

“An applause,” Ciemnosc gestured lightly, not putting effort into it. But the students hearing those words and then watching Ciemnosc’s gesture immediately responded in kind. Those weren’t claps from them with passion and aloud, but tranquil, and to lift one’s spirits by hearing. Slowly, quietly and simply in peace.

“But even there, having just better array formations and better structures won’t be enough for future battles. Expect not only a greater need for more battleships, and of different sizes, at least from our side. There will also be the integration of the land forces with the naval military for several different purposes.” Ciemnosc said, his voice becoming somewhat quiet, just a little.

“Days like these,” Ciemnosc gestured, turning his head to the now ablaze raft with its ‘mast’ burning intensely as the fallen sailors’ names burned even harder within the flames. “May even become a normal activity for a couple of days every week or so.”

“But this is only the start… Many, many more years are to come until the entire Region is under the academy’s rule. And it will be tough.” Ciemnosc concluded, setting his eyes on the crowd left and right before nodding. He then silently stored his commanding vehicle and let the students feel as gloomy, encouraged, saddened, tragic, melancholic, and even convinced as much as they wanted while watching their old fellow students go.

‘I have a few days. I’ll see if I can reach the peak of the 9th stage before the meeting.’ Ciemnosc thought, walking far away enough into the distance before taking his commanding vehicle out again and driving 10 minutes to arrive at the base with its not-so-tall but thick walls and tall gates already built and in the process of producing even more armored cars and cannons…

***

At the beginning of the Little Lake, in-between the ‘true west’ and the east of the Region. It was noon, near the afternoon.

In a considerable but somehow… ‘small’ encampment. Where though it looked small, more than 1,000 people could encamp within it, or more specifically, cultivators who could perfectly accept a closed enclosure for long periods of time and not much need for food other than for satisfaction rather than satiation. In short, there was little to no comfort for the guests and the ‘guards’ on both sides of this meeting. It couldn’t be more evident that it was about the Rocaloi Academy party and the 4 major organizations party.

In it, each party was to bring more than half a thousand ‘guards’ of any level they wished them to be, which could or not respond in kind to whatever situation the other party might want to force in one way or another. But that was for the masterminds behind these 2 parties to eat their heads about, everyone else just had to react and follow orders accordingly.

From the Rocaloi Academy, the old and current headmasters were the ones to lead their party to this meeting, one that one of theirs had convoked. Of the 4 major organizations party, it was the Self-Mutilating Honores Sect’s sect master and Moribund Yearning Cult’s new pastor who were taking the roles of the leaders as they were surrounded by the other 2 sect’s high end of their union, who were, in turn, respecting the chosen leaders for this meeting.

The objective was really something that both parties were incredibly interested in, especially the 4 major organizations party who were both curious to know what kind of things the monster Ciemnosc had achieved by now and what kind of gadgets he had created now. But unbeknownst to them, though not preoccupied, the Rocaloi Academy was surprised to know of Ciemnosc’s new ‘findings’, not having been in the clear before.

There was a large, bulky rectangular tent that was pitched up to almost a whole 20 meters in height, it was really vast and it, of course, came from the 4 major organizations’ hands. It was also in congruency with the fact that there were mostly Conflagrate realm cultivators around, with basically no one being below that realm, and that they all could fly.

Of course, except the one and only who dares to be in front of such monstrously powerful cultivators that have cultivated from hundreds to a couple thousands of years!

Ciemnosc was standing in front of the Rocaloi Academy’s old and current headmasters. Inside that large and unnecessarily tall tent, with a small, very small, table that was just one of the furniture in the entire tent, which was enough for more than 150 people to come in whereas it would still feel spacious - as it was currently. And around it, sect master Holoriu and new pastor Noles. They were looking up at Ciemnosc and analyzing him with their 18 meters large or so Spirit Sense, finding it impossible to go through his humble styled clothes somehow.

From the sides, it was possible to see all of the 50 guards on each side that had entered. And there was quite a discrepancy. Since each side could bring 500 guards, they were to bring their best team-working and powerful groups and individuals respectively.

The Rocaloi Academy listened to reason, presenting themselves with almost 100 peak Obsidiafying realm cultivators, and the rest all at the peak of the Conflagrate realm with Power Energy at the heights of an Obsidiafying realm oozing from their bodies and furiously; as if about to breakthrough at any moment now!

On the other hand, either to humiliate and make the other side think they were looking down on these ‘experts’ with many more powerful peak Obsidiafying realm cultivators; the 4 major organizations party brought about Conflagrate realm cultivators of all stages as their ‘guards’ of the leaders at the peak of the Obsidiaying realm. Or simply because they were that weakened in numbers and weren’t going to let an agreement have them lower their guard.

In any case, the Rocaloi Academy took things silently, letting the other side take as much in reeling over their so-called humiliation towards them. Now, as the evening wasn’t that far away anymore and the camp has been ongoing for a couple of days already, the meeting was finally taking place and things were about to advance further.

Slam.

“Here, I’ll be fast. The reason why all of us are here today is for…” Ciemnosc started the whole thing, simply taking a last look at the headmaster, the old man, before turning around to face his previous ‘allies’ once more, and without taking a seat - he slammed a piece of paper onto the very, very small table. Continuing, his tone wasn’t quiet nor calm, just straight to the point and flat. “The future battles for the ownership of the Little Lake are bound to make tragedies occur without them being necessary for either side.”

“This is my blueprint… mine.” Ciemnosc said, looking straight into the eyes of the sect master and pastor before him, not even fearlessly for not a single thing of an emotion could be seen within his darkest eyes and slightly pale countenance. He then added that ‘mine’ word, stressing it quite, and that indeed spiked at someone’s heart. Though it was hidden expertly by such.

“It is a design, an addition, for the cannons so that…” Ciemnosc slowly came to sit with his left bum on his side of the table, his left lower thigh hanging from its edge. Calmly this time, he continued after an irksome pause. “They won’t make turbulences when hitting the water. Be it at night or in the day. As long as they have this implemented, they will no longer be causing damage to the waters and would allow battles to go on without interruption or ‘friendly’ fire in your case.”

“...” The corners of sect master Holoriu, whose gaze never left Ciemnosc’s body and shoulders, as if he could just see himself grabbing the boy and tearing him to pieces! Twitched; as they heard Ciemnosc’s words, though pastor Noles was all fine and normal until he noticed the sect master’s rare behavior, his eyebrows twitched in response.

“Ciemnosc, it has been some time. Without us, you seem to do better. Did you ever come to think that, perhaps, we were just testing you? Trying to have you develop your greatest potential? Though in the end, you received a traitor’s help who wanted to take advantage of your ‘situation’ to take control over the major organizations to kill a few Conflagrate realm cultivators back then, you were never looked down upon by us and were of course merely trying to help you.”

The sect master, Holoriu, spoke as he placed his fingertips together, his feet heels on the table, and lowered his chin. His throat and lips spilled words out slowly, even more so whenever he enunciated a word more than others and raised his eyebrows. Even seated at this smallish table and chair, his height of almost 2.5 meters was notorious. His dark brown skin made him seem somewhat scheming as he adopted all those gestures and eyes ‘of goodwill’.

His hair was now lacking a few more years before finally going bald, but his muscles seemed more defined and blatantly showing. Oozing with strands of Power Energy that signified the beginning of a new realm perhaps.

“Are you charity now? I’m lost, where were we? Woopety woop.” Ciemnosc said, placing his right palm on the back of his left hand that was, in turn, resting on his left knee on top of the table. With a face of being dumb and silly, Ciemnosc ended his words with a roll of his eyes and turned to become serious.

“Ciemnosc!” Sect master Holoriu exclaimed. His eyes opened almost widely enough to possibly pop out before continuing as he sat up properly. Meanwhile, Ciemnosc kept sitting on top of the table at its edge nonchalantly. “If you are not speaking in defense of this, then what, are you actually saying you were in accordance with that puny traitor?! Were you simply her scapegoat that she wanted to use; your talent, potential and future, and you just simply accepted?!”

“What are you, Ciemnosc, hm? Do you just have a traitorous nature to your shadow?!” In these last questioning words, sect master Holoriu was speaking with a somberly low volume. His last interrogating words were completely spoken shrilly, with venomous intentions that were yet translated into wronged and hurt emotions.

Ciemnosc, on the other hand, didn’t even seem to remain quiet as if the entire world had become one of pure silence. His eyes upturned, he looked at the middle aged man with white hairs at his sideburns; deathly glaring into the ill-speaking peak Obsidiafying realm adversary.

…