Army Of 200,000

Whooooosh, whoosh- whoosh, whoooosh, whoosh... Heian Ciemnosc was flying through the streets, and Jing Evan was flying ultra-low, no higher than a meter above the ground level. Of course, that was in correlation to his belly, as he was way too large to go along with that description so simply. Heian Ciemnosc had just come out of a teleportation portal and was a couple more portals before arriving at the center. Hundreds of students flew their mounts or tools at the same speed and height as he and Evans were, all headed towards the territory's Center.

“... Heian Ciemnosc, come to the next alley to the right.” Just as Heian Ciemnosc was flying at an adequate speed and following the same path as others, he heard Teacher Conde’s voice transmitted into his brain, a mental message. Heian Ciemnosc looked for that alley. Without disrupting those around or behind him, he deviated before entering it. The other students continued with their flying tools or mounts.

Immediately after Evans landed on the ground of the alley between 2 hotel buildings for cultivators and citizens in the City, Heian Ciemnosc faced Teacher Conde without any cloak hiding his appearance. He had a calm expression and waited until Heian Ciemnosc was close enough before nodding and began, “Your Master told me to give you these when the war started. Today so happens to be the time she discusses about you with the rest of the upper echelons. It’s just basic materials and resources. They might become quite useful.”

“Thank you, teacher,” Heian Ciemnosc grabbed the Convert Space bags and passed the items from the Covert Space bag to his’ before looking at the Teacher again. “This isn’t all you came for, right? Teacher Conde?”

“Mnn…” Teacher Conde kept looking at Heian Ciemnosc. It wasn’t an invading or hateful glare. The Teacher was simply observing Heian Ciemnosc like one would their possible son-in-law. After seemingly thinking hard for some time, Teacher Conde finally spoke, “It is with Elena. I’ll bid her goodbye since we didn’t have much contact other than me being strict while training… She’s at the 3rd stage of the Crabstynian realm, so you better not slack off. Becoming an Ashes Soul realm cultivator is far below what your Master is currently preparing for you.”

“The war?” Heian Ciemnosc asked with a tilt of his head. Teacher Conde’s head shook and elaborated a little, “No, it’s not that. It is what comes after it, and the Academy is quite looking forward to it. Don’t die on us, kid. Consider this war the test for many Students to become Leading Students, and don’t forget this is the Academy’s war. Since a million years ago.”

‘Since a million years ago… I see,’ Heian Ciemnosc thought inside his mind before turning to look up at the Teacher. With a serene expression, he waited for the Teacher to speak again. And sure enough, his senses weren’t wrong. Teacher Conde sighed a little and seemed unwilling talking about this as he began, “Elena has been focusing too hard on cultivating and training. Even her Spirit Sense is becoming peak-level faster and more efficiently.”

“I don’t know what you two have done, but I know my disciple is untouched.” Teacher Conde’s words made Heian Ciemnosc’s lower lip pout a little, feeling embarrassed. The Teacher continued, “If you’re her boyfriend now, sigh… Since some time ago, I haven’t seen her so adamant in her own path since she was little and began cultivating. In a way, I’m grateful. But Heian Ciemnosc, this war isn’t a joke. It’s not only First Step cultivators but Second Step as well. Not only will many students die, especially Students, followed by Sub Students. Even dozens of Supervisors might die during this war. You might… not see each other again.”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc became silent and obedient as he continued to listen. But then, when Teacher Conde reached there with his words, Heian Ciemnosc raised his. “I’m not her boyfriend, Teacher. If anything, it is appropriate to say I’m his man. I’m married, after all. It sounds weird to say I have girlfriends, and I also don’t like those words too much.”

“Tskah,” the Teacher tsked and groaned at the same time. He shook his head at the sky and lowered his gaze to look at the boy again, “You remind me of so many ‘60%’ from my youth, including me. Only you don’t seem to treat everyone as your pieces of meat. Well, kid. Thank… you for that, too.”

“...” - “...” Teacher and Student looked at each other in the eye, understanding the meaning behind their words. After this little moment finished, Heian Ciemnosc took one Covert Space bag from his many stacked and presented it to Teacher Conde. “This is for El. I saw her name in another delegation. I don’t think we’re marching the same way. Can you deliver these to her for me?”

“Of course,” the Teacher said as he took the Covert Space bag and was surprised to see the many ‘recently’ concocted pills, brewed potions, and created censers and incense. He looked down at Heian Ciemnosc, and his gaze carried more, conveying emotions. Before the teenager departed, the Teacher felt urged to say something, as he did. “Be careful there, not just from the enemy. Just like you used scary tactics, they will use those, too. And keep your Team safe.”

“Mn,” Heian Ciemnosc calmly nodded. He took a couple steps backwards and lunged into the air, floating as Evan, who waited outside, took to flight with Heian Ciemnosc floating over to his back. They quickly disappeared from Teacher Conde’s sight as he looked at them from the ground before moving into action as his blurred shadow streaked through the Academy’s territory without the use of any portal.

… Heian Ciemnosc continued to fly towards portals, one after the other, as he went from City to City within the Wrath Nihility Academy’s territory. Evans was easy to spot. His species was barely seen as a weak type that usually didn’t reach such a realm before becoming too old. Jing Evan, however, looked pretty young and attracted the eyes of many other flying Fauna as he flew past them with Heian Ciemnosc on top.

As he and Evans went through City and portals, they attracted attention. First, from the dumb bird, and second, from its owner. Not many were aware of Heian Ciemnosc’s achievements having authentic veracity. But they knew his missions were always successful and were even rumored to be pretty savage and monstrous in his acts. Gaining deterrence and respect from other students alike.

Heian Ciemnosc arrived at the center. At last, he saw that more than ten million people were waiting for some orders to be given by the people in charge. Those in charge were a few Supervisors flying in the sky, accompanied by some Teachers and Sub Teachers. While Assistant Teachers were divided within the crowd, each delegated to keep their block silent and orderly.

Heian Ciemnosc rapidly found his Concealed Ornament Team members and walked to them as the Assistant Teachers allowed him to pass through since that was where he should be. Heian Ciemnosc walked through the crowd, and before even meeting face-to-face with his team members, he had already read throughout their advanced cultivation base after not seeing each other for almost half a month.

Esteban, Fengli, and Sakura were now at the 10th stage of the Crabstynian realm, seemingly having spent their silver coins and merit points. Oleg and Victor were now in the 9th stage, while Violet had reached the 10th stage, catching up with the 3 mightiest in the team. Although she was at the beginning of the 10th stage, the other 3 were already at the peak. Aleksander had made a significant leap and advanced to the 8th stage.

Every single member of his Concealed Ornament Team had become more powerful. Heian Ciemnosc was content, of course. Maybe they thought they were leaving their team leader behind and that it would be awkward to meet him after he helped them gain enough to exchange for so many good things. Besides that, they also bought many raw ingredients, materials, and stuff so their team leader could make some more things for them with the silver coins ready.

“Hey, attention,” Heian Ciemnosc said in a smooth and low voice as he came behind his team members, who looked to the front like the rest. They became stiff and stood in attention for a second before figuring something as they looked backwards and noticed their team leader’s iconic tilted head look at them with understanding. Violet was the first to speak up with a pink countenance, “Team leader! We thought something happened to you. The Supervisors are about to speak!”

“Mn, nothing’s wrong, keep quiet.” Heian Ciemnosc nodded at her with his right palm on her left shoulder. She nodded in return and turned around, finally making an amazed face as she looked at her teammates. If their minds could talk, they would create sparks, but they could only silently communicate with their eyes. ‘Did you see that? He’s an Ashes Soul realm cultivator now!’ - ‘Geez! Team leader is the leader for a reason!’ - ‘Does that mean he can now kill us easily?’ - ‘What a way to put it, Oleg…’ - ‘We’ll be safer with team leader’s new strength!’

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“... Attention! Students of the Wrath Nihility Academy!”

Finally, a Supervisor spoke in a thundering voice without shouting or raising his volume. His Neutral Energy evely went through everyone’s ears, chests, and heads. Everyone became silently strict as they looked up at an old Supervisor with a bald head but still some gray hair at the side corners of his head. He was clearly one of the most mighty Supervisors who could contend and vie for the Vice dean or Dean position in the near future.

“Less than 2 hours ago, the sheltered vile forces hiding under our Academy’s noses decided it was no more of our Academy suppressing the other organizations trying to rise in power.” The Supervisor placed his hands behind his lower back and stepped on air. He moved as he continued to elaborate, “As we speak, anywhere in the Blackotia Kingdom, we are being attacked and hunted down by those who declare themselves revolutionary and a ‘rebel’ against our hegemony!”

“...” His words got many to frown, feeling restless and uncomfortable with doing nothing already. But the Supervisor continued with ease, not hurrying in the slightest. “Simply because they say our Academy is more evil than them, they have begun a war they cannot win! But they’ve already inflicted so much pain into our hearts. It is your fellow students out there being annihilated by the enemy, 1 to 1,000 and stronger than them by several realms or stages at the very least!”

“Your friends as well! And even… lovers and family. They are all out there and will be massacred. Just with the excuse that they declared us oppressive because we’ve been silently growing in influence over the past Eons… Just because we do not allow hidden threats and blatant enemies of nature to remain within our reach! Just because they wanted to grow powerful too, but without us on the map!!”

The Supervisor’s words were as if complaining about the enemy, looking for a reason to be pardoned so the war would stop. But even as he seemed and sounded like that, the Supervisor’s attitude instantly changed as his face turned severe and his words somber. He looked down at a mild portion of the crowd after the changes. “We’ve been too lenient, too understanding and forgiving. Now, they think that by simply speaking words… they have the right…”

The Supervisor started trembling, seemingly having difficulty toning down his emotions as he struggled. Meanwhile, the students’ minds were filled with the unfinished words of ‘they have the right’ going around nonstop. The old Supervisor opened his eyes, and his wrinkled lips also opened to scream hoarsely!

“To war on us and end the lives of our students, friends, and more to their heart’s content!! To do as they please with the Wrath Nihility Academy!!”

“Grawwwwwrrr!” - “Raaaaarrggghh!” - “Vile filths! They must be exterminated!” - “Give us the order, please!!” - “Let’s get moving. We can’t let them think they’ll be able to retreat!!”

“Quiet!” The Supervisor said a single word and the more than 10 million students quieted down in less than several seconds. Heian Ciemnosc and his team were silent the entire time. He watched as the Supervisor spoke from his heart. But also from experience. His thoughts became more solid as he continued to watch and felt his medallion heating up again, several bouts of information getting into it as the Supervisor spoke.

“As you’ve seen, your medallions will be the principal communications system between the Academy and its members and within each army sent out to clean up the land of filth!” The Supervisor looked all around to the more than 10 million students. “Within your medallion’s information, you’ll see this war’s implications and procedures the Academy has already taken action into. All news and reports about this war from our side or the enemy’s will be reported there.”

“Future commands coming directly from the Academy and orders from your superiors within the army will come from there. Do not lose it, as it will be broken apart as soon as it is taken from you by force and by someone not belonging to the Academy. Any direct order you, a leader of a team or larger group, give will be directly transmitted abc to the Academy as long as your group is within a battle. After-action reports will be sent by said leaders after the battle is over. And if the worst is to befall you, the Academy will know when your Soul was extinguished.”

“Only the medallion’s communication system is sage. You will be banned from using Universal Conveyance. The first offense is a deduction of 1,000 merit points. The second offense is death. I don’t need to remind you of the regulations within the Academy’s army. If you haven’t read them, you are not a student of this organization!!” The Supervisor berated them loudly, not caring who was dumb enough not to read through them and who was innocent.

“Now go, follow your medallion’s indications and reunite with your designated army. The Academy will have no place for incapable students who cannot fight for it. Anyone who deserts will be banned from the Blackotia Kingdom entirely! Even if you think we’ll lose and such a ban won’t exist afterwards, your life here will be over!”

“We will never forsake the Academy!!” - “We will fight for the Academy!!” - “We will DIE for the Academy!!” The crowd shouted. Some took their staffs out of their Covert Space bags and knocked their flat end against the ground, making the earth tremble as their shouts could be heard outside the Academy’s territory center.

“Let’s go,” Heian Ciemnosc said. His team members didn’t nod, but they immediately moved with him just as soon as he turned around and headed in a direction. What followed was an inspiring sight of millions and millions of students orderly moving in groups of people or individuals from one place to another. Even as there were large quantities of people around, everything seemed like a rehearsed dynamic as everyone moved towards their designated spots and reunited with other groups. Those alone entered other groups and became one with them, no questions asked.

… When Heian Ciemnosc was walking towards his team’s designated area, there were already a lot of cultivators there, seemingly waiting for a few more groups beside them before taking their leave. Just as he wondered where this army’s ‘known’ commander would be, he saw a red-haired young woman with a face filled with battlelust. His black jacket and hers seemed to hit it off as she approached and addressed him directly.

“Yo, Little Heian Ciemnosc,” Yon greeted him with her left arm raised. Her palm opened as she walked towards him. Every other person around became focused on her and her sudden approach towards a teenager who looked like a young man. But his bones and body’s particularities were read by those capable enough, exposing his age.

Tap. Heian Ciemnosc felt the potent and heavy hand on his right shoulder and shouldered it, passing Yon’s typical daily test as she nodded at him, content with knowing his immense battle prowess hadn’t been lost. With difficulty, he raised his head, making a cute face for this young men-adoring big sister, and said, “Senior Apprentice Sister Yon, nice meeting you here. Pretty and sweet as always.”

“Mohohobohohoh! You always know what to say. If only I wasn’t madly in love with battling forever, I would let you become my adopted little brother. But, you got it wrong…” Senior Apprentice Sister Yon said, locking Heian Ciemnosc’s neck with her right arm as her actually-nice but sweaty scent was discernible evermore in Heian Ciemnosc’s nostrils. He looked up at her with a ‘?’ mark on his forehead, and she grinningly said, “It’s commander Yon now.”

“!” Heian Ciemnosc’s eyes became rounder as he felt excited. He could finally see a Saberbone Diabolical Club’s leader in her full capabilities. As a club leader of such a club, if she only knew how to fight, she wouldn’t have even become a member, let alone one of its leaders!

“... I’m afraid that’s not the case anymore.” But suddenly, a voice from one of the groups of people walking around went up a platform and said in a loud voice in correlation to Heian Ciemnosc and Yon’s little chat. They looked at the young man who spoke just now and analyzed them just as he analyzed them. It was a young man with shining brown short hair combed to the side, looking rather stylish and somewhat of a twinky boi.

“Who are you?” Yon let go of Heian Ciemnosc’s neck and stood straight, her position was 2 meters below the twinky boi, but her gaze and posture were much higher than his. Not only their appearances’ difference and aura, Heian Ciemnosc could even tell this young man was weaker than Yon by a large margin. And to start with, she was in the Second Step, close to the middle, while this young man was ‘merely’ at the peak of the Spirit Rebirth realm.

The young man was accompanied by 3 people. Heian Ciemnosc read their cultivation base but couldn’t tell who they were. It wasn’t like he was leading the one and only army in the organization like he did before. He only knew those he took classes with, whom he bought for, and who had a crush on him but didn’t dare speak to him, afraid of being denied. Naturally, the latter was given a swift visit, and later that night, Heian Ciemnosc would give Alyona a swifter trip to heaven and earth back and forth with ‘some’ stories.

Heian Ciemnosc simply couldn’t know everyone in the Academy out of nowhere. The strongest among those 3 was a young man in the Spirit Rebirth realm 6th stage. Followed by the tallest among them, in the Spirit Formation realm 5th stage, and the weakest in the Spirit Formation realm 3rd stage.

“I am Lionel, this army’s commander.” The young man said, sure of himself, and looked at Heian Ciemnosc with obvious glints in his eyes. But Heian Ciemnosc simply ignored all sheen and bright coming from those eyes. But, this time, it was Yon who spoke. Taking a step forward and not afraid of breaking some laws. “Under whose permission, if not mine?!”

“...” The young man cowed. He looked down at Yon and felt the threat from her glare alone. Seeing her jacket’s emblem made him mentally shiver uncontrollably. He took his medallion out and tightly pressed it. Heian Ciemnosc, Yon, and everyone else within this army felt their medallion heat up. Then, the young man, Lionel, spoke with words exposing how sure he was of himself. “The Academy’s. From now on.”

Lionel nudged his head upwards, his neck showing as if blatantly in his eyes. Heian Ciemnosc looked back at the young man and his antics… calmly.

…