Final Steps, Dark Burst (3)

On another battlefield, close to more open grass fields, majorly lacking structure. The surroundings barely had settlements, and those built up were at the borders of other zones. Only these smallish settlements lived within this zone or were at least. Since the start of the war, accommodations like these were burned down, and their people moved into the nearest City or city. At this moment, there was a strange group of a few thousand stagnant in the middle of the battlefield, waiting for a single dot on the ground to come close to them.

This was an umpteenth face-off between the enemy forces, those few thousand, and Heian Ciemnosc, who was the dot from a far distance and an angle from the skies. At these moments, he was rushing with all his might towards them, but his body wasn’t surrounded by dark Power Energy. Pure bodily strength was fully prepared to strike the enemy as they waited for the infamous Academy’s little monster to arrive.

Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp- dash, whoosh… Heian Ciemnosc’s deadly serious face didn’t change as he continued his ultra-fast run after several tens of minutes. At the start of every battle, he runs. And running until he found an enemy group, he didn’t stop when he had to fight or even after. Never remaining in one place but destroying as many enemies at once so his teams would have an easier time annihilating them.

His outline blurred, his image obscure by his dark cloak. He almost looked like a shadow. As he came close to the small enemy group, his Spirit Sense confirmed no further enemies around a 16-kilometer radius. He could finally focus without worrying about his teams getting encircled again. Heian Ciemnosc stared ahead and set his eyes on the selected person to try to stop him from continuously advancing.

“... gulp!” From the enemy side, the small group, consisting of more than a couple thousand, had a strong-looking young man standing before them at the very frontline and alone. Watching Heian Ciemnosc getting closer and not stopping even after activating the shielding device for cuts and sharp weapons, the young man felt his whole body tremble and his hands sweaty. Even though this effective device was all one needed to stop Heian Ciemnosc, neutralizing the overly powerful cutting proficiency of his innate Art, the young man felt heavily under pressure.

Step, step- whoosh, whoosh. Heian Ciemnosc came even closer to the young man, his closed fists not releasing. Instead, his hands continued to close, and a fist was slowly retracted as his right arm folded and its elbow was sent to the back. Heian Ciemnosc looked like a machine at the young man, whose face unhurriedly changed, but the young man couldn’t do anything.

The young man, shaking and preparing for the worst after the Wrath Nihility Academy’s little monster claw was stuck in the shielding device, such as a beheading, wanted to close his eyes and let whatever would happen - happen. But even as he trembled and slowly let go of the device, this feeling of thousands of Power Energy strands filled his arm and hands before connecting to the device.

Thus, the young man had an immediate change of heart as he glanced down at the device. He felt like he couldn’t let down these people. He couldn’t be why everyone died because of his negligence and fear. They were fearful, too! They were living and breathing but fought for what they wanted! The young man’s face steeled, and he held the shielding device precisely, even if his hands were still trembling as he looked at the pale little monster before him.

“!” But then, he saw. Heian Ciemnosc’s right hand wasn’t forming into a clawing gesture, and his body even seemed about to… strike him? It wasn’t a sweeping, slashing, or cutting motion but a simple, blunt hit? The young man’s face was suddenly momentarily lost, but Heian Ciemnosc had already arrived before him.

Swish- whooshh- PAAMM. Crrreeesshhhhkk~ crreeshhk~ crreeshhk~ crreeshhk~...

Heian Ciemnosc’s left foot dug a couple of inches into the earth, and his dashing body slowly came to stand before the young man to the right as his right arm thrust forward! Heian Ciemnosc’s fist came crashing on the shielding device. It was a few meters large and had a steep, pointy center. It even had materials a Spirit Rebirth realm cultivator couldn’t penetrate even with their Power Energy at maximum potency unless they used an Art.

However, Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t using any Art and instead used his 32,000 kg of bodily strength to run and punch. Not even the flashy and practically useless pseudo-Arts were this mediocre, but it happened. His knuckles connected to the shielding device, and before the young man or anyone behind him could truthfully tell the difference, the shielding device broke away like a balloon self-imploding, and the young man was thrown backwards.

Or, rather than being thrown, he was blasted! The young man didn’t feel the fist reach his chest. He only felt the pain from the shielding device breaking away as his hands were pulverized. His eyes closed tightly shut as if he had died with tremendous pain, and his face stiffened then and there. Even as the young man’s body was practically limbless, disappearing with each passing second as it went through his fellow cultivators’ bodies and their weapons, which they had taken out to fight, not to accidentally grind their ally into only skin and a few bones.

But those fellow cultivators couldn’t help it. They were also struck backwards by Heian Ciemnosc’s strike. Even a few dozen meters behind the young man, everyone was thrown to the sky or crushed against the ground by the impact, let alone by the multitude of cultivators flying and slamming into others and forming a domino effect. The cultivators at the first few meters behind the young man exploded to smithereens, mostly belonging to the Spirit Formation realm or lower.

The other enemies were accidentally killed by the cultivators and thrown backwards, with the latter’s weapons finding their way into their fellow troopers’ vitals. If it wasn’t for their weapons, their bodies would impale others, leaving no survival chance for their victims. Their fellow cultivators were also slammed so fast and powerfully that only their limbs remained as even their heads self-imploded from the pressure all over their bodies. Cultivation didn’t help.

The sounds of everything developing weren’t new to Heian Ciemnosc, especially lately. But he still felt amused as he heard and watched a few hundred directly explode and die with this one punch. No dark Power Energy was added to the equation. All he did was punch with his whole bodily strength alone. If anything, the other enemies’ fate was just being unlucky. He didn’t intercept so their weapons could kill each other.

Step, step, step, step. Dash, dash, dash, dash. Phhshk!, crreeshhk, ckrsheerr.

“NOOO! P- pl- please!!” - “AAaaaAAAHGGHH!” - “No, no. Wa-” - “Aaaauuuuugghh!!”

Before the enemy could stop themselves from falling and dying at their fellow cultivators’ hands or bodies, hundreds of footsteps sounded and followed after Heian Ciemnosc, giving rise to the sight of many more figures coming towards every cultivator. Those who were lying were targeted first and killed off. In a few seconds, hundreds of enemies died again, this time more appropriately, as they were stabbed, slammed, and cut in the head.

The rest of the enemies who stood up and tried to run were hunted down by Heian Ciemnosc, whose fangs, claws, and whip knew no respect and destroyed, disfigured, and horrified every body part he could find still attached to their living bodies. The rest of the enemies wanted to die fighting, thus brutally massacred by Heian Ciemnosc’s teams without mercy or the option to surrender.

… A few tens of minutes later, the battle ended. Tens of thousands of student troops returned to their transporting ship before setting camp somewhere around the enemy territory. Although Heian Ciemnosc had just been fighting, there were little to a few remaining hidden enemy forces left behind. After gaining so much in the army and infamy on the enemy’s, Heian Ciemnosc was used as a portable radar that could go a few tens of meters below the ground level to search for clues.

After working as a warrior during the day and night and as a chasing dog during his breaks, 10 days have passed, and Heian Ciemnosc fought his last battle before the start of the actual final struggle. Heian Ciemnosc had gained so much merit he wondered if he could buy all the First Step treasury when he returned. There were too many materials and resources he couldn’t get in the Blackotia Kingdom, even though his Master would probably give it to him if he asked her.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

At this moment, many hours had passed by since the battle. This was considered a break 10 times over for the elite army, who took down millions of enemy cultivators in just 10 days. While his COs rested in their tents and prepared for the incoming battle, and thanks to Heian Ciemnosc, they knew to the letter. Heian Ciemnosc was sitting on a log and eating while watching the lonely and endless distance in the sky.

Heian Ciemnosc was eating some dried-up, roasted meat. It was tasty and as flavorful as a chicken’s toasted skin. His legs slightly spread as he enjoyed it. Only a few hours were left before the morning, but he continued wide awake, having a snack, and was pensive. His cultivation had stagnated in the Ashes Soul realm 10th stage. But his COs were rapidly increasing theirs and not losing the touch to stabilize and solidify their path.

Pa- thud. Just as he was contemplating, Heian Ciemnosc heard the log being slapped. And then someone sat to his left. Looking up at the person’s face but immediately returning his eyes to the sky, Heian Ciemnosc said, “Teacher Puru, why are you here again? I tried asking for Auntie before, but I was told she was too busy and wasn’t allowed outside her duties. She did send me a few gifts, hm.”

“Agh, you brat. Your Uncle is here, and all you think is about your Aunt? I brought you some gifts, too.” Teacher Puru shook his head and said, but he still showed a little smile in his eyes as he stared at Heian Ciemnosc almost face to face. Heian Ciemnosc wolfed down the piece of roasted meat, crushing it with his peerless white teeth before turning to his lift and grabbing the swaddled items in his Uncle’s hands.

“Thank you, Uncs,” Heian Ciemnosc said with his head lowered and fingertips slowly probing the thingies. Teacher Puru’s gaze was casual before speaking, slightly berating Heian Ciemnosc. “You fool, you haven’t even seen what it is. What if it’s something trashy? Would you still be thankful, then? Huh?! Do you think nobody knows how extensive your Spirit Sense range is? You can’t penetrate through this paper. Just open it.”

“... mn.” Noticing how soft and light his Uncle’s voice became towards the end of the scolding, Heian Ciemnosc was silent and paralyzed before nodding his head a little before obediently unwrapping them. As he did, his eyes became broader, larger than saucers, as he effortlessly recognized them. Two of them were materials for forging an Earth grade weapon and armor! The rest were coupons for a hundred merit points each and a letter notifying him of the Academy’s acceptance if he requested to become a Leading Student!!

“Teach- Uncle Puru, I was just going to say, if these were really bad, I’d just tell Auntie Sharina, and you’ll see what happens when you try to trick me. But… I wasn’t wrong. These are good.” Heian Ciemnosc said somewhat excitedly but still calm and composed. On the other hand, the poor Uncle was left speechless. “...”

“Cough, it’s good that you know.” Teacher Puru said, making time to recover before saying. “After becoming a Leading Student, you can travel the Galaxy however you please. Your attendance to regular classes won’t be checked anymore. But you won’t have permission to leave the Galaxy without the Academy allowing it. However, now you will be able to take missions outside the Universe. You’ll broaden your horizon before you know it, kid.”

“I heard you really liked the Fighters from a few pilot teams. The Academy has a depository for old and new trashed Fighters. There are even a few parts I found before this war. They’re yours.” Teacher Puru’s words had Heian Ciemnosc’s eyes widen - and his pupils shrink. He looked at his Uncle with admiration and gratefulness before smirking from the left corner of his mouth. After a brief silence, he spoke to the teacher.

“I’ll do my best to help the Academy, including this moment, forwards.” Heian Ciemnosc’s words attracted his Uncle’s attention. He slightly hung his neck and bent his back as he looked at his Nephew. Heian Ciemnosc looked up, took out another piece of meat, and began eating as he added. “As for my wives, I’ll visit them every 3 months and share my experiences with them. They love me so much they can accept me staying here for a few years more.”

Teacher Puru still wore his casual expression. He knew what these young men and women were like and was too understanding of such nature. He suddenly felt like teasing and spoke to Heian Ciemnosc, leaning slightly towards him as he pushed the pale teenager to the side. “Wait that long, huh? Wives, huh? Tsk tsk, if Sharina knew, she would frown at you! Look at me, one girl only and the happiest man in the world.”

“She wouldn’t. Auntie would congratulate me and feel proud of my manliness. Tsk tsk,” Heian Ciemnosc put on a bothered face and retorted without fighting Teacher Puru back. Who was he kidding? 32,000 kg of bodily strength was nothing compared to this monstrous Secod Step expert, who had begun to grow strong ever since he and Sharina became engaged. And even more so with this threatening, mighty-handsome teenager close to them. After all, Sharina was still young. She wouldn’t mind new, fresh meat.

“... Mm, by the way,” Teacher Puru hummed, immediately attracting Heian Ciemnosc’s attention as he looked at his Uncle. Teacher Puru spoke with sternness that Heian Ciemnosc dared not neglect, “It will take a few days to take down the enemy. Don’t worry about Second Step cultivators killing you in exchange for their lives. They will turn into dust by the world’s wrath before they can even make a move against you... if they’ve decided.”

“I know~, I’m not new. Besides, you know who’s my Master, right?” Heian Ciemnosc rolled his eyes and nudged his head to the right, annoyed. Teacher Puru nodded as he looked up at the dark, gray sky, soon to light up. “True. I can’t think of a better master for you than Her Excellency. Did you know? She saw the current headmaster’s birth and even helped. She only spoke some advice during the time the headmaster hatched. But his troublesome and death-threatening situation right into an eminent figure across the world. Isn’t she amazing?”

“Mn. The best,” Heian Ciemnosc softly said. Teacher Puru became calm and quiet, somewhat influenced by Heian Ciemnosc’s way of being. They remained muted and ate a little while watching the dark sky unhurriedly turn orangish and yellowish. Heian Ciemnosc’s cultivation hadn’t advanced, not just because he was busy, but also because he didn’t want to breakthrough just yet. He first wanted to exterminate this problem.

. . .

A couple hours later, enemy territory, the start of the end!

After the sun began coming up and the army was soon to mobilize, Heian Ciemnosc returned to his COs and woke them up. They were stressed and nervous but excited and in the mood to rid their home of such insolent bugs. After being woken up, they quickly arranged themselves and walked to their transporting ship. They didn’t wait for the other student troops and entered it, surprising the piloting team inside.

After going in, Heian Ciemnosc prepared everything, checked the cannons, and even revised the guidance systems. Although the piloting team had already done that several times, they didn’t obstruct the acclaimed major contributor to these cannons and the tracking features from the machine guns’ bullets among other helpful and substantial actions and discoveries. But then, after seeing Heian Ciemnosc check the things they already knew were fine sweated.

Heian Ciemnosc was meticulous but also checked the mechanisms and structures in ways they didn’t. They simply tested a little and inspected the inside or the systems’ infrastructure to define the state of the vessel’s arsenal and functions. But after Heian Ciemnosc finished and found nothing wrong, the transporting ship’s piloting team sighed in relief. Fortunately, they didn’t let their most admired soldier unit down.

Once that was over, and Heian Ciemnosc and his Concealed Ornament Team had revised the entire vessel, it flew high into the skies as the armies below in the camps began to prepare. Even with their cultivation base and Covert Space bags, they could be seen checking their arsenal. Those cannons were not allowed to fail, and those with the shells checked theirs didn’t have any extra pure energy, some Element attached to it, or any flora’s medicinal effect smeared on it.

Farther above in the skies, Heian Ciemnosc could see the Second Step fleet as it was already directly above the enemy’s small City. With the clear, light blue sky hiding nothing, Heian Ciemnosc even saw a few humongous figures, definitely not as large as these transporting ships. But only one would be enough to destroy all Academy fleets. Naturally, these enormous figures far away weren’t from the enemy. Otherwise, his wifey would’ve sent a little missile over to take care of the problem.

At this moment, it was time. The day hit 7 AM, and Heian Ciemnosc felt the transporting ship lower itself unto the ground, but not completely. Stopping 400 meters above the earth, Heian Ciemnosc and his CO Team opened the hatches leading to the stationary personnel hangars. The student troops knew what to do and directly entered through there, not from the other hatches around the vessel.

Afterwards, elevating to a height of 50 km and gathering with the rest of the First Step fleets at the same level, Heian Ciemnosc’s transporting ship led the way on the front with another 3 vessels accompanying it just a few hundred meters behind.

At this level, 50 km above ground level, all First Step fleets were divided into 3 inner levels. The elite, regular, and bombarding levels. The first inner level was the vanguard, charging and dying first and more than anyone else. They were the elite and pride of the Academy, whose achievements far exceeded those in the other 2 inner levels together.

The second inner level would follow up with several ships after every elite army’s transporting ship. They were both cannon teams and groups that would siege the enemy’s small City with the elites. And the third inner level consisted of transporting ships that would remain behind and above in the skies. They had much more ammunition and better accuracy than even some elite vessels. Unlike the other 2 inner levels, this one would not dive and maneuver, directly engaging the enemy. But it had anti-missile mini-turrets with longer barrels and more ammunition.

The other 2 inner levels’ transporting ships would occasionally return high up into the skies, but only for whatever possible fixes could be made with the auxiliary transporting ships before returning. That was the plan. And as for the third inner level’s student troops. They would all dive down after the first defensive line was taken down.

…