Recruiting?!
The Aqualian Drake Sect had a ring of settlements around its Medium City, where the Sect was headquartered and expanded part of its walls but didn't increase the City's overall territory. It was the same with the Forestalress Academy. There were only towns and villages in the southern land sections of the Calatida Region. This was surely made to dissolve the issue pertaining low amount of help given to the inhabitants. However, these were also far from the norther shore. It could be seen how simply fearful these 2 organizations were of the enemy invading them.
At the very least, the 2 land sections had a few territories spreading across their Region’s side to grow flora, fauna, and gather particular natural resources. However, these were too few, making Heian Ciemnosc doubt if these were helpful to the organizations. Their disciples and students going on missions might be several times more profitable…
Additionally, there were few universal coin trading between civilians and citizens, and with cultivators for that matter. They would receive universal coins from cultivators if they had something of value to them, but with how the 2 organizations neglect them, it rarely happened.
These villages and towns were impoverished. They weren’t on their last, but they could. This village’s soil was fertile, but not well taken care of, and the civilians seemed tired or bored. It was almost as if they were limited to doing manual labor and could only spend their days waiting for the weekly ration from the organizations.
This Region’s peak realm was the Farsighted realm. Both organizations had a few Farsighted realm experts standing at the top of the Region. The rest of the upper echelons and some higher-ups were at the Life-Long realm. The rest of their main forces spread from the Central Formation realm to the Mythical realm.
However, while Heian Ciemnosc knew only about the enemy’s forces’ numbers, the information provided explained the Aqualian Drake Sect and Forestalress Academy’s soldier units as the lowest even for an early Third Step organization.
On the other hand, the Forestalress Academy has a similar layout for settlements in its territory, but it was better connected, and might have a thin relationship with its inhabitants.
Decades ago, these 2 organizations, along with tens of others, brought civilians and their migrating organizations to this Region. They wanted to vie for a position in the Region and grow to an unlimited degree in due time! Everyone wanted that if they were at least somewhat ambitious. However, the Aqualian Drake Sect and Forestalress Academy struggled even after they bent their knees and propped up their butts to the Heraxle Clan.
If the enemy could rapidly conquer the norther land sections and privy them from spying with Spirit Sense, which many could do as their Spirit Sense would be tremendously enhanced in the Farsighted realm. It meant the danger ahead was promising, and that Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t rely on these 2 organizations to start building.
Thus, Heian Ciemnosc sat on a spot with his people sitting around him. Heian Ciemnosc’s Eternal Return Team members would follow him no matter what. On the other hand, the vice commanders were still amidst deciding if to follow Heian Ciemnosc’s instruction to the letter.
At this very moment, Heian Ciemnosc heard a few low, hushed questions, and murmurs. He gave the village one last glance before addressing his second-in-commands. His voice was clear and calming, “Only 30 Mythical realm cultivators. 25 belong to the village, kill everyone. Anyone who flees will be executed. If there’s someone in this force that doesn’t wish to participate, speak now. I might be decisive, but I won’t force anyone in my side.”
“Commander, we have our thoughts, but nobody in our command is a coward!” - “Mn Commander, we’ve seen war, and so have you. No one here hasn’t seen bloodshed and mercilessness! Don’t play with us, thinking like this about us!” - “Commander, speak. We all know we didn’t come here to sip and relax.”
“... Very well…” Heian Ciemnosc nodded after looking at them. He added with a relaxed tone, “No need for any preparation, just go ahead with surrounding and rushing to the village. Try to pressure them. Make them fearful. We don’t need to kill the villagers, they are all resourceful. We’ll have a meeting 2 days after taking the village. There’s still 4 days until the new batch of rations, and an extra week for the neighboring village’s merchandise to arrive.”
“Those selected, move your people forth. Let the auxiliary units half a step behind, I’m not planning to let more than half our numbers unaware of what is to come,” Heian Ciemnosc said. He lightly touched his medallion with his right-handed index and middle fingers together as 30 vice commanders felt their medallions heat up. Heian Ciemnosc then said with a cold, stern tone, “Understood?”
“Yessir!” The 30 vice commanders who were selected by Heian Ciemnosc lowly roared. The others felt a little flabbergasted. They were more experienced than the rest. It was fine to give the others chances to gain experience, but… why not select at least 1 of the most experienced?!
Heian Ciemnosc’s small force was divided into 50 vice commanders at the Life-Long realm. 30 of these led Frigates along their commanders. Some of those commanders were around them right now, but most weren’t accompanied by their commander. Thus, few vice commanders would work together with their spaceship commanders.
Only 20 among the 50 vice commanders were experts in leading from tens of thousands to even a Cruiser, which had up to 300,000 military units, with more than 80% of that number being soldier units. However, Heian Ciemnosc didn’t choose any of those 20.
Each vice commander currently led 1,000 soldier units and 3,000 auxiliary units. The latter would be left to manage things. They were Third Step cultivators, too. But some were Second Step, like Anastasia, and an even smaller portion were First Step.
Although these numbers were small, the amount of micromanagement options the vice commander had to consider were many. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t come here just to complete his objective. Since the Heraxle Clan promised his nearly legendary wifey extra benefits if the Calatida Region special operation was completed with more than its main objective, he was ready to go all out.
“Set off,” Heian Ciemnosc’s soft voice descended, waking the selected and not selected vice commanders from their stupor. The latter weren’t feeling so well, but the former fell ecstatic. Never did they imagined they would be performing so soon. They quickly sobered up and went away to prepare their rats.
Heian Ciemnosc was left alone with his Eternal Return Team. At this time, Anastasia walked towards him with her bodyguards behind her to her sides. She crouched beside him and asked him in a light tone, “Will I have anything to do?”
“Mn, I have a task for you. Watch this mission. Every little detail. Then, immediately sit cross-legged and cultivate until you reach another stage. I’ll build you a cottage so your aunties, and you can be at peace.
Little Anastasia nodded, and although she felt a little disappointed, she acquiesced. “I understand.”
“Mn, we’ll let you know when that happens. Don’t worry about us, she’ll be safe,” Grietta looked at Heian Ciemnosc and promised. Tania lightly grinned from the left corner of her mouth. Heian Ciemnosc thanked them with his darkest eyes before turning around again. He set his gaze on the village, his first objective since arriving here.
“Heian Ciemnosc…” Sara muttered in his head. She had been silent since the meteorite event occurred. Heian Ciemnosc instantly formed a Soul-ish body in his inner universe. He warmly smiled at her, “No worries. That’s something we’ll take care of later. For now, let’s focus on the current path ahead.”
“Mn,” Sara obediently nodded her small head. She looked heavy down and ‘slow’. Her body movements weren’t usually not energetic and opaque, as if she lost something precious. But as she felt him and saw his response, her eyes gained their inexhaustible bright, and the cross on her eyes twirled contentedly.
“You still have to break into the 3rd stage. So… hurry up!” Sara exclaimed, urging him to continue breakthrough and whatnot. Heian Ciemnosc’s Soul-ish body nodded. Then, Heian Ciemnosc darkest eyes smoothly opened. He looked at the village ahead in the dark as the superficial sun started showing tiny signs only a cultivator with Heian Ciemnosc’s enhanced senses could notice before the dark was replaced by light.
“Sir, everything ready. Everyone’s in position… Just waiting on you,” commanding assistant Etherea spoke behind him. Heian Ciemnosc’s body seemed immobile, impenetrable. He felt the footsteps of 30,000 soldier units stop at his silent response.
“... Run,” Heian Ciemnosc lightly called out as he tilted his head down towards the left. His body hadn’t even moved when the tens of thousands of soldier units silently rushed forth with a black array formation covering their bodies from head to toe, silencing their sound and their effect on their environment.
Fwish, fwish, fwish… The grass lightly sounded as 90,000 auxiliary units rushed forth. They didn’t dare look at their commander, who barely moved his body after being informed. They didn’t want to sow distractions when the operation’s first mission was on them.
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Whoosh~... The military units departed, leaving Heian Ciemnosc alone with his Team members. Ruo Wei moved 2 steps forwards to stand before him on his right before speaking as she also gazed at the village about to be covered in conflict. “We’ll follow, boss.”
“Then, let’s go,” Heian Ciemnosc called out. He stepped forth, and his body immediately disappeared as his body fused with the night. His Team members grinned before executing some Vigor Energy and becoming blurry figures in the dark.
Clanton and Moy had reached the Life-Long realm 4th stage. While Moy’s accumulated potential started slowing down after breaking into the Third Step, it still allowed him to catch up with Clanton, who did his best to continue cultivating without inherited potential from his parents.
Cara broke into the Life-Long realm 7th stage. Sandra was only 1 stage below Cara, but wasn’t far from her, and only needed a small push with either a favorable day or another group cultivation session with Heian Ciemnosc. Ruo Wei and Loma had become Life-Long realm 8th stage cultivators, leading the Team in cultivation base.
After those 3 months, Heian Ciemnosc became a Life-Long realm 2nd stage cultivator, but he wasn’t far from the 3rd stage. Using his group cultivation method almost daily with another 6 gave him many benefits. Considering his requirements to break through every single stage, he might gain much more than his Team members combined.
Whoosh, whooosh…
Heian Ciemnosc watched from above as he flew with his 3 meter dark tail bending low against his thighs. In his right hand, the Golden Array Snakes barely glowed 200 meters in the sky when a few cultivators below seemed to notice something and hurriedly looked up. Their frowns creased, but before they could imagine what it was, Heian Ciemnosc forcefully threw his Golden Array Snakes downwards!
WHEEEESH~! PSHHIIIIIIFFTT- TSHING~!
The cube became several meters large as it instantly arrived near the village’s center, where a tower-like small structure was built. No civilians lived there, only 8 of the 30 Third Step cultivators within the village, and some targets they couldn’t let slip away.
Before the cube could expand as intended, and form a 50 km x 50 km large, orange-golden cage, a cluster of dark Vigor Energy traveled swift and unstoppable towards that small structure’s rooftop. It immediately collided with the building and created a dark cloud with numerous meters in diameter. BOOOM- CRASSHH~!
“Aaah!” - “What- what was that?!” - “Enemy attack! To your defensive positions!!” - “Why weren’t they detected?! What’s going on?!!” - “Not time for that now! Focus on defending- sh… it!” The cultivators inside the village responded as swiftly as possible while the building at the center crumbled and continued to fall underground, leaving no traces of life behind, and golden walls appeared everywhere around their village.
When they noticed the countless shadows running towards them as the cage stopped just about 200 meters above the ground level regarding its ceiling, they turned tail and fled without further consideration. However, those who were already striking some of the Golden Array Snakes Artifact were appalled as they could only form cracks with energy attacks, Earth weapons and tools.
“HUAA!!!” - “Nobody runs! If you dare, prepare to die!!” - “Hide in your houses! If you collude with these cultivators, you’re dead meat!”
Just as the remaining 20 cultivators tried using their Arts’ strongest moves, as 2 were caught and brutally murdered by the 30,000 soldier units while the auxiliary units sounded with warnings and straight-up death threats, terrorizing the village. The soldier units caught with the enemy cultivators.
“...” The enemy cultivators looked back at the Crimsons, and when the majority of them saw the emblems on their chests, their faces became uglier than ugly before they were swarmed by the soldier units. Half their numbers attempted to fight back, but they were all quelled in under 5 seconds by the plethora of tools exquisitely flying to accurately finish off the enemies.
The conflict didn’t last long. Other than a few houses, and the structure at the center, no further action was needed. The situation became controlled before any villager could see flames or a counterattack.
Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc floated in the air. He was slightly startled that it was so easy. However, his Spirit Sense even covered the underground without obstruction, so he knew there were no more enemies nearby. He retracted his slightly damaged Golden Array Snakes barriers and looked at the little cube in his left palm. ‘You require a little upgrade, huh? Just a little more of time for you, pal.’
Heian Ciemnosc then slowly descended as the auxiliary units started moving about. Villagers were sought in their houses and other buildings, and even those hiding in wells, farms, stores, or where the dung was stored.
As Heian Ciemnosc descended, he was rapidly approached by the attentive commanding assistant. She briefed him as soon as she stood a few steps away from him. “Those cultivators were mostly from other places. They said they were protecting them from invaders that would come and take their women away, make them see, and force them to eat their children.”
“Any communication?” Heian Ciemnosc didn’t react much to what the villagers answered after being interrogated. If the Crimsonbreaking Faction couldn’t act this fast, they wouldn’t be the Crimsonbreaking Faction, ah.
“No, commander,” Etherea responded, looking down at her digital clipboard. Although they couldn’t completely isolate a settlement from communicating with others, they could at least pinpoint the exchange of messages via talisman or medallion if the enemy did any.
However, the enemy had no contact. When the Golden Array Snakes activated, Heian Ciemnosc’s Spirit Sense didn’t sense any talisman or traveling force touch, go through, or be crushed against his Artifact’s barriers. Heian Ciemnosc frowned and dubiously asked after pondering, “Could the enemy not care of the situation here? Their devices must have suffered if they wanted to conceal themselves in the wild.”
“...” Etherea raised her eyebrows and looked around. Heian Ciemnosc’s supplies came from his store, and he couldn’t use much of what his Universal Conveyance store gained. Most of it was dedicated to his Large Flotilla, which never lacked a spare parts or ammunition for its spaceships.
These 2 days, all Heian Ciemnosc created was a few gadgets to recognize the communications of anyone, including their allies. Thus, receiving no results, Heian Ciemnosc was sure that the enemy didn’t employ their nice toys outside their walls. They either didn’t care… or are too stingy to ‘risk’ their high-end devices outside their safe home.
In a way, similar to the Aqualian Drake Sect and Forestalress Academy, the enemy organizations were wasting war effort because of fear of losing something. Heian Ciemnosc mentally shook his head, finally understanding what kind of ‘mess’ he got himself into.
“Commander, as for the list of possible leadership commanders according to your requirements… nobody showed themselves valuable. The 30 attacking vice commanders just did their job, and the 20 resting vice commanders looked from afar.” Etherea suddenly said, after hesitating a little. She felt bad for both their small force and Heian Ciemnosc’s expectations.
“It’s okay.” Heian Ciemnosc nodded. He was aware of his people’s actions. This ‘test’ was simple. He focused on the reactions of the vice commanders and military units. However, everyone only moved as intended.
Although the Crimsonbreaking Faction was an organization worthy of their reputation, finding innate commanders wouldn’t suddenly become easier for it.
“Notify me when they’ve been gathered,” Heian Ciemnosc told Etherea before walking back into the wild. He had a cottage to build. Etherea nodded and hugged her clipboard before walking towards the west. That’s where tens of thousands of people were gathered and constantly moved to. They weren’t brutally forced, but were forced there nonetheless.
The villages in the Calatida Region were scarcely enormous to make up the lack of genuine settlements in the Region. They could hold up to a couple hundred thousand. However, while this was too much for a village, the towns were even more overpopulated and the size of big cities.
… An hour later, when all villagers were placed in a new open area which was previously the eastern residential area where a few tens of thousands lived. Heian Ciemnosc finished building a small, dainty cottage where he sat his daughter on her new, wooden bed. She was too engrossed in cultivating to notice him.
He wanted her to rapidly achieve the Light/Dark realm. Since they were in an Upper Kingdom, a First and Second Step would have it much easier to progress than in any other lower-classified Kingdom, or even a Space Station. The pure energy here was innate and didn’t need refining from space.
Now that the villagers were gathered, they were made to wait 2 hours before they saw someone walk towards them. The soldier and auxiliary units around the clean, empty area. But they didn’t have the resentment and discontent that the villagers had towards their commander.
When the villagers looked in the direction that their ‘conquerors’ looked at and slightly saluted, only to see a pale, outstandingly tall, but not exaggeratedly, unthinkably handsome young man walking towards them. The soldier units around them made the villagers feel like bloodthirsty and hungry wolves, calmly letting them live in peace, as if that would make their flavor improve.
However, this ‘monster’ before them was like a true horror. He slowly walked towards them, looking at them without diverting his glance.
Heian Ciemnosc took his damn, sweet time walking to where everyone was congregated. When he arrived, the vice commanders walked forth and nodded towards him. Heian Ciemnosc returned the gesture before setting his gaze around his soldier units, walking past the villagers as if he randomly ‘called’ them here for no reason.
After his soldier units felt the pressure, and auxiliary units swallowed imaginary saliva, Heian Ciemnosc set his darkest eyes on the village’s people.
“Who are you… why did you do this?!” A young, thin woman asked after the villagers felt a strange sensation press on their bodies from both the inside and outside. Heian Ciemnosc casually turned his head and looked at the voice’s owner without responding.
An old lady stepped forth, pulled her dress up, and crab-walked towards Heian Ciemnosc. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t do anything to stop her, but his Spirit Sense ordered his people to let it be. When the older woman was a few meters before Heian Ciemnosc, she made gestures as if to beat him up. The corners of his overly pale red lips curled when seeing the stubbornness of villagers after a while as the lady shouted.
“How dare you touch my land?! My home! My loved ones! You monster! Trash!!”
Heian Ciemnosc lifted his left eyebrow, feeling strangely familiar with those words. The old lady swung a loose, filthy fist at him. However, Heian Ciemnosc lifted his left hand, placing it before his left chest, and gently swatted his hand to the left. A bout of ‘air’ traveled and sent the old lady flying 2 meters before falling face first on the messy dirt.
“Because I can,” Heian Ciemnosc nonchalantly announced. He turned around to gaze at every villager’s face before commencing. “That, take it as a warning. Stupidity will not be rewarded. From now on, your village’s men and women will be conscripted.”
“What?!” - “You’re trying to kill us!” - “If you wish to exterminate us, why bother with such nonsense?!” - “Aren’t you cultivators? Aren’t you so strong?! Show it!!”
“Of course, we won’t cut off all possibilities for your families’ next descendants and generations to come,” Heian Ciemnosc added, feeling slightly bothered that these villagers didn’t let him finish…
…