Immigrants?
They stayed at the shady, obscure woods for a couple of weeks, enjoying the relaxing time they so much deserved after cultivating for over a year without rest. It wasn't rare to spend months or years just to cultivate through another stage or several. However, as a Third Step organization that had already reached the peak, and their resources increased due to the recent Existences' war, it was sufficient to diligently cultivate every day for continuous hours to keep up below the Farsighted realm.
Usually, only from Officers up the ladder would need such extensive periods of times to cultivate even just a small part of a level within a stage, let alone a realm, within the Crimsonbreaking Faction. Soldiers didn’t really find difficulty progressing throughout the years in the Third Step’s early realms.
Thus, that 1 year and 2 months in the cave became an eye-opener for the Eternal Return Team. Anastasia was also a little dazzled afterwards, and because of the Elemental traces involved, she had to rest her mind as soon as she ended her cultivation session. The two maids were a little new to the cultivation world, so they adapted well, although they couldn’t advance as much as Anastasia would’ve if she was in their place.
Later on, Heian Ciemnosc had Evans make a detour before heading straight back to the Calatida Region to a certain town where they spent 2 days. That also marked the end of Heian Ciemnosc’s promise to have Grietta as his temporary wife, but that wasn’t something that stupidly or unnecessarily brought unworthy thoughts to their minds.
Finally, 4 months after they left the empty cave, the group flew into the Calatida Region from the southeast. They could see the enormous changes of the Southeastern territory even from hundreds of kilometers away.
The people, for starters, could be seen riding from carriages to automobiles. These weren’t luxurious, and some looked dusty, but not old. Additionally, they were clearly manufactured to be safe and speedy enough, while others acted like a mini-cargo vehicle.
The paths were enormous and made between each settlement and landscapes with water, ordinary natural resources, and even mines and merchant, vagrant yet rich-like areas that were constantly stepped and drove on. The inhabitants didn’t have the happiest smiles in the world and had eternal peace in their mind, but their attitude was surely different from even 2 years ago.
Those driving in automobiles were serene. Those on carriages nodded at each other and others on the sidewalks. And those on the sidewalks greeted those walking in the opposite direction every now and then. It was calm and simply mingling out of politeness.
But that was outside the settlements. Before Heian Ciemnosc could even take dully note of the supreme-sized villages and all towns, he noticed several hundred villages spanning over the prairies, between mountain ranges, around lagoons, and even near the Regional borders without fear, unlike before.
These were too small, and some weren’t even considered small-sized settlements, even for villages. However, they weren’t unattended, and despite their smallish individual territory, they all had the cultivation resources shop and Craftsmaking store with the Aqualian Drake Sect branch building near the center and the shop and store.
No matter if some had 1 or 2 families currently, they were attended by the resourceful Aqualian Drake Sect. No matter how small they started, their villages were bound to become supreme-sized villages with 500 km around them as their territory from beginning to end. Their progress would only increase the actual active range of the village throughout time.
Carrying on, Heian Ciemnosc observed the liveliness of those villages before analyzing the others, and those that were already supreme-sized villages. The latter had their walls and arsenal atop them, constantly looking into the plains, mountains, vegetation, and so on. Although they mainly captured fauna activity, if any dared to come too close to the village without the arsenal aiming guiding systems recognizing them by the array formations, which only the villages could grant permission to, they would become dust and slight pieces of fur or hide.
As for bandits, such things seemed to happen in the past of this new Southeastern territory. However, the civilians didn’t seem fearful about them.
Either way, Heian Ciemnosc observed the towns’ progress and also found them all to be finished, with their arsenal complete, and some with Patrolling or Civil Guard headquarters built near the Aqualian Drake Sect’s branch building. These had dozens of First Step cultivators. Although they were barely starting, they would continue to improve and maybe reach the Conflagrate realm in dozens of years.
As for the Obsidiafying realm or above, that could only be realized if an organization, which were the only ones with enough personnel and connections, wished to trade the necessary cultivation resources to the towns’ police. Of course, the ruling organizations weren’t even bothered, and the new First Step organizations weren’t willing to lose precious cultivation resources for some silver coins that they could gain in other simpler ways without losing anything.
These police might get their wanted cultivation resources if there were Second Step organizations, but that would be for the future. There was still a long way before such things arrived. For now, the Conflagrate realm was enough to keep the large group of cultivators within the settlements powerful enough to defend the civilians. Anything more dangerous would have to be addressed by the Sect.
WHOOOOOOOOSHHHH~~~!!!
“Hm, it’s beautiful,” Grietta whispered as she was held from the back by Heian Ciemnosc. Although her temporary wife time was over, that wouldn’t stop their talks about life. Besides, Grietta felt so nice to embrace, even outside of bed…
She grinned as she looked at the Small City still a few thousand kilometers away, but she and the others could see most of the walls, and the several arsenals placed atop the walls and hidden within them on lower levels. Furthermore, the protective array formations were green colored, a medium protective array formation above the light green of lower quality.
It wasn’t just 1 protective array formation, but 3 forming a layer, with 4 in total. 3 outside that spread outwards and into the sky, and another one for directly protecting behind the walls and ensure the Small City’s protection in case of a siege and bombardment of any kind.
“They’ve done a good job,” Heian Ciemnosc spoke as he lightly squeezed right below Grietta’s collar bone, making her frown in ecstasy as she muffled a moan. Heian Ciemnosc kissed her left cheek and massaged her body a little more before standing up and helping Grietta. She walked around and stood behind Anastasia, who was already excited to return.
She and the others had been looking down at the completely changed Southeastern territory. They were excited and felt like this was all done by the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s efforts. They weren’t wrong. Although the ruling organizations’ numbers made this possible in a short time, would this have happened if not for their brand-new supreme commander?
Criiii~~!! Evans’s cry echoed throughout the sky as they neared the Small City. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t even need to take his medallion out. Evans and Alejandro were recognized by the array formation, let alone Heian Ciemnosc and Grietta, who were on Evans’s back. The civilians and citizens on the numerous paths leading to the Small City, and those within it, were startled and looked up at the sky.
The cultivators that didn’t have an angle to look at the southeast were stunned, but they recognized the cry’s owner due to previous appearances before the supreme commander departed. They became agitated in the initial few seconds before becoming excited and turning into crazed ants to work and move back and forth.
“The supreme commander is here!” - “The supreme commander returns! Everyone, get to your positions! We’re getting a banquet tonight, haha!” - “I’m going to propose to my childhood friend!” - “That slut? Good for you!” - “Yeah!” - “Hurry! I wonder if Ma’am Grietta has become stronger. Could she have become a Goddess?” - “Bah! Idiot, we would’ve seen a phenomenon in that case!” - “Ouch…”
The guards suddenly became euphoric and human-like, no longer looking around bored, with steel eyes, or exuding an innate, harmless pressure to non-cultivators such as the passing civilians or citizens who worked within the Small City.
At first, the civilians and citizens felt terrorized by the mighty avian cry. But after looking up at a dot, and seeing the guards become full of sentiment and excited, they felt strangely safe. Then, they remembered something else, and their faces changed.
“Could that be the ‘supreme commander’ the soldier units talk about so much?” - “Hey, isn’t he too big? He must be far away, flying towards us… how envious it makes me fell.” - “Are you an idiot? That can only be his mount!” - “Ah, right…” - “Look, it’s becoming bigger! Wow! So fast!”
WHOOOOOOOOOOOSH- PFIUH- FUTOMP! WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH~!
Evans’s body flew through the barrier, echoing with a slight sound as the array formations became visible to the naked eye and marveled the civilians and citizens observing it. They couldn’t follow the swan’s moving speed with their eyes, but they could understand how mighty it was.
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When they followed Evans and looked above the Small City, those outside the walls watched air torrents rush upwards, while those within the Small City looked at the beautiful, majestic sight of the Peaksky Swan suddenly stopping in midair with spread wings and a ‘ruling’ aura around his body. Evans showed off for 3 seconds before he smoothly descended towards the Central Building with a speed at which everyone could observe his handsomeness.
Flutter, flutter- WHOOSH, WHOOSH- SWIAASSHHII~!
Evans descended before the Central Building. It didn’t have a landing zone on its rooftop, so Evans couldn’t land on it as he used to in the Blauw Empire at times. His wings fluttered at last after keeping them stuck to his body while floating downwards. The air and wind isolated from his body, Evans flawlessly landed on the ground, which was a huge rectangular area meant for parking other vehicles and Fauna.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap… Heian Ciemnosc was the first to jump down. His feet didn’t crack the ground, making him look at it with a slightly surprised face. He then looked at this commanding assistant, who hugged the clipboard to her front and waited for him to look at her. Etherea walked towards her boss with Molto and Tania behind her, feeling excited.
“Supreme commander, you’re here!” Etherea exclaimed delicately before bowing her waist before him. Heian Ciemnosc nodded slightly and she straightened her back. As the others behind him landed on the ground, they met with Molto and Tania before walking away. Heian Ciemnosc nodded at Molto, who respectfully bowed in return.
Although Molto became aware of the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s habits, she knew her role would always be below Heian Ciemnosc, and she wished it would remain that way. Heian Ciemnosc noticed this and praised Tania for showing Molto what to expect. It surely changed Molto to the point she didn’t mind her new subservience.
Walking towards the Central Building, a few tens of kilometers tall, and a few hundred square kilometers, the commanding assistant started the briefing to the supreme commander. She tuned the clipboard on and took a deep breath before her soft, professional, strong-willed voice resounded, “Welcome to our headquarters, supreme commander. I speak in everyone’s stead to congratulate you for these achievements!”
After opening with those words, Etherea’s light smile turned into a professional countenance. “We’ve followed your instructions and placed 200,000,000 auxiliary units in each fortified port’s construction. The other 800,000,000 auxiliary units were busied with creating vehicles’ armor, arsenal, and ammunition. Our resources were depleted 1 year and 8 months after supreme commander departed.”
“The Medium City was also remodeled and fit our standards. The Sect offered all the manpower they could muster so we wouldn’t be slowed down with our other ongoing projects. Their actions during these 4 years has shown their appreciation and recognition of our special operation, supreme commander. The Aqualian Drake Sect’s Floris and Tulla have especially shown interest in our movements. They come to our headquarters, ahem, the Small City every week. Supreme commander just missed them 2 days ago. They might be on their way here, since they don’t have radars, nor do they use their Spirit Sense to check past the Regional borders.”
“Oh,” Heian Ciemnosc lightly exclaimed. Today was the Change’s 54th year, 5th month, 1st week, and 3rd day. Since they came every week, and they had already visited, they must schedule their visits to every first day of the week.
They continued walking, with Heian Ciemnosc asking about something before she could continue, “How are the fortified ports?”
“Finished, sir.” Etherea showed Heian Ciemnosc live images on the digital clipboard. Heian Ciemnosc nodded as she elaborated, “The fortified ports have been in full-on activity for a month now. As per your arrangements, our soldier units have been silently sent to the Southwestern territory. They’ve been in action for 2 months. Meanwhile, the auxiliary units have been allocated with 80% to collect and harvest resources, while the 20% is responsible for moving other auxiliary and soldier units, and resources around.”
“Mn,” Heian Ciemnosc nodded as they entered the Central Building and dozens of soldier units respectfully nodded towards him. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t hide his cultivation base at the Life-Long realm 9th stage. It was shocking to others after not seeing him for 2 years. Surprisingly, their supreme commander had reached the next threshold in the Life-Long realm!
As Life-Long realm cultivators themselves, they knew how oh so difficult it was to break through those thresholds. They were in awe of Heian Ciemnosc’s cultivation progress. Even more so as it was well-known how mighty his battle prowess was, equal to the difficulty of cultivating.
“They are nearly done with their task. With our previous numbers and current resources, although we don’t have any more for mass-producing military products, we have more than enough to complete phase 2 with the Southwestern territory.” Etherea continued. “However, once we collect enough resources from the south after completing phase 2 with the Southwestern territory, we’ll have enough to build another 2 navy Fleets.”
Etherea showed the warships hidden underwater with concealment array formations. While the fortified ports were just a fort behind the port and slightly connected with it to defend it from land and water, the center side facing the oceanic riverbank was a workshop where warships have been built for weeks.
Only Frigates and some Destroyers were finished, but the soldier units catching prey on the Southwestern territory, with the contented Forestalress Academy’s aid, they would soon begin naval practices. Those warships were the same as the Blauw Empire, which should have at least 16 Fleets by now.
However, if Heian Ciemnosc wanted to build a Fleet, with resources already lacking, Heian Ciemnosc had to depend on those 2 fortified ports and the resources they’ll collect from the south. The auxiliary units were already trained, but they had less than half a year working with the machinery and array formations. They needed a bit more of time before starting teaching the citizens how to control and manage them.
Then, as the years pass by and the auxiliary units are focused on building more military products and warships, his army will have a smoother time preparing for war. Even Etherea, who continued briefing Heian Ciemnosc and had known of his goals, had been doubtful, even if just a little.
However, as the months went by, she realized how smooth everything was, and she became invigorated to continue Heian Ciemnosc’s instructions. His ‘rule’ was working wonders…
“Sir, we’ve seen cultivators flocking towards the Calatida Region after news of what was happening here spread outside. Many merchants who traded some cultivation resources with us must’ve broken the deal ahead of time. What should we do?” Etherea asked, but she continued to give specifics. “So far, I’ve checked through enough records from those who wish to participate and join the army.”
“They are interested in becoming part of the ruling organizations. But when they heard about our involvement, about 30% of their numbers showed interest in our Crimsonbreaking Faction, wondering if they could join. Naturally, they can’t with their old age and Mythical realm cultivation base.”
“However, with these new military reforms, if they are screened well enough… about 100,000,000 should be able to join the army. With a third wanting to join our Faction, it might be possible. I’ve checked the number of other cultivators also moving towards the Calatida Region through our espionage’s reports. From the Mythical realm cultivators flying towards here, those 100,000,000 should be the maximum we can afford to recruit for safety measures.”
“But there are also possible auxiliary units. The Sect and Academy had already started accepting new auxiliary units through a similar screening process. It isn’t as detailed, but… it should be enough for them. As for us, I believe we can gain at least 500,000,000 auxiliary units according to the reports.”
“Of course, we are 1.2 billion auxiliary units, with a measly 350,000 belonging to us. As for soldier units, it’s even worse. Just to add the new auxiliary units from the ruling organizations, we’d increase our numbers to about 2.5 billion auxiliary units and 800,000,000 soldier units.” Etherea sighed, her shoulders slumped before quickly recuperating.
“At least 30,000,000 new soldier units is excellent for us and the Crimsonbreaking Faction, but the 500,000,000 auxiliary units are a lot. We must convert a large portion into soldier units, but this operation doesn’t allow us to have resource allocation from the organization. We can only rely on ourselves.”
“Just for these 30,000,000 soldier units, it’d take us a decade, more or less. It’s the same with the auxiliary units, but they are easier to discipline and teach. Moreover, most of them have a near-decent Craftsmaking and can be used for such…” Etherea stopped here to take a break.
‘Immigrants?’ Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head. Since this was a Region that was returning to life, it was necessary for many to move into the Region to repopulate and vie for the domination of said Region if possible. Many organizations would move at the beginning, but no cultivators would give their lives away.
It would be stupid to give their lives up for an unknown certainty of victory or loss. The latter meant extermination. So, how could anyone be willing to fight for any random organization?
Only time after the clash within the Region, from decades to thousands of years later, would the cultivators finally look in the Region’s direction and join an organization. At that point, any organization had the same chances of winning and becoming the whole Region’s ruling organization.
Alliances or utter dominance could be dealt with afterwards.
“Good, let them all in. 30,000,000 is indeed excellent, but fight for a little more. Any bit that we can add to our Faction’s military will be necessary from now on. Remember that,” Heian Ciemnosc said, slightly surprising Etherea. She blinked before nodding and worked on her digital clipboard.
“What about the organizations? Did they want to do something with their increasing numbers?” Heian Ciemnosc asked after a few seconds when he saw Etherea finish the pre-arrangements. Etherea looked up at him and nodded, “They wanted to increase the percentage of auxiliary units they should lend us. Furthermore, they wanted to update it to their current numbers. We don’t have a problem with it, but that couldn’t be done until you returned.”
“It wasn’t until I reminded them that their actions would create an open wound to pour salt in if they followed it up that they stopped and decided to wait. However, I wanted to accept but also needed to be patient,” Etherea elaborated with a slight frown.
“Oh, do that, then.” Heian Ciemnosc casually nodded and said. He then looked down as Etherea looked up, slightly surprised. “From now on, you can make those decisions on your own. As for the news of the Calatida Region’s south, let it be. Instead, focus our military production more as soon as phase 2 is wholly complete.”
Heian Ciemnosc dribbled on Etherea’s digital clipboard, which she nearly flung away out of instinct. Once Heian Ciemnosc was finished, he tapped the screen and said, “These are the phase 3 conditions to be met before entering phase 4. Do well, and you might learn to commandeer navies and land forces soon enough.”
“...!” Etherea stared at Heian Ciemnosc’s back as she stopped moving like a little idiot. Before long, noticing that the supreme commander didn’t wait for her, Etherea’s mind buzzed, and she sobered up before hurrying towards him in a flurry.
…