3 Months, It's Time

“…” Heian Ciemnosc's neck stretched, and his head faced upwards as he floated a few hundred meters below the water's surface. His arms rested beside his body, with his right arm hanging down, pulling a large group of decimated, mangled gigantic Preternaturals coiled around by his Vocón Link. His darkest eyes were closed, and he seemed to breathe in and out one last time before opening them as the water parted away from his face and air welcomed it.

Mere seconds before he surfaced, wounds all around his body closed down to the naked eye. His overly pale skin seemed spotless, and although his back still had several holes, his other dark coat covered it up neatly.

Splash~. Heian Ciemnosc’s body came out from the water, flying upwards before the Fleets. Anastasia didn’t say much as she watched her father return an hour after the battles ended. He carried hundreds to a few thousand kilometers-long Preternaturals, holding them with only his right arm as his dark whip wrapped around their carcasses.

“Sir!” - “Supreme commander!” - “Salute!” - “Hua!”

The 1st Fleet’s crew members greeted Heian Ciemnosc as soon as he exited the water. He floated numerous kilometers, with only parts of the gigantic Preternaturals’ bodies showing, as he stopped and looked around. Heian Ciemnosc stared at the 2 vice commanders in the Carrier before nodding and heading towards the 2nd Fleet.

WHOOOOOOOOOOSH~~...!

Heian Ciemnosc arrived before the 2nd Fleet’s Carrier in under 5 minutes. The warships made way for him, and when he stopped, he dropped the Preternaturals which floated in the water. The other Low Battleships and Cruisers moved to start dismantling the corpses and bring them back later. They still had things to do, and the afternoon was swiftly leaving them.

“How was it?” Heian Ciemnosc asked Anastasia, who was waiting for him on the deck. She smiled sweetly from ear to ear, her lips becoming thin. She said nothing and just looked at her father. Then, like a little girl, she projected her arms forth and walked towards him. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t stop her and let her hug his belly. She rubbed her small face on him before cutely saying, “Dad, you’re too powerful… This was a day when I learned the most in my life. Thank you.”

“Mn, oh,” Heian Ciemnosc exclaimed as his left arm hugged Anastasia’s shoulders. Anastasia peacefully closed her eyes, feeling the safest in her father’s hold. But then, Heian Ciemnosc said with a slight grin, “This is just the beginning. Not only do you have to do this 7 times more. You’ll also learn to lead soldier units without any warship or spaceship, dear.”

“Geez!” Anastasia stepped back and lightly punched at his belly. “You don’t want a daughter, but a murderous machine, don’t you?!”

“What’s the point of a flower vase-little girl?” Heian Ciemnosc grinned and cupped Anastasia’s left cheek. She narrowed her eyes, tickling the hand below her left eye, and said with a pout and proud tone in her voice. “I would be a pretty daughter who never leaves the house. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Hmph.”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc said nothing as he shook his head lightly. Then, he looked at the Preternaturals rapidly turning into dismantled pieces of flesh under a couple million crew members, working hard to collecting from their bodies. Meat, horns, hide, scales, eyes, organs, and even the Fauna they had eaten prior to the battle were stored in Covert Space bags.

They had annihilated an entire ‘clan’ of aquatic Fauna composed of several different leading figures. Half a hundred gigantic Preternaturals made them lose some warships and a lot of ammunition was used. However, this wasn’t even 5% of the storage that the navy had stored, so the military wouldn’t even have to mobilize an ammunition transport.

The Calatida Region’s oceanic rivers had been inhabited by these powerful aquatic Fauna for a few tens of thousands of years. While the land and most resources even underwater were negligible, the wildlife below the water’s surface was as lively as savage as wildlife has always been. This not only gave the aquatic Fauna experience, but also helped them become smarter.

They were more or less a warrior Race by now, though only as a concept. They fought wars of thousands among them every month, at the very least. As people started returning to the Calatida Region, the oceanic rivers, the Region’s life support and core, were the most coveted by all organizations. With this, the resources of a rich Region such as this would land on their hands after dealing with the domination situation.

However, the aquatic Fauna had grown far too much. Even with Heian Ciemnosc’s help, 4 full-fledged naval Fleets were damaged with a few hundred warships damaged, several dozen destroyed, and tens of thousands dead.

“...fuuh~,” Anastasia frowned as she recounted the losses just her 2nd Fleet suffered. Nearly a dozen Frigates were destroyed by the previous full-on melee battle, leaving the inexperienced crew members with a death toll that only awoke them after 8 of their Frigates were exterminated. She felt an emptiness in her heart as the world sucked vitality from her lungs.

“Look in the records and pay their knowns if they have some. If they had none, just notify the military. You have 3 days to recuperate this loss,” Heian Ciemnosc suddenly said as he patted her right shoulder with his left hand. Anastasia looked up at her father that stood beside her.

“You won’t be here?” Anastasia asked. Although she felt heavy, she knew how to deal with these things. Although she never experienced it because she only participated in sure-win space missions, she had learned it all from her father and mothers. The only thing that worried her was that her father wouldn’t be there to see her and make him proud.

Anastasia might not understand what it felt like to be a parent, but she knew what it felt like to be a talented daughter who wanted the same achievements that her parents wanted for her.

“I’ll stay for now. Then, I’ll leave for a good while. But I’ll make sure you know what to do. And when I return, I will see your results.” Heian Ciemnosc ruffled her hair and said before hugging her left shoulder across her back. Anastasia leaned her head on him and said nothing else, merely enjoying the time spent with her only parent in the Kingdom.

“How’s your melee training going? Is Tania being rude and Grietta heartless with you?” Heian Ciemnosc asked as they watched the superficial sun set. Anastasia cutely replied in a bark, “Yup!”

“Ahh, good. You need to learn before the time comes. But for now, focus on devising a-” Heian Ciemnosc advised his daughter, but she stopped him and interjected with a smile, speaking through her teeth. “Yup! I know~. I need to devise a strategy so we don’t stupidly fight or respond to their full forces. As long as the 4 Fleet meets only 1 of their leading figures and their tens of thousands of spawn, we’ll manage without you.”

“We’ll see,“ Heian Ciemnosc said without confirming anything. He’ll let the little rat deal with these situations alone. Anastasia hugged his left arm as they sat down while other crew members busily moved around, and many citizens hurried with transporting vehicles everywhere.

“And I know… I need to grow stronger myself. I saw more of Daddy’s might today. How can I not want to be like Daddy in the future? Ah? Ah?” Anastasia voiced after spending some time watching the world together. Heian Ciemnosc was dealt with many critical blows. His daughter praised him and called him cutely, how could he resist? He immediately acquiesced and brought a strand of dark Vigor Energy into her vertebral column as she felt her cultivation efficiency drastically improving.

“Hehe!” Anastasia let out a victorious chuckle. Sweet and strong-willed. She still didn’t want to venture into the world’s realities without her parents. However, Heian Ciemnosc was patient.

. . .

3 months and a few weeks later, it was finally the time for a monumental change to happen to the Calatida Region.

During this time, the special operation’s navy navigated from the southern oceanic river to the eastern, western, central, and even slightly up the north oceanic rivers. The oceanic rivers had 18 zones where they were the most powerful, and the main reason why no long aquatic routes were safe in the Calatida Region.

The southern land sections were forced to trade with short routes that wasted a lot of time for the northern, central, and southern sections of their territory, transporting those goods to the far north or south. In the middle, 3 aquatic Fauna clans ruled the southern oceanic river.

They are united to a certain degree, and always destroy anything, even boulders that were sent flying after a battle from somewhere and floated in the water for who knew how long. Despite the First Step and Second Step wars every month, at the very least, the 3 clans’ Third Step aquatic Fauna always had time to destroy things and living beings.

The center was even more notorious, with 5 clans nearly blocking the whole entrance from the eastern, southern, northern, and western oceanic rivers to the center. The Southwestern territory and Northwestern territory share 2 zones where an aquatic Fauna clan ruled and blocked any possible routes.

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They only left a large space between those territories, but knowing well the relation between them, this wasn’t helpful at all. There was a small empty route at the far west, and an even smaller and more dangerous one at the far east of their territories, passing in between 2 aquatic Fauna clans, with one of them belonging to the center.

It was impossible to create a long route in between these territories to trade with their eastern fellows.

On the other hand, the eastern territories only had 1 moderately small empty route between the south and north, but it was also between the central aquatic Fauna clans and another 3 which were slightly more separated at the eastern extreme of the eastern oceanic river.

Fortunately, the enemy had it even worse than them. 5 aquatic Fauna clans infested their northern oceanic river. 3 of them left the smallest route in the Calatida Region, with the central aquatic Fauna clans once again forming a blockade. The other 2 northern aquatic Fauna clans were spread towards the northern extremes, making it impossible to travel between.

Thus, compared to the south, the north had basically no way of exchanging resources so easily. They couldn’t use Fighters, and the aircraft they used were easily targeted by the Third Step Fauna.

The Southern territories had a mediocre management with below-mediocre quality life. But although it wasn’t known how the enemy lived in the north, from one’s naked eyesight alone, one could discern the overpopulation of villages at the northern borders all ashore.

Furthermore, the enemy seemed to have built reconnaissance towers at their oceanic rivers’ shores. One for the west and north, keeping the special operation’s military in check, and another 2 between their territories. They also worked as small ports, but the northern reconnaissance towers were naturally not used as ports. However, the Fauna didn’t target those towers.

These reconnaissance towers weren't built out of nowhere, as they were already in construction before the Crimsonbreaking Faction descended. They were finished in the months that the southern military commenced its final preparations 6 months ago, and were on full operation nowadays.

On the first day 3 months ago, the special operation’s navy seemed to be lucky, or not. One of the aquatic Fauna clans directly assaulted them. It wasn’t much of an ambush because they were recognized quickly, and the Fauna seemed aware of the situation. Thus, the navy managed to exterminate one of the southern aquatic Fauna clans.

However, with the damages the navy suffered, they had to waste 4 days’ worth of work to replenish their lost numbers and warships, securing new people in the military to be here as soon as they were capacitated.

However, when activities were resumed, the navy, having exterminated the central aquatic Fauna clan by a stroke of luck and determination, changed tactics. They baited the upriver aquatic Fauna clan next, but didn’t directly engage with their full forces.

The first day of making contact, the 4 Fleets rapidly sailed through and forced 3 gigantic Preternaturals to poke their heads out of the water. With this successful bait, despite the enemy knowing of their intentions, they continued to chase after them. The 4 Fleets merely sailed away as if running away from them towards the center.

The Fauna chasing them, with a few hundred thousand Mythical realm and thousands of Central Formation realm Fauna leading the charge between their Preternatural leaders, they knew they were forcing these powerful metal fish to a corner with the central fellows.

However, before the aquatic Fauna clan could get any closer to the center, the 2nd and 4th Fleets suddenly submerged. Their bows sank first. They couldn’t see what happened directly, but could make a guess. The submerged Fleets did a 180 degrees underwater and started devastating thousands of Faunae chasing them. However, the other 2 groups of metal fish were still above the water, and they had less offensive capabilities like this.

The Preternaturals were unwilling to let go of this opportunity. Thus, they ignored the submerged Fleets. Because of this, with the other Fleet commanders’ agreement, Anastasia ordered a full-on bombardment with all Battleships and Carriers getting into a few kilometers’ distance from the chasing Fauna.

The Preternaturals watched as tens of thousands of the Mythical realm babies they hatched or gave birth to fell in just seconds. Finally, one Preternatural couldn’t resist and submerged in a fit of rage to destroy the metal fish underwater!

However, this was just fine. The 2nd and 4th Fleets’ Cruisers, Destroyers, and Frigates moved away from the intense battle between a Farsighted realm Preternatural and their Fleets’ biggest toys about to erupt. They continued bombarding the other Fauna, becoming the chasers now, as they rest of the Fauna couldn’t turn around and disobey their parents.

Just a few thousand kilometers ahead, with the Battleships and Carriers engaging in an all-out battle, with the Carrier’ Elemental Water Eye array formations keeping most safe, and the Battleships’ quick sliding capabilities, the Preternatural was played like a mouse and cat. Its body was negligibly injured at first, but after a couple of hours, it started bleeding and losing chunks from its flesh and scales. Even its organs were spilled.

On the other hand, the Carriers, especially Anastasia’s, which moved as swift as the Battleships, and defended them more often than the other Carrier, which tried to follow her pace but failed, also received harsh damage to their shields and structure.

When the battle ended, Anastasia’s Carrier had its bow damaged as if 3 gigantic Preternaturals had taken bites from its edge, eating some machine guns away. However, the gigantic Preternatural was exterminated, and repairs were immediately conducted while the Battleships and Carriers made their way to the battlefield several thousand kilometers away from the center.

As for the 1st and 3rd Fleets, they stopped before they came close enough to the oceanic rivers’ center, to a distance where they could react if the central aquatic Fauna clans decided to join. They would have enough time to safely flee.

Luckily, that nightmarish thought didn’t become reality. The Frigates, Destroyers, and Cruisers agilely moved around without a commander to directly tell them what to do above their warships’ central command. After a few hours, they were reinforced by the returning big toys. Thus, with the 4 Fleets reunited, and only 2 gigantic Preternaturals left, the navy took another approach.

Some warships submerged, and others remained on the surface as they attacked both the enemy soldier units and their leading figures. The Destroyers focused all missiles on the Preternaturals, while Cruisers defended the Frigates and Destroyers with their rocket launchers.

The Low Battleships annihilated the Central Formation realm Fauna, protecting each other until the end of such a powerful enemy. Immediately after, they targeted the remaining soldier units before focusing on the gigantic Preternaturals.

Meanwhile, Frigates moved and navigated between the enemy, unafraid of friendly fire, and confident in their morbid as they avoided becoming encircled, and targeted both enemy soldier units and their leading figures. The enemy was undoubtedly bested in their strategy, as the soldier units were slowly mowed down like paper sheets in a flood.

The Destroyers did the most damage below the Low Battleships, fearlessly charging towards the plethora of aquatic Fauna, gradually advancing as their numerous waves were eliminated before they could reach the warships. On the other hand, the Carriers attracted the gigantic Preternaturals’ attention, or directly forced them to, not allowing them to chase after anyone else.

Like this, the second, upriver aquatic Fauna clan was forced into a battle of attrition until their gigantic Preternaturals wanted to flee. However, the Carriers’ Elemental Water Eye barriers formed harpoon-like energy limbs that extended and shot towards them, stopping them. This caused the enemy to go all-out in an all or nothing battle.

In those last moments before the battle ended, although the navy lost several warships, the crew members were mostly rescued from their destruction. A few died, especially those that simply couldn’t move away in time from a powerful monster like a Farsighted realm living being, and a Preternatural Fauna at that.

However, the victors in the end were the special operation’s navy. All 4 Carriers suffered damage, but nothing that they couldn’t repair, with the citizens working nonstop for a day and a few hours. On the other hand, Anastasia’s Carrier suffered the most, losing a third of its bow, some artillery guns besides machine guns, and its hull partly bitten off when the Preternaturals went on a rampage.

If it wasn’t for Anastasia’s orders that led to her Carrier suffering such vital hull damage, the Supreme Battleships might’ve been met with a casualty… That was a price that could not happen. Even with the severe multitude of machine guns in the Carriers, their firepower wasn’t as destructive as a Supreme Battleship. It could be seen how important the latter were without Fighters available.

More time passed, and the navy’s victory against a portion of the second aquatic Fauna clan, exterminating it, brought fame and respect to the military! The land forces didn’t know much about naval battles, except the ones they saw other organizations in other Regions participate in. Thus, when they received news and general reports of the situation, their morale slightly increased…

On the other hand, to the navy, this was still a loss within a victory. They still suffered a lot of damage, but they were gaining more experience and an improved understanding of their role as each warship and cooperation with the others. Furthermore, a few promising individuals ranked up for their contributions.

But the upriver aquatic Fauna clan wasn’t finished. This was just a small portion of their strength. Although the gigantic Preternaturals used the offspring of others, they only suffered 3 casualties of their leading figures from dozens and dozens. It was a negligible loss. As for the youngsters in their clans, they could be replaced in a few hundred years at most.

The week wasn’t over, and Anastasia’s plans would deal with just that. In a little over 9 days, before the second week since the phase 3’s cleansing of the oceanic rivers commenced, 2 aquatic Fauna clans were exterminated!

However, because the aquatic Fauna clans were apprehensive when the 2nd clan among them was annihilated, the remaining southerner aquatic Fauna clan hid and refused to provoke the navy. Thus, the navy wasted no time and moved towards the center. It was time to set the rules as the future rulers of this land… And it had already started with the fall of the southern aquatic Fauna clans… It would only continue with the central clans…

The road to meet Heian Ciemnosc’s expectations, as an army honed to rule over an entire goddamn Region, was worthy of the reason the Crimsonbreaking Faction sent him here. Everyone was under pressure after they realized that war was looming ever nearer, and the cultivators and citizens who tasted seawater as it splashed onto their bodies were wide awake.

Of course, Anastasia still held most of the pressure as his daughter. Even then, she was always present and had the strongest presence during every navigation, battle, and repairing warships before, between, and after every battle.

Little by little, the aquatic Fauna clans were exterminated. From losing tens of thousands, the navy became an expert naval force whose losses were only a few in every battle against various gigantic Preternaturals and up to 100,000 or 200,000 enemy soldier units.

Like this, only 1 aquatic Fauna clan remained in the southern and western oceanic rivers. On the other hand, the eastern oceanic river still had 2 aquatic Fauna clans. However, the center lost 4 of their aquatic Fauna clans, supported by land forces’ artillery, who had already mobilized up north in the Southeastern territory.

Even one of the aquatic Fauna clans in the northern oceanic river was exterminated after the navy sneaked their way into the enemy territory. The small cleaning waters operations were successful, with the navy infiltrating the northern river and managing to unleash a full-on battle without being disrupted or found too soon.

Phase 4 loomed ever closer…

…