The Last 3 Northern Regions

Heian Ciemnosc walked forth with Xue Yoler's face against his left chest. His hands were all over her face, caressing her pretty face as she didn't feel like stopping him. Her arms hung low as she ignored the civilians looking at them with mad respect. Etherea walked on Heian Ciemnosc's right, commencing as she cleared her throat and closed her eyes for a moment. There was no need to worry about eavesdropping.

“Aha- ha~ hem!” Etherea started in her usual professionalism, “Expectations have been met. Starting with the population in the Turtle Hiding Region, it is expected to reach 140 trillion in 10-20 years. Depending on the heat spree. It has shown signs of slowing down after the first time when the entire Region was reclaimed.”

“Oh,” Heian Ciemnosc nodded, contented to hear the progress. Etherea continued, proud of learning under the Chief, as he employed his methods to make this, and more, possible. Her calm, professional voice rang out, “The total population of the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory is 262 trillion with the 140 trillion prospect put into the equation. The islands Regions have 48 trillion altogether, with the Fanto Region having 15 trillion. The Weeping Viper Region has 30 trillion, while the Turtle Shell Region has about 29 trillion.”

“Mn,” Heian Ciemnosc nodded again. That was a good number, especially for the Turtle Shell Region. As for the 1* Regions, they were full-fledged, peak Regions when having 10 trillion inhabitants, but those 3 islands Regions made up 48 trillion. It was a great ‘harvest’.

Etherea didn’t stop there. She immediately continued with the remaining matters of these Regions’ livelihoods before getting to the vital points, “They have been fully reconstructed. The only slightly problematic situations were with the Turtle Shell Region, but the new machinery has been designed, and the new factories have been working for 2 years already.”

“The Turtle Hiding Region’s military force has increased, but as Chief designed, there’s still room for improvement. For now, this is our peak. The soldier units have increased to 4 billion, with 2.4 billion citizens and 1.6 billion cultivators. Our auxiliary number increased to 16 billion auxiliary units, and our garrison units number to 6.2 billion. Our ports and Fleets are up to Chief’s standards. Currently, our military treasury has amassed enough to pay the military forces’ yearly salary for 400 years. The emergency deposits have accumulated far more than that…”

“The Turtle Shell Region has trained 900 million soldier units, of which a 40/60 percentage of cultivators and citizens was formed, as requested for every military force in the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory.” Etherea said before making a little pause, “This Region has built their 2 ports in their south, each having 3 Fleets, for a total of 6 fully-and-extra operable Fleets.”

“Their auxiliary units are 3 billion, and 1.5 billion garrison units,” Etherea passed a holographic sheet to Heian Ciemnosc before resuming her briefing. “The Weeping Viper Region’s forces are of 600 million soldier units, with the same ratio, 4 billion auxiliary units, and 2 billion garrison units.”

“This Region’s ports are in each of their main land sections, with an extra one southwest of the principal, central land section. Each has 3 Fleets, for a total of 12 fully-and-extra operable Fleets.”

“The Fanto Region’s forces have amassed 1.4 billion soldier units, 2 billion auxiliary units, and 800 million garrison units. They were the most enthusiast recruits the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory has found so far, outside the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s recruits. They have 2 ports in their south and east, for a total of 6 fully-and-extra operable Fleets.”

“Lastly, the Cas Ca Bel Regions have each more than 400 million soldier units, 800 million auxiliary units, and 600 million garrison units. Each has a port, for a total of 9 fully-and-extra operable Fleets. They’re located in their west, south, and north, respectively. That is approximately 1.2 billion soldier units. These were also ecstatic after they witnessed some of our training and practices, but they weren’t as hectic as the Fanto Region.”

“Haaaa,” Etherea drew a deep breath into her lungs before concluding, passing a final holographic sheet to Heian Ciemnosc while telling its summarized contents to Heian Ciemnosc. “In total, we have 8.1 billion soldier units and 51 Fleets. The people are ready, sir.”

Etherea looked at Heian Ciemnosc, her eyes determined as she passed her attacking plans to Heian Ciemnosc via Spirit Sense. She didn’t change the order of the Regions, but the method to conquer them did vary from his initial intentions. Heian Ciemnosc revised everything, and Etherea’s strategy, before giving her the green light in the same manner.

“Many thanks, Chief!” Etherea closed her eyes, relieved as she seriously considered Heian Ciemnosc’s advice after revising her tactics. She planned to go through it and administer as many changes to the plan as needed before setting off.

“Well then, you need to prepare. Walk with me a few hours, and then you can go off,” Heian Ciemnosc said, walking in the middle as the pair of beauties were on his sides still. Xue Yoler nodded, with her immediately agreeable young girl-like behavior, while Etherea bowed her head with all tranquility.

As they spoke and walked, enjoying the scenery as more than a billion civilians lived in the Turtle Hiding Fortress, the ports were being prepared by the navy and land forces as they smoothly cooperated to board the warships. It wasn’t time for other ships to appear, but it would soon if the military forces of the Region increased again.

Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc was a little speechless, after cultivating for 10 years, nearly devouring every bit of body and pure energy, he was only at the advanced level of the Universe realm 3rd stage, not even the peak level. Heian Ciemnosc mentally sighed as Sara comforted him, giving him messages on his temple areas, as if he could get any headaches.

. . .

6 days later. Today was the 126th year, 2nd month, 1st week, and 7th day of the Change.

Of the past 6 days, the first 5 were filled with sharp-breathing of countless inhabitants in the Stormy Calm Sea Regions. They felt their hearts falling a little when hearing about the sight of countless navies navigating through the ocean towards the northwest. Even 6 of the 9 Fleets of the Cas Ca Bel Regions set out. After all, these were the closest Regions to the Non-Presentable Calm Region, beside the crippled Asabas Region.

When the Inunda, Protes, Tase, Pory, and Dropping Tear Region became aware of these facts, and confirmed them as they sighted Fleets encircling them all, the northwest became still with fear. Struggling to gasp for air, these Regions could only prepare their coastal defenses.

They helplessly watched as days passed, with the Crimsons moving their Frigates, accommodating them as if to decide their chess pieces before entering a match; cheating, and whatnot. However, the northwestern Regions couldn’t do anything. They even gave up on their Fleets, opting to build more forts on their coasts and use the arsenal to defend themselves.

Now that they were encircled by the more than 40 Fleets around them, nothing stopped Heian Ciemnosc from having a ‘naval’ Grand Fleet. Unfortunately, it was a stupid idea to build a Mothership in the way only a navy can make use of. That was reserved for armadas only.

They patiently waited from the second day to the last of the day, 150 hours rapidly went by, and the time when the Chief’s forces decided to act approached. Neither side wanted to discuss or negotiate. They had seen the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory graze an entire land to lifelessness, completely stripping it from being one of the richest in the Stormy Calm Sea.

As for the Crimsons, they wouldn’t ask before beating their enemy. It was one thing to want to expand peacefully, but if that was the case, why would the Chief declare war on all the Lsefattern Kingdom?

Finally, a battle broke out, but unlike what the enemy had foreseen, the Crimsons only targeted a sole 1* Region. The Dropping Tear Region suddenly found itself under the heavy bombardment of the navy for a period of 20 minutes. Over 12 Fleets descended a ton of rockets on their land, destroying their already negligible defensive structures and arsenal, which they only acquired most when the Cas Ca Bel Regions transported them before they were conquered.

The Dropping Tear Region defended themselves as the remaining, independent northwestern Regions watched. They didn’t help like they did with the previous 4 Regions. Only when the Dropping Tear Region seemed to become half-engulfed in the throes of war did they change their peacefulness and decided to bring attention to themselves.

So far, the Crimson Fleets never dared to randomly attack an enemy, even if cultivators taunted them from the coasts during those 5 days, they didn’t even show their faces, let alone attack. The same happened in the blockade until the incident happened. But they weren’t going to assault a single warship as an entire Fleet, it was much different.

Stolen novel; please report.

The enemy coastal defensive structures opened fire. Immediately, as if knowing it would happen, the Fleets activated their Elemental Water Eye array formations. With an endless supply of Water elemental particles, the warships didn’t strike back at first and focused on fully negating the enemy firepower. Meanwhile, the war in the Fanto Region progressed rapidly.

Just as half the Fanto Region was in a war against the Crimsons, with only their central territory untouched, and the navy tumbling down any Fighter or inland missile. A notorious military unit appeared amidst the battles. Suddenly, a couple of hundred spaceship Frigates overflew from the sea, brought from a place where the navy hadn’t set any Carrier or Supreme Battleship.

There, 2 Carriers, several Supreme Battleships, and a plethora of Frigates, Destroyers, and Cruisers constantly brought soldier units inland with the spaceship Frigates. Within an hour, over a few hundred million soldier units landed in the middle of the Dropping Tear Region.

Anastasia showed herself, followed by her direct subordinates and their subsequent subordinates. Meanwhile, Xue Yoler was the Fleet’s Admiral. After dropping the soldier units, she commanded the Fleet to move nearer and provide support to their troops inland. The rest was a massive tragedy for the Dropping Tear Region’s forces. They lost organization fort after fort, not even able to resist for a couple of hours while their coasts’ control gradually decreased.

Before 17 hours passed, as the Dropping Tear Region was overly overloaded with the Crimsons’ inching deeper into their land like they had already owned it for long. The inhabitants threw the towel and raised a white flag, huddled in their Small City and fortress. The Chief granted them forgiveness for their bravery, allowing them to shackle or kill themselves on the spot.

What a joke. Who would kill themselves after some inhabitants of the Dropping Tear Region watched young, promising cultivators from the conquered Regions breathtakingly dominate any fight they were— in every battle? Of course, everyone would rather surrender and serve their time as prisoners of war… before being convinced to surrender their independence to the Crimsonbreaking Faction. Like this, the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory could start their new round of brainwashing and recruiting after reconstructing the newly conquered Region.

As the Dropping Tear Region fell, it became both a low in morale but a boost in the fighting spirits of the other Region’s hearts. While they pained over another Region going completely dark, no longer independent as they still were, the fury inside their hearts slightly increased. All they needed was a good fight, and a commander to lead them.

As the soldier units dropped the auxiliary units, now safe from enemy prisoners, as a few Fleets moved the enemy soldier units to the Turtle Hiding Region without wasting a minute, the situation changed in the other Regions.

The enemy suddenly launched rockets from inland. It wasn’t like this was prohibited, but it was similar to civilian planets firing nuclear assets nonstop during the slightest of conflicts. The ground battles were left for the cultivators, and with the new popularity of the citizens; to them, too.

When they used rockets, the navy no longer held back. They immediately heavily bombarded the enemy Regions, destroying their coasts until only sand or boulders remained. Countless cliffs fell down, leaving parts that only a Godly cultivator could destroy with an all-out attack exposed. As for the shores and beaches, they were down-leveled, and some rivers even rushed to the sea after the thunderous bombardment.

It couldn’t be helped. After the Frigate’s assault incident, if any enemy dared to use a bigger-than-needed hand to respond, they would do it a thousand times over. Barely learning of this fact, the remaining 4 Regions’ leading figures regretted evaluating the options of placing rockets everywhere in their coastal defenses, as they suffered a tremendous blow to their confidence. Without those defenses, they won’t be able to battle the Crimsons to a standstill. Especially the Inunda and Protes Region.

Fortunately for the enemy, the response of the Crimsons upon seeing them launch rockets was to stop bombarding them. When the Crimsons noticed the enemy stopped their sudden attack, they released a relieving breath. They could ‘take care’ of these Regions, all of them at the same time, even. But they would become a delicious pray to the other 3* Region to at least eat away their Fleets in the northwest’s south, if they play their cards well and hard.

However, furthermore fortunately for the Crimsons, the enemy responded in kind to their peacefulness and also ceased fire. With this, the Fleets that went to deliver the soldier units to the Turtle Hiding Region returned after 4 days, taking 2 days coming and going from different locations.

After the Dropping Tear Region fell, the enemy Regions performed changes and prepared to receive the Crimsons into their land after recklessly attacking first. However, they weren’t the only ones. Etherea immediately planned for the Fleets and land forces to change their aims and focus. Furthermore, the ‘special’ military unit/force was going to face more danger.

Thus, when the war resumed, the enemy was surprised to see the Crimsons once again not bombard everyone, but only the Pory Region. When the 15 Fleets surrounding it began their bombardment, the other Regions’ people gestured in defeat. The Crimsons could do whatever they wished, and if they opted for this sure-victory approach, there’s nothing they could do.

The Non-Presentable Calm Region was also helpless this time. The encirclement became smaller, and the options his Region could offer the others only became less efficient and more wasteful for the independent Regions. It appeared like the Chief caught them in an invisible jail.

Would they leave now that they knew there was no escape, and that the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory would most likely… conquer them all? Of course not! If they left, they could start again, but their progress so far would be far gone. Maybe their leading figures were unwilling, but after seeing the results, would the cultivators and civilians want to leave their Regions?

The Pory Region had a narrower space in the middle, perfect for getting close with the Fleets. The disembarking occurred quickly, with 11 Fleets supporting the other 4, keeping them from harm’s way. In this way, over 2 billion soldier units invaded the Pory Region’s center. From there, they marched north and south.

However, Anastasia’s military unit landed in the south, where the minority of the land forces headed to. The rest went to the north. It was also where the Pory Region’s Small City was located. Her ‘special’ army’s task was to siege the Small City and force them to surrender, as fast as possible, while the 2 billion soldier units drove as much attention as possible to themselves.

The enemy wasn’t prepared for the Crimsons, who always went on and marched before their enemies’ eyes, to suddenly act sneakily and fast towards a sure-victory point before the war was even a few hours old. The Pory Region had to defend with their hearts out, of course.

13 gruesome hours after the war started, in which Anastasia lost more than 300 Frigates, but managed to minimize their casualties, and saved the arsenal, the Small City was taken. By then, over 40% of the Pory Region had become completely the Crimsonbreaking Faction territory’s lands.

When Anastasia and a hidden Molto appeared atop the central building, with their Region’s leader’s decapitated head in Anastasia’s raised hand as Xue Yoler made an appearance when they refused to acknowledge their loss. The Pory Region surrendered. They no longer had their charming leader who bolstered their will and encouraged them to fight until they could no longer even move their thoughts from their hearts to their fighting, bleeding limbs and organs.

It was a time record for the Crimsons, but the third part of this war ended when the Pory Region lost their time in this war yet caused quite a few damaging points and casualties to the Crimsons. Although the latter was negligible, the losses Anastasia faced crippled her troops’ mobilization and capabilities. Only their overextended Fleet was available, but that would hardly matter in a war against Regions where land forces were all they had.

The Chief of operations, Heian Ciemnosc, ordered for the blockade to continue, with at least 20 Fleets free as their spies watched over the southern Regions’ movements and communication frequencies. Meanwhile, the soldier units took a breather, and the enemy gained a few more years to recuperate and do their last stand. The war’s third part was put on hold.

Meanwhile, the other actors in this war, at least in the Stormy Calm Sea, which was where everyone thought the war would spread to. The Non-Presentable Calm Region started preparing, too. Although they couldn’t receive information from the northwestern Regions since the 3rd part started, they had enough foresight and deducting skillsets to adapt to the Crimsons.

The same couldn’t be said about the Asabas Region. Although they had a horrible environment to live in, where their cattle was everything they had to eat, and the Medium City could only help grow crops so much. Their military arsenal remained a strong one after sheltering everything from the ‘self-dooming’ day. Their hearts were the most furious as they prepared to receive the Crimsons at any given time.

Civilians with barely any training operated the machine guns and some artillery, while the rest was at least conducted by the citizens. Everything suddenly changed, and any bit of progress to a united, wise military force was enhanced. It was a pity that they only learned with the toughest hand.

Of course, while this happened, the auxiliary units in the Dropping Tear and Pory Regions swiftly worked the Regions. The destroyed areas would still need a year or 2, as usual, but the inhabitants were ready to help rebuild their home. They had seen many blogs of the Turtle Hiding Region now that they lifted the ban of such ‘propagation’ of news.

If Heian Ciemnosc kept the free advertisement with high efficiency and results too well-kept, how was he going to make things easier in the far future? After all, brainwashing only happened when a person’s consciousness wanted it, too…

Like that, the war’s 3rd part was halted. Anastasia, Molto, and Xue Yoler returned to the Turtle Hiding Fortress a few weeks later, docking at the underwater ports below it, several million kilometers below the Turtle Hiding Region. It was a long journey to return there. However, to exit it and enter an operation, they could use the hidden ring Heian Ciemnosc built for the Turtle Hiding Fortress just in case.

Even then, so far, Anastasia’s ‘special’ military force hasn’t used the ring to suddenly transport. The navy had always set off beforehand, allowing them to be prepared. They were aided to travel a little faster with the Faunae’s aid at the bottom. Especially those who received Heian Ciemnosc’s favor and gained a Dark Blood Pill every decade.

Otherwise, they would’ve been seen even if they were near the bottom. They were too big and disassembled to pass as a Universe realm Fauna, much less as a school of newborn Faunae. Even a 1* Region, with enough funding on their sensors or radars, could notice, let alone 2* or the Non-Presentable Calm Region.

Heian Ciemnosc walked out of his meditation bedroom, having talked about life with Sara for a long month. He had to keep his word and give his girls what they wanted. Sigh. Such was the task of a father.

…

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Let It Rain's note: If you a fatha, and don't keep your promises (unless it is at the cost of someone else, or harming others), bad bad bad!