Incursion From Mainland?

“…” The old woman looked at Heian Ciemnosc from below, silently staring at the overly pale young man that easily dispatched the Vrida Region's reign for hundreds of years in just about less than a century, 3 short years from it. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and waited until the old woman spoke again, letting her have this much control over what could be her last few years in this world.

“You are not from here, are you?” She asked, her voice became more hoarse as she looked up with all her might. Heian Ciemnosc looked down and casually said, “I did come from afar to here. That much is true.”

“… Who would’ve thought such an ‘eminent’ figure would accompany the Vrida Region’s last moments of… the past.” The old woman shook her head, not knowing if she was feeling conflicted or secretly glad. Her head became tired. She had to lower it for a few breaths before staring at Heian Ciemnosc’s face again. “What now?”

“It’s up to you. You’re initially a leader, although not a good enough one. I have no qualms letting all of you start in the Forbloffende Traes Sect from scratch, but you can also off yourselves if you don’t want such humiliation. It’s your only way to life. Although I see you’ve chosen to not try again. Have you decided your descendant? Pupil? Inheritor?”

“… Was it that obvious?” The old woman said, tired. She couldn’t lift her head as much as a few seconds ago and looked at Heian Ciemnosc with her eyes upturned, leaning backwards. Heian Ciemnosc lightly nodded, “Mhm, oh. But it’s not my place to tell you what to do. I value you, and all of you. Just not enough to guide you. Choose, and that’ll be it. It’s been long enough.”

“You get more acceptance, exactly what you needed… to convince the people throughout the Vrida Region to see your Sect as the one and only… even if you allow other ‘vassals’ to form in the future. And we get to try again. This time… under a good Leader.” The old woman said in several breaths, enrapturing the room’s attention.

“I just never imagined…” The old woman looked at Heian Ciemnosc and seemingly saw through his darkest eyes, “It would be from that who can become the next actor.”

“…” The old woman’s words put the others in a momentous silence as they stared at him instead of the old woman. Their eyes were surprised and wide open, and while their bodies slightly trembled, they seemed more expectant than scared. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and placed his right hand on the old woman’s right shoulder. “There was no need to expose me. Well then, you can go to the testing grounds at any moment. I’ll come see you when you’ve sworn or killed yourselves.”

Step, step, step, step…

Heian Ciemnosc walked outside the room, leaving the oldies behind, as they had the same expression and idea in their minds. They didn’t need any explanation. As for Heian Ciemnosc, he even less so needed to hear their vows now. All was naught unless they swore themselves.

“… Hm?” Suddenly, when Heian Ciemnosc was just exiting the building, he stopped and kept his body steady as a light grin formed at the left corner of his mouth. Then, he nudged upwards with his head towards a Servant, who came to him right away.

“Yes, Sect Master?” The Servant asked, just a young boy, 14 years old. Heian Ciemnosc flicked his forehead before calmly saying, “Begin a lockdown. Prepare things for the newest Servants and citizens to take care of things here and prepare yourself.”

Step, step, step, step… With that, Heian Ciemnosc left the kid behind and walked to the precinct’s gates, taking his medallion out. The Servant was left speechless, but he wouldn’t question the Sect Master. He took his medallion out and pressed his right thumb on it before talking into the medallion. Then, just as he turned around and loudly instructed the imprisoned few around, the Sect rumbled.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong~~…

Suddenly, everywhere around the inner territory shook a little. Some who were nearest to the center could see a platform opening as everyone was gently pushed away, and the vehicles driving to and fro stopped. The people within them were unharmed despite the sudden halt. They all watched as the ground divided and formed a hole, of which a sphere 200 meters in diameter soared into the sky.

It was built of whitish concrete and some gray glass that obscured any sight into the sphere. It seemed like it only had 1 room, but it was unknown from the outside, even with Spirit Sense, which not many dared to curiously want to peek into.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooongg…~~!

Another rumble resonated, but this time, it spread everywhere throughout the center. Now, half the Vrida Region wondered what was happening, as those far from the center only heard a small noise from afar before it suddenly closed in 1 minute later. That was when the third sound went off, and the whole Vrida Region and its waters rippled with harmless vibrations.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNGGG…

The Region fell apprehensive, but they weren’t fearful. This somehow felt like a thing the Forbloffende Traes Sect would have prepared. They were a little quirky. And sure enough, half an hour later, as things went back to normal, the people of the Region watched as helicopters, Fighters, and other armored and motorized vehicles set out towards the borders.

These weren’t the water borders, but the Vrida Regions’ shores. The Region has already enough units in their forts and fortified ports, but more wouldn’t do them harm. What’s more, the settlements started giving notice to the people. Some, who weren’t in their settlements for whatever circumstances and walked to their homes out of instinct, were approached by their family members who rushed out to find them. The message was simple.

War.

The Forbloffende Traes Region had detected unusual movement near their waters from foreign Regions’ people. This was completely out of the ordinary. Who would travel here with a plethora of warships just to visit this abandoned, island Region?

… In the inner territory, the last few Grand Ancestors flew to the sphere in the middle of it all. They looked at Heian Ciemnosc, who stood atop it, silent, before entering the sphere with the others.

There was a circular structure inside, with different rooms whose position, angle, and direction varied from one another. It was always in movement, while the sphere as a whole wasn’t. However, the people inside didn’t seem to notice. After the last Grand Ancestor met Heian Ciemnosc with a gaze, he stopped looking northward and entered the sphere.

Inside, all 24 Grand Ancestors waited as Heian Ciemnosc walked inside the largest room, a few dozen square meters big. They nodded at him as he stopped before them and they formed 2 irregular lines with a dozen on each side.

“You’ve seen the information. They will arrive to our sea territory in an hour, but I’ll give this meeting 15 minutes to decide things. What do you have in your minds?” Heian Ciemnosc asked, placing the heavy brunt of this situation on their shoulders.

“Yes,” Todoro immediately nodded and stepped forth. He stood between their 2 lines and looked at the Sect Master. Placing his hands before him, intertwined, Todoro’s solemn voice sounded. “The 3 patrolling Small Fleets should move out to intercept the enemy. I propose mine spreads throughout the incoming enemy to deal with them.”

“We won’t hesitate. This is no friendly visit. That’s all we can do.” Todoro nodded before stepping back to his line. Another Grand Ancestor stepped forth and asked, “I’d like to remind everyone that these people can only come from the mainland. The people traveling with them match with the enemy leading figures and their troops who fled half a century ago.”

“Yes, and they have a top-notch arsenal, besides those old Fleets of theirs,” another Grand Ancestor chipped in. The previous Grand Ancestor nodded and continued while staring at the Sect Master. “Since they are being backed by someone, they must have told all sorts of lies to their new employer. Those spineless cowards might have just spoken truth without knowing, enticing brad-new enemies to our Sect and to our Vrida Region.”

“Oh. It means all or nothing to defend the Vrida Region’s secretly rich resources, and unique ones, too. Which means… antagonizing any organization coming here,” Heian Ciemnosc slightly interjected. The Grand Ancestor earnestly nodded before continuing where he left it.

Lightly clasping his hands, he loudly spoke, “The Forbloffende Traes Sect’s rules dictate no other person or group can do anything with our resources in our territory, and that our only way of merchandise can be with coins. This is also a measure whose price will be decided by the Sect, not the buyer, nor the market. Being as we are, an abandoned, Vrida Region, we won’t be seen equally even by mid-First Step organizations from core mainland.”

“What do you propose, that we hide or meekly ask them to leave us alone, then? That’ll only pick their interest,” a Grand Ancestor questioned with semi-crossed arms and his left-handed fingers pinching his chin. The speaking Grand Ancestor turned towards his fellows and was about to speak when Heian Ciemnosc interjected again.

“That’s right. It means offending the core mainland. No matter how understanding, peaceful, or neutral some might be, we’ll gain a bad image for not caring about our identities. When we attack them, regardless of the outcome or situation, we’ll be the brazen rebels of a Divine Kingdom who only want to live, but have harmed others, unasked.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“So,” Heian Ciemnosc momentarily paused before saying, causing a stalemate in the atmosphere. He lifted his darkest eyes to the speaking Grand Ancestor from looking at the ground, contemplating. His tone was calm as he asked, “What are you waiting for?”

“Sect Master…” The Grand Ancestor trembled. He felt recognized that he didn’t need to put any more words and emotion into his explanation. He quickly glimpsed at his fellows, only to see the same glint in their eyes. Thus, he immediately bowed below waist-deep level and declared with a semi-fanatic tone in his voice, “We will destroy them! Thank you, Sect Master. For your understanding and support. The Forbloffende Traes Sect… the Vrida Region’s name… they will be spread far throughout the core mainland from today!”

“No time to waste then,” Heian Ciemnosc smiled a little deviously. This caused a strange encouragement effect in the Grand Ancestors, especially Pretieta and Todoro, who met him more often and yet rarely saw him reveal emotions, let alone smile.

***

In these moments, a couple of hundred thousand kilometers from the Vrida Region, where the current sea territorial borders separated the sea from the rest. Thousands of warships navigated at maximum speed towards the Vrida Region.

Each was a top-notch warship, with a top-notch arsenal, and only First Step cultivators boarding them. These were 5 old Fleets that navigated with the sole intention that they were convinced with. In the old Fleet at the center, numerous familiar figures to the Vrida Region stood in the Carrier’s central command. They were accompanied by the old Fleets’ commander.

“We’ll enter their waters in 3 minutes!” A cultivator shouted from the side, leading a team of citizens to read the radars. The commander nodded and crossed his arms, with the ex-leading figures of the Vrida Region standing behind him.

“Sir, you will soon free our precious land from that heinous vermin. I’m truly gladdened your people have decided to help us.” One of them said, belonging to the same organization the now deceased old man with white hair well-combed to the right belonged to. Of course, such an organization doesn’t exist anymore.

“One moment, there’s something amiss,” the commander looked at them before his medallion heated. He frowned before looking at the ex-leading figures, to which his frown deepened. Another ex-leading figure noticed the change in the commander’s expression and asked, “Sir?”

“They have Fighters,” the commander said. His words alone made the ex-leading figures widen their eyes, shrink their contents, and look at each other, feeling stupid.

If this was any other situation when dealing with any other organization, even those with mighty people, this wouldn’t have been important. Of course, that was a special ‘if’. These ex-leading figures went to this commander’s organization and begged for years before their organization leader finally granted them an audience.

After it happened, the organization leader was convinced to strike the Vrida Region after the ex-leading figures demonstrated images they’ve taken with their Souls. Then, they explained the faculties those unique vehicles had over their organizations, leaving them no choice but to flee.

Of course, the organization leader was more interested in how fast a mere First Step organization managed to not only build better-than top-notch war instruments, but top-notch pieces of arsenal as well.

After all, no matter how ginormous something is, what cost the most was the array formations, special properties of a few structures, but more than anything, weaponry. Not even ammunition, unless it was rockets. What mattered the most, or only, was the number of machine guns, artillery guns, and rocket launchers it had.

The rocket launchers were even more valuable than Battleships and Carriers’ structure-production overall. But this was only for the top-notch war instruments the world knows about. The motorized and armored vehicles the organization leader saw in the Vrida Region through Soul images were many times more intricate and deliberately made for heinous warring. There was nothing alike to what the organization leader had seen, and they even participated in the 10 year war.

Furthermore, to truly entice the organization leader to lend them as much firepower and personnel as possible, the ex-leading figures even leaked information on the unknown, enigmatic Forbloffende Traes Sect’s seminal Art.

Nothing else needed to be said, such an Art was like gold in the organization leader’s eyes as it was for an ordinary person to find while strolling through the mountains. After preparing a new couple of old Fleets, the organization leader sent some First Step old Fleets to the ex-leading figures’ hands, finally granting them the opportunity to return.

However, they were immediately relieved of their duties after they departed from the millions of kilometers of sea territory away from the core mainland Regions’ shores, entering the endless, ownerless ocean.

They had traveled for more than 20 years to arrive to the core main land. They witnessed countless Faunae too big and powerful to care about them, but nearly killing them with just a fling of their fins or scales crashing against small waves not even 2 meters tall.

Not only that, but they lost some fellows who fled with them, and they begged like nomads trying to ask for forgiveness and learn how to grow crops. Then, after their struggle, just a few months into the sea, their future reconquest of the Vrida Region was taken away directly from their hands. Now, it could only happen through those of others.

And now, when they were near their recuperation of land, gaining new resources, and tens of millions of troops to form the desired Second Step organization from the Vrida Region’s old 14 organizations’ remnants… the dreadful Sect has Fighters already?

It took them nearly 100 years to develop motorized and armored vehicles. So, how did they manage to create semi-spaceships, such as Fighters? With this train of thought, they quickly realized something else. Could the Forbloffende Traes Sect have also developed their own warships?

Their answer would soon find its answer, but before, they had to talk it out with the 5 old Fleets’ commander. Another ex-leading figure spoke out, “Sir, there might be a chance they just bought them from others. Like now, we’ve returned with a top-notch arsenal and warships. Surely, they ran to get help from somewhere else, too.”

“!” The commander widened his eyes in a fury. The thought of those unique resources and enigmatic Art belonging to a neighbor of the core mainland crazed and rushed madly inside his head. If he was like this, one could only imagine the reaction the organization leader would have.

“There’s no time to waste! We must attack. Prepare all warships, we’ll destroy any Fighter they send our way!” The commander ignored the ex-leading figures, silently recognizing them for reminding him of such a possibility. After all, they were all First Step cultivators. He was but a leading figure of the weakest Steps from his organization, nothing to be spoken about.

With these near-future achievements, however, he would gain enough to not become a fish after acting like a dragon in the First Step once he broke into the Second Step. However, just as his personnel responded positively, a citizen from a detection team hurriedly looked at him and shouted, “Commander! We are suddenly detecting num- countless warships appearing thousands of kilometers before us. It’s like they’re popping out of nowhere!”

“Who allowed you to speak first?” The commander was astounded. But after seeing the citizen who spoke, he frowned and harshly reprimanded before looking at the cultivator leading the team. The latter looked at the citizen with a reproaching glare before nodding at the commander, “That’s true, commander. They are also rapidly advancing towards us- they are in firing range! What? They’re firing at us!”

“Dammit!” The commander reacted and pulled devices out around his seat, where they showed screens of countless warships moving towards them. Missiles already covered the sky, but weren’t too high up into it. Bullets and shells were shot at his old Fleets as the Sect Small Fleets rapidly advanced forth, fearless.

… In the ocean, where the Vrida Region’s sea territory ends. Dozens of warships after another few dozens exited their stealth mode, suddenly appearing on the enemy’s radars, and were detected by their surveillance systems and array formations.

The Forbloffende Traes Sect’s Small Fleets appeared before the enemy, already close enough for the Frigates to start maneuvering. They opened fire simultaneously, raging their numerically superior machine guns, artillery, and missile storage count as they immediately formed a barrier opposite of the vanguard formation led by Todoro’s Small Fleet, on the enemy.

The enemy on the other side of that barrier of fire and destruction, where not even water was allowed to remain without explosions and disorder; were riddled to a stop and forced to respond as they tried targeting anything before them.

However, the Frigates moved in groups, momentarily separating from each other to finish off the remaining cultivators and citizens before reuniting again and rushing to the next target. They did their best to not further damage the structure of other warships, especially their weaponry.

As for the other warships, the enemy finally noticed they couldn’t directly harm them, as there was a thin, watery yet black barrier in front of them. Todoro Kalavera silently commanded his troops as the Elemental Water Eye barrier, fueled by their Power Energy, turned it blackish like the flashes of smoke and sparks they sometimes expose when fighting.

It didn’t take long for the enemy to launch their rockets. From Cruisers to Carriers, everyone sent their rockets at once, premeditated and coordinated. However, the Sect’s Small Fleets were even better. Their detectors read the enemy rockets’ activation and hidden rotation before they sprouted to action from the enemy warships’ hulls, when theirs were already locking the enemy rockets about to be launched.

The enemy rockets flew into the sky for 2 kilometers before illuminating the sky like fireworks, forced to detonate by the Sect’s rockets, keeping their warships safe. The Elemental Water Eye barrier was widely spread, but not so much tall as to stop those rockets from directly hitting their warships’ shields.

However, the Forbloffende Traes Sect wasn’t settling for a naval battle. The enemy used their rockets after seeing their clear disadvantage to the previous stealth the Sect hide their warships in. The enemy grew desperate, seeing their rockets forced to detonate. From then on, they watched as their warships were rushed to. The Sect Frigates navigated without worry, seamless.

On the other hand, the Small Fleets continued advancing at top speed, pulverizing the enemy warships without a care for which type they were. From Frigates to Low Battleships, the former became rubble and fire under the sunlight at noon, while the latter were forced to turn sideways from the immense firepower it befell them after their shields broke apart.

In under 20 minutes, the enemy old fleets were rapidly harvested like crops, and their Supreme Battleships were surrounded, giving them no hope. Additionally, the enemy couldn’t pay more attention to the skies, since the warships were already problematic to strike, let alone the much smaller Fighters above.

Thus, the unique Fighters in the skies, surrounding their respective warships, formed larger groups in the sky to bombard from different angles and better efficiency than their warships at sea. Then, they’d separate again and reunite with their warships.

On and on, the battle progressed as the enemy remaining Carrier and Supreme Battleship managed to flee in the last few minutes by submerging for 2 minutes before they were chased into the sea and were forced to surface. The Forbloffende Traes Sect warships were not only proficient in submerging, unlike the enemy, who could only submerge and slowly move.

Let alone the firepower didn’t decrease or became worse underwater. The Sect warships had thrusters to further aid them in targeting anything under the surface.

…