The Vrida Region's Strength?

“AAAAAAAAH!” Boom boom- boom!

Before the Region's First Step cultivators could react, their almost prepared old Fleets were under the Sect Small Fleets' attack. The citizens were even more helpless to respond as their superiors, the cultivators, either screamed shrilly or to the top of their lungs, trying to exert as much Power Energy as possible. This was already trained before, and with luck, a cultivator might survive such bombardments.

Unfortunately for those trained cultivators, the method might’ve worked if 2 vital factors didn’t exist. One, the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s targeting systems were beyond simply recognizing targets from detection and firing through the structures to strike those points. Its sole, independent tracking and locking systems were also intricate, more than anything the world has seen before in a detailed manner.

And two, if it weren’t for the unique warships, which had more weaponry and room for ammunition, counting missile and shell ammunition storage besides bullets. Thus, the concentrated firepower and number of arsenal pieces tumbled down any resistance.

When the warships went off stealth and showed themselves, their locking systems were caught by the enemy warships, which immediately employed their shields. However, with rocket launchers already mobilized since before coming close to the shores, these posed no obstacle.

The enemy old Fleets were obliterated, starting by 1 and a half becoming nothing but useless rubble, which the Sect clearly didn’t care enough to save them for salvaging. Then, the rest of the enemy old Fleets felt terror as they fired back, only to find their projectiles struck by something in the air, stopped and rendered useless.

The enemy had no other choice but to full-on retreat, but the warships continued forth, not stopping when already this close. Their momentum was unstoppable, and while the enemy didn’t know it, they were finally using their rockets aggressively.

Seeing their Small Fleets advance, using everything they got to destroy these dozen old Fleets, the Rear Admirals and their central command personnel marveled at the beauty of more than a century and a half of training. They had come so far, from training in the Vrida Region their land forces, to the navy, which had traveled months to arrive at this promised land.

Now that they saw it, they could see the quality and quantity of pure energy in the air alone. Who knew how enhanced and abundant it would be in forests, mountains, near ores, and in the organizations. Even in battle, this was easy to discern with their well-taught nature reading.

However, they also discerned that the pure energy quality wasn’t different from here than in the Vrida Region. The only difference being the quantity and the efficiency at which pure energy could flow around and further into one’s body. Nevertheless, this was enough to amaze them.

“We cannot beat them! Full retreat, full retreat!” - “Fall back! All First Step forces, you must resist and regroup away from the shores!” - “Retreeeaaat!”

The enemy tried to respond, but the Small Fleets’ firepower decimated the Region’s First Step old Fleets in under 12 minutes. Their efficiency and massively trained coordination was too much for the enemy First Step forces’ coalition. The Region suddenly welcomed the barbaric, violent, brutal assault of the Forbloffende Traes Sect onto their shores before they fearlessly moved forth and didn’t look like they wanted to stop.

When the enemy was fleeing, with their Third Step organization leaders officially, finally giving the order to retreat, the Forbloffende Traes Sect Small Fleets began vomiting hundreds of thousands of troops everywhere. A diminutive section of the shores of the 3* Region were invaded by these troops, directly taking terrain ahead while ignoring any civilian and higher-than-First Step cultivators.

The citizens rushed in, wearing their tight black uniform-armor as they carried special assault rifles. These weren’t like the sniper guns Heian Ciemnosc had introduced to his previous citizens. However, their sharpness, prowess, and consume of the citizens’ supposedly ‘unofficial’ Souls were improved by many margins.

For starters, their bodies wouldn’t feel inner fatigue after shooting once despite having only resources to improve their bodies and mentality up to the First Step’s standards. They had more battery ammunition, of course, and they shot rosy trackers that hit the enemy cultivators and citizens to one shot them in the head or any vital point of the body.

Their bodies weren’t consumed as much, and the maximum accuracy firing range was about 5,000 meters, but they only had enough for 4 charges, with 3 being the limit unless they were cornered. In a situation where the Sect was invading, it naturally wouldn’t be the same, so only 3 recharges would happen at most per assault riffle.

As the troops rushed in, the Small Fleets didn’t stop receiving fire from other zones of the shore. After all, a 3* Region’s shore was enormous. Artillery from other ports and forts aimed at them, which the Small Fleets didn’t feel bothered to have attracted, as this saved the troops’ trouble.

Their firepower threatened anything they set their targeting systems on. Thus, even though the enemy wanted to aim at the Sect’s land forces, they had to focus on the warships in their waters. Otherwise, once those warships become free, they’d decimate any First Step organization’s defensive structure from afar, leaving them helpless.

Thus, with little to no initial resistance, millions of soldier units and auxiliary units moved into the mainland. They were fearfully watched by the civilians on the streets, who didn’t think the danger would arrive to their streets and livelihoods. Hundreds of cars and other wheeled vehicles were stopped beforehand by the organizations, but most didn’t leave their vehicles and wanted to wait until the blockade was lifted.

When they saw the black armored troops rush into the streets of the ports, they were flabbergasted. Many were incredulous, as the news ran fast, and they knew this was about a First Step organization. Moreover, they saw their Region’s forces flee before.

Nobody was idiotic enough to believe it was a strange movement from the Region’s First Step forces’ part. When those black armored troops became noticed everywhere, the realization struck every living being in the port.

A foreign First Step organization casually assaulted the shore and breached through, with the Region’s First Step forces forced to retreat. All under the Third and Second Step organization leaders’ eyes!

But there was no time to lose thinking. The land forces moved as fast as they could with coordination. A million of these soldier units and around the same amount of auxiliary units were led by Liliam and Hexitia, who scanned everything and brought their Division units through the port.

While their speed wasn’t immensely fast as it could’ve been elsewhere, the other Major, Lieutenant, and Division Generals strictly brought their military units forth. An hour after they stepped into the ‘cherished’ mainland dirt and streets, they were finally forced to stop and deal with a coalition of First Step forces.

The disciples fought in melee, protecting each other and never moving fully aggressive. Their [Chronicles of Life & Death] rapidly brought them small victory after small victory. Their sheer bodily strength was already a lot, but when some Lieutenant or Division Generals in the Spirit Rebirth realm dueled the Region’s equals, the difference between them and the Vrida Region’s forces became clearer.

The Soul Art attacks each side could employ shouldn’t have been that capable, as one can truly use offensive Soul Arts later on at the Second Step. However, the Sect’s Spirit Rebirth realm cultivators were practically immune to Soul techniques, and when they employed theirs, they were actually full-fledged Soul Arts!

It went without much surprise as the Sect won their first battle 2 hours and something later. The port erupted with the cheers of the First Step invaders, who only covered a small portion of the port, before further advancing. Their paths were simple, and as if guided. They were searching for no other but the forces who had wanted to stop them twice already.

As such, a hunt began. The higher Step organizations could only cross their arms and watch as the invading enemy was far too strict and disciplined. They never stole from anyone or anything, not even the bait the Region’s First Step forces planned, like giving raw meat on a plate to a dog.

Nevertheless, riches did nothing to sway the army’s goals. The desire for revenge and to prove themselves, prove to the Authoritarian Summit Divine Kingdom, who and what the Vrida Region was. The riches could come later, after they’ve made a number on their current targets and those who’d come with time. After all, the Sect forces were planning to stay here for just a few days.

… The days went on. A 3* Region’s port wasn’t small or simple. Its paths and numerous traveling routes varied a lot. From aerial routes to underground ducts to sneakily pass through without alerting the enemy. The Sect troops took advantage of everything, but the day they surprised the Region the most was when they surrounded a defensive structure in the port on the 3rd day.

The high officials in the land forces used their Covert Space bags to deliver the vehicles to their respective subordinates. Then, once the armored vehicles made their presence known, the first siege commenced. The First Step enemy forces holed in the defensive structure, thinking they’d at least buy a week worth of time before they were forced to go all-out without protection.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Unfortunately for them, the Sect was only showing off earlier. Since the troops had demonstrated their capabilities with ample success, it was time to seriously hunt their prey. Thus, less than an hour later, with only a dozen light green barriers protecting the enemy, they were defeated.

The land forces continued their trip, but this time, they rode and piloted their motorized and armored vehicles. Their impressive shape and always moving-like structure gained the interest of anyone who saw them, including their enemy.

However, only civilians had the chance to see it in action and not feel despair. They weren’t under a curfew, but they were recommended to act as if one existed for their sake. However, a third of the civilians still went out. They didn’t follow their previous, ordinary lives, but they either wanted to see those enigmatic black armored troops and vehicles, even in battle, or desperately needed to connect with their loved ones or knowns.

After a couple of weeks, half the port was basically cleaned by the land forces of First Step enemies. When there was an enemy defensive structure and a siege ensued, the Sect would tumble it to the ground. Then, looking through the rubble and hundreds of thousands of corpses within, some dead from the last few bombardments or barrage of bullets, and others from before that were taken into the structure by their comrades. The troops would take prisoners from them.

These prisoners weren’t just that. They were always found surrounded in articulated intermediate protective barrier formations. They would have about half a dozen green barriers to protect them in the deepest corners of the defensive structures, but only a few green barriers would remain by the end of the siege.

Those people were obviously top-notch, important figures in their organizations. Some from First or Second Step organizations, and others from even higher Steps that desired experience. Like most others, they believed it would be a smooth, unimportant experience to grow.

Unfortunately for them and their organizations, these indispensable folk were all captured. Of course, the Sect wouldn’t create hatred-based enmity with every organization it could. The Sect announced to the Region their willingness to sell them back their younger generation. Otherwise, they’d just be brought back to the Vrida Region when the time came.

While that happened, the 3 Carriers from the 3 Small Fleets constantly sent Fighters out to scout the port to watch out for any information of the enemy hiding while the troops fought on the other half of the port. They didn’t bombard these, as it would be too simple and easy.

Those Fighters this time were the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s bombers. They had a 20 meters width and 11 meters length, with a stingray-ish design. A rhomboid structure constantly rotated at the sides from its cabin, which was at the center. It has 2 smallish engines on its back, covered by armor and leaving only helix-like ventilation visible from the outside.

It is equipped with tons and tons of missiles, although their primary use was another, it was still under construction.

While the Sect practically paraded them throughout the 3* Region’s port, gaining quite the fame, the troops finished the other half of the port. They were careful not to go overboard, only destroying whatever the First Step enemy forces were hiding, defending themselves, and moving to.

When the time to go for the other half arrived, the enemy on that side, which had cautiously watched the strange Fighters above the port flying over them every day, lost their cool. At least half of them fled the port, deciding to seek refuge in their inner territories instead of just waiting there to die.

They weren’t to be blamed, but they gave up a battle the 3* Region asked them to solve. They allowed the forces of a 1* Region to do as they wished with the 3* Region, invading it under the leading figures’ eyes, helpless to do anything.

The troops arrived at the other half without problems, but as they did, some First and Second Step organizations in the ownerless territory felt the urgency to do something. Before, they could only watch. They wouldn’t fight against a clearly strong organization for no reason. However, as time went, the careless destruction of other First Step forces from the Sect’s part left them frowning.

Now that they received news of the other First Step forces fleeing, the organizations in the ownerless territory set out. The First Step organizations marched with their whole army, while the Second Step organizations sent their First Step forces forth. They couldn’t believe these non-ownerless territory people weren’t willing to fight!

By the time they arrived at the port, the Sect troops had already begun erasing the remaining quarter of the port’s First Step enemy forces. Thus, the newly arrived enemy forces rushed to that half, rapidly engaging the Sect land forces as the latter were forced to divide their attention. Still, their response was swift and…merciless.

That gave birth to a battle that extended throughout a week, with intermissions here and there amidst mobilization and chasing from 1 party to the other, as if turning themselves to play tag. This was the first time the Sect was in a stalemate in a ‘flash’ war against the 3* Region’s First Step forces, who still wished to defend their honor.

Nevertheless, this non-victory stalemate let other First Step organizations in the 3* Region, and outside of it, feel like they also had a chance against the Vrida Region’s people’s might. Unfortunately, the forces that managed to put the Forbloffende Traes Sect in their place were swiftly defeated in the last 2 days of that week-ongoing battle.

Yet, when those people were about to suffer their last throes and officially extinguish or cripple their organization because of another Region’s honor, or as the core mainland’s people, reinforcements arrived.

The land forces were driven to retreat, leaving a small portion of those First Step forces from the ownerless territory organizations. This gave rise to a new notion, one that would persist in the times to come. As the black armored fled, the enemy didn’t chase and just watched from afar.

The survivors who put a ‘stalemate’ to the black armored were somehow venerated, and after a few days recuperating, they became the leading council in a coalition to defeat the black armored. As for hatred or exterminating the other to defend their honor, it meant little when adversaries of equal power faced each other.

Of course, one side was alone, and they were one First Step organization. The other side was numerous First Step organizations, and First Step forces from Second Step organizations.

The Forbloffende Traes Sect’s forces, not just the land forces, took advantage of this time to further rekindle their fighting spirit. This was the first time they were fighting someone who forced them to go all-out. However, their teachings proved truth, as it showed in the last few days of battle.

They adapted quickly, not losing even light casualties to the enemy, albeit there were many injured who couldn’t fight after a couple of days from the sudden arrival of another enemy. Although the troops were nearly sandwiched, they escaped with their sheer strength and coordinated counterattacks, but their mentality was further drained to deal with that new enemy.

When they could finally rest and treat their wounded comrades, once their healing commenced, the troops noticed their hands were shaking. No matter what they did or meditated with… they couldn’t ease down the excitement they felt after finding such a matching enemy to their strength.

A few weeks passed. During this time, the port became safe enough to evacuate the civilians, whose Forbloffende Traes Sect’s sudden invasion made it impossible. Meanwhile, the leading council had taught whatever was needed to deal with the black armored people.

The civilians had to be moved, as it seemed like the Forbloffende Traes Sect wasn’t here to just vendetta. Coming from the barren, infamous, undesired ‘abandoned island Region’, whose name the 3* Region’s people don’t even bother remembering because of their higher ‘self’, what the black armored people wanted the most was to prove themselves… their home’s worth.

The Third and Fourth Step organizations were still slightly mad after realizing this, which was obvious to them from day 1, but not anymore after seeing the intricate Art the black armored people used. Furthermore, their military system was different, more similar to the previous ones from yore.

Furthermore, every war instrument they had was unique to their Sect, truly never seen before. Although it somehow looked like it was too much, the result was that it wasn’t overpowering as one could have thought it’d be.

Even then, the coalition didn’t back away. They were terrified of the black armored overall military capacity, yes, but they weren’t cowards. While those who had fled thought about returning, they received letters to stay away from the battlefield by the 3* Region’s utmost command, the leading council. By this point, they were undeniable in the First Step’s authority in the Region.

As for the leading council, during the following weeks, they received millions and millions of soldier and auxiliary units from everywhere around the 3* Region, slowly making their way through personnel portals, costly and high-maintenance, but worth it.

The leading council trained the First Step forces, taught them the terrifying points of the Forbloffende Traes Sect, and prepared them to face such… monsters. Nevertheless, against such military capabilities, there was only so much just training could do. They couldn’t suddenly grow bodily strength, improve their Spirit Sense, and become peak First Step Craftspeople.

As a matter of fact, not even 1/13th of the millions of troops they received over the weeks had peak First Step Craftsmaking in 1 profession. Nobody was such for 2 professions or more, like those Spirit Rebirth realm Sect hierarchy showed when dealing with multiple enemies at once and never losing or even taking too many steps backwards…

They were lucky that Todoro, Pretieta, and Saon weren’t there, especially Todoro. However, Liliam and Hexitia became terrifying in every First Step cultivator’s eyes.

Additionally, the coalition received gifts that changed the game. Or rather, might have even stabilized it. The Third and Fourth Step organizations offered them war instruments from their part. Those were meant to be their First Step forces’, but after seeing the fighting spirit of these lower Step organizations, they were willing to help them out.

After all, unless it was an offensive, they could gift them as many war instruments, arsenal, and ammunition as they wished for free, in exchange for certain goods, or money. But not their people. Only if they were direct vassals or subordinate organizations would the Third and Fourth Step organizations be able to help with the situation.

But, in fact, some First and Second Step organizations who lent their help were such things. However, the Third and Fourth Step organizations still didn’t send their lower Step forces. This was a matter between them, not a Region-deciding transformation. If anything, it would serve the interests of both parties…

However, the Forbloffende Traes Sect didn’t just do nothing and waited to see what they could do to deal with the enemy’s increasing prowess and manpower. During these weeks, the organizations sent delegations to haggle prices for their younger generation. After the Sect soared the prices a few times, they finally became meek and delivered riches to their temporary bases.

The Sect wasn’t dumb enough to only build 1 temporary base in exposed enemy territory. As most of the prisoners were kindly returned to their homes, the large ships that had followed behind the much faster Small Fleets finally arrived, carrying the final part of the Sect forces that would up their game instead.

…