Olivia Clark (1)

The enemy received information and even images of tens of thousands of Fighters, not correlating to the Small Fleets station in the temporary bases, with pleasant smoothness and efficiency that turned their eyes green with envy. There were so many, and of all the 3 types. That which nobody could take down, no matter how many passes it made above their heads. The scary, nimble, lethal smaller Fighter, and those that easily destroyed their nimble Offensive and Defensive Frigates when the Forbloffende Traes Sect attacked.

The calm of the storm began subsiding after the Fighters arrived. The Forbloffende Traes Sect began mobilizing from one temporary base to another. Meanwhile, the enemy had prepared enough. They had become used enough to the war instruments and were ready to battle.

Before marching to the port’s center, desolate, with only a few groups of people drinking tea here and there, the coalition nicknamed the black armored troops as ‘Shadows’. After all, with a ginormous tree as their home, in the core of the Vrida Region, they were like its shade. Moving throughout the land, sea, and arriving elsewhere to take root.

Of course, the coalition wasn’t just fighting against this and doing their utmost to avoid their Region from letting that root dig even a meter. They wanted to bash it back to where it came from.

Thus, the port that had been used for several hundred years in peace was out of commission. As a result, the Shadows and the coalition could go all-out and not fear any retaliation from the world. Of course, not that the Shadows were ever seemingly afflicted by it.

It was strange, but even the Third Step organization’s leading figures felt like these Shadows had intricate, deep comprehension of nature. During these weeks, they often wondered if the Art they used as an organization as a whole was also proficient in nature.

Nevertheless, as they were spending some leisure time in a warzone after hundreds of years of repose, the sound of marching armies sounded from either side. From the south, the Shadows marched with their black vehicles razing any building, even hundreds of meters into the sky, to the ground. From the north, the prepared, cautious, yet courageous coalition marched forth to meet those Shadows.

When the first coalition to face the Shadows emerged from their bases, ready to face them off, the 3* Region watched. As the Shadows prepared and spread, forming a third of a circle battling formation while the Small Fleets formed a blockade around the port’s territorial waters, the other Regions watched with slight interest.

It didn’t take more than an hour for both parties to meet each other from afar, at direct firing range from their war instruments. The Shadow heavy tanks fired away first, rapidly bombarding in lateral lines before the marching enemy, with array formations in devices initially protecting them as they rushed onwards with all their might.

On the other side, the Shadows rushed forth in their motorized vehicles, followed suit by the helicopters as they destroyed further buildings ahead. They either helped their fellow Shadow citizens gain covert to freely fire at the enemy, or thwarted the enemy’s plans to do the same.

When the motorized vehicles were close enough to become bombarded by the enemy, who were busy returning fire, their motorized vehicles extended airy black barriers as the soldier units prepared. Cultivators circulated the [Chronicles of Life & Death], while citizens checked their equipment.

Then, way before the tankettes even arrived, leading the tanks ahead, faster than them, with light tanks following closely behind, also covered from the front by airy black barriers. The Shadows’ troopers charged at the enemy, who still advanced with their ‘old’ war instruments in a straight line from side to side.

The clash erupted, resulting in a sudden pushing force that backtracked even the enemy's largest tanks. The sheer, all-out 2 power sources combination of a million Shadows protected by blackened Elemental Wind Eye barriers shocked the enemy, but this was still the beginning. Furthermore, the Shadows hadn’t used their tens of thousands of Fighters so far.

And thus, it began. From that moment onwards, as both sides continued to live their lives, constructing and recruiting more and more people on their side, years went by.

. . .

The commodities in the core mainland didn’t change. The world had seen many things, and finding a smaller force proving themselves in the territory of a bigger force wasn’t new. Only, such things were usually only tournaments and Craftsmaking competitions.

Few times have such happenings been followed by battles, or even wars. In the case of the port where the Vrida Region landed and took place for several years already, it was only a constant battling situation where one side wanted to push the other out. Hundreds of battles a year, millions of casualties, with most belonging to the coalitions formed by the 3* Region; that was the result.

16 years have passed. During this time, many things came to light. Two of which seemed to belong to the same category as the Forbloffende Traes Sect, and the revelations to the world of the intricacies between citizens and cultivators sharing battlefield were re-explored in the 3* Region’s battles. Especially with many citizens causing quite a few million casualties on their opponents.

For starters, the Regions in the core zone realized that the Forbloffende Traes Sect wasn’t just experimenting on their citizen weaponry. Unlike other organizations, even Third Step organizations. They could only try their different methods while using the black monster’s examples to build their rifles.

It was known it somehow used the unformed Soul of the citizens after receiving enough training and discipline. However, their quality varied. Some experiments were strange failures. Their shots fired by their rifles wouldn’t go through objects like armor, classified or not. But they could hit a person’s physical body. But some didn’t even penetrate and either left a meaningless or burning mark behind.

However, in the Forbloffende Traes Sect, their citizens held assault rifles similar to the civilian wars’ common equipment. They not only killed enemy cultivators easily with a shot to their lungs, guts, heart, brain, neck, and so on. They have a quick firing rate, their range is vast, and the accuracy is even more substantial.

If it wasn’t for the simply superior reflexes a cultivator has, these citizens with their assault rifles would’ve been enough to decimate countless cultivators. Each time before a citizen was required to recharge, they could claim 3 or 4 lives at least, firing about 3 dozen shots each time.

With such prospects, how could the Shadow citizens not be unique across the world? However, only the core zone knew about this, and they weren’t hurried to either divulge it or keep it hidden. Slowly, the images of Shadow citizens firing assault rifles spread throughout the Neutral Existences.

But interest and intrigue was only so much. Any peak expert could send a little of their Spirit Sense to investigate it a little, and they would be able to see that those assault rifles could only threaten First Step cultivators.

Although not even the black monster achieved an assault rifle, his sniper rifles could kill any Third Step cultivator below the Bright/Silhouette realm.

The Shadow cultivators continued to show their insane capabilities. They were simply better at everything. Whatever one wised to excel on, a Shadow soldier unit would have it as a side-kick. It was the perfect guy anyone would worry about when walking with their beloved. The envy easily brought most people to try these Shadows out.

They could hold on from constant minor injuries throughout a month, appearing in the subsequent battles like nothing was happening to them, while racking up more scars on their bodies. Then, when they were finally out, with either grievous injuries or accumulation of light wounds, they would at most last 3 months in bed before rushing back to massacre.

The soldier units knew they were many less than the enemy. This became more evident as the 3* Region kept pouring more enemy troops every year.

The Sect had suffered 3,000,000 casualties in these 16 years, which was a monumental number, considering all things. These only decreased the more time the Sect’s troops kept increasing their experience, and as the air forces fully joined the battles in the 3* Region.

While the enemy had suffered nearly 15 times that amount, they were backed by the whole 3* Region. Only they knew how many First and Second Step organizations there were in the 3* Region. This was a Divine Kingdom, after all. Moreover, quite a few ownerless territory First Step organizations and forces joined the fray.

Some other Regions wanted to send their people to join the Forbloffende Traes Sect instead, with whatever reasoning and schemes they might have. But the Sect denied them. After all. It was their time to shine, and nothing could stop or change their path.

Fortunately, after 6 years of batting in the 3* Region, the Vrida Region became fully aware and conscious of the happenings there. When more than a million of their beloved soldier units perished, they felt their bodies urging them to do something.

After 60 years of prosperity, the Vrida Region needed its people. Many were young at this point. Thus, citizens and cultivators began filing the numbers to a brand-new, greater record the Forbloffende Traes Sect had never seen before. It also helped that the previous ‘rulers’ of the Vrida Region officially submitted to it, and the traitors of the Region killed in action.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

What’s more, there was something which Heian Ciemnosc had been expecting for a long time. The high intensity fever of citizen and engineer recruitment!

After the naval defense battle, the Shadow navy gained quite a lot of recognition. The Region could only smile after they saw the brand-new heroes return and grab the soldier and auxiliary units away before departing to defend their honor. Some years later, they finally understood what was happening and thus, the fever commenced.

As the years passed, the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s increased recruitment per year, an astronomical amount, made the situation back at home similar to how it was a hundred years ago, lacking manpower and whatnot.

However, by the time 10 years went by, with the Shadows gaining about ¾ of the 3* Region’s port and maintaining it for 3 consecutive months without losing terrain again. The number of troops, crew members, and air forces increased by not just a few millions from their previous numbers before the battles for recognition began.

There was no more doubt. The Forbloffende Traes Sect had proved themselves. Their strength was marvelous. Their cooperation nearly infallible. Their hearts unyielding, and their battling spirit deathless. Some even joked that they were the return of the warrior organizations, and they’d lead this Change as such.

Some supported the idea, like the old records of the seeming return of the Elemental Masters, and the still ongoing struggle for the Lords’ time to return. But others refuted with the Elemental Masters’ return never happening again, no matter how harsh the struggle was back then. As for the return of the Lords, that much was already given up in the Great Sage’s Change.

Thus, the conversation and banters of the Forbloffende Traes Sect becoming the next warrior organization quietly slipped to the bottom. In retrospective, nobody really talked about the Blauw Empire.

… At these moments, in the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s central cottage. The inner territory had become bustling. That much was understood. The fact that the enemy didn’t know was the influx of recruits every year. It was too vast to the point it allowed Heian Ciemnosc to start delegating some of the new members without much potential but with the heart of the people’s warmth to become garrison units. It didn’t matter how thin or small it was.

By now, the civilian districts were virtually full. The only thing keeping it from being overpopulated was the rule of leaving a small percentage unoccupied for the future generation of civilians as they grow up and start their lives. As for Servants and disciples, the military college already proved to be… a little small.

Either way, the competition within the Sect was vibrant, and the world around it only became greener and gained more luster. However, the Sect Master had ordered the closure of several Powerful Stone mines until new notice. But even then, the annual income the Sect received only increased, and the products the members exchanged between each other, helping one another in their respective Craftsmaking, also developed even more.

Naturally, the Vrida Region’s younger generation weren’t aware what was needed and would happen as a ruling organization transitioned to the Second Step in their conquered Region in a Divine Kingdom. Only the older generations knew. However… the Forbloffende Traes Sect was no generational organization, so, how?

Regardless, The Forbloffende Traes Sect continued its daily lives as the new members poured in just a few months ago. Today was the 725 year of the change, close to the 180th year of the Sect, with only 8 years away.

“…!”

Heian Ciemnosc felt his advancement to the Dark High God coming ever so closer. These last few days, he’s spent his time meditating nonstop. The Sect hardly required of even the upper echelons to take care of matters. And with the competitions going around, from racing to achieve 1 profession at the peak of Craftsmaking, or cultivation base, the young ones were busy improving.

But, suddenly, Heian Ciemnosc opened his eyes as his Spirit Sense caught onto something. A few seconds passed before Heian Ciemnosc calmly blinked his eyes. He stood up and asked Sara in his inner universe. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Sure. Want me to hide you from others? Or do you want to try killing one?” Sara responded, sitting her bum in the endlessness of pure darkness as she held her toes. Her wide smile showed how much she wanted to try the second option, but Heian Ciemnosc ruefully smiled. “Only if we want to get killed instead. Oh, come on.”

“Nyeheheheee~!” Sara grinned from ear to ear as Halonso immediately appeared before Heian Ciemnosc. He brought a female Human and a few little kids with him as they looked around before the young woman waved at Heian Ciemnosc. “Father, good morning!”

“Grandpa, good morning!” The kids also greeted Heian Ciemnosc. His mouth slightly opened, as if wanting to say something, but he had nothing. Nothing at all. Heian Ciemnosc felt a little embarrassed as Sara teasingly smiled but said nothing. Heian Ciemnosc slightly shook his head before addressing Halonso, who innocently blinked like nothing happened.

“Someone’s trying to snatch what’s mine,” Heian Ciemnosc dusted his spotless clothes and said before pausing. He lightly nodded at the first bearer of the second generation of Space Devouring Worms before addressing Halonso again, “Let’s bring her in.”

“Yes, Father!” Halonso trembled in slight excitement. He said nothing and teleported away with Heian Ciemnosc. Once they left, the young woman left behind ushered her children to pick the cleaning tools in her Covert Space bag before taking a few gloves out. 3 pairs for the little kids, and 1 for her.

***

In a small, 2* Region outside the Authoritarian Summit Divine Kingdom’s core, whose recent news only mattered to them. A few hundred meters away from a village.

An extremely, intricately, beyond-belief in all that exists and there is, beautiful young lady walked beside an old man. He wore gray robes, unrelated to organizations, but wore an emblem before his left shoulder.

On the other hand, the young lady’s appearance alone was enough to believe she was the world’s little gem, trying to evolve into its most precious rock. Greenly, star-twinkling, almond-shaped eyes. Smooth eyebrows with sharp blades at the edges, similar to her medium long hair tied in a braid ponytail. A brown-white skin that almost looked golden but remained within the tones of white and light brown. She seemed ordinary, unimportant even, but the old man saw in her what he never thought could exist.

“That’s right, young lady,” the old man said as they walked further away from the village. The blonde lass looked at the old man, unsure. The former continued, “I do come from a special organization myself. The Borg Empire is our superior, but it is nothing that others can speak of in the Authoritarian Summit Divine Kingdom.”

“You see,” seeing the lady unconvinced still, the old man continued, sounding more vigorous. “The moment I saw you, I knew the hidden potential within your body would be amazing! I wasn’t wrong. Your future lies leagues ahead of the Neutral Existence, hohoho. My organization’s leader will be very pleased to take you in as his personal disciple. I assure you!”

“Look, mister. I am glad that you say these things, but… are they true? It’s been many years, but I cannot make any effort to refine a single strand of pure energy into my own.” The young lass said, pouting at the end of her words, frowning, and looking at the grass.

“Tsk-ah!” The old man smacked his lips before reassuring the young lady in an attentive, grandpa-like voice, “Don’t make such a fuss. My Academy won’t spare any effort to find your cure and help you initiate your cultivation path!”

“Really?” The young lady was astounded and gladdened. She thought of her mother’s contented visage when she returned and told her it could be possible. But the young lady couldn’t help remembering her mother’s confused yet scrutinizing stare as she looked at this old man like he was a thief.

The old man vigorously nodded, “But of course! Do you think you’ll make me, a Godly cultivator, want to mess around with my luck to interfere with nature? It is within my abilities to bring such a seed back to my Academy. You will never have to worry!”

“Then, what can I expect?” The young lass felt heroic. Her dreams were finally coming true, and she felt she could grasp the world in her hand. She just needed not the right hand to guide her, but the perfect one. That’s what she always told herself. Who told her mother to spoil her with so many stories, tales, and legends from the cultivation world and tell her she’ll be the greatest?

“Hohoho!” The old man laughed, pleased. He seemed to think of something as he brought his hands together below his chin. Then, he fired away, showing Godly passion for the younger generations. “Kid, I can’t tell now. Because of your strange disease, your body is like a cloud to me. But doubt no more. After I confirmed your potential, talent, and essentials for the future, I nearly thought you were a Thin-Treading Thread of Glass Special Body. Haha! The ‘one Destined for Divine greatness’.”

“Thin-Treading… Thread of Glass Special Body?!” The young lady repeated the words, trying to remember them well. When she noticed what it was about, she nearly popped her eyes open. She looked at the old man like one would to a treasure. The old man nodded, “Mhm. But, do you know who the last well-recorded host of that Special Body was? It is rumored the one and only Lady in the world was such. Even a father’s love cannot change nature, otherwise… well, many say the First Lord would’ve failed and died then and there. Some credit this to the Lords’ disappearance.”

“Then… am I not?” The young lady asked, feeling a little hollow in her belly. The old man closed his eyes and shook his head, “Sigh~… Regrettably, I had already confirmed you are not. It seems like the world has deteriorated a little. It’s been 9 trillion Eons since the last appearance. The maximum waiting interval for a person with such a Special Body to appear might be increased another 3 times, sigh…”

“But, no matter,” the old man said. The lass’s pout returned, and her eyes drooped. But when she heard his words, her green, starry eyes gained luster. The old man semi-narrowed his eyes and lifted his right index finger up, “You, young lady, actually possess more than that. Do you know who was rumored to finally bear the Thin-Treading Thread of Glass before you?”

“Who?” The young lady understood her situation, but her voice still trembled a little as she tried to sound calm. The old man was pleased with his antics going according to plan and delivered the punch line, “Lady… Calisneia!”

“She came to the world’s knowledge after the Great Sage. But although she always rose to her feet, she suffered countless torments, chased throughout the world until she suddenly became the mighty powerhouse she is now.” The old man said, exuding sincere veneration, before giving the lass a side glance.

“Wooow!” The young lady smiled. Her eyes stirred with glows and extra twinkles as she felt her skin numbing. Her pores throbbed, thrilled.

“Even then, neither the one and only Lady nor Her Excellency Lady Calisneia had the natural, innate, mysterious qualities you have, kid.” The old man stopped walking. Now excited, the young lady followed his movements. The old man sighed through his nostrils before hearing the young lady’s question, with childish still but heroic and vivid voice. “And can your Headmaster help me become as powerful and unstoppable as them?”

…