To The North

After so many years, they got used to Heian Ciemnosc's behavior and nature: Thus, they didn't ask him or look at him, awaiting his orders. The person who was asked immediately connected with the asset. A hologram call was started 2 minutes later, probably by the spy finding a place to set the concealment array formations, which were unknowingly made by Heian Ciemnosc himself.

“Seniors, this is Leera,” the young girl appeared in screen and said in a formal tone. The old man who called her, who had slightly thick, messy hair and a blue-white bear around his chin and corners of his mouth, nodded. “Have any of you learned anything new?”

“Something, senior.” The young girl nodded, appearing somber. The old man scarcely frowned and waited for her to continue. The young girl gulped down some saliva and said while casually looking around. “A Fourth Step organization has finally showed signs of moving things. It seems like even Third Step organizations were called to action.”

“Is it the same Fourth Step organization that targeted us before? Why did the 3* Region take so long to react like this?” The old man sighed before asking. The young girl strictly nodded before voicing, “It is, seniors. The Incantation Pavilion has amassed the strength of many orgs.”

“As for the lack of action from this Region, 5 weeks ago, we confirmed it was because the Fourth Step organization falsified some of our claims and achievements. Wasting some of our comrades efforts. In the end, they managed to convince many who were interested in us in believing we relied on something else. At the same time, we discovered the org’s intentions.”

“But judging by their caution and decisiveness, they must have already made a move. It’s only because of our lacking capabilities that we cannot confirm or deny, seniors.” The young girl said, lowering her head for a few seconds before continuing. “We have also confirmed the death of 2 my comrades during last year. That is all I have to report.”

“…” Heian Ciemnosc glanced at the young girl 3 seconds before the connection was ended. The people in the meeting room looked at each other, with Todoro, Pretieta, Saon, Liliam and Hexitia, and some others remained silent with crossed arms and vacant expressions.

The others didn’t need to comfort the young girl, she was a Keeper of the Shadow, they didn’t need to. These were the most brutal, cruel, coldly intelligent, and rapid to act monsters the Forbloffende Traes Sect creates. Nothing could put a stop to them, not even themselves. Their loyalty and feverish passion for the Sect was only one of their best qualities.

“Well, I know our numbers, but…” Heian Ciemnosc interjected as the non-silent people at the table chatted with each other, debating the following procedures. They were acting according to Heian Ciemnosc’s likes, but his mind had other things. He attracted everyone’s attention before finishing his words. “Tell me of the Sect’s growth. We are nearing the next Step, aren’t we?”

“Yes, Sect Master!” A young woman nodded and passed to him a thick digital book before sitting back down and dancing her fingertips in the air. Hologram figures appeared before the same numbers Heian Ciemnosc was reading in the digital book’s last few pages written just yesterday and this morning coincided.

Then, she began reading the data, her voice clear and somewhat sticky-cute. “Counting last year’s 12th month, our Forbloffende Traes Sect now has 451.8 million members and 51 million garrison units spread throughout our territory. 171 million soldier units, of which approximately 69 million are cultivators, and 102 million are citizens.”

“Our auxiliary unit number is 240 million, with most cultivators between breaking into the Second Step and at the Broken Crystallization realm. Our expenditure still leaves us with 32 million Supreme Stones to be used every year, including the territory’s expenses. Of those 240 million auxiliary units, 40% are cultivators and about 60% citizens.”

“We have 40.8 million engineers, with 80% belonging to the learning gray capes. The rest are purple capes, with 8 gold capes.” The young woman looked up at the Sect Master, who was reading the data as he heard her.

Heian Ciemnosc was indeed contented reading through them as he heard the ‘lass’. It didn’t matter how universal his Spirit Sense was evolving to be, he still deliciously enjoyed reading about his tiny Sect’s growth in the world. He slightly expressed, “Oh.”

“Our 6 vassal First Step organizations have also reached their peak, and their second generation of hierarchy to join us finished incorporating during the last decade. Their total troops amount to 52.7 million soldier units and 122 million auxiliary units, of which 40% are cultivators who can easily join our main troops in battle, not slowing anyone down, and 60% are citizens.”

“The land forces’ war instruments have all been tripled during these last 3 decades. We have enough to supply the garrison units and our troops 3 times in a row, Sect Master.” The young woman said with some pride, placing her tone a little excited and uplifted.

“Those are good news, it’s as if all of you learned how to read my mind. Not bad.” Heian Ciemnosc commented as he nodded, still reading through the several pages, each 1.5 feet long. The people at the table looked pleased, content to have met the Sect Master’s praise. Even Pretieta and the other exceptional few turned to Heian Ciemnosc, feeling in a good mood.

“Please continue,” Heian Ciemnosc casually and lightly said. The young woman nodded and continued, this time more stern and excited, as the matter of manpower was finally getting short. Not because of their low popularity or lacking propaganda, but because the Vrida Region was too small. “Next, the navy and armada’s projects have continued.”

“The navy now has 43 Small Fleets and 10 Fleets. They have all finished their last expertise examinations a decade ago. We have confirmed the Sect’s navy is as prepared and disciplined as possible. We cannot employ any further personnel for more, Sect Master. Only if…” The young woman trailed off towards the end.

“Unless we become a Third Step organization?” Heian Ciemnosc looked at her with a smile already forming on his overly pale red lips. He lightly harrumphed as he returned his gaze to the digital book before commenting, “I was thinking of addressing this just today. Well, what about the armada?”

“Ahem, yes. Sect Master,” the young woman’s eyes twinkled before she hurried to continue elaborating. “We have 113 Frigates and 43 Destroyers, as per your requests.”

“Then, are the special forces aware of how to use them? And travel with them?” Heian Ciemnosc casually asked as his fingers continued going through some other records. The young woman nodded and voiced, “We have 46.9 million special soldier units, Sect Master. The Eternal Forces are 18 million, the Disastrous Guards 20 million, and the Keepers of the Shadow 8.9 million.”

“They’ve concluded tests underwater. Our sea has been easily magnified; conquered thanks to them. Our dozens of Small Fleets are usually only diving nowadays. The Faunae at our sea territory’s bottom have also begun domestication under our people’s capable hands. The Lobotum Void Serpents are the great example of our people’s desire to bring our new Fauna to battle.”

Heian Ciemnosc slightly smiled. They couldn’t know he, as Shadow himself, moved those Godly Faunae away that were missing during these last 70 years.

“Don’t worry, Sect Master, we know the Lobotum Void Serpents’ importance. We’ll only use them if our territory is in danger. I really long for the day they can accompany us outside our home, sigh…” The young woman lamented as a tiny tail flicked underneath her left shoulder’s jacket.

“Oh, it might take a while. Well, that’s it for now. As for our sea territory… any news from it?” Heian Ciemnosc’s sudden question after he closed the digital book, which meant the meeting would soon end, startled them. Their sea territory was expanded to a sixth of the sea surrounding them, the largest open ocean in the world. What did he mean?

“!” Before they had any time to wonder, their emblems glowed a bit before their medallions became heated. Looking for someone to lead them, the highest command in the Forbloffende Traes Sect, everyone looked at Heian Ciemnosc with astounded eyes.

“…” Heian Ciemnosc looked at them without reaction, as if nothing happened, and they were just acting silly. Then, he smiled and said as he looked at his closest, direct subordinates. “I suppose we can stay a little longer and discuss how to respond to this— violation.”

Todoro Kalavera stood up from his shadowed chair. He gained light as the other few did the same. The other highest Grand Ancestors in the Sect looked at them, showing veneration despite most of them being older than these few hundred-year-old youngsters.

Todoro Kalavera has truly evolved himself. Since his Soul was formed, he gained a new method to seduce his fiancée. And, that was… match her intelligence regarding Craftsmaking, nature’s theories, and Elemental study throughout their time researching together. It was like Pretieta’s paradise became a little bigger, just perfect.

He has now become a Field Marshal, becoming one of the 14 Field Marshals in the Sect. Because the navy and armadas, although the latter was for the future, were more focused to give room to the land forces through trips, and protection, it made more sense for one to be a land forces and navy official. But only if they were that capable. Furthermore, these types of officials are supposed to leave their assistant commander or direct subordinates in charge of naval battles and procedures.

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If someone was a supreme commander, they’d lead each of them the same way, including their designated air force’s Air Force Marshal. Of course, up to this point, everyone could only sigh at the prospect of becoming the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s first official supreme commander.

Todoro Kalavera had broken, to this day, into the Darkness realm 8th stage. Since he was already a beast in melee, having more offensive capabilities was simply adorning a monster with an unstoppable momentum.

The others also became Field Marshals, namely Pretieta and Saon Gori, Liliam, and Hexitia. Including the Sect Master’s disciple, who shockingly became the Vice Sect Master.

Pretieta Gori’s cultivation had advanced to the Light realm 4th stage, becoming slightly safer, even though she had a monstrous future husband with an Imminent Wrath Special Body always around her.

Saon Gori broke into the Breaking Point realm 6th stage, gaining a lot of his youth, and becoming a gentleman his daughter adored to show off. Especially to the ladies. Tetor continued to grow, retaining his young man’s youth as he became the role model every citizen studied. Although his commanding battles were few, even during the 24 years leading to the organization’s successful transition to the Second Step, he was an example even the Sect Master praised.

Liliam and Hexitia were like twin stars. They have broken into the Darkness realm 3rd stage not too recently, becoming yet again the source of envy and veneration. They still never abandoned themselves, always being and appearing together. They were the Sect’s secretly best cultivating couple below the first disciples of the Sect, namely the First Disciple and the leading figure of the second batch to join the Sect.

However, they were no couple. Although those two never left each other, even seeing the other naked, they talked more of their daily lives than to stare at the other’s bodies through baths and changing clothes. Even then, their reputation was decent and one to recognize, even by the oldest Grand Ancestors.

The citizens here in the meeting room were few, but they had been there since several decades ago. Yet, even they, who were more susceptible to enjoying their short lives’ pleasure and satisfaction, saw those two with respect and mad decency.

Todoro has been put in charge of the land forces mostly, taking some time to address his navy and so on. He’s also been tasked with the collection of resources’ transport, as some resources were needed to be moved to specific locations in their new sea territory and within the Vrida Region.

Pretieta Gori has always been a great commander. Her official rank was probably not unique or the highest, as Todoro led a few more million soldier units than the other Field Marshals, but she had brought the troops the most victories and savage battles.

Tetor was, of course, only a Rear Admiral for now, ‘only’. But he was amidst his training and examinations to become a high land force’s official. As for Liliam and Hexitia, they were simple. The more people joined the Sect, then its forces, and them in particular; the more the people understood why they were so good to follow, and how.

Especially Hexitia. It has been long well-known that she treats her people without warmth or coldness, but each of her actions are what a warm person would do out of kindness, while Liliam only did those with her. If she wasn’t there to see him give his people some extra lectures or piece of knowledge, it wouldn’t happen.

On the other hand… Saon Gori, who had always been a clumsy rocket here and there, trying to find his spot to shine in the Shadow forces, had remained half-dormant so far. It changed after the Forbloffende Traes Sect re-opened its recruitment gates.

As the Sect commenced its tasks to gain a lot of sea territory, which their current navy could barely patrol if they were spread as much as possible throughout it, Saon became prominent. He was more recognized in the land forces and navy, even showing great, splendor relations with the air forces. All in all, he was quite liked by even those of other Region units and Small Fleets or Fleets.

When the Sect Master announced the competition to become the Vice sect master, something that wouldn’t change unless the person in question declined from their seat, the fight was on. Everyone gave room for the inseparable 2, the First Disciple, the great official commander, the liked-by-all fatherly figure, and the impossibly amazing Sect Master’s disciple.

At first, everyone thought the fight would be between Todoro and Olivia Clark remaining at the end, but it wasn’t so. After Pretieta and the inseparable 2 were eliminated by speed of cultivation, as the requirement was to achieve the peak of the Second Step, only Saon Gori, who had the least cultivation base, Todoro, and Olivia, remained.

It was a strange notion, but as the Sect cheered them more and more, Todoro stepped down the competition, letting Saon Gori and Olivia Clark to vie for it. If it came to terms of cultivation, then Olivia would’ve surely become the Vice sect master, but if that was the case, Todoro wouldn’t have stepped down from his chance.

The people. Just like civilians choosing their city governor, no one could choose their organization leader, nor those of subsequently lower statuses. But Saon Gori was truly renowned throughout the Sect and the Vrida Region. On the other hand, Olivia was no small chicken. Suddenly appearing during the already ongoing sinister years, she even built the first row of assassins the Forbloffende Traes Sect ever saw.

The continuous victories and even the last push before retreating? All hers. Of course, she didn’t do it all alone, as excellent experts like Pretieta and Todoro were there, too. But her ideas and ruthlessness, matching their troops’ hearts and raging blood, was what put them on the highest pedestal time and again.

Alas, when Olivia Clark achieved the peak of the Darkness realm, she once again petrified the Sect with her cultivation talent. Only some knew how destructible her Soul, Spirit Sense, and bodily strength equally were: just as terrifying. Because those who knew were nowadays Grand Ancestors who retreated with her when they were still able to duel and humiliate the enemy.

Thus, Saon Gori conceded his defeat, letting Olivia claim the vice Sect Master spot 6 years after the Sect exited isolation and the competition began.

Was Heian Ciemnosc proud? Excessively. His woman and disciple had achieved unmatched progression through her cultivation path, and this was with her cultivation base remaining ‘stuck’ on command. Like now, after several decades, Heian Ciemnosc still hasn’t given her the Third Step manual to break into the Third Step, even though he perfected it 20 years ago. In fact, he could just distribute it everywhere now.

Now that 110 years of peace have passed, and the Second Step forces Heian Ciemnosc forged were at their limit, it wouldn’t be bad if they could… put their blood to the test. The Sect, this Forbloffende Traes Sect, thirsted blood.

“Todoro, bring the land forces about. Time to prepare their mobilization.” Heian Ciemnosc looked at Todoro and casually commanded. The latter nodded and took a step back. Heian Ciemnosc stared at Tetor next and also commanded, “Rear Admiral, bring some of the navy to do your stuff. Don’t forget your equipment.”

Tetor nodded and also stepped back. Heian Ciemnosc glanced at the 2 inseparable, handsome and beautiful fellow and gal, before also staring at Pretieta before commanding again. “You will mobilize everyone. Consult your direct subordinates for specified matters.”

“Little Oli.”

As they stepped backwards, Heian Ciemnosc stared at his disciple and showed warmth that the others in the meeting room felt compelled to graciously avoid. Olivia’s eyes gleamed just as warm as he ordered her, “Get the special rats ready. You’ll drop them wherever you want.”

“Heh.” Olivia lowly chuckled before nodding and stepping backwards. Finally, Heian Ciemnosc looked at Saon Gori for a few seconds, with his light smile from satisfying his disciple easing up. “Take the rest of the navy. You will lead after they’re turned into bubbles. Understood?”

The others who stepped backwards looked at Saon with acclaiming glints. Saon himself was astounded, but he only appeared silly for a second before solemnly nodding his head. He didn’t say anything and stepped back, feeling his daughter’s hands squeezing his right wrist. When he looked at her, she was smiling at him, contented and… almost proud?

She was definitely proud, but to a father, that was not enough. Saon needed to feel like she’d never forget him even after death, that should at least be worthy of a good parent.

“Get to it, move.” Heian Ciemnosc stared at the group before looking at everyone in the meeting room. His last ‘move’ word was spoken softly and quietly. Now that they heard their cue, the others stood up, bowed their heads, and rushed out on their feet.

“Sect Master, will you be present this time? At least far away in the skies?”

As everyone left, Hexitia came to him and grabbed his right wrist, which was free. His left hand held the digital book, which he looked at with a slightly empty expression. Looking up, Heian Ciemnosc stared at the girlie beauty with long, black hair, with 2 cm of fringe on her forehead, and a tall, slender body.

“I will. But only after you’ve arrived. I don’t want to waste time with other equals of mine,” said Heian Ciemnosc, returning the book to the table as it disappeared, leaving holographic black dust behind. Then, he lifted it and caressed the back of Hexitia’s head, which she closed her eyes to enjoy before coming closer.

She nudged her nose on his right arm before hugging him a little. Then, she separated and looked up at him with a beaming smile before returning to Liliam, who waited at the side. Liliam’s eyes occasionally looked at Heian Ciemnosc, which the latter didn’t miss. Before they departed, as Hexitia cutely waved at him, Heian Ciemnosc blinked at her before nodding at the young man.

The Goris and Todoro Kalavera walked out together, receiving a quick nod from them, which they appreciated. Then, Tetor passed by Heian Ciemnosc, bowing a little more, gaining a slight, helpless shake from the latter. Tetor walked outside with a flying device before hurrying to the southern port. His medallion up to his mouth, part of the navy was under his command as it moved.

Step, step, step, step. Olivia brought Heian Ciemnosc’s attention away as Evans and Alejandro played fight in the sky, leaving them alone. Heian Ciemnosc stared at his gorgeous, powerful woman and felt the need to make Halonso teleport her to his family so they can meet her, but Hongliang Shu should already know about her, for sure. Thus, Heian Ciemnosc smiled and slightly tilted his head to the left, looking at her.

“To your room this time. I need some encouragement, you know?” Olivia lifted her hands and patted his shoulders before accommodating his large dark coat’s collar. Heian Ciemnosc nodded and held her waist with his large right hand.

Bfwuuoohnng.

A dark dome which no one but Olivia noticed later, Heian Ciemnosc had already transported them to his residence within the Mythical Tree of Evolution’s trunk. They were at his doorstep when the darkness dissipated, although Olivia could only sense it for an iota with her nature reading.

As soon as she saw his cozy interiors, Olivia lightly smiled as the door was closed, stepping into his living room. She took steps back, while Heian Ciemnosc stepped forth, little by little. His torso was unclothed first, followed by his lower boy, which she pulled and played with before looking up at him.

Her head was just at his chest level. As he habitually performs, Heian Ciemnosc lowered his head abruptly and pushed her nose with his. Then, her hands went from his overly pale hands to his overly pale neck.

Olivia hung her body with her intertwined hands on Heian Ciemnosc’s nape as he stood straight. Her soles at his knee-level as she terribly tenderly looked at his darkest eyes.

…