The human capital of Yanbaka, Solpera. A century ago, when they lost Regasol from the Wrath of Gods, the remaining humans moved their capital to the northwestern territories, which is now northern Yanbaka. Solpera is a mere shadow of Regasol's former glory. Settled within the vast Northern Plains and the edge of the mountainous Frostlands, it houses around 3 million humans, together with migrated angels and demons. With a part of the city on the plains, agriculture is able to support the population properly. The other part on the Frostlands, having access to mountains, mining and metallurgy are prime industries.
Solpera is shaped like a circle, with rings of walls separating districts and areas, and spanning over 6000 square kilometers. The central area is not the imperial keep but a massive golden spire that spirals all the way to a height of 650 meters, has a diameter of 100 meters, and seems to have 50 or so floors judging from the windows. Surrounding the spire was a ravine so deep that one cannot see the bottom, making it only accessible via the eight bridges that were 20 meters long. Beyond that was a wall that separated the tower from the imperial administrative district that spreads outwards for 3 kilometers until it reaches another wall.
The imperial administrative district was further divided into three areas. If one was to view Solpera from above, the area in the 1 to 4'o clock positions housed the ministers of Yanbaka as well as the diplomats of Palu'Angit and Pyo'ah. The 5 to 8'o clock positions housed the military of Yanbaka, from the rank and file to the generals. Finally, the 9 to 12'o clock positions contained the imperial keep. The imperial keep followed the shape of its area and was only had two storeys at most. Beyond the imperial administrative district, residential areas, commercial areas, industrial areas, and agricultural areas are scattered all over.
Currently, the central administrative district is in chaos.
"Three hundred Azuals have gotten past Eregal Fortress!"
"Lord! Four hundred flying Azuals have been spotted near Holphere City!"
"Give me a damn horse now!"
"Sire! Two hundred subterranean Azuals have caused the Kirlion Bridge to collapse!"
"A runner just arrived and reported 2000 Azual heading south!"
"Shit! What in blazes is happening!?"
Soldiers and ministers are running around all over the place. Hundreds of reports suddenly flooded Solpera from all over Yanbaka. At the moment, Gulfried is within the military area barking out orders to each group. "64th Cavalry, head down to Firdo City! 87th Marksman Brigade, support Hern Fortress! 12th Magic Corps, go with the 55th Cavalry and the 152nd Artillery to reinforce Yulon City! Wyverns, hit and run!"
An out of breath knight ran up behind Gulfried to deliver another report, "Lord! We found out where the Azuals are headed!" Gulfried spun out of control to face the knight, "Speak!" One can hear the stress within his voice. Thousands of Azual suddenly appearing within their borders. One would definitely panic upon encountering such a situation.
"Lord! The Azual are headed towards Kalbata Forest, 122 kilometers to the south!" The knight replied almost losing his cool.
Gulfried's eyes went wide. He immediately knew the Azuals target, "Shit! Rescind all previous orders! All branches are to head down to Kalbata Forest!" and reissued new orders as he cursed forgetting his nobility as the emperor. "Those whoreson dogs plan to eliminate the champion!" Gulfried then whistled and raised a hand into the air. A while after, a wyvern appeared and landed next to him. "I really have to thank Esserot for giving me Draleka." It seems that the wyvern came from the demons. "Deliver the information to the coalition forces! I will immediately head out with the others! All the rest, defend the area! Hyah!" After another stream of orders, Gulfried and his wyvern took flight, followed by 300 other wyvern riders as well as an army of 40,000 magi and soldiers.
---
Kalbata Forest.
"Get up and fight!" Cavaron shouted at Aimi. The girl's strength practically left her body, and she was completely different from the girl who performed well in training. Then again, training and real life situations are leagues different. One may not lose their life with any mistake in training, yet a mistake in a real combat situation will most likely cost one's life. This is the truth Aimi is currently experiencing. Less than a week of training and she was immediately forced to bite the bullet.
With another Mana Pulse, Cavaron's face turned ugly, "Shit! 25 thousand!? How the actual fuck!?" 25 thousand Azuals suddenly made their way within the 1 kilometer radius. "Gulfried, if this is your carelessness, I will damn you just as your great grandfather damned himself!" He turned back to the shivering girl next to him, his face filled with fury, "Live or die? Choose." and left to take care of the attacking Azuals.
Burkhard was standing next to Aimi, although contracted to Cavaron, "Lady Aimi, my Aegis will keep you safe from outside attacks. You are free to attack from within my barrier." he couldn't help it but provide support to Aimi just like how his former owner was. "Please fight, I wouldn't want to see any of his students die under his tutelage. Fight, support, contribute in this endeavor, and live to see another day."
It took Aimi a long while to muster her will. During that while, attacks pelted the Aegis fruitlessly, some Azual even got through and assaulted the Aegis. Cavaron was busy launching one Mana Blade projectile after another dropping the airborne Azual like flies. Avani and Tirta were busy controlling the enemies on the ground with the golems and melded magic. Cavaron released another Mana Pulse, "Oh for the love of... God fucking dammit!" and immediately cursed drawing everybody's attention. Cavaron suddenly ripped space and poured out a pile of items, "Damn! No, no, not this one, nope. Goddamn! I'm out!?" Cavaron frantically searched for a certain item. 'Fuck! Was that my last bottle!? Oh hell!' His thoughts brought him back to a certain event, 'Damn out of Dragon Blood!' the fight against the undead.
"Cavaron! The earth is eroding!" Avani suddenly yelled. She felt destruction beneath the earth, "Subterranean enemies!"
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This time, Cavaron's face was filled with absolute fury, "This is the third time I've met a careless empire." He turned towards the rest, "I just detected 70 thousand with the last pulse. Aimi, no need to do anything for now, I'm pissed off. Avani, Tirta... <
Right after Cavaron said Release, Avani's and Tirta's body glowed with power. Different from the contract ending Dismissal, it seems the whatever Release was probably meant a release of a lock seeing the sudden and powerful fluctuations of mana surrounding the two elementals. "Burkhard, Absolute Aegis. Time for the girls to let loose."
Green light enveloped Avani, shining ever so brightly until the light transformed into vestments that exhuded absolute power. Tirta was the same with blue light dancing wildly around her body suddenly transforming her into a goddess.
"Avatar, Terra."
"Avatar, Aqua."
Voice and demeanor different from the earlier Avani and Tirta left their lips. Avani became Terra, the Avatar of the Earth while Tirta became Aqua, Avatar of the Water. Avatars are highest Tier in Cavaron's elemental contracts able to call forth godlike magic only at the price of huge mana consumption. The nearby Azual also halted their attacks as they felt the two elementals obtain absolute power. Currently, Cavaron has called forth Avani and Tirta but, he also has other contracts. Even Culverin and Shamira have Avatars, these also include the other elements of Ice, Thunder, Wind, and Darkness.
Cavaron unsummoned his blood and mana swords, unsheathed his short swords, and stabbed them both to the ground, "Avani, Tirta. Go nuts." Receiving freedom, Avani waved a hand. Particles of green light blurred from her hand. Immediately after the earth shook and tore open, "Rapture." With a single word, hundreds of Azual were swallowed by the earth. The subterranean Azual were unable to do anything as well, "Compress." as they were crushed by the earth around them. The cries of the Azual that died filled the forest, and chills ran down the spines of all unaccustomed to it.
Tirta raised both of her hands, "Deluge." and again, with a single word, the moisture in the air and the pockets of water in the forest erupted around them as it began to drown even more Azuals. The Azuals underground and those in the forest were wiped out by the hundreds. Those in the air were immediately stricken with fear and tried to flee but were suddenly caught up in a storm of water bullets, "Typhoon." Tirta produced a powerful torrent of rain, and each drop was powerful enough to pierce flesh.
Aimi sat in her place. Shock, awe, fear. Three emotions buffeted her mind from Avani and Tirta's show of force.
Avani raised a hand once more, "Upheaval." With one more word, the earth on the ground shot up and pierced the flying Azuals. Opening her lips once more, "Shrapnel." and the earth lances exploded, eliminating more flying Azuals. This time, to take care of the of the others in the forest, Avani and Tirta held hands, "Mud Wave." and uttered two words. Earth and water melded with each other, a huge torrent of mud appeared around them, rose, and devoured everything that remained in the forest.
With Mud Wave, the attacks of the Azuals ceased, prompting Cavaron to use Mana Pulse to see the results. "Out of the 70 thousand attacking, you took out around 30 thousand." Such a number would be unimaginable if one relied on what can be seen. One must take note that not all of the Azual were visible. Many were hidden amongst the trees in the forest, and even more were hidden underground. For the flying Azuals, some are likely to have escaped. However, Cavaron's expression hasn't changed. The remaining 40 thousand were still in the vicinity, and had no idea if they stood in place or were still advancing. The only way to find out was to either let them come within range or meet them head on.
"Everyone, prepare to head out." Cavaron decided to meet them head on, "We're wiping them out. Avani, do you detect any movement?" and asked the glowing elemental.
Avani turned to face the north, "I am detecting vibrations towards the north. Little by little, the vibrations are getting closer." Cavaron nodded and enhanced his body with mana.
"Let's go." Upon his command, Cavaron shot off towards the north, followed by the elementals. Aimi was left behind to watch the house.
---
Somewhere north of Kalbata Forest, Gulfried and his army were rushing down south.
Gulfried was in the air looking towards the direction of Kalbata Forest. After a while, he was able to spot the forest's edge and directed his wyvern to drop altitude. Upon getting closer, he saw the hordes of Azuals bearing down on the forest by the thousands. Alarmed, he dove back to the marching army on the ground to issue orders, "Men! The Azuals are in sight! Move faster and eliminate our enemies!"
Suddenly, earth and water exploded from within Kalbata Forest. The earth tore open while a flood suddenly appeared. A storm manifested and the earth pierced the heavens. After that, the earth rose and devoured a huge area of the forest.
Seeing this, Gulfried was reminded of their history, the way how the earth itself took revenge upon its inhabitants flooded his mind. "Dammit! Wyverns, with me!" With a shout, Gulfried charged down with 300 other Wyvern riders towards the forest. With their speed, it would only take them a minute to arrive. Closer and closer, Gulfried and the other wyvern riders approached the forest, "Evade!" only to have Gulfried's eyes go wide as an attack shot forth from the forest and order evasive maneuvers.
Gulfried and his wyvern crashed down to the ground, and a man shot past the trees about to deliver an attack filled with bloodlust, "AAAAHHHHHHH!!!" the man howled as he charged towards Gulfried only for the same man to be surprised, "Halt!" and gave an order to the two people behind him that eventually appeared.
"Gulfried, what the hell!?" It was Cavaron.
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Cavaron needs to level up his Mana Pulse proficiency to differentiate friends from foes but no, only games can do that.