Core formation cultivators were duking it out in the sky, as the foundation builders fled without rest, rapidly approaching the town. There were only around 30 left of the initial force of 50, the reinforcements from the Flowing Stream Sect have rapidly taken down much of their numbers.
Soon they would be jumping into our trap as well. It wasn't going to be a good day for these cultivators.
They had nowhere else to run, so they continued straight towards a town that was probably known to have the rogue element of the Sect. They were probably hoping for the Demonic Hair stationed here to use their resources to help battle against the flowing stream sect. I had less faith in them, had they still been alive. They would have hidden as far away as possible.
Now was our chance to make a difference. My teammates were ready for the conflict. Bin Ji was making sure of the final preparations before the war. She had calibrated the battle areas several times by this point. Her nerves were slowly spreading to the rest of the squad. It was only Yurt, and I's steely presence in the face of the upcoming battle that kept everybody sane. The storm of the Core Formations fighting was fast approaching. The foundation Builders trailed slightly behind. The fighting would soon be upon us.
I stationed my constructs in several areas that I figured would be most strategically valuable. The setup took most of my attention, the thrill of battle was filling me once again, even though I wasn't taking part in this battle myself, the thrill of it all, the rush I had felt every time I fought a large group of cultivators as my Prime, came right back to me.
The town wall proved little obstacle to the core formation cultivators, crushing it almost instantly in their battles, great swaths of hair clashing against tentacles of spiraling water, exploding all around the town. It had to be said, the fighting between these two sects was an interesting one. A great show compared to the usual battle between elements. The Demonic Hair sects power was truly an interesting cultivation study. They were losing every clash with the Flowing Stream Sect, who themselves didn't have a powerful water technique.
It was showy, but beyond that, it wasn't much use to anyone, its strength was lacking. As a neutral sect and the benefits that can bring in study and education, it would be interesting to see how far they would come.
Another reason I should help them in their quest for neutrality.
I couldn't make my favoritism too obvious. Any sign of weakness on my part towards the Sect would be significantly questioned, especially if it was discovered that the Ghost Devouring Sect was supplying resources and techniques to a faction within the Sect.
No, I would have to crush the majority of the force, but making one of my squadmates make a simple mistake that would allow some members of the squad to escape wouldn't be the most challenging thing to accomplish.
The clashing soon reached over the heads of our furthest constructs.
"We have to choose the right moment to act, we can't spook the Foundation Building cultivators, so hold your positions until I give the command."
Bin Ji had finally put on her game face and was directing us in a more proper fashion. She had grown a lot in the short time we had been on the mission. A task that had turned far more significant than she had ever imagined. The confidence was slowly blooming in her eyes as she was shouting out orders to move into better positions.
The fighting was destroying the town in front of our eyes. The once-great mansion over our head was replaced by great swaths of rubble, the city befalling the same faith. The core formation cultivators sent out urgent messages to our base, but we remained silent. The foundation building cultivators arrived soon after. Now the fun could truly begin.
My first victim was someone who was trying to escape into the still intact areas of the town—moving as fast as he could between the buildings, avoiding the fighting of both the core formations and his peers.
He never saw the blow coming, shooting out of a side alley. The fist of hair ruptured his body, his strength no match for the construct. His cries never came as he ceased to live.
With that, the rest of my constructs began to move out, copied by much of the other squad members. The attacks started suddenly, beating back all the fight the Demonic Hair sect members had left.
One lucky foundation builder had managed to escape from the flowing stream sect. When he turned the corner and saw a legion of the constructs, he almost cried in happiness.
"Finally, I am saved. You have to help me kill the scum of the Flowing Stream Sect."
His eyes widening was the only sign on his face of the fist of hair emerging from his back. Yurt did not hold back with the demonic cultivators.
Similar scenes played out throughout the town. We had passed the message to the Sect about our new constructs, so they weren't surprised by our interference. We were whittling down the numbers with excellent efficiency.
Now was the time to get in the way of the core formation fighters. I had put core formation constructs under two other recruits apart from Bin Ji, Yurt, and I. One was the enterprising fellow who was so interested in the formations of the control room. The other was Bin Ji's sister.
It wasn't a hard choice of who to throw under the bus. Making her construct move in a way that simulated the actions of a mistaken button push was simple. Timing it, so it crashed into a flowing stream cultivator, was less so.
The mass of hair quickly absorbed the cultivator. After Bin Ji and her sister noticed what had happened, they were desperately working to free the cultivator.
In the meantime, I had helped the cultivator in my own little way to escape. With that, my job was done.
We could now get the rewards we deserved.