On the border between the [Steel Claw City] and [Razor Wing City], several combat sounds echoed across the large plains where groups from third-realm cultivators to low-level fourth-realm cultivators fought.
The combat was brutal. However, thanks to tactics and the swift response from alchemists and medicine practitioners, the death toll was always kept at a minimum.
Bang!
A low-level Ethereal Soul cultivator hit the wall in frustration.
"The war started a few months ago, and we continue to be on the defensive. Isn't there an end to this endless attack!? How many people do they even have?"
A woman with her legs propped on a table and chugging a spiritual alcohol bottle answered a bit tipsy. "Does it matter? We've been losing terrain and a few cities. It is really hopeless either way."
The man by her side frowned. "The war just started. Can you not be so pessimistic?"
The wolf woman laughed. "One day, almost 30 Peak-Level Epoch Cores appeared and razed ten cities of our Steel Back Wolf Clan to the ground before aid could even arrive, taking around 200 million lives with them. While our six peak-level epoch cores are helping as much as they can, it's a six against almost thirty. Moreover, the demons are also between those enemies, who are quite a lot stronger than our shitty ally, the Astral Sky Clan."
A few people gained frowns when the Astral Sky was mentioned. "Speaking of which, where is the Astral Sky Clan? I haven't seen them out there anywhere."
"Probably holing up in fear when true retaliation arrived. Like us"
BOOM!
As they spoke, they heard ten deafening explosive sounds in the distance, together with an earthquake.
Then, the booming voice of a middle-level Epoch Core spread around. "Time to take this fort! We've finally dealt with those pesky guards! Follow me!"
"WOOOHHH!"
The enemy army cheered and roared when their generals returned victorious.
The wolf beast humans started feeling despairing and hopeless. With 10 middle-level Epoch Core suddenly rushing forward, how could they even resist? Their fort had five of those as guards, yet they had been defeated by pure numerical advantage, as had happened constantly during this beginning of the war.
However, as they were preparing for their deaths, the sound of thunder echoed in the sky, as a white and black lightning bolt descended from the sky, revealing a striking woman with Electric Blue hair.
Feeling the terrible strength behind the lightning of the woman, many people's eyes regained hope. 'A high-level Epoch core!' Or, so they thought until someone realized that the person before them had a low-level epoch core.
Evelyn scratched her head. "Why is everyone looking at me?"
Sierra appeared by her side and commented. "They are probably disappointed that only a Low-Level Epoch Core has arrived?"
Evelyn snorted ."That's… Levelist!"
Sierra didn't want to ask, but she did so either way. "Levelist?"
Evelyn smirked. "You know, like racist, but for levels. Discrimination against levels!"
Sierra pointed sideways. "Wanna deal with those first? They look ready to pounce at you at once."
Evelyn looked over and blinked a few times, then she jumped into Sierra's arms, burying her face in Sierra's tits. "Oh no… Sierra, please save me! Their eyes are so scary~"
Sierra's mouth began twitching wildly. "Hey, now I am a woman with a mate. Can you be a bit less touchy?"
Evelyn giggled. "Tsk, tsk. Big Sister spoke, so I'll stop fondling and hiding my face in your tweets for 10 days!"
While they talked, one of them rushed forward. "Move out, low-level cannon fodder!"
Suddenly, a ball of pure blue, white, and black electricity appeared out of nowhere, surrounding Evelyn's body. When she extended her hand, the lightning merged, and a blue, white, and black spear became tangible and was summoned into her hand.
"[Flash Lightning Steps]."
Everyone blinked, and Evelyn reappeared behind the charging middle-level Epoch Core. "Hmm~. Quite tough but easy to pierce. Not a challenge."
Everyone was stunned when the Middle-Level Epoch Core fell over with a giant void in the middle of his body.
Evelyn looked at the remaining nine and grinned. "I am not as scary or gorgeous as my dearest, but I am not that bad." By her side, Alaia appeared and asked. "What do we do, Evelyn?"
Evelyn shrugged. "Let's take back the territory they've stolen while killing as many as we can. I think that's quite enough, taking into account that with you here, this place should be no problem at all.
Evelyn took a step forward and disappeared with a rumbling sound.
In two hours, the entire battlefield was flipped around, marking the start of a counterattack.
Of course, Evelyn was not the only one of the girls who had entered the battlefields.
After Yasenia reorganized the combat zone into a "not dangerous," "somewhat dangerous," "dangerous," and "stay out of here, dear", she gave each of them a map and told them to do as they pleased after they listened to the general orders of the army officials.
Evelyn was currently in a "not dangerous" zone, testing her strength.
The same went for the rest of the girls, who, after months of waiting, could finally unleash their skills. And, sadly for the enemy, the girls were very eager.
With them, Yasenia also deployed a part of her own power to help while defending the Astral Sky Sect herself.
Every battlefield was similar to Evelyn's, being instantly reversed the moment the girls entered, followed by the Astral Sky Sect members accompanying them.
In just two weeks, the tide of the battle was about to be reversed. However, unlike what everyone expected, Yasenia called for a tactical retreat.
In a large tent, a few leaders of races and powers allied to them were gathered. Tengliu leaned on her hand and asked what everyone wanted to know. "Why did you retreat?"
Yasenia asked. "Why not? We are two months into the start of an offensive. The pushback has been successful, and we gained terrain, recovering a lot of land. However, it was consuming resources at a very high pace. Moreover, do you really think that they would lose in just a few weeks?"
The dragoness leaned on her hand and asked the people that had gathered. "Are there only stupid people on the enemy's side?"
The Forest Sky Empire Empress commented. "But retreating at this point is not going to help at all. We will need to cross this limit in due time."
Yasenia commented. "The reason is because my preparations are done. I will probably take most maids with me for this operation, together with a relatively large Epoch Core army."
The Ocean Swallowing Mermaid Queen frowned. "The grand commander will leave her post? While you were voted to be the commander of all armies, that doesn't mean that you can do as you please."
The dragoness nodded. "That's why I will give my position to her."
The people turned their heads and saw Tatyana waving at them. "Hello~."
The Mermaid Queen opened and closed her mouth a few times, eventually asking one question with an exasperated expression. "Will many people be used as cannon fodder?"
The Death Empress laughed. "Cannon fodder? That's for human-like people used as sacrificial lambs. Of course, I won't use such a thing." Tatatya continued. "I will just use these stones to do the trick."
Looking at the "stones" that moved, screamed, cried, trembled, and stayed entirely still.
Tengliu coughed. "What are you going to use the captured enemies for?"
Tatyana blinked. "Ammunition. My undead catapults need a bit of that. Moreover, the fun thing is that although it is highly lethal, it takes a bit to die for those who are not directly hit. So, I can gain ammunition per shot!"
The Nine Earthly Sword Sect Master asked. "Can we see those catapults?"
Tatyana waved her hand, and a circle spread on the floor, opening to around 50 meters wide. From it, an abomination of flesh and skeletons appeared.
The shape was similar to that of a cannon. However, when Tatyana took the first screaming bullet and threw it up, several sharp bones spread out, impaling the low-level Epoch Core and fusing it into its flesh. Then, with the gruesome sound of bones and flesh being ground, the cannon opened as if it were the mouth of a terrifying creature, and finally, a shockwave spread around together with a deafening sound.
BOOM!
Everyone followed the bright red ball, surrounded by a bloody aura until it touched a distant mountain.
WHOOOM
A red sphere several kilometers across spread in an instant, and when it was gone, it appeared as if a god had tried to take a bite of the mountain and got bored, leaving it.
Tengliu looked at Tatyana in disbelief. "It takes A BIT to die? I admit that the strength of that cannon is around the middle-level Epoch Core. However, that red ball of curses and whatever abysmal magic it's created from can't be slow-acting. It doesn't matter what you are. That attack is a must avoid!"
Tatyana snorted. "Do you think I would do something as silly as decrease the number of followers that I can get? The mountain disappeared because the attack affects inorganic material differently from organic material. It is a siege weapon, at the end of the day."
Yasenia asked. "So… Why did you show all of this?"
Tatyana blinked. "They asked me how I would use the prisoners we get from the other side, so I showed them."
Yasenia sometimes felt that her mother's actions were too eccentric to understand. "Sure. Anyways, I am going to be leaving toward the… Well. A place. Once I am close, I will inform all of you. Tatyana knows the details of the operation."
Yasenia continued. "The war is going to last for a while, so take it easy. Rushing now is what they want. Their overall strength is a bit higher than ours." Yasenia thought. 'Without taking into account my maids.' And continued. "So, we are going to play defensive and slowly slice their numbers. If we are ever able to trap a top-level powerhouse, use everything to kill it. Land or low-level troops won't decide a war of this scale. The side that manages to maim the other party's top strength wins."
A male beast human from a relatively powerful clan asked. "What about the Divines and their people? Will they join us in this war?"
Yasenia paused and commented. "I don't think so. However, it is not completely out of the options we can consider. Honestly, the groups that came from those two races are a bit… arrogant. So, they ignore each other because they think they can deal with each other easily with the treasures they have. Divines are focused on absorbing more people, making them loyal, while the Demons are against us."
The dragoness shook her head. "They won't take the initiative to fight. Then, the Undead are doing who knows what. Finally, humans are slowly gathering strength in desert areas. We are all ignoring it, but sending people to check in less than 5 years would be ideal.
Yasenia turned around and said to the girls. "Let's go."
Then, they all left to pay a visit that was long due to a particular sect.