Year 4520, Day 68
I have finally returned to my homeworld.
The difference is as stark as day and night.
Those who once looked down on me and despised me are long dead and buried, and now everyone addresses me with respect.
Even the imperial family, despite knowing that one of their own—the young lady—is also in the sect, seems to have lost all contact with her since then.
Well, it's not as if I plan to do anything to them.
I've finally returned to my family. My parents are still alive, but they don't have much time left.
On that note, I should thank the emperor for helping them reach Rank 5.
I will stay on this world for a while longer and spend the remaining time my parents have with them.
…
"Our lord has spoken. Make the final preparations and bring your legions back to Portalis; we have one week until the next Holy War," Sylvera said sternly.
Even though they were expecting it, everyone grew serious.
The command system of the Great Army had changed significantly since the first expedition.
First, to avoid internal conflicts, each faction deployed its own legion, totaling six legions: four from Portalis, White Lotus City, Rising Sun City, and Silver Springs City, one draconic legion from the Nest, and a final bestial legion composed of beasts from the sanctuary and the depths.
Additionally, there was the elven reconnaissance division of over 4,000 elves, including 20 intermediate existences.
Each legion from the main continent was subdivided into divisions, regiments, platoons, sections, and squads.
Starting from the bottom, a squad consisted of four Rank 2 soldiers, ranked from Third Class to First Class and then Corporal, led by a Rank 3 sergeant.
Five squads were grouped under the command of a pinnacle Rank 3 adjutant, while five sections formed a platoon, led by a beginner-stage rank 4 captain.
A platoon was already formidable, with 100 Rank 2 soldiers, 30 Ranks 3, and one Rank 4. Together, they could easily face a confirmed or even advanced Rank 4.
Beyond that, five platoons made up a regiment, led by a confirmed Rank 4 commander, and five regiments formed a division, led by an advanced-stage colonel.
Finally, a legion was composed of five divisions and led by a pinnacle Rank 4 general.
Note that rank was only a sufficient condition for holding a grade, not a necessary one. If a colonel hadn't contributed enough, they could remain at that grade even if they had reached the Rank 4 pinnacle, never becoming a general.
Additionally, over a hundred spirit beasts from the sanctuary and the ocean, led by the King of the Depths.
The draconic legion consisted of 10,000 Rank 2 draconians, 5,000 Rank 3 draconians, 20 Rank 4 pinnacle draconians and 80 wyverns, commanded by the three drakes.
In total, nearly 90,000 troops were mobilized, along with almost 850 Rank 4 entities.
This was the terrifying might of the Great Army, but there was still one major issue: no one was left to guard against the nearly 100 intermediate existences scattered throughout Alandal.
Moreover, with Alandal's constant evolution, several monster tribes had emerged, including goblins, kobolds, underdeveloped Novarians, and various other pests.
Security had become a real concern in times of war. Thus, a treaty was established with all Alandal forces: during a holy war, all conflicts must cease for forces that sent troops.
If anyone were to violate this oath, all major forces would unite to completely annihilate the offending party.
This wasn't a joke—during the last expedition, six intermediate existences banded together and pillaged a subsidiary city of the White Lotus City, killing thousands of people and destroying part of the city.
When James learned of this, he was so furious that he personally hunted down each of these beasts and eradicated their clans within a month, without the sanctuary saying anything.
Of course, the agreement only applied to forces with Rank 4 entities.
Given the current scale of the great factions, no matter how many Rank 3s attacked them, they would only be slaughtered.
Nevertheless, such a pact was indispensable, allowing all troops of the Great Army to focus entirely on the war without worrying about their loved ones back home.
It was also the only time all major forces removed their banners and universally flew the colors of Alandal.
"Unlike the last three invasions, where we only fought alongside our gods' believers, this time, we will cooperate with other armies again."
"Hmph, they're just a bunch of weaklings," grumbled the honey badger. "We'll unleash a bit of power, and they'll fall in line immediately."
"Not this time," Sylvera said. "This will be different from the first holy war. The armies sent this time will be far stronger. According to our lord, it's even possible that one of these forces is as powerful as ours. So let me make it clear: don't cause any trouble once we're there, or I'll send you back immediately."
Everyone nodded, although half-convinced.
Sylvera saw their skepticism but couldn't blame them. Since Alandal's creation, they had never encountered a divine force that could stand up to them.
"Anyway, we'll meet again in a week. This discussion is over."
…
"Your Highness, we should arrive in a few minutes."
A beautiful young blonde elf with long ears nodded gently.
"Let the youngsters come to the deck to witness the true forces of the world, but no one is allowed to leave the ship."
The soldier bowed and left, ready to relay the orders.
…
A flying battleship slowly emerged from the clouds.
It was entirely made of wood and plants, adorned with elegant patterns that gave it a graceful and sophisticated appearance.
The ship had a curved structure, measuring nearly 200 meters long, with two massive pointed wooden extensions.
However, its stunning appearance was deceptive. Hidden within each protuberance, a huge cannon lay, able to unleash the power of a pinnacle rank 4 at every shot.
The two main cannons could even approach the fifth rank.
Moreover, the ship was highly maneuverable and fast, capable of reaching two or three times the sound speed.
The battleship began a rapid descent toward the distant city as a group of curious youngsters gathered on its deck.
Where outsiders saw only a canopy of green leaves, the elves could see everything happening outside.
Experienced elves watched with amusement as the youngsters widened their eyes at the enormous city drawing closer, recalling their own amazement when they had seen Portalis for the first time.
At that moment, the clouds parted, and a silver-hulled ship descended rapidly.
More clouds dispersed, and soon five more ships appeared, beginning their landing procedures.
Five of them were comparable in size to the elven ship, covered with alloy plates and bluish patterns representing the incredible number of formations etched into each ship.
The ships were mostly cylindrical, with a conical prow. Each had four massive main cannons positioned at the cardinal points, along with dozens of turrets placed at regular intervals.
But the most intimidating was the sixth ship, measuring nearly 500 meters in length.
It had a similar shape to the other five, but the sheer number of runes and weapons adorning it made the other ships look like children's toys.
The elven queen calmly observed the flagship and sighed.
She had confidence in her own ship, which was made of the finest wood maintained by the elves' natural methods for nearly a century.
The advantage of such a ship was that the more the elves "nourished" it, the more powerful and resilient it became, with a theoretical infinite growth potential.
Coupled with the matrices and networks they had installed, she was confident their ship could face the five smaller ships simultaneously without losses thanks to its incredible mobility and firepower. But against that colossal battleship, she felt overwhelmed.
She was herself a pinnacle magus and naturally recognized some of the formations on its hull. One thing was certain: no matter how they attacked it, they wouldn't be able to damage it unless their fire power could reach rank 5.
Thankfully, they weren't here to fight.
The two factions maintained a safe distance of a few kilometers as they descended, finally hovering above a massive square surrounded by two gigantic buildings.
Each ship opened hatches on its hull, releasing docking pillars as they landed on the large square, joining the fleets already present.
"Wow, the church is enormous."
"Look at the size of our Lord's statue."
"Over there, those are the emblems of Silver Springs City."
The young elves on the deck looked around with stars in their eyes.
Clap
A sharp clap resounded on the deck, drawing the attention of all the elves present.
"We have two days before the expedition begins, so you may explore the city, but you must return on time!" the queen said kindly, seeing the sparkling eyes of the young elves.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
…
As time passed, the fleets of the four cities finally arrived, bringing a total of twenty regular ships and four flagships.
Since the first war, the central square had been expanded to nearly a kilometer in radius, with the statue of the Lord of the Four Elements still towering at the center.
Aside from the elves and draconians, who had their own cruiser, the four cities all used identical ship.
This was also a convention among the cities, stipulating that Great Army equipment was exclusively for the Great Army, not for the factions.
In fact, every researcher, engineer, theorist, or other specialist was required to spend at least twenty out of every hundred years, working in Portalis to develop Great Army equipment.
At the same time, Portalis and the sanctuary had both declared themselves neutral factions, refusing to intervene in conflicts between other factions unless it involves Alandal security or mass genocides.
Returning to the present, the city, bustling for over a week, seemed to have finally regained its calm.
All the city's residents listened from their windows to Sylvera's sermon, while all troops boarded their respective ships.
Only around 850 figures remained at the base of the statue.
"… As the Great Army mobilizes once more, it is time for us to show our piety and follow the divine word. May God witness our faith!"
"May God witness our faith!" the entire city roared, the cry echoing for a hundred kilometers.
Immediately, the statue of the Lord of the Four Elements, now over 300 meters tall, lowered its massive hand, spinning the elemental spheres.
An energetic shockwave swept through the city as the elements merged, forming a brilliant luminous sphere that spun rapidly.
The light was temporarily absorbed as the portal formed.
When the hand finally reached a lowered position, a circular portal nearly 200 meters in diameter stood in the center of the city.
No discussion was needed. The first to pass through the portal were the six intermediate-level existences, under the serious gaze of the soldiers and the citizens.