21 Imminent Arrival

"Eishh… Look at them. Those four dregs of yours… Two already got killed and the last two are running away with tails between their legs. Is that the result of your training, huh Sabbath?" Said the devil Dalgorath mockingly to his comrade, the second Devil, whose name was Sabbath.

Currently, the invaders' five sub-leaders were still standing on top of the highest point on the island, watching over and monitoring this on-going war. And they're especially interested in the battle on the beach, which had just ended with a defeat for their side.

Sabbath's face turned really ugly from hearing the mockery. Those four "dregs" that Dalgorath mentioned earlier were precisely Devil Generals who were all parts of his horde.

The Devil Race has a unique military system with many of its elements similar to what can be found in both tribalism and feudalism. Thus, each Devil Lords, the upper or noble class within the Devils hierarchy, like Sabbath has the right to create and maintain the so-called "horde", a sort of personal army consisting of devils who have sworn loyalty to him.

Because the horde was basically, for all intents and purposes, a personal army, every procurement it requires to function such as logistics, supplies, arsenals, weaponry, and funding has to be provided by Sabbath himself. Including, the training.

As such, since the horde was trained by Sabbath directly, its success as well as its failure could be attributed and credited to him. Therefore, Sabbath must share at least half of the blame for the failure of those four Devil Generals.

He was visibly angered and extremely disappointed because of the four performances. Not only they have failed the mission, but they also got thoroughly defeated. By human rankers nonetheless, whom one of them was even a female.

That was really humiliating!

The counter-attack plan devised by one of the sub-leaders from the Vampire race, Lexor, was quite perfect, to be frank. The four Devil Generals should only need to keep their minds calm while proceeding with caution and the elimination of the target would have been successful. Simple.

Unfortunately, those dumb generals seem to have lost all of their combat experiences all of a sudden. Amateur mistakes such as underestimating opponents, showing off, haughtiness, and following the enemy's rhythm were demonstrated one after another.

As a consequence, the invaders have now lost two Titanium-class Devil Generals, along with 5 Platinum-class and 16 Gold-class vampires, greatly reducing their forces overall size, particularly among their high-level line-up.

And all those losses were sacrificed in exchange for what?!

Although the natives indeed suffered more casualties than the invaders, what they've lost were mostly ordinary soldiers with the average strength of Iron-class!

In other words, they're cannon fodders!

So that means what the invaders gained in exchange for their sacrifices was equal to nothing. Truly a sad day for these aliens.

"I think we all need to calm down. The reason why I suggested that plan in the first place was that I wanted to shock the natives and lowering their morales in this early part of the war by killing one of their Titanium-class rankers. It wasn't meant to be a surefire plan that could obliterate them fast. Well, since the plan has failed, it's useless to cry over it. Let's just move on and carry out other tactics." The first vampire, Lexor, spoke calmly, trying to defuse this tense atmosphere between his allies.

However, deep inside, he actually felt uncomfortable. The loss of 21 high-level rankers from his race weight down heavily on his mind. Not to mention, they already lost more before that due to the harassment from the natives Diamond-class rankers and long-range bombardments.

In this early endeavor to conquer Gaia, Vampires contributed the largest manpower to the incursion force, over more than 1200 troops, of which 200 of them were above Silver-class. Hence, losing 21 rankers all beyond Silver-class can be said quite a damaging blow.

Different from their enemies that can easily bring more troops and supplies from the mainland. The invaders must rely heavily on the teleportation device, which can only be used once every few days. Moreover, the five sub-leaders does not have direct control over the device, thus they could not activate it from this side.

The only one who can do it was the Vampire King Lycidas, an illustrious Star-class ranker from the Vampire race and the true commander of the incursion force. The reason why there's a limitation on the device's usage was exactly because of his order.

Lycidas had informed and strictly warned the five sub-leaders prior to the incursion that in order to prevent the natives of Gaia from discovering their infiltration upon the world, the activation of the device can only be done twice a week.

Thus, opening up a gate between Balestier World, where the incursion main staging base was located, and Gaia twice a week to slowly send over some troops and supplies was already good enough initially. After all, the stage of their grand plan to conquer Gaia hasn't reached the climax yet. They still need to build some basic foundations and support facilities, while at the same time, performing some intelligence gathering and causing dissent among the natives, which can be used and exploited during future operations.

However, as of now, the 2000-strong incursion force that the five sub-leaders have painstakingly mustered has been reduced by quite a substantial amount. It was not an easy effort to gather and raise this kind of force, especially when they're doing it inside a hostile world.

And worst of all, today wasn't the exact time for the teleportation device to be activated, there were still two more days left according to the usual schedule.

Fortunately, Dalgorath had sent an urgent report to Lord Lycidas through a special channel soon after they have sensed the nearest country, Arguna Republic, mobilizing its military and ready to storm the island. And the reply they've got seems to indicated that the Lord himself would lead the reinforcement and were on the way here.

As he thought of that, Lexor's heart slightly calmed down. But still, even though this wasn't the first time for Vampires teaming up with the Devils in intra-realm war, it's the first time they experienced such a considerable loss when it's still in the earliest part of an invasion.

During the past invasion of other worlds, their cooperation with the Devils, most of the time, always resulted in the total destruction of the natives in the quickest time while their own force only suffered a small number of casualties.

Lexor never expects that the natives of Gaia would be so tenacious and resourceful. Their resistance, adaptability, and firepower could not be underestimated at all. He, as well as, the other masterminds of the invasion plan initially thought this world's natives would be more or less similar to the inhabitants of the worlds they have conquered. Weak and easy to bully.

Lexor tiredly sighed as he lamented his upcoming fate. Lord Lycidas will definitely admonish him and his colleague, Tiberius, for the loss.

"We probably don't have to do anything besides performing a delaying action. His highness Lycidas is coming here after all." The second vampire, Tiberius, told his opinion carefully.

The third devil doubtfully glanced at him, "Is it alright? I can deduce that the enemy's primary objective is surely to destroy the teleportation device. If they succeeded before Lord Lycidas arrives…"

"And do you think they can do it?" Dalgorath interrupted the third devil before he can finish speaking.

"Well, I mean… They have the Amethyst Queen, she hasn't shown up yet. Besides, they already took over the beach and their entire force seems to have landed too." The third devil replied hesitantly.

"I agree with Baltazar. Active defense is better than a passive one. Keep making the natives busy with tricks and stratagem, slow them down as they're advancing. It'll give us more time than just sticking around in the fort." Sabbath backed the third devil, Baltazar, with his own suggestion.

Dalgorath alternately looked to the three sub-leaders who have different ideas than him. He did not like their opinions.

Focusing their entire defense around the fortification while protecting the teleportation device was a much better action in his mind compared to spreading their assets in multiple areas and trying to trick the natives. It's precisely because the Amethyst Queen's presence that makes him skeptical about doing those kinds of actions.

With her around, there's a high chance those plans would fail, and he's afraid that the size of their forces would be diminished further as the results.

However, as Dalgorath pondered further, he doesn't know when exactly Lord Lycidas will arrive. The reply message only mentioned "soon" rather than the precise time.

He fell into a dilemma.

If they did use his suggestion, which he believed have a better chance of succeeding, they can conserve their strength and keep most of their forces intact. But everything will be useless if Lord Lycidas arriving late or worst, not coming at all.

And if they used the other three sub-leaders' plans, they would indeed be able to slow down the rate of the natives' advance and gain even more time since it'll take a while for the enemy to reach the center of the island, where the main fortification was built. But again, it'll still be useless if Lord Lycidas didn't come or being late.

'O great and exalted Devil God! Why this supposed to be simple incursion has become so difficult now? It's giving me a terrible headache!' Dalgorath scratched his head as he thought of that.

Wuung!

And as if someone answering his prayer, the teleportation device, situated right in the middle of the fort, starts humming while sparks of reddish dark lights shining amidst its arch!

Some vampires, devils, and other mixed sorts of individuals near it were startled and surprised as the spectacle happened too suddenly.

"The device!" Baltazar, the first among the five sub-leaders who aware of it, screamed and pointing toward the device.

"It's starting!" Sabbath yelled out loudly, echoing his colleague.

"Hahaha! I've just now wondered when will the Lord arrives, then the answer came really quick! It looks like the Devil God still gave us his blessings." Dalgorath said jubilantly.

The two vampires' sub-leaders didn't speak, both of them were having complicated feelings right now. On one hand, they were, of course, elated because reinforcement will be arriving soon, but on the other, they dread Lycidas's wrath once he knows the high number of casualties among the vampires contingent.

Wuung!

The sound and the lights from the teleportation device gradually became noisier and intensified.

The nearby personnel quickly evacuated themselves while bringing every equipment from the area around it, they know what will happen shortly before the device's gate connected to the world on the other side.

The space within the radius of 25 meters from the device would shatter and twisted briefly, and that can be extremely dangerous for any living beings, including high-level rankers. But obviously, it will be safe after that, once the connection between the two worlds was established and the gate has opened, the space will stabilize and return to normal.

"Alright, listen up!" Dalgaroth suddenly shouted an order.

The other four simultaneously shifted their attention and listening.

"This is our signal. I've decided to use an active defensive plan. It would take some time before the gate would be opened from Balestier side. The enemy must have sensed the device's activation as well, so they will absolutely throw everything they got in order to destroy it. We shall use this moment to carry out any tactics that can slow them down and perhaps dealt some damages to them. How about it?"

"Speak no more, Dalgaroth. Let's just do it." Said Sabbath, eager to quickly clash directly with the natives and getting some repayment for his earlier loss.

"I agree, there's no need for us to remain cautious anymore."

"Umu… Second to that."

Lexor and Tiberius also agreed with the suggestion.

Baltazar stares at his allies hesitantly. He did not share their enthusiasm even for a bit. Originally, he was the foremost proponent of the active defensive plan but had now changed his mind because the war's paradigm has changed greatly due to the device's sudden activation.

Since the natives have definitely sensed the activation, just like Dalgorath said, they will unleash everything they have to destroy the device. The speed of their march to the island's center will be faster and their onslaught will tremendously intense. To him, this was actually the perfect time for the invaders to focus their entire defense solely around the fort.

The enemy will be desperate and brash, the invaders can inflict heavy damages to them by using their whole assets that were gathered on the fort.

But since the majority of sub-leaders have voiced their agreement, he could do nothing to change their mind, even if he spoke up. In the end, he silently complied.

***

"Lady Amethyst, are you sure you can handle the enemy's incoming Star-class ranker?" The White Sage asked Helena, his tone carried a hint of worries.

The invaders' teleportation device has been activated, signaling the imminent arrival of the Star-class opponent. And the old sage was getting restless because of it.

"As long as that ranker still in the birth stage, there will be no problem for me. The one who's about to arrive is a vampire if our intel's correct. And it will be impossible for that person to be the fusion stage Unholy Empress. So it's gonna be Lycidas or possibly Alaric… I'm confident of my strength against either of them." Helena replied decisively, ultimate confidence brimming her entire body.

"Very well. I believed in you." The White Sage said in response, convinced by Helena's words.

She's a Star-class expert too in the end. And the only person who's currently available that can contend with the enemy Star-class being. He had no choice but to depend on and place his trust in her.

"Look, the foreigners have started to come out from their nest." Said Helena calmly as she gazed at the island.

Through using each of their Martial Senses, both her and the White Sage found that the five enemy leaders have begun to move from their original spot.

Two were heading straight towards the location where Ramon and Mary were at, another two rushed toward Lydia's position, and the last one was flying in fastest speed towards here.

Not only them, but the invaders' troops on the ground have shown some movements as well, spreading out to intercept Cordelia's amphibious force, who had just begun their march from the beach.

"I'll take my leave then, Lady." Said the White Sage as battle intent raging from within his heart.

"Good luck old man."

The White Sage nodded to Helena's humble yet soft encouragement before he went to Lydia's side. His task was to join forces with her and confront two enemy Diamond-class rankers.

Meanwhile, Helena was left alone, waiting for an incoming Diamond-class enemy. She knows who he was, but as far as she can remember, she never met this particular devil before.

"Good morning, Queen of Purple Sky Castle." Greets the four meters tall devil with polished dark-colored skin and scales as he's floating closer. He's wearing a pitch-black bulky armor full of sharp horns that fitted well with his humongous physique. Grasped by his right hand was a large morning-star that looked really heavy while also radiating an ominous aura.

Appearances wise, this devil appears like the personification of evil itself. Menacing and terrifying.

"Good morning to you too, an esteemed citizen of the Nether World. Dalgorath, am I correct?" Helena greeted back while looking so carefree. She was not affected at all by the menacing aura coming from the devil's body.

"You're correct, Your Highness. I believe this is our first time meeting with each other. And I must say, the rumor of your hidden beauty truly precedes you." Dalgorath spoke some praises, but it's hard to discern whether he was sincere or just sarcastic. His speech was truly eloquent for a devil.

"You're jesting, huh. Do you think I don't know that your people had a different sense of beauty? A great and handsome Devil Lord such as you must have a harem filled with some of the most beautiful women in all of the Nether World, right? I mean, I'm talking about kingdom-toppling beauties who are at least three meters tall, while raging fires burned brightly all over their bodies, and large pristine and pure looking horns decorating their clean heads. Compared to them, I definitely looked like an ugly duckling in your eyes, isn't it?" Said Helena while smiling charmingly.

"Hahaha! Those were all exaggerations, Your Highness. You don't have to be so hard on yourself." Dalgorath replied, feeling amused.

Even though he said those words, his true opinion was totally different. In his eyes now, the Amethyst Queen was the ugliest woman he ever saw in his entire long life. And he already felt like that when a mask hanging on her face, hiding her exact appearances.

Those soft yet weak looking skins, unblemished but thin body, small pair of breast, small ass too. Ugh, it's simply disgusting!

He couldn't imagine how ugly her true face was if that mask fell and revealed what hiding underneath it. Even thinking about it already gave him goosebumps.

Human females were truly a bunch of ugly, weak monkeys. Even orcs or minotaurs women were still many times better.

"Well, it seems any more words are useless, right?" Helena moved the topic by speaking again. Her violet hair and purple robe flutter beautifully as the ocean winds blow, creating an elegant picturesque worthy of a thousand praises.

"Indeed." Dalgorath agreed while simultaneously readying his morning-star. A cruel smile also appeared under that full-face helmet.

"Good, let us begin."

Helena raised her battle-axe above her head and the sky turned gray all of a sudden.

Duar!!!

Lightning strikes also begun to emerge from those dark clouds, thundering furiously as if God's wrath descending upon the world.

Dalgorath's pupils dilated, startled by the Amethyst Queen's display of power.

He upgraded his vigilance to the max and wholeheartedly unleashing his entire prowess.

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