Wilderness
A hundred airships, all shaped like a Trapezium, and around the size of a football field, floated above Stardust City, causing a massive uproar. These were Raid Ships, named so because raid teams preferred to use these ships for expeditions.
There were several reasons for choosing these ships: they were cheap, fast, and light. On these airships were only three rooms. The captain's room, storage room, and crew room. Where there were a thousand reclining seats for the raid team to rest.
All one hundred airships blinked out of existence at the same time. The people below became even more excited. They jumped and cheered on the raid teams who had just set off, even though they were long gone and could not hear them.
"Just you wait, father, I will get strong enough to fight by your side," said Lili as she looked in the direction the airships had disappeared in.
"All of us will," Xeik held her hand reassuringly.
Blossom held her other hand and smiled brightly at her, "let's all do our best."
"Agreed."
These airships were the fastest created by the enchantment department. They mirrored Xasha's combat technique by creating Vacuums in the sky for the ship to travel through. The etchings powering them gave them even greater speed and stability. It was almost as if traveling through space-time, as no physical barrier could stop them.
It took a day for them to reach the Great Divide Mountain Range. Magic towers now covered the mountain range, and there was even a city at the foot of the mountain. This was Corner Stone City, managed by Gin. He and Cecile had started a family, and he wanted to have a nice, quiet environment away from the bustle of Stardust City.
The airships landed in the Corner Stone airship port. They would stay here for the night. This was their last stop in civilization before they entered the wilderness, where nothing but the unknown lived.
Xasha and the leaders of all one hundred raid teams stood inside an assembly hall, discussing. There was a map of the abandoned region laid on the floor. Xasha was addressing the group, and everyone focused.
"The army is three days behind us. We will spit off and cover this entire area." Xasha circled an area of a few million square miles on the map. "Each group will be composed of three raid teams, thirty-three teams in all. We divided this area into thirty-three sections, and each group will cover their section thoroughly."
Xasha dropped placed models of magic towers at intervals on the map. "Each group will stop every ten thousand miles and build one of these towers. It will be built in less than an hour with the earth cultivators and enchanters in each group. These will keep our communication with each other and with the main army behind us. It will also act as our eyes and ears as it will scan the next ten thousand meters ahead and tell us what the environment is like and the strength of those we might meet. It will also locate areas with high Imperium concentration, think mana veins, dungeons, ruins, treasures, and natural oddities.
"We will collect them all and leave what we can't carry in the magic towers for the main army to collect. My ship will be the floater ship that will come and assist any team that needs help. Usually, I'd be going right down the middle along with Ari or Alexi's teams. This is the last time I'm going over this. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes!" Everyone reaffirmed.
"Any questions?" Xasha asked.
"I have a question," Felix, Xasha's disciple, asked.
"Go ahead, Felix," Xasha said with a smile.
"Why not have the person who is closest to the party in trouble help them?"
"Good question. We would prefer not to break formation. This will only occur if it is an emergency and I cannot make it. This scenario is unlikely because we will see ten thousand miles around us, so ambushes are near impossible. Remember, we are not alone. The Sky Habitat is with us, and so is the Shadow Corp. We will take every step necessary to keep you all safe and to avoid failure."
"I expect nothing less from you master, you've thought of everything," Felix said earnestly.
"If there is nothing else, all of you get some rest. We head out at sunrise," Xasha declared.
In a flash, the room was empty, leaving only Xasha and another person. Xasha walked over to an empty seat and sat down in deep thought. There was still a lot weighing on his mind, especially with the excursion so close. He just had to have faith in his training and in his people.
"Ash," a gruff voice called from the side of the room.
"Don't call me that," Xasha replied nonchalantly.
"Excuse me?"
"Only my friends and close family call me that. We, on the other hand, are but strangers."
Lusha rubbed his hands through his long red hair and collected himself. He spoke again in a gentle tone, "it may not seem like it to you now. But we are family and I need you to know that I have had clarity in my old age. I know your grandmother and I especially have wronged you and your parents."
He got down on one knee. "Please allow me to apologize here. I am sorry, my grandson. Bigotry blinded me, in my pedanticism, and complacency I turned my back on you and your mother when you needed me most. I know no amount of words can erase all the pain I have caused but please, I beg you the opportunity to show my sincerity."
"Oh? And how are you going to do that?" Xasha asked, feigning interest.
"By doing everything I can to help you with this excursion and any other endeavor you may have in the future. I will spend my entire life in atonement if I have to. My greatest regret is forcing such a blinding star from, from the embrace of the Devos Family." Regret and sadness oozed from his voice.
"You want my return to the Devos Family?" Xasha seemed agitated.