CHAPTER 208: LEGION

"..."

The latest bomb Elian dropped stunned the others into silence. While they all expected an invasion at some point, no one would have expected Elian to start more than one.

Invasions, unlike dungeons, allowed the gate used to pass through to remain open. Meaning upon attacking a world, they may also respond in kind.

Due to suffering from multiple invasions in a short period of time, Earth currently has four invasion gates still open. And as they were attacked first, there was no risk of adding more worlds to the fighting.

Thus, to Elian, this was the perfect time to expand.

"I want five Weapon legions created. One for each Psychomancer. We will attack Virexar, Gnareth, Sylphane, and Astrapheia. I will not be joining you. The moment you all leave, I will finally be eligible to trigger the Crucible for Earth."

"What?! Tyrant! You will be summoning the entire inner circles of all three leaders of the Big Three! If you are sending out four separate invasions, who will go with you?"

"Charlotte’s words are correct, my Tyrant! This is suicide! Please reconsider! There will be time to take care of them after the invasions return," Katri added.

Funnily enough, despite there being many people at the table, only Charlotte and Katri made a fuss. All the Weapons, even the Tyrants from other worlds, remained silent.

"Why are you all not saying anything? Lady Silent, Lord Bastion! Lady Sunny! Lord Woody, attacking the might of humanity with whatever is left over from the invasions is just insane!"

At Katri’s agitated call, Sunny merely opened her fan and fanned herself haughtily.

"Little Katri, I think it is you who are insane," the Flame Phoenix rebuked as she ran her fingers through her hair. "You grossly overestimate the ’might of humanity you speak of’ and underestimate the two monsters sitting before you."

Woody nodded as his brows furrowed, "I am of the same opinion. The Tyrant is a force of nature by himself; I could hardly call him leftovers. If the Anchor is with him, conquering an Iron-ranked world in a week is not really impossible."

"That’s..."

Alpha approached Katri and gently helped her back to her seat. "Lady Katri, while the Tyrant and Anchor appear human, they are not. And even we, the Ysh-Natul, know of the immense hatred the Tyrant has for the Big Three. Do not worry; there is no danger."

Katri turned to her bodyguard and sat in silence. As the only non-combatant apart from Charlotte, she only knew of Elian’s abilities from streams. She still couldn’t shake the decades of reverence she had for the former leaders of humanity.

Just then, Yearns, one of the new Psychomancers, a former butterfly-like monster from Virexar, spoke. "Katri, as a former spy, I have studied the powers of your strongest humans. I assure you, none of the Big Three leaders will be able to harm the current Elian Reed."

Many others added their own thoughts. But one on the other hand, simply directed a question to Elian.

"You are bringing me as a knight?" Silent asked with a smile filled with bloodlust.

"Yes. Mother-in-law. You and Father-in-law will accompany us."

"Okay."

Fluffy, on the other hand, slammed her fists on the table, "WAIT! Doesn’t that mean I am not coming? This pent-up garbage bin bastard! How can you not take me? I would rather kill them than go on an invasion!"

At her complaints, it was Bianca who snapped, "Then are you willing to entrust Burny’s safety to another? He will be going on the invasions; the entire might of an entire world will be coming for him. If you are willing to risk him dying while you play with us, then I will take you."

Bianca’s rebuke caused Fluffy’s face to grimace. Burny, on the other hand, now human, clenched his hands and lowered his head.

"It is fine, Lady Fluffy. I am certain the other Weapons can protect me too. I..."

However, Fluffy stood up and walked toward Bianca. She then hugged her as she said in a sad tone, "I am sorry."

But rather than scold the boisterous Fluffy, Bianca returned her hug affectionately while whispering, "Don’t be. I am overjoyed that you found your spouse. Do not worry about me. This is all but the beginning."

"Hmph, considering the bastard you call a lover, I doubt he would change his mind, right? Time is not on our side. He intends to use the four planets as breakwalls, doesn’t he?"

"Yes. He does."

Despite Fluffy’s normally over-the-top persona, she was not stupid. She was able to immediately grasp why Elian was rushing to create more armies. Until they could secure their borders, they would be assaulted non-stop.

It would be only after the initial fervor of Psychomancers died down that Earth would get its rest. Thus it was a race if Elian could gather enough defenses for his faction before the heavy hitters from other worlds arrived.

"As Bianca said, time is not on our side. With the level of technology of the four planets we have already faced, we can win against them. But that may not be true for the others. Thus, we need to increase our forces and level up as much as we can while they still underestimate us."

Within hours of making the choice to create Psychomancers, three worlds had already attacked them. As Woody predicted, the higher-ranked worlds that could see the future all acted ahead of the curve. Thus, the three that just invaded were only the first of many.

"Weapons cannot fight with mana. We do so with our bodies and technologies. We need either time to grow or danger to evolve. We do not have time. So I have decided that we will seek danger instead. This is a gamble, one we will win."

Elian placed his hand on the table, and Living Metal covered it in an instant. From the black fluid rose miniature models of the faction’s forces as well as a small model of Earth and four worlds around it.

"Our first task is to secure Earth. I will take point on that. Bianca and I along with Silent and Bastion, will trigger the Crucible for Earth and take the crown. We will try to use the system to increase our capabilities."

Along with Elian’s words, the models on the table followed and separated.

"The rest of you are to form four legions for now. They will be called the 1st to 4th legions. Each will take an axis world and invade it. The rewards for resisting the invasions will only be released once we conquer them. So go out there and form a match."

Woody then raised his hand, "Tyrant, as your senior in crucible combat, I want to elaborate. Launching an invasion does not subjugate a world. The norm is that once a planet fails to resist the invasion from another world, it surrenders, but the damage is only limited to a single city."

"Ho? Then why are you bringing it up now, Woody?"

"To manage your expectations, if your aim is speed, it might not be possible. While it’s common to surrender, there are also worlds that drag on the fight as long as they can. If you are to win, it must be in such a way that breaks the enemy’s spirit."

Although Woody brought up an excellent point, Elian only smiled.

"That is true. But I wouldn’t worry about that. We have Psychomancers after all. This is the directive I give to the four legions. Your 1st task is to farm material; the second is to raise an army of at least half a million soldiers."

Elian’s words made the whole room freeze.

"Half a million? Each? Are you joking, brother?" Ned asked with raised eyebrows.

But the Tyrant shook his head.

"No, I am not. I will give you a month. Once I become Tyrant, I will supply you with whatever you need via the system. In that month, I want the four legions to trample and Weaponize every enemy you come across. Monsters, soldiers, and volunteers."

"Volunteers?" Charlotte parroted.

"Yes. If in the worlds you come across, you meet weaklings who beg for power, Weaponize them. Bianca and I have created a skill that will turn every corpse killed into a Weapon. It requires a Psychomancer and a Weapon to trigger. And does not differentiate."

"Then, you mean to..."

Elian cut off Silas as he nodded.

"Yes. Those who died by accident, civilians, are not exempt. Anyone who wishes for power will be given the ability to do so. Use Dominator to deceive, kidnap, or lobotomize. I will leave the specifics to you. But when my timeline is over, you must return by then."

To anyone else, Elian’s words might have been bullshit. But Elian and Bianca’s gimmick of bringing back the dead had been televised to both the world and beyond.

Most believe that the skill was Elian’s. The reason the pair made it flashy was to hide Bianca; at least, that was the plan. However, with the dangers that arose, rather than hiding, it was much better to just grow stronger.

Using the Psychomancers in such a manner would draw attention, but at least this way, the faction would grow exponentially in response.

"The only thing I forbid is the killing of the innocent. Anything else, do as you please."

"..."

Few would know that this simple discussion ended up unleashing the Weapons of Valestra on the universe. A force that did not eat, did not rest, and did not stop.