Chapter 389: The Veterans’ Last Glory

"Not yet," Cassian said. "For an army this size, a hundred kilometers leaves too little room. Widen the breach first."

Darian gave him a thumbs-up.

"You do like to make sure."

Lyra turned Tidewrath toward the next stretch of coast. Another hundred kilometers disappeared beneath the rising waves.

Two days later, the opening in the Black Banner’s defenses extended for five hundred kilometers. Five thousand Domains and millions of Defense Towers had been destroyed.

Only then did Cassian signal Lyra to stop.

"That should be enough."

Elara studied the devastated coast.

"With the Temple’s range, we almost don’t need to fight. Given enough time, it could destroy every Domain out there."

"Time is the problem."

The enemy position was thousands of kilometers long and wide, packed with tens of millions of Domains. Cassian had already considered what destroying them all would take.

Suppose there were thirty million. Even if the Temple erased one with Cinderfall every two minutes, it would have to keep firing for more than a century.

"Seren, organize the Fenwick veterans. They’ll lead the assault."

He turned to Lyra.

"Use Cinderfall wherever the enemy gathers in strength."

Orders spread through the fleet. Lords called their Heroes forward, and troops began moving into formation.

Soon, the largest war since the opening of Sector 666 began in earnest.

Divine Nation had committed most of the elite forces of its thirteen Provinces, together with two million Fenwick Lords from older sectors. Against them stood nearly every War Lord the Black Banner possessed—tens of millions, gathered to defend one position.

This was a war between Nations.

Troops numbering in the billions came ashore through the five-hundred-kilometer breach. At their head advanced hundreds of millions of Fenwick veterans.

Even the weakest of that vanguard were Rare. A tenth were Epic, and nearly a million were Legendary.

For the past year, this strength had deterred the Homeworld’s other powers and helped protect all thirteen Crown Provinces. To bring it here, the Fenwicks had abandoned the older-sector foundations they had built over centuries.

Those reserves of veteran strength were being spent on this war. When it ended, that old foundation would be exhausted.

This was the last great glory of the Fenwicks’ older-sector armies.

Scattered attacks fell from the enemy line. The Domains behind the destroyed outer rows had hurriedly built more Defense Towers, but there were too few of them to threaten the advancing veterans seriously.

Cassian had not silenced communications. There was no need.

Lords across the battlefield began broadcasting, and the whole Homeworld turned to watch.

"At last. They’re landing!"

"The Black Banner really gave up its other maps to preserve its War Lords. That took resolve."

"And Cassian brought a World Wonder to break them anyway."

"Tens of millions of Domains. More than ten billion combat troops. How many years is this going to take?"

Even powerful figures in the upper Realms opened the live reports through their own channels.

The Fenwick vanguard struck the line like a wall of steel.

No defending army came out to meet it.

Shields over hundreds of Domains held for little more than ten seconds before bursting. Walls followed. Barracks, homes, halls, and palaces were torn down in their turn.

In less than a minute, the eleventh row of fortresses lay in ruins across hundreds of kilometers.

A billion troops crossed the wreckage and drove onward.

The watching Lords drew sharp breaths.

"So that’s the strength of the older sectors..."

Darian frowned at the empty positions.

"They aren’t fighting. They’re using the Buildings to wear down the Fenwicks’ Aether and stamina."

"Probably more than that."

Reports from the Crystal Maidens kept Cassian informed as the army advanced. He studied the enemy’s disposition.

"Once we’re deep enough, they may try to close in from both flanks. If that’s what they want, I’ll give them the chance."

He raised his voice.

"Pass the order. Keep destroying the Domains. Press forward at full strength!"

"Yes, Lord!"

——

A day later, the billion-strong assault force had destroyed more than two hundred thousand Domains. It had driven hundreds of kilometers into the enemy position, straight toward Breakwater Isle’s provincial capital.

The Temple could not have matched that speed.

Across the Homeworld, the watchers revised their estimates.

"At this rate, it could be over in six months."

"Six months for a war between Nations? That might be the fastest one in our history."

"The Black Banner is patient, I’ll give it that. They’re still refusing to fight."

Crystal Seven had been watching the enemy’s movements throughout the advance. Now she spoke.

"Lord, the Black Banner’s army is moving. Forces are coming from both sides. They appear to be attempting an encirclement."

"As expected." Cassian smiled. "Let us exhaust ourselves on their Buildings, wait until we’re deep inside, then close the flanks. Perhaps they’ll surround us on three sides and leave one way out to draw us into a retreat. They do have someone who knows how to fight."

Darian rolled his eyes.

"You saw it coming, and you still marched straight in."

"If they never see a chance to win, they’ll keep hiding. How long do you think this war would last then?"

Darian considered that, then nodded.

"Fair enough."

A voice thundered from hundreds of kilometers ahead.

"Cassian! If you’d kept grinding us down from the edges, I would have had no answer. But you’ve driven your army deep into our position. I don’t know whether to call you arrogant or stupid!"

Ronan Vexley.

Cassian was quite willing to answer. He asked Liora to amplify his voice, and her magic carried his reply over the battlefield.

"Do you think ten billion soldiers like yours can stop Divine Nation’s army?"

A year of growth had left even the other twelve Crown Provinces far above the Homeworld’s average military strength. Divine Province stood higher still.

The Black Banner had more than ten billion combat troops, but over ninety-five percent were Elite. Divine Nation had brought nothing below Rare.

Its national offices strengthened those troops further. And in front of them all stood the Fenwicks’ hundreds of millions of veterans, including nearly a million Legendaries.

"No," Ronan answered.

He understood the difference perfectly well. His voice turned savage.

"But even if all ten billion of ours die here, we’ll cripple your main army with them!"

The Homeworld Channel erupted.

"Well said, Lord Vexley!" Gavin Roswell declared. "Rid the Homeworld of Divine Nation, and the Black Banner will have done us all a great service. Western Beacon will give its full support to your recovery after this war!"

Piers Haldane added his own reassurance.

"Our fleet stationed in the Dawn Coast is already leading the Dawn Coast expeditionary army toward Divine Province. They will arrive soon. Without the Five Elements Temple, and with its main force crippled here, Riftward will be easy to take."

"I expect Western Beacon to keep its word," Ronan said.

The ground began to shake.

From Domains stretching for hundreds of kilometers along both flanks, enormous armies poured out and swept toward Divine Nation’s force. Ahead, flying troops rose in such numbers that they darkened the sky.

Cassian looked around at his companions.

"Now the real fighting begins. Everyone, join in."

Darian laughed.

"I’ll go first!"