CHAPTER 193: GRIND

[Gnareth and Earth have been connected. The invasion has begun.]

[Crucible match 2178941-98 has begun.]

[Glory be to the Tyrants!]

[Sylphane and Earth have been connected. The invasion has begun.]

[Crucible match 2177944-98 has begun.]

[Glory be to the Tyrants!]

[Astrapheia and Earth have been connected. The invasion has begun.]

[Crucible match 2179978-98 has begun.]

[Glory be to the Tyrants!]

Seeing the system messages made Elian smile. His mind had already begun to think of what to do after he sent all these expeditions home.

"Aunt Sunny, please take command of the city’s defenses."

"Tsk. I understand," the Tyrant of Averignis replied sullenly.

As Elian walked out of the guildhall, the sounds of chaos and fear spread. The people who saw the system messages and the videos of the portals all gasped in horror. Suddenly, they understood why the Weapons behaved the way they did.

Crowds ran toward the guild building. Breakers tried to stop them, some using force to placate the people. It was as if the city was beginning to tear itself apart. Anxiety, anger, and distrust were on full display.

He turned once to the five groups behind him. They were each unconscious Psychomancer candidates, their chosen lifeline and Weapon escorts. The escorts were led by Bastion, Silent, and Stil, along with several hundred Flame Swallows.

"Be safe, everyone. Protect them at all costs."

"Yes, Tyrant!"

The five groups departed. It consumed a significant strength of their forces. Almost all the Beowolves were entrusted with defending the Psychomancers. That was how critical Elian and Bianca considered this matter.

When only the two of them remained, Bianca gently grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Elian..."

The woman by the Tyrant’s side called to him; her face, while composed, was tense. But considering what they intended to do, Elian felt this was a chance. One final push to get stronger.

"Bianca."

"Yes?"

"Time to grind," the Living Weapon grinned.

Bianca froze in her tracks, went wide-eyed, and then slowly burst into laughter.

"No one cares. Now. Time to grind."

It was what Bianca said to him after he gained his power. Both of them suddenly felt nostalgic. Life was much simpler then, but one thing remained the same.

Fear? Danger? Death?

No one really cared how you or anyone else felt. Life just moved on.

The witch made a radiant smile as she nodded slightly, "Indeed, no one cares."

Hand in hand, the two walked toward the invaders. Not having the Beowolves and the Flame Swallows made things harder.

Fluffy, Woody, and Ned would also not be able to join them. Despite the power of the three, Elian didn’t force them to fight. He understood well what it meant to guard the one you loved. Luckily, his faction was strong enough to give the handicap.

When they turned around the corner, five distinct beings made of metal were lined up. They were the tribe leaders of the Slinky Corps. On the opposite end was Silas, and two Breakers Elian didn’t expect.

"Marcus? Ms. Potts? Why are the two of you here?"

Both bowed reverently and answered.

"They asked me to do something; I couldn’t. So I left."

"My family lives in Crestfall. I refuse to fight for those who abandon their people at the slightest inconvenience."

While their powers were not really that amazing, they were powerhouses known in the upper ranks of the Bloodright of Conquest. If nothing else, their ability to lead breakers was second to none.

"I see. Silas, did you make the call?"

The former shield of Ascendancy shook his head and explained, "I was consulted, but Ned, Katri, and Charlotte made the decision to accept them. They now serve as lieutenants in our Breaker army."

"Okay. How will the Breaker army move?"

While Elian technically could command the Breakers due to being the leader of the faction, he didn’t. Although the same in name, the race Weapons of Valestra and the human guild were different organizations.

One represented the golems; the other was the fourth faction spearheaded by the trio of humans Elian chose. Silas technically wasn’t still part of their guild but was a collaborator as the guardian of Crestfall City.

"Commander Ned instructed us to maintain order and intercept any monsters that get in. The S-ranked Breakers are stationed near the entrances, with a mobile force ready to assist at a moment’s notice."

"Good, then I will leave it to you. We will ensure none go through; if we fail, I am relying on you all."

At Elian’s sincere request, the humans lined up behind Silas roared with excitement. "Yes, Tyrant!"

Elian then turned to the ones on the right. Like children, they were all fidgeting in excitement. Outwardly, they appeared composed, but Elian knew better. The way their metals warped and bent, it was as if they couldn’t wait to run. They were like dogs who had the zoomies.

"Ready for your first big battle?"

"YES, TYRANT! THE SLINKY CORPS STANDS READY!"

"Good. Epsilon, have the Virexan Weapons been integrated?"

The Naga rocket harpy saluted with enthusiasm, "Yes, Tyrant! Everyone considered them stupid for not being capable of rational thought. It turns out it’s because the Insects do not use words; when we showed them our instructions using mental images, they understood."

"Oh, well done. And what happened to them?"

"I gave them the option, and they all joined a tribe of their own choosing. The consolidated Slinky Corp and Virexan group now total 25,000."

Hearing the massive number, Elian and Bianca couldn’t help but get excited. It was perhaps the largest force they had ever fielded.

This number was devoid of Weapons who did want to continue. Meaning those that chose to die after the invasion of Virexar and the Ysh-Natul were already gone. True to Elian’s directive, any Weapon who no longer wished to fight after being reborn was allowed to die in peace.

In pure numbers, it was less than 10%. And although it was a shame to lose that group, the effects of giving the Weapons a choice boosted their morale. At least that was what Bastion told him in secret.

"Good. Divide the Slinky Corps in two and assault the left and right expeditions. Those who perform admirably will join me in our counterattack. Your only task is to delay them till I arrive. Bianca and I will take the one in the middle."

"BY YOUR COMMAND, TYRANT!"

Even without words, the Weapon army split in two like a river that diverged. Alpha and Zeta led the group to the left, while Epsilon, Beta, and Gamma moved to the right. Seeing such massive processions of metal golems was both majestic and terrifying.

The people who saw the large armies head toward the gates calmed down. While being policed by the Sons and Daughters of Metal and Soul scared them, having them fight for you was the opposite.

Few could forget how the Weapons valiantly defended Crestfall in her time of need. Despite the entirety of humanity abandoning this city to its fate, the army of living metal refused to do so. And now, the Earth would once again witness them in action.

"Shall we go, my love?"

"Yeah."

Only Elian and Bianca walked toward the center.

In contrast to the two armies, they looked minuscule. Yet those who watched the pair couldn’t help but marvel at their courage and confidence.

One had the power of the sun in her hands. The other butchered and revived entire armies for sport. Everyone in Crestfall knew how powerful these two were, but everyone still feared that three invasions would be too much.

They had every right to think that way.

But sadly, they were mistaken.

As the universe would soon know, today, the war machine known as the Weapons of Valestra would begin to move.

Everyone, both in Crestfall and all over the world, watched history in the making.

[Alert: The Earth Faction: Weapons of Valestra has issued an Earth-wide announcement.]

[Three separate worlds have invaded Crestfall. We will be starting a stream in a few moments; watch the might of the Weapons of Valestra.]

[Alert: The Earth Faction: Weapons of Valestra has issued an Earth-wide quest: Three is not enough.]

[Quest Giver: Elian Reed

World: Earth

Details: Three Crucible worlds have invaded Crestfall. Watch us destroy them all.

Locations: Crestfall City.

Time limit: N/A

Reward: 1 Crown

Failure Penalty: N/A

Accept? Yes | No.]

"You sure about this, Bianca?"

"Yes. Mom told me that it was a feature commonly used in the Crucible battles."

[Alert: The Earth Faction: Weapons of Valestra has begun a live stream: Three is not enough.]

A bunch of glowing gold balls all appeared out of nowhere. They hovered around Elian and Bianca; like drones, their points of view appeared on the stream as selectable perspectives.

"What do we do if I break them?"

"Supposedly, they hide between the fabric of space when we enter combat. It should be all right, I think."

Elian couldn’t help but groan at his lover’s careless remark.

"I hope they don’t ask us to pay for these afterward if we do."

Rather than answer, Bianca armed herself with her new sniper rifle. Along with silver-colored accessories and equipment made of Valestrian Steel.

"Stop being a bore and just adapt. Anyway, I haven’t let loose in a while. Come on, Elian! I’ll race you!"

In a single bound, Bianca catapulted high into the sky, her speed several times greater than her usual speed. Like a kid about to play, her excitement was palpable.

"Alright, alright, I’m coming."

The Tyrant similarly raced forward to fight the invasion that threatened to destroy all he held dear.