Against the World II: Transgression
Special Story: Threat from the East, part 7

...—1st June, D204 | Deus Holy Church, Islan—...

WAR is inevitable. That is the most undeniable reality. Want as good as what negotiators they send, it will still not be able to change the intentions of the aggressors. Their determination is round. Their desire is so strong. Let them attain the blessing of the god, or block them from attaining that blessing his choice is only that two. Let them take over, or their opponent. There's no other choice.

The answer is clear. These people were even willing to make pieces of their bodies as walls that blocked the invasion of the enemy.

For that reason, Pope Gramiel again held a meeting with the Guardians of ‒ a final meeting before they all plunged into the predicted war.

“... Putting aside the independent forces of Emiliel Holy Kingdom that were positioned along the northern coast and slightly to the northeast, it was all the positions the soldiers had already stationed. We cannot be sure if they will rotate and attack from the west, but if that happens, we can mobilize troops faster than them. This is our continent; we cannot lose in such a crucial matter.”

“Thank you for the report, Nak Zeff,” Pope Gramiel said in the introduction to his newly monologued message, before then returning his attention to the twelve individuals sitting at his desk. “As Nak Zeff just explained, everything is well prepared. Now, we need to discuss about your placement.”

Hernandez and the others simultaneously nodded in agreement. Given that Veria was far superior in organizing the soldiers, it was important for them to pay attention to the correct placement of the Guardians so as to negate the shortcomings of the Islanese soldiers (the union of soldiers that was a combination of the soldiers of the kingdoms and independent cities of Islan).

“I and Stakhnet will join the soldiers on the northeast coast,” Khrometh said with a facial expression that did not want to hear the word rejection. “We will be at the forefront and use our masterpieces to eradicate the enemy before they make it to shore. We will destroy them and prove that we are the best craftman and blacksmith in the world.”

“Then I entrust that side to you two,” Pope Gramiel responds with his grim smile. “Show them that Islan doesn't just have Hernandez. Show them that you are no less great.”

“Heh, of course, Pope!” exclaiming Khrometh carelessly glared slightly at Hernandez's face, as if shouting “Listen to that!” his face.

Hernandez only smiled faintly hearing that. Khrometh always considered Hernandez someone he should beat, but Hernandez did not think so about the dwarf. For Hernandez, it doesn't matter if there's anything better than him. He is just someone who is trying to be better than he was. He must be better than he was tomorrow than he was yesterday. That's Hernandez's principle.

“Me and Zuthvert will join the soldiers who are in the southeast,” Evana said with a grinning smile. Zuthverth displayed an expression of disapproval, but the woman ignored him. “How, Pope Gramiel? Given that the majority of the soldiers housed there are elves, I guess that is the ideal position for us.”

“Yes, as you said it is indeed the ideal position for you.” Pope Gramiel nodded in agreement. “And, Miss Evana, I also want you to pay attention so that no enemy ships are heading south.”

“Of course, Pope, of course.”

Pope Gramiel nodded, before then continuing, “Diatra and Elemetra will use the Vegasus Ship to attack enemy ships from the air. We hope that you can destroy as many ships as you can. Your role is very important; the more enemy ships you sink, the fewer opponents we have to face.”

“No need to worry, Pope. We and Vegasus will work better than Khrometh-Stakhneth and their masterpieces. Ha-ha-ha.”

“Oi, wild horses, you guys are still a thousand years too early to compete with our masterpiece!”

“Well, we'll see that later, Khrometh. I'm sure once this war is over you'll be begging to be allowed to explore the ship Vegasus.”

“Hmph, will not!”

“Keeping aside the issue of which masterpiece is better,” said Pope Gramiel mediated them, “we must win this war first in order to judge it. Now, the position has not been determined is only for the six of you.”

“First Catherine will settle here,” muttered Vermyna with her superior tone. “Iriku, Hernandez, and Retsu will head to the east side. Minner and Zestya are between ourselves and Evana – Zuthvert. Thus, we have established a solid defense along the eastern side of Islan. I think it is the most ideal position placement.”

“I agree with Miss Vermyna. Miss Vermyna will face Empress Jiang Yue Yin, I will deal with Emperor Gadra, and Retsu will handle the other leader—or join in attacking the enemy soldiers if there is no other leader. Then, with the Vegasus Ship taking the vanguard in reducing the number of enemies, it would be the ideal option as Miss Vermyna had said.”

“What do you think, son Catherine?”

“Actually I want to protest; being on the front line will help others more. However, I understand what Sister Vermyna meant. With my teleportation, I will be the most ideal to be here than all of you.”

“If Nak Catherine has agreed to be in this city, it means that I do not need to ask Miss Fie to send her strong people here. So, what about you two?”

Minner and Zestya looked at each other for a few seconds, before then the two nodded simultaneously. “No problem,” says they are compact.

Pope Gramiel smiled happily hearing no one had any problems with their placement. However, before he could even open his mouth to say, another informant suddenly barged in forcefully with a panicked expression on his face.

“Pope Gramiel, this is bad!” exclaimed the informant without caring that he had just barged in by force. “This is very-very urgent!” again without feeling guilty.

Hernandez and the others looked intensely at the informant. Some of them did not mind the sudden interruption because it seemed important, but some (especially Khrometh) put on an unhappy expression. However, before any of them had the chance to open their mouths, Pope Gramiel preceded him first.

“Say, Nak Jyan, what's the bad news that makes you panic like that?”

“...Dragon Lor...Dragon Lord Arshvateth has left Medea and is on his way to Islan. He's not alone. There were five Dragon Generals and two hundred Adult Dragons with him. Not wrong again, they also want to attack Islan.”

“…!”

So far, there is no bad relationship between Islan and Medea. There was once an attempt by the Dragon Lord before Arshvateth to enslave Islan. However, the attempt ran aground in the middle of the road when Fie Axellibra personally eliminated all the dragons that tried to attack Islan.

From then on, there was never again a dragon that set foot in the sky of this god-endowed continent. Therefore, it is safe if it is said that the effort this time is a continuation of the previous effort.

And, given that this happened to coincide with the invasion of Veria, it can be concluded that this was not something of a coincidence. They've definitely worked together to subdue Islan. Whether it was Veria's side persuading the Dragon Lord or the Dragon Lord himself asking to join was no longer important. In essence, Veria and Medea together want to bring down Islan.

“Change plans,” said Vermyna suddenly, attracting everyone's attention. “I will handle myself Dragon Lord and all his subordinates. Hence, Pope Gramiel, you have no other choice but to ask for Fie Axellibra's self-help to handle Jiang Yue Yin. If he refuses, which is a small possibility, I will try to finish off the Dragon Lords as soon as possible. Therefore, Hernandez, finish off Gadra Rashta quickly and then handle Jiang Yue Yin until I arrive.”

“Heh, your expectations of me are too high, Miss Vermyna. No one can be sure I can survive Emperor Gadra.”

“Hernandez, don't make myself repeat it.”

“Ah, if threatened as such…. What can I do. I'll try not to disappoint you.”

“It should have been like that.”

“I will ask for help directly on Miss Fie,” Pope Gramiel said a second later. “Hopefully I can ask him to catch up with you guys to the east side before Empress Jiang Yue Yin docks. Miss Vermyna, sorry for having to get you into such a hassle.”

“No problem.”

Gramiel then turned his gaze to the soldier who was still waiting faithfully. “Nak Jyan, don't tell anyone about the dragons. It'll just make everyone panic. We leave them to Miss Vermyna; I believe one hundred percent of Miss Vermyna will be able to handle them all.”

“Good, Pope. I will tell others not to spread that information. Then please leave, sorry to interrupt suddenly.”

As soon as the soldier left the room, Gramiel immediately turned to the introduction of his message. “Nak Zeff, please send a notification letter to Axellibra about my arrival today to there. Let me know if I request a meeting with Miss Fie.”

“Good, Pope.”

As soon as the messenger left the room to carry out his duties, Pope Gramiel took a deep breath and put on a serious expression.

“I want to say ‘my kids’, but other than Nak Retsu and Nak Hernandez, you are all older than me. Therefore, I will say the children of the choice of god,” said Gramiel in a witty tone, but then he immediately continued without giving the opportunity to talk to others. “The chosen children of the god who was given the task of guarding the holy Deus Lake, have come back the day that requires you to sacrifice sweat and blood for the awakening of the grace of the god. There is no guarantee that you will all be able to return safely. There is no guarantee the soldiers and you will return unharmed. There is no guarantee of victory for you.

“However, your every effort and sacrifice is not in vain. Your guarantee is the promised holy land, the realm of eternity awaited. Your guarantee is the infinite love of God, its infinite blessing. Your guarantee is the encounter with the god we glorify, the last achievement in the realm of immortality to which we must go.”

Those were nice words from Pope Gramiel, but unfortunately, no one cared about the ultimate realm other than Retsu.

Khrometh and Stakhneth care only about their achievements in producing work. Elemetra and Diatra were not at all interested; they would rather be on the battlefield than in the promised place. Evana and Zuthvert are more interested in fulfilling their hobbies than living peacefully in the afterlife. Zestya and Minner…. All they wanted was the success of the Warebeast Great Kingdom in Islan. Catherine and Vermyna…. Hernandez hesitates if they think about it.

And himself…. Hernandez doesn't even fully believe the place exists.

...—Some Time Later, Southeast Side Islan—...

The southeastern side of Islan is a very green place. Although it was no longer the Amarest Great Forest region that filled the southern side of Islan, but the forest surrounding it was also quite extensive. Moreover, this forest region was more dangerous with the existence of the beastmen inhabiting it. Although the diversity of Magical Beasts was more abundant in the Great Amarest Forest, the Magical Beasts in this forest could not be underestimated either.

In one part of this forest, around a small lake that connects two small rivers that divide the forest, the Lizardmen live together in a large housing estate. From just looking, based on the number of houses built, the number of Lizardmen can be estimated to reach five to six thousands. They live by eating fish that fill lakes and rivers.

Of the many Beastmen races, the Lizardman was one of the few that did not interact with the other races. Their main food is fish; as long as there is no problem with the presence of fish they need, they will not abandon their housing. Therefore they very rarely have conflicts with other races, and therefore also they are very able to cooperate with the main races in Islan— especially if it is in terms of fish trade.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the soldiers of the Islan also use the existence of the Lizardmen to help them establish a temporary headquarters. Although the main headquarters was several dozen kilometers from the lake where the Lizardmen settled, the Lizardmen could help the soldiers by blocking other aggressive Beastmen such as Goblin, Orcs, and other monsters, and the Trolls attacked them, so the soldiers could focus more.

The Islans, the majority of whom were elves and humans, established their temporary headquarters at a considerable distance from the shore. They intend to use the forest as an ally, so that they can overcome the difference in numbers more freely. With the existence of the elves who were more audible and with sharper eyesight, as well as their capable archery abilities, guerrilla tactics would be their way of fighting.

In total there are two hundred tents of varying sizes there. Most of the tents were occupied by humans, a small part was occupied by the warebeasts, and a small part was occupied by the elves. Although the number of elves was more than the warebeast, but the number of their tents was inversely proportional. It was certainly not without reason; elves would rather rest in trees than in tents.

Evana and Zuthvert arrive in front of the biggest tent of all the tents that are within the teleportation magic circle. They requested to be teleported to this place as soon as the meeting with the Guardians was over. Although enemy ships heading to this side will still arrive in a few hours, it is better for them to know the plan of the leader of the soldiers here in more detail so that they can work together with more.

“Destroy those invaders, Miss Evana, Mr. Zuthvert.” Said the seeker before then disappearing from where he stood after getting a nod from Evana and Zuthvert.

“Zuthvert, I leave it to you to talk to the leader here. I'll go straight to the beach and expand the forest area. We're gonna make those people think this is an unprotected place. We'll make them think that their only enemies here are the Beastmen.”