Eternal Empire Online: The Rise of the Mythical Detective

Chapter 41: The Goddess Of The Battlefield 2

Fort Leo

Monarch Savannah

Both sides had gathered a lot of soldiers. All attention fixated on the Fort. As its main line of defense, Fort Leo is literally the giant wall that Golden Cross must surpass to realize their goal of conquering Sungel.

That’s right. After the initial silence since seizing control over Alvarez, the Golden Cross Guild led by one of the Top Players Kratus had finally bared their fangs and declared war against their neighboring kingdoms with the Kingdom of Sungel as their first target.

“Third Corps is in position!”

“Second Corps are gathered and waiting for orders!”

And to repel the invasion, Sungel answered by sending their army that’s been divided into four corps. The First Corps are the 600,000 Vanguards, the frontliners that clashes heads on with the invaders. The 400,000 of the Second are the Second Wave and the Reinforcements for the First while the 200,000 of the Third are the Rearguards and Towers and Gate Defenders consist of Mages, Archers, and Priests. And then lastly, the 300,000 of the Fourth are the Special Corps that are only mobilized for Special Missions and Circumstances.

Also, along with the Sungel Army are the 500,000 users and members from the Rank 9 Pegasus Guild and the Rank 12 Tetra Cerberus that provided Sungel with their utmost support. Both Pegasus and Tetra have Guild Bases in both Sungel and Camillus and they despised the motion for domination of the Golden Cross and Alvarez. As organizations aiming too for the top, it’s going to be a disaster if the Golden Cross Guild succeeded in conquering Sungel. They will not just lose lands under their controls but most of all it will expand the already great power of the No. 1 Guild. Therefore, with their combined strengths, they intend to stop the invasion at all cost or else, the Golden Cross will become an unstoppable force in the future.

CHANG! CHANG! CHANG!

The sharp sounds of flesh being cut down by steel and iron rang out as another wave of Alvarez Invaders appeared in front of the First and Second Corps while they swing their weapons!

“Charge! Don’t let them get close to the Fort!”

“Urraaaa!”

“Kill them all!”

“Destroy the invaders!”

“Defend Fort Leo at all cost!”

BABOOM! BABOOM! BABOOM!

Hearing the sounds of the drums paired with the warcries of the battling Sungel soldiers, the group of dark cloaked individuals waiting behind the walls of the Fort finally stood and readied their weapons.

“That’s our cue,” the hulkiest figure informed the rest as he equips for battle.

However, while he and the rest are up and ready, there was one figure who still continue to sit. And compared to the rest, this unmoved individual is rather the smallest of the bunch. The Hulk figure went and approached her.

‘Tam-tam-tadadam-tam-tadamtam…’

In her internal world, she’s humming, relaxing, unfazed and oblivious from the rest of the chaotic world. But then, her internal world was shattered by a deep voice from reality. Opening her eyes, her bewildered face lift up and looked around. “Oh, it’s time already?”

“Yes, Commander,” the hulking figure with head inclined responded with utmost respect.

“Okay,” she said almost nonchalantly. “You guys ready?”

“Aye! Aye!”

The Female Commander then removed her hood, freeing her head from the confines of the dark fabric.

And for a moment, her subordinates’ breaths were taken away, captivated by her unearthly features. They see her almost every day whether in game or in the real world but looking at her beauty is something that’s impossible to get tired of.

She has the complexion as white as the moon, lustrous black hair flowing smoothly down her waist that’s barely decorated by silver highlights. And though groomed as a robust warrior inside the game, the radiance of her elegance is retained and irrepressible. Overall, she’s one hell of an attractive lady that anyone would die to have.

However, those thoughts of venerations over her perfection instantly dissipate when her icy blue eyes overwhelmed her angelic features with the overflowing lust to kill. Opposite to her innocent looking face, her eyes reflect the soul of an existence who is chiselled in the life of violence. Yes, she truly is one hell of an attractive lady and the most beautiful they’d ever seen but there’s no question too that she is the scariest woman they’d ever met.

“Alright then, let’s give our customers what they’d paid for,” she said and placed a skull mask on her face.

The Alvarez Army

To initiate the Second Wave, a total of 500,000 units were dispatched. Of these units, more than 350,000 are NPCs where 40%, 5% larger than the First Wave, are armored units groomed to siege the walls.

“We will bring Glory to our Kingdom! Raise your swords!”

One of the Commanders of the Second Wave cried to boost the morale of their army. In such a large scale war, the morales of the NPC soldiers are such a significant factor.

Meanwhile in the World of the Creators [Real World], the ongoing war between the two kingdoms is being broadcasted live by TopUP Media Channel’s Gamer’s Unlimited.

––––

“Partner, who do you think has the upper hand between these two kingdoms?” The female Host, Melanie Earthart inquires to the Gaming Analyst as well as the show co-Host, Ian Masters.

“Golden Cross and Alvarez, no doubt about that. Both in manpower and resources, they greatly outnumber Sungel in a ratio of 5:1.” Masters confidently answered.

Beforehand, they’d already decided that Alvarez will win.

“But doesn’t Sungel have the terrain advantage since the warfare is within their domain including that they’re at the defensive, thus, giving them the strategic advantage over the other party.”

“Yes, there’s that but that could have only been effective if the power behind Alvarez isn’t the Golden Cross Guild. Remember that even before they took control of Alvarez they’re already the No. 1 Guild that’s capable of taking down kingdoms with their members alone. And with an entire kingdom, not to mention the largest kingdom in Avelot now under their control, those capabilities of them are three times, maybe even four times greater than before. So despite those said advantages of Sungel over this war, those won’t do much except of prolonging the inevitable which falling under the control of Alvarez.”

Melanie nodded, feigning understanding. Despite their rather informative conversation, in truth, their worded out words are actually scripted sentences that’d been prepared beforehand base from the analysis of Masters himself.

However, in the middle of their conversation, Melanie suddenly turned towards the giant screen behind them and spoke an statement that weren’t part of the script. “Partner, something is appearing from the Gates of the Fort.”

“What?” The bewildered Ian Masters said, following Melanie’s gaze.

––––

“Aim for the Gates! Once we tear it down, victory will be ours!”

The Siege Weapons and the Second Wave of the Alvarez Army approached and charges forward, sweeping through the defending First and Second Corps of Sungel.

But then, at the loud booming sound of the drums, the Gates opened wide and hundreds of dark cloaked and dark armored warriors and knights galloping either via horseback or by foot could be seen pouring out.

And leading the charge is a petite long haired woman wearing a skull mask.

“Whoa-whoa, wait the minute, that crest…”

‘A crimson scythe bent to shape like an Apple.’

“It’s the insignia of Blood Apple Guild!”

The Blood Apple Guild, all over the Continents of Avelot there’s not a single soul that isn’t aware of their unsavoury reputation.

A notorious hidden organization of mercenary Outlanders that accomplishes their objectives by any means necessary. Associated to no Kingdom, they have no specific goals or political agendas. Their only allegiance is to the highest bidder. However, despite being just a mercenary guild with no ties to any great power, they are Ranked just behind Golden Cross, outranking the other Top Guilds that are rooted and allied to several powerful Kingdoms.

“What are they doing here!?”

“I didn’t know that we’re fighting them!”

The users and NPC soldiers of Alvarez simultaneously shouted in shock and panic.

According to both genuine events and reliable rumors, each members of Crimson Apple could defeat high level monsters on their own and though infamous for commanding exorbitant fees to accept requests, their success rates of an unparalleled 100% give it justice. Be it be an assassination, destruction of another organization, burning down cities and towns, or terminating a powerful monster, once the request is accepted, it’s considered as good as done.

And then, there’s the Girl with the Skull Mask.

If it weren’t petrifying enough that Alvarez Soldiers are about to face the members of Blood Apple, the Girl with the Skull Mask had as well implies that the units before them now are highly likely the Coffin Squad, the First Division of Blood Apple that’s led and commanded directly by the Guild’s Second-in-Command, the Goddess of c*****e Sky!

“It’s the Goddess the c*****e! Run for your lives!”

The lower levelled Alvarez Soldiers, users and NPCs alike that recognized her were instantly terrorized and wet their pants, shattering their formations and abandoning their assigned siege weapons as the Coffin Squad she leads draws nearer.

No one had ever seen her without her mask but her reputation of ruthlessness is deeply engraved throughout the lands of Avelot. She’s dreaded as a nightmare, the demon from horror stories, the instrument of Death itself. If she’s around, death and bloodbath becomes as common as breathing air and thus, earning her the title as the Goddess of c*****e.

The panic and the shattered formations caused by the low levels ripples into a larger scale of confusion, destroying the troops of Alvarez even before the Coffin Squad could lay a finger on them.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

And then the Coffin Squad reaches them…and the c*****e commenced.

KABLAM! KABLAM!

“Kwah!!!”

“Help! I don’t wanna die…kwah!”

After turning the siege weapons into ashes, they immediately assaulted the disorganized soldiers and butcher them like helpless animals.

Then, the rearguards of the Alvarez Troops, to aid their vanguards began to cast healing magic and aim their arrows and black magic towards the charging enemies.

However, aside that the Coffin Squad were wearing armors that are capable of reflecting and absorbing magic attacks, Commander Sky gave an order that mobilizes 50 of her subordinates to take care of the rearguards.

In an instance, those 50 units used ‘Blink,’ a short distance teleportation skill to vanish and reappear until they reached the Archers and the casting Healers and Wizards. And before they could react on their sudden emergence, the 50 had already one after another activated their skills, converting their bodies into magma-like substances before exploding.

‘Eruption.’ A suicide skill which detonates the Outlander’s body in exchange of releasing a wide array of scourging explosion.

The Archers and Magic Casters gathered around the members of the Eruption Squad burned and lost all of their Health. Even the Frontliners from a distance receive heavy damages and were blown away for a few meters by the explosions.

“Charge!” The Hulk guy beside Sky commanded. “Erase them all! Spare no one!”

Further mobilizing the main forces, the Coffin Squad rushed, scatters, and obliterates all the enemies at sight. They sweep the battlefield and with their high mobility, killed dozens of Alvarez Troops at once. And truth be told, many NPC and even Outlander soldiers were not prepared to lose their lives. They were utterly blinded by the overwhelming military advantage of Golden Cross and Alvarez that they’d convinced their selves that this is going to be blow out on their favor, something that they’re greatly regretting now as the Alvarez side steadily accumulate death counts.

“The invaders are in mayhem!” A Sungel Commander loudly cried to his Troops. “Don’t let this opportunity slip! Advance! Move forward! Repel them from our lands!”

“YEEAAAHHHH!”

On the other hand, due to the advantage shift initiated by the Coffin Squad, the morale of the Sungel Corps peaked, causing them to draw out a greater strength to assault their enemies.

The panic and confusion for the Alvarez side continues to intensify. They wanted to run but they have nowhere to go. They could fight but they will surely just die. And with fear and anxiety, the once high and mighty Alvarez Army rapidly fades to nothing as death becomes more inevitable.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An hour of battle then passed, the Coffin Squad continues to cause mayhem and destruction while the Sungel Corps deals with everything else. The composed High Level users and the remaining Alvarez Commanders tried to reorganize but the troops are more consumed with the thoughts of saving their lives instead of fighting back. After all, before Alvarez was taken over by Golden Cross, due to the prestigious status of their Kingdom as the Strongest in the South, no one, whether it’s another Kingdom or an Alliance, had ever been foolish enough to anger them. Therefore, the people of Alvarez had lived in peace for a very long time which resulted into a state where even their most veteran soldiers had never experienced a large scale war in their lifetimes. And due to this, they’re only good when the situation is on their favor but when the tides are against them, they’d become incapable of staying composed and as a result, they self-destruct pretty much easily.

“Colossal Power!”

“Greater Full Potential!”

“Heavenly Shield!”

The surviving as well as the Core and the strongest users from the First and Second Waves casts buffs and cuts through, charging towards the Commander of Coffin Squad. It’s their lost, that part was already a given. But for them, winning the siege no longer matters, all that matters for them now is to seize a Glory for their Names. A Glory that they can only acquire by hunting down the Goddess of c*****e.

‘If I kill her, I’ll become a Legend!’

‘I will take her down!’

‘I will make my name known as the Slayer of the Goddess of c*****e!’

Since the ratio between the Coffin Squad and the Alvarez Troops is 1:1,000, all the Coffin Squad members are scattered all over the battlefield, battling dozens to hundreds on their own. Quite an unfair equation at first glance but as to what had already been mentioned, they are highly skilled and highly proficient. Their weakest member is around Level 350 and in the Real World they are real fighters with years of actual combat experiences of sort. So against these Average Type players and war ignorant NPCs from Alvarez that are just within the Levels of 150 to 250 with only a mere handful at Level 300, handling them is quite a manageable job.

However, the higher levelled Core Units doesn’t know that. They believe that the fall of their comrades were merely due to the gap in Levels alone. Therefore, they convinced themselves that if they, users with Levels quite near to the Levels of the Coffin Squad, will attack one squad member together, Victory will be overwhelmingly be theirs.

Well, they were so damn wrong. And they’re about to be illuminated about that ugly fact as they lunges to the Goddess of c*****e that they are eyeing to slay.

“Wild Axe!”

“Storm Hammer!”

“Tornado Pierce!”

While busy fighting around 20 Knights and Assassins, the Core Units took the opportunity to simultaneously strike her from above like lightning. And since she was preoccupied with her ongoing combats, she wasn’t able to react and got defenselessly struck and pierced by their weapons.

‘Got her!’ Most, if not all of them, assumed such thought.

Each strike flashes light, exploding and misting the area where the Goddess of c*****e and her attackers stood.

“She dead?”

“We got her!”

Their faces were all smiles, brimming with anticipation for the mist to clear and confirm their victory and confirm who struck the final blow.

However, those feelings of security vanished when the mist cleared and Sky revealed herself completely unaffected.

She’s not uninjured, her body was stabbed and struck severely but despite of it, she just stood there, utterly unfazed.

The Core Units were shock and confused. But before either could sink in, Sky’s body had already turned red and exploded.

KABOOOOOOOOOM!

“Kwahhh!” “Kyahhh!!”

Her attackers and everyone near her were caught by the explosion. And though the power seems to only be in a third compared to the ones detonated by the Eruption Squad, at such a close distance, it’s more than enough to inflict heavy devastation.

“What the…? A suicide attack!?” A survivor Knight exclaimed as he struggles to get up.

Plausible…but wrong again.

Sky appeared behind the Knight, killing him in one strike.

“Gahhh!”

“Weaker than expected,” Sky said with a disappointed expression under her mask.

[Shadow Clone] + [Eruption], a lethal combination for diversion and mass onslaught. However, she’d somehow expected that the Core Units that takes great pride on their strength would at least retain 30% of their members after receiving her trap. But disappointingly, only a handful had made it out where majority are heavily injured, incapable of fighting anymore.

Ding!

______________________________

KILLS: 1,488

If the Squad you lead succeeded in eliminating the invaders, your Employer(s) will grant you and your Squad an additional reward of 30 Gold per Kill.

______________________________

“Blood Rage!” “Arcane Strike!”

Sky then starts attacking without restrain and hesitation, jumping from one opponent to another with an unparalleled speed. She made herself open to be struck. She gave them a chance to pose her a challenge. But in the end, all they did was disappoint her. Therefore, there’s no point for her to hold back for them anymore. Obliteration at Full Power! Terminate all the targets, complete the request, and collect the payments. After all, that’s what they came here for.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

“Geez f**k! What the hell!?” Hammond exclaimed loudly after witnessing the failure of the First and Second Waves from a hilltop. “Why’s the Blood Apple and its Coffin Squad fighting alongside Sungel?”

“It appears that the Coalition of Sungel, Pegasus, and Tetra Cerberus had anticipated this war and employed the service of Blood Apple beforehand.” Lozz, who stood beside Hammond, said.

“What!?” Hammond exclaimed again.

“To think that they’d anticipated this much. It’s quite intriguing.”

“Hey ‘Pointy Ears,’ it’s no time to be impress! We have a serious situation here!”

Lozz nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. With them around, an Army amounting only to this can’t even dream denting the walls of Sungel. We need to change our approach.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Retreat…for now,” he said. “Order the Third Wave Troops to abort the initial orders.”

“Are you crazy!? We can’t…”

Hammond tried to protest….but Lozz interrupted him. “Only failure awaits us if we pursue this way. Call them all back immediately. We will return to Alvarez and think of something. We’ll consult Brahma, I’m sure he can devise something.”