Chapter 342: We Will Win Both
"Humanity has survived for many reasons," Bane began, his voice spreading through the War Hall. "All of those reasons are what describes humanity itself. Adaptability, perseverance, dignity and hope.
"We survived the Era of Ash when the world we understood collapsed around us and we were introduced to magic. We survived through the Era of Rebirth and the Era of Education. Now we live in the Era of Technology, where magic and human invention have given us possibilities our ancestors could not have imagined."
Alistair looked through the faces in the crowd. "Through every one of those eras, there has been one constant. Gehenna attacks. Humanity defends."
The hall stayed silent, listening attentively.
"Every day, every week, every month and every year, Demon invade our lands, and we clear them. Dungeon Gates appear, and we close them. Warning Gates come, then Great Gates, then the Greatest Gate, and we stand between them and our people. Gloom Infestations spread through our soil, and we burn them away."
"For generations, we have measured victory by how much of our own world we managed not to lose."
Alistair’s voice hardened. "That is no longer enough."
A rough map of Gehenna appeared and expanded above his head.
"We have allowed the Second World to decide when we fight long enough. We’ve allowed the Demon Lords to choose the battlefield, the hour, the Gate and the lives placed in danger, long enough. We can not allow it any longer!"
An aura spread through the crowd. Everyone’s chests tightened, expressions became serious.
"They have crossed into our world for centuries. It is time we crossed into theirs and claim a piece of their wretched land as our own."
A strong silence was the response from the crowd. A silence so loud and full of conviction. Every soul in the room agreed with the President of KRB.
Lancet felt it in the way people sat straighter and looked toward the red-black world hanging above them. Gehenna had always been somewhere beyond a Gate, a place humans entered only because something had already gone wrong.
Alistair was talking about changing that relationship completely.
"We are not promising an easy war," he continued. "This will be difficult, dangerous, deadly. But we will be victorious. We will take ground. We will fortify it. We will make Gehenna defend itself from us."
A low murmur spread through the hall before fading again.
Alistair turned toward the projection and raised one hand. The broad map of Gehenna sharpened and showed several Demon capitals across it.
"We began Operation Citadel by studying every viable minor capital of the Second World. We checked for the following factors; the supply access, Gloom density, defensive geography, Demon population, distance from major capitals and the likelihood that a human force could hold the location after conquest were all considered."
Most of the markers disappeared, leaving only two. The first burned bright.
[ MALACHAR — THE PIT OF TEETH ]
The second appeared farther away.
[ NETHAROS — THE BLACK MASS ]
"These are our chosen targets," Alistair said. "Within one year, humanity intends to establish permanent Citadels in both."
The hall reacted more strongly this time.
Lancet heard someone behind him whisper Malachar’s name while another recruit leaned toward the tactical screen built into his seat.
Alistair enlarged the first city.
A rough overhead reconstruction appeared.
Malachar sat inside a wide depression in the landscape, its lower districts sunken beneath ridges that curved around the city. Long sharp hills rose in rows on both sides, their dark peaks bending inward toward the central basin.
From above, the entire formation resembled an enormous mouth.
Alistair pointed toward the ridges.
"Malachar is called the Pit of Teeth because of this geography. The city sits lower than the surrounding terrain, while these hills rise around it in several curved rows. From the air, it resembles a mouth filled with teeth."
The projection rotated and the resemblance became obvious.
"It is believed that Malachar may have been built inside the remains of a legendary Demon Dragon."
The crowd murmured slightly at the mention of that.
Alistair continued. "The theory has never been proven. But if the theory is true, then claiming Malachar may give humanity access to one of the largest concentrations of Dragon Essence ever discovered."
Everyone knew why that mattered.
"Dragons remain the most powerful Beasts in the world, in both worlds actually," Alistair said. "Even their remains can alter the land around them. Old legend states that whatever is built upon the body of a great dragon inherits part of its strength, wealth and power."
He lowered his hand.
"But that remains speculation. We are not planning a war based on mythology."
The image of Malachar shrank slightly.
"What is not speculation is its position. Malachar is defendable, isolated enough to prevent fast response from several major Demon cities and large enough to support a permanent human population once secured."
The marker for Netharos brightened beside it.
"Once Malachar is stable and capable of defending itself without constant reinforcement from Earth, Operation Citadel will move toward Netharos, the Black Mass."
Alistair did not linger on the second target. Since that part of the operation depended on the success of the first part, there was no need going into it now.
The Gehenna map disappeared and Earth replaced it. Thousands of Dungeon Gate markers covered the world with several flashing different colors.
Alistair looked toward them. "Operation Citadel is only half of our problem."
Lancet’s attention sharpened.
The false Dungeon rankings.
"As we know, we’ve been having a worldwide issue of False Dungeons. Until we understand how Gehenna is interfering with Dungeon assessment, the world government is implementing an emergency entry restriction."
He raised his voice to declare it.
"No Awakener below Radiant Rank or Level Thirty will be permitted to enter a Dungeon Gate regardless of the rank displayed outside it."
Lancet heard several reactions around him.
Some were surprised but most approved of it, it was the best way to protect lives.
Alistair continued. "Until the readings can be trusted again, every Dungeon is treated seriously. Whether you’re killing goblins or a Lord Hydra, do it with diligence knowing you are saving lives."
Alistair moved on as the crowd conversed in whispers about his last point.
"The Warning Gates are coming," Alistair said. "Because of Operation Citadel, it’s to be expected that the Demon Lords might send them even earlier as they might believe our strongest forces have committed themselves to Gehenna. If Earth is left without enough strength to answer both the false Dungeon crisis and the first Warning Gate wave, Operation Citadel becomes the reason our own world collapses."
Alistair drew a line through the human forces displayed on the map.
The army split. One section moved toward Gehenna and the other spread across Earth. "That will not happen."
A title appeared above the force entering Gehenna.
[ OPERATION CITADEL ]
Another formed over Earth.
[ OPERATION AEGIS ]
"Operation Aegis will remain on Earth. Its forces will respond to the false Dungeon Gates and prepare for the first wave of Warning Gates."
The stark distinction immediately changed how the recruits viewed the glowing map. While Operation Citadel would invade, Operation Aegis would make sure there was still a world to return to.
"Once Malachar is taken and our foothold is strong enough to survive without the full invasion force, our strongest available personnel will be redirected back toward Earth as required," Alistair said, stepping away from the projection.
"We are not choosing between attacking Gehenna and protecting humanity. We are doing both." His steady gaze swept across the hall. "And we will win both."
The confidence in his voice landed differently from Romsgard’s royal certainty; Alistair Bane spoke like someone who had already spent days crunching the numbers and studying exactly how many people would be needed to make that statement true.
Lancet saw the recruits glance at one another, processing the reality of the two fronts. Some looked toward the Citadel side of the map with barely hidden excitement.
Entering Gehenna, taking a Demon city, and becoming part of humanity’s first permanent foothold in the Second World would place their names in history. Others, however, watched Operation Aegis.
There was nothing glamorous about waiting for false Dungeons and Warning Gates, but Earth was home. The daunting idea of crossing into Gehenna still unsettled enough people that remaining behind suddenly looked much more appealing.
Alistair raised the screen again. "You have probably noticed that the Golden Barracks has been unusually active throughout this week."
Lancet immediately thought about the burning foundries, the crowded control floors, and the endless streams of personnel moving between buildings.
"Every one of you has been profiled," Alistair stated, drawing everyone’s attention sharply back to him. "Your Class, combat history, Skill set, physical condition, magical output, Rank, Level, professional experience, and projected potential have all been heavily examined."
Hearing this, Lancet glanced toward Renan, only to find that he was already looking right back at him.
"The purpose was simple," Alistair continued as the two operation names appeared on the display again. "We needed to determine where each person provides the greatest value. Every recruit in this hall has been assigned either to Operation Citadel or Operation Aegis."
The massive hall immediately filled with low, anxious conversation. Selli looked toward Tavrik, whose earlier endless enthusiasm had vanished beneath genuine curiosity.
Valeria looked almost certain of where she expected to go, Vernon sat up straighter, and Renan kept his focused attention on the operation crests glowing above the floor.
Lancet quietly wondered about his own assignment, knowing full well his unique powers fit both roles almost too perfectly.
Alistair raised one hand, and the murmuring instantly died. "When you leave this hall, stop at the assignment office beside the main doors. The receptionists there have your crest prepared."
Two distinct crests appeared in the air above him.
Operation Citadel carried a gold fortress set against a dark-red world, while Operation Aegis showed a silver shield beneath the outline of Earth.
"Take the crest assigned to you, and do not forget it. Your crest determines your training division, briefing access, lodging permissions, and deployment schedule. If you walk away without collecting yours, you will only create problems when training begins."
Several people immediately craned their necks toward the doors, as though memorizing exactly where the office was.
Alistair lowered his hand, and the tactical map disappeared. For the first time since beginning the briefing, he stepped away from the strategic display entirely and cleared his throat.
"Now, we all know how dangerous this mission is going to be, and we’ve kept some of you away from family and friends for far too long."
The tense atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. "This is why we will allow you all on a two-week holiday to prepare personally for the intense training you’re about to go through."
For half a second, the recruits seemed utterly uncertain whether they had heard the man correctly.
Then, the War Hall came alive. Tense shoulders dropped, relieved smiles appeared, and Rangers leaned toward one another excitedly whispering immediate plans, while several Awakeners looked genuinely thankful for the chance to return home before disappearing into the grueling military preparation.
Even some of the older, hardened officers noticeably relaxed. Lancet leaned back in his seat with a wide grin.
’Phew. I was hoping that this would also happen.’