Chapter 1323: Crescendo
This was big trouble for the Vanderbilt army, as well as for any humans trying to conquer the Chasm. After all, the very reason why the demi-humans were even worth fighting was the fact that they were objectively weaker than everyone else.
They were so weak that they had to resort to guerilla tactics. Attack, run away, hide, and attack again. That was their way of war, not by choice, but by necessity. They knew that they could never fight against a true human army with Nascent Spirit cultivator generals at its head.
But then, everything changed all of a sudden. Now, demi-humans wielded Divas. Their Aubility Powers levelled the playing field. One could even say that it tipped the scales of power in their direction!
After all, the demi-humans still had those Magical Monsters by their side. Those creatures were incredibly strong and numerous in number. Only the five Nascent Spirit generals under Levi could hold a candle to them.
So, this meant that they would not be able to provide support to their normal soldiers.
And usually, that would have been okay. In a fight against the demi-humans, they still held the physical advantage.
But not any more. Now, those Red Mankeys used Aubility Powers in coordination with their guerilla tactics.
Their way of war was not only annoying, but also incredibly strong. Attacks that were supposed to only be meant as an annoyance rather than a full-scale attack, now had to be treated with incredible care and resources.
For example, one of the signature attacks that the demi-human army used was their underground tunnel system.
Sometimes, they would suddenly appear under the human army, either piercing them with their weapons and crippling them, or simply just kidnapping them for information. And before the humans could react, the Red Mankeys would retreat back towards their underground tunnel.
This would create injuries within the human army, but not any casualties.
But now, each of their underground strikes has killed many soldiers. Their Divas were incredibly powerful, seemingly being at the same level as a high-stage Body Formation cultivator even though they hadn’t had the time to actually cultivate their powers.
"How is this possible?!" Levi cursed.
One his soldiers then walked towards him and presented a black, crystalline object in his hands. "Sir Levi. We found this in the hearts of those demi-humans. It seems to be the reason for their power."
Seeing this, Levi understood immediately. "Ersatz! Damn it. They’ve already found a way to evolve their Artifice!"
Somehow, Ersatz was able to now put their strange, unnatural power onto demi-humans as well. This had terrible repercussions for the entire world as a whole.
And if it weren’t for the fact that he was being surrounded at all sides by the demi-human army, Levi would have immediately exited the Chasm and reported his findings to the rest of the conglomerates and organizations.
Surely, they would do something to stop this evil organization.
"... so that’s why they’re interested in the Chasm," Levi muttered. "They’re planning on building an entire army of demi-humans under their hands!"
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the demi-human kingdom, Theresa and the Goldstone Coalition had found themselves in a great position.
They had found the breeding ground for the Magical Monsters!
Inside a large, natural cavern, they saw giant eggs hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by these web-like silk that allowed it to be suspended into the air.
Caliburn commanded the Lionheart army to a halt. They were on dangerous territory here. After all, they were basically in the belly of the beast. Those Magical Monsters would do everything they could do to protect their lair.
"We need to find out how the demi-humans were able to tame these creatures," said Theresa. "Men, let us start scouring the entire place."
Theresa was more than eager to explore the cavern. Caliburn was less inclined to do so. "I don’t think that this is the best course of action."
"It’s our only chance. There’s no creatures here," Theresa said.
"That’s exactly what I’m worried about," said Caliburn. "I have a bad feeling about this."
It was at this point that a cracking of a shell echoed through the cavern, making them all stop in place.
An egg had hatched!
Perhaps, this was the opportunity that they were waiting for! Theresa donned her Nascent Spirit armor, allowing her to become engulfed in an armor of bright, colorful flowers.
She charged towards the center of the cavern, finding herself in the middle of a nest where the egg had cracked.
And as she approached, the lambent glow in her armor started to finally illuminate the darkness inside this cavern.
And there, in the middle of the nest, she saw the truth.
A horrible truth.
"Ersatz!" she called out. "They’re using—"
But before she could finish her words, the entire cavern suddenly shook from a tremendously powerful earthquake, sending chunks of solid stone hurling towards the ground.
The opening in which they all entered from was suddenly buried throughout the entire chaos, submerging the entire cavern into the darkness.
"Men! Defensive positions!" Caliburn shouted. Their Eternal Flame allowed lightness to seep into the entire cavern.
And suddenly, in the darkness on the opposite side of the army, thousands upon thousands of red eyes suddenly appeared.
Each one, a Magical Monster. Each one, having the strength of a Nascent Spirit cultivator.
Theresa, Caliburn, and the five other Nascent Spirit cultivators under their coalition suddenly felt immense pressure. They couldn’t possibly deal with thousands of these creatures at the same time.
And if that wasn’t enough, the eggs hanging in silk webs above the ceiling suddenly started to crack as well, slowly revealing tiny, miniature Magical Monsters inside.
Even with 60,000 soldiers in their midst, they wouldn’t be able to defend against such a horde of monsters.
"Shit," Caliburn cursed. Even he knew that the probability of them surviving this encounter was near zero. They had to find a way out.