The battlefront had already been advancing for several days, nearly half a month. Terra was moving steadily forward, and as the so-called true starry sky gradually revealed itself above Terra, the demons were evolving, the Seaborn were evolving, and likewise, some Terrans were evolving as well.
The demons had developed intelligence. Or rather, according to Rhine Lab's research and Felix's own speculation, it was highly likely that the demons had acquired some kind of command center. Like a true commander, they were now deploying all kinds of tactics across the land, using their own lives to stretch the battle lines, all in an attempt to tear a piece of flesh from the Terra Alliance.
The individual demons were also evolving. The demons possessing the corpses of dead warriors had not changed much, but the collapsing entities had grown larger. They constantly radiated a bone-piercing cold across the battlefield, devouring everything in their path: land, weapons, and even their own demon companions. Now, they could even absorb part of the damage and shock from artillery fire, making them even harder to eliminate.
The Seaborn were evolving as well. Their purification abilities had become more skillful and more efficient, and the fear they inspired in the Terrans had now been fully revealed. When the Seaborn purified demons that had possessed the bodies of dead warriors, the demons were destroyed, but the Seaborn were then able to take control of those corpses and transform them into Seaborn creatures of their own.
Felix learned of this from Little Blue and said that since full-scale war had already begun, if this method could reduce the pressure on the Seaborn and the Terra Alliance, then there was no problem in continuing to do it.
Little Blue readily agreed, and so the war between the Seaborn and the demons gradually turned into a situation where the Seaborn's forces kept increasing while the number of demon warriors kept decreasing. As the number of demon warriors fell, however, the number of collapsing entities increased instead, placing even greater pressure on the Sami front.
The Terrans were also evolving, and this was reflected in two ways.
The first was the rapid increase in the number of infected. Because the false starry sky had shattered, Terra's magnetic field had changed, causing some previously stable regions to be struck without warning by sudden Catastrophes. Along with these Catastrophes, Originium dust spread into certain areas like sandstorms, ravaging the land. As a result, some people were infected without even realizing it, which naturally triggered panic among many of them. No one wanted to die.
But there was no one left to properly control the situation. The vast majority of the military had already been sent to the front lines. Although many nobles still remained in the rear, if they caused too much unrest, death would be all that awaited them. They did not dare to arrest large numbers of infected people and provoke public fury, so in the end, they simply turned a blind eye.
Those suffering from Oripathy felt only despair and helplessness. Yet after physical examinations and testing, the researchers were surprised to discover that although these people's blood contained Originium particles, there were no signs of their condition worsening.
Logically speaking, patients with Oripathy should gradually decline in their daily lives. Even something as simple as overwork, or excessive use of Originium Arts, could cause the body to fail, leading to the worsening of the disease and ultimately death.
But now, that process of deterioration had been significantly slowed.
To explain it in simple terms, where in the past a patient with Oripathy might die within five days after severely overusing Originium Arts, now it could take much longer.
This was still only a hypothesis. Everything still required large amounts of experimental data and confirmation.
Terrans had become physically stronger. That was one of the few conclusions Rhine Lab's research department had reached with confidence.
___
Felix looked toward the distant battlefield. At this distance, they were no longer far from the Stargate. All they had to do was break through the final several thousand kilometers of snowfield, reach the source of the demons, and crush it in one stroke.
He withdrew his gaze and looked at the electronic avatars on the control panel.
"Loughshinny, Eblana, begin your report."
"Yes, my husband."
After speaking, the two exchanged a glance. Loughshinny's look was not especially friendly, while Eblana merely smiled and raised an eyebrow. But after noticing Felix's calm expression, both quickly returned to work mode.
"Our forces, together with Laterano, have advanced another one hundred kilometers northward and have now reached the edge of the Grand Canyon. Beneath the canyon lies a dense horde of demons, but they have not launched an attack yet. I believe they are waiting for the right opportunity," Loughshinny reported. "The collapsing entities are increasing day by day, and the resources required for the Yamato cannons are not unlimited. Under these circumstances, I believe deploying the Seaborn as the main fighting force is the best option."
"My undead warriors fight the demons tirelessly every day. Even while we are speaking, several warriors have already blasted collapsing entities into pieces." Eblana's tone was noticeably more relaxed. Compared to Loughshinny, her Draco flames possessed authority over death, and she herself had already conquered death. By commanding her immortal warriors to wage endless war against the demons, she had no trouble at all holding a single battlefront on her own.
"However, there is one thing I agree with my sister on. Neither immortal warriors nor ordinary soldiers can truly stop the demons' corruption. We need the power of the Seaborn."
"We are already on our way to your position."
The one who spoke was Little Blue, standing quietly beside Felix. Beneath the cold fluorescent light, her long azure hair fell over her shoulders, and her fair, smooth skin looked dazzlingly beautiful. Yet anyone could tell that beneath that soft exterior lay something immeasurably deep, like the winter sea itself.
The Seaborn were evolving, and Little Blue was evolving as well.
The meeting was abruptly interrupted midway when a sergeant hurried onto the bridge. "Your Highness, the demons have begun to move again."
Felix turned his gaze toward Loughshinny and Eblana. "We'll talk again later."
After saying that, he turned and walked to the front of the bridge. From there, he could see the dense defensive fortifications already built below, and beyond them, the distant world of broken pixels that looked as though reality itself had glitched.
They were no longer fighting a single species.
Felix took a deep breath. This was a phenomenon powerful enough to pollute everything.
The world before him looked like a shattered game map, with no clear line between what was false and what was real. Through the mottled mosaic, Felix could see the beaches of Siesta, the snow-covered mountains of Kjerag, and countless stretches of darkness and emptiness.
It was an unknown terrifying enough to chill the soul.
Felix let out a slow breath. "What did Saria say?"
"Yes, Your Highness. The Yamato cannons are ready, but over the first five days of combat, we discovered that the impact force and diffusion power of the Yamato cannons were partially neutralized by the void, and their lethality has declined again. I believe we should abandon the Yamato cannons for now and switch to low-energy anti-aircraft artillery to engage the enemy."
"That will do."
Felix gave a slight nod, agreeing with the adjutant's suggestion. As the demonic domain expanded, the destructive power of the Yamato cannons continued to weaken. The next stage of the advance might truly come down to hand-to-hand combat.
Little Blue smiled. "We are ready."
Felix removed his coat and tightened his gloves. "I will also take part in this battle."
The adjutant's eyes lit up. "Yes! With Your Highness stepping in personally, victory is assured!"
Felix smiled and walked down from the bridge together with Little Blue. At that moment, the four legions were already prepared, and under the cover of anti-aircraft fire, they launched another charge.
Oras, leader of the Lightbearers, rushed at the very front. His arms had now completely transformed into the shape of a dragon's limbs, and every strike tore through the space before him. Luna followed close behind, her blood wrapping around the warriors and forming a layer of physical and magical protection over them. At the same time, her eyes turned fully crimson, revealing small, delicate fangs, while blood-red spears burst from the ground ahead and pierced straight through the demons' bodies.
With a fierce shout, the mechanical weapon in Jesselton hands swept through demon bodies with every swing. Breathing heavily through cold air, he accelerated in an instant toward the collapsing structure, ignoring the dangerous suction, the fading of sound, and the numbing of touch. In those brief two seconds, he bared a vicious grin and unleashed dozens of punches upon the collapse. The mountain-like force shattered it into fragments.
Asuna's long silver-white hair danced in the wind and snow. She raised one hand, and an absurdly huge cannon quickly unfolded from behind her wings. In less than five seconds, the weapon expanded from its original mechanical parts into full form. Nor was it only Asuna. Yukino, Mash, and a thousand other Melira were also fully armed. The moment Asuna brought her hand down, the enormous cannon behind her unleashed fire and electric thunder.
But that was not the end.
Ten seconds after the bombardment ceased, everyone was already holding a pair of lightsabers. With a sharp hiss, Asuna was the first to leap from the high slope. Her wings spread in midair like those of a true angel as she plunged directly into the demon horde. The high-energy blades cut through the mosaic-like world of the demons. Each Melira landed and immediately found her target. Without speaking, without even exchanging glances, they moved in groups of three, like dancers in a beautiful waltz. Wherever the light reached, a path was cut open.
Little Blue lightly stepped forward and glanced sideways at Felix with a sweet smile. Her body gradually grew larger, while a soft blue radiance spread across the sky, creating the illusion that everything had sunk beneath the sea.
No, perhaps it was not an illusion at all.
From beneath the feet of Felix and Little Blue, countless sea creatures surged upward, swimming calmly through the air. More and more of them gathered until they blocked out the light of the sky itself.
The azure sea swept across the mosaic world. Endless cracking sounds rang out, as if heaven and earth were shattering from the impact. At last, the breath of the deep-sea dragon tore the mosaic world apart completely, and the deep-sea tide came crashing in. Dragons, whales, jellyfish, and countless other abyssal creatures found their targets and plunged downward.
"It is time for me to move as well."
Felix handed his gloves to Theresa, who stood beside him, and loosened his collar. "The breach has been opened. As long as we destroy the central collapse mass, we should be able to push forward several hundred kilometers this time."
"Yes... you'll bring us another victory, won't you?"
"That's right."
Felix smiled as a strand of blue flame climbed across his cheek. He turned slightly and gently brushed Theresa's face with the hand that was gradually being covered in fire, until her cheeks flushed faintly.
"My existence is for victory."
Flames wrapped around him, forming indestructible armor as Felix strode forward. Ifrit, the Diablo, materialized beside him, its long claws scraping across the ground. A violent explosion sent by Ifrit at the front line soaring into the air, their mouths overflowing with searing energy as they mercilessly poured it onto the collapsed zones below.
Felix gripped his sword and, like a blue-gold meteor, crashed straight into the mosaic-like world. With a sharp, chilling crack, like glass shattering, the world abruptly opened before his eyes.
There was no sun, no twin moons, no sky, no terra, nothing at all.
This was a world of void.
The demons seemed to have gained the ability to fly and lunged toward him. In the distance, the collapse mass was filled with black emptiness, as if it could swallow him whole at any moment.
Felix's expression did not change. This was not the first time he had fought within a void space. Flying here did not rely on wings, but on the force of one's own existence.
The demons sought to reduce everything to nothingness, but Felix's existence itself shone too brightly, clashing head-on with that void. To the demons, his very being was something that had to be erased, because he was the only star burning in the endless dark.
Dozens of sword lights swept across the sky, severing hundreds, then thousands, of demons and reducing them to nothing. Yet in the very next moment, even more demons rushed forward.
A war of attrition?
Meaningless.
Golden light ignited in Felix's eyes, and golden-blue flames completely filled the space around him.
The demons shrieked and roared, baring their fangs as their claws swarmed toward him like a cloud of maddening insects.
They came endlessly, and though their fate was only to die by Felix's hand, they still slowed his advance.
Then, in the next instant, a deep violet art shot upward from below, tearing a massive gap straight through the demon horde.
For the first time, something resembling architecture appeared within this empty void.
That was...
the Spire Tower of Leithanien from the previous era.
A bearded Caprinae man slowly rose from his throne. "I have come to help you. I will open a path for you."
"Alright. Though I didn't expect to see you here."
"Hehe. My old friend has received your care."
"As he should."
"The road ahead for my descendants may become smoother. Though I never wished for them to live ordinary lives, on second thought, perhaps that is already a good ending for all of Terra."
"Then thank you for your help, Witch King."
"Hehe. You made very good use of the weapon I once obtained."
Before Felix's eyes appeared a stirring and chilling musical score. The melody transformed into symbols, and in the next instant those symbols became a black tide that devoured the demons.
"The symphony has only just begun."