Allen's party and the generals from all troops stood on Heavy User Island, the thousands of soldiers in front of them. He was finishing their preparations there.
"General Lud, are the troops working together properly?"
"Yes, we've also trained together with Beast King Zew's army."
Allen asked for an update from Lud.
Since Shea had stopped pursuing the crown, some in Alabahar were wondering what would happen next, some believing she should still return and forming factions.
But now most of that unrest had been dispelled, and Allen had a friendly relationship with Zew's side. That led to Allen's Army and Zew's men training together while Allen went to the gates.
At the same time, the 2000 beastmen in Allen's Army went from 2 Star Talents to 3 Star ones.
Shea's troops had started as her bodyguards, and most started with 1 Star Talents.
Talent Changes gave them 2 Star Talents, but now they were switched over for soldiers born with 2 Star Talents, who gained 3 with Talent Changes.
Shea had no issue with Allen's decision to make that switch.
Dogora and Shea were taking part in the next fight as well, and they listened to Allen silently.
"..."
Those men had been with her since she started hunting the Evil Cult, but Allen had replaced them, not getting carried by sentimentality but to strengthen the army.
The difference in Talent Stars was enormous, which was necessary for a war.
It also made the relationship with Zew better, so Allen felt it was the ideal choice.
Seeing that things were going smoothly, Allen gave more orders to Lud and Rath, then went to talk with a different group in his army, the 1000 that came with Ryback.
"It won't be long before the war starts. Does that work for you?"
"Yes, everyone is ready. The frontlines are where we belong."
Ryback had plenty of time to prepare so he was itching to go, raising his new orichalcum shield.
"I make it a point to have all generals equipped with orichalcum. Make sure all of your men also have the right type of equipment too."
All generals had orichalcum weapons, Zenov too even though he was a rank lower.
The men that came with Ryback also received adamantite and hihiirokane weapons.
500 of them used shields, so Endurance was an important stat as they stood in the frontlines.
Allen had plenty of equipment that raised Endurance, like rings that increased it by 5000, or necklaces by 3000. So far he had little need for them, so he gave them to the shield users.
[Allen's Army rough member count]
-2000 Beastmen
-2000 Elves
-1000 Dark elves
-200 Dwarves (half golem pilots, half magic engineers)
-2000 Mermen
-1000 Humans
'Everything's ready here too.'
A report came from Merus.
'Galara's Army is also ready. Heehee.'
A Wraith A summon also brought a message.
Merus was in front of the Hero's Army and Galara's Army.
They had asked to be part of the mission as well, and Allen let them in.
(I wonder how the bases I left are doing.)
He had tried using Insect A summons to destroy the ten or so forts he discovered in the Central Continent, but Basque and other Demon Great Generals had stopped that.
"Kurena, Haku, you'll fight Megadeth when we're done."
"Mhm, we'll do our best."
'Gyau!!'
They had multiple goals, one was to bring Kurena and Haku's Levels to their max.
There had to be Demon Generals in the bases after all.
Once that was done, they would fight Megadeth.
Another was to take the initiative for once, since the Demon King's Army had been laying low for half a year now, and they were likely planning something soon.
[Reasons to attack the Demon King's Army]
-Leveling up Kurena, Haku, Allen, and Shea
-Crippling the Demon King's Army by destroying their bases
-Obtaining more Talent Change Points
(This really brings back memories of destroying goblin or orc villages. I'll make sure to get at least 10 Demon Generals.)
Allen's Army would move on the center while the Hero's Army and Galara's Army would move on the sides in an arc. Everyone that was in the S Rank Dungeon was called out to take part.
"So it's finally time for us to counterattack."
(She's looking a bit more grown up now.)
Cecile had turned 16 and looked more mature. She had lost her older brother as a child.
"Yeah, so don't hold back. That goes for you too, Dogora."
"Of course."
Dogora replied now. Everyone in Allen's party was also taking part.
"Stay sharp, everyone! We'll depart shortly, after that enter formation and charge ahead!!"
"Yeahhh!!"
"Anyone who stops us is an enemy! Mow them all down!!"
"Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"
The thousands of soldiers shouted loudly hearing Allen.
"Let's go then!"
With that, Allen took everyone out from Heavy User Island.
Merus also took the other two armies to their designated locations.
The Demon King's Army stronghold was a kilometer away, but they could see it clearly.
All three armies moved forward, encircling it.
The stronghold was an enormous castle, almost like a hill many kilometers tall.
From afar it looked like an anthill, surrounded by many monsters.
There were around ten similar strongholds in the north of the Central Continent.
But they would not simply march into it.
"Alright, lit it up."
Allen's party was acting on their own, separate from the army.
They were currently high up above the stronghold, watching monsters coming in and out.
"It looks pretty sturdy."
Cecile stared down. The stronghold looked like an anthill made of bedrock.
The monsters around it were around 4 meters long.
Seeing that reminded Allen of the armored ants he fought as a servant.
"I feel like we need to get rid of the outer walls before anything works. Come out Mogusuke."
(I'll crack it open.)
'So it's my time to shine, Master Allen. I'll get diggin'.'
The Beast G summon, which looked like a mole, had gained the ability to speak with [Growth].
"I'll drop you from up here, so try to smash the highest area of the stronghold."
"Understood."
(Now go and do some good work. I used a Sacred Bead Point on you after all.)
Allen took one last look at the summons' stats and dropped it right above the stronghold.
It fell silently, heading straight for the tip of the stronghold.
[Species] Beast
[Rank] G
[Growth] S
[Name] Mogusuke
[Strength] 30000
[Mana] 20000
[Attack] 30000
[Endurance] 24000
[Agility] 28000
[Intelligence] 22000
[Luck] 25000
[Blessings] Strength 200 + 200, Attack 200 + 200
[Special Skill] Dig a hole
[Awakened Skill] Live in a hole
The moment the summon hit the stronghold, its front claws began tearing the walls apart.
The stronghold was built to resist long range attacks, but the summon dug a hole 10 meters deep, tearing the roof apart.
The nearby monsters noticed the cracking sound and gathered around it.
But the summon kept burrowing deeper, so the monsters also tore the walls apart to follow.
"Cecile, everything is ready now.."
Makris' Awakened Skill [Royal Aura] was already applied to make Cecile's power stronger.
"Small Meteor!!"
A giant fireball appeared and fell onto the opening on the stronghold.
There was a loud crashing sound as the monsters and building were crushed under it.
More monsters came out from inside to see what was going on, while the monsters outside took formation, realizing they were under attack. The incoming armies were also visible now.
Some monsters went up the stronghold, while others got ready to fight the armies.
Some monsters also could fly, so Cecile, Sophie, and Formar's long range attack took them down one after another..
"There's more flying monsters than I thought!! Kurena, Merle, you help out too."
"Got it."
"Alright, let's go Tam-Tam!!"
'Gyau! Leave it to me Mama!!'
Allen wanted to take out all the flying monsters.
At the same time the armies and the monsters on the ground clashed.
The soldiers all had far better equipment and Talents, so the monsters could not do anything.
Then a 100 meter tall giant with one eye came out of the stronghold, wielding a large axe.
That had to be an S Rank monster.
Ryback's men held their shields ready to defend the army, feeling no fear.
"We'll go forward, don't break formation!"
"Yessir!!"
Ryback's men gave an energetic response. They knew that a direct hit of the one eyed giant's axe could kill hundreds of men.
Ryback raised his orichalcum shield and shouted.
"We are here to protect our country! Knights of Bronze!!"
A round wall of light appeared on his shield.
'Hegha?!'
The axe's impact was absorbed and the shot back at the monster, Ryback's Extra Skill [Knights of Bronze] shattering it into a rain of blood.
"Charge on! Don't leave a single one alive!!"
Ryback's commanding voice thundered.
The monsters had not lost their morale seeing the giant be defeated.
They just continued trying to attack the armies, so Zenov also moved forward.
"Right, our fight still hasn't ended. Aura Blade!!"
Zenov's Extra Skill spread 100 meters ahead, crushing all the monsters there.
Hundreds of monsters fell with that hit.
The rest of Allen's Army followed up.
"Alright, the army is doing well."
Allen looked down, the held his hands out and summoned an Insect and Beast H on his palms, which looked like a grasshopper and a mouse.
"It's finally your time, Denka and Churosuke."
Allen's fight to crush the stronghold continued.
