"We're finally returning home!" Millie spoke in relief upon observing the spacecraft come within the range of the 24 Rings, their world, "I was fed up with that oily world."
"Staying in the Gunmetal Gold World for a month proved more beneficial than I had thought." Vahor muttered in shock, finally uttering in realisation as he clenched his hand into a fist, "I'm already at the cusp of attaining S-Class status."
"Based on the current standard of measurement, yes." Millie nodded, "But if we were to grade based on the assessment standards from two months ago, we'll already be in S-Class. After all, killing a Three Star Invader is something only an S-Class Hero could do."
Dozens of districts in the Gunmetal Gold World had already been brought under the control of the 24 Rings thanks to the fervent efforts of Platinum Head and group.
Following that, the Hero Association began to send all its Heroes on a training spree to the Gunmetal Gold World where they fought against strong Invaders and rapidly grew in strength.
The essence present within the Invaders was absorbed by the Heroes and digested by their powers to strengthen them rapidly in response.
Those that once struggled to even face a Two Star Invader were able to fight a Three Star Invader by the end of a month's training in the Gunmetal Gold World.
Moreover, the S-Class Hunters and those from the Ranger Troupe had already begun fighting against the Four Star Invaders.
In the meantime, the three Concept Representatives--Hero, Villain, and Citizen--overseeing the functions of the 24 Rings allowed the Invaders surrounding their world to infiltrate at select locations.
The dragon plushies already directed the Heroes and even Villains to such locations to rapidly dispose of the Invaders. Those that had retired from action, from both as Heroes and Villains began to appear more and more frequently.
And as they killed the Invaders and devoured their essence, their bodies recovered lost strength. Their vitality increased, gradually bringing them to their prime before causing their strength to improve further.
At present, from the information the dragon plushie had collected in the Gunmetal Gold World, Platinum Head had signalled their retreat, causing everyone training there to climb aboard the spacecraft and return home.
Their preparation time was up as the Invaders had become ready to invade the 24 Rings.
"Finally!" Millie burst out of the spacecraft as she breathed in the fresh air of her world.
"We'll escort you to your quarters, Hero Millie." One of the Hero Association staff said and guided her to an apartment nearby. She couldn't return to the City-State of Nampur yet, for there was a war to be fought next.
The power of the entire 24 Rings was concentrated at the Hero Association Headquarters.
After Millie and her group alighted, the spacecraft took off for another trip. It was the sole vehicle capable of cross-universe travel in their possession. So, it had to make multiple trips to bring back everyone.
Two days passed in such a fashion as the spacecraft arrived for the final time. As part of the last batch, Platinum Head exited and sighed in exhaustion while asking Lion's Share, "How are the preparations?"
"We're ready. But," Lion's Share said in doubt as he stared at the lady standing next to them from the start, acting no different to a statue, "Is it fine to leave most of the responsibility to her? She looks younger than my daughter."
"Don't be fooled by her appearance." Platinum Head said, "She's older than us."
He approached the lady and saluted, "Lady Gehera, our side is ready."
Gehera didn't reply and instead stared at the sky, her expression blank. Though, her mind was processing trillions of information every moment, making calculations as suddenly, she spoke, "It's time."
"The enemy's here."
"W-Where?" Lion's Share looked around in fluster but was unable to notice anything different.
Gehera's hair spiked as a murderous torrent of energy gushed out of her; she unleashed the item that she had prepared with Compass Carburettor.
The item was shaped like a serpent that coiled around her hand. It slithered out and then vanished.
All of a sudden, an incomparably massive existence manifested, one that swallowed their universe itself before coiling up like a snail.
The 24 Rings world became a tiny dot that moved down the serpent's body before stopping at the tip of the tail. As for its mouth, it curled open, becoming the sole entrance into the universe.
A total of 168 worlds, those that originally should have appeared within their universe now landed within the serpent's open mouth. And soon after, the mouth closed, leaving no way out.
The only way to exit it was to travel through the serpent's body and destroy the tiny gem embedded in its tail. This gem was the world of 24 Rings.
"So, this is their ultimate plan, huh." The Invader System muttered after landing within the serpent's mouth, watching the 168 worlds transform into gems embedded into its tongue.
Each gem was just a metre in diameter while the width of the serpent's body was only 1000 kilometres.
Portals manifested before each gem, creating a gateway into the respective worlds. The horde of armies rushed out of the portals in a torrent of unending stream.
At the forefront stood the Invader System, sporting a humanoid body that was just a bit taller than two metres.
A world as an individual, and an individual as a Host. This was the gift it received from Arnark.
Originally, it would have used the 168 worlds to invade the 24 Rings from all directions to cause absolute mayhem. But now, thanks to the serpent, the three-dimensional battle had been reduced to a two-dimensional battle.
The armies would have to travel all the way to the tip of the serpent's tail where the army of the 24 Rings would have gathered and engage in a medieval battle.
But, one world against 168 worlds, the difference was obvious.
Gehera was the first to walk out of the portal connecting to the 24 Rings, turning around to stare at the pearl that was a metre in diameter. This was actually the 24 Rings world. If it was destroyed, the world would collapse too.
'The advantages and disadvantages of this setup are pretty clear. But, it's better than passively defending against the Invader System's expertise. We would be defeated in that case.' Thinking as such, Gehera raised her hand for a solemn pledge as Heroes and Villains alike rallied behind her, "We'll emerge victorious."
"For the Genesis Hero!"
