As Aldred and his crew prepared for the voyage, the Celestial Platoon, led by Vortimer, geared up for the cosmic journey that lay ahead. The Stellar Seraph, Aldred's flagship, stood ready, its sleek form gleaming with cosmic energy. The celestial armada assembled around the flagship, a formidable force that mirrored the brilliance of distant stars.
Shuzib, the strategist, finalized the documentation of Aldred's knowledge from Ascendria. The holographic device hummed with cosmic resonance as it secured the intricate details of the cosmic insights.
Aldred gathered his allies in the command center of the Stellar Seraph, the heart of their cosmic expedition. Holographic displays illuminated the room, showcasing celestial maps, strategic plans, and the cosmic tapestry of the universe.
Salamander's holographic form shimmered as he responded, "Acknowledged, Aldred. Initiating the sequence for the transition. All systems are go."
The celestial armada, assembled around the Stellar Seraph, hummed with cosmic energy, ready to traverse the ethereal boundaries that separated Ascendria from the known universe.
Shuzib input the coordinates, aligning the ship's trajectory with the cosmic currents that would lead them out of the Veil of Shadows. The holographic displays flickered, projecting the shifting energies of the interdimensional space.
"Is everything ready?" Aldred asked this question towards Vortimer and Zarael.
However, Zarael was a bit in doubt.
"Do you have something to say?" Aldred asked.
"No. It's just. I have been in the Veil for decades. It's weird to suddenly leave it."
"Don't you seek power as well? You were defeated in real-space when trying to gain a throne. After that loss, you were forced to flee to the Veil to lose your enemies. You swore to act vengeance, but after decades staying in the safety of the Nexus Rings you built, you slowly lose your fangs."
Zarael's eyes widened. How did Aldred describe her situation so perfectly?
"Don't think too much about it. This is your chance to defeat your enemies. With my help, you will get a throne for yourself."
'That's right,' Zarael thought to herself. 'Aldred is extremely powerful right now. If he helped her, she could defeat her nemesis.'
"So will you join?"
Zarael closed her eyes for a second before she looked at Aldred in the eye. "Please bring me in."
Smiling, Aldred patted her shoulder. "I was always known to be generous towards my subordinate. You will have enough power and wealth that you would never ask for more."
That was the truth. Aldred had always gave his subordinate whatever they wanted. So much so that they never complained about anything. All of his subordinates had always followed him without question.
And he never had someone betrayed him.
That was because Aldred always knew what people want. With his godly eyes, there were no ambition left hidden.
As the transition sequence initiated, the Veil of Shadows began to ripple and undulate. The celestial armada followed the Stellar Seraph, its sleek form slicing through the fabric of the inter dimensional realm. The transition was a delicate dance, navigating the cosmic currents with precision to avoid disruptions in the fabric of reality.
Aldred monitored the process, his gaze focused on the holographic projections that displayed the fluctuations of cosmic energies. The celestial maps illuminated with pathways leading to the gateway between Ascendria and real-space.
Vortimer approached him. "This process have a 70% chance of failure. If it fail, we will all be ripped apart."
Aldred smiled again. "Don't worry. Luck is on our side."
The transition reached its climax, and the Stellar Seraph burst forth from the Veil of Shadows into the familiar expanse of the tangible universe.
The crew exhaled collectively, the cosmic energies settling as they found themselves surrounded by the stars and galaxies of real-space.
"We've made it," Aldred declared, a sense of accomplishment radiating through his voice.
The celestial armada followed suit, emerging from the Veil of Shadows like a constellation of cosmic entities returning from an otherworldly journey. The brilliance of distant stars embraced them, and the vastness of the universe stretched out before the fleet.
Aldred immediately gave order: "Mapped this entire region. I want to know who and where everything are."
The command center buzzed with activity as the scanning systems came online.
Shuzib monitored the data streaming in, analyzing the signatures of various celestial entities and cosmic forces.
"We're detecting multiple energy signatures, Aldred," Shuzib reported.
Aldred nodded, absorbing the information. "Identify the factions and forces in the vicinity. We need to know who we can count on as allies and who may pose a threat."
The holographic displays shifted, showcasing a dynamic map that highlighted the locations of different cosmic entities. Shuzib manipulated the interface with precision, refining the data to provide detailed insights into the galactic landscape.
Vortimer, ever vigilant, leaned over Shuzib's shoulder. "Any signs of Lord Malgorth's forces?"
Aldred turned to Zarael. "Your enemies, do you see any of their signatures?"
Zarael, now focused and determined, analyzed the holographic map. "Yes, Aldred. They are scattered across different star systems. If we act swiftly, we can neutralize them and eliminate the threats to our plan."
"Okay, tell me who are they and what is the region they ruled called?"
Zarael took a moment to study the holographic map, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "The faction that I seek vengeance upon is known as the Tribe of Ghost. They control a region of space known as the Xantis Expanse. It's a dark and treacherous sector filled with hidden dangers and ancient cosmic anomalies."
Zarael continued, her voice steady and filled with conviction. "The Tribe Of Ghost is led by High Lord Varian, a cunning and ruthless cosmic tactician. He wields dark energies and commands legions of shadowy warriors. Their main stronghold is the Obsidian Spire, a fortress hidden within a planet without star, protected by powerful cloaking mechanisms."
Shuzib, the strategist, began analyzing the information. "If we gather intel on their cloaking technology and study the patterns of their cosmic patrols, we might find a weakness. Additionally, we could exploit the anomalies within the Xantis Expanse to create diversions and confusion."
"That's too complicated," Aldred said. "An enemy like them doesn't need sophisticated plan. We will make this simple."
"What is your plan?"
Aldred became excited. He had long been missing the feeling of becoming a general of a massive army. With millions under his command, he used to overruns cities and entire country with a single bark from his mouth.
The feeling of power seeped into his soul.
"We will use numbers," Aldred said.
Zarael frowned. "Although they army might be weaker than us, they have cunning ways to defeat us if we simply confront them without any strategy. Their expanse has many cosmic anomalies that could decimate massive armies without any effort. We will soon deplete our soldiers before we can even reach their front door."
"Who said it will be our soldiers?
Zarael was slightly surprised. "Then who is going to attack them?"
"I heard there are billions of people who wants to be mercenaries. I am a wealthy and generous man. Why don't we realize their dream."
Salamander and the crew were a little shocked to hear that.
"Aldred, are you planning to sacrifice billions for this plan?
"Who said I want to sacrifice them?" Aldred glanced at him.
"Then what do you plan to do with them?"
Aldred simply grinned at him.
…
The planet in the Xantis Expanse bustled with activity as people from various corners of the galaxy gathered in front of the Galactic Mercenary office.
The line stretched far and wide, comprised of individuals eager to register with a mysterious new group known as the Celestial Platoon.
The news had spread like wildfire, fueled by whispers of incredible wealth, cosmic adventures, and the promise of confronting the dreaded Demons that had haunted the galaxy for millenniums.
Many families, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers were killed by the demons. This hatred went deep inside the heart of humanity that anyone would have the thought of personally killing a demon themselves.
The Celestial Platoon had declared its main purpose as exterminating the demons that haunted the Xantis Expanse and bringing peace to the vast expanse of human regions.
This set their heart ablaze and wanted to join.
It was rare for a group to hire a large numbers of mercenary at once, however, if a large group with big investors suddenly appeared, it would happen from time to time.
A coalition of companies or even nobles would sometimes create a company with their own mercenary forces to protect their assets and such.
They didn't really know where the Celestial Platoon came from, but it said to be looking for billions of mercenary. So many people from every region entered the Xantis Expanse.
The ones who ruled Xantis naturally won't deny this entry. The Tribe of Ghost needed a lot of money to run their region, the influx of people coming in would be good for the economy.
Actually, they were a bit surprised that a large group decide to recruit their mercenary in this place. The region was actually quite difficult to enter, so their economy were worst than their neighbors.
Still, this surprise was very much welcomed as the amount of ships coming in would make them rich either from tax or the amount of people that came here to buy things for their needs.
In one of the untold billions of people, there was a man named Francus Hendry.
He was just a simple soldier that was fired from his last job because all of his teammates died except him. He had been looking for a job for a while now.
When he heard someone was recruiting not thousands, not millions, but billions, he immediately used all of his savings to come here.
"I hope it's not a scam like last time."
