A few days later...
The tribes of the Earthen Woods advanced their forces. Second Head already made preparation with this, he already set up a defensive barricade and protective array to repel the army of the enemy.
A battle started in the vicinity of Enruet City. Alice even sent two hundred experts to participate in the war. These experts were all B-rank and above. She just hoped that they could advance their level through this war.
The enemy had ten thousand experts. Hundreds of them were lower level warriors below B-rank. Even so, they still had an absolute advantage in numbers compared to the Dragon Council which could only send three thousand people. Luckily, Second Head was prepared as he set up various arrays that could help his people in the fight in the war.
He also brought out a large stock of his mana potions and health potions to increase their strength.
In this war, Alice sent Isabella and the Noxious Corps to the frontline. She had no choice. The other forces of the Astros haven't returned yet from their expedition. Also, Elder Guan, Yuko, Yenxa, and the rest were still in White Wheat City guarding it in case someone attack them.
On the fifth day of the war, Alice sent the experts of the Shimpan Family to the frontline as the Shackled Realm experts of the enemy started to appear. Edward, the family head was a One Shackle Realm, so it was enough. The other forces of the Nine Heads also send their One Shackle Realm experts to participate in the war.
Total destruction occurred in that place with the presence of Shackled Realm experts. Thousands of refugees went to various cities seeking food and home. The battle killed a lot of innocent people. Even the small town and villages weren't spared at all. The tribes from the Earthen Woods burned everything in their paths. They spared no one.
The other cities locked their gates off while the Dragon Council was fighting the tribes. In fact, this was what they wanted. They wanted the Dragon Council and the tribes to exhaust each other and then they would be the ones to rip the benefits.
On the sixth day, Doranjan and the Feral Corps returned from their expedition.
Alice was slightly stunned when she saw Doranjan. The aura around Doranjan's body was much more fierce and powerful than last time.
"Intermediate fourth stage..." Alice muttered.
This was good. Even if Doranjan failed his task, it doesn't matter since he enhanced his strength to a higher level. This was already a great improvement for Astros. Now they just needed to increase the number of their Shackled Realm experts.
"It's considered complete..." Doranjan said.
"Considered? Why?" Alice asked.
"The Devouring Alligator is an intermediate four stage so I couldn't force her but she said that she will visit our place soon to see the lord," Doranjan explained.
"Hmm... So the alligator wouldn't follow someone close to its power level." Alice rubbed her chin.
"I think that it will have no problem." Doranjan looked at the depths of the Astros. The lingering aura of the fifth stage monster made him shiver. "Once she felt this aura, she will never be able to return even if she wanted it."
"A fifth stage suppression, huh?" Alice also looked in the direction where Kessa was sleeping. It would be good if she could recover her strength.
"Yeah, we monsters couldn't ever oppose someone at fifth stage. That power is restricting our bodies." Doranjan said in a low voice.
"Then, the Devouring Alligator will belong to Astros... No, precisely became a follower of the hydra." Alice muttered.
She shook her head and said, "Tell the Red Dragon to prepare. I'll send some of the monsters to help our forces on the frontline. It would be better if they could also improve or evolve."
"I understand..." Doranjan nodded and looked around. He asked, "Souta hasn't returned yet?"
"Yeah, I don't even know where he is or what he is doing right now. The other warriors of Athen's Champion wanted to meet him." Alice said with a sigh.
After that, Doranjan let the Red Dragon prepare for another battle. The Red Dragon would bring hundred monsters as reinforcement. The Great Lightning Jaguar would also come. Two third stage monsters would be a great help in the frontline. They just had to avoid Shackled Realm experts and they would be fine.
"Now, I'm waiting for the response of the Dragon Council." Alice closed her eyes.
Bland City...
In a deep underground area. The whole place was dark and the atmosphere was cold. There was a huge jade door emitting a very powerful energy. It was beyond the normal scale.
The small door beneath it opened and several figures walked out of it. They were the Heads of the Dragon Council, the Nine Heads.
The energy they were exuding this time was several times more powerful than before. The increase in their strength wasn't small. If their strength was like that of a child before then now they have the strength of an adult. The gap was simply large.
"I didn't expect that something like that is hidden in our region." Ninth Head said.
"Me too... So this is the remnant of the previous era of Hall Plains." Fourth Head nodded at her words.
"Sadly, there's not much left..." Ninth Head's shoulder dropped in disappointment.
"But we could still use this area for training. It's similar to the training area of those large countries. The density of mana here is higher than normal." Third Head said.
"Yeah, with a little bit of external help, we would be able to increase our power level. So we just needed to train our combat arts or improve our understanding of spells." Fifth Head nodded.
Ninth Head glanced at Governor Ray and asked, "What about Second Head and Seventh Head?"
"Second Head should be tired after we left everything to him. We'll call him back so that he could also improve his strength." Governor Ray paused for a moment before he continued, "We haven't contacted Seventh Head for a while. He's not even in his territory."
"If I'm not wrong, in the last meeting he said that he will investigate the attackers. He did find the attackers in White Line City but he said the main culprit is something else." Third Head said. She was the one who help fight the Wingless Crow in the White Line City.
"So he is still investigating. He sure is persistent. I will contact his second-in-command. I will ask her to contact Seventh Head as this is an important matter." Governor Ray said.
Governor Ray and the rest returned to the City Hall. It's been a week since they went to the underground place. When they heard about the report about what happened while they were away they were shaken.
What?!
A war happened just like that and the enemy this time was a unified force of the Earthen Woods. But how? So someone has the power to unify those aggressive tribes. It seems impossible but it already happened so they could only believe it.
The total power of the tribes of the Earthen Woods was stronger than the military might of the entire Mine Valley. Although they were shocked, they quickly recovered their composure. They've also grown stronger in the past week.
"We need to call Second Head here." Governor Ray said. Then, he looked at the other Heads and asked, "Who wanted to replace Second Head's position?"
Eight Head raised his head. "Me? I wanted to test my new strength. Oh, don't worry, I will not actively join the battle. I will only watch first to see if there's someone on my level there."
"Okay, you can prepare to depart now. It's better if we move faster before the enemy could react." Governor Ray narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Jovi. "Fourth Head, can you go to?"
"Why?" Fourth Head asked.
"You and Eight Head will go there. Forget what I said before, this time we can catch the enemy off guard. Both of you can go all out." Governor Ray said decisively.
"I like this plan more." Eight Head grinned.
"It's better if Fourth Head hid in the shadows first. Eight Head will become a spearhead that will attack the enemy head-on. You shouldn't reveal yourself unless the situation calls for it." Third Head suddenly said.
"Okay, I don't have a problem with it." Fourth Head nodded.
"Good. You can prepare to depart now." Governor Ray nodded at them. "I will send a message to Ekatoe City. I want to know if they could call Seventh Head."
"I will handle that. I will send my people." Third Head said.
"Thanks." Governor Ray said.
"What about the cities that refuse to fight the enemies? They aren't part of the Dragon Council so they will step back and watch! Did they think that those savage tribes will not attack them?!" Ninth Head complained.
"They are just people that only move for personal benefits. They don't care what happened to other people." Governor Ray said in a serious tone.
