The game had shifted as the four super-nations expanded aggressively towards the center of the Serevian Dungeon. The smaller nations had been drowned out of the competition as they sat tight struggling hard to maintain their territory. The four super-nations continued funneling more Martial Apprentices and other resources into the Serevian Dungeon as the tension between the nations began escalating.
The amount of territory left for grabs was decreasing every day.
The Kandrian Empire welcomed a new influx of Martial Apprentices in response to the growing potential for larger scale conflict.
"Kane, Fae, Nel!" Rui's eyes lit up in elation. "You guys are here already."
The three of them had informed Rui prior that they would be accepting the Serevian Dungeon mission. They were previously tied up with other missions, but quickly made haste for the Serevian Dungeon when they completed their prior engagements.
"Just in time too!" Nel grinned.
"I happened to hear things were spicing up in the Serevian Dungeon." Fae offered. "Now is the most crucial phase of the mission."
"Can't let you have all the fun." Kane smirked.
The four of them didn't even catch any respite as their accounters received notifications for the very next mission.
"A new assault mission..." Rui murmured. "And the target is the Sekigahara Confederate. Wow."
This was the first time the Kandrian Empire had ordered an assault on one of the three other super nations. Rui glanced at his friends; it wasn't a coincidence that the Kandrian Empire had chosen to attack its competitors head-on, the last surge of Martial Apprentices was likely chosen for the sake of gathering enough Martial Artist assets that would be required to launch a viable attack on one of the super-nations.
The defense measures that the other three super nations had enacted weren't nearly as paltry as those of the smaller nations. From higher-grade technological measures to more powerful defensive Martial Artists. Successfully assaulting the territories of the super nations was no small joke.
"You guys got the notification too?" Rui asked as they all checked their accounters.
"Yep, seems that way." Kane affirmed.
All of them were part of the offensive squad. Fae was naturally a given, being an offensive striking Martial Artist. Kane would also do better in an offensive setting thanks to his stealth.
Nel was neutral in so far as his affinity went, but his temperament was suited towards assault.
Rui read through the information detailed with greater scrutiny. The assault mission was scheduled in six hours. The territory they were supposed to siege was actually remarkably close to the Kandrian Empire. The reason for this was because the distance between the territories was no longer as large as it used to be due to the continuous expansion of the super nations in the Serevian Dungeon.
Suddenly, their accounters buzzed once more as they received a summon to the Martial Union branch office in the Serevian Dungeon territory.
"Figured." Rui had anticipated it.
This was standard practice. The commissioner would take the liberty of breaking down the operation in more detail and addressing any concerns that the Martial Artists may have. Normal missions that featured a single Martial Artist or a single party didn't normally require the commissioner to breakdown the mission in such a fashion, but high-grade missions such as this that required a large number of exceptionally powerful Martial Artists required this additional step.
Soon the Martial Apprentices gathered at the Martial Union's office.
"Apprentices." Commissioner Feristen addressed them. "I'm sure all of you have realized the significance of this mission. This will be the first conflict that the Kandrian Empire will be having with the Sekigahara Confederate. The mission objective, as always, is to inflict enough damage to their territory, assets and Martial Artists. However, this time, there are several things that will be different."
He paused, before fiddling with a device that projected an image onto a screen.
"The Kandrian Royal Army will be partaking in this assault mission as well. The Sekigahara Confederate's defensive measures will be extremely difficult to overcome. The fortified wall protecting their territory is a meter thick wall made up of tempered Ferendil Iron, an esoteric substance which is capable of withstanding a lot more punishment in the Apprentice Realm. Based on reports from the Kandrian Intelligence agency and the intelligence department of the Martial Union, the Sekigahara Confederate has gathered more than a hundred powerful high-grade Martial Apprentices."
Commissioner Feristen paused, letting the number sit. "A half-hearted attack will simply be crushed by the sheer defensive fortress they have created. Thus, you will the Kandrian Royal Army will be aiding this assault mission. The Kandrian Army will be deploying thirty Falcon-class siege tanks that will be aiding you in the assault of the fortress walls. However, the most important matter to be discussed is the Sekigahara Confederate's response."
He projected another image onto the screen.
"Unlike the Kingdom of Nochus, State of Hreefal, and the Republic of Jerefin, the Sekigahara Confederate's surveillance capabilities are quite impressive. With the former nations, they become aware of an impending attack far too late, due to inferior surveillance technology as well as lesser number of Martial Artists with sensory techniques. However, the same cannot be said for any of the four super nations in the Serevian Dungeon. Just as we have elaborate surveillance and reconnaissance measures that would allow us to almost immediately realize the existence of an impending attack the second any of the other three nations make large moves, the same can be said for them."
He paused, before continuing. "It is highly likely that the other three nations have already obtained intelligence on the high influx Martial Apprentices that our base has welcomes very recently. It is inevitable that they will detect the attack the second our assault team leaves our base and they will likely have prepared well in advance. The strategic and intelligence departments of the Serevian Dungeon team have evaluated the measures and strategies that the Sekigahara Confederate may enact, and I will be presenting them to all of you."
