The dark maroon earth spanned for as far as the eye could see and even further. Countless millions of miles of space were filled with silence for so many years, however, today that silence was broken.
There were two battlefields currently in the Blood-Drenched Wilderness. Both of these battlefields were equally ferocious, but there were vast differences between them.
The first battlefield was filled with only mindless Lesser Nox and 3rd-class soldiers. These millions upon millions of forces clashed without any rhyme or reason, purely fighting until one side completely exterminated the other.
The second battlefield was far more tactical. All 4th class and above soldiers were stationed here, and together, they followed the commands of their superiors to wage war in a far more standardized manner.
"Squads 1-10, charge from the front! Squads 11-50, circle to the sides and limit their movement! Never lose our momentum!"
Commands were transferred down the line from the very top of the army. These commands were executed as perfectly as possible, all squads aiming for complete victory.
The 50 different troops of foot soldiers did as they were ordered, rushing forward to clash with the Nox. The booming sounds of explosions filled the air as the two sides collided.
However, these foot soldiers weren't meant to cause damage. Rather, they were a distraction, a deterrence, and a defense. With their thick lines holding back and caging the Nox, it was hard for the enemy army to move as they pleased, even with the vast flat land they occupied.
"Calvary squads, move now!"
Countless beasts rose into the air. These beasts carried all cavalry units besides the Roaring Dragon Unit.
As their fierce roads filled the sky, the battlefield immediately became more chaotic:
The striking power of a 4th class soldier wasn't to be underestimated. Even the weakest of them could affect land on a continental scale.
When they were placed in such a small close quarters battle like this, they weren't able to show their whole power without harming or interfering with those around them:
This was the main caveat of power from an organized power's perspective. The stronger one was, the less they'd cooperate with others, as their personal power began to resemble an army alone.
However, just as there were problems, there were solutions.
Thousands of 4th-class Nox attacked the lines of foot soldiers before them, showering them with terrible attacks of blackness and corrosion, but of these attacks, not many made it through the defense.
"Hold steady!"
This roar condensed the thoughts and feelings of these frontline troops into two words. Their mana combined into one to create an impregnable fortress…
…at least, for a period of time.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BANG! BANG!
When the cavalry units appeared on the battlefield, the foot soldiers immediately retreated. In the next moment, the trembling and shaking of space became severe enough that it could be seen with the naked eye.
The fierce aerial bombardment caused a strict separation between the Nox and Heaven's Army, and at the same time, it drew the first blood in this battle.
"Ack!" A Nox cried out in pain as his chest was pierced by a red beam of light. Before he could even melt and rebirth, he was struck again and completely evaporated.
"Roaring Dragon Cavalry, on me!"
Ezio's shout rang through the ears of his squad members. It was finally their time to move.
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!
Suddenly, a number of strange starships peeled off from the main army and moved around the edges of the battlefield.
Their roars were loud, but their auras were heavily concealed. In this chaotic battlefield, who could pay attention to a little extra noise?
In fact, despite the sound of the engines, it was impossible to hear the airbikes in the current cacophony.
"We've been ordered to flank the enemy and take out a group of their experts. These beings are all late-stage Nox beings with Demonic Providence, so we must act with utmost safety! Damien, since you're new, don't participate in this first battle. Observe us, and if you truly think you've found a good opportunity, take it. Let's test your mettle!"
"Yes, sir!"
Damien and the rest responded sternly as they followed Ezio's command. With the speed of their bikes, they made it to the enemy's flank within a few minutes.
The squad halted. Ezio placed an isolation barrier around them, and for safety, Damien also secretly cloaked them in One With Dimension.
"You see that big guy over there?" Ezio said while pointing at a certain Nox who stood at a height of several meters.
"That's our target. He is a late-stage Nox with the Demonic Providence of Gigantification. His individual strength is already high, but everyone under him is also powerful. To strike the first critical blow to the Nox Army, we must take them out!"
Damien looked over after listening to Ezio's speech and scanned the group of around 30 Higher Nox.
'All late-stage. It would be nice if I could see their Demonic Providence on their status windows too, but I guess that's asking for too much.'
Damien remained quiet as the squad began to move once more. Ezio listed off a number of formations and plans that Damien had no knowledge of as they did so, but it seemed fine since everyone else was on board.
Within seconds, the assault began.
BOOM!
A beam of light shot from Ezio's airbike. Like a needle piercing through reality, it concentrated to a point and shot between the giant Nox's eyebrows.
"Hm?"
The Nox turned around, sending the attack. However, it was too late.
His massive cycloptic eye widened in shock.
The beam went in the front of his forehead and came out the back.
He collapsed to his knees.
"Khh…enemy attack!"
He immediately roared to alert his comrades, who moved to surround him thereafter.
The Roaring Dragon Cavalry finished their first fly-by at this time as well, returning to their starting position.
Damien sat at their back in confusion.
'Why didn't they capitalize on the surprise factor to deal a critical blow?'
Only the single attack was fired, and by the time it was over, the enemy was alerted and the target wasn't even dead.
'Wait…'
As the squad moved again, Damien noticed something.
A few of their members were missing.
'Aha…'
So that's how it was.
Damien began to understand how the Roaring Dragon Cavalry operated.
'Reckless within the bounds of safety, eh?'
He smiled.
Now that he knew their approach, he could also contribute.
But before that, it was time to let the plan play out in full.
Just as Damien's thoughts reached their close, the group reappeared in the giant's vicinity.
"Now!"
Ezio's shout was accompanied by the roars of engines.
"Roaring Dragon Cavalry, let them know fear!"
RAAAAAAAH!'
The cavalry charged.
Damien's eyes widened.
So this was a bloodbath.
Even early stage 4th class Nox were being slain like chickens and dogs.
'But…'
Damien quirked his head.
'…doesn't this make my job so much easier?'
Without waiting a single second longer, he charged into the battlefield.
While everyone else focused on the external threats, he would cleanse the army from the inside and provide support.
At least, until he was caught.
Damien grinned.
'Let the cat and mouse game…begin!'
