NOVPUBThe Grand Marshals had regrouped after thoroughly interrogating Anthony's teammates, extracting every last fragment of detail with precision.
Answers came easily, the team had nothing to conceal, and no reason to withhold the truth.
Yet tension rippled through the upper ranks of the military.
It wasn't every day that the Grand Marshals convened, not once, but three times in a single day.
A rare occurrence that spoke volumes.
Whispers circulated like wildfire.
Something significant was unfolding.
And the weight of it pressed down on every soul.
What truly set off alarm bells in the minds of many was the fact that the Grand Marshals themselves had personally interrogated a group of Lieutenant-ranked soldiers.
To the upper echelons, every detail screamed of impending disaster.
After all, the seven Grand Marshals answered only to three Warlords, and above them, a single Supreme Monarch.
For them to descend so many tiers down the military hierarchy… it could only mean one thing:
Something catastrophic was on the horizon.
The Grand Marshals moved with relentless speed and surgical precision.
Within moments, word was dispatched to the three Warlords.
None was sent to the Supreme Monarch, such was beyond their jurisdiction.
Besides, it was said that the Supreme Monarch already knew all that transpired within the military's deepest circles.
As the message reached the Warlords, authorization came without delay, a silent but absolute endorsement of the Grand Marshals' course of action.
With that, a singular order echoed across the military: every soldier from the rank of Major to General was to report immediately.
No hesitation. No excuses.
Across the base and beyond, soldiers dropped what they were doing and moved with swift, unwavering obedience.
The seven Grand Marshals didn't waste their breath explaining the Severed Crown of Echoes, such knowledge was far above the clearance of those gathered.
Instead, they delivered a single, chilling truth:
The demons were going to invade, and it could happen at any moment.
A suffocating silence settled over the assembly. Eyes widened. Bodies tensed.
The weight of impending war crashed down on every officer present.
But the Grand Marshals were unmoved by their shock.
They hadn't summoned them to panic.
They had summoned them to act.
Without hesitation, they issued a series of rapid, decisive commands to every division under their command.
Recall and Readiness
The Grand Marshals ordered an immediate emergency recall: "All field units are to cease current missions and return to base. Priority Alpha-One. No exceptions"
Training operations were halted. "Suspend all drills. Transition to full-scale battle readiness. This is not a drill, full mobilization begins now"
Reserves were activated without delay. "All off-duty personnel are to report to their units within the hour. Status reports every fifteen minutes"
Base Fortification
Defensive measures were escalated. "Deploy mana-barrier units. All shield generators are to be reinforced and recalibrated for maximum density. We want triple-layered defenses active across all perimeter zones"
The outer wall was bolstered. "Anchor mobile shield towers around the full base perimeter. Set pulse intervals to demon-repulsion mode"
Magical wards were prioritized. "Engrave and activate elemental warding circles. Use all available affinities, fire, lightning, light, dark, and chaos resistance. Demonic corruption must not breach our walls"
Terrain reinforcement was ordered. "Dig in fallback trenches. Rune traps are to be embedded beneath all approach routes. Coordinate with Earth mages to raise stone bulwarks as secondary cover"
Combat Unit Positioning
Frontline units received clear instructions. "Position elite squads at all entry points and watchtowers. Anti-large-unit and anti-air specialists are to take the high ground"
Long-range coordination followed. "Artillery mages and sharpshooters will operate at max visual range. All archers are to apply enchanted vision protocols, night-sight, mana-sense, and distortion detection"
Aerial surveillance was enforced. "Deploy all airborne scouts and sentries. Patrolling rotations are to be seamless, the sky must remain under our control at all times"
Medical and Civilian Protocols
Civilian safety was prioritized. "Begin Level Three evacuation. All non-combatants are to be relocated to underground sanctuaries immediately"
Healing forces were mobilized. "Medical corps are to establish triage zones outside the command bunker. Regeneration kits, high-tier healing potions, and mana infusion stations must be stocked and manned"
Healers were reassigned for maximum effect. "Combat healers are to be categorized and stationed by output tier, keep high-end mana and aura healers near the frontline reserves"
Logistics and Supply Deployment
Armory access was unlocked. "Distribute mana potions, aura stabilizers, anti-curse charms, and elemental elixirs to all squads, prioritize those on the outer perimeter"
Weapon caches were opened. "The armory will unlock all restricted stock. Advanced weaponry, enchanted blades, and soul-bound gear are now available for deployment"
Crafting experts were summoned.
"Blacksmiths, enchanters, and artificers are to work around the clock, reinforce armor, sharpen blades, and inscribe temporary enchantments"
Intelligence and Reconnaissance
Shadow scouts were deployed. "Send reconnaissance mages and stealth units toward all known demon approach routes. They are to report back every hour, no silence longer than twenty minutes is to be tolerated"
Magical foresight units were activated. "The Seer Division is to commence astral scans and precognitive rituals. We need to predict the first wave's timing and structure before they breach striking distance"
Strategic Field Orders
Dimensional defenses were readied. "Assign high-tier mages to all suspected rift points. If any gate begins to manifest, it is to be sealed, shattered, or bombarded with nullification spells immediately"
Command delegation was enforced. "Appoint battlefield commanders to each quadrant of the base. If main command is cut off, quadrant leaders are authorized to operate independently under Battle Code Black"
Emergency reinforcements were called. "Begin summoning formations. High-tier guardians, magical constructs, and ancient wards are to be called upon. Prepare teleportation anchors for last-minute defense insertion"
At the Grand Marshals' command, soldiers from the ranks of Major to Colonel to General sprang into motion without hesitation.
Boots thundered against the earth.
Figures blurred into streaks of motion, darting across the terrain with practiced precision.
Others soared into the skies, their auras leaving trails of power in their wake.
Elements responded in kind, wind howled, flames danced, and lightning cracked, answering the calls of their wielders as the military surged into overdrive.
Danger loomed, thick and undeniable.
And with disciplined urgency, they moved to execute every order issued, swiftly, flawlessly, without question.
