Defiance of the Fall

Acrid smoke and an overcast sky greeted Zac as he stepped out from the battlefront teleporter, surrounded by his generals and commanders. The view was unfamiliar, but the blue prompt appearing before him was not.

[Second Battlefront of the Atwood Empire. No assigned leader.]

[De-facto leader of Atwood Empire detected, designation qualified for leadership. Assign yourself leader?]

Rhubat had wrapped up their previous campaign two days ago before resetting it, allowing Zac to enter without spending any more Faction Merit.

"Yes," Zac said.

[Leadership assumed. Due to individual Evaluation and Contribution, awarded role as Battlefront Commander.]

[General assignment: Conquer neutral battlefront. Merit awarded after successful conquest, depending on individual contribution. NOTE: Capturing resource points does not increase contribution.]

[Fated Flamebearer: Destroyed battlements 1.5x merit. Killed or captured enemies above 1st Grade Sergeant, 1,5x merit. Conquer enemy base 1-2x merit depending on individual performance or leadership. NOTE: This world is insufficient to advance campaign quest.]

Zac skimmed the prompts, seeing they were mostly the same as the two previous times he'd stepped onto the battlefield. The most important distinction was that he'd been designated leader, and not just for the Calamity Company. Being assigned commander let Zac breathe out in relief. It meant he could enact the optimal strategy for the upcoming campaign.

Petrus and Serzo had provided a lot of practical information over the past three days, one of which was how the System arranged the war and leadership role. The Kavriel Province had an almost uncountable number of battlefronts, and they'd already figured out all the ins and outs of the System's rules. For example, only battlefields with standout leaders had Battlefront Commanders.

The previous battlefronts in the Atwood Empire didn't have any. The assigned leaders were just captains who wouldn't have the authority to order the other factions around. Meanwhile, a Battlefront Commander had authority over anyone stepping onto the battlefield, be it your faction or the others. It was definitely a role you wanted for yourself and dreaded an outsider would get, but Zac hadn't been certain whether he could get it because of his unique designation.

Being a Battlefront Commander didn't mean you had to stay in the commander's tent. Zac opened a special war interface, arranging official positions for Rhubat and the others. He left some slots open in case any of his temporary allies showed promise.

There were still only his own people stepping onto the alien world, but the nearby platforms indicated this campaign would consist of three parties. It usually wouldn't take more than a couple of minutes before the System found some people to matchmake you with. There was no telling who'd step through those teleporters, but the fact that he'd already been awarded Battlefield Commander rank indicated they wouldn't be too strong.

Zac ultimately didn't care what kind of people showed up; the Calamity Company was never meant to depend on any allies. His people had the strength and resources to deal with the enemy alone. If they got some assistance, then great. Zac didn't mind sharing some of the spoils as long as the outsiders pulled their weight. And if troublemakers or people shirking their duty appeared… His newfound role had various ways to deal with that.

Rhubat, Carva, and Janos smoothly took over the administrative duties while Zac turned to inspect the battlefield. The world they'd been sent to was Early D-grade, though the energy wasn't nearly as dense as back on Earth. It even felt hollow, like the planet was leaking spirituality. It wasn't hard to guess why. This time, they'd appeared in the middle of an endless wartorn city, with the Battlefront Arrays placed on a huge square.

Everything around them was in ruins. Whole city blocks had been leveled by supersized towers falling on them, and scars hundreds of meters deep leaked chaotic energies. Only a few structures remained standing, their burned-out husks reaching hundreds of meters into the air like jagged teeth. Zac even spotted two mountain-like castles in the distance, though they seemed to have been hit the hardest.

Whatever happened on this planet didn't take place long ago. Buildings around them were still burning, which was the source of the thick haze that irritated Zac's eyes. Zac could even sense resentment and Death from every direction, even if he couldn't see any bodies or signs of life. Neither could Zac tell where the enemy camp was located. The scouting units led by Carva were already pouring into the various pathways, using various means to conceal their presence.

Simple battlements were blocking some of the nearby streets, but it was a far cry from the sturdy walls he'd seen on the two previous battlefields. Of course, Zac's engineers carried whole fortresses in their spatial rings, which they could set up in short order. He wasn't worried about safety but rather the confusing environment. And he wasn't the only one.

"Urban warfare," Mark Marshall grunted as he approached Zac. "It's a bit better now that people can fly and zip about like superheroes, but it's still a pain in the ass."

Zac nodded at his commander. He hadn't had much contact with Mark, but he was a former fighter pilot and high-ranking general of the old world. He was fifty-five by the time the integration arrived, but he didn't look much older than Zac after reaching Peak E-grade. He was one of the most important talents of the Marshall Clan in the post-Thea age, though his skillset wasn't purely martial.

He was among the first to enter Zac's Navy, and he'd been training with Cosmic Vessels for years already. He wasn't at the level of some of the pilots they'd recruited from the Million Gates Territory, but he made for a perfect admiral when considering his allegiances and military experience.

"This should be a conquered planet that's been repurposed into a neutral battleground," Petrus said as he walked over.

The Revenant had been attached to the Calamity Company, while Serzo had chosen to tour Elysium. Spy or not, he had over two hundred years of experience as a member of one of the Multiverse's greatest armies.

"The Kan'Tanu likely destroyed whatever faction the planet belonged to and harvested the people and resources before leaving. We already know that large-scale human sacrifices are needed to breed their curses."

"How do you know it's not just a random battlefront the System has conjured or moved over?" Mark asked curiously.

The Revenant looked around for a moment before taking out something that looked like a telescope. He didn't point it toward the sky but rather in a certain direction of dense smoke. Zac was curious about what the thing did, but his brows scrunched together upon sensing a familiar aura—the aura of the Kan'Tanu Heart Curses.

"This aura is just a few kilometers away," Petrus explained as he realigned the telescope. "There's another spot there. The source should be Cursed Grounds, semi-sentient spots of the Kan'Tanu corruption. They aren't as dangerous as the real curses, but they can last for weeks outside any hosts, longer if they get something to feed on."

The Revenant shook his head and stowed away the gadget. "If Death-attuned worlds are the Empire's home ground, then this can be considered the cultists'."

"I bet it's cheaper for the System to parcel such a world into a few dozen battlefronts than transporting worlds from other dimensions," Zac muttered as he looked around.

Both the Atwood Army and the Undead Empire had thoroughly explored these neutral battlegrounds, and none were proper planets. They were by no means small, but you'd eventually reach a spatial barrier if you traveled far enough. You also couldn't enter space from these things since the void waited outside.

"These battlefronts are quite rare, but they should become more common as the war progress," Petrus said. "I think the System only repurposes these fallen worlds when deemed unsalvageable."

"Is it possible we can find locals among the ruins?"

"It's possible," Petrus nodded. "They are not considered allies, though. We have awakened quite a few survivors without any issues."

Zac understood what Petrus meant. You normally couldn't just kill fellow Zecians on the battlefield. At the least, it would come with penalties to your merit. You could also become branded a wartime traitor by the System, which put a huge bounty on your head. However, it looked like the citizen of fallen worlds didn't enjoy those protections.

"What do you two suggest?" Zac asked.

"Shock and awe," Mark said. "The less time we give the enemy to entrench themselves, the better. This environment heavily favors the Kan'Tanu. If we wait too long, the ruins will be covered in Heart Curse booby traps."

"The Human is right," Petrus said. "Fighting in this environment puts more focus on individual strength and squad cooperation than raw numbers, which is advantageous to your elite army. However, it's also more complicated than normal battles where you can advance in one big group. It's good practice for cleaning out real capitals, but your army needs more basic experience before taking on these complicated tasks. I suggest you storm their location and use your new toys to create a standard battlefield."

"How about I zip over and deal with the enemy leaders while the soldiers catch up?" Zac ventured.

"Lord Kator has tried that before to save time," Petrus said with a shake of his head. "An impregnable barrier will appear if you try to attack the enemy base too early."

"He's right, Warmaster," Rhubat rumbled. "I once tried the same thing. The Heavens call for outright war and prevent any shortcuts."

"I guess it wouldn't be much of a war if you could send powerful assassins to take out generals the moment you arrived," Zac shrugged. "How long is the grace period?"

"One moment," Petrus said as he took out another item.

This one was more familiar to Zac. It was a long-range scanner, a simpler variant of what was installed in all Cosmic Vessels.

"This battlefront is quite large," Petrus muttered as he fiddled with the item. "The higher the grade and the larger the area, the longer the grace period. I'd guess six hours for this one."

"Then we'll do as you suggest," Zac nodded. "I want to move as soon as our scouts find the enemy. I'll go check out the others."

The first of the two teleporters was already gathering power, which meant their first ally was about to emerge. Zac walked over, accompanied by Joanna. Zac felt like his silent prayers for useful allies were answered a moment later as a stream of Corpselords emerged.

They were all over four meters tall, crafted by heavily relying on some sort of bear-like beastkin by the looks of it. Zac guessed some Lich Clan or Coalition had gotten their hands on a large enough batch to create a cohesive Corpselord Clan. It was far better than putting bodies together at random. For one, it saved a lot of time, but it also helped the Corpselords reproduce independently. The more similar the genealogical makeup of two Corpselords, the better the odds of conceiving. If they were too different, it was simply impossible.

The leader in the front, a towering beast over six meters tall and at the peak of Early D-grade, looked relieved upon seeing Zac. However, his head turned in confusion as he took in the diverse army gathering across the square.

"Uh, my lord," the Corpselord bowed. "I am Hor Husko of the Husko Clan, a subsidiary of the Santomar Crypts."

Zac didn't recognize the names at all. He guessed it was some random faction in the Kavriel Province. After all, the province was far more than just the two C-grade continents they controlled. In fact, the Kavriel Province was the largest faction in the sector, only trumped in size and population by two semi-cohesive alliances.

"I'm Arcaz Umbri'Zi," Zac said and flashed a token he'd been given during his stay in Kavista. "It's good to have you here. I'm taking charge of this battlefront. I hope you don't mind."

"Lord Umbri'Zi?!" Hor blurted before bowing again, this time far deeper. "Of course, my lord. Anything you require. Just treat our army as your own."

The Corpselord's expression was calm and respectful, but Zac's far more powerful soul let him sense the unstable fluctuations in Hor's mind. Zac couldn't decipher what emotions the fluctuations represented like Vilari, but it wasn't difficult to guess what was running through his head. He was excited since meeting someone as connected as Zac was a huge opportunity. However, he was probably worried for his men, considering their huge gap in status.

"Ready yourselves," Zac said. "We plan on forcing our way through this battlefront as quickly as possible. Our goal is to finish this conquest within a week. But don't worry. I'm not looking to use you or the other allies as sacrificial pawns. We have the resources to deal with this alone if need be."

"Don't worry, my lord. The Husko Clan will not let you down. We don't have much, but we're strong and sturdy," Hor said. "If it's alright with the lord, I'll immediately coordinate our forces."

Zac waved over Rhubat as he added Hor as an official commander. "Make an inventory and find a slot for our friends here."

"Of course, Warmaster," Rhubat nodded as the Anointed and Corpselord shared a measuring look.

Hor was confused why a pureblood Draugr was working with various races of Dreamers, but he knew better than to question the situation. Zac nodded at the Corpselord before turning to the third and final teleporter.

Things didn't go as smoothly this time around. A wholly unimpressive human faction appeared, clearly shocked to run into such a wide array of undead. Their leader was an aged Hegemon whose strength was already in decline, and the old man seemed more concerned about not getting killed or turned than coordinating the war effort. He was more than happy to stay behind to "guard the base." Zac left them to their own devices and had a few people stay behind to ensure they didn't cause any trouble.

Forty minutes later, they got word back from the scouts. They had spotted movement in the distance. Twenty minutes later, they had a good enough idea of what direction the Kan'Tanu base was located to make a decision.

"We're setting out," Zac simply said, and four streams of warriors poured through all major pathways leading west.

The largest stream was shrouded in smoke even denser than from the burning wreckage. It was produced by heavily armored combat liches carrying large braziers hanging from chains in one hand and scepters in the other. They looked like unholy Paladins and made up every twentieth row in the stream.

They were the battlefield support providing protection and Miasma, and every undead squad would have at least one of these clerics. The braziers were a form of Miasma generators, whose small size would normally make them less effective than normal Unholy Beacons. However, between the Liches' empowerment and the high-quality incense burning within, they actually released far more Miasma into the surroundings than the standard beacons he'd encountered during the Incursion.

Within the train of deathly smoke, Zac felt the diverse auras of the soldiers harmonize into ten thousand units. Similar scenes occurred across the other divisions, with innumerable War Arrays activated simultaneously. For a moment, Zac almost saw four deadly spears pointed in the direction of the Kan'Tanu camp, and he got goosebumps from the power they exuded.

Their whole army hadn't even passed through the teleporter yet, but six hundred thousand warriors would be more than enough unless their enemy proved unusually powerful. If you looked at individual skills, these people were the best of the best. The same could be said of their equipment, and Zac doubted there'd be more than 50 Early D-grade armies that were outfitted so extravagantly.

Hundreds of army engineers ran ahead to remove any rubble or other roadblocks, while the rest stayed by the lumbering line of huge contraptions by the tail-end of his army. It was the War Machines being pushed forward, gliding just over the ground by using the same form of arrays as E-grade Flying Treasures.

These restricted battlegrounds didn't have the type of environment that supported that form of flight, but the siege equipment came installed with backup systems that enabled flight at the cost of more energy. It would have been more convenient to carry the things in Spatial Rings, but the D-grade War Machines had similar issues as Cosmic Vessels.

It wasn't as bad as standard vessels that couldn't be put inside a Spatial Treasure, except for a few models. However, the stowable equipment they'd gotten their hands on required Array Masters to dismantle certain sections and then put them back together during deployment. A veteran Array Master would only need thirty minutes, but only a handful of Zac's people were at this level.

It had taken roughly two hours to activate the line-up rolling behind him during their exercises, which was way too slowly when they didn't know what to expect. It was much more convenient to spend some extra money and roll the things along. Doing so exposed the expensive equipment to ambushes, but they had multiple measures in place. They even had half a million Corpselords to help, and their hulking frames formed a natural wall around the equipment.

The environment was tricky, but the Calamity Company intractably moved forward. The chaotic scars covering the city were suppressed, and bridges were placed over them. Even the patches of Cursed Ground were dealt with through furious bursts of violent purification.

After an hour, Zac finally got the call he'd been waiting for. Carva had located the enemy base and sent back a rough path. He couldn't wait any longer, and he turned to Joanna who eagerly looked back. It was time to launch some special operations.

"Let's go."