I think I was expecting the night battle to be a whole lot more dangerous than it actually was. Even the length of it, I think we were all expecting it to practically last the entire night, maybe even into the morning, but we were wrong on all accounts.

  Even the whole “a cornered rat is a dangerous rat” thing that Grandpa preached didn’t really seem to come to fruition.

  The red people fought hard. Extremely hard even. The problem was that fighting hard didn’t necessarily mean that you would win. Something that everyone who died during the initial battles had to experience themselves.

  That is exactly what the red people experienced here tonight.

  After clearing out the area around us, my little family squad continued to roam around the rear of the battlefield and picked any stragglers off one by one or group by group. Most of them were either engaged in the south with my family or down the main street with James and company, so we weren’t able to do that for long.

  Once we couldn’t find anyone else, we moved to the south and joined up with Grandpa and the others.

  They didn’t really need our help though. Grandpa… yeah the old man was a monster. With the gains he made through the Dungeon, and all the Levels and Stat Points on top of that, he had really become a force to be reckoned with. He now went into battle with one main spear and around 50 others that he dragged around with him.

  They were for throwing.

  Watching him launch a spear like it was shot out of a cannon and skewering five people to a wall would be nothing short of soul-crushing if you were an enemy. Even the other people who joined our family in the attack were throwing wary glances toward him.

  Actually, now that I think about it, they were all kind of throwing wary glances at everyone in the family.

  Though most of them were directed at Grandpa. Either way, the night essentially went by without a hitch and the community members of Lagia were finally 100% victorious against the red invaders.

  After the fighting was over, everyone pretty much spent the whole night going through the town in full and all of the camps. The red people had a lot of gear and tools that could all still be used, so it was divided up amongst all the different groups.

  Thankfully, since every group had at least one spokesperson, it didn’t turn into one big argument between the few hundred people that were gathered here to battle.

  Once all of that was completed and James reached a point where he wanted to gather everyone and make a speech, Grandpa decided that it was time for us to go, and this time I agreed. I really didn’t need the speech.

  We accomplished our goals, got some spoils, and most of all everyone was alive.

  It was time to go home.

  …

  Back on Planet Vika…

  “The situation on the Planet has reached somewhat of a lull, High Elder.”

  “Explain.”

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  “At once, High Elder. Across many of the major hubs of native activity we have managed to gain control and while there was heavy resistance, we are in control of those locations. But there are a few where our people are no longer responding to hails. It is expected that the natives have taken control of those areas.”

  So we allowed them to grow after all. Tch. The Vikar will not be pleased.

  “Should I pass the order to attack the areas where we have lost control, High Elder?”

  “You will do no such thing. Instead focus our remaining forces on all locations in which we still have control. Order a full retreat from any location where we are not in control. If at all possible, do not engage with any of them without making sure we have an overwhelming advantage.

  “We are doing nothing but making the natives of the Planet stronger. That needs to end. The Crimson will handle the rest.”

  “Understood, High Elder.”

  “Good, dismissed.”

  After receiving the report, High Elder Evako took a deep breath before leaving and made his way up to the highest floor of the Palace. Being who he was, there was no one to question his steps or block his path until he reached two massive doors.

  In front of them stood two covered in a veil of deep crimson. Nothing about their appearance apart from the outline of their bodies could be discerned. They were members of the Veil of Magma.

  The sworn guards of the Vikar.

  High Elder Evako didn’t dare put on airs before them and simply bowed his head as he stated the reason for his approach to the dwelling of the Vikar.

  “To the Veils, I respectfully request an audience with the Great Vikar.”

  The guards in question didn’t so much as twitch at either the approach of High Elder Evako or at his request. But as if expecting nothing less, High Elder Evako didn’t rise from his bow nor did he show any reaction at the reaction or lack thereof he received from the guards.

  It was only after about an hour of waiting in that position that the large heavy doors finally began to open. Though High Elder Evako didn’t move a single muscle despite the fact that the doors were now open, he continued to wait in that position.

  Then…

  “Come.”

  A single word that carried enough power behind it that even without intending to cause harm, those who were too weak would at minimum suffer a great injury. Fortunately for High Elder Evako, he wasn’t someone the people of his Planet would refer to as weak.

  After hearing the order, which by no mistake was an order, High Elder Evako rose from his bow and walked with a respectful gait into the room.

  Once he entered, the doors closed once more, with the Veils still not having moved a single inch.

  Thud!

  After walking forward for a few feet inside the room, High Elder Evako immediately dropped to both knees and bowed till his head touched the floor.

  “I greet the Great Vikar.”

  His voice contained every bit of humility that High Elder Evako could convey with his words. There wasn’t a single hint of unwillingness or anything untoward anywhere to be seen in his pose, expression, or tone.

  For if there was, he would already be dead.

  Such was the power of the being who sat calmly in a pool filled with magma that burned hot enough to melt entire moons in a matter of days.

  “Why have you come, Evako. Good news, yes?”

  “I apologize, Great Vikar. For the news I have brought is not completely favorable.”

  “Speak.”

  There was a tone of annoyance coloring the voice of the Vikar now.

  “We have managed to gain control of many of the natives’ cities and claimed the lives of all who lived there. But we have not managed to establish control of the Planet. The natives who have managed to resist us thus far have instead only grown in Strength. It is surmised that many of them are now at or close to the peak of the F Grade.”

  The magma surrounding the Vikar pulsed for a few seconds as if it was responding to the emotions of the being dwelling within it.

  “So the natives of the Planet are not entirely cowards then. I suppose that is to be expected from a D Grade Planet. Hm. You are intending to send in the Crimson then, is it?”

  “Yes, Great Vikar.”

  “Good, but do not have them attempt to conquer the Planet. If they are spread too thin, then these natives will simply get stronger. Focus the entire group on one location at a time. Drown them in the magma of our motherland and move on to the next location.

  “Be slow, be methodical. The slower the better. I did not expect for it to come to this, but we will use the Grade Lift to our advantage. Let us no longer underestimate a group of people fighting for their lives.

  “Do you understand, Evako.”

  “Yes, Great Vikar.”

  “And Evako… do not fail again.”

  “…Yes, Great Vikar.”