The Martial Unity

The world watched the first battle between the Panamic Alliance and Greater Tekvoria unfold in real time as they studied the battle dynamics with great interest and curiosity, studying how both sides fared against each other in the conflict. What the true world was especially looking to see was how well the Panamic Alliance defended against tekvores guided by NOVA.

“Looks like they might need our help soon.” Lord Vakratunda mused knowingly as he studied the incoming reports. “The tekvores are… stronger than expected. It will not be easy for the Panamic Alliance to defend them now that they are empowered with insights from NOVA.”

Those who were native to the true world and had a long history with the tekvores could instantly tell the difference in the quality of their battle and their effective power and output. As the battle progressed, the tekvores seemed to gain a profound amount of insight into their opponents, gaining the ability to predict and read their maneuvers rather easily.

The battle between Argenton and Bodhisattva Maitreyi began to shift in favor of Argenton, even though this was a battle that had occurred many times in the past, with neither side gaining a definitive advantage over the other.

Lord Vakratunda studied the footage with a curious expression as he spotted Argenton gaining an edge against Bodhisattva Maitreyi. He simultaneously spotted the other tekvores in the battlefield growing stronger and stronger while the Martial Artists of Panama grew continuously weaker and weaker.

“This makes the continent of Acherialis at least twice as dangerous as before, if not more. At least now we have an understanding of what kind of impact NOVA has on the strategic outlook of the tekvores,” Lord Vakratunda calmly evaluated the situation. “It looks like she’s going to take on the role of tactical and strategic support and oversight. I don’t think any powerhouse in the past has ever played such a role before, and yet it might be the most terrifying version of it.”

To double the power of all pathwalkers with her contribution of predictive and SOUL models was truly horrific; it was effectively as though they had to deal with two Acherialis Continents rather than one. Lord Vakratunda would much rather deal with a singular threat like the Dragon Emperor than someone who could enhance a civilization to such an extent.

The worst part was that a stream of warships, submarines, and aircrafts emerged from Greater Tekvoria, heading towards the Panama Continent. The Panama Continent also, much to the surprise of Lord Vakratunda, was able to mobilize Martial Artists from across their continent at a rapid pace and gather them, most likely thanks to collectivization efforts by the continent upon the Unfolding, allowing it to bear the pressure that Greater Tekvoria placed on them for the time being.

“The Panamic Alliance is at a decisive disadvantage when it comes to military power,” Lord Vakratunda mused. “However… they still have him.”

The Dawnbringer had left a huge impression on the people of Kiriket, as well as its leadership class. They once feared and hated him because he had the power to control and enslave them.

Yet, instead of doing that, he did the opposite. He freed them from the oppression of the Dragon Emperor by slaying the beast. He made a vow to never use his authority against any therianthrope, and so far, it seems he truly had no interest in enslaving them with his Authority.

Lord Vakratunda wasn’t certain he could protect his people against the authority of Rui Quarrier, given that it was much superior to that of Lord Shenlong.

“How many people would be able to resist such power?” Lord Vakratunda couldn’t help but muse. “Yet, he is the most power-hungry man I have ever seen. Except he seeks a very specific kind of power.”

The kind that could not be taken away from him. The kind that existed within him. A paradox and duality of a desire and disdain for power, unlike anything that the leader of the Gajanan Clan had ever seen.

“We owe him a great debt.” Lord Vakratunda mused. “We may never fully pay it, but we will try.”

That day, a command spread through the Continent of Kiriket.

“We go to war.”

Five days after the death of the Dragon Emperor, the ultimate warmonger, Lord Vakratunda himself formally declared war against Greater Tekvoria and began mobilizing his forces to deployment to the Continent of Acherialis for an offensive invasion.

In order to divert resources away from the Panama Continent, he even mobilized intercontinental sieges, mobilizing some of the more dangerous weapons of mass destruction against Greater Tekvoria, making for a dangerous escalation in the show of power.

Beasts and monsters across the continent marched into their bioships as the therianthropes began harnessing each and every single clan they could get their hands on.

A large number of clans, many of which had been fervent parts of the Dragon Emperor’s war coalition, acquiesced and joined Lord Vakratunda. If they couldn’t wage war against the Panama Continent, then they would have to accept Acherialis instead.

Additionally, access to negatron matter was conditioned to support the Panama Continent because they controlled the Great Void Oceans for the most part. Thus, even if many clans and parties didn’t appreciate the Panama Continent, they had no choice but to fall in line if they wanted any hope of getting access to a highly precious resource that would define the future for eons to come.

Lord Vakratunda effectively utilized this carrot to strengthen his control over the Kiriket Continent, his people, as more and more clans resigned to the new state of the world.

That didn’t mean it wasn’t jarring for them. Just six days ago, they were following the lead of the Dragon Emperor before his death at the hands of the Dawnbringer, and now they had to completely shift gears if they didn’t want to miss out on a new age.

With the declaration of war from the Kiriket Continent, the true world now saw three of the seven major continents partaking in a world war that was bound to swallow up anything and everything.

And yet, things had just begun.