The province of Jaka city was quiet.
Today, the expected waves of army by merfolk and leviathan, led by Demon Lord Envoy, Raum, were soon to arrive.
Governor Sani was overseeing the entire ordeal from a monument that had been repurposed as a base. The President was relocated to another island for safety concerns. However, Governor Sani was given the authority to assist and monitor the United Front volunteers in their fight against the upcoming army.
All of the army readied in Jaka City was infantry. They were placed along the beach, from Kapuk Beach, the easternmost point, to Jaka Bay, and then to the westernmost part, the Mangrove Forest.
They are coupled with tanks waiting for the right moment to strike.
The Fiend Kaiser informed all of them that the battle would not be confined to the sea. But the battle will escalate to the land.
"Governor, are you sure that the battle will escalate towards the land?"
Governor Sani scratched his head and looked towards a forgettable man. "Mr..."
"Diko, sir."
"Mr. Diko, so is it true?"
"Thalamik indeed said that it's true, even though we are fighting against Merfolk and Leviathan, which usually live in the sea. They have developed techniques that enable them to survive on land. Such as Water Magic to sustain themselves." Diko explained. "Hence why we got one of the strongest destruction magic tutors available in United Front."
A red-haired woman walked in, "Pleased to meet you, Sir. I am Killiar Il Lupache."
"An elf!?" One of the soldiers exclaimed.
Governor Sani's eyes widened before shaking his head. "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Killiar. I will be counting on you." He offered a handshake.
Killiar took his hand before saying, "The Fiend Kaiser previously brought victory to my homeland from two Demon Lord Envoys. This time, I will return the favor." She said with a serious face.
"Please do!" Sani said.
"Killiar will focus on directing fire magic attacks. She will operate along with 50 magic users. Her task will primarily be on targeting the merfolk who will be the water magic caster."
Governor Sani then asked, "So you plan to kill the merfolk that sustains the Leviathan. I assume that the Leviathan can do little if it reaches the land without the water magic? So we only need to take out the sustainers, which were the merfolk supplying water to the leviathan."
"That is true in an ideal condition. As the backup condition, however, Killiar, per Thalamik's strategy, will burn the leviathan to bits if needed, but that will take quite a bit more mana. Will not be a viable option in a stretchout war."
A soldier then came, "Mr. Sani, we have detected movements in the waters near Christmas Island!"
Diko looked at Killiar and Sani. "It's time."
Sani took a deep breath, "It is. I am counting on you, Director."
The battle between the Defenders and the Aggressors then finally began.
Sparks appeared in Jaka Bay.
Before long, a monster-like creature appeared at 4 miles from the beach at Jaka Bay. It resembles a long dragon, but at the same time, its fins give it a whale-like appearance due to its size. But its face is more reminiscent of a monster—a monster-like mouth with sharp teeth and two pairs of eyes.
"RUAAAAGHRHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" The Leviathan roared.
Then, from the first Leviathan's sides, more Leviathans appeared.
"RUAGAARGHHH!!!!!!!!!"
The merfolk attached themselves to the Leviathan, ready to supply them should they start to fight on land.
"So that is a Leviathan?" Governor Sani said. "The Sea Monster. The Demon of The Sea."
With a total of 100 Leviathans each accompanied by 100 merfolk, the army of the sea kingdom began advancing. The Leviathans swam carefully towards the shore of Ankol beach.
"Began the assault!" Diko commanded the artillery from tanks that flew towards the Leviathans.
"GUARGH!!! RUARGHHHH!!" Upon a hit, the Leviathan does show signs of being hurt. But it wasn't enough to stop their movements.
The bullets from the tanks and mortars began firing over and over again towards the Leviathans, as now they were one mile more from land.
Governor Sani and Diko watch the battlefield unfold.
"At my command," Diko said over the communications system.
The Leviathan was close, only 500m from the ocean.
"NOW ILLIAS!" Diko commanded.
Illias was near the beach, her voice chanted magic.
"Holy power raise true…Protect us from evil that wishes to harm… Protection!"
A powerful light erupted from her, and a barrier appeared.
The Leviathans that swam crashed into the barrier that had been erected.
But the barrier cracked instantly.
"RUARGHHHH!!" The Leviathans roared before trying to bypass the barrier by force.
"Killiar!" Diko commanded.
Killiar appeared as she began attacking with fire spells from afar.
50 of the magic users support her by casting fireballs at the Leviathan and Merfolk.
The area near the beach became overwhelmed by steam.
But the merfolk weren't letting this go by.
Instead of trying to get to the land first, most of them cast water magic to sustain the life of Leviathan, knowing how crucial it is for them to get water.
Then a woman with blonde hair and pink ends fell from the sky.
-~
"Thalamik... I hate you." Trish said.
"That came out of nowhere..." Thalamik said.
Trish moved to punch his shoulder.
That day, they were training as usual.
Well, since they both are Special Auditors, they didn't need to study at regular hours.
Usually, Lulu trained with them, but that day she was sick.
"I tried so hard using your spells, but it seems I can't use the spells you are using!" Trish said.
"I mean, I use spells that only I know I can master," Thalamik said, scratching his head.
"How is it that you became so strong in using magic?"
"Hmmm. Well, in that sense, let me ask you, Trish, why is it that you study magic?"
Trish put a hand on her chin, "Well, namely because I can, because I was given the freedom to do so. That was the start."
Thalamik smiled before saying, "I guess for elves, you do have all the time in the world. So it's okay to try many things. Isn't it right?"
"Are you making fun of us elves?" Trish asked with a pouting face.
"Not really. Quite jealous of you, actually. I, as a human, can never live as long as you." Thalamik said with a solemn smile. "Perhaps someday I, too, will be just a memory for you. Who knows?" Thalamik laughed.
"Being a friend to an elf is really bizarre, huh? But in a way, kinda cool." Thalamik said. "Then let me answer your question, Trish. How is it that humans became so strong? More precisely, how is it that I became strong?"
Trish looked towards Thalamik's eyes.
"Back then, you definitely felt it too when we fought Vepar. The last stretch to fight Vepar. When our movements synchronized, we did the 'Twin Riot Dance'. What is it that really mattered?"
Trish closed her eyes and put a hand on her chest.
"The feeling of... That feeling was..." Trish muttered.
"That feeling was the desire to protect," Thalamik said. In a finite human life, we learn that the only thing that truly matters is protecting what we want. Our loved ones, our dreams, our desire itself."
Thalamik said, "You can become strong. Even stronger than I am."
"Why are you so nice all of a sudden?" Trish spat, punching his arm again.
"Hahaha. Well, that's true. Perhaps after gaining students, I have become softer. But I am serious. You have potential, Trish. All you need is a reason to get stronger and, of course, hard work."
"Like lightning. You only need to focus on your own desires, and that is enough to make you 1000 times stronger."
"For me, that desire, at least for now, is to protect those I feel need to be protected."
***
To be acknowledged by someone stronger than you.
To be said, having potential by someone who is leagues above you.
It certainly is a huge burden.
But you know?
That Human.
Thalamik was right.
At that moment when we did the Twin Riot Dance, I definitely felt it.
I feel myself at my strongest.
The moment when I focus on what I want.
To whom I want to protect.
Trish was gazing out at the battlefield, where Leviathans were gathered. Illias' barrier is slowly crumbling from their attacks. Killiar attacks were good enough, but they can't waste too much mana here.
"Lulu, Let me off!" Trish said as Lulu released her from her grasp letting her down from the sky.
Trish remembered Thalamik's face.
His uneasy expression days before today's battle.
Back then, Trish couldn't understand how he could fight so strongly in the Lupache region. But even though it wasn't even his homeland.
Thalamik wants to protect the denizens of the Lupache region.
He empathizes with those in need. He became a figure who would have helped him in the tragedy of South Jaka.
He became the savior of Lupache not because he wanted to.
He just wanted to become someone who he wished had shown up.
Then, if there was no Thalamik.
I can only rely on myself.
I need to be the savior of Lupache myself.
Now, Jaka City needs my help.
No, Thalamik needs my help.
Even though I can't be a savior.
I will do my best to be a savior.
Why? Because...
I won't let him down.
Because...
HE NEVER LETS ME DOWN!!!
Trish gritted his teeth as she fell from the sky,
"Clouds gather your power. Grant me the divine strength to strike my enemies."
The steam created by Killiar flew to the sky.
The clouds began to form around Trish as energy started to appear around her.
Positive polarity meets negative polarity.
What follows is a physical reaction known as a charge.
CHRTCHHCTRHCHHT!!!!!!!!!
Trish was the medium and the harvester of that said charge.
Sparks appeared on Trish's body as she fell through the sky.
Then, at that moment, it appeared.
"This is what it means to fight to protect!"
She glides along with a thunderous aura.
Blue Lightning itself was racing towards the Leviathans.
The merfolk began their attacks on her using water magic, aiming to deflect her attacks.
Even the Leviathans roared as one of them swung their tails towards her.
"TRISH, YOU WILL GET HIT!" Killiar shouted.
BAMM!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
Trish smiled.
She already moved past the attack.
She was standing in the middle of the Leviathans.
Specifically, in the body of water in the middle of them all.
"LIGHTNING REIGN: RAIMEI!!!!" Trish swung her blade in a circular motion.
.
.
.
TSUCSTHHSHHSH!!! TUSCTHHH!!!!!
From her, lightning spreads, shocking every Leviathan and merfolk that were there.
The sheer destructive power was unimaginable.
In an instant of that attack, 100 Leviathans fell.
The seawater present was an excellent conductor of electricity. Hence, from then and there, every Leviathan and Merfolk there was subject to the judgment of her lightning.
The blue lightning of Trish Il Lupache.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Trish alone stood at the corpse of a Leviathan.
Sparks of electricity still available in her eyes.
"Raumstar! Your army is a joke if you really aim to fight us. Send more idiot." Trish said provokingly.
***
Meanwhile, at Christmas Island,
Inside the deep ocean.
Leviathans and Merfolk, along with Raumstar, are seeing what is unfolding.
"Ms. Raumstar, the 100 Leviathans we sent have been defeated. What do you think we should do? We haven't even touched the land yet." The Merfolk Prince asked.
"We should just make a break for it and attack all of them!" The Demi-Leviathan King said.
If I don't take action myself in the battle now...
The morale of Merfolk and Leviathans will surely die down.
A zugzwang tactic by the Fiend Kaiser.
I am forced to enter the chessboard, it seems.
No matter.
"Dearest companions, I will enter the fray. I will take with me 500 of the 900 Leviathans we have left. I will make way towards the land, and when that time comes, be sure to follow through the portal and attack." Raumstar said before her conspirators.
As he held to a Leviathan that swam towards the portal, he was transported to the beach of Jaka Bay.
But to her surprise...
There was no longer any corpse of Leviathans.
Instead, it was just a beach with almost no one.
This can't be right.
Did the portal properly?
Then a figure was levitating in the sky with its Black Coat.
"Welcome to Hell, Raumstar. Or should I say Demon Lord Envoy, Raum?" The man said with a smile. His right hand lifted and made a hand sign. The index finger is pointed up while the thumb is attached closely to it.
"Fiend Kaiser!!!!" Raum called out to him, knowing what he had done.
"Alterity Shift."