The sun had just begun to peek over the hills after the storm, tinting the sky with a faint amber hue, when a distant rattling broke the stillness of dawn. It was a heavy, steady sound: the rumble of metal wheels on compacted earth, the creak of wood reinforced with steel, and a constant rhythm that seemed to mark the cadence of the day being born.
One by one, the villagers came out of their homes. Some rubbed their sleepy eyes; others, by instinct, held hoes and farming tools. But all stopped in unison when they saw what was approaching along the main road.
In the distance, a convoy of six black carriages advanced with precision. Each vehicle was coated in a metallic layer of steel, with thick wooden reinforcements and exposed rivets that gleamed in the light of the rising sun. Pulled by muscular, trained warhorses, the carriages bore on their flanks the emblem of Astralis: a six-pointed silver star, shining like a promise amidst the dust.
At the front, four soldiers cleared the way. They wore dark armor, reinforced on chest, arms, and legs, with their helmets barely reflecting the dawn. Each marched in unison, Mauser rifles slung over their shoulders, bayonets fixed and gleaming like blades of light. Their disciplined stride was unbreakable, their posture straight and unyielding, as if the very earth respected their advance.
A breeze rose just as they passed in front of the first group of villagers, and the Astralis banner waved strongly from the roof of the first carriage, casting its shadow over the astonished faces.
This was not just a caravan. It was a statement.
Behind the soldiers, one of the carriages opened as they moved, revealing inside polished agricultural tools, carefully labeled sacks of fertilizer, and several sacks of what looked like cement. Another carried metal parts, as if it held a portable forge, and a third was filled with compact machinery, strange to the eyes of farmers but clearly designed to work the land.
From one side, a child exclaimed:
"They come from the sky!" pointing at the star on the carriage.
Ye Han emerged from the crowd, flanked by the village leader and followed by his squad of Vespers. Without missing a step, he approached the officer in command of the detachment.
"Officer Wei, reporting," Ye Han greeted firmly.
"Captain of the Umbra Squad," replied the officer, returning the salute with equal seriousness. Although he had been assigned command of the area, he was fully aware of who stood before him: one of Astralis's key talents, trained directly under the Leader's supervision.
"The Leader has ordered me to bring supplies. My squad and I will be stationed here. You are ordered to return to Omega Zero and await further instructions," he said in a firm tone.
"Understood," Ye Han responded with a brief nod.
Officer Wei turned his gaze toward the village's elderly leader and saluted with martial courtesy.
"I am Officer Wei, of Astralis, in command of the Shadow Spark Squad. My men and I will remain here; we will assist with whatever you need and secure the perimeter. We have also brought tools and equipment that may be useful," he added, observing the aging stone and wood structures that made up the settlement.
The elderly village leader stepped forward. Though his voice sought firmness, the trembling of his hands betrayed him.
"T-thank you, Officer Wei… W-whatever you need, this old village is at your service."
Wei nodded briefly. There was no room for excessive formality. The deployment protocol had to begin immediately.
"Shadow Spark Squad, deploy in civil support formation. Priority: logistics, infrastructure, basic training."
The soldiers began to move without needing further orders. Some unloaded sacks and reinforced crates from the carriages: tempered steel shovels, hoes with ergonomic handles, plows reinforced with iron heads, and a dozen hybrid tools.
Officer Wei took a dark cloth bag and extended it in front of the farmers.
"Enhanced fertilizer. Based on manure treated with ash and saltpeter. It improves moisture retention and accelerates the growth of resilient crops. We will show you how to produce it in small quantities."
One of the soldiers knelt beside the farmers and began explaining the process with clear gestures, using a board and sample jars.
Other squad members, carrying bags of cement, headed toward the main square. There, the village's younger folk were being gathered by a soldier with a firm command voice.
"Form two lines. Those with experience in stone and wood, with me. Today you'll learn to build like soldiers. No more roofs collapsing in the rain."
At the back, a small group of soldiers took note of the young men of military age. A captain reviewed an improvised list.
"We'll begin with preliminary recruitment. This is not a forced draft. We want volunteers. Whoever joins the new Army will be trained, fed, and equipped. The era of the peasant with a spear is over."
Officer Wei observed the deployment attentively. Every gear was beginning to turn. This was no ordinary operation: it was the birth of a new force. The shadow of Astralis spread, not just as a war machine, but as a structure of power.
In front of Ethan's desk, Zhao Ren was reporting seriously on the latest developments.
"Officer Wei has been assigned to the new zone for deployment," he began, his voice firm and restrained. "He has clear orders: assist the locals with agriculture and construction. Additionally, the recruitment plan is already underway. Have you decided on the name, Master?"
Ethan, seated behind his desk, remained focused on the blueprints he was drawing, each line detailing what appeared to be a hydraulic power engine. Upon hearing the question, he looked up and observed Zhao Ren, his face expressionless.
"The name will be simple," he replied without hesitation, setting the pen down on the table and meeting his gaze directly. "Let's call it the Astralis Army. No need to complicate it. Astralis is forging a new era, and this army will be its pillar."
Zhao Ren nodded, understanding the message behind the simplicity.
"Understood," he replied, turning to leave. "Recruitment is already in progress. The first contingents will begin training as soon as the personnel is ready."
Ethan, still focused on the blueprints on his desk, drew precise lines while murmuring calculations under his breath. Without looking away from the paper, he spoke in a firm voice.
"Have them prepared. The next phase is approaching faster than expected. What do we know about public opinion?"
Zhao Ren, standing, responded clearly.
"The latest reports indicate that traveling merchants, mercenaries, and villagers have begun speaking well of Astralis. In several regions, a positive image is forming—some are even showing interest in joining voluntarily."
He paused briefly before adding:
"However, most remain skeptical. Many consider the news to be exaggerated, traveler's tales, or mere rumors. Even in nearby cities, the information is seen as fantasy, not as a threat or tangible reality."
Ethan nodded slightly, still focused on the blueprints.
"Stick to the plan. Reputation is forged through actions, not words. We'll focus on the determined ones; the rest will come when they see results. Stay alert to the reactions of the local sects and the immortal families. Any sign of movement could be crucial."
"So far, the Xuan family remains silent," Zhao Ren added. "But if they find out, they might attempt retaliation."
Ethan finally looked up, his eyes cold and analytical.
"Then we must stay ahead. Send orders to the black iron mine: maximum alert. And inform Officer Wei in the village to maintain a flexible defense, without abandoning the reconstruction tasks or recruitment. Time is not on our side… and each day lost may cost us the future."
Zhao Ren nodded firmly.
"Understood, Master."
NOTE:
Hello to everyone who's still here.
First of all, apologies for the absence. My laptop stopped working and I tried to keep writing from my phone, but it was just too difficult… in the end, I had to take a break.
But I'm back now!
Thank you for continuing to read and for your patience.