-"Hold on! I'll need to push this poor ship to its limits."-Baiheng told everyone as she accelerated.
-"Thirty-two degrees to right, nineteen up."-I also returned to my job.
-"On it!"
-"In eight seconds, accelerate and turn five degrees right, two down."
-"This Starskiff won't hold up."-All the alarms that could blare in the cockpit were blaring.
-"Accelerate. In twenty seconds, be sure to hold for your dear life."
She complied without asking, and as those twenty seconds passed, the moment when the ship's engine finally gave up, I turned into my Phoenix, allowing them all to grab onto my back. When they did, I flapped my wings and shot forward with even greater speed. Approaching the enemy blockade that separated us from our fleet, I was about to find a way to slip by when I felt a chill spread through my feathers.
-"Just fly forward; I'll cut through any impediment."-Jingliu climbed higher on my back, with a sword in one hand and the other holding to my nape.
Giving her a Phoenix cry, I continued forward, my whole body becoming the sharp blade in her hand. Fusing with her sword intent, my feathers revealed the marks of the Night Warrior, her moonlight matching my power perfectly.
Like a moonlit comet, I pierced through the enemy lines, destroying everything in my path. As we arrived above the Xianzhou Fleet, I spread my wings and let out a melodious cry. This, as if it were a signal, caused the fleet to attack with renewed vigor, trying to kill as many opponents as they could. Now, leaderless forces of Abundance quickly collapsed, allowing the Alliance Fleet to take their revenge.
But that wasn't our battlefield; instead, we returned to Luofu, where the General was waiting for us.
-"You truly created a miracle."-Teng Xiao laughed as everyone jumped down from my back.-"I bet the Marshal already received the news of your victory."
-"It's our duty."-Jingliu commented as such.
-"Duty or not, you'll receive your due reward. I believe that you'll even be called before the Marshal herself, so be ready for that."-He warned us.-"But before that, we are a little short-staffed, so I have new jobs for you. Jingliu, Dan Feng, I need you to take care of the pursuit of retreating Abundance fleets; Baiheng, you join them and lead the scouts. Yingxing, the Luofu Artisanship Commission has to help repair the Yuque, so they need you there. Jing Yuan, the cleanup of the battle is left to you. Eno, you are going with me to Yuque."
I raised my eyebrow but nodded.
Teng Xiao, not one to waste time, took me and boarded the nearest Starskiff, piloting it leisurely while talking.
-"Yuque is in a bad state; while not confirmed, the losses of the total population have exceeded 70%, with more than 95% of active Cloud Knights dead. Yuque survived only due to our quick arrival and the veteran cadre that was previously retired, but even they are almost annihilated. In the next period of time, Yuque will retreat into a peaceful territory to recover, and I hope you can assist with that."
-"I don't mind, but what I can achieve is limited."
-"Don't worry, we don't expect impossibilities. The main reason I ask you is due to the Deca-Light Reflection Barrier; the destruction caused to Yuque has scrambled the data inside the computation networks. While Master Diviner Jingtian managed to survive, he is heavily injured and can't manage on his own. Sadly, I can't spare too much personnel from Luofu; you know that we don't exactly have surplus Diviners, so I accepted his old suggestion to send you there."
-"So I'm to assist him in restoring the Deca-Light Reflection Barrier."
-"Not just that."-Teng Xiao shook his head.-"There is close to no leadership left, so you will receive a promotion due to your merits in this war, as well as the talents you possess. Due to the state of exception, you are appointed as a Yuque Sword Champion and a Cloud Knight Lieutenant; you will assume the command of the remaining Cloud Knights and lead their restructuring while assisting in the rebuilding of Yuque. Your assignment was accepted by the Marshal, but whether it'll stay that way will be decided after the imminent crisis ends, so do your best."
-"So I basically got two jobs?"-I looked at him with annoyance.
-"Don't forget your place in the Ten-Lords Commission. While you won't lead it, your assistance will also be required there."-He laughed again, but it sounded a little strained.
-"Sigh, I'll do what I can, but I request to bring assistants to help me."
-"People like Fu Hua, or like Mobius."-He asked with a serious expression, all his previous casualness gone.
-"More like Fu Hua."-I nodded, understanding his concern.
-"Then I don't mind; just don't disclose Alliance secrets."
-"Of course."
Soon, we landed at Yuque's dock, allowing me to see the degree of destruction for the first time. As one of the most important military installations, docks are one of the last places to fall in the attack, yet here, all but a few Mooring Platforms were destroyed. I estimated that in the docks alone only one-sixth of the facilities were in any working order; the rest was destroyed.
After disembarking, Teng Xiao took me toward the Divination Commission, explaining a few things along the way.
-"Shouldn't we report to the General first?"
-"There is no one to report to. General fell in the battle days ago; had it not been for them, the Yuque would be lost."-He shrugged, but I felt his melancholy through my Empathy.
-"My condolences."
-"Haha, don't mind me. Despite being on the battlefield for so many years, I still can't get used to burying black-haired youths while my gray hair continues to grow."
-"Wait… Doesn't that mean that I'm the highest-ranking military official on the ship!? Don't tell me…"-I looked at him with shock and dread.-"I'll have to deal with all that paperwork while doing two other jobs."
-"Ehem. You are not alone…"-He dodged my gaze.
His answer didn't reassure me; instead, it made me despair.
After a few minutes of silent walking, we arrived at the Divination Commission, where a familiar figure welcomed us.
-"Little Eno, good to finally see you face to face."-Master Diviner Jingtian greeted me.
-"I'll be in your care, just like before."-I greeted him, who could easily be called my teacher.
-"This time, we will both be assisting each other."-He smiled.-"Right, let me introduce you. This is my student, Yao Guang. She only joined the commission a year ago, but her talent is so great that she caught my eye."
-"Greetings, General, Senior Brother."-The white-haired girl, who appeared to be about ten, bowed politely.
-"Hello, little one."-The General laughed.-"But you are mistaken in your greeting. Little Eno is now officially a Yuque Sword Champion."
-"Indeed, while young, his talent is something few can compare to in the entire universe."-Jingtian confirmed after seeing his disciple's shocked expression.
-"Please, I'm not that young."
-"Your chronological age is about 30, right?"-Teng Xiao started to argue with me on this point, as always.
-"I'm more like a Vidyadhara, so my chronological age is worthless. By the direct line of my memories, I'm about two hundred years, but if I were to count the shards from my various lives in Samsara…"
-"Your biological age is frozen at 17."-He crossed his arms.
-"Heh, jealous? I can try to have you meet Glowswather."
-"No thanks, I'm forever loyal to Reignbow Arbiter."
-"Your loss."-I shrugged, only to finally notice Yao Guang doubting her life while Jingtian watched our interaction with a smile.
-"Ehem."-Teng Xiao cleared his throat.-"I delivered the person, so allow me to return to my duties."
-"You mean a nap?"-I scoffed, just remembering that because of him, I'll be neck-deep in work for the foreseeable future.-"How about you send Jing Yuan here to help?"
-"Sorry, can't hear you!"-He rushed back to the dock before I finished my suggestion.
I just shook my head and turned to Jingtian.
-"May I ask you to give me more details on the current state of Yuque?"
-"Of course, please follow me."
To describe the state Yuque was in simply, it would be a wreck. More than 70% of the ship was destroyed, with almost all Delves collapsed, and the population didn't just collapse; it imploded, with the death count reaching 80% of the total population. Even worse, the demographics of those losses were even more depressing, with 99.8% of the population counted as 'young adults' gone.
Most of the surviving people were children; here counted as Xianzhou Natives below 200 years of age, and Foxians below 30. As for Vidyadhara, they are a separate category, but at least 40% of their population was lost; not molted, lost. The remaining, roughly one-fourth, survivors were counted as elderly or in a special category, such as disabled. Material losses were incalculable; almost none of the internal systems remained functioning; to be honest, I believe it would be better to scrap this ship rather than repair it. But no can do, so I had to get to work.
First, I had to reorganize Cloud Knights. Of the usual standing army of about ~200.000 knights, only under 2.500 remained, all seriously injured and recuperating; most of the people who still fought for Yuque were conscripts. Everyone else was gone. Luckily, all but a few will be able to return to duty, acting as the future veteran core of the army. This made my current job mostly revolve around two points: resolving the current shortage of people and planning for future recruitment and training.
The second point was of lesser importance now, so it could be pushed back, leaving me only with the current shortages as the thing I needed to resolve quickly. Obviously, creating people out of thin air was impossible, but there was not much else I could do; as such, I first visited the Ten-Lords Commission to both request assistance from Wraith Wardens and permission to use souls of the deceased to assist the living.
While it's not a sin in Xianzhou law, using souls isn't exactly common; so, to be safe, I went to the Ten-Lords for permission, and after explaining my idea, I got it. After that, I once again met up with Jingtian, and after giving him the rundown of my plan, he agreed to cooperate as well, suggesting turning my plan into a ceremony to also honor the fallen in the process. As such, we got to work on preparing everything.
Three days later, the battle raging outside ended, allowing those few conscripts who survived to return; Luofu was ordered to provide assistance to Yuque, so I worked together with Jing Yuan to finish preparations and deal with urgent matters such as apprehending those who fell into Mara. Thanks to their assistance, a week after our arrival, a ceremony to honor martyrs took place in the main plaza of Yuque.
Countless people from both ships gathered there, showing their respect to those who fought for them. In the center of everything, the Spiritus of Yuque General, the Kālacakra Skyplume, lay silently; without its host, it could only act as a symbol. But even in this state, it carried the power of Emanator, thus being pivotal in my plan.
When the main part of the ceremony ended, under the watchful eyes of all other Generals, mostly appearing as holograms, and even the Marshal herself, who observed secretly, I stepped forward and walked before the Kālacakra Skyplume. After paying my respects, I started to chant, invoking my Divinity.
~"Know that there is no mercy for you, you will only perish. I am the heaven that you imagine. ~ Univers Immortel Metatron!"
As the divine aureole appeared behind my back, I continued to speak.
~"Dominus Deus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra ~ Lauviah!
Judica me Domine secundum justitiam meam, et secundum innocentiam meam super me ~ Caliel!
Expectans expectavi Dominum, et intendit mihi ~ Leuviah!
Et nomen Domini invocavi: O Domine, libera animam meam ~ Pahaliah!
Ego autem in te speravi Domine: dixi Deus meus es tu: in manibus tuis sortes meae ~ Nelebael!
Dominus custodit te; Dominus protection tua, supermanum dexteram tuam ~ Ieiael!
Dominus custodiat introilum tuum, et exitum tuum: et ex hoc nunc, et in saeculum ~ Melahel!
Ecce oculi Domini super metuenteseum: et in eis, qui spirant in misericordia ejus ~ Hahuiah!"
Eight Angels appeared above the ground, each possessing beauty indescribable with any mortal language; though the Generals present could also glimpse part of their other appearance, causing them to stand straighter, a brief look of fear appearing in their eyes.
~̵̡̫̼̩͚̮̲͒̄̀͗̿͆́̕͘͝"̵̨̭͙̫̲̝̻̅̐͛͘Ė̸͖̹͍̲̉͒t̵̢͔̗̊̆̎̋̊́ ̷̣̈́a̷̛̗̪̘̍̌̈́̓̈́͘̕͝͝s̷̞͇̖͋̋̽̈̈̋͜͝p̸̰̘̲̥͓̒͆͆͆̔̾͒͝͠ḛ̶̛̛̯͖̟͂͐̃̓̿̀c̸̨̼̻͈̳̜̙͖͋̎̋͆̚t̶̢̨̪̳̱̺̭̣̣̀͛u̷̢̺̺̲͌͑̈́̌̓̃͐̕͜͜͠s̵̫̹̹͉̞̲̔̅̌̂͌͘̚͝ ̸̨̙̼͛͛̽̈́̂͂̈́r̸̫̺̪̹̯̀̄̉̅͗̄͘͝͠ȍ̸̦̜̘̤̻͕̺̒t̴̩͚͕̝̦̼̲̺͆̊̒̚ͅa̸̖̣͇͉͓̣̺̓̇̊͗͌r̷̢̛̻͔̰̟̰̪̽͆u̴̦̪̦͗m̵̛̻̜̬̭̞̑̄̄̔͜ ̴͈̗͕̤̣̯̜̀̀̒ȩ̶̢̝͚̠̘͍̟͎͍̃t̷̡͖͎͓̠͇̓́̂̉̋̓̌̚͠ ̶̥͖̔͑̌̀ǫ̴͇̜̖̖͕̠͔͚͋̽͆͝p̶̢̧̢̫̹̯̻͍͋̋͌̈́u̶̜͒̉̿̾̅̊̽͋̊͘ş̴̠͓̇͊̽͌̆͛̒̈́̊̎ ̶͓̙͙̣̅̿̋̾͒e̶̖͍̿̈́́̽à̴̛̹͌͠͝r̷̢̛̗͍̟̪̪̖̩͎͍͆̀́͊̚ǔ̵̧̗̲͓̀̊̈́͑͠ṃ̷̲͂̋̃́͑͛͒ ̷̤̜̤̑͆̄̑͛̏̓̓̐̕q̶̞͙̗̤̙͋̂̈̃̌̄u̴̫̻͈̥̮̯͊̄͒͝͠a̵̢̧̡̹̦̝͇̤͑̂͠s̵͔͔̤̟͎̯̽̊̀̓͌̏̆̕͝i̵̧̛͓͙͓̭̠̟̭͇̋̾̉̄̆̏͝ ̶̙̮̰̳̼̄̀͊̽̀͝v̸̯̄̉͜ī̶͈͛̒̿s̶͕͖̳̺͍̼̜̣͌̑̐̈̎͌̒͗͝͝ͅį̵̪͓̗̬̫̐͂̀̍̽̆̃ͅo̸̡͖͇͓̘̯͈̟͌̑̍̄͐̔̎͑̀͜ ̴̥̓̒̂͆̀̓̐̉̚m̸̢͚̞̮̰̮̼̜̍̓̅͜à̵̱͓̥̟͚͔̯̪̳̚͠r̴̝̘͔̻͍͙̓́̏̈̃̽͑́͌̚į̸̡̬̲̣̮͓̭̬̣͛̽̑̅s̶̨̧͚̳̩̗͙̖͍̗͊͂̑̈̓̉͗͗̕͝:̶̼̟̑̈́ ̴̩̫͉̙̍̽̈́̉͜e̵̡͙̻͖̩͍̱̦̮̋͂͑̐̽̚ẗ̶̢̮͈̞̠̝̯̙̳͕͐ ̴̭̜̺͇͍̙̑̎̇̂͋̀̚͘͜͠ū̸̫̲͔͎̭̪͈͌̓̏͋͆̚͠ṋ̷͔͕͎̪̹̟̱͚͌̐͛̅̾̔̋̕a̴̟̗̖͚͑͑̑̂͊͝ ̴̧̛͍̹̺̣̈́̔̉̀͑͋͋͜s̸̙͔̰̫͋̃̒̔̔̆̔͘͝͝i̶̢̬̣̗̜͉̊͑̂͋͝m̸̡̘͖̬̺͌̍͆̿i̷̡̼̙̬͐̌l̴̨̳̗̣̥͔͔̰̺̝̀̿͘i̴̦̯̭͕͈̱͗͆͂̏t̵̢͔̥͉̺̞̤͙̱͛u̷̬̳̭̫͌͛̑̇̑d̸͚̺̝͛o̷̡̜̠̦͖͙̝̻͇͈͑̓́͘ ̷̹̦̥̦͗͒̊̚i̸̢̧͈̬͇̖͕͖̥͋p̵̧̢̩̒̄͝s̵̨̰̖̹͇̪̝̭͙̟̓͌̑͝â̷̰͕̩̱̗͇̘͜r̸̙̩̲̞̂́u̶̦͓̫̙͌̾͑m̵̨̤̰̪͕͋̾̉̊̏ ̷̢̩̟̺͒͒̒̃͝q̴̨̙̫͉̗̦̤̒͗̈́̚ű̶̡̜̝̓́́̄͑̐͝a̴̯͇̽́͆̒ţ̵̰̮̱̜͒̋u̸̦̰̐͝ö̸̻̺̺̲̘́̽́͛̉͘ͅr̴̡̠̹̱̆̓̿́̈́̽͋͜:̷̨̩͂̽͌̿͐̕ ̷̧̢̡̳̻̲̘̼̞̽̀͗͋̊͒̈́̕͠ẽ̶̛̛̖͈̩͕̲̺̙̟͕̓́̊̈́͋̕t̵̗̟͇̜͗̎̓̊͗̍̀̏ ̸̡̛̱̞̙̜̟̱͙̜͎̿͒̎̂́̌à̶̧̹͈͕̼͎͉̬͖͋̅͐͋̊͗́͠͝s̷̛̩̟̫̦͆̉͗͆͠p̶͙̬̱̤̞̓̉̍͐ȩ̸͇͖̹̠̤̳͗̆͆̚͜c̵̨̨̨̫̦̙͇̦̈͋̉̄̾̓̑̚ẗ̶̫̻̖́̿́̕ų̷̙̥͕͙̫͐͑͌̐̋̓͝s̴̨̢͙͇͑ ̸̨͈͍̫͇̙͠ẽ̵̢̙̖̉ą̶̼͚̜͖͚̟̞̩̿̒̅̽̏̿͛̅̚ŕ̵̜̭̣͔͂͝u̴̥̱̭̪̙͇̜̪͒̔̇́m̵̢̮̣̝͙̈ ̸͙͕͙͓̺̀͊̀ę̷͕̱̀̿̔ţ̵̡̠̭̟̯̫̄͋ ̸͎̮̠̩͇̝̝̯̓̈̃͜͝o̸̢̧̩̦̬͓͗́̋p̴̡͓̻̲͚̭̘̀͜ę̴̞̣̖̼̥͌̅̈́̎̎́̍r̴̹̱̮̫̟̟̽̉͜ǎ̵̪̺̣̞̳̃͜ͅ ̶̮̹̼̓͘q̸̮̻̋͛ų̸̟̲̬̩̥͆̊̉̃̕͠a̴̜͙͈̩̭̜̘̫͒̒s̵̡̧̝͈̲͉̲̜͂̄̔̋̓̽̕͠͠͝ͅí̴̫͊̌̑ ̶̨͉̱͊͝ş̷͎͇̬̪̹̤̼̙͉̿̒i̸̢̯͖̠̭̟̮̝̩̎̄͜t̶̠͂͝ ̶̲̹̝͉̦̲̭̓̽̓r̵̛̮̙͈̠͈̗̣̭͑̃̑͆̂͆͜͝͝͝o̴̯̹̹͙̕ṫ̶̻͎̤̞̟͗́̊́͝å̷͕͉̤̐ ̶̨̖͓̹̦̜̔͠i̷̘̳̩͈͕͚̥̯͓͌͌̈́̇͆ņ̴̗̘̖̀̈ ̶̢̯͇̙͕̪̘̔͒̀̋͛̐͛m̸̢̛̯̹̻̾̑̇e̷͕͎̊̌́̾͐̓͠d̸̡̛͍̮̪͎͙̃͑̍̕ḯ̴̤̘̈́͊̈͆͛͘̕ͅo̶̭̩̐ ̷̨̥̠͔̜̯̥̱̝̊̀̈́͒̃̈́͗̿͘ͅṙ̸͝ͅő̵̢͇̪͓̭̻̓́̃̓̊͗̕͠ͅť̴̡̲̬̌́̽̿͋̍̚æ̵̨͍̰͚͈̖̻̼̊̀͛̉͒͜ ̴͈̟͎͝~̴̩̍͒͛̾͐̚ ̶̢̏̍͠Z̵̬̹̝̭̪͍̟̫͐̾̈́̕a̶̻̹̬͈͒͗̇́͋̂́p̷͇͚͓͍̠̀̈́̅̊̿̚h̶̞̊͐̀͋̊͑̾̋͝k̴͚͇̻̓̐̒́̓͋̀̆̄i̵̡̛̫̫̭̩̘̥̹̜͗͆͘͝ͅe̸̛̲̪̘̽̿̋́͌̊̉l̴͕̙̣̩̲͌̇̓̒͗!̵̡̡̢͇͇̞̠͌̈"̷̳͇̂
With their choir, the Grounding Ones known as the Thrones, fully manifesting, the world appeared to brighten, as if just their presence could allow people to see the world clearly. While also part of the Cosmic Pillars like Seraphim, they served a much different purpose; not wielding the holy fire, they possessed the power to anchor the spiritual into the physical. And this was exactly why I invoked them here.
Using my other Authority, I gathered all the souls of people who passed in this brutal war, and with the power of Hunt from the Kālacakra Skyplume as an intermediary, I called out their remaining wills. Not all responded; most normal people had too weak a will to do so, but the Cloud Knights were different. Even weak Pathstriders of Hunt possessed a willpower far above that of an average person, so, feeling the call of Kālacakra Skyplume, they responded.
~"I call upon you, spirits in heaven; your duty has yet to end, so return to this mortal realm."
With my command spoken, the Angels sang their prayers, causing the weak and intangible wills brought here by my Authority to solidify, turning into Pseudo-Heroic Spirits, returning to life in another way. First to appear was the deceased General, his figure emerging next to Kālacakra Skyplume. Looking around, he quickly comprehended his situation; laughing happily, he called out to those who had yet to appear.
-"What are you doing! Have you forgotten your oaths?!"-He walked to the center of the plaza.-"Come, let us, who already have no future, help those who still remain."
-"Yes, sir!"-Cloud Knights who started to appear responded.
One by one, tens of thousands of Pseudo-Heroic Spirits emerged everywhere around, some standing with the general, awaiting their next orders, some appearing next to their children and families, the reunion they couldn't even dream of granted to them.
High above the Yuque, a figure carved out of a reflective, mirror-like prism emerged; THEIR gaze recording everything happening below. While unnoticed by most, the Generals noticed its arrival, their eyes watching me with both surprise and deep thought.
-"We, Yuque Cloud Knights, respond to your call, O young Envoy of Glowswather."-The General spoke to me.
-"As clouds that cover the heavens, will the warriors protect the Xianzhou and soar eternal!"-The Cloud Knights echoed.
-"I'm only a messenger, General."-I shook my head.-"What you responded to are the people you sacrificed everything for."
-"Well said."-He laughed.
The records of this day will call it a Miracle of Glowswather in the years to come, creating countless poems and stories depicting it. While I, at the center of it all, would become a figure known throughout the entire civilized cosmos. But this was something I learned many years later; as for everyone experiencing it, the more important matter was to rebuild the present rather than to worry about the future.