Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1301: The Junction

As days passed, the construction of a central hub under the combined management of the Rakos, Zivot, and Vulkan empires continued to its fullest. In mere 10 days, with the resources poured in from all three sides… a central hub was created in No Man’s Land.

Just as Kahn had previously ordered, they took the most strategically advantageous locations as their own to create the hub, armed enough to age as small war if needed.

With the help of dozens of saints with Earth and Metal elements from each empire, the base was created, and it spanned 400 kilometers, where the centralized route was created for traveling, both on foot and through the air.

Railroads to travel using gigantic land vehicles, safe passage to use for hovering vehicles with low altitude capacity, and transportation of goods and supplies using monster species that were often used by the common folk… all of it was systematically applied in this central hub.

Dozens of teleportation gates, protected by saints and warriors of great experience, now stood as high as hundreds of meters tall and could accommodate thousands of people as well as large ships and flying machinery for traveling to distant lands.

However, none of these were enough to help an army of more than 80 million troops at once. So only a few hundred thousand were privy to use these means and become the first to arrive at the next junction.

Since it was a junction point for the Rakos, Zivot, and Vulkan empires, all three of their armies would travel through this path at specified times as they would supplement their unified forces against the Khorne Empire.

For now, it was just the Rakos Empire army that would be leaving first. And when all of the empires were to start their joint attacks, the other two would follow.

At the same time, similar central hubs were being built across many empires to accommodate smooth transportation of their troops, following Kahn’s absurd demands.

Previously, it took them months to send their entire armies under mandates that delayed the entire troops by weeks and sometimes months.

Though it was Kahn who forced out this demand, they took in his suggestion to spread across the other junctions since they all now staked their fates on this presumably final war.

These junctions would connect their empires for years to come and save a lot of time and resources.

In reality, this was something debated for hundreds of years whenever the Great War was on the way.

But everyone knew that once these routes were built, they were also susceptible to illegal activities such as immigration and rival empires using them to invade their respective lands.

And just for those reasons alone, it was always brushed off by the council.

But now, under the pretext of Kahn’s unreasonable demands, they were giving it a go just to save their own effort.

Kahn and his forces, on the other hand, were simply the ones benefiting from it in name only. Because they now had a justified excuse to create a verified path to simply travel without having to risk a war with their own allied nations.

PWAAAAA!!!

The sound of a resonant blast echoed in the surroundings of one of the transportation gate buildings as armed forces, the most elite groups among them, now led an envoy of important leaders of their respective garrisons.

Under the curated operations of the employees, some of whom were mages… the envoy entered the glimmering gates and disappeared from sight.

“The captains have left. Prepare for the troops to travel and meet them at the next junction.” spoke a guardsman as he waved a yellow flag.

A far distance away, another cruiser ship soldier was waiting for the signal as he watched the yellow flag being waved using binoculars.

“It’s a go! Proceed with the departure!” he said while holding a mic that was connected to the speakers, which resounded in the main crew cabin of the warship.

BOOM!

Just with that signal alone, the dormant engines revved up, and their exhaust blasters released immense heat as the ships soon started taking off for the skies.

Soon, dozens and then hundreds of ginormous warships followed suit.

From land, vehicles powered by mana cores also started traveling like bullet trains.

Yet, this was just the first batch; hundreds were awaiting their turn to embark upon this fateful journey.

The saints, on the other hand, each had their own ships that passed at supersonic speed.

As for the envoys, they had already left through teleportation gates and would make arrangements for the incoming troops.

Because even vehicles needed time to cool off their engines and parts, the flying ships and warships also needed maintenance every while and then.

And people also needed a day’s rest and proper food to carry on further.

If all of their troops were exhausted from work and travel… how would they fight when needed?

This was not going to be just one decisive battle. No, it was a war that would last for years to come.

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The Next Week…

On the Northern border of the Nadur Empire was the territory under the authority of the Heavenly King of Metal.

Today, the armies of the Hero of Darkness were traversing the path created by the Beast Empire.

And hence, one of the four 7th-stage saints, the Heavenly King of Metal, Jaro was now tasked with surveilling the incoming armies of the Rakos and Abyss Empire combined.

Jaro was an intermediate 7th-stage saint who was also the father of Dahaka. The final opponent Kahn faced as Atreus during the Elysium tourney, which ended in the latter’s gruesome death.

As the champion, Kahn was then forced to join the Hero of Nature’s party and enter the Conclave of Heroes with them.

Although Atreus was considered officially dead… Jaro still held a grudge against the Heavenly King of Fire.

Today, he had already been informed about the arrival of the official entourage of these forces, represented by one chapter master of the Abyss Empire and one general from the Rakos Empire, both of whom were 6th-stage saints.

As part of the agreement, they came through teleportation gates to make arrangements for the incoming armies.

This particular border was going to be one of the junctions where they would rest for a day or two so that the soldiers could have a moment of respite and also perform maintenance on their warships and all the other machinery to prepare for further travel.

Jaro of the Black Panther Clan, with his eldest son, who himself was an intermediate 6th-stage saint, had arranged many outposts and castles to temporarily offer accommodation for the allied troops.

But in reality, it was a ruse to gauge their numbers and keep track of Kahn’s overall firepower.

Because not only was the Rakos Empire an enemy… there was also a blood feud with the Abyss Empire.

“Empress Kaali said that the Hero of Darkness was utterly disrespectful during the meeting of the council.

He boasted his military strength again and again and even dared to talk about attacking all the other empires if they tried to cause trouble.

I want to see with what confidence a mere hero dared to act so arrogantly.” he spoke sternly.

“Invite the entourage as our guests. Then we shall see if they are worth the salt or just like to put up a bravado for nothing.”