Just as Fae suspected… the situation was serious.
Firstly, the defensive measures of the Eastern Continent consisted of three major layers. The initial and outward one was a massive barrier.
It disrupted the Mana or Miasma of anyone that entered its range, causing Skills and Magic abilities to get distorted. However, not only was the effect minimal on the invading creatures, but it almost seemed like it had no effect at all.
This seemed impossible to all the observers, since every creature either relied on Mana or Miasma to function.
Secondly, the middle layer of the defensive measures was an energy barrier that blocked out the enemy from advancing any further. However, this was unable to stop their march either. Their presence disrupted the function of the barrier, almost as if they were living personifications of the first barrier's effect.
They were able to easily bypass the energy dome, reaching the third and final lie of defense.
—Machines!
Several automatons and remotely piloted weapons of mass destruction intercepted the army of Pseudo-Dragons, creating the very first challenge the invaders experienced since they launched their assaults.
This forced them to slow down their advancement and display their combat prowess.
And… they were powerful!
Not only were these Pseudo-Dragons incredibly skilled at combat, but their control over energy and the variety of Skills they had in their arsenal was beyond amazing.
It was superb!
They seemed to have the superior abilities of Dragons mixed in with the specialty of other races.
Against the defense of machines, they were nearly unstoppable.
The hundreds of thousands of machines were reduced into nothing but scraps. While they did eliminate some of the enemy's forces, it wasn't nearly enough to be considered a worthy trade-off.
By the time the Pseudo-Dragons broke through the third layer of defensive, there were still well over two hundred thousand enemies left.
The situation was brutal, and a full-on battle seemed inevitable.
"Get ready, everyone!"
Fae yelled and raised her weapon, now completely garbed in her battle armor.
Behind her were hundreds of thousands of soldiers, all of them arranged according to their Races, areas of specialty, and method of contribution to the battle. The Fairies had been preparing for war all their lives, so they were masters at battle formations.
As a result, just by watching the Pseudo-Dragons for a few minutes, Fae could already tell the most effective method that would work on them.
The strongest fighters had to be at the forefront, rather than fodder.
They would get support from long-range buffers and assaulters, while constant restraints and defensive measures would be enacted by their forces. It was like throwing pebbles at a mountain, but even weaklings had their uses.
They were best preserved for long-range assaults than throwing their lives away like fodder.
Ultimately, the battle formation was impromptu and the soldiers present didn't constitute of the entire Alliance military might. However, Fae reasoned this would be sufficient in dealing with their current opponents.
'I estimate about a hundred thousand of us will perish here, but since there's still very little we know about the enemy, that number could double.'
However, one thing was certain to her.
'We're going to win!'
Sure, there would be sacrifices, but who among the present soldiers didn't know this?
They chose to stand on the battlefield despite the risk to their lives because they believed in the greater good and desired to bring about change—even if it would be built upon the foundation of their flesh and blood.
Or… they were simple battle-hungry like Fae.
"On your mark…" Fae raised her weapon once more, her eyes fixated on the fast-advancing enemy.
She narrowed her gaze, feeling the palpitation of her racing heart.
"… Get ready…"
The time had finally come—her debut in the battle of the end was here at long last and she could not wait to taste the sweet nectar of war.
Right as she was able to say "Charge," a sudden voice stopped her.
"Stand down."
The voice sounded familiar, and it was filled with so much warmth and firmness that it made Fae nearly burst out in annoyance. A confusing mix of love, admiration, and utter disgust combined in her mind as she thought of the person whose voice she heard in her mind.
"You old geezer…"
The Fairy King was finally out of seclusion, which also meant…
"Wow! You really gathered everyone in such an effective formation." Ater appeared in front of the crowd.
"I'm impressed, Fae."
"R-really?!" Fae's disgust vanished as soon as Ater said this to her.
She truly admired Ater.
He was, after all, the only one who had bested her in battle before. He was also very charming and had such a way with words that it was impossible not to like him after getting to know him very well.
However, his appearance in the battlefield suggested that he too had come out of seclusion.
"What pests." The Oracle's serene voice echoed as she materialized from thin air. "They actually dared to invade this sacred land."
Despite the fact that she had already seen this future before it happened through [Clairvoyance], it still irked her to witness it happen before her very eyes. Despite her personal thoughts on the matter, however, she kept a stoic gaze.
Her emotionless face remained constant.
"Where is the old geezer?" Fae turned to ask both Ater and the Oracle. "And… where is the Champion?"
Personally, she didn't have such high thoughts about Rey.
Sure, he was the destined one who possessed [Doppel], but he was too weak for her to properly respect. The only reason she depicted the level of reverence that she showed him was due to the efforts of Ater, his Familiar.
She reckoned this was the same for other Fairies, since they were all wired nearly the same way.
However, all of that was soon about to change.
"The Fairy King is resting in his palace, and Rey is about to come out, so you don't need to worry." Ater smiled. "The only reason we're here is to enjoy the show."
Fae heard this and raised her brows in confusion.
"Don't we need all hands on deck to ensure smooth victory and prevent unnecessary deaths?"
Her logical side appeared, questioning the rationale behind their forces being so fragmented, as well as the relaxed demeanor of Ater and The Oracle when the enemy's forces were fast approaching.
Even though they were very strong and their addition to the battlefield would make a lot of difference, without the right plan and formation, a lot of people would still die.
"Pfft!" Ater chuckled. "I think you're misunderstanding something."
He then pointed to the far sky, where the enemies had stained as though they were several dots in a clear canvas.
"There's no need for you to be so concerned. Master is going to handle all of them."
"W-what?!"
Fae had never seen Rey in action, so she couldn't believe this.
However, the second she was about to express her doubts in the matter, a sudden beam of light exploded from behind her.
"H-huh? That's—!" She turned back and saw a pillar of light ascending from within the wall of trees; where the Fairy Kingdom was located.
'His energy is leaking outside? How?!'
Before she could process this thought, the light suddenly vanished and an entity appeared above the battlefield, floating in the sky in order to intercept the invading forces.
He was garbed in a pure white robe, his hair dancing white as he looked ahead with purpose.
"A-ahh…" Fae couldn't help but shiver at the sight of this person.
It was Rey, but not the one she used to know.
She instinctively knew that this person had long surpassed the power that she wielded and now existed in the same level as the deities of H'Trae.
The Fairy King… The Oracle… The Dragon Emperor…
… And now, Rey Skylar.
'Looks like today isn't my debut, after all.'