Kyle looked at the defenses around him.
Five people from the Sects had arrived, and they had already built over ten different Formation Arrays. 150 Shields were standing in the middle of the Formation Array, eyes closed and focusing on regenerating as much Energy as possible. From what Kyle could see, these Shields were used as the Energy Source for the Formation Arrays.
Several Barrier Formation Arrays surrounded Kyle, each one extremely complex and flexible. Every Barrier Formation Array was unique. Some of them were amazing at blocking focused metal attacks, while others were amazing at blocking dispersed metal attacks. There was one for every kind of attack a Demon could launch.
Outside of the Formation Arrays, over 5,000 Shields were battling an unending horde of Demons.
"Advanced defenses have been set up," the same woman from earlier transmitted to Kyle. "Are you a Fighting Magnet?"
"Yes," Kyle transmitted.
"If I may ask, why did you set the Aura Expander to such a high level?" the woman asked.
Kyle wordlessly gave command over the Aura Expander to the person from the Sects, who just looked at Kyle's emblem for a moment.
When she saw the setting range, her eyes widened. It was on the minimum setting!
The woman shook her head for a moment before handing control back to Kyle. She had been quite angry at Kyle's reckless idiocy. After all, which insane person would activate the Aura Expander at such a high setting without any preparation time?
The frontlines had to remain stable. To keep Kyle safe, they would have needed to send over 6,000 people to him before he activated his Aura Expander. Yet, during the transitional period, the frontlines wouldn't be properly defended, and several powerful Demons would break through. They couldn't just pull 6,000 people away from their posts before the Aura Expander activated.
That was why it was normal to gather some people, activate the Aura Expander at a low setting, wait until everything stabilized, call a few more people, increase the setting, wait until everything stabilized, call more people, and so on.
Setting the Aura Expander to 10% immediately was unnecessarily risky.
Yet, Kyle hadn't had any other choice.
After handing control back to Kyle, the woman from the Sects turned to her companions and gave orders. Kyle couldn't listen to their conversation, but he could see that her companions were not happy with the orders.
Nevertheless, a moment later, they all started the construction of only a single Formation Array. Setting up the Formation Array took almost ten seconds, and another 100 Shields joined to act as Energy Sources.
"Keep using your Domain to protect our allies," the Sect Member transmitted to Kyle. "Do not enter battle. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your current position. I do not have the authority to order you, but I urge you to listen to me."
These words almost confirmed Kyle's suspicion, but if he wanted to be sure, he needed more information.
"Who ordered you to support me?"
"We are the maintenance team of Fort S-878," she transmitted, her eyes narrowing. "If you value your life, listen to my advice."
"As I've thought," Kyle thought, looking towards the west with narrowed eyes. "Was this the plan all along?"
As some more seconds passed, the atmosphere around Kyle became even tenser.
Even though the Shields were fighting for their lives, their minds weren't focused on the battle.
Then, everyone's emblems activated as emergency orders arrived.
"As the Commander of Fort U-878, I, Commander Levinian, am issuing an emergency order. Refusing this order will result in execution! I order: the Aura Expander has to be deactivated, and everyone who has fought in the battle must return to Fort U-878 immediately!"
When the Seekers saw the orders, they became terrified.
They had over 7,000 Seekers in battle right now! If they all retreated, the frontlines would collapse!
The Area Commanders quickly entered a discussion.
"Advice: We must follow the order," one of them said.
"Refused. The frontlines will collapse if we follow the order!" another one said.
"Advice: We do not know the greater picture. The Commander doesn't issue orders lightly. The Commander won't let the frontlines collapse."
"Refused. Circumstances are too suspicious."
"Advice: Refusal of this order results in execution. We do not have a choice."
"Relevant statement: I am not under the command of Fort U-878. I am encouraged to follow Fort U-878's orders, but I am not bound by them."
"Relevant Inquiry: Who is your commander?"
"Fort T-878."
"Fort S-878."
"Fort S-878."
"Fort T-878."
"Relevant Inquiry: Which teams belong to Fort U-878?"
Only three out of the 18 Area Commanders present belonged to Fort U-878.
The three of them looked at each other with severity.
"Orders must be followed," one of them transmitted to the others.
"Advice: This sacrifice has no meaning," another one transmitted.
"Orders must be followed," the first one repeated.
"Advice: Following orders is up to the individual."
"...Accepted."
The next moment, the first Area Commander wordlessly flew towards the west.
Yet, despite having command over more than a hundred people, only three people joined him.
If he had given an order, far more of his people would have followed.
The other two Area Commanders from Fort U-878 stayed and looked at their people.
"Order: Hold the line!"
All the present Sages fought with renewed vigor. If one looked into their eyes, one would get the impression that they were fighting the last battle in their lives. It was almost like they knew that they were going to die soon.
Their attacks became more reckless, and more of them started dying.
Several seconds passed.
The people from the Sects didn't do anything. They just stood there, waiting.
Some more seconds passed.
Then, their leader suddenly sent the loudest and most urgent voice transmission she could produce.
"Immediately stop fighting and enter the Formation Arrays if you want to survive!"
"Order: Listen to her!" the Area Commanders all transmitted to their people.
Like a machine, all the Shields retreated into the Formation Array. Any Demon that had been in battle was now free to attack the Formation Array.
A gigantic storm of attacks rained onto the Formation Array, but the Energy Sources remained stable as more Shields joined.
Yet, since they were no longer being killed, more and more Demons joined the assault.
The attacks became even more powerful, and after just two seconds, over 10,000 Demons surrounded them.
If the people left the protective area of the Formation Arrays, they would be killed immediately.
"Incoming!" the woman from the Sects transmitted.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A blue wave of mixed destructive Energies enveloped the world.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The Barrier Formation Arrays broke in an instant. This wave went far beyond their maximum capacity. No matter how much Energy they had, they couldn't use the Energy quickly enough to resist this attack.
All of the Barrier Formation Arrays broke within an instant.
And then, a new Barrier Formation Array activated.
As the blue wave of Energy hit the newest Barrier Formation Array, instead of weakening, the Formation Array strengthened!
"Redirect!" the woman ordered, and her people followed.
The blue wave vanished, and the blue Barrier Formation Array suddenly brightened.
Then...
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Over 100,000 concentrated blue lasers shot out of the Barrier Formation Array.
The lasers flew in all directions, and over 70% of the Demons were hit.
The lasers were so powerful that the Demons died within an instant.
At this moment, the soldiers felt shock and hope. They hadn't expected to survive.
Now, they knew two things for sure...
First, they had made the right call.
And second...
Commander Levinian was an enemy.
A spy.
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