(The skies above Nemo, Su Pei’s POV)
Yu Day was far from the most terrifying opponent Su Pei had ever faced, yet there was something unnerving about the way the man fought, for his attacks did not come in measured bursts that could be studied and countered, but in a ceaseless torrent that allowed for no pause, no breath and no moment for reprieve.
He fought almost single mindedly, with the singular goal of destroying his opponent before he got destroyed himself—
However, this strategy was not the most useful against someone like Su Pei who was a master of defence.
For despite his endless barrage, Su Pei’s defences remained firm enough to keep a single attack from damaging him, as all the barrage could do in the end was to restrict his freedom of movement, and prevent him from launching an effective counter.
"[Endless Cosmic Barrage]"
Yu Day’s voice cracked like thunder as his blade erupted in a storm of shimmering arcs, each one trailing cosmic light that tore through the sky as if he sought to carve open the heavens themselves, the sheer density of strikes forming a cage of destruction that pressed down upon Su Pei from every direction at once.
*CLANG*
*SHRRRING*
*BOOOM*
Su Pei’s greatsword moved like a fortress wall, absorbing each impact with unshakable steadiness, his arms trembling not from weakness but from the sheer volume of strikes he was forced to endure, as he was driven higher and higher into the sky, the shockwaves bursting outward and scattering nearby frigates like leaves in a storm.
A streak of violet light descended, Yu Day twisting mid-air as he roared, his blade igniting with another technique—
[Heaven-Splitting Cross]
Twin arcs of energy split apart from his strike, one curving left and one right, before folding inward like a scissor aimed at Su Pei’s chest.
*FLASHHHH*
Su Pei’s eyes narrowed, his lips parting in silence as he shifted his stance and released his own technique, the surface of his blade hardening with layers of condensed energy.
[Iron Bastion Guard]
*CLANGK!*
The scissor-blades collided against his guard, sparks scattering in every direction, as the collision rang like a cathedral bell across the skies, yet Su Pei did not fall, though his arms shuddered with the strain and his shoulders burned from the weight.
’What a monster... he’s been going like this for several minutes now—’
Su Pei thought, as he realized that Yu Day was some sort of a stamina freak, with his speciality being his limitless endurance.
*FWOOM*
Yu Day pressed on without pause, chaining another flurry of relentless blows, his laughter echoing through the battlefield.
"You can block, Su Pei, but you can never win like this!"
The Yu Clan Monarch roared, his blade a blur of violet light.
Su Pei’s jaw tightened, his defence holding true as his thoughts rumbled.
’He is right. Alone, I cannot shift the momentum. His style feeds on aggression, and my shield alone will never break his rhythm. But... I am not alone.’
He thought, as from the corner of his eyes, he could see Viper approaching fast.
*SHHHHK!*
A sudden black streak tore across Yu Day’s blindside, moving faster than sound, and before he could twist fully to block, twin blades lashed out, carving a deep crimson line across his cheek.
*SLASHHH*
*SPATTER*
Blood sprayed into the wind as Yu Day snarled, his composure breaking as he clutched his face, his eyes burning with fury.
Viper hovered before him, his blades humming, his grin sharp.
"Didn’t see me coming, did you?" he taunted, his voice carrying the same venom as his strike as Yu Day felt a paralytic poison seeping into his bloodstream.
"Fighting with Neo-Basilisk poison? Nononono, who is the moral-less fighter? Surely you’re not from any of the six great clans....." Yu Day said, as Viper bowed with joy.
He was indeed not from the six great clans, nor did he have any qualms about fighting dirty.
"Haha.... Took you long enough to get here..." Su Pei said, as he exhaled in relief and reset his stance, as he stepped back into formation beside Viper.
He had been hoping for his partner to arrive for quite some time now, however, Dupravel took his sweet time to come.
"Yeah well, it’s not like he could hit you anyways...." Dupravel bantered, as Su Pei let out an amused chuckle in response, before pointing his blade towards Yu Day.
The intent was clear — from here onwards, Su Pei would defend, while Viper would attack, as the two Monarch’s would team up and work together to defeat the Yu Clan outsider.
—---------
(Meanwhile on the ground)
Meanwhile, on the ground below, the Yu Clan infantry finally came face to face with the Cult defenders inside the trenches as a bloody battle for ground supremacy began.
"HOLD THE LINE!" one Cult Legion Commander roared, his voice carrying over the chaos of war, his spear jabbing forward to signal the charge of a hundred thousand enemies.
"ARCHERS, FIRE!"
*TWANG*
*WHOOSH*
Arrows, tipped with mana, soared in sheets of silver light, arcing down upon the Yu formation.
Shields rattled as the first ranks staggered, a few collapsing outright as the barrage found cracks in their tortoise wall.
"RELOAD, KEEP FIRING, MAKE THEM BLEED FOR EVERY STEP!" a Cult Lieutenant added, his sword raised high as he strode behind his men, smacking helmets and shoving shoulders, keeping their focus sharp as he ensured panic did not spread amongst his men.
*BANG*
*BOOOOM*
Half assembled cannons without base stands, hidden within the half-built fortifications boomed across the Cult defensive lines, belching flame and smoke as their shells tore gouges through the enemy lines, each explosion flipping men and shields alike, scattering formations and staining the dirt crimson.
"KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.... COVER THE GAPS IN FORMATION!"
Yu Clan commanders bellowed back, driving their men forward, yet the trenches held, spears bristling like a wall of iron fangs, waiting for the desperate to come close.
"FORWARD TWO FEET—DON’T LET THEM BREACH!" a Cult Legion Commander shouted, his armor cracked and bloodied, yet his eyes blazing with defiance as he stood atop the trenchline, his banner whipping in the wind.
"WE HOLD THEM HERE, THE BASTARDS SHOULD NEVER REACH THE ACTUAL MILITARY PLAZA!"
He demanded, as his soldiers answered in kind, their roars rising, their blades thrusting with unprecedented vigor, as they fought with all their heart and strength.
The Yu Clan had come to Nemo with superior numbers, yet every inch they gained was paid for with rivers of blood and every step they took was challenged by Cult soldiers who fought not as poorly trained men but as a wall, a fortress of flesh and steel, who refused to break even as the ground shook beneath their boots.
This was the first real test for the Dragon Army, as for the first time ever, they faced off against a proper enemy army which marched forward in a tight and disciplined formation.
Yet, for now, the Cult’s men held strong, their boosted morale lending them exceptional courage even against difficult odds, as they roared in defiance with every thrust of their blades, turning fear into fury, and fury into an unshakable wall of iron will.