Ever since the Golden City fleet ventured into the perilous Shadow River Zone, most communications had been severed. The Shadow River Zone, known for its treacherous void space rivers and electromagnetic anomalies, made long-range communication nearly impossible. It had been more than a week since the fleet's departure, and for the past three days, the civilians of Golden City had received no updates. This prolonged silence only served to amplify the fear and anxiety among the populace, who were left to imagine the worst about their loved ones and protectors facing unknown dangers in distant battles.
The atmosphere in Golden City grew increasingly tense. Whispers of concern spread through neighborhoods, where citizens gathered to share what little information they had. Rumors and speculation ran rampant, each more dire than the last, as the lack of official communication fed the growing unease.
Adding to the turmoil, protests erupted in the streets. The Golden Birds activists beca even more aggressive in their demonstrations. Chants and slogans condemning the council's decisions echoed through the city, and in so areas, the situation turned violent. Unfortunately, the city's councils and leadership symbols did little to quell the rising panic. Instead of addressing the concerns of the populace directly or offering reassurances about the fleet's mission, they focused on internal political maneuvering. Ergency hearings were called at the capitol building, where the Karat factions were put on public trial. The purpose of these hearings was to scrutinize and explain each decision made regarding the fleet's deploynt in exhaustive detail.
Lord Hassa Karat sat at the head of the long, polished table in the grand chamber, facing a semicircle of a dozen council mbers and hundreds of Golden City officials. The atmosphere was charged with tension, the air heavy with the weight of expectation and scrutiny. He seized the mont to provide an update on the ongoing battle, information he had received through special, highly classified artifacts that allowed for rare and secure communication from the front lines.
"The battle has just started, we should receive an update in several hours. I urge everyone to stay calm and give our hope and prayers to our heroes on the frontlines."
His words were intended to reassure, but the response from the council and gathered officials was anything but unanimous. There were nods of agreent and murmurs of support from so, particularly his allies who trusted in his leadership and the Karat faction's decisions. However, the chamber was also filled with a significant number of opposition mbers, led by the formidable Barry Croft.
"Lord Hassa, while we appreciate the update, there are many among us who believe that the Karat faction is withholding critical information," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of the opposition's frustration. "We demand proof of your claims and a more detailed account of the situation."
Among the gathered crowd in the grand chamber was Magus Rosia, and standing beside her was Morgana. From their vantage point, Ery could hear almost real-ti updates of the situation at the hearing.
Ery harbored no doubts about the accuracy of Lord Hassa's information. His confidence did not stem only from trust but from the knowledge that he had his own reliable source of updates from the battlefield. Through the eyes and ears of his newly assigned Khaos seeds, the hybrid Grand Magus Anpu.
After five years of exceptional service, Anpu was rewarded by having his slave's mark removed and receiving the power of Khaos to enhance his strength. Ery's decision to empower Anpu was not without its risks; however, with Ery's ever-growing strength, he felt confident in managing any potential threats. He was willing to grant Anpu more power and freedom as a test of the man's true loyalty.
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The hybrid Grand Magus Anpu did not disappoint. He demonstrated his unwavering dedication by valiantly defending the Gilgash warship from the onslaught of pirate forces. He flew out of the warship, fearlessly engaging the enemy. His Khaos-improved destruction spells were devastatingly effective, obliterating incoming fighter ships with precision and power.
As Anpu battled fiercely, he maintained constant communication with Ery, providing detailed and imdiate updates on the cosmic battle.
In the grand scope of cosmic battles, magus realm figures were akin to common soldiers. It was the grand magus who stood as the captains and generals.
There were at least 28 grand magus pirates detected, each a formidable leader within the pirate ranks. These pirate captains hailed from multiple pirate clans, their reputations carved out through countless battles and acts of piracy across the cosmos. Sixteen of these grand magus were from the one cosmos realm, powerful yet still within the lower echelon of grand magus capabilities. Eight of them belonged to the two cosmos realms, making them so of the more infamous pirate captains known for their ruthlessness.
Among the last four grand magus pirates were the most notorious figures in the pirate hierarchy. At the helm was the pirate king, Giara D. Reis, whose na alone struck fear into the hearts of many. His right-hand man, Khazrak, known as the One-Eyed, was a legendary warrior with unmatched combat prowess. Adding to this formidable duo was Lorgand the Nine-Finger, an infamous rcenary leader, and a known mad female criminal who had taken refuge in Turtle Rock, Calypso the Heathen Goddess.
In stark contrast, the Golden City Alliance fielded a significantly larger and more powerful contingent of grand magus. Their strength was bolstered by the Magus Alliance enforcers, bringing their total to an impressive 55 grand magus. Among these were eight three-cosmos grand magus, whose imnse power and experience made them the elite of the elite. The Golden City Alliance's grand magus included three prominent figures from the Karat faction: Xavier, Schnable, and Boyd the West Guardian—as well as Overseer Kurma of Zodiac City, Commander Jones of the Magus Alliance enforcers, and three from other factions.
Even with one-third of the grand magus still remaining inside their ships, the battle already seed to be turning in favor of the Golden City Alliance. The disciplined formations and superior numbers of the Golden City's forces were gradually overwhelming the pirate defenses. However, the sight of the fearso tiger head pirate king, Gaira D. Reis, facing off against Xavier, remained an intimidating spectacle. Gaira stood with an air of arrogance, his expression exuding confidence and disdain for his opponent.
With a mocking smile, Gaira addressed Xavier. "You are not worthy to fight , boy! Your father and I road this sector long before you were even born!"
Xavier's eyes narrowed as he responded, his voice firm and resolute. "You are right; I feel no honor in beating up an old man like you! I suggest you surrender now and face the responsibility for your cris!"
Gaira chuckled darkly, his laughter echoing through the communication channels. "Haha, this place will be your graveyard!"
Both Gaira and Xavier were at the peak stage of the three cosmos, their powers formidable and their reputations well-earned. However, a certain advantage could be clearly seen in the pirate king's deanor. Xavier, despite his power and strategic mind, found himself having to hold on, relying on his endurance and tactical prowess to delay the pirate king until the Allied forces could clean up the battlefield.
As the battle raged on, the pirate forces were being systematically crushed. Yet, Gaira's confidence never wavered. Just as the Golden City forces were gaining the upper hand, reports began to co in from various ships. A third party was entering the fray, an unexpected fleet that had not been accounted for in their initial battle plans.
Xavier's heart sank as he heard the reports. His worst fears were confird when Gaira threw back his head and laughed triumphantly. "Hahaha, they are finally here!"
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