(15 years later, Leo's POV, the Ti-Stilled World)
Fifteen years had passed within the Ti-Stilled World since Leo failed to retrieve the holy water from Granada, and in that ti, more than just his strength had changed.
For starters, he now wore a thick, well-kept beard that frad his face in a clean square shape, as although he never allowed it to grow wild or unkempt, he kept it deliberately trimd to give himself a more mature appearance.
Because having reached the peak of Monarch-Hood, Leo's natural features had long since stabilized, leaving him with the face of a twenty-five-year-old man regardless of how much ti passed. And with his children now grown to twenty and twenty-two, remaining clean-shaven had begun to create an almost absurd image, as he appeared less like their father and more like an older sibling standing beside them.
So, to maintain a sense of presence and authority within his own family, Leo had made a simple decision.
He grew the beard.
Not out of vanity-
But to look the part he was ant to play.
"They're doing well so far, Lord Father,"
Dumpy noted, as he, just like Leo, observed Caleb and Mairon from a distance while they carried out their very first military mission with steady precision.
"I an... yeah, they're not doing too bad,"
Leo replied as he sat atop Dumpy's massive head, attempting to keep his tone neutral, however failing to fully suppress the quiet pride that
slipped into his voice.
Because no matter how much he tried to remain composed, he could not quite hide the satisfaction that rose within him as he watched his children lead their squads with confidence and efficiency.
"The children do not understand the value of your guidance, Lord Father.
If given an option between tutoring under you, or taking part in a real life mission, 99.9% of the army would choose training under you.
However, those born in the ocean, can never truly appreciate the value of water.
As your own children plead to be let free."
Dumpy noted, as he let out a deep sigh, prompting Leo to stroke his head.
"It's fine....
They need to do a bit of both.
I did promise them that once both of them reached Transcendent, I would allow them to participate in military drills.
So yeah.
In a way, they have earnt this escapade."
Leo replied, as he saw the kids reach a critical juncture in the mission.
"Oh.... Now this should be interesting!
I count at least fifteen Transcendent Tier mutated beasts and One
Monarch Tier Beast in the valley ahead of them.
What will they do now?
Do they take another path?
Do they fight?
Or do they co up with sothing clever?"
Leo wondered, as he continued to watch with bated breath.
(anwhile, Caleb and Mairon's POV)
Caleb stood at the edge of the valley with his squad spread out behind him in a disciplined formation, as his sharp eyes scanned the terrain ahead while his mind processed every possible variable that could influence the outco of their next move.
Before today, he had never actually led a mission, however, because of his ntors, who were his father and all the Monarch's within the Cult, he had learnt a lot about strategy and tactics while growing up.
"Scout, what's the report?" Caleb asked as his tone remained calm and controlled, while two young scouts who had just returned from their reconnaissance stepped forward with visibly tense expressions.
"There are multiple high-tier mutated beasts within the valley," one of them reported as he swallowed nervously, while the second scout continued without hesitation.
"At least fifteen Transcendent-tier signatures and one Monarch-tier presence at the center," he said as the weight of that information settled over the squad.
A brief silence followed.
Caleb nodded slowly as he turned his gaze back toward the valley,
while his thoughts began aligning themselves into a structured assessnt of the situation.
'Charging in blindly is not an option...' Caleb thought as his eyes narrowed slightly while he visualized the terrain.
'If we engage directly, there is a high probability of casualties, and even if we succeed, we will waste ti and energy on a fight that is
not our objective!
He exhaled slowly.
'But going around... would cost us at least twelve to sixteen hours!
That was unacceptable.
Ti was a resource just as valuable as strength.
"We need a plan," Caleb said as he turned to face his squad, while his
presence naturally drew their full attention.
"Our objective is to cross the valley, not to conquer it," Caleb continued as his tone remained firm yet composed, while he deliberately maintained eye contact with each of his team mbers.
"So if anyone has a solution that minimizes risk while maintaining efficiency, speak up," Caleb said as he opened the floor, encouraging input rather than forcing a unilateral decision.
For a brief mont, the squad exchanged glances.
Then one of the team mbers stepped forward.
"How about we circle toward the right side of the valley and set up a series of high-intensity flares along with controlled explosions?" he suggested as he spoke with growing confidence.
"If we trigger them simultaneously, the beasts should be drawn toward the light and sound, giving us a window to slip through from the opposite side," he added as several others nodded at the idea.
Caleb listened carefully.
Then shook his head.
"No," Caleb said as his voice remained calm but decisive, while he raised a hand to halt further discussion on that line of thinking. "That plan assus predictable behavior," Caleb continued as he stepped forward slightly.
"Monarch-tier beasts do not react like lesser creatures," Caleb said as his gaze hardened.
"They sense movent, intent, and energy fluctuations almost instantly, and the mont we enter its range of detection, we will be intercepted at the very next breath." Caleb explained as he broke
down the flaw in the man's plan without dismissing the logic behind
it.
"That strategy would work against Grandmaster-tier threats," Caleb added as he glanced toward the squad.
"But under current conditions... it is too risky."
The team mber nodded slowly.
He looked genuinely enlightened by Caleb's analysis and did not feel
dismissed, which encouraged others to speak up as well.
"What else can we do?" one of them asked as healthy discussion began within the squad.
However, before the discussion could progress further- "Alright, that's enough," a voice cut through the chatter abruptly.
Caleb's expression shifted instantly.
Because he already knew who it was.
Mairon stepped forward with a lazy stretch of his shoulders, as his
lips curled into a faint smirk while he looked toward the valley below
with complete disregard for the danger.
"I'm going in," Mairon declared as though the decision required no further thought.
However, the mont he took a step forward, Caleb's hand shot out
instantly.
*Grab* "Mairon don't!"
Caleb said sharply as he caught Mairon by the wrist, his grip firm
while his eyes locked onto his brother.
"We need a plan of attack!" Caleb insisted as his voice dropped lower.
Mairon glanced back at him.
Then smiled.
"I am the plan of attack!" Mairon said as he pulled his hand free
without resistance.
And before anyone could stop him-
He jumped.
"CO AT IF YOU DARE, BEASTS!" Mairon roared as his voice
echoed across the valley, while his aura exploded outward like a
blazing signal.
"I'LL CUT EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU DOWN!" Mairon declared as he
laughed wildly.
"НАНАНАНА!"
The reaction was instant.
The valley erupted.
Roars echoed. The ground trembled.
Dozens of massive figures surged toward him as the entire swarm of
beasts locked onto his presence.
And then-
Mairon moved.
His daggers flashed through the air as he carved through the first
beast without slowing, while his body flowed from one strike into
another with savage precision.
Blood sprayed.
Limbs shattered.
Creatures five tis his size collapsed as though they were nothing
more than training dummies.
"Ah shit..." Caleb muttered under his breath as he watched the chaos
unfold, his grip tightening slightly.
"Why is my brother such a musclehead?" Caleb cursed as he shook his
head once.
Then jumped.
Because there was no universe where he would allow Mairon to face
that alone. [StormFlash Traverse]
[Thousand Phantom Slashes]
Caleb descended into the battlefield right behind Mairon as he used
Leo's signature moves, while the rest of the squad stood frozen for a
mont-
Watching in sheer disbelief.
As the two brothers tore through a swarm of Transcendent-tier
beasts like they were barely an obstacle at all.
(anwhile, Leo and Dumpy)
From high above the battlefield, Leo and Dumpy continued to observe
the unfolding chaos as Caleb and Mairon tore through the valley
below in two completely different yet equally effective styles of
combat.
Dumpy watched the scene with growing amusent, as the thunder
of collapsing beasts and the flashes of steel reflected faintly in his wide eyes before he finally broke into a deep, booming laugh. "Ha ha ha ha!" Dumpy laughed heartily as his massive body shook slightly beneath Leo.
"Lord Father, it appears your children have inherited very different
aspects of you," Dumpy said as he tilted his head slightly while continuing to observe the battle below.
"Caleb has inherited your wisdom, your restraint, and your ability to lead with clarity," Dumpy continued as his tone carried genuine admiration.
"While Mairon..." Dumpy paused briefly as another beast was cleaved
clean in half below.
"...has inherited your balls," Dumpy said as a faint grin ford across
his face.
*Sigh*
Leo let out a deep sigh at Dumpy's words, yet despite the exasperation in that breath, the smile on his lips never truly faded as
his eyes remained fixed on the battlefield below.
"Yeah..." Leo muttered quietly. "They really did end up taking different parts of ."
He leaned forward slightly as his gaze sharpened.
One son calculating every move. The other charging headfirst into danger without hesitation.
Two completely opposite approaches.
And yet-
Both were working.
"They're both exceptional," Leo said as his voice carried quiet pride.
"Equal to no one else in their tier."
He paused briefly.
Then added with a softer tone- "...but still far from where they need to be." Because as impressive as their current strength was... Leo could
already see the gaps, the mistakes, the inefficiencies, and the dangers
they had yet to fully understand.
His smile lingered.
But his eyes hardened.
As only he could see just how much more they still had to grow
before they could truly stand up for themselves.
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