The military base constructed beneath Dragon Spine roared to life as the soldiers of the Xaos Kingdom began fulfilling their duties with methodical precision. Every corridor echoed with purposeful footsteps, every chamber buzzed with orders transmitted through A.I.-linked comm systems.
A ten-thousand-strong strike force may have sounded impressive, and in many ways it was. But on a world as vast, hostile, and deeply entrenched as Exilon, it was little more than a speck of dust. That meant one thing, everybody had to do their part.
Every single man and woman in the Xaos army had a vital task. If even one faltered, the entire plan could crumble before it began.
In the command center at the heart of the Xaos Tower, the leaders of the invasion had gathered. Vlad, the True Depravita of Wrath, stood at the center of the strategy chamber, flanked by Jormungandr, Freya, Ouroboros, Fafnir, Overlord, and Grand Marshal Anglius.
Projected above the command table floated a shimmering holographic map of Exilon. Pulsing ley lines and energy nodes crisscrossed the continent, marking the world’s arcane arteries. Their mission was displayed in harsh, glowing red: three specific locations where Silence Towers would need to be constructed.
These towers, once activated, would generate a powerful anti-communication field, one capable of severing Exilon’s connection with the outside universe. Magic arrays, interstellar signals, spiritual transmissions—none of it would function within the towers’ radius. That would make the world blind and mute, cutting it off from the larger network of Zanis-controlled systems.
However, deploying such powerful devices came at a cost.
They consumed massive amounts of energy—far more than traditional arcane structures. For that reason, the towers could only be built atop powerful leyline intersections. The complication? Most of those intersections were already occupied by the Zanis military. Heavily fortified strongholds were erected atop them, making direct assault impossible without alerting the entire planetary defense grid.
Fortunately, imperial intelligence had identified three leyline nodes not currently under military control. Unfortunately, they came with their own deadly obstacles.
Each of the three sites was home to monstrous hordes—dense clusters of magical beasts, including Legendary-class entities. These creatures had claimed the regions as their territory, creating massive hunting grounds saturated with blood, predation, and primal energy. Wiping them out would be necessary to secure the sites, but it had to be done quietly.
"No large-scale explosions. No flashy displays. No trace of our presence," Vlad said, his voice sharp and commanding as his eyes studied the map. "We go in, we eliminate the monsters, and we build the towers. No one can know we were there."
The room was silent, each general absorbing the weight of the task.
"We must split," Vlad continued. "I will take the northeastern location."
No one questioned his choice. That site was the most dangerous of the three, a mountainous region teeming with flight-capable apex predators. But Vlad was the strongest among them, and his mastery over the Law of Space made him uniquely suited to infiltrate enemy zones, eliminate threats silently, and reposition without trace.
"We three will handle the southern site," Jormungandr said, gesturing to Ouroboros and Fafnir. "Between our strengths, the beasts there will not be a problem."
The trio of Depravitas exchanged firm nods. Lightning, stealth, and raw appetite for destruction would be their tools, but discipline would guide their hand. Their eyes burned with purpose.
"I shall accompany Lady Freya to the western site," Overlord added, his voice calm and analytical. The divine glow of his avatar pulsed gently as he turned toward the Depravita of Lust. "With her Royal Totems and my Divine Power, we will neutralize all hostiles and deploy the tower without triggering detection."
Vlad’s golden eyes narrowed slightly. He considered the pair for a moment, then nodded in approval. Freya’s skills complemented Overlord’s computational precision. Together they formed a perfectly balanced force for covert operations, with more than enough raw power to take care of a horde of Monsters.
"Once all three towers are active, we strike the Interstellar Teleportation Formations," Vlad stated grimly. "They must be destroyed completely. Once those are down, Exilon is sealed."
He glanced across the table at Anglius.
"I trust the automatons are already in position?"
"Yes, my king," Grand Marshal Anglius replied with certainty. "They’ve begun reconnaissance sweeps and are feeding real-time data into our network. They’ll help us avoid patrols and adapt to unforeseen complications while keeping us hidden from detection."
"Good," Vlad said, satisfied. "According to the plan, we’ll divide our army into three battalions. Each will position themselves near one of the Zanis military bases that house the teleportation formations. Once our teams finish with the towers, we’ll regroup with the closest battalion and strike in unison—fast, lethal, and without hesitation."
"Enemy strongholds will be scanned thoroughly," Anglius added. "We’ll provide you with up-to-date intelligence and logistical routes. The moment you arrive, we strike."
Vlad nodded in approval. "Then it’s settled."
He turned his gaze to the Depravitas and Overlord. "Complete the tower deployments. Afterward, regroup with your assigned battalion and destroy the teleportation hub closest to your location. Do not linger. Strike fast, then retreat and regroup."
There was a moment of solemn silence, then Vlad continued, his tone grave and resolute:
"Our objective is not to conquer Exilon today. We are not here to fight battles of pride. Our only goal is to sever this world’s connection to the rest of the universe. Once the teleportation formations are gone and communications blocked, the rest of the Xaos Armada will descend. Only then will the true invasion begin."
Each of the Depravitas, Overlord, and Grand Marshal Anglius gave nods of agreement. They understood the stakes.
Trying to conquer a hardened world with only ten thousand soldiers would be madness. This was not a war of numbers—it was a shock operation, a surgical strike meant to cripple infrastructure and render Exilon vulnerable. And when the Xaos main forces arrived—millions strong, led by gods and abominations—the full conquest would begin.
Vlad looked once more at the glowing map of Exilon. Soon, the first domino would fall.