A few months later, exactly a year after Maximus disappeared.
On the border of the Moonlight Empire.
Sam and Luke leisurely sat down, waiting for the enemy.
"Hey brother, do you think the Westle Empire will attack us for real this time?" Sam asked, nearly closing his eyes out of boredom.
After their first clash, the Westle Empire just sent some miscellaneous fish to test the bottom line of the Empire.
Unfortunately, the puppet army was like an unbreakable wall.
No matter the type and number of enemies, it's invincible.
"This is what Neo divined, so it should be real."
A few months ago, Neo conveyed explosive news: the Moonlight Empire would be breached within a few months, which is now.
Such insane news sent them into a brief panic.
The Moonlight Empire, guarded by millions of tier 8 puppets and an Empire's Array, was considered impenetrable.
Yet, Neo claimed the Empire would be breached in a few months.
However, thinking of their brother's special physique and condensed domain, there shouldn't be much error.
In the past, Neo could only calculate if he had enough information.
However after fully awakening Divine's Calculation and condensed his domain.
Neo was able to leverage his power of law to tear down and see the future that he wanted.
The laws of the Etherium realm became Neo's friend sending him news to process.
With the news of the imminent danger of the Moonlight Empire.
The army training, war preparation, army, war supplies, etc., were all multiplied to a varying degree.
The Empire's readiness was boosted to the degree that they were ready to fight wherever and whenever.
Hearing his brother's words, Sam just looked ahead boredly.
He had Delta lookout for him by spreading the puppets, so keeping the vigilance was easy.
"Anyway, How about we—"
Suddenly, before Sam finished speaking, his device controller rang signaling the highest degree of warning.
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Enemy invasion coming!]
[Analyzing strength...]
[Enemy Puppet Army Status:
Number: 10,462,422,700
Type: Cannon Fodder - Mass-Produced Puppet
Estimated Strength: Early Tier 8 Realm
Remarks: A number that can crush anything]
"So many!" Sam muttered in shock.
"However... hehe," Sam laughed in confidence.
Thinking of the Amalgamation of Will that could make the Puppet Army immortal, a mere 10 billion was nothing.
Although he wasn't sure of winning, grinding these numbers down should be easy.
"This time it shouldn't be simple," Luke reminded.
Thinking of Neo's warning, the attack this time shouldn't be just a simple increase in number.
"Don't worry, brother."
"We will see soon if they really aren't simple..."
"Delta, back to the old formation," Sam ordered quickly.
"Furthermore, initiate Intelligent Assist Mode!"
Intelligent assist mode, aka cheating mode, involved using the Chrono Ex Quantum Controller to assist in the fight.
Coupled with the Amalgamation of Will, 10 billion puppets were merely a number.
With his order, the puppets went into position, waiting for the enemy to arrive.
As soon as the enemy arrived within range, the puppets began to activate Overload and attack.
This time their killing efficiency was greater with intelligent assist mode and a larger number of enemies.
After a minute, the puppets were able to kill over ten million puppets.
"Tsk, a new record!" Sam muttered with a smile.
However, as the second and third minute elapsed, he felt something was wrong.
"Delta, full back retreat!" Sam ordered worriedly.
The enemy this time is weird; they seem suicidal, not caring about their lives.
They should know that his puppet army could regenerate.
A head-on battle would just be a senseless strategy, no matter the number.
The right strategy should be to drag the puppets around, minimize casualties, and use their overwhelming number to outmaneuver them.
With that strategy, although Sam is confident to kill 2-3 billion puppets, the Empire would surely be breached as Neo divined.
But to have another strategy that goes against logic means they have a greater trump card up their sleeves.
Seeing the Moonlight Empire Puppet army retreat, Antonio couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Caught on so quickly."
Antonio planned to have at least all the enemy puppets activate Overload Mode
After that, he would ask the Emperor of the Westle Empire to deactivate the enemy's Amalgamation of Will.
Without those insanely strong puppets, taking the Moonlight Empire down would be easier.
However seeing that the enemy caught on quickly, he could only disregard this plan.
"Hmph, anyway, you were destined to die today no matter what."
These months they were mainly preparing, from the puppets, logistics, and manpower.
This time, not only were there over 10 billion puppets but there were also various powerhouses from other Gods.
The Gods seemed to want to finish the job quickly and destroy the Moonlight Empire.
As for the Westle Empire, they were still taking a wait-and-see attitude.
Antonio didn't know if this was something the gods negotiated or something else.
Thinking about it, he quickly shook the thought out of his mind.
He only needed to do his job, and believe that his God arranged for everything else.
Antonio quickly called the Emperor of the Westle Empire, who agreed to help disable the buff of the Moonlight Empire.
Seeing the sky suddenly change, a smile appeared on his face.
"It's time to die..."
Seeing the enemy attack forward, Sam sweated a little.
"Relax, just buy time and wait for reinforcement," Luke comforted.
After he saw the enemy, he immediately called for reinforcement.
They should be about to arrive after a few minutes.
As for the army, they were only at tier 7 at most, they were not suitable for sea battle.
Their battle would begin when the enemies were on the land, where their full potential would be used.
"Hmmm..." Sam nodded hearing that he only needed to buy time.
However, just as he was waiting for the Puppet army to recover from Overload and regroup with others, a shock appeared in his eyes.
"How is this possible?!"
"The Amalgamation of Will is blocked?!"
Looking at the dense Amalgamation of Will that suddenly stopped moving, Sam and Luke were stunned.
"Couldn't it be the Westle Empire?"
The conclusion made their faces wrinkled as they faced the overwhelming number of puppets coming to them.
"I-I can't hold this much longer brother..." Sam smiled wryly.
Without the regeneration ability of the puppets, he can only hold off for about a few minutes.
Now there are only about two-thirds of the puppets remaining.
About 2 million puppets vs over 10 billion puppets?
Is this still called a fight?
As for the reinforcement Luke called for, it should only be a few in number.
"Retreat inside the barrier," Luke decided.
Wasting the puppets just to buy a few minutes is a dumb move.
Since the Westle Empire wants to end this now, then let's end this now.
The Moonlight Empire has long been impatient waiting for this fated battle.
"That's good..." Sam also understood and made the puppets retreat.
Meanwhile, inside the Moonlight Empire barrier:
Isabella and the others quickly received the news about Sam and Luke's retreat.
"Take back the Berserker Legion General Rose; there is no need to fight for now."
Berserker Legion is a thousand-group army composed of tier 8 Berserk Knights.
It's the most violent legion of the empire, that is about to reinforce Sam and Luke.
"Yes, Field Marshal!" Rose who was about to reach the border replied.
Now is wartime; the system of command should be followed as much as possible.
Rose was appointed by Maximus as a General as soon as they returned.
Different from Isabella, although Rose's profession was also for war, it's more battle-specific.
A Berserker's job is to rampage and boost the army morale.
They were the blood that would pumped the excitement of the army whether in victory or defeat.
"Johnson, Inform the army about the news."
"It's time for battle."
After being informed that billions of puppets were headed their way.
Instead of fear they were filled with excitement.
"The enemy is finally here!"
"My sword is hungry and thirsty!"
"Hmph! These enemies better be worth my training!"
The crowd roared, venting their anger.
These few months were like hell.
Training until they could no longer stand.
Training until their bodies fell apart.
Training until they lost their minds.
They endured all of it, waiting for this fated enemy that they would crush into pieces.
Looking at the high morale of the army, Isabelle smiled.
"Soldiers of the Moonlight Empire, the time has come!"
"The enemy in front of us, the devil that caused the chaos to the continent!"
"Pull up your swords!"
"And with every ounce of your strength!"
"We shall emerge victorious!"
"Victory to the Moonlight Empire!" Isabella shouted!
"Victory to the Moonlight Empire!"
"Victory to the Moonlight Empire!"
"Victory to the Moonlight Empire!"
As the cheer went on, the empire barrier slowly opened, revealing their enemy.
"10 billion puppets, how exciting!"
"Hahaha, come! Come! Come! Let the feast begin!"