Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 235. Departure of the Fortuna Coalition Army.

Eila stood on the walls surrounding Fortuna City, looking toward the distance with thoughtful eyes. 'I guess this is all. If we wait, we will lose because Liu Shu is stronger than Fortuna, and considering how fast she has shortened the level gap, she can probably grow faster than Fortuna.'

Eila sighed, creating a small white cloud in front of her. Looking at the fog, she muttered. "It's starting to get cold."

She was wearing a long black and purple dress that went very well with her eyes and hair. The stylish dress was not just a fashionable choice of clothing but a strong Level 25 equipment dress. This equipment was part of a set with her sword, giving her a total of 500 <Aether>, 300 <Physique>, 250 <Anima>, and 300 <Willpower>. 

The stat boost was also tuned toward her own powers, and even when she transformed, this specialized equipment would give her some extra benefits that, together, allowed her to suppress Fortuna, a Level 28 World Tree. 

Her individual strength was vastly superior to almost anyone participating in this Sub Level-30 war. 

Turning around, the army she had gathered entered her sight. There were 40,000 soldiers, each wearing different armor in batches depending on the power they belonged to. Between them, almost 100 <Second Energy Cycle> powerhouses would each lead a 400-soldier battalion.

The army expected Eila to give a speech, so everyone was looking at her. However, Eila looked at all of them without a single word. This made the onlookers feel somewhat restless. 

After a few moments, a woman's voice reached her. "Is the most powerful person feeling restless? This is quite a unique sight." 

Eila looked sideways and saw three smiling people walking toward her: two women and one man. The man spoke sternly. "You can't show this attitude before a War, Lady Eila."

Eila answered flatly, her eyes cold. "Your lapdog told me that you three are the ones in charge. What is there for me to say? If you want to increase morale, then you give a speech."

She didn't lower her tone when speaking, so the entire army heard what she said, making many look confused. After all, this was a crusade for Lady Fortuna against the World Tree that was trying to invade Fortuna City… Or so most of them were told.

After Eila's words, their faces twitched for a second. One of the women spoke lowly so that the army didn't hear. "I thought you said you'd be cooperative."

"Elowen, I'll battle as instructed, like I always do. That doesn't mean that I am a puppet you can control as you please."

The man squinted and stepped forward, but Elowen stopped him. "Folter, don't act rashly."

The last woman, a Sylvan, sighed. "You are as stubborn as always."

Eila looked at her and answered. "Lyra, you are as haughty as always. No wonder the person who started most of what is happening studied in your <Azurebell Heather Sect>." She then smiled. "Well, all three of you are Sect Masters around this area because of your lack of talent in the first place, so I am not surprised at how hungry you are for power. Being Level 29 after so long, I sometimes wonder if you just stopped leveling altogether."

Elowen snarled. "Don't go too far, Eila! You and Fortuna are still people under the <Azure Rose Confederation>!"

Eila looked at her deeply for a few seconds and asked, her lips arching in mockery. "Am I?" She turned around without waiting for an answer and jumped down the wall, landing in front of the army. Once she landed, she looked around, making everyone nearby flinch. However, she didn't do anything. Eila just walked toward Fortuna City's army and stood in front of all of them, her chin high and her back straight. 

Lyra looked at Eila for a few seconds and sighed. Then, she stepped forward, and her presence expanded outward. As a Sylvan, her beauty was beyond words. Graceful and ethereal, her silver hair and luminescent violet eyes shimmered with an otherworldly glow. 

Her voice echoed around with a touch of authority. "Today, we march to fight a corrupt World Tree. A World Tree who has appeared in the nearby area and infected many people with an evil ideology." Lyra paused, allowing her words to echo, and then she spoke. "Such a creature can't be allowed to exist near Lady Fortuna, so we will be her ax and take down our enemies and those who allied with them! Glory to the <Azure Rose Confederation>!"

"Glory to the <Azure Rose Confederation>!"

Eila listened with an impassive expression. 'This is just another fight.' Eila thought to herself. 'Another of the senseless crusades that these powers force all of us to play in.' 

But as she walked in front of her army, her eyes flashed with the image of the World Tree in the center of Golden Sap City. '... It's just another one, yet…' her eyebrows came together. '... Why do I feel so much hesitation? Right and wrong had long since stopped making sense for me, long ago when I lost her…' 

An image of a gigantic and gorgeous violet flower burning down flashed in her mind, making her heart squeeze. 

"Groups one to seventy-five will circle south around the Golden Sap Forest and go to Sirol City! Take them by surprise by eliminating one of our enemies quickly! Group seventy-six to one hundred, follow me!"

Elowen's shout snapped Eila out of her daze. Fortuna City's soldiers were all in the first groups, so she guided her troops south according to Elowen's orders. Looking at Elowen, Eila snorted. 'A group of 10,000? It seems that they have completely ignored my warning. Well, this reduces our chances of winning by quite a lot.'

Lyra shouted. "Eila, move in between the army and the <Dark Aether Swamp>. We don't want any surprises."

Eila moved, separating from the 30,000 group and traveling closer to the <Dark Aether Swamp>. Looking sideways, she could see in the distance the constant dark cloud and ominous aura coming from there. 

She had entered that place before, which was how she managed to break the Level 30 bottleneck. Therefore, she knew how dangerous that place truly was. The times she almost died while being there were more than she would like to admit.

The tension in the air could be felt as the army traveled in complete silence. They were around 20 kilometers away from the Golden Sap Forest's edge to ensure that the World Tree didn't feel their presence. This meant they were around 5 kilometers from the <Dark Aether Swamp>'s edge. 

As they advanced, Eila's mood tensed, and she reached for her sword, unsheathing it. Then, her body started crackling with purple lightning, increasing the charge in her body. 

GRAAAHH!

A powerful roar reached them from the <Dark Aether Swamp>, followed by a bunch of beasts appearing from the foggy edge of the swamp. Around 200 creatures with dark and furry bodies were rushing toward them. 

The army people felt a threat from these beasts, prompting many to take out their weapons and slow down the rhythm, preparing for combat. Lyra and Folter, who were leading, didn't say no and similarly prepared for battle. 

Before they made any other move, though, Eila's footwork changed, and she shot directly against the approaching beasts like a bolt of purple lightning. She reached in front of one of them in less than a second. Then, Eila's body lit up as electricity shot around, and she slashed at it with cold eyes. 

"<Fulminant Strike>." 

CRACKLE!

BOOM!

[Congratulations on defeating <Dark Furbear Level 21 (E+ Rank)>. You've gained 6 Experience Points.]

The army personnel saw a flash of purple light followed by a massive creature being blasted and flying as if it were made of leaves. Imagining themselves being in the way of that attack, the hearts of everyone present shuddered for a second.

Eila saw many of the beasts turn toward her, and she used <Lightning-Born Reflexes>, increasing her speed several times. Then, she followed it up by activating <Verdant Chain Lightning>. 

RUMBLE!

Purple lightning bolts scattered around her as she stuck her sword into the ground, followed by the lightning storm bouncing from plant to plant, piercing through several dozen nearby beasts. 

[Congratulations on defeating <Dark Furbear Level 23 (E Rank)>. You've gained 16 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Dark Scale Level 21…]

[Congratulations on defeating <Swamp Rat Level 24…]

…

Eila then retreated, catching up with the beasts that had ignored her and rushed toward the army. 

Of course, the rest of the army wasn't useless. When several dozen beasts arrived, Lyra's orders spread calmly: "Groups one to ten clash with the approaching enemies!" 

Together with Eila's contributions, they were quickly dealt with. There were only 30 fatalities, something very acceptable in Lyra's eyes. 

Eila looked at those who fell and frowned briefly, but she didn't linger on that. 

Lyra saw it and nodded. "Move out! We have only eight hours to reach Sirol City and less than five hours for it to be effective." 

The army resumed the march, encountering situations like this one four more times. The casualties were kept at a minimum, but they still managed to go beyond 400 while leaving a few hundred more injured. The high numbers were because there were Level 25+ beasts that appeared, disrupting their ranks much easier. 

If it weren't for Eila being part of the army, the numbers would've been at least double. 

After crossing the most dangerous area, Lyra ordered once more. "We rest for 20 minutes! Once we heal all the injured, we'll move on."

The army stopped, and the healers in the group quickly began working. Lyra approached Eila and saw that her clothes were stained with blood. She frowned and asked. "Are you injured?"

Looking over, the Lightning Aether Sylvan answered briefly. "No injuries."

Lyra nodded and was about to turn around when Eila asked. "Why use only teams one to twenty? Isn't it better to rotate them so that the people fighting will be less tired?"

Lyra paused and looked at Eila. Then, she answered. "Because, if any other groups fight, I doubt you'll be so enthusiastic fighting. After all, groups one to fifteen are Fortuna City people."

Eila looked at Lyra and nodded, not showing any emotion. "I see."

Lyra raised her eyebrow at such a nonchalant answer. "I recommend that, if you are planning something, you don't. After all, I'll inform my superiors about your performance when we are done here."

Eila didn't answer and proceeded to clean her sword with a cloth. Some of the blood from that swamp could be corrosive to weapons, after all.

Lyra looked at her for a few seconds and shook her head. 'In the end, you are just good at obeying orders. Your free will matters little. I made the right call to get the army's authority. I can't imagine how it would be to be led by someone like her.' 

As Lyra walked away, Eila raised her eyes from her sword and looked at her back. Behind her purple iris, there was a deep darkness that nobody noticed.