As the cadets landed on the peaceful grounds of the Defense Academy, hell let loose in the Demon Abyss.
Every Abyss had a strict hierarchy. Each Abyss was treated as a kingdom and divided into several prefectures.
Each prefecture was governed by an Abyss Archduke, a Level 9.
A prefecture was further divided into Duchies and governed by Abyss Dukes, Level 6s.
The Level 7 and Level 8 Abyssals were called Abyss Princes and Princesses.
However, just like Earth, Demon Abyss had had thousands of Level 7s.
Even though it was the title, not every Level 7 or 8 could enjoy the privileges of a prince.
After strict screening, the most promising candidates were selected. They were then tasked with supervising the Duchies, participating in higher level military operations, strategic planning and so on.
They received strict training in all domains necessary to be the next Abyss Ruler. As they grew, they would garner a following.
In a sense, the most promising Abyss Prince had as much voice as any Abyss Archduke.
The Abyss Princes were the beacon of hope and the future pillars of an Abyss.
On this day, the five most promising princes and princesses of Demon Abyss turned into corpses.
The Abyss Archdukes hurried to the five locations and flew into a fit of rage.
"Enigma!" Her name resounded throughout the Demon Abyss.
She elicited fear and hatred in equal proportions.
Not just her deeds, but her guts were also equally astounding.
Abyss Archdukes had to agree after seeing the words she left behind.
On the walls of the Prince's castle, there were a few lines in green blood.
'Too bad I'm not a Sovereign yet, but be prepared for the day. I'll slaughter every creature in the Abysses.'
Despite being in high or peak Level 9, the Abyss Archdukes felt a chill down their spine.
This was a mad woman. She would do as she said.
If in the light, the Human Armed Forces were their greatest enemy, then in the darkness, Enigma, despite not even being a Level 9 was their nightmare.
If one day she really reached, no, it was not question of if, but when. When she reached Sovereign state, she would single handedly kill all the Abyss Kings and Queens.
Then just like she uprooted all Abyss underlings on Earth, she would uproot the eight Abysses from existence.
Even now, her influence couldn't be overstated.
Shadow Order, the most important link for Demon Abyss' operations on Earth, was severely affected.
It fell from influencing regional powers of Earth like Astor Clan to hiding in the gutters to survive.
Many Shadow Order members were hunted down by the so called Shadow Order. The worst thing was that Enigma herself finished off at least twenty Level 8s!
Even for a cult like Shadow Order, Enigma was a nightmare!
"How much time would it take?" Mendis, the strongest Abyss Archduke knit his brows and asked in irritation.
Four holograms were propped up before him, showing four Archdukes in the sites of murder.
No one was willing to answer his question.
Finally, an Archduchess spoke. "Killing a Sovereign needs a lot of preparation. If we miss, the entire plan will fall through."
"And I'm asking when are the preparations going to be completed?" Mendis's eyes turned red as he raised his voice by a few notches.
The corpse on the ground was his only son. The source of his pride. Now, the source of his grief.
Just a few days ago, his son promised him that he'd be the next Abyss King and make him proud.
'Damn you, Enigma!'
"Watch your tone. You're not the only one who lost their child." Wendy said coldly.
Mendis' stiffened for a moment before he took a deep breath. Wendy's daughter, who was younger than his son, was also killed.
It was also known in their circle that Wendy spoiled her daughter the most.
Who would've thought that Wendy was able to maintain that stoic face.
"I am eager to shred Enigma to pieces." He said as he gnashed his teeth. "The sooner the better."
"At least a year." Wendy replied after a long silence. "But once we take down Sovereign Irene Nial, Uranus will be under our grasp. Isolated from the rest, Neptune will soon follow.
Then, it will be 8 vs 6. If we use that Human Sovereign properly, then a civil war will follow."
Wendy paused for a moment before her voice turned colder. "I will find everyone related to Enigma and torture them for decades. As for Enigma, even if she begged for death, they won't get it."
This time, the four Archdukes including Mendis shivered at her coldness. He realized the most resentful one was not him, but the woman in front.
…
On an island on earth, there was a residence that could be called Paradise on Earth.
Xander's residence.
As the unquestioned rulers of Earth, there was every bit of luxury one could and could not think on this island.
The latest technology, the strongest barrier, precious medical gardens and everything one could name, they would find.
But the most precious one was the aura crystal mine. It raised the concentration of the aura multiple times and made this island a holy place for Awakeners.
In a large mansion spanning several miles, the head of Xander family and his first son were having a conversation.
"Father, you are awesome. You controlled the rhythm of the battle right from the start." Charles said with an enthusiastic expression. His voice was filled with admiration and respect.
The cadets who only saw Charles with an aloof expression would not believe he was capable of praising someone.
However, the recipient of the praise, the man in front of him maintained a plain expression.
Even though his age was well over in the sixties, he looked to be in his late twenties.
He had a large build and was easily seven feet tall. His curly golden hair and handsome face earned him the title of the most handsome Sovereign.
His smile was said to have captivated countless girls across the federation.
But at the moment, there was no smile on his face.
Looking at Charles, he shook his head. "I expected more from you."
Charles felt as if he was punched in the gut by a Level 7 Awakener.
He tried to keep a smile on his face, but his lips just couldn't curl up. Feeling the frustration welling inside him, he asked in a trembling voice. "What more could I have done?"
Julius leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "If you really want to be a Sovereign, you should at least be prepared for all circumstances.
That…Varian, right? He had a communication device from the ruins to contact Evander. What about you?"
Charles flinched as he stared at his father with a strange expression. How could he get a treasure from the Ruins when he never entered it?
"You can always trade it. You have the connections since you are the first born of the Xander house." Julius said, rubbing the blue ring on his right index finger.
'I have one, but it cannot break the jammer! With my worth, I can't afford a better quality one.' Charles thought but he felt it was an acceptable criticism. But the next words stung him like a needle.
"I'm sure Narcis would've done better. He has the treasures to contact me in case of emergency." Julius added.
Charles' figure trembled as he said. "But those treasures are given to him by you, father. He did not ear—"
"Enough!" Julius cut him off and looked at him with visible disappointment on his face. "You are more talented than him. So I expect more of you."
Charles didn't know to how to feel about this man. Even though he was his first son, he always got a worse treatment.
When he started practicing, he was hailed as the best genius in the human federation. Everyone had high hopes for him.
Even his rivals acknowledged his efforts.
But his father…even though he surpassed what his father did at the same age, he was never once approved.
Charles knew his father loved Narcis more. But all he wanted was his acknowledgement.
'You have done your best.'
'I am proud of you.'
'I am happy about you.'
Those words, he was willing to go to any lengths to hear those words.
"I will reach your expectations." He said and his voice hardened. "I will be the one to end the abyssals."
Julius looked at him with a frown and nodded.. "We shall see."