"Hold the line!"
The two Third-Level Grand Wizards clenched their communication devices tightly, their expressions grim.
After waiting for so long, they had finally received a response from command only to find that it was a direct military order.
The contents of this order hit them like a heavy club, striking them deep in their hearts.
With the war fortress's current scale and strength, trying to hold back such an overwhelming enemy force was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot it was nothing but a death sentence.
Just as the two Grand Wizards turned pale, believing they were being ordered to fight to the death, more messages began to arrive in rapid succession.
They hurriedly continued reading, and as they progressed, the fury and resentment in their hearts gradually subsided.
"Defend flexibly, delay as much as possible every minute you hold out will be counted as military merit!"
Beneath this simple instruction lay deeper implications.
As they read on, their expressions grew increasingly solemn and complex.
No wonder the Eastern War Zone had failed to detect the sudden emergence of such a massive enemy force these enemies were closely tied to the Goddess of the Weave.
On the day the Goddess of the Weave descended, the entire World of the Thirteenth Plane was shrouded in the astronomical phenomenon of the Seven-Star Alignment.
Blazing starlight streaked across the sky like rivers of fire, causing even the magical crystals within the wizard towers to vibrate and hum in resonance.
Even ordinary wizards could sense an indescribable, mysterious power permeating the heavens and earth.
From that day onward, the entire plane knew the Goddess of the Weave had established an avatar in this world and descended upon it.
However, since that fateful day, the Goddess of the Weave had shown no signs of appearing.
Her forces had also refrained from launching a large-scale invasion, instead entering a state of preparation as if waiting for something.
Waiting for the divine decree of the Goddess of the Weave.
And so they waited for an immeasurably long time until today when the goddess's decree finally arrived.
Based on the latest intelligence captured by the Eastern War Zone, three key points have been confirmed:
The long-dormant Goddess of the Weave had finally begun to show signs of awakening.
She had issued a divine decree, and her target was none other than the Thirteenth Front, where Grand Wizards Yude and Earl were stationed.
The reason why her divine army had remained undetected for so long was that the Goddess of the Weave had deployed a divine power barrier, completely concealing their presence.
This sudden battle was, in the truest sense, the first confrontation between Wizard Civilization and the Civilization of the Gods.
The previous small-scale skirmishes had been insignificant mere scuffles in the absence of the gods. They did not count as true conflict.
But this time, the Goddess of the Weave herself had turned her gaze upon the battlefield, imprinting her will upon the skies above.
The entire Eastern War Zone had immense expectations for this battle.
This was the first engagement.
The wizards could not afford to show weakness before the gods.
In essence, the entire military order from the Eastern War Zone could be summed up in a single phrase:
"We must not lose!"
This battle would be the first major clash between Wizard Civilization and the Gods.
No matter what, they could not lose! Even a stalemate would be a thousand times better than defeat.
At this very moment, the Thirteenth War Fortress had become the bridgehead of this war.
If Grand Wizards Yude and Earl could command their forces effectively, hold their ground, and hold out until the reinforcements arrived,
then the Thirteenth War Fortress would become an unshakable bastion amid the divine army's onslaught.
This would disrupt the enemy's formation, buying precious time for the reinforcements.
Not only would this slow the enemy's advance, but it would also give Wizard Civilization a crucial advantage in the larger war to come.
But this would not be easy.
For Yude and Earl, this was like walking on a razor's edge one misstep, and the entire war fortress would be obliterated.
If they failed, this would be the most disastrous defeat since the fall of the Thirteenth Front, a humiliation far worse than their previous loss.
"We have no choice but to fight!"
Grand Wizard Yude's eyes burned with intensity, his fists clenched tightly, a glint of madness flashing in his gaze.
Grand Wizard Earl took a deep breath and steeled himself.
The command had said they could retreat if necessary, but he knew the truth if they withdrew now,
the entire Eastern Front would collapse, and they would be remembered as the greatest cowards in history.
Even if they survived, their reputations would be in ruins far worse than the disgrace of their previous defeat.
Having resolved to fight, Grand Wizard Earl immediately took on the role of a battlefield commander.
Standing in the command center, he issued orders calmly and efficiently:
"Switch the war fortress to advance mode!"
With a deep, thunderous rumble, the fortress trembled as its thick metal bastions shifted.
The entire structure transformed into its war mode, massive mechanical arms and arcane weapons adjusting themselves.
The fortress's gigantic metal framework shifted, adapting into a more mobile battle configuration.
"Prepare the mana crystal cannons hold fire until my command!"
On the deck, dozens of enormous mana crystal cannons rose into position.
Their barrels glowed with an intense blue-white radiance, as arcane runes pulsed across their surfaces.
Within the cannons, a vast reservoir of magical energy surged and swirled.
"Activate the spell formations!"
The Outermost Perimeter
At the outermost walls of the war fortress, intricate magical formations suddenly lit up, sending waves of sorcerous energy rippling through the air like a tidal surge.
Countless wizards swiftly took their positions at the formation nodes, activating the core energies to generate protective barriers and energy shields.
"Deploy the units for harassment and support! Dispatch the self-destructing aerial units!"
Despite issuing these commands, Grand Wizard Earl still felt it wasn't enough. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, his expression hardened with resolve as he made a critical decision:
"Activate the self-destruct protocols of those interdimensional purification devices. Be ready to detonate them at any moment!"
A collective gasp echoed through the command chamber.
Those were interdimensional purification devices their core purification stones could, upon detonation, alter the environment within a span of dozens of miles.
Once triggered, they would rapidly transform the surrounding energy field into one exclusive to the wizard civilization, effectively turning the divine army's battlefield into the wizards' home ground.
However, these devices were of immense value, and under normal circumstances, even Grand Wizard Earl wouldn't dare to issue such an order unless the divine civilization's offensive was overwhelming and the fall of the Thirteenth Warfront was inevitable.
Even so, his decision sent shockwaves through the wizards present.
As orders poured out from the war fortress's command center, the entire fortress seemed to come to life.
The once-dormant sky mothership rumbled as it shifted into combat mode. Its massive metallic framework adjusted with precision, like a slumbering beast awakening, its obsidian-black deck gleaming coldly under the sunlight.
Suspended in mid-air, the mothership's energy shields slowly activated, casting radiant patterns of light across its surface.
Around the ship, massive mana crystal cannons locked onto their targets, energy surging within their barrels, ready to unleash destruction at a moment's notice.
Countless mechanical arms and arcane devices whirred and clanked as they adjusted automatically, the entire mothership brimming with eager battle intent.
On the deck, wizards moved swiftly, weaving through the area like spiders connecting the ship's combat network.
Commanders barked out orders, while information runes flickered midair, transmitting directives to every soldier.
The previously idle wizards now had clear roles some boarded flying crafts for harassment missions, others entered tactical chambers to control long-range artillery,
while some rushed to the ship's core to check the arcane propulsion engines.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the entire warship exuded an aura of imminent conflict.
Every wizard was relentlessly busy, barely having a moment to catch their breath, knowing that any lapse in their actions could become the weak link in battle.
Amid this meticulously coordinated chaos, one figure stood out Lynn.
He stood at a corner of the deck, watching the flurry of movement around him, his face marked by a hint of awkwardness and uncertainty.
Today was supposed to be the day he completed his position transfer.
However, before he could even finish the necessary formalities, the divine army launched their assault.
In other words, he was now a "free agent" aboard the sky mothership.
No assigned duty, no orders, no battle role.
And that was a dangerous situation during wartime, idle personnel like him could be forcibly conscripted at any moment,
or worse, thrown into some combat squad as cannon fodder.
Just as Lynn found himself in this dilemma, a wizard clad in protective armor suddenly noticed him.
The wizard walked over with steady steps, his armor glowing with faint crimson energy, his aura imposing.
Frowning, he approached and questioned Lynn in a cold, authoritative tone:
"Name? Assigned duty? Why are you standing around doing nothing?"
Feeling the pressure from the wizard's formidable aura, Lynn dared not slack off. He quickly and concisely explained his situation.
Upon hearing his response, the wizard's expression shifted, his frown deepening.
In wartime, there was no chance of allowing Lynn to complete his position transfer. That much was clear.
After a brief moment of thought, the wizard gestured toward another wizard in the distance and issued a firm command:
"If you're idle, then you're now part of the Seventh Assault Squad. Follow the squad leader's orders!"
Without giving Lynn any room to argue, he was immediately assigned to a battle unit. No further explanations were offered.
Lynn could only offer a wry smile but dared not protest.
This war disobedience would lead to severe military consequences.
Within the squad, a wizard clad in reinforced armor gave him a scrutinizing look before speaking in a curt tone:
"Rank, name, area of expertise."
Lynn took a deep breath, quickly gathering his thoughts before replying calmly:
"Lynn, mid-tier First-Level Wizard, specialized in…"
Hearing his report, the squad leader nodded slightly, his eyes flashing with mild surprise.
This new recruit turned out to be a mid-tier First-Level Wizard, and more importantly, he had expertise in mechanics an unexpectedly valuable addition to the team.
Of course, this was only a preliminary assessment, meant to determine how best to assign Lynn moving forward.
With a wave of his hand, the squad leader said:
"Alright, follow me."
The two quickly moved forward, weaving through the busy deck.
Around them, wizards, apprentices, and mechanical golems rushed about, each engaged in their wartime tasks.
...
In the distance, the Goddess Army advanced like a sharp dagger, swiftly and fiercely piercing into the territory of the Wizard Civilization.
Their forces were vast, sweeping across the heavens and the earth.
Pale divine radiance interwove in the sky, forming a blazing ocean that enveloped countless warriors and mages.
And in the direction of their advance, a massive structure stood silently upon the land.
It was an Interdimensional Purification Device, towering into the clouds with a dark metallic sheen.
Faint magical energy veins pulsed around it, continuously absorbing chaotic energy from interdimensional rifts, purifying and suppressing it.
According to the standard layout of the Wizard Civilization, every Purification Device would be surrounded by heavily fortified strongholds, acting as impenetrable barriers to guard its core.
These strongholds formed a tight defensive network, encircling the device on all sides.
Yet at this moment, the guardians of these fortresses were utterly unprepared for the surging Goddess Army.
The stationed wizards were jolted awake by sudden booming sounds, rushing to the watchtowers.
When they saw the sky-darkening enemy forces, disbelief filled their faces shocked and bewildered.
"What's going on? Why is the Goddess Army here?"
"Level-One Alert! Report immediately!"
"Quick, contact War Fortress No. 13!"
Amidst the chaos, the stationed wizards grew frantic, even causing the magical formations on the command platforms to tremble under the strain of overuse.
They couldn't understand why War Fortress No. 13 hadn't issued a prior warning.
Even though the fortress had significant reconnaissance capabilities, the Goddess Army was protected by divine power. Their presence was only detected once they were within a certain range.
Yet, the fact remained that these strongholds had been left in the dark, realizing the danger only when it was already upon them.
This was not due to negligence on their part. Rather, just moments ago, the fortress commander had been uncertain whether to hold this position let alone issue any warnings to the outposts.
While the stationed wizards panicked, in the command hall of War Fortress No. 13,
Archwizard Earl stood before the holographic display, his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, locked onto the enemy's movements.
Seeing that the Goddess Army had entered the strike range, he took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with ruthless determination.
"Activate the self-destruction sequence."
The moment the words left his lips, the central region of the Interdimensional Purification Device lit up with a scarlet warning glow.
A rapid beeping sound echoed in all directions like a countdown from death itself.
The stationed wizards' expressions changed dramatically, their eyes filled with despair and confusion. Before they could react, the entire device suddenly detonated.
A dazzling brilliance erupted like a blazing sun shattering in an instant.
A catastrophic energy surge spread outward from the purification device, sweeping across the land with unstoppable force.
The defensive strongholds, once sturdy like iron walls, were reduced to nothing in an instant.
The stationed wizards had no time to scream. They were obliterated by the sheer destructive force, their very souls erased from existence.
Had Lynn known all this, he might have counted himself lucky to have left the stronghold when he did…
The searing energy shockwave continued forward, directly engulfing the front lines of the Goddess Army. Countless warriors and mages were disintegrated in the annihilating storm.
Yet in this life-and-death moment, a vast blue-and-white celestial radiance descended upon the battlefield like an unbreakable sky, forcibly halting the otherwise unstoppable wave of destruction.
The barrier emanated a tranquil yet absolute authority. Even the devastating explosion could only tremble against its surface, unable to break through.
And before this barrier, a towering figure stood firm his white hair flowing like snow, his blue robes resembling a river of stars, his gaze deep and unfathomable, and within his palm, a starry magic formation shimmered.
His aura was terrifying, even among Third Level Grand Wizards, he stood at the pinnacle.
He was a legendary mage one of the Seven Stars of the Goddess faction!
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