839 Undead
The Abyssal attacks have created a new status quo in their favor. In the future attacks, they'd have better starting point advantages.
But overall, the Federation didn't consider this war as a great loss. For one, even if the humans saw many casualties, the Abyssals had nearly equal deaths.
Originally, Humans lost a few million soldiers more than Abyssals. But with Varian sweeping thirty planetoids by himself, the gap was quickly closed.
And secondly, even if the Abyssals did occupy some strategic locations in the planetoids and in rare ocassions, occupied a planetoid itself, they didn't gain any breaking edge.
Mercury, Venus and Earth were still pretty much safe.
Mars, which had the potential risk of falling, could now be considered as the planetoid with the planet with best defenses.
It not only made up for its deficiencies with respect to Mirage Abyss, thanks to Varian and Enigma's relentless efforts, Mars now had posessed a slight edge over it.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus took significant damage. But the Abyssals only had minor edge here.
Neptune, on the other hand, had almost no change in status quo.
"Consolidate the status quo. Build up new defense lines." The sweeping order from the Military HQ reached every planetoid.
Even though the army still fought with the Abyssals, the intent changed. From a highly offensive war style, they shifted to a defensive style.
Like many, the commander of Thepes planetoid also ordered his army to slowly retreat and rebuild a new defense line.
"Retreat! But don't stop attacking if you want to stay alive!"
"Psychics, ensure those bastards don't pull off some cheap illusions to block our retreat."
"Launch a fierce attack and then withdraw."
After an hour of fierce struggle, the army of Thepes planetoid finally retreated behind the new defense line. The transfer and construction of defense infrastructure was already completed.
But before the army could even rejoice, a siren jolted them onto their feet and an announcement followed.
"Alert! We have recieved a reinforcement. The number of troops are thirty-three thousand."
A huge screen popped up and a giant crowd was displayed far, far away. Since the distance was too far, only their rough outline could be see. But these troops also wore the same military uniform and their physical dimensions seemed human.
So, the soldiers relaxed their shoulders and were about to return to their quarters when the Base Commander's grave voice sounded. "We haven't recieved any news of such reinforcement."
"What?"
"Is the reinforcement an advanced illusion?"
"Are the Abyssals pretending to be human?"
"Wait, where are their spaceships? Why didn't they land at our base but are marching toward us?"
Military followed strict protocols unless the situation prevented it. If these reinforcements arrived, then someone should've given them a heads up about their arrival.
Even in emergency case that the heads up was impossible, the Commander of the reinforcements should take the initiative to contact the Base Commander and report their details.
That's why, this reinforcement was fishy.
Amidst the questions thrown by the soldiers, the officers in charge of the base flew above the base and squinted their eyes at the crowd in green at the horizon.
Their senses couldn't reach that far and they had trouble confirming if there was any problem.
A middle-aged man with a short beard floated behind them and glared at the horizon. The officers turned around and looked at him with various expressions.
The man understood what his subordinates wanted to convey with a single glance and made a hand signal.
The officers sighed and tapped their comms at once. A red light lit up the base and a danger bell rang.
The soldiers instinctively got into a defensive formation and waited for the enemy to come.
They didn't know why the reinforcement was treated as an enemy, but they didn't care. Their job was to follow orders.
As the soldiers waited patiently, the reinforcements at the horizon suddenly accelerated.
They covered a dozen miles in a few seconds and were now much clearer. As they got closer and closer, more and more people could see the true form of the reinforcements.
"This..."
"What the hell..."
"B-Brother?!"
The reinforcements indeed had human bodies, wore military uniform and were in fact, the brothers and sisters in arms that the soldiers in the base fought alongside just a few hours ago before dying.
But now...
"Inform the HQ." The Commander said and activated the barrier around the base.
His eyes searched the reinforcements for a familiar figure with half-anticipation and half-despair.
Finally, his gaze stopped at a woman rushing towards the base with lightning wings.
"Yue..." The Commander gritted his teeth looking at his wife's current state.
Her once smooth light brown skin was now ghostly white, showing the delicate veins under her skin. Her beautiful scarlet eyes were now a lifeless black.
The sharp wound on her heart that killed her still remained gapingly open, reminding the Commander the moment she was killed by an Abyssal and his inability to save her.
But more importantly, it also reminded him that she had already died.
"Yue, what did they do to your body?" The Commander choked.
The woman's face was lifeless as she flapped her wings and inched closer and closer to the base alongside the Undead army.
Just like him, the soldiers were also shaken once they realized they'd have to fight against the bodies of their own friends and comrade-in-arms.
Regardless of the emotional turmoil he felt, the Commander pointed his sword at the sky and ordered.
"Our loved ones have already passed away. But these filthy Abyssals refuse to even let them have a proper rest. Let us give them a proper send off." The Commander's sword burnt with brilliant orange flames and shot at the Undead.
The sword cut through Yue's chest and burnt her to ashes.
The Commander's action stunned the soldiers first, then it erased their hesitation.
"This is my resolve. Where is yours?"
The soldiers raised their weapons and declared their resolve.
With their strength, defeating the Undead would be taxing but doable.
"We Will Win!"
"Glory To Human Race!"
"We Will Give A Proper Ending To Our Comrades!"
As the morale of the Human Army grew stronger and stronger, another war roar sounded from the distance.
A few dozen miles behind the Undead Army, the Abyssal Army gathered into an offensive formation and started marching toward the base.
What's even more concenering was that there were also Abyssal Undead who quickly joined the Human Undead.
With the Undead forces as the vanguard, the Abyssal army was supercharged for the battle.
"Victory Is Ours Atlast!"
"We Will Survive!"
"Let The Peace Of Our Children Be Built On Our Blood."
The whole situation turned complicated beyond anyone's expectations.
The Commander took a deep breath and announced. "Prepare for a defensive battle. It's the only way out for a victory."
The order was quickly executed.
The Space Awakeners that just left the base teleported back. The Body Awakeners that were supposed to lead the offensive stood on the ramparts carrying thick metallic shields.
The Elementals gathered in the bombing towers.
Each Awakener group took a role suiting their power and soon, the entire base was completely fortifed.
The Undead started the attack.
"Victory Or Death!"
An intense battle unfolded.
Just like Themis, the human army on many planetoids clashed with the Undead and Abyssal army.
As the situation unfolded, the Abyss Rulers were awaiting the final step of the plan.
