Endless Horde: Through the Eyes of a Godking

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"Move it!"

"Run, Cadets! Run!"

"If you all can chow down large amounts of food, I believe that you can also run 10 kilometers without pause. Move it, brats!"

"Earn your keep. Don't fall behind."

"You want those cultivation techniques that prolong your lifespan? Work for them! Nothing is for free!"

"Show me your unyielding spirit!"

A scene of various physical activities and unique methods of motivation played out on the Eastern Defense Wall. Ever since the news of the so-called cultivation methods that could extend one's lifespan was published by the army, people who wanted to get their hands on them flocked to the army camps in hopes of obtaining them.

But how could the army simply hand it over?

There is, after all, a reason why it was brought to them first and not publicized directly. The intent was clear as day for everyone, especially considering what's bound to happen sooner or later.

It didn't matter what creative methods some people used to get their hands on said techniques while avoiding the requirement to register for military service; none of it worked because the distribution of the techniques was tightly monitored not only by the High Marshals themselves but also by Acala.

Want to learn those techniques? Register for military service first and pass the screening. Accumulate enough merits, and you can learn it. It couldn't get any simpler than that.

Of course, there are people who tried to complain, saying that this was unfair and unjustified. They tried using their reputation and positions to pressure the army into caving in to their demands.

The army's response to this was simple. Throw the person who keeps on complaining to the outer world. If they can survive for a week without needing the army's help, they will 'consider' listening to their demands.

Suffice it to say that none made it past the first day. Some even wet themselves and shat themselves in fear. It was broadcast live too.

That silenced those greedy pieces of shit; they were even mocked by the people because they thought that they could bend the army to their will, which was the peak of stupidity.

This little fiasco didn't stop people from enlisting, which allowed the collective number of soldiers to increase, greatly relieving the pressure that they're facing.

Those who passed the screening and are willing to earn merit points were sent out in teams to gather resources from the outer world. Some did other menial tasks like resource production, weapon crafting, repairs, and so on. The tasks delegated to them were based on their abilities and expertise, creating an equal opportunity for all.

With this much activity, the overall productivity within the army camps and the army's overall power increased greatly. And it's all because of one simple move from Acala.

**

Atop the Eastern Defense Wall, which was now receiving some much-needed enhancements, Knight Captain Silverwing was perched.

His fox-like eyes slyly regarded the bustle of activities beneath him as he ate some snacks.

'Previously, this kind of activity only happened whenever we entertained brats from the Starlight Royal Academy,' he thought to himself. 'Even then, it's a cycle within the four defense walls.'

'Often times, this area was desolate and lonely. The dark skies and the stench of corruption aren't helping either.'

Peeling his gaze away from the hopeful cadets, he looked above him and saw the clear blue sky and that large yellow orb that's releasing rays of light and heat.

Obviously, the dark and gloomy skies have been replaced. Silverwing had no idea who's responsible for it, but a few months ago, the appearance of these clear blue skies, accompanied by the heat of the sun, greatly alarmed them all.

They've been used to the reality forced upon them, so it felt rather strange to have this now. In addition, all traces of corruption disappeared. The soldiers no longer had to endure the constant gnawing of demonic psychosis at all times, which also allowed them to finally rest peacefully within the comfort of the walls.

Some extremists might argue that this will dull the will of the soldiers, but the reality is different from their expectations. Everybody showed an increase in productivity, all because they had a good rest.

Then, a few weeks ago, they noticed that the skies seemed to be more real. The colors are more vibrant, and the warmth of the sun felt more comforting. What's even more astonishing was the night sky, which momentarily distracted a lot of people because of its sheer beauty.

Silverwing had never seen such a sight in his life before. He remembered feeling very emotional about it because he used to only imagine what that's like from the diary that's passed down from his family and the old records he browsed from the army.

This also made him think that things were surely looking up. Of course, he knew that it's far from over, but at the very least, things are going positively for them.

And with the addition of the cultivation techniques that not only extended their lifespan but also greatly increased their strength, Silverwing was feeling very optimistic, something that he admittedly forgot he too could feel.

'Even Lord Commander Banestar is feeling optimistic. How could he not when he literally regained his youthful vitality?' Silverwing thought wryly to himself.

'I even heard that he's been spending time with the ladies recently. Honestly? Good for him. I'm not qualified to judge him because if I were in his position, I'd most likely do the same. Perhaps worse, even.'

Yes, the Lord Commander Banestar of the 101st Battalion was among the few people who got their hands on the cultivation techniques the earliest and spent their merits to buy them.

Silverwing could still remember his shock when he saw Banestar's youthful appearance. He even thought that he somehow woke up in the past.

Rumor has it that Banestar has been spending his downtime in the nearby city. It was said that he's attending parties while disguised while carrying at least two ladies back to hotels. It sounds wild, but not out of my imagination.

Nobody has the guts to ask him directly, and Banestar himself never said anything, which was understandable since that's his business; he's not doing anything illegal anyway.

It's also difficult to imagine that he'd force women to sleep with him. Besides, he doesn't, because, honestly? Lord Banestar was a dashing man with this heroic aura tempered by his tenure in the army, and the ladies are naturally drawn to that. Also, he only goes after office hours, so it's not a foul. His productivity didn't fall behind either.

In fact, it increased after the rumors started spreading, so even if someone wanted to confront him about this issue, they couldn't.

Beep!

Silverwing was shaken out of his stupor by a sudden alarm sounding in his ears. His badge flashed, which meant that they'd be called for a meeting.

The foxy-eyed knight captain disappeared from his post and turned into a blur of motion, ending up right in front of the meeting room. The rest of his teammates also appeared shortly after.

They wordlessly entered the meeting room and found that Lord Commander Banestar was already there, as were the other Lord Commanders as well. They saw their commander wearing a solemn expression, which was all they needed to confirm that something huge had just happened.

The Knight Captains stood behind their commander and remained silent. Everybody could feel the tension in the meeting room. Shortly after, the High Marshals appeared, and what Silverwing heard from them caused his heart to sink to his stomach.

"They're coming, and this time for real."

Simple, concise, and direct. The 'they' High Marshal Armstrong was talking about were obviously demons.

Next, they showed a short video clip that displayed a hair-raising scene. It showed a sea of demons gathered at one place. Their corruption and killing intent stained the skies even darker. They all stood in front of a gaping void where a humongous 50-meter-tall bone dragon came out.

It regarded them with a cold snort before emitting a soul-shaking roar that shook the heavens and earth. It then said:

"It's time to show those monkeys what real power looks like! All of you, charge! Kill to your hearts' content! Kill humans and conquer this land!"

The collective roar of the demon army resounded in response before starting their march. The video clip ends there.

Silverwing was speechless, and so were the rest. Deep down, he knew that this video clip came from the Night Stalkers that Acala apparently enslaved, but he wondered how they were able to record that scene. Could it be that Acala's system network could reach that far on the continent already? But how? And why weren't they informed about this?

That said, all of these questions were drowned out by the feeling of dread creeping up on him. Silverwing felt his hand getting clammy, but his expression remained the same.

High Marshal Armstrong then said, "We'll be receiving real-time updates from the spies. What's certain for now is that their army will reach us five days from now."

"There's no room for hesitations. Everyone, return to your posts and make sufficient preparations."

"We're in for a tough battle."