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The blitz assault operation on the Lost Continent was a massive success.
Not only did the leaders of humanity deal with the enemy leaders, the ones fighting outside did a splendid job rounding up the rest. Leaders against leaders, generals versus generals, and soldiers against soldiers. The result was humanity's complete victory.
Initially, the High Marshals, along with other pillars of humanity, were worried about the situation outside. However, once they sensed what's happening after the cage was dispelled, they were relieved.
Their people hardly had a difficult time cleaning up the strays and other Demon Lords and Demon Kings. The operation was a resounding success overall, so their concern was unnecessary.
This was mostly thanks to the method of purifying corruption. If it weren't for that, this would've been far more difficult for ordinary soldiers. After all, the concentration of corruption in these lands was at least a hundred times worse than Azure Terra back then.
Since there were designated people whose task was to constantly purify demonic corruption around to lessen its burden for others, the density of corruption dropped sharply and swiftly as soon as the entire operation began. This corruption also acts as the source of strength for common demons, so purifying it meant weakening them.
This, along with the element of surprise in addition to the demons not having a leading figure to arrange things for them and their lost connection with the grand fleet, caused them to run around like headless flies. Picking them one by one became even simpler with this.
"Teacher!! Are you okay? You look tired!" Rupert asked in a worried tone after seeing Lissandra.
Even though she's physically unharmed and looked no worse than she usually does, her labored breathing and the residue of stress and pressure on her face were yet to disappear, and all were visible to her beloved disciple.
The lady felt warm inside seeing her only disciple, whom she treated as her son, fussing about her health. She gently ruffled his hair and said,
"I'm okay, just a little spent. How about you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm all good, Teacher. My seniors made sure of it." Rupert shook his head; he looked just as healthy and energetic as he usually does.
She believed him because she already scanned his body; she found no traces of injuries, just some considerable drain on his mana, which will definitely recover in time. It also doesn't seem like he's affected by the corruption either. His eyes were just as clear as usual. He showed no fluctuations in his mood or any violent tendencies after being exposed to the atmosphere of this place.
"That's good." Lissandra nodded after finishing her scan and making sure that her disciple was okay. "You stay here then, and listen to your seniors. I have to do some rounds and make sure that the clean-up process is going well for other areas too. Once we're done, we'll go home. Behave, okay?"
"Yes, Teacher," Rupert solemnly replied.
Fortunately, this was a problem that had been seen through earlier and was remedied before the construction of this structure. In fact, this started way earlier, even before the war happened.
Remember the federal army outposts that have been built in secret all over this continent?
Well, aside from being strategically placed to form a continental array that will interfere with this continent's connection with the grand fleet of the demon race, it also serves as irrigators for the restoration of the land.
The arrays that hid their locations also siphon corruption in a rather inauspicious way, converting them into energy supplies to maintain its existence and also using the excess to provide some nourishment to the land so that when corruption was completely purged, it wouldn't collapse on itself.
Since the federal army outposts were scattered all over the continent and had been made even before the war started, they had been given enough time to rescue the land, preventing it from collapsing. And now that the corruption is being permanently purged, the excess energy will be used to irrigate the land, nursing it back to health and making this continent habitable for humans once more.
Even with the mass suction power of this structure, it still took two and a half hours of non-stop absorption for it to completely drain the residual corruption from the atmosphere alone. The underground will still need more time, but they have that in spades, so none were worried.
Without corruption, everybody felt visibly at ease. There is no more risk staying on this continent. It's just uncomfortable since the air was dry and the land remains gloomy, but it's relatively safe now.
This was when the structure revealed another one of its functions...
All of the corruption it absorbed wasn't just discarded or burned into nothingness. They were converted into neutral energy and further transformed into a rather familiar energy type that will certainly be useful for the rehabilitation of this land.
Fwoosh!!
From the peak of the structure, a ball of golden flames erupted. It grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, getting bigger and bigger until it turned into a miniature sun that not only provided light but also warmth to all living beings on this continent.
All of the soldiers who participated in this war could feel its heat, followed by the familiar comfort flooding their entire body. This caused them to feel exhilarated deep down because this was a sign...
A sign that they won.
Their efforts bore fruit. Their preparation and hard work prevailed. They participated in a historical event that will be sung for generations.
They succeeded in liberating the Lost Continent. And that rising sun was the best proof of that.
And just like that, the Lost Continent experienced its first dawn after centuries of complete darkness.
Truly, what a day to be alive.