Chapter 598: For The Moment



The bustling supermarket sprawled before Erend, its lively energy carrying a distinct charm that felt far removed from the serene elegance of the Elven world.

Vendors advertise their wares and children ran between the stalls, their laughter echoed cheerfully.

Erend walked beside his family, blending seamlessly into the crowd. Unlike the Elven kingdom, this was a place of vivid imperfections but this was his home.

Arty tugged at his sleeve, pointing toward a stand piled high with vibrant vegetables. "Erend, look at those! We should get some for the barbecue!"

He chuckled, nodding as they made their way over. His sister's enthusiasm was infectious and her excitement over something as simple as picking out produce brought a welcome levity to his thoughts.

Yes, Erend and his family now are planning on doing barbecue party but just for the three of us. It was of course, Arty's idea. And Erend thought that it was a great idea.

"Which ones?" he asked, watching her inspect the vegetables with the seriousness of a seasoned chef.

"All of them!" she declared with a grin, grabbing a handful of plump tomatoes.

Their mother joined them a moment latere with her calm and purposeful presence.

"Not all of them, Arty! We don't eat that much. Just enough for today." She handed Erend a basket, giving him a knowing smile. "Carry this."

Erend smiled and taking the basket and adding more to it as Arty continued to pick and choose while pouting after being scolded.

He felt warmth in his heart watching his family safe and happy. It was a stark contrast to the chaos he so often faced, and it reminded him of why he fought so hard in the first place.

The lingering anxiety from Saeldir's message hadn't entirely faded, but his Archmage friend's words echoed in his mind:

For now, the world beyond could wait. Tonight, he was simply Erend — a son, a brother, and a man enjoying the love of his family.

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Back in the war-torn invaded world, Eccar stood at the heart of the command center with the leader of every divisions. Maps and holographic projections flickered on a long table.

"We need a clear strategy to deal with the invaders," Eccar began. "Our strength lies in understanding them before they can overwhelm us. Commander, I want every scrap of information your divisions have gathered. Let's start piecing this puzzle together."

Varok nodded, gesturing to his team leaders. "Alright. Let's start report our findings."

Varok spoke first.

"The invaders' tactics rely heavily on advanced technology fused with Magic power unfamiliar to us. Their infantry is organized and each squad supported by at least one enhanced soldier capable of deploying energy shields. During the last engagement, we identified their weak points. Their power sources are embedded in their lower back, heavily armored but not impenetrable. Its just so hard to pierce."

He leaned forward, his silver eyes narrowing. "They prioritize their shield-bearers in the field. Eliminate those and the rest become significantly more vulnerable."

Lira stepped forward next. "We've been mapping their patrol routes and base locations. Their movement patterns suggest a reliance on pre-determined paths, likely programmed into their soldiers.

"It's efficient, but predictable. We've already begun setting traps in key choke points to disrupt their supply lines. Additionally, their aerial drones operate on a low-frequency signal. With Nerin's help, we've started intercepting and deciphering their communications. Though, even when we know all of this, their strength are still overwhelming."

She paused, her gaze hardening. "There's something else. They've been testing our defenses probably looking for the way to our homeland. They're planning something larger."

Brogar's deep voice rumbled through the room next. "We've had direct clashes with their front-line units. Their technology and Magic gives them the edge in brute strength but they lack flexibility in close combat. Their soldiers are well-coordinated but slow to adapt once their formation breaks. My vanguard has managed to push them back in skirmishes, but casualties are rising. We need better weapons to counter their armor."

He gestured toward Renna, who gave a curt nod and she continue to give her explanations.

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