"Comrade, do you know why we've been gathered here?" an oblivious soldier asked a female warrior while waiting in the long line of troops.
She shrugged, looking just as puzzled. "I don't know. I came because it's an Imperial Order straight from the Emperor. Captain, do you have any idea what's going on?" she asked, addressing the officer standing ahead of them.
The captain turned to glance back at the two of them. "Yes," he replied curtly.
"Then why don't you tell us, Captain? That way, we can prepare better," the female soldier pressed, her tone slightly impatient.
Similar whispers of curiosity and confusion rippled through other sections of the soldiers. It seemed the majority of them were in the dark about the sudden assembly.
The captain sighed, realizing he couldn't hold back any longer. "Alright, alright. The matter was sensitive, which is why we didn't tell you earlier," he said, raising his voice enough to address the nearby troops.
He paused for effect before continuing, "We're being relocated to a new headquarters—a new Imperial City declared by His Majesty himself. Word is, the Emperor has single-handedly conquered the Phoenix Empire, and we've been tasked with fortifying the new rule immediately."
The murmurs among the soldiers grew louder.
"What!"
"The Phoenix Empire? Conquered by himself? Is that even possible?" one soldier whispered in disbelief.
"Well, it is His Majesty we're talking about," another replied, though the awe in his voice was hard to miss.
"Still, was the Phoenix Empress really that weak?" a skeptical soldier asked, his tone laced with disbelief. "I heard they had eight powerful female elders, the Sky Dragon King, and the Phoenix Empress herself to hold the fort. How could they lose so easily?"
Another soldier, his voice shaky with fear, replied, "Maybe His Majesty has become even stronger. Could it be... he's attained the unattainable Half-God rank?"
The group of soldiers fell silent for a moment, their astonished expressions mirroring each other as their hearts beat chaotically in their chests.
"If that's true," one murmured, "we won't have to fear the demons anymore. We'll have our own God among us, someone who will protect us from any harm."
"Yes," another chimed in, his voice resolute. "But for that, we must prove our worth to His Majesty. Why would he even need us if we can't stand strong by his side?"
Aengus commanded, snapping his fingers. The very sky rumbled as though reality itself was distorting.
"What's happening?" some soldiers cried out in fear, clinging to the ground for support.
"Look... it's amazing!"
All eyes turned to the spectacle unfolding before them.
Behind Aengus, massive dark spatial gates materialized, each one dwarfing the soldiers by a scale of fifty to one. The sheer size of the gates was staggering, towering far above anything they had ever seen.
The gates buzzed with an ominous energy, their vibrations reverberating through the air as if the world itself resisted enduring such overwhelming force.
Yet, Aengus controlled the phenomenon effortlessly. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the terrifying power he wielded. Soon, the number of gates grew to ten, their massive forms pulsating with an otherworldly glow. These portals, spacious and dark, were enough to transport the entire army at once.
Despite the mana cost being astronomical, Aengus didn't falter. With his 5 million Origin Mana capacity and infinite mana regeneration, he sustained the spell like an unyielding force of nature.
"Such power!" one soldier exclaimed in awe.
"Oh heavens... how can a human even achieve this?"
"This is the work of a god!" another whispered reverently.
"MOVE!"
The commanding voices of the generals rang out, snapping everyone out of their stunned stupor.
Then, like an unstoppable tide, the soldiers began marching toward the portals with a mixture of awe and enthusiasm. The air buzzed with energy, their disciplined steps echoing as they moved with purpose.
The sheer scale of the scene was breathtaking. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers poured toward the gates, their spirits bolstered by the display of power from their emperor.
Above it all, Aengus hovered silently, his presence radiating authority.