The perspective shifted to Douglas. A regular Cipher Clone had been guiding him through the military camp all afternoon, yet even so, the place was so vast that they hadn't even covered half of it.
Initially, Cipher led him to a musketeer training ground. As Douglas observed the soldiers standing in neat rows, he remarked, "These soldiers seem well-disciplined, but aren't they a bit too scrawny?"
Comparing them to the Imperial soldiers he was familiar with, Douglas couldn't help but notice the stark contrast. Every Imperial soldier he had seen was tall and muscular, practically bursting out of their full metal armor. Armed with massive weapons, each man looked like a miniature tank.
The soldiers before him, on the other hand, averaged around 1.7 meters tall—a decent height, but still noticeably shorter than their Imperial counterparts. They wore only thin cloth uniforms, carried slender wooden staves on their backs, and nothing else.
They looked like neatly stacked wheat stalks. What use was their perfect formation now? A single cavalry charge would shatter them instantly.
Then, Douglas saw the front rank of soldiers raise the 'small wooden sticks' from their backs as their platoon leader barked, "Fire!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, a dense swarm of Fireballs erupted from these so-called 'small wooden sticks', striking targets fifty meters away in the blink of an eye and triggering a barrage of explosions.
Initially, 'Firearms' could only fire Cantrips like Flame Arrow. But after years of upgrades and refinements, these weapons could now fire Fireball spells with an incredibly short cooldown!
After the first rank fired, they immediately crouched down as the second rank raised their Firearms and continued firing.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Another thunderous wave of explosions followed. The third rank then took over. By the time the third rank finished firing, the Magitech Firearms of the first rank had already cooled down, allowing this unit to theoretically maintain continuous suppressive fire until their Magic Power reserves were exhausted!
This wasn't an infantry unit at all; it was actually an artillery unit! The range was slightly shorter, but that wasn't a major issue. In addition to their Magitech Firearms, the soldiers' boots were also Magitech Equipment, granting them a burst of speed when activated.
Think of it as a permanent Longstrider spell, allowing them to sprint at speeds rivaling a cavalry's full-speed charge.
Furthermore, each soldier carried a small device that automatically cast a Shield Spell, protecting them from harassing ranged attacks like arrows.
Beyond these essentials, the entire unit wore only light cloth armor to minimize weight. Imagine: artillery units that ran as fast as cavalry, each soldier equipped with their own shield. It was an absurdly overpowered combination.
Watching the dazzling explosions erupt before him, Douglas was completely stunned. "Wait, what the hell is this thing?!"
He couldn't fathom how any enemy could possibly fight against such a unit on the battlefield.
Infantry and cavalry were undoubtedly the main forces in warfare during this era. If these so-called foot soldiers and horsemen encountered such a chain reaction of explosions, they wouldn't even be able to get close before being blown to smithereens, would they?
Cipher remarked, "Well? Aren't they far superior to the Empire's troops?"
Douglas smacked his lips and replied, "If you're comparing them to ordinary troops, they're absolutely overwhelming. I can't imagine how an enemy could possibly fight back. But against the Empire... the Empire also has Wizard Units, and even Anti-Magic Units."
The Anti-Magic Units were equipped with armor crafted from an extremely rare metal that could absorb Magic Power. Special magical runes were inscribed on the armor, granting the wearer near-immunity to approximately ninety percent of magical effects.
This Ace Unit was developed by the Empire specifically to counter the Arcane Federation. Each soldier was exceptionally strong, at least at the level of a Silver-tier Adventurer. Their only drawback was their limited numbers—only two thousand soldiers.
After explaining what the Anti-Magic Unit was, Douglas remarked, "If it's the Anti-Magic Unit, wouldn't this Fireball Unit be completely helpless against them?"
This was indeed the case. Even without magic enhancement, Silver-tier Warriors ran far faster than horses, were immune to fireballs, and could easily outmaneuver the Fireball Unit. If a real battle broke out, the outcome was obvious.
Cipher countered, "But you said yourself, the Anti-Magic Unit is the Empire's ace. Isn't it unfair to compare such an elite force to Okhema's most basic, ordinary soldiers?"
Douglas: "???"
WTF?! You're telling me these are your most basic, ordinary soldiers?!
Douglas's mouth opened and closed silently for a moment before he finally managed to say, "I thought you'd show me Okhema's most elite forces first."
After all, if you're showing off, you'd naturally unveil your greatest asset first to impress everyone, right? But Cipher hadn't considered any of that. She'd simply chosen the closest unit—the Magitech Firearm Unit—because its training grounds were nearby.
Other nations had their "Wizard Units" and "Ace Units," and Okhema naturally possessed similar forces. Afterward, Cipher led a dazed Douglas to observe the other military units.
There was the Aerial Unit, permanently maintaining the Fly spell, capable of engaging in aerial combat.
Then there was the Tank Unit, clad in three-meter-tall mech suits, resembling mobile fortresses.
Unsurprisingly, conventional infantry, cavalry, and archers had long been obsolete in Okhema. Here, every unit was a Magitech-enhanced force.
By the end of the afternoon, Douglas's worldview had been utterly shattered. In a daze, he finally asked, "Does Okhema... harbor ambitions of world domination?"
That was certainly an exaggeration. In a war against a single major power, whether the Alliance, the Empire, or even that mysterious eastern kingdom, Okhema would indeed hold the advantage—provided high-level combatants remained uninvolved and the conflict was decided by soldiers alone.
To have fought a nation to a standstill with the strength of a single city demonstrates the sheer absurdity of Okhema's military capabilities. However, against the entire world, even with these powerful weapons, Okhema's limited resources would still be insufficient.
As time flowed, evening soon arrived. Guided by three Ciphers, Aria, Feidric, and Douglas reunited beneath a towering skyscraper.
The moment they met, Aria exclaimed excitedly, "The movies here are incredible! So moving and captivating!"
Feidric, still frowning, muttered, "Is this how true history really unfolded...?"
Douglas still looked dazed, clearly struggling to process what he had seen. "Those military armaments... My god..."
It was clear the trio had each experienced a profoundly fulfilling afternoon. Cipher dispelled her two clones and said, "Now I'll take you to meet Teacher Tribbie. She's very kind—just relax and say whatever you're thinking."
The original plan had been to tour the city during the day and meet the Holy Maiden in the evening. Unsurprised, the trio followed Cipher into the towering skyscraper.
This was likely the tallest building in Okhema, standing a full eleven stories high. Yet, there was no elevator. While Melly's Magitech Technology could easily create one, truth be told, it simply wasn't necessary.
Firstly, the people of this world possessed remarkable physical stamina, capable of climbing ten flights of stairs without breaking a sweat. Secondly, Tribios herself always used the Century Gate to commute, rendering an elevator superfluous.
And so, the quartet climbed to the top floor and stood before a door. Just as Douglas took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself, Cipher abruptly shoved the door open with a smack.
Behind the desk sat a stunning red-haired beauty. She had been reading with her head bowed, but upon hearing the noise, she looked up at the doorway, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "Hello there~"
Remembering Cipher's earlier words—"Just say whatever comes to mind"—Aria blurted out, "Holy Maiden, you're even more beautiful than that statue of you!"
Tribios chuckled softly. "Thank you for the compliment, dear. You're quite adorable yourself~"
Hearing this, Aria let out a silly giggle. Feidric and Douglas, however, were completely bewildered. Cipher had mentioned that the Holy Maiden was very approachable, but after all, she was still the ruler of a nation and the leader of the twelve Demigods. How approachable could she possibly be?
Yet the red-haired woman before them felt like the big sister next door. Despite this being their first meeting, there was not the slightest hint of formality or awkwardness.
After a pause, Tribios continued, "Okhema welcomes all who possess ideals and are willing to act upon them. This world harbors many hidden dangers. If you're willing to contribute to protecting it, Okhema will certainly not refuse you."
Feidric then asked, "What kind of dangers are you referring to?"
Tribios replied, "Let's take a recent example: the matter of Artemis, the Moon Goddess. She has long been corrupted, and all her Believers and Priests have been tainted as well. Every year, these individuals perform rituals to corrupt more innocent souls. The exact number of people within the Alliance who have been influenced by this Evil God remains unknown."
"However, it's foreseeable that once these individuals act, it will signify the completion of their plan. At that point, not just the Alliance, but the entire world could face utter annihilation. And this is just one of many potential catastrophes looming."
Although Tribios had only recently learned about the corruption of the Artemis Believers, her words weren't baseless speculation but logical deductions.
As is widely known, the Twelve True Gods created barriers to resist the threats of the Outer Gods. Therefore, the corruption of Artemis could only have been caused by these Outer Gods. While the exact method of corruption remains unknown, it's undeniable that an Outer God has discovered this world and intends to invade it. Corrupting Artemis and her Believers was merely the first step in this Outer God's scheme.
The only thing Tribios couldn't quite grasp was why the other True Gods remained unresponsive, even after Artemis, one of their own, had fallen. Unless... all the True Gods are currently facing some kind of crisis that prevents them from intervening, much like the long-missing Death God.
Hearing this, Aria nodded eagerly. "Mm-hmm! So, is there anything we can do to help? Or anything you need us to do?"
Tribios replied, "Yes, there is. It's... to study."
Aria blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
Tribios continued, "I understand your desire to help, but protecting the world requires more than just resolve—it demands commensurate strength. You can enroll in advanced training at Okhema for a while. I'll arrange for teachers to help you improve your skills rapidly."
"As for the Artemis matter, there's no need to rush. I've already dispatched investigators."
Aria scratched her head. "Is that... really how it is?"
To be honest, this was nothing like what she had imagined. She knew her skills weren't exceptional, but she would have been content to join the front lines, assisting the Demigods with menial tasks—running errands, moving supplies, massaging shoulders—anything within her capabilities. She never expected the Holy Maiden's first request would be for her to go back to school.
Soon, three more people entered the office. Among them was a hunched-over, white-haired, elderly half-elf man. Tribios turned to Aria and said, "For the time being, you'll study swordsmanship under this sir."
"The second person is Melly," Tribios said to Feidric. "You'll study under this pioneering Magitech Master, the founder of the Magitech School. You have free access to all of Okhema's Magitech knowledge—how much you learn depends entirely on you."
As for the third person, he was a male Werewolf in military uniform, standing ramrod straight with his hands clasped behind his back. Tribios turned to Douglas. "You'll follow this General from the Fifth Army. Let him guide you."
Finally, Tribios concluded, "I can see that all of you possess extraordinary talent. Achieving Legendary status will merely be your starting point. Work hard and strive to become even stronger."
Three centuries ago, these three had achieved astonishing combat records even when forced into battle unprepared. Now, with a far superior environment for growth, their potential was limitless.
Just as all three were turning to look at their future teachers, Tribios suddenly remembered something. She turned to Aria, opened a Century Gate, and said, "You're Aria, right? I have something for you. I believe... you should be able to draw it."