Chapter 109: Heretreecs of Aeon

Year 126

The first wave of attackers were just plain conventional armies. Wasn’t hard to scare them away with an equally massive display of force. I have a lot of beetles, and my beetles are strong. In a straight fight, I’d win. 

 

When the first wave knocked on our doorsteps, those who wanted to leave have already left. Or at least, most of them. There’s some that stayed back, and I suspect they are in cahoots with the temples. Jasmine and my artificial minds are actively monitoring them. 

 

I didn’t arrest them immediately, because I wanted to know what they know. It may be a good idea to find out how deep their network is. So, for now, I’ll play along. Let them win some small victories and catch all of them in a single swoop. It’s like dangling a lure to catch a prey. There is a general consensus among the populace that I know what they are doing, but that didn’t seem to have stopped those that sympathise or support the other 4 temples from plotting. 

 

Most plots are rather simple, really. Find a way to cause damage to me, or find a way to convince people to change sides, or reveal/expose some kind of strategic advantage. 

 

It also relies on a great deal of trust. That those who plot can trust those who assist them. So, it’s not entirely difficult to cause the whole thing to collapse once a bit of fake news and intelligence is added to the mix. 

 

Are they willing to act on intelligence that may be fake? 

 

“There are skills that help that. Such as [discern truth].” Yvon said, apparently plotters have some means of verifying facts. That said, Kings and rulers have counter-plot skills too, such as [discern loyalty], or [unravel plots], or some rather cutely named ones, like [Monkey Wrench], which apparently causes the forces of chaos to mess things up.

 

Of course, I wonder whether there are abilities which therefore interfere with my ability to observe them. I believe there are, after all, I’ve seen the heroes do something like that. Like a [silence bubble] or something. 

 

There were largely 3 groups. One of Gaya and Hawa. One of Aiva, and another one was a ragtag bunch. The last temple apparently was more straightforward and did not believe in plots. I didn’t believe it though, I suspect this was some kind of false information.

 

Some operated in a typical military function. They focused on gathering information about my military forces, and well...

 

[Domain has blocked attempted espionage skill]

 

Yeah. That happened multiple times during this month. It seemed that domain also interferes with a wide variety of skill types, especially those that come from afar.

 

[Domain has blocked attempted scrying]

 

The temples sent many waves, and throughout my borders, those kingdoms and nations have been forced to let the crusading armies pass. It wasn’t a choice for them. 

 

“Should we just let them march through our neighbours?” The council gathered. It’s more of a war council now, with the representatives across the Freshlands sending their generals and leaders. There are many who are now my sympathisers.

 

As a divine-tier being, the nobles and rulers of the various segments and cities have a clear choice. Side with the temples, or side with me and earn some of my divine favor. For the local nobles, it’s actually quite a clear choice that I can bring more to the table.

 

“Unless Aeon permits us marching an army of beetles into our neighbour’s lands...”

 

Most of our neighbours are economically intertwined with us, so they are in a difficult position. They are mostly smaller nation-states or kingdoms, and they do not have a large standing army. Nothing that can stand up to a 300,000 strong crusading army. 

 

I paused and wondered, what’s the objective of this army? Do all of these 300,000 really share the goals that the gods and temples’ leadership decided?

 

They probably don’t know the true extent of my reach, and so, I’ve extended [subsidiary trees] in all directions, even through the lands of these other neighbouring kingdoms. I also made [subsidiary trees] all the way to the port city where most of the crusading forces landed. Most people do not notice trees by the roadside.

 

The port city’s packed. It was not the only port to receive the crusading army. These forces are coming through 5 to 6 different port cities and will converge along the way to me. In a way, if I wanted to spring a surprise attack, the best time is when they are still here.

 

There’s a lot of idle chatter. A sense that the enemy is still really far away. 

 

“I still can’t believe I sailed across the ocean just to fight a tree.” Some of the soldiers said. “Can’t they just send a woodcutter and chop the tree down?”

 

“I’m sure the temple thought of it.”

 

“It’s not just any tree. It’s a tree that attained the cursed power of the evil gods.” 

 

“An evil tree god, really?” Some of the soldiers seemed baffled by it. “I mean, all I’ve heard of the Freshlands is that this evil tree god has been shielding them from the demons, and suddenly they tell me this magic tree is now evil?”

 

“Shush, don’t let the templars hear that.” 

 

“Aw fuck them. I’m just here for the money.”

 

“I’m just here because the big boss says so.” 

 

The soldiers don’t seem like they all believe in their cause all that much. It’s a shame that wars, being what they are, means we will cross paths, and they will die. From my observation, the composition of the Crusading army is roughly similar to a typical army. 90% regulars with soldiers or warrior classes, and 10% unique. It’s the 10% I need to pay attention to, for any unusual skills or classes. 

 

It’s been some time since I had a large scale fight with other humans. 

 

“Council.” I spoke to the war council. “Reach out to all the neighbouring kingdoms and ask for an alliance. If they want to side with the temples, we will declare war and we will invade. If they join us, I will offer them protection.”

 

The council did as they were told, and surprisingly quite a few of the kingdoms agreed to form an alliance. They instantly rejected the crusade’s demand for freedom of entry, and I populated the allied kingdoms with my [subsidiary trees]. Fools, these temples. I have 500,000 beetles I can use in combat, and they regenerate in about 3-4 months.

 

But, I need to get their effectiveness up. They’ve been traditionally geared against monsters and demons, but since I’m facing a large scale war, I need to have additional advantages and perks. 

 

“Horns.”

“Yes, master.”

“What sort of anti-army or anti-templar research do we have?”

 

Trevor and Dimitree popped in. “We have numerous potential research. We can deploy poison-laced beetles.”

“I want assassin beetles.” I said. “I want beetles that are able to hunt down their elitesl”

 

“Alright, we’ll get the research started.” Horns made a fistpump. It would take a few months, so I’ll just drag the battle on. 

 

-

 

Meanwhile, a few smaller skirmishes broke out. I have not deployed most of my own abilities yet, it’s better to keep some of my powers hidden. The less they know about me, the more mistakes they will make. 

 

The Valthorns needed some pep talk before every battle, though. They are trained to fight demons and hybrids, so an all-out-war against other humans, elves and sentient races still needed some mindset change, even if I had included it in their training regime. If it’s not for Jura, I’d have a lot more to worry about. 

 

I also had to make sure that the enemy didn’t level up too much, especially survivors. Survivors may often return far stronger, and since they survived a fight with beetles, they would gain anti-beetle skills. It’s really a case of just killing everyone. 

 

I wonder whether there are anti-human or anti-elf skills. “They do.” Jura said. “Such accursed skills exist.” 

This crusade, I feel, was going to drag on for a while. The temples can keep reinforcing the ports. If I want to cut them off, I must march on the ports itself. 

 

If I can hold onto the ports, the temples would have to take a long detour. 

 

“There are 6 ports that are on the side of the temples. Honestly, I think a few of them will fold if we manage to capture one or two of the port cities. Their loyalty to the faraway temples are tenuous at best.”

 

“I see.” 

 

So, again, I am a tree. I can fight wars differently. The enemy, from what I’ve seen so far, has not been able to detect subsidiary trees. Or at least, they didn’t display that they are able to. 

 

If I want to end it, I’ll have to swiftly capture all 6 port cities in one go. They have some defenses, but nothing too big. And I already have trees all the way into the city. Now, I just need to make sure I have trees in all six cities, and I can spring a sudden surprise attack. 

 

Therefore, I called on the council and changed the tactics. I wasn’t sure whether any of the council leaked information to these crusaders, perhaps unwillingly or unknowingly, so I didn’t disclose the full plan. The strategy simply put, is to delay the crusaders as long as possible. I told them that I would have a way to decisively win, a special weapon.

 

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This is partly true. I could deploy my titan souls against this crusading army, but I feel that’s a waste.  

 

I wanted to drag it on, because I needed the time to design and research special beetles. Assassin and anti-human beetles that can fight effectively in cities, not just open areas. Spiders too. I had the web spiders, and I figured spiders would operate a lot more effectively in the city area so I increased research on poisonous spiders.

 

And I created a few more artificial souls for Horns. Five beetles, and five spiders. My new insect-army commanders. 

 

Now that I’ve leveled up to level 168, and have trees that stretch the entire Freshlands, artificial souls limit is quite high. Sure, I can field a large quantity of these sentient assistants, but they are still no match for elites. They would take a few months, at least, to reach the mid level 20-30s, and before that, their combat strength is mediocre.

 

And so, the plan was on the way. Tunnels were made into all the six port cities, and a lot of subsidiary trees were created. I’ve also created [Giant Attendant Trees] in the forested locations nearby, and used my [camouflage] ability to hide them. 

 

I would unleash at least 70,000 to 100,000 beetles on each of the 6 cities in one go, effectively cutting off their supply lines. Then, smaller attack forces will strike at the crusading army.

 

Because the crusading army is so large, they are led by multiple [generals] and [Lords]. It’s also a logistical challenge, so the army is split into two large groups of about 250,000 each, and a few smaller, 10,000-20,000 contingents. It’s entirely dependent on imported supplies and resources, so a targeted attack on it’s supplies will thin out the force rather quickly. 

 

A few of the [generals] have the ability, [Create Food Supply], or [Army Skill :  Reduce Hunger], or some variation of it. But, the power has a ‘size limit’, so a large portion will be outside the effect of the skill, and will therefore desert the army.

 

But, for now, smaller skirmishes. 

 

It wasn’t time yet. 

 

Timing, is everything. 

 

-

 

“I’m getting a little frustrated.” Edna complained after a skirmish with the crusaders. It was trench warfare, really. I’d reinforce a large segment with walls, and the crusaders would march on it. They’d fight a bit, but they usually don’t make much progress. 

 

“Me too.” 

 

“I wish I can just charge out there.” 

 

“You’ll die, though.”

 

“I know.” There were about 80,000 soldiers on the other side. They were bombarding the walls with rocks and magic, but wooden shields and barriers meant those bombardments weren’t making a dent. There’s also a thick web of thorns and human-eating plants. 

 

They’ve been using fireballs and all, trying to make a dent at the walls, but with a giant attendant tree at the back, they can take a few hits. 

 

“This is just a boring stalemate.” Edna frowned. 

 

“Aeon wants it that way.” Faris said. “And I think the enemy knows it.” 

 

-

 

“We should just charge in.” The enemy seems to forget that even grass can have ears. And there are roots that can just peek out of the ground just a little bit. Right below the commander’s camp. “This is a waste of time.”

 

“The General said we should hold.”

 

“What for?”

 

“The General’s giving the enemy too much credit. Other than that massive wall, we outnumber the enemy force by 5 to 1. And we have 1,000 elites of at least level 30. Why send us here if we are just playing this waiting game?” The Commander was a young man. Eager. Anxious, and wants to prove himself. 

 

He walked a bit, and a thorn gently pricked his leg. A little bit of sap. To stimulate his hormones and testosterone. A hormone-filled mistake, here and there.

 

“I command our force to charge in.” His body flared up, hot. Anger. Frustration. The sap merely pushed him off the cliff.

 

“Commander, the general said...” The assistant and captains tried to say otherwise.

 

“I am the commander here. And I say we charge.”

 

They charged into a wall of thorns and maneater-plants, while [Aeonic Rangers] and archers rained death. They quickly realised the folly of their attack, and retreated. But that mistake cost them 10,000 lives, and none of the defenders. 

 

Meanwhile at another front...

 

“I was told to expect large beetle armies.” The General was in a large camp, flanked by his advisors. “And in all of our intelligence, we’ve only seen beetle armies no larger than 30,000. Whatever it is, our enemy is hiding it’s strength, and wants a long-drawn war.”

 

“Does that mean it wants to test our supply lines?” A strategist asked. “A long war becomes a test of logistics and resourcing.”

 

The general nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. Our enemy, as a heretic tree on the very edges of divinity, must have tremendous powers over plants and growth. It must be confident that it can continuously feed it’s population, so it is not afraid of a long siege.”

 

My beetles are just mostly doing hit-and-run on smaller forces. 

 

“So it wants to draw it out until the temple decides it’s no longer worth it. It expects the temples to pull their funding and supplies.” A strategist concluded. 

 

“A swift attack might be just what it’s not prepared for.” The general said. “But it’s rather clear that we can’t mount a swift attack either.” It’s a big piece of land, and even with the [general]’s skills, it’s probably too much. 

 

“We should do a precision strike, then. A group of elites right at the center of the enemy.”

 

The general of the Coalition of Crusaders pondered the idea. “I have ancient records to suggest that it won’t work. Written by one [General] Ackbar. It’s probably a trap.” 

 

Ancient? 40 years in ancient?

 

“It’s our best chance.”

 

“Not if we use our heroic artifacts.”

 

Now my ‘ears’ perked up. 

 

“The temple has not authorised use of the heroic artifacts.”

 

“If the temple wants us to slay this heretical evil tree, then we should be allowed to use our heroic items. A heroic weapon can destroy that wall, easy.” 

 

Ooh. I’ll be on the receiving end of a heroic grade item. Now, that’s something worth testing out. I’m a level 168 tree, can I survive a hit from a hero-grade item? 

 

“Then we must send a request.” The general said. “Outline our observations, insist that a quick victory is ideal, and demand authorisation for our hero-grade items.”

 

The temples have a lot of hero-grade items. Items left by previous heroes, or perhaps just claimed by the temple. People like Harris and Mirei even donated some items to the temples too, for political reasons. So the temples, over the years and decades, accumulated a decent stockpile of hero-items. 

 

Of course, they can’t make full use of it, but because they are hero-items, they should still pack a strong punch. 

 

All I could say was, well, bring it on!