The forest that had been breathing quietly completed its preparations to flow alongside the water.
It was the northwestern border of the Silva Empire, and the eastern border of the Aqua Empire.
Quiet footsteps continued along a road where massive trees were connected like arches.
The footfalls were light yet unwavering, and the vines wrapping the branches did not hinder those steps.
“The energy of water has found us once more.”
Empress Drian of the Silva Empire stood near a pond formed by the energy of water, in a garden close to the border.
Beside her, Bramir stood quietly,
while Tarvan maintained a vigilant gaze from slightly behind.
Soon, Empress Nereia of the Aqua Empire revealed herself before them.
Behind her followed Levian and Naus.
“We have found the place where we must flow.”
Nereia approached quietly.
“Because there was a day when we could not flow upon the earth, we now wish to flow alongside the roots.”
Drian looked at her for a moment, then gazed down at the nearby pond.
“I have already guessed your business. Our forest, too, remembers the water that flowed into it. And that memory sprouts anew. Let us proceed to a more detailed conversation.”
Drian turned and walked along the path the trees had created, and Nereia’s party followed behind her.
The conference garden of the Silva Empire.
In that space woven from vines, Drian’s side and Nereia’s side gathered together.
Nereia’s voice rang out.
“I know that you recently attempted an attack on Terra. I wish to find out why you had no choice but to retreat despite deploying your slime infantry.”
Drian answered.
“Are you aware that Terra has joined hands with Metallum?”
“I am. Is that the reason?”
“That may be part of the reason, but there was one more thing.”
Drian pointed at the map on the table.
Her finger tapped a specific point.
“The area we advanced into was near Terra’s eastern border. Terra would have no reason to advance toward us, so it was not close, but around here we discovered a strange region. The flow of our slime infantry slowed, and they scattered easily under the enemy counterattack.”
Tarvan also spoke from beside her.
“That was not a limitation of the unit type. The conditions given to us were unfavorable. On the other hand, this region appears to have worked to the advantage of Terra and Metallum.”
“What was there?”
In response to Nereia’s question, Tarvan continued.
“There was a rocky ridge in that place. Soil and rock were tightly intertwined. The slime could neither seep in nor flow. Meanwhile, Terra and Metallum suppressed the slime infantry even more strongly from that position.”
Drian added in a low voice.
“Roots are meant to dig through the earth. But they can be blocked before solid rock. I had hoped the slime infantry would flow over that rock as well and find its way into the weak points, but it was not as easy as it seemed.”
Nereia listened quietly from the side.
Her eyes beheld not the past, but the present of the battlefield.
“Now that we know the cause of defeat, we need only not repeat it next time.”
“Indeed. And we do not give up. We shall find a place to spread our roots once more.”
Nereia’s retainers exchanged glances and nodded.
Nereia asked again.
“Does that mean you intend to attempt another attack soon?”
Drian’s answer was clear.
“Yes. However, we will not move hastily this time. Furthermore, it is true that since Terra and Metallum have allied on their side, we lack the strength alone.”
What Drian wanted was clear, and the same was true for Nereia.
Their interests aligned.
Nereia spoke.
“What we want is revenge against Terra. If you are preparing to invade again, we will wait. Should that preparation require much time, we shall move out on our own.”
Drian answered immediately.
“There is no need to rush. To put it simply, we will create a new unit type using slime cores. Since you, too, can use slime cores, it does not seem like a bad idea to gather the slime forces we possess.”
Nereia smiled faintly and nodded.
“I understand your thoughts well. Let us assemble our forces in the northeast, where our two territories meet. There should be no rocky ridges in that region.”
Drian also bowed her head slightly in response.
Soon Nereia and her retainers rose and returned to the Aqua Empire.
Drian approached the teal-colored slime barracks.
“We shall produce a stronger unit type.”
As she reached out her hand toward the slime barracks, the surrounding sap ducts began to tremble gradually.
And the texture of the slime that had been flowing peacefully underwent a distinct change.
Tarvan and Bramir watched the sight silently from behind Drian.
“Huuuh….”
Drian closed her eyes and infused a portion of her own life flow into the structure of the slime.
At that moment, the slime barracks itself swelled up as though a living creature taking a great, deep breath.
The outer wall, a fusion of vines and slime, gradually thickened, and a new radial structure began to form at the upper part of the barracks.
Finally, the slime barracks completed a stage of growth.
Drian slowly withdrew her hand.
“It is harder to grow a building made from a Slime Core than one made only from our Life Core. But it is no great problem. After all, the Slime Core, too, is ultimately part of our trees and our life.”
Tarvan spoke cautiously.
“However, the creation of Slime Cores entails no small cost. Even if we produce slime soldiers, their numbers will likely not be great.”
Drian answered, her gaze still fixed on the barracks before her.
“In proportion to that, the slime soldiers shall prove their strength.”
The grown slime barracks.
As the slime barracks was formed from a slime core, a dual-attribute core, its growth stage upon completion was Stage Two.
The Silva Empire’s slime barracks had now grown to Stage Three.
Within the life membrane flowing like mist, a new structure was slowly taking form.
It resembled the existing slime infantry, but was slightly larger and far more robust.
Its form was still fluid, but the structure supporting it was unshakable.
Tarvan explained.
“It wraps its own flow tightly in a thin surface membrane. It effectively reduces terrain resistance as well, while maintaining the slime’s regeneration and flexibility.”
The soldier took its first step.
Its foot settled firmly upon the ground.
The new unit type was named the Flexible Sentinel.
A being that flows yet does not break.
The movement of the Flexible Sentinel was astounding.
Even when a part of its body extended outward, it would instantly curve in another direction.
That movement seemed to flow, yet was accomplished in an instant.
“This time, it will not break even upon the earth.”
Tarvan said quietly.
Drian looked up at the top of the barracks.
“We have grown toward high places. But we must also know how to flow across and spread upon the ground.”
The conference chamber of the Silva Empire.
Drian’s side met once more with Nereia’s side from the Aqua Empire.
Bramir spoke first.
“As I stated, Terra succeeded in defense thanks to the rocky ridge located to their east. What we learned later is that even though that region is not territory occupied by Terra, the energy of earth strongly manifests there. This exerts a beneficial influence on Terra and of course on Metallum, while adversely affecting us. They made use of that region.”
Drian continued.
“If I recall, Ignis also encountered a lake on their way approaching our territory. Aqua, you could not have advanced to the southeast, and therefore I believe such regions are formed by the energy of water that existed from the beginning. These are inevitable environmental conditions, so we need only identify and avoid such areas in advance.”
Nereia nodded.
“The answer is clear. We need only depart from the northeast where our territories meet. If there is a drawback, it is that the distance from there to Terra is somewhat greater.”
Naus from Nereia’s side asked.
“Is Metallum currently protecting Terra?”
Bramir answered.
“It appears so.”
He refrained from saying more.
Everyone knew that the reason Metallum was currently aiding Terra was because of the massive number of Wave Cores Terra had handed over, and mentioning this fact before Nereia was a burdensome matter.
This time, Levian asked him.
“Surely there are no similar terrains in the northeast?”
“Not to my knowledge. It was nothing more than an ordinary, empty plain.”
After a brief silence, Drian opened her mouth.
“We have now succeeded in producing the Flexible Sentinel. We intend to oppose them with stronger forces.”
Nereia narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Are the forces sufficient?”
“Whether they are sufficient or not will be known soon.”
Levian and Naus, sensing a strange atmosphere for a moment, looked at Nereia.
Nereia’s words continued.
“How you consume your Life Cores is not my concern, but Slime Cores are a resource that can only be obtained by expending our Wave Cores as well. Slime is certainly a strong substance, but the cost of creating it is equally great.”
Drian refuted her words.
“But without Slime Cores, opposing them becomes even more difficult. Are we not weak against Metallum, and are you not weak against Terra? We may be able to keep Terra in check, but what of Metallum?”
The atmosphere fell into silence once more.
Nereia opened her mouth.
“Then, is it best to compose our forces of slime soldiers?”
“Yes. Forces produced from Slime Cores have the highest chance of victory at this point in time.”
Nereia and her retainers rose from their seats.
“Very well. We, too, shall focus on producing slime infantry. We depart together from the northeastern border.”
“Understood.”
After Nereia’s party departed, Bramir spoke softly.
“Ignis is surprisingly quiet. They are still targeting only Metallum, I presume?”
Tarvan answered.
“It would seem so. Furthermore, there is word that they seized Life Cores from us and created yet another new core. That core has no effect on us, but is said to be a threat to Metallum and Terra.”
Drian thought for a moment and then spoke.
“We shall focus on the battle at hand. For now, let us not assume other variables.”
While the Aqua Empire and the Silva Empire devoted themselves to producing slime forces, the Metallum Empire was also moving.
Quietly, and precisely.
Yet within the movement of iron, there were questions.
What must they prepare for?
What must they refine further?
And now, where shall they move?
The flow of the world was being analyzed, and steel would now complete its preparations to take form.