The reinforcements were all back in their space shuttles, resting after the intense war.

They were just outside the secret realms…or what remained of them. Of course, the realm itself wasn't destroyed.

The single land merely turned into broken islands.

But…

The previous owners of the secret realms were finished.

Not a single person escaped. Everyone was crushed.

This was more than an ideal result.

"How come we never knew of these Athena agents before?" A level 8 female officer asked from the healing capsule.

The skin and flesh of her arm were burnt, and once in the capsule, she felt an itching sensation all over. It constantly reminded her of the near-death experience.

She was about to die when that bald man rescued her. She was grateful and wanted to repay him.

But when she enquired the Athena department, they said they didn't send any agents to assist them.

From the next pod, a level 9 woman clutched her broken spine and answered. "No idea. That white-haired man is also not an agent. If not for him, I'd be dead already."

"Me too. But it seems like they're anonymous powerhouses." The level 8 woman bit her lip. Slowly, her dead skin and flesh were discarded. Then, her flesh began to grow.

"You know…it's likely Shadow Guardians."

"Yeah…I wonder if they can take off the terrorist tag from them. In my service, I never saw them do such things. If anything, they made our life easier." The level 8 woman closed her eyes.

"I hear Xanders pushed for it and even Sovereign Kreo agreed. So, it's not up to us."

"Ratting them out after they saved my life is the worst thing I can do. As long as they don't commit any crime, I'll even help them."

"I was doing it already. Just…don't say this openly."

"Haha. I won't. If you were not my elder sister, I wouldn't say this to you."

"Stupid girl, don't call me as sister during duty!"

"Eh, but we're—"

Cutting her off, a solemn voice appeared in every space shuttle.

"Our forces are losing ground." Their general's voice embedded in aura reached the ears of the tired soldiers, causing them to stiffen and be ready to fight the next moment.

"Prepare yourself. We're returning to our original deployments. Once we get there, you'll have to join the frontlines."

Following his words, all the space shuttles returned to the cluster cities and took the teleportation formations.

*** *** ***

Meanwhile, an hour passed since the all-out war began.

People held their dear ones close and watched the news.

{The latest updates of Uranus…}

Tick!

{The fierce fight on planetoid Yoans…}

Tick!

{The planets' armies performance one by one…}

Tick!

{The overall situation.}

After switching the channels three times, Kyle finally stopped at the last one. He shifted his position on the couch and wrapped his arm around Maya's shoulder, bringing her closer.

The reporter, a dark-skinned man in a blue suit, tapped on his comm and a few holograms playing a few clips of the planetoid wars popped up.

As Kyle and Maya watched the terrifying battles, the host began. "In the first ten minutes of the war, our army matched the abyssals toe to toe.

But as you know, our brave soldiers had just unhatched a sinister plot of the abyssals and stopped the destruction of cluster cities.

As the reinforcements were missing, the abyssals began to slowly gain ground and after fifteen-minute mark, the army found it difficult to match the foe."

Kyle patted the shivering Maya lightly. He didn't seem like it, but sweat was rolling down his forehead.

Despite being a research student, he knew a thing or two about war. If the opponents were equally matched, but one side had a small problem, it could be exploited by the other side.

If proper measures weren't taken, the abyssals could occupy the planetoid. Would it cost them? Yes, a lot. But was taking a planetoid with so many sacrifices beneficial? It was up to them.

If a planetoid was strategically important enough, for example, something which had precious minerals, then this is the right time to exploit the gap and grab that planetoid, even if it means paying a heavy price.

"It'll be alright, Maya." Kyle patted her.

"…if your hand isn't shivering, I would've believed you," Maya muttered, causing Kyle to stiffen.

"If he's here, you'll probably be braver, huh," Kyle said. "Or at least try to be. Lest he calls you timid."

"Y-You, Varian would never—"

"Shh." Kyle put a finger on her lips and shook his head.

A few days ago, a strange woman met them and informed them that Varian was alive. There were even proofs.

But she had one request. Don't mention him. There could be spies around them working for Xanders.

That's why, the couple, despite being elated, didn't show any changes in their normal behavior.

But given the possibility to slip out secrets, they were refraining from mentioning his name at any time, even in private.

"….but the reinforcements returned by thirty-five-minute mark. By forty-five minutes, we were back to equals again." The host continued on.

"In every war so far, the human armed forces were suppressed. Even in the last major conflict two years ago, they had the edge.

BUT!

This is the first war we fought as equals. According to defense experts, human armed forces will continue to grow.

We'll be equals of abyssals in this decade and in the decade after, we will be strong enough to drive them out of the planetoids. In perhaps three decades from now, we'll be launching our first abyssal crusade.

So, fret not, fellow humans.

We will not lose this war! Humanity shall survive!

We'll protect what our fathers, grandfathers, and forefathers sacrificed their lives for.

During this time of war, I ask of you all to contribute. Do what you can. Professional support, financial support, social support. Whatever you can, do it.

Just remember one thing.

we are all in this together!"

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