Cosmic Ruler

Chapter 45 Trouble

After the Tournament, everyone gathered to celebrate and at that time Jake learned the troubling news.

"You all were recruited by Dio?" Jake frowned and asked.

The other captains not knowing why Jake is displeased, answered " Yes, but...is there any problem?" they replied and then questioned.

"There were three other people who went to recruit villagers, but you all were recruited by Dio," Jake replied.

"Maybe they didn't find any village?" Liam said.

"Maybe but isn't it too much?" Jake shook his head and said.

"They most likely may have got kidnapped by Devil Worshipers" Neil said and other captains and Vice captains become serious with the exception of Jake who puzzely asked " Who is this Devil Worshipers?"

"Leader, they are group of people who have sacrificed their humanity for power. they kidnap people and then sacrifice them to Devil, to gain more power" Neil replied.

Jake hearing this massage his temple and thought ' Just what kind of f*cked up, Territory defense is this?, First absurdly powerful Villagers and now a Villain group'

"Well, let's wait, time limit is still by night, maybe they will return" jake said and others nodded.

And at night, Jimmy returned with two group of villagers.

"Fortunately you returned" Jake sighed in relief seeing Jimmy and then looked at the villagers.

"Hehehe, how is it?, I searched more than 10 villages and only found this two special villagers" Jimmy spoke with a grin, seeing Jimmy like this Jake Inspect them and exclaimed too.

"They are all Mages, cool" Jake smiled happily, Mages are one of the rarest recruitment, they can recruit and here Jimmy, brought two village of them, how can he be not happpy.

"I know, right?" Jimmy smiled and then nodded "But..you seem restless, something happened?" Jimmy asked.

"Well.." Jake then explained all bout the Devil worshipers and then Jimmy nodded and said " maybe, they will return too, just like me"

"I hope so" Jake nodded and then invited all the villagers inside.

"Now we only have space for 5 more villages" Jake said, each Territory lord can only recruit, 20 villages at maximum and if they don't want to get eliminated before the time limit expires, they have to recruit a minimum of 10 villages.

"Don't worry, Mark and Emily might return with villagers we are missing" Jimmy patted jake shoulders and said.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the outskirts of the gathering as Dio, accompanied by a group of villagers, made his grand entrance.

"I guess, Dio is also safe" Jake mumbled and then welcomed Dio.

"I finally returned back" Dio said and he appeared in front of Jake.

"How is it, I am pretty sure, I recruited the maximum number of Villagers right?" Dio smiled and said.

Jake nodded and then inspected the villagers Dio brought and they were a group of Beat Masters and Magic Swordsman.

"A new addition, great" Jake praised , Dio for his work.

"Hmm, it seems, now only Mark and Emily are left" Dio nodded and said, seeing Mark and Jimmy missing.

"Hmm" Jake nodded and then welcomed inside the villagers and then time passed by and Emily and Mark didn't return.

"They haven't returned yet, is something the matter?" Dio mumbled and asked seeing the worried look of Jake and Jimmy.

Jake looked at Dio and explained everything.

"Given the circumstances, I am pretty sure they are already kidnapped by Devil Worshipers" Dio remarked.

Jake and Jimmy then nodded. But they didn't give up and waited and Next Morning.

{Yohoooo!, How are you all?}

Jake and others looked up hearing the examiner voice.

{I am pretty sure most of you have become already aware of third party, the Devil Worshipers!!} He said

{But worry not, they will be not alone for much longer as the raid on your Territory will start in 24 hours}

His word exploded in every participants mind like a bomb.

"Wait!! wasn't the time limit was one week?" Dio shouted.

{Hmm, there are lot of people who are saying it's unfair but, tell me, when is life fair, the meaning of this tests are to evaluate you, so how can it be so simple?} He said with sadistic laugh.

{For those, who have recruited minimum number of villagers congratulations, and for those, who haven't worry not, none of you are eliminated, you will be given chance to make a come back, as I said, the raids will start in 24 Hours, so go and make your preparations, Se ya~~}

"this is absurd, I know test of Celestaria Academy is tough but this is on another level!!" Dio grabbed his hair and mumbled.

"Relax man, we just have to give our best" Jimmy crossed his hands and said.

"Shut up!!, what do you know, you country bumpkin, you don't know how much it is important for me to enroll in Celestaria Academy" Dio pointed at Jimmy and yelled.

Jimmy frowned seeing this and just he was going to reply back, Jake intervened and said " That's why it's important to think with cool head, we still have 24 hours, lets' make use of it to best of our capabilities"

Dio looked at Jake and then nodded.

"okay now it's only three of us, therefore lets divide our role" Jake said.

Dio and Jimmy nodded and then Jake gathered all the captains and vice captains as well as Chief of new villages that have joined them.

"I would have arranged a tournament for you all but we no longer have any time" Jake said to new village chiefs, the tournament was supposed to occur at Afternoon but the announcement changed everything.

"Is there any reason leader?" One of the new village chief asked.

"Yes, the raid on our territory will start in 24 hours," Jake nodded and said.

"Therefore I gathered you all to discuss our plan" Jake said and then laid the map of their territory on the table.

As the map lay spread out on the table, the captains, vice captains, and village chiefs gathered around, their expressions serious as they contemplated the impending raid. Jake, Dio, and Jimmy stood at the head of the table, ready to lead the discussion.

"We need to fortify our defenses and prepare for the worst," Jake began, his voice firm and commanding. "Our priority is the safety of our villagers and the protection of our territory."

Dio nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We must establish strategic positions and coordinate our forces effectively to repel the attackers."

Jimmy chimed in, his brow furrowed in concentration. "We also need to ensure that our villagers are adequately armed"

Jake smiled and then equipment poured out like water from his inventory.

Others were amazed seeing the number of equipment and Dio asked " Just from where did you gathered all of it?"

"I thought, our people might need food, so I hunted for some beasts but they also dropped equipment" Jake shrugged and said.

"Damm, I should have hunted some beasts too, but I avoided all of them, thinking it's waste of time" jimmy mumbled and Dio nodded too.

Jake shook his head and directed their attention back to map " Our Territory don't have any strategic location, So we have to guard from all sides" Jake said, as their territory is located in middle of plains, with no natural barriers in any direction.

"Or we can, make some natural barriers" Dio stated and others nodded.

"Hmm, that will be better, but it also prove a disadvantage if any flying type troop attacks" Jake nodded but then denied the proposal.

The group deliberated for hours, mapping out their defenses and devising tactics to counter the enemy's advance. Every detail was meticulously planned, from setting up barricades to organizing patrols and lookout posts.

With the plan finalized, the group dispersed to set their preparations in motion. Villagers were mobilized, defenses were bolstered, and every available hand was put to work in anticipation of the impending raid.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape, Jake, Dio, and Jimmy stood together, surveying their handiwork with a sense of accomplishment.

"We have prepared anything we can, now let's go and rest, for tomorrow battle" Jake spoke and others nodded.

At night, Jake brought out all the food, he collected and a big feast was arranged.

Dio chuckled, shaking his head. "You really went all out, didn't you?"

"What's the point in holding back now?" Jake grinned, passing around a platter of roasted meats and vegetables. "We'll need our strength for tomorrow."

"true" Dio nodded and then they calmly ate, until they are full and went to sleep.

Next morning the trio along with the people they have recruited woke up.

The tension was visible in the atmosphere, all the non-combatants were hidden inside the most secure location, the Territory lord castle, as for the combatants, each of them took their positions.

Jake took the central position , while Jimmy and Dio, each took a corner, with Jake, looking over all battlefield while Jimmy and Dio only looking over, North, East and South West battlefield receptively.

Each of them taken their position ready for any raid.