Yasenia waited until the voice started explaining the fourth trial.
"The Trial of the Shattered Mirror will begin in 2 hours. During this trial, you will be facing the copies of another temple's army. These copies will be able to use [Battle Formations], and in turn, you will be able to participate with your own army. During these trials, your army won't receive permanent casualties. You will earn two points per victory."
Yasenia heard the simple rules and hummed. "So… This is clearly the opposite of the first trial, but without losing its essence. Because the other side has a Battle Formation and mine doesn't, I will need to be the force that tilts the balance in my favor."
However, Yasenia felt that it wasn't that simple. After all, the soldiers in her army were made out of weak Transcendence Realm cultivators. "No matter how weak each of them is, their combined strength is fearsome."
Facing several thousand Sixth Realm cultivators, even if they had no Intent Domain and just one skill, was extremely dangerous. "Thankfully, an Intent Domain is able to suppress numbers for the most part. So, it will come down to Battle Formation versus Intent Domain."
Yasenia spoke with the general and started giving him orders on how to face their enemies. While they had a numerical advantage and their victory was guaranteed, Yasenia was not overconfident.
Time passed slowly, and soon, the two hours went by. Once it did, a pillar of light appeared in the center of the Temple's hall. Looking at it, Yasenia spoke firmly. "Advance."
"Yes, Immortal Commander!"
With a single coordinated roar, Yasenia's group disappeared and reappeared on a broken battlefield. The land was full of cracks, shattered weapons, and crumbling armor parts. Above them, a bleak, grey sky full of clouds blocked the sun from shining, and in the distance, a dark aura remained, as if thousands of evil spirits awaited others to approach so that they could devour them.
After observing her surroundings, Yasenia looked at their opponent. It was one of the small armies, composed of 2,401 soldiers. Compared to her sixteen thousand, they were pitifully few.
Therefore, Yasenia didn't plan on taking part from the beginning. Instead, she wanted to see just how much of a difference a Battle Formation could create.
There were no signals, no warnings, or hints. Like in a real war, the enemy's march was the thing that marked the start of the battle.
"Advance! [Star Dome] army will be at the front and block their charge!"
The dragoness floated up, her arms gently resting at her sides while she observed the other party.
As she expected, the other side began forming groups of seven. Then, those groups formed other groups until all 2,401 people were connected with the Battle Formation.
The leader of the other party suddenly chanted loudly. "[Big Dipper Onslaught]!"
Energy surged, pressure descending like a giant's hand pressing on everyone's head. Yasenia's face was full of shock when he noticed the pressure the attack emitted. 'I thought that their strength would be much weaker.'
When she fought against the endless army, countless groups formed seven-layer Battle Formations. These felt like powerful Sixth Realm cultivators, but Yasenia was able to reduce their numbers and kill them.
However, if one asked her if she was sure of killing this one group, Yasenia would be unsure!
The attack created a massive sword light that glittered with starlight, and then, it rushed toward her army. Half of the [Star Dome] group deployed their skill, clashing against the incoming attack.
BOOM!!
A powerful shockwave burst out. The impact was strong enough to feel like a mid-ranked Sixth Realm cultivator had attacked.
"The defense is shattered. But at least, it could hold on."
Yasenia was not happy, though. According to her previous calculations, the over one thousand [Star Dome] defenses should've blocked three or four [Big Dipper Onslaught]. Yet, with just one, the shield was broken down.
Feeling the energy on the other side surging, Yasenia called out. "[Star Pierce] Army, attack in rotation! Second half of [Star Dome] army, prepare to defend!"
[Star Pierce] was unleashed, and thousands of spear-like white lights streaked across the battlefield, rushing toward the Battle Formation.
"[Big Dipper Cradle]!" Another majestic shout spread, and the enemy army created a defensive layer. This layer was extremely solid, absorbing all of the attacks reaching it.
Yasenia was unfazed. "Continue advancing and prepare for the enemy's counterattack."
Onslaught was released once more, and the other half of the [Star Dome] army's defenses were shattered. This time around, Yasenia ordered a higher energy output, blocking the attack comfortably.
"[Moon Ice Torment], release!"
A wave of frost descended from the sky like a silver waterfall, swallowing the enemy army.
"[Big Dipper Star Field]!"
"Hm?" Yasenia frowned. "This skill is new."
The constellation appeared in the sky, and from it, countless star-attributed pillars descended. The seven stars that composed the constellation were shooting down from above like guided lasers, destroying the [Moon Ice Torment].
"Ho~?" A touch of surprise appeared on Yasenia's face. "That's impressive. [Crystalline Moon Dress] army, step forward. [Star Dome] army, step back. [Scorching Sword] army steps forward and blocks with the [Crystalline Moon Dress] army. [Fairy Moon Step] army, flank the enemy."
Her words flowed seamlessly, the army moving as if it were a single organism that formed part of her being. Yasenia's commands worked like a charm, blocking the offensive of the other side while bombarding them until they couldn't lift their heads.
Yasenia found it quite praiseworthy that the Battle Formation could overcome the difference in numbers with such ease. Nevertheless, she could feel it faltering with the constant pressure.
"[Fairy Moon Step] army, charge inside the right flank. [Star Pierce] army, aim and shoot at one to open a path for them."
The white energy gathered by over two thousand soldiers streaked through the battlefield, landing on the right flank and creating a very small opening. Usually, such an opening would be unable to be taken advantage of. Nevertheless, Yasenia had already anticipated it. So, the instant it appeared, her quickest army soldiers rushed inside and began a melee fight.
"All armies, charge forward and annihilate the enemy."
From start to finish, Yasenia didn't move from her standing position, the army's general flying right behind her and observing everything. Even if it was a soul copy, it had thoughts. Looking at the flow of the battle and Yasenia's way of ordering, he had nothing but praise in his mind.
'We are ordered to follow the words of whoever awakens us. Sadly, most of the time, we are controlled by people who don't know war. But…' Looking at Yasenia's straight back and fluttering long black hair, the general admitted. 'This dragon woman is a superb general.'
The battle, from start to finish, lasted around 20 minutes. It was neither a long nor a short time for a Transcendence Realm battle. With so many numbers, the objective was to make the other side crumble under pressure and then slaughter everyone with numbers.
So, group battles were usually quicker than one-on-one battles in the Sixth Realm and above. Of course, everything said was within a specific context and situation. There were plenty of exceptions, enough that generalizing felt wrong.
After winning, Yasenia heard the voice spread across the battlefield.
"You've defeated the enemy without taking part in the war yourself. You've earned 3 points."
Yasenia blinked twice at that message. 'Oh? There are extra rewards for defeating the Battle Formation without personal participation.' She clicked her tongue. "These people truly like hiding things, don't they?"
Yasenia sighed as healing energy descended on the battlefield, reviving the dead and healing the injured. While her command had been seamless, it was impossible not to have casualties during big battles. Still, the loss was so insignificant that even if they weren't revived, it wouldn't affect the general strength of the army more than 1 percent.
After waiting, Yasenia observed how a portal opened in the distance. This time around, the numbers were much larger than before. "That's… 9,604 soldiers. So, I am currently fighting one of the four Large Temples. This can create four groups, so I need to be careful and change strategies."
The combat started, and Yasenia noticed right away how big the difference was. The [Star Dome] and [Crystalline Moon Dress] armies needed to defend together, barely blocking all the attacks from the four groups.
After the first exchange, Yasenia understood that her army had no chance at winning. 'It's not a matter of strategy. The other side's raw strength is just too high…'
However, she wasn't intimidated. Her aura changed, and her energy pulsed outward, covering the entire battlefield. With a wave of her hand, Yasenia deployed one of her domains.
"[Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain]."
WHOOSH!
The four Battle Formation groups flinched, while the allied forces paused for a moment. An instant later, Yasenia's army's aura exploded outward, their strength skyrocketing.
The general by Yasenia's side was stunned when he felt the change. However, he didn't have much chance to feel awed since Yasenia started ordering him to join the battle as well.
"General, you and groups one and two from each army will face one of the formations. Don't disappoint me and hinder them enough for me to deal with the other groups."
"Yes! Immortal Commander!"
Using 10% of the group to hinder 25% of the enemies would give Yasenia the advantage she needed to win this battle. After all, with the [Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain], both sides had been equalized.
Without a single moment of delay, Yasenia began giving orders to the army and facing the three Four-Layer Big Dipper Battle Formations. The exchange was much more dynamic than before, using not large chunks but timing each attack right.
When one of the attacks arrived, Yasenia ordered just enough people to block it. When there was a weakness, the dragoness didn't miss it and took advantage of it, staggering their battle flow.
What was even scarier was that the longer they fought, the stronger Yasenia and her army became. Not only stronger, they became more efficient and better at chipping down their defense. It was as if Yasenia were a giant snake coiling around them, while they couldn't shake her off.
Gradually, the three Battle formations fighting Yasenia faltered. Yasenia's pressure, tactics, and quick reactions during the changing battlefield were so suffocating that they became impatient.
Then, a mistake occurred.
One of the Battle Formations stepped a bit too forward, trying to enter an opening Yasenia created to bait them in.
The second that happened, the dragoness was ruthlessly efficient.
"[Scorching Sword] army, follow the [Fairy Moon Steps] army and break them down. The rest hold back the other two Battle Formations."
Slaughter followed, with casualties appearing on Yasenia's side. Nevertheless, the balance was broken, and the rest of the combat was nothing but slowly cleaning up the battlefield.