Because the enemy they faced consisted of a wide variety of supernatural beings, the Astra Militarum's arsenal was highly diverse. They had pre-planned strategies for all conceivable encounters, prepared in advance. Of course, given the planet's long history, the emergence of supernatural species was as unpredictable as grains of sand in an hourglass.
Some supernatural entities were tremendously powerful, while others possessed extremely unique abilities. However, these creatures were exceedingly rare, and their numbers were limited due to the difficulty of their creation.
This time, no one had deliberately engineered such supernatural species. Instead, the enemies were mostly more conventional races. As a result, the Astra Militarum's initial plans were temporarily rendered ineffective.
Baroque was the first to enter the battlefield. Two melee species had already appeared in his previous matches, so the audience was familiar with them. Sebastian also sent relevant footage to the top officers of the Astra Militarum for analysis.
What set Baroque apart from other contenders was the two species he had crafted. The first was a common tank-type creature, the Wild Giant Bear. Standing over fifteen meters tall, its body was covered in a dense layer of fur. Beneath the fur, a thick layer of fat provided additional protection, making the Wild Giant Bear a natural meat shield.
Its defenses surpassed all the melee races previously encountered by the Astra Militarum. Compared to the Black Flame Giants or Great Ghouls, the Wild Giant Bear's durability was unmatched.
However, it had notable disadvantages. Its speed and agility were subpar; compared to other bear-like species, it appeared bulkier. In combat, it served primarily as a meat shield or support unit rather than an offensive force.
In addition to the Wild Giant Bear, Baroque had also created a damage-dealing, agile melee species, the Bear Warrior. This species was an anomaly among bear-like supernatural beings. Unlike their tank counterparts, the Bear Warrior was notably swift and agile. While its size was about ten meters, its body was also covered in thick fur and fat, providing solid defense. Despite its bulky appearance, it was surprisingly quick and highly offensive.
"Bear Warriors possess a racial talent called Rage. When activated, their speed, agility, and strength increase substantially," Sebastian mused silently. "And..." he thought, "when they attack, they regard their target as a blood enemy. Each hit stacks with additional Rage charges, boosting damage. The Rage lasts for about a minute, short, but with a cooldown of only ten minutes, it can be cast repeatedly."
Sebastian understood that in single combat, if you couldn't take a Bear Warrior out quickly and allow its Rage to build, no supernatural creature could stand against it. If Ann were battling Baroque, she would undoubtedly be the loser. The Battle Treant couldn't withstand an enhanced Bear Warrior's assault, and the Great Ghouls would fall even faster.
Of course, as a melee attacker, the Bear Warrior's weaknesses were obvious, namely, its vulnerability to ranged attacks. Despite its agility, it lagged behind other swift races, and its bulky frame made it less suited for hit-and-run tactics.
To give the Bear Warrior a fighting chance, Baroque had specifically crafted the Wild Giant Bear as a protective barrier, a living shield for the more agile fighter.
But now, they faced Musketeers and Pilots, renowned as the most formidable long-range attackers. This rendered the Bear Warrior's Rage largely ineffective. Most spectators believed Sebastian had the upper hand.
"If it were just the Wild Giant Bear and the Bear Warrior, I really wouldn't stand a chance," Baroque muttered with a grin in the star space. "But... I've created another race." He paused, a cunning smile forming. "This race isn't powerful, its abilities are limited and peculiar. It's just right for this situation."
"Sebastian, ah Sebastian, you're unlucky to have crossed paths with me. Purple Mist Beast, go! Let your opponents be shrouded in fear." At the planet's entrance, another entirely new supernatural species appeared, and its numbers were staggering.
The drone quickly captured this change, drawing the attention of Lando, Cyrus, and the others.
"What's happening?" the scientists and generals asked, their eyes fixed on the influx of unfamiliar creatures.
These new beings were tiny, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Their bodies were purple-black, a stark contrast to the massive Wild Giant Bear or even the Bear Warrior.
They poured into the passageway, scattering in all directions, darting across the battlefield with astonishing speed, leaping several hundred meters in an instant.
Estimates suggested there were at least 100,000 of them, with even more streaming in at the entrance. Their small size made them easy to breed, like insects, though few dared to cultivate them, as smaller creatures were generally weaker in direct combat compared to larger foes.
"These are…" Svananóg and the others frowned slightly, then some recognized the creatures.
"If I'm not mistaken, they're Purple Mist Beasts," Volkmar, presiding over the competition, confirmed.
"Purple Mist Beast?" the crowd echoed, surprised. Despite the presence of numerous Level 6 Planetary Lords, few had ever heard of this species.
"It's not surprising you haven't heard of it," Volkmar replied with a faint smile. "I only learned of it by chance once. It was discovered on a remote planet, off the beaten path. I never imagined Baroque had managed to create this species."
"So, the Purple Mist Beast has special abilities?" Svananóg asked, alarmed. If true, Sebastian's forces could be in serious trouble.
"Of course," Volkmar responded. "Its defining trait is the ability to produce a Purple Mist, a corrosive, mysterious fog. The most dangerous aspect is that, when enveloped, it has a chance to blind opponents, causing attacks to fall short. If the enemy cannot detect their surroundings, they'll have difficulty navigating and escaping."
The spectators exchanged looks of concern. Though the ability seemed modest, seasoned veterans understood its potential. The Purple Mist Beast was perfect for support roles, especially when combined with melee units like the Wild Giant Bear, creating a versatile and deadly combination.
"Does the Purple Mist have a duration?" Svananóg asked.
"Ten minutes," Volkmar confirmed. "Enough to influence the course of the match."
Frowning once more, Svananóg recognized the challenge this presented for Sebastian.
Inside the arena, the Purple Mist Beasts scattered in various directions, advancing rapidly toward the Astra Militarum's positions.
The defenders responded instinctively, firing their electromagnetic rifles and pouring munitions into the advancing swarm.
The small beasts, lacking strong defenses, were quickly struck down, many falling within moments of impact. Their corpses littered the ground in a grisly sea of purple.
Yet, Lando and Cyrus's expressions grew increasingly grim. The Purple Mist Beasts' speed was astonishing, and their tiny size made them difficult targets. Covering the battlefield with sand, they effectively concealed themselves, making it hard for the Astra Militarum's firepower to hit them.
Most alarming was their sheer number. The swarm moved in all directions, and their resilience defied expectations. The firepower arrayed against them seemed insufficient to halt the relentless tide.
Suddenly, the swarm halted their advance. Without warning, they began to spew out purple mist, thick, swirling clouds that spread rapidly across the battlefield.
More of the creatures followed suit, and within a few seconds, the entire area was engulfed in the purple fog, covering an area of four kilometers. As the mist billowed outward, it obscured nearly the entire combat zone.
"Get the drones in there!" Cyrus ordered urgently. "Send them to analyze the fog!"
Several drones swiftly approached, but as soon as they entered the purple mist, they experienced a disorienting distortion. Visibility was obliterated; the drones' signals faltered, and their images became blurred and unrecognizable.
"Something's wrong," one scientist said, alarmed. "This fog is abnormal. It's interfering with our magnetic sensors and communication. We can't get clear readings."
"Pull the drones back!" Cyrus commanded. "Don't risk getting trapped again."
But the drones that ventured into the fog kept circling aimlessly, as if lost, walking in circles and losing their signals entirely.
"Not good," another scientist said, pale. "Look at the electromagnetic rifle accuracy, it's dropping dramatically in this fog!"
Realization dawned on the crowd.
"These purple mists are sabotaging our spike bullets," one scientist exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.
The spiked bullets carried no magnetic field; they relied solely on kinetic energy to strike the enemy. Could this be affected?
"These purple mists are not only disrupting the magnetic field but also interfering with the force field," an elderly scientist's face wore a grave expression. "The spiked bullets aren't disabled, but... their trajectory has been altered, causing them to miss the target!"
"Does this creature possess such an ability?" A scientist couldn't help but sigh in awe and disbelief.
"If spiked bullets can be affected," another scientist asked hesitantly, "then... will missiles and electromagnetic cannons also be compromised?"
Hearing this, the others grew visibly alarmed. The situation suggested that this speculation might very well be true.
"Try it. Fire the missiles first," Cyrus ordered firmly.
Above the battlefield, the fighters had long been on standby. At this altitude, they remained unaffected by the purple fog. As soon as the order was given, one fighter launched a missile straight into the swirling mist below.
"Using a tracking weapon?" Baroque observed the fighter's movement and raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile forming on his face. "No matter what weapon you deploy, in this purple fog, it will be useless."
Suddenly, the missile veered slightly from its original course. Though the deviation was minute, by the time it reached the target zone, it was far from its intended mark. The missile's slight drift, caused by the fog's interference, made everyone watching on the Astra Militarum side fall silent.
"It's true," a scientist muttered, frowning. "This fog can affect even missiles. The electromagnetic cannon is probably ineffective as well."
The spectators outside the battlefield were stunned. No one had anticipated Baroque's cunning trick.
"This fog..." Bru's brow furrowed slightly. "If it's just against other supernatural creatures, it's manageable. But it particularly counters units with long-range attacks, musketeers, and pilots alike!"
If the Barbarian Elephant or the Great Ghoul were shrouded in this fog, they would fight at close quarters. Though it disrupted magnetic and force fields, it couldn't affect senses like hearing, smell, or touch. Among all participants, the Astra Militarum was most vulnerable to the fog's influence.
"This is also Sebastian's weakness," Bru continued thoughtfully. "All their units rely on long-range attacks. Their musketeers and pilots are individually too weak, no match for close combat. Once those powerful weapons are neutralized, they're left with few options."
Svananóg frowned silently, already aware of what Bru was implying. He understood the strength of Astra Militarum's firepower, so he wasn't overly worried, yet he couldn't help but wonder about Baroque's latest creation: the Purple Mist Beast, a species designed specifically to counter long-range weapons.
"Hahaha," Baroque chuckled in the starry void. "The pilot's most powerful weapon has failed. Where is that legendary musketeer? Step forward and show us your weapon, see if even the Battle Treant can withstand it."
His laughter was light, untainted by tension. Baroque knew the limits of purple mist's power; sometimes, it was merely a tasteless illusion.
As time passed, the purple fog continued to spread, gradually encroaching on the Astra Militarum's position.
4 kilometers.
3 kilometers.
2 kilometers.
Despite their electromagnetic rifles, their efficiency was greatly diminished compared to when the fog wasn't present.
"Wild Giant Bear and Bear Warrior, finish the enemy," Baroque commanded, preparing for a decisive all-out assault. He understood that once the mist enveloped their defenses and breached their lines, the battle would turn into a one-sided slaughter.
Meanwhile, the scientists debated countermeasures. Although the fog had appeared suddenly, it was not beyond their strategic considerations. The first instinct was to disperse it, but many questioned the viability of that plan.
"These purple mists are not ordinary fog," a scientist said, shaking his head. "I'm afraid they can't be dispersed easily. And... we don't have enough time to test whether dispersal is even possible."
The fog advanced swiftly, covering hundreds of meters every minute.
"Then let's adopt a more conservative approach," Lando suggested.
"Should we use that weapon?" A scientist's eyes flashed with anticipation.
Lando nodded. "Yes. We'll deploy it."
The weapon had been recently upgraded and modified. Although it had only been tested in the laboratory and never used on a large scale, its true effectiveness remained uncertain.