WAAAAAAH!!
Though Sombravida's encirclement tactic was simple, its effectiveness was undeniable.
From the opening exchange, Northern Forest Gillian numbers had been slightly lower than the enemy's. Yet once the semi-encirclement formed, the Southern ranks began collapsing in waves.
If the enemy commander failed to adjust—
this war would end quickly.
Southern Counterattack
The Southern commander did not remain passive.
From the rear ranks, dozens of Adjuchas-controlled Gillians surged forward.
A storm of multicolored Cero tore across the battlefield.
The Northern front line disintegrated instantly.
Charred bodies collapsed before blood could even spill.
The stench of burned flesh filled the air.
Seeing this, the sandworm lord raised its head, gathering power for a Hollow Bullet—
Sombravida stepped forward.
"My lord… wait."
"Our Gillians are under attack," the sandworm growled.
"They are expendable," Sombravida replied calmly.
"War follows three stages: strike, weaken, exhaust. Let them expend another wave. When their spiritual pressure dips, we shatter their morale."
The massive Adjuchas paused.
"I do not understand your words."
"You only need to wait."
A pause.
"…Very well."
Controlled Attrition
Northern Gillians surged forward again.
They died in waves — but not without returning fire.
Three volleys later, the forward ranks were nearly annihilated.
Yet each dying Gillian fired one last Cero, disrupting Southern charging rhythms.
Exactly as Sombravida intended.
The Southern Lord Appears
A thunderous roar echoed across the battlefield.
The Southern commander emerged.
It was a grotesque, alien Adjuchas: a twenty-five-meter mass of writhing tentacles, supported by six lightning-jointed legs. Its head was absurdly small compared to its bulk.
"You insect of the North," it roared.
"I do not know how you conceived this formation… but do not underestimate the Southern Forest!"
The sandworm lord hissed back:
"Submit and offer your resources, and I may grant you death with dignity."
"Arrogant vermin! I will reduce your army to ash!"
The Southern lord roared skyward.
Spiritual pressure surged across its forces.
A massive Cero bombardment was charging.
Sombravida's Signal
Sombravida leaned toward the sandworm.
"Do not let them finish charging. Send harassment fire now."
The sandworm roared.
Dozens of Gillians unleashed Cero.
The Southern side was forced to fire prematurely.
Dark red beams collided with multicolored blasts, staining half the battlefield in violent light.
"My lord — now!"
The sandworm fired a Cero straight into the sky.
The Turning Point
BOOM!
More than sixty Negación membranes descended simultaneously.
Golden barriers formed a vast wall before the Northern ranks.
Enemy Cero detonated harmlessly against the shields.
"NEGACIÓN?!"
The Southern king froze in shock.
That single moment of confusion was fatal.
A second skyward Cero flashed.
Over sixty Adjuchas unleashed their full-power Cero simultaneously.
Hundreds of Gillian blasts followed.
The battlefield detonated in a single catastrophic convergence.
Collapse of the Southern Line
Sombravida's principle was simple:
strike when strength is spent but recovery has not begun.
Negación could protect allies.
But it could not shield everyone.
And in chaos, few Hollows sacrifice themselves for others.
The Southern alien formations were devastated.
Survivors staggered with depleted spiritual pressure.
Only the Southern king and a handful of elites remained battle-ready.
Victory tipped decisively north.
Close Combat
"Kill!"
The Northern lord surged forward, abandoning further tactics.
The battlefield devolved into Adjuchas melee.
Sombravida retreated immediately, concealing his presence.
He had no intention of dying in a war he had already won.
A stray Adjuchas Cero could erase him instantly.
Even grazing shockwaves could dismember him.
He would observe.
And learn.
Adjuchas Abilities Unleashed
The sandworm lord spewed torrents of dark green acid.
Gillians melted within seconds.
Even Adjuchas flesh scarred under its corrosive power.
Only the Southern king resisted.
The alien lord retaliated with parasitic spores.
They burrowed into victims, devouring spiritual energy before detonating.
Only Hierro-hardened bodies could resist them.
Abilities differed endlessly in hierarchy and refinement.
Understanding them meant survival.
Sombravida memorized everything.
Collapse of the Southern Army
Southern Adjuchas fell one by one.
Their formation collapsed inward around their king.
The sandworm lashed forward.
"Why are you silent now, stray dog of the South?"
The alien king retreated under relentless assault.
Though powerful, it was surrounded.
Escape routes closed.
The Sacrifice
Suddenly—
a golden barrier erupted between the two leaders.
A subordinate Adjuchas had deployed Negación on the Southern king.
"My lord — RUN!"
The alien subordinate stepped forward.
"We may fall… but you must live!"
He unleashed his full Cero.
It barely slowed the Northern lord.
Yet he did not retreat.
His spiritual pressure surged wildly.
Self-destruction.
BOOM!!!
The explosion forced even the sandworm lord to recoil.
When the smoke cleared—
the Negación barrier had vanished.
And the Southern king was already entering a Garganta.
"You reptile… I will remember this," the king roared before disappearing.
The void sealed.
Aftermath
Without their ruler, Southern forces collapsed.
Remaining Adjuchas were hunted down.
Gillian remnants were devoured.
The battlefield roared with victorious howls.
Northern Hollows feasted.
Evolution would follow.
War always fed the strong.
Sombravida Watches
Amid the frenzy, Sombravida stood still.
His gaze remained fixed on the spot where the Garganta closed.
Victory had been achieved.
The Northern lord would rise in power.
The balance between forests had shifted.
Yet Sombravida did not celebrate.
He watched.
He analyzed.
He remembered.
Because wars between Hollows never truly ended.
They only prepared the next one.
And next time…
he intended to be more than a survivor.