Chapter 221: Distributing the Sects roles
The White Star Radiance Sect lands inside the pocket dimension had undergone several renovations since Elton and the others were last here. The land was tidier, the buildings repaired and slightly altered, and the defenses appeared better arranged. The essence energy in the air was just as thick as when they had first discovered this place.
According to Tongsheng, the essence energy concentration here was strangely higher and more condensed than in the main pocket dimension space, which caused Elton and Christy to sigh. If word ever spread about this, their sect would become a massive target. Zoro and Ramiro were more indifferent to that fact, their fighting spirit only burning brighter.
At some point, Elton called for a full meeting of everyone within the inner sect lands. Naturally, the experts grouped together with those they had always worked with—Zoro's Black Reaper Corps, Ramiro's Lion's Spearhearts, and the others. As Elton looked around, he realized for the first time that he truly commanded a sizable force.
"Hehehe, alright, Elt— Ooof! Ouch, I mean Sect Leader! Geez, Seralily…" Ramiro grumbled as she elbowed him sharply, smiling as she corrected his mistake. "Anyway, what's the plan?"
Elton pretended not to notice, cleared his throat, and spoke with calm authority.
"…Ahem. I'm sure you all have some idea why I've gathered you here today. First off, I want to officially establish our sect's primary divisions and assign the leadership roles during this early stage before we begin our campaign against the invading demons."
A giant projection appeared behind him. Christy stood beside him, channeling magic into a device that produced the display. It listed the sect's command structure though the only name written on it beside the spot that says Supreme Sect Master was White Star Lightning Sage, Elton Solman. Elton's eyelid twitched slightly at the word "Supreme," but he forced himself to ignore it and looked back at the gathered crowd.
He continued his speech before finally announcing the official appointments.
1st Vice Sect Master: Dark Devil Blades, Zoro Tatsumaki
2nd Vice Sect Master: Heavens Star Eyes, Christy Hucklebare
Arch Guardians:
White Corrosive Flame Empress, Erica Soloman
Leon's Dragon Spear Hero, Ramiro Leon
Crimson Star Fang, Her Majesty Shayleaf Crimsonroot
Sacred Sect Guardian: Boorme Soloman
Few outside the core group of Elton, Shayleaf, and others knew who Boorme was, nor that he belonged to the Soloman clan. He was none other than the massive, scarred warrior with long, messy hair and a heavy sword strapped to his back. Ever since Elton, while possessed by his inner voice as the Laughing Blue Blade Reaper, had released his shackles in the Whispering Expanse, Boorme had remained an ally.
Elton then continued listing the next appointments.
Special Envoys:
Blood Pine Fencer, Joe-Pine
Aka Tengan no Koe, Shia Reigns
(her titled name means: Voice of the Crimson Heaven's Eye)
White Flame Enchantress, Rija Soloman
Rija had earned her position thanks to the persistence of certain Soloman clan experts.
Guest Elders:
Aeloria Nightbloom
Jonovan Hucklebare
…
…
After listing the sect's leadership, Elton continued by naming the divisions:
Black Reaper Corps, Lion's Spearhearts, Fanged Elf Division, Star-Eyed Division, Echoing Longbi Tribe, Soloman Column, and the Umankan Corps. There were also the Special Divisions and General Division reserved for future disciples. The Red Flounders, Daemonorcs, Serpent Sharks, and the Fishmen were designated as four special subdivisions grouped together under a single Special Division.
After everything was set in stone, the topic shifted to their battle strategies. A thorough meeting was had by the official leading figures and future division captains of each division. When the meeting was finished, all divisions were given their official task.
Ramiro smiled heroically as he led those under the Lion's Spearhearts division from the sect into the true lands of the Pocket Dimension. "Hahaha you can count on my Elt— I mean Sect Master Solman! Alright ladies and gents, let's go kick some ass. Vamos!"
After Ramiro and the Lion's Spearhearts left with Magical aircrafts and vehicles moving out in formation, the four subdivisions of the Red Flounders, Daemonorcs, Serpent Sharks, and the Fishmen had also left with a mixture of excitement and arrogance as they each moved to four different areas within one to two miles outside of the sect as a mostly defensive force. Scouts moved about, especially for the Red Flounder and Serpent Shark people, looking for areas with bodies of water due to their nature as sea races. The Fishmen were much more flexible in this regard, though they too preferred water.
Meanwhile, the Daemonorcs had no such limitations and instead moved to areas filled with thick vegetation and solid terrain, creating strongholds using their brute strength. Their job was to fortify key chokepoints along the routes leading towards the sect's region, ensuring no surprise attacks would reach.
The Fanged Elf Division had three different subdivisions under it. Shayleaf was the supreme division leader, while Amberleaf assisted her as co-leader and subdivision head of the Fanged Elf Noble subdivision. That division stayed within the sect to protect it, strengthen defenses, and build new structures. There were also several members from other divisions who remained behind to assist in construction and reinforcement.
The Crimson Vampiric, another of the three subdivisions under Shayleaf, was led by Tongsheng. They were the sect's most bloody and powerful force due to their numbers, ruthlessness, and diversity. These were beings who had received a second life thanks to Farraleaf, after all. They left the sect grounds to wipe out any and all enemies who dared approach.
The Umankan Corps was small, a special division utilized primarily as scouts. That did not make them any less dangerous, however. Obianuju and Obinna led them together, requesting special permission to leave Obioma and a few of their younger people behind within the sect as points of contact. Using their race's unique spiritual linking art that only a special individuals could use, they would maintain communication across great distances. Elton agreed, though he sighed inwardly — he knew there was more to it than that, especially since Obioma had begun lingering near him, calling herself his maid and "best point of contact."
The Black Reaper Corps was the most loosely organized yet eerily efficient. They branched off into different units, moving silently and unseen across vast areas. Some tailed the other divisions through the lands; others worked in three or four-man teams, quietly hunting essence beasts and intercepting invaders within and outside of the sect's borders.
Zoro, however, moved openly and without fear. Although he originally intended to travel alone, a small group consisting of Kuroha and a few others from the Black Reaper Corps followed him.
"…Why are you all following me when you should be heading in another direction to cover more ground?" Zoro asked, his tone calm as he turned slightly to glance back.
Kuroha met his gaze without flinching as she quickened her pace to walk beside him. "Nii-chan made it clear that my mission is to watch over you, Aniki. You are our priority."
"…If you're fine being away from Kageha for so long, do as you will," Zoro said with a slight shrug before continuing forward.
"Aniki… It's not like me and Nii-chan are always joined at the hip, even though we're twins. It was me who asked him to let me come here. When will you finally look at me, Aniki…" Kuroha muttered softly to herself, a fleeting look of longing threatening to surface before she quickly suppressed it.
What she didn't realize was that even though Zoro wasn't looking directly at her, he could faintly sense her unease. He said nothing and didn't intend to. As he was now, he didn't want anything or anyone to slow him down. One individual among them, a warrior bearing the Aka Boshi no Tengan bloodline, walked nearby with a faint, wry smile.
The Star-Eyed Division was composed of two distinct subdivisions.
The first consisted of those born into the Aka Boshi no Tengan clan who possessed the bloodline and awakened the Aka Boshi no Tengan. These individuals generally excelled at scouting, seeing through spells, illusions, and precision especially when utilizing Red Star energies.
The second subdivision consisted of those descendants born without the bloodline ability or individuals who had been recruited into it The clan. Though lacking the eye's ability, they were highly skilled in reconnaissance, strategy, and support magic, often serving alongside the bloodline members to reinforce their missions.
Within the White Star Radiance Sect itself, there were only a few who actually possessed the Aka Boshi no Tengan, which made those few even more valuable. Christy directly oversaw all operations of this division, while Shia Reigns served as its active division leader, coordinating both bloodline and non-bloodline units under Christy's guidance.
And just like that, preparations continued alongside exploration. It wasn't long before the first waves of conflict erupted.