****(POV)

I can't help but nod in satisfaction as I inspect our defenses. We may not be the strongest sect, but at least we should be able to survive just because of the strength of our defenses. 

It took so much effort, but we have finally installed a new magical defense system. Here is the beauty of it, it targets the weakest areas of humans. It doesn't matter if the enemy is a rank 1 or a rank 4. They will get annihilated by it. 

Honestly, I'm still surprised that we even managed to be lucky enough to find that. We are the Eternal Tempering sect. People usually mistake us for a blacksmithing guild because of the tempering, but we are not. 

Well, we actually have blacksmiths, but we temper anything. We temper metal, we temper our bodies, we temper our buildings, we temper our food too. Anything that we can temper to increase its resilience, we do. 

As body cultivators, we are hard to kill but also very vulnerable. There are only a few of us on this continent. This makes it so it's really hard to make alliances. People always want us to be the vanguard. 

Sure it makes sense since we are resilient, but the issue is the lack of commitment from them. We are no cannon fodder! That's why we decided to remain neutral and work on our defenses. 

We knew our usual powers wouldn't work well in an all-out war against another faction. That is why we have searched relentlessly for a new method. 

Now, it is finally complete, after a year of relentless effort. This new array that we have will attack the brains of everyone and make it hard to cast spells. It is a null magic zone, pretty much. The beauty of it is that as body-cultivators, we always are stronger than most in our default state. 

It is now time for a speech. My men are assembled in the huge courtyard and are waiting excitedly. 

"Men! I am proud to say that from now on, no one will ever trample upon the dignity of our sect any longer! From now on, we are totally independent, and we will remain safe!" 

"HUZZAH!" 

"We will carve our own path in this continent!" 

"HUZZAH!" 

"So what if we are one of the few of our kind?! We will remain strong, and…what the heck is that?!" 

Just as I'm doing my speech, I notice something. On the table near me, I have a glass of water. The issue is that there are ripples in it. 

I drop to the ground and press my ear against it. That is when I feel it. There is a tremor, a very weird one. This is unnatural! 

"Men! Keep the celebration for later. We are under attack! By the sound of it, something gigantic is coming our way!"

I can hear the chatter of people wondering what it is. But at least we are all ready for the upcoming fight. My second in command approaches me. He's smart and hardworking. We wouldn't have come so far without his help. For that, I am extremely grateful. 

"Boss, don't worry! Whatever is coming our way will get attacked by our new array! We'll see how well it fares afterward!"

"What do you think it is? Some sort of magical construct?" 

"Quite possibly, Boss. But whoever is powering it won't be able to anymore once it enters our territory. Chances are whatever is coming will just crumble on itself."

"Indeed! I can't wait for it!" 

THUMP! 

THUMP! 

THUMP!

We can hear a rhythmical sound. Then over the horizon, we see a blue and huge thing. What is that? We are all puzzled but confident, nonetheless. 

"What is this?!" 

"It looks just like a round ball bouncing around." 

"Is this an enemy?" 

We can't help but look at each other. We really have no idea what we are facing. We'll fight without any issue, but still.

As it comes closer, we can finally discern what it is. 

"Oh my god!" 

"Fuck me!"

"Am I dreaming, right now?!"

"Is this even possible?!"

"Men, get ready to activate the array!" 

In the distance is what can only be called a magical creature. Except, a magical construct wouldn't really fit the situation. No, there is a huge slime!

"Boss, it's heading straight for our fortress!" 

"I'm aware! Send it to oblivion, activate the Null magic zone!" 

It glows with a purple light that fills the entire area. We can feel our bodies become sluggish as our own body enhancement becomes weaker. Still, it's all worth it for….What?! 

"Why isn't it working?! This thing is definitely a big bundle of mana!" 

"Oh god, Boss. I know why!" 

My right-hand man to the rescue as usual. But why is his face so grave right now? I have a bad feeling about this. 

"Boss, our array targets the brain and makes it hard to use mana…."

"I'm aware of that the why is….oh shit!" 

That's when it hits me. Slimes do not have brains. This whole fancy array that we have is useless against it. I forgot about that detail for a second.  We would never have thought that a giant slime would attack us. 

"This is bad. What rank is even that thing?!" 

"Boss, rank 4 or perhaps even 5?! I just know one thing. We can't defeat it. No matter what." 

Crap! Crap! Crap! Talk about ruining a perfect day! That is how we witness it approach by bouncing—every huge jump making it cover an incredible distance. 

"Boss, we need to evacuate, at this rate…."

"I know…Goddamnit! Men! Get out of the way of that slime! No matter what, we have to survive!"

We run out of our "impenetrable" fortress. That is when we turn around and see it. The giant slime is trampling over our fortress. We can hear the extremely sturdy stone giving in under the incredible weight of the creature. 

There is only one thing we can hear. This thing is somehow talking, yes, without a brain. It seems to be saying something about finding its creator. What kind of madman created such a monster?! Why did he send it our way!

Then the slime disappears as easily as it came. As we return to our fortress, everything is in shamble. The array is destroyed. Our treasury is half-digested. Our library, with most of our knowledge, is unreadable. 

"God fucking damnit! Whoever created that creature from Hell, I swear I'll find you, and I will kill you!!"

I can't help but scream, venting at no one in particular. That's when my right hand comes closer.

"Boss…"

"Yes, I know. We need to rebuild, and we don't know who that enemy is in the first place."

"That's not it, Boss…here."

He hands me what looks like a drawing. On it is the face of an ordinary-looking man. Under is the caption: the creator. 

As I raise my head, I see all my soldiers. They are full of fighting spirit. I can't help but smile slightly. 

"Who's up for a revenge crusade?!" 

"HUZZAH!" 

Whoever you are, we are coming!...

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