Chapter 324 | 324 | The Great War Part 12: Timeskip

A lone armored vehicle sped through the desert, leaving behind clouds of sand behind. Atop it was a machine gunner pointing his barrel forward as sweat dripped from his forehead. Half a decade had passed since the creation of the Eternal Sun Domain. The Great War between the United World Government and the League of Humanity simmered, though skirmishes between territories remained ablaze.

"Are you sure that the intel is accurate?" In the backseat of the armored vehicle, a man complained while taking a deep puff of his cigarette. Smugglers and scavengers roamed the Eternal Sun Domain for technologies and armaments belonging to the two great factions.

These arcane technologies tend to originate from wreckages of the United World Government's strategic ships and the ruins of the League of Humanity's imperial fortresses.

"Of course, it is accurate. Why would it not be? That intel broker has been with us these past few months. His information network is without a doubt reliable." The driver of the armored vehicle grinned, pointing at the cross marked on the map.

"Where do you think we got this military vehicle? We have been racking a lot since accepting commissions from that information broker."

"Alright, I hope that we don't end up in a firefight." The man exhaled a haze of smoke while the machine gunner remarked from the top. "Don't jinx us man! You know how tough brawls here are."

Most people in the Eternal Sun Domain does not die from the bullet of a rifle, but through dehydration and starvation. For this reason, most scavengers and smuggling teams tend to carry double the supplies required for an operation.

It was better to have it and not need it rather than not have it and need it.

"I really have a bad feeling-" The man muttered under his breath before a bright light flashed over them. Everyone within the armored vehicle was blinded as the driver instinctively turned the wheel. The armored vehicle veered on the sand, before overturning and tumbling down the desert.

A couple of minutes flew by as the man opened his eyelids and saw the armored vehicle upside down. Before him was the crushed pieces of the machine gunner, who had already lost his life long ago. He turned his gaze towards the driver seat and called out.

"Hey, he's gone! Damnit! Why did you have to veer off?" He cursed the driver, who remained unconscious. Blood dripped from his forehead as he coughed and crawled out of the overturned armored vehicle. As his hand gripped the sand outside, he pulled himself and noticed the radiating sunlight dimmed.

"W-wait, what?" Above him was a strategic destroyer whose hull emitted a metallic hum. It was the first time he had seen such a massive warship capable of flying through the skies. The rumors around the strategic ships didn't do them justice.

"The United World Government? What are they doing here?" He mumbled to himself as the driver groaned, attracting his attention. "You're still alive, huh? Much more sturdy than I expected."

"W-what the hell..." The driver opened his eyes, unlatching his seatbelts when he saw the armored vehicle upside down. Hearing the voice of his colleague, the driver cursed out loud. "Damnit!"

"He's dead by the way. Got crushed when the armored vehicle veered off course..." Holding a piece of cigarette, the man gazed at the crushed pieces of their supposed comrade. "It seems that the light came from a strategic destroyer from the United World Government."

The driver was dumbfounded after learning that a companion of theirs had just died. He gritted his teeth, before raising his eyebrows at the words of the man. "The United World Government... Are they after the same thing as us?"

"That I don't know... It has been a while since a strategic destroyer visited the Eternal Sun Domain. I heard that this was supposed to be a beautiful place before the Authority of the United World Government brought about the eternal sun and damned this place."

The man took another puff of his cigarette, staring at the humming warship above them. "You should crawl out of there. Otherwise, I don't mean leaving alone."

"There should be nothing important here that attracts their attention!" The driver wormed out of the overturned armored vehicle and glared at the strategic destroyer in the skies. "This place isn't good for business anymore."

"Let's get out while we can. The United World Government being here means that the League of Humanity are also nearby. Don't want to become mere victims in their crossfire." He glanced at the crushed pieces of their companion and grabbed a bloodied ring.

"Although it has only been a couple of months, I like that guy." The driver muttered to himself while the man grunted while puffing the smoke from his cigarettes. "That's the reality of this kind of job."

Meanwhile, in the bridge of the strategic destroyer, a panther beastfolk wearing the captain's uniform gazed upon the Eternal Sun Domain. It was a permanent area in the primordial world that was firmly established by their Authority as the warning for those Sovereigns.

"Captain, the ping has been detected ten clicks north. Shall the retrieval operation commence?" An intelligence officer glanced at the captain, who sat firmly within his seat.

"Prepare for the retrieval operation. We didn't expect for a black box to be operational after all these years. Information regarding the Sovereigns of the League of Humanity are vital for the war effort." The captain took a deep breath and continued.

"Although the great war has calmed down since then, a victor must be decided between the two powers. We must ensure the victory of the United World Government." After the captain ended his speech, the personnel within the bridge scattered and began the retrieval operation.

"It has been a long time since the Authority and the Dragon of Liberation left for seclusion. The Sovereigns have also stopped contacting the imperial forces of the League of Humanity. This great war has become a greater game between the strongest of beings within the primordial world."

The captain furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his fist. The technological superiority of the United World Government stood beyond the League of Humanity, but it was only a matter of time until a spark set the whole world ablaze once again.