Chapter 286
Zarvok continued, his tone taking on a more instructive edge. "The cannon fodder—the first waves—are crucial. They’re not meant to win the war but to weaken the world’s defenses, wearing down its resistance and allowing the abyss to take root. Once they’ve done their job, the real invasion begins. The stronger forces can then move in without being heavily suppressed, ensuring we gain a solid foothold in the new world."
Keles nodded thoughtfully, piecing together the strategy. "So, the first wave sacrifices itself to pave the way for the stronger ones. And once the land is eroded, it becomes an extension of the abyss, making it easier for the rest of the army to follow and fight effectively."
"Precisely," Zarvok confirmed, his eyes glinting with a mixture of anticipation and cold calculation. "Every inch of ground they take, every bit of territory they erode, becomes a staging ground for us. The abyss will seep into the very essence of that world, corrupting it, weakening its defenses further with every passing moment."
"The current suppression you both feel now is nothing compared to what you will face once you step through this portal. The abyss is used to foreign existences entering and leaving it, so its suppression isn’t as more severe than it should be."
"For a world not accustomed to foreign entities, the suppression is more like a physical body fighting off an illness. The world will instinctively do all it can to push out or eliminate the foreign existence."
Keles’s eyes narrowed slightly as she considered the implications. "So, the suppression will be stronger, more aggressive. We won’t just be fighting the inhabitants; we’ll be battling the very essence of the world itself."
Zarvok nodded, his expression serious. "Exactly. The world will try to reject you, to purge you like a virus. That’s why erosion is crucial. As the cannon fodder weakens the world’s defenses, it also dulls that instinctive resistance. But until that process takes hold, you’ll be facing the full force of the world’s rejection."
Ikenga frowned, his mind racing with the possible challenges ahead. "And if we’re too slow? If the erosion doesn’t happen quickly enough?"
"Then you’ll be fighting an uphill battle," Zarvok replied bluntly. "The suppression will drain your strength, sap your power. You might find yourself unable to access even a fraction of your true abilities. That’s why timing and strategy are everything in an invasion like this. We need to erode the world’s defenses as quickly as possible, or we risk being overwhelmed."