"More... than a million?"
Everyone on the bridge became quiet. They knew what was about to happen and the scale of it--but a million themarians?
0.6%. Each of the planets throughout the entire universe had around 0.6% of their population as soldiers--considering Theran has a world population of 700 million, their warriors should be at around 4.2 million.
And since the Kingdom of Hel was the only one that threatened them to send their armies, didn't this mean that they just deployed half the number of their entire soldiers?
Wasn't this too much? But then again, the number may be skewed--the themarians are a race of warriors, after all. The soldiers that were flying toward them might not even be a fraction of what they have.
"...Thank you for the information, Little Riley."
"Don't mention it, captain!"
"Well, I didn't expect that number. But then again, this was a losing battle from the start," Xra then shrugged as she turned to Diana, "Based on the last report from that weird Elder, you should already have more than a hundred thousand people here--it will take a hundred millennia or so, but you can recover your population if you keep at it...
...Just blow Theran and let's leave. We--"
"I feel a lot of people approaching! Can you bring out the map!?"
And before Xra could finish her words, Aerith's voice resounded throughout the bridge; behind her, was Osk who seemed to have already fully recovered.
Xra looked at Aerith for a bit, before just sighing and gesturing to her crew to do as she said and bring out a map.
And almost instantly, a hologram similar to what they had in the war room. This time, however, there was a red dot that was blinking between Theran and New Theran--and it was approaching fast.
"...How many?"
"More than a million, Megawoman!" Little Riley was once again the one to answer the question as he floated from Moira's shoulder. Aerith was slightly taken aback at first as Little Riley floated in front of her, as he no longer looked similar to Riley at all.
His hair was red, and his arms were filled with tattoos. He might as well be a completely different person--but then again... this wasn't the first time Riley's clones gained some sort of individuality.
"A million..." Aerith then shook her head as she focused on what mattered, "But it hasn't even been an hour, we're not... even close to ready. How... many clones can you make before they arrive, Riley?"
"I don't know, Aerith. I have not really tried to stretch the extent of Replica Ricky's cloning ability," Riley shrugged as he looked at the map, "I could probably make a million, but they will have to be Little Riley's size. And based on the data I have scientifically gathered so far from checking themarians, he will be useless."
"...Do it," Aerith breathed out, "We need to distract them as much as possible."
"I believe there's no need to do that, Aerith." And while everyone was on high alert, Riley just shook his head, "The people that are approaching us are from Varoif."
"...What? How would you know?" Aerith furrowed her eyebrows, "I'm in contact with their King. And while he is on our side, he hasn't guaranteed his army to help protect New Theran."
"His daughter is a student of mine, Aerith," Riley only shrugged, "She is leading the people that are approaching us right now with Professor Riley."
"...What? Wait..." Aerith then took in a short but very deep breath as he looked at Riley, "The King's daughter... you mean Esme? The Esme?"
"Yes."
"That..." A smile started to form on Aerith's face, "...This changes things. This--no."
Her smile was short-lived, however, as she once again took in a deep breath; shaking her head as she started walking around,
"Esme's just a child. I can't let her be involved in battle."
"But you are involving me, Aerith," Riley tilted his head to the side, "I am 20 years old, and I believe Esme is over a hundred."
"...You have the blood of billions in your hands, Riley. You're not a child."
"What? What do you mean?" Diana furrowed her eyebrows, "My baby boy is--wait, 20? Since when!?"
Diana's eyes widened in shock as she very slowly made her way to Riley; her hands, slightly trembling as she reached for her son, "W... where did my baby boy go!?"
"..." Aerith slightly squinted her eyes as she watched this. And before Diana could reach Riley, Aerith pulled him away,
"You're in contact with your clone, right? Let's go...
...we'll meet them at their new home."
***
"This... is a lot."
"1,624,310, Aerith. Ages 3 to 999."
"Most of them are children..." Aerith stared at the almost endless wave of people in front of her. Most of them weren't really children, as themarians are already considered adults in their 20s and then almost stop aging altogether--but what Aerith really meant was that most of them are not really ready for battle.
Most of them were even laughing as they flew in the skies, clearly excited to be freely flying for the first time.
"..." Aerith shook her head, however. Her priority wasn't the war, but to bring as many people to New Theran as possible--she was starting to lose sight of her priority due to the upcoming battle.
"Rebel Princess."
"...Princess Esme."
Aerith quickly shook her head off of the thoughts as she saw a Esme making her way toward her; Aerith's eyes, very slowly turning up as they looked at the slim behemoth in front of them.
And as soon as she was within reach, Esme stood straight and placed her hands behind her waist.
"As requested by Professor Riley, I brought people below 5000 years old. For now, we prioritized people below 999 years old, more will be arriving soon," Esme then said as she looked straight; the tone of her voice, completely monotonous.
"That... Riley asked you to do this?" Aerith could not help but blink a couple of times as she looked at Riley; her eyes, slightly wavering as she watched as Riley started summoning clones from the ground.
"Yes," Esme nodded.
"What... did your father say?" Aerith once again looked at the colossal group of themarians in front of her.
"I do not know yet," Esme shook her head, "I have not advised him with what I have done--I do what I want, just like you, Rebel Princess.
"..." Aerith could really only look at the smile that Esme was seemingly forcing to form on her expressionless face.
"It is a pleasure to finally get the chance to talk to you, Rebel Princess."
"The pleasure is mine, Princess Esme," Aerith sighed,
"I only wished we met in a much better circumstance. But as you can see, we're getting ready for war," Aerith then said as she once again looked at Riley, who now had more than a hundred clones around him, and was still summoning more,
"Don't worry, we will do our best to keep all of you safe."
"I don't think we could meet at a better circumstance than this, Rebel Princess," Esme shook her head as she looked at the themarians she brought with her,
"You are giving our species a new home where they could fly freely. You have my full support...
...I will be joining the battle."
