"It looks kinda big from here." Arnold said before crossing his arms in front of his chest, "The photographs didn't do justice to the gargantuan size of Delos, to say the least."

"Well, it'll look way bigger as we approach that place. Not to mention, the photographs were taken from various satellites so it's obvious there would be some kind of discrepancy between what was captured and what is in front of us." Nicole replied while fixing her sunglasses, "Not to mention, since the enemy has a higher ground to fight on, I'm afraid we will lose most of our troops even before we can make it to the island."

"Don't be so pessimistic, Nicole." Johnny smiled seeing the brother and sister chatting like handling their enemies was no big deal for them. But then again, if anyone could stop the crisis in front of him, then it was the two of them, "I'm sure Arnold's plan would work. The main issue would commence the battle immediately after that."

"Nicole is right, Johnny." Arnold sighed, "Although I have confidence in my plan, I don't think all fifty thousand of us would be able to make it to the island. If we are lucky, maybe forty thousand of us would reach the island in a fighting condition. The rest would most probably be at the mercy of the sea and that gigantic whale." 

It had been a week since the video of Hercules declaring war upon Arnold went viral around the globe. The video following the declaration of war sent shockwaves throughout the planet. There was a single question in the mouths of the people: Just who was this Vassal of the Immortal one? No matter the race, community and religion. Everyone wanted to know who was the man that had brought such a monstrosity into their world.

However, despite trying their best to find any information regarding it, no one had any idea about who or what was the monstrous Hercules was referring to in his short speech. Except for the paladins and the vassals. They were the ones eager to see a demigod fighting against the man who was described as the strongest Vassal among them.

The people got panicked more and more as the island creature got closer to the Rikuchu Coast of Japan. The entire island had been evacuated in fear of annihilation. But nothing happened. Delos had unexpectedly stopped before Japanese islands were put in any danger. 

After the incident, it seemed as if Hercules was waiting for Arnold's reply. Thankfully, the Council of Nations was mindful and utilised this time to mobilise its joint army of about fifty thousand warriors against what was estimated to be fifteen thousand soldiers on the island.

Most of the warriors that were a part of the defending force were either S or A ranked warriors. And they were being led by 3 SS ranked warriors: Arnold, Nicole and Johnny. There were only 3 of them because Yu Zhung was stationed in East America to take care of things there and Nicholas had refused to participate in the raid as he had to 'take care of a nation'.

"Just wait till I kick that basta*d's a*s." Johnny huffed in rage. Nicholas was supposed to be a trusted friend of his. Yet he blatantly refused to participate in the battle which could very well determine the future of the entire planet and that idiot was only worried for his country, "That moron doesn't even realise that if things go south here, there won't be a country to take care of in the first place."

Arnold didn't respond because he knew very well why Nicholas wasn't willing to help them. He simply closed his eyes and enjoyed the soft touch of the sea breeze on his face. Despite the peaceful demeanour that Nicholas showed to everyone else, at the end of the day, he was a bully and an arrogant basta*d, just like Arnold. Nicholas's inflated ego was the reason why that idiot of a mage wasn't coming to help them. 

Arnold was sure that rather than helping, Nicholas would be hoping for his former disciple to die during the fight. Ever since Arnold's visit to Rio, things had not been the same between them. If only his former teacher would realise his mistake and try to reconcile, Arnold just might have forgiven him. But without an apology, there was no way they could reconcile.

Arnold's train of thought was interrupted by a massive sea wave, as it splashed against the rocky terrain of Jodogahama Beach. The usually calm waves had been agitated due to the emergence of Delos, around the beach. The crystal clear water around Delos had turned murky. Arnold suspected that the weird-looking substance was the creature's first line of defence.

"Let's forget about someone insignificant." Arnold mumbled before turning around, "Hercules is waiting for a reply to his declaration. If he doesn't receive a response. Despite how it seems, if he hadn't been waiting, then he would have allowed an army to assemble. He could simply trample them down and get it over with."

"So... You're saying he won't attack us until the so-called vassal responds to him?" Johnny asked, his voice was a bit tensed. Which was to be expected, "Then we should make sure that the vassal never responds to him!"

"Lol, Hercules won't do that." Arnold smiled, "If the Vassal of the Immortal one, doesn't reply to his declaration of war, he would most probably take out his frustration on the planet."

"Sh*t. It's a problem that we still haven't found anything about the vassal though. Even with the secret services throughout the world are looking for them." Johnny shrugged his shoulders, "At this point, I'm not even sure if such a man exists at all."

Both Arnold and Nicole broke down laughing at Johnny's words. Johnny was perplexed. Why were these two siblings laughing so hard? He was being serious. They had no clues regarding who the person in question was.

"I... I think it's time the world got to know about it." Arnold wiped the corner of his eyes before facing Johnny, "I am the Vassal of the Immortal one. That barbaric moron is here for me." 

"Eh?"

***

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