How and why wars stop? Who decides that it's time to put the weapons down and listen to the enemy? No one was listening before the call to end it all, the Killing of Nara did not envision a sudden ending, every enemy of Cressenie died, so they had no reason nor ability to keep going.
Furthermore, the politicians of that nation publicly stated that a reckoning was close for the countries or independant nations trying to subvert Cressenie economically or socially in any way shape or form. The instantenous paradigm froze geopolitical relations in such a blast that the post-war feeling was not felt by any human being, rather they kept living like nothing happened, using the known violence and gore from said-war to justify a deterrence that would normally be considered a call for conflict in times of peace.
The human is born for conflict, no nation was built on anything but merit, and any nation that would try would be obliterated in a second by an army that learned how to spy, gather intel and throw accusations to frame a pre-established institution.
As such Shill Na Ter and Sehang gave up, taking a step back for years in order to avoid an additional crisis. Perseus kept using those technics and sadistic ways in their own fashion, proving that strategies are man-born, innate to the species and not taught by a rivaled one.
Ismael, who forcefully coerced himself in a corner to think differently, who had his dna forever changed, tried a few code names on Theigon as they were exhanging details on the Suffered, and Theigon actively switched from one persobality to another like a sleeper cell. A life in military remains a conditionning if it was a life of military quality.
"Dry him, Theigon."
He grabbed a weapon and reloaded without thinking. "So you do remember." Theigon nodded.
"I'm still the viper, even though the rest of the group has been scattered. What plan do you have?"
"I have a better question for you, how do you remember Lifeline? Karin has the Ether, but you?"
"I solidified this life in the military and mercenary lifestyle in my core being. I presume it remained in me as long as I was alive."
"Right. Now, as for Loovis, we focus on internal affairs. We use the Cardinals as assets and send intel to the Suffered to make fights equal."
"Before your arrival, Loovis mentionned one last Cardinal. We don't know his name yet."
"Good, remember that too. In case we can help our friends in the back. Loovis incorporated a sense of loyalty into me when giving me a title, doesn't change what I am, doesn't change the plan.
1788, Karánsabes, the Austrians sent a few pathfinders or scouts beyond the forest to update the local army on current enemy movement. Per time they did not have electricity, therefore when coming back at nighttime, the austrian army promptly attacked, thinking it was the turkish army. If any real event went any other way, they would have said so. As for now, the modern history remembers the event as we tell it now.
Hour one.
Gloria and Karin took charge of a surprise attack based on recon of intel and habits of the enemy. They hid where the animals usually hide, underground for Mateni Tarima, up in the trees for Raven Perma, Genova in the mountains and Gloria, who learned from Karin on how to be invisible in plain sight, stood there, facing the nature.
As for the 1788 tragedy, the group held enough mass informations in their brain for such a young age that the motivation to kill turned into impulse. The young soldiers had learned the hard way that coming unprepared is a suicide attempt. And because they wanted to live, they kept adapting.
They had finally reconnected with who they were, and as such, memories began to flow back.
The High Marquis had lusted upon a project for a long period of time to snatch away hope from the adversary. A legitimate tactic based on terror and threat. If the group had made its way back into their older ways purely by instinct, the High Marquis was using the same sadistic technics the politicians of Cressenie used to deter Shill Na Ter, Sehang, Shura, Laggoon Les and Hyefa from even thinking about attacking. The parents living in Perseus had given up on the idea of fighting back, effectively conditionning them to rationalize the loss of their own children for the greater-good of the society. They would then not care about their family, their own flesh and blood, but rather pay allegiance, respect and loyalty to Perseus, and here on out the Project Perseus would have won.
Awane instinctively remained behind the front lines at Ismael's house to think of every possible scenario and while they remained in contact, they were constantly updating the situation outside, as Awane would advise them on the best possible move.
Hour two.
A Cardina Sin was sent outside to investigate. Loovis stated the low likeliness of an frontal attack, yet, for the remaining zero point one percent, Faviel had been chosen. The Baron of Torture smelled the place, as familiar or uncharted as it was, his sense of smell was highly developped and he would use it constantly, so much so, that his head adapted to being tilted back on a daily basis.
But it was his form that would make even the toughest fighters give up at the sight of such. A skinny body covered in bandages. His arms leaned forward like a mummy in cartoons. Truly unmatched as far as Cardinals look like, he was the singular most interesting on a physical standpoint.
He smells something, a latent fragrance, the faint aroma of a living thing caught in-between two demons. In short, a prey. But he doesn't hunt. He prevails in silent interrogation. He crafts the situation, he would imply combat if necessary by standing there, staring into the hiding spot until the prey would make a sound betraying their position, location, or until they would starve or go insane.
Gloria, right behind him, by shaolin, breathed not the oxygen here but the air she inhaled before going to the forest, rendering the Cardinal's smell ability useless. She kept recycling the oxygen in her lungs until any slow movement could never be traced or heard.
The blade she had had no sheath to avoid any unwanted sound. So she grabs it and stabs the Cardinal. The immortal Cardinal that stabs back.