Returning back to the Hotel, the General is greeted with Elizabeth playing the Grand Piano as Ludwing stood next to her, totally astonished by her playing and in the kitchen, Alana has traded her gown with a casual modern outfit consisting of a mini pink shirt and tight denim pants while using an Apron with a text “Musically Good, Can’t Cook For Shit” as she swirls to get a Pan with some peppers in hand.
“Oh, M’Lord. Welcome back. Bahamut, no Heels please.”
“My Lord! You’ve returned!”
“Hey hey hey ladies. Busy day today and let me tell you, the Governor is something. That’s for sure.”
“I see M’Lord, but is he a good man?”
“I don’t know yet but he did show some courage. Unlike most politicians, I can give him that. But I don’t trust him just yet.”
“Governor Cavall is a bit of a character, General. I’ve met him many times in concerts and places where I’ve played. He is certainly someone who can handle the situation we are currently in. The man has been a part of the guild for longer than I have. I think he was already here before the city was even built.”
“It might not be out yet but someone attacked the Administrative Building, a single lone Operator… I think. There might be insiders for all I know but that’s for later. For now, I want to take a bath.”
“Attacked? This deep within your territory, My Lord?”
“Yup. I already told the Mayor to have my office moved to the Police Station. That’s way safer.
“My Lord, Zavalda might be far more problematic than the paper and numbers you’ve been given. May I suggest imprisoning all of the Government Officials immediately?”
“Calm down Elizabeth. We can’t do that unless we have a proper excuse that people will buy. It doesn’t even have to be believable but at the same time, I do not think it's safe to shake the tree of Zavalda at such a chaotic moment in the city unless we truly have to.”
“M’Lord, What would be the strategy? We’ve only been here for a day and already, so many problems have arisen.”
“I don’t know yet. But one thing is for sure. We cannot do anything drastic, if they have that much eyes, any attempts I’d do would be quickly foiled. If I make one move, everyone and their mother will know about it. I might send everyone out to do errands and investigations with what we’ve known so far.”
“Hm! I do like that! My Lord, I shall await that order.”
“Masterrrrr…”
“Alright alright. I’ll take a bath first. Bahamut, stay.”
He removes his jacket which Elizabeth takes and folds as he takes out his shoes and lazily walks to the bath with Bahamut in tow. Feeling the light steps of the woman behind him, the General turns around and confusingly looks at the Dragon. “Uhm… I wanna join you Master.” he just sighs and lets her come with him to the bathroom.
“Is that normal between those two?”
“I do not think those two had ever not taken a bath together till Bahamut became a human. Now back to our lesson.”
The General dips in the hot bath, his muscles instantly relaxing and he lets out a long hard sigh. Bahamut’s slender and curvy body then slides in between his legs and pushes her back up to his chest. Resting her willowly body on him. Seeing the situation, the man just nods in approval and spreads his arms to the sides of the tub while Bahamut rests her arms on his thighs underwater.
“Master, I can feel something poking me.”
“Sorry, just the body doing its thing. Though if you don’t mind it, you can relax.”
“Hm. I do not mind, human bodies are very interesting anyways.”
“So… what do you think? Will Captain Aldrin do something with the Core?”
“I do not know of that yet. But I do think they are also concerned with its state. To go as far to ask me for its location. They have something in mind to do with it, they might wanna replicate what happened to the Robots and the corruption it brought.”
“Yeah… that’s what I’m scared about. Those Robots, since we do not have actual GPS or any Nav Systems, are more akin to Iron Golems with artificial souls that’s powered by the Mana Core. If they can go rogue with the corruption of the Core since they're connected to it… then will it be like the second event?”
“Master, What was that second event?”
“It happened back in Dragovh. Far into its South is a Gothic Victorian city built by multiple Guilds. I don’t think we’ve ever been there, only passed it. But its Mana Core got corrupted and the nearby Airbase had to send everything it got to the scene. For the first time for I guess a thousand or so years, Hellgates has been reported in Threa and it was such a big deal to the Natives the Higher Ups pushed into the forget me cabinets as quickly as they could. The written reports also said the city was slowly engulfed by a hellish red flesh that appears from nowhere and spreads to everywhere. It got purified so it was swept under the rug soon after the event had died down.”
“Let me guess, Master… this purification was done by a Hero?”
“Mhm. The Sword Saint followed by that Prince of James we saved on our first week here. Both of them were present and they both purified it. Last I heard, the two Heroe parties parted and went back on their own adventures. Jesus, I can only imagine what those two are leaving in their wake.”
“To the Heavens, to purify is like to hunt and eat a prey. It’s fulfilling and a duty they must do to survive. I do not think the Gods of this world would let a foreign ball of power let loose and corrupt things on their carefully carved planet.”
“Hm. Correct, there are a lot of players seemingly in this Grand Theater Show we’re having. We’re merely powerful minor characters on the side, while the Protagonists are out there doing the saving and helping… the Gods of this world I’m sure are far more active than what most Natives make it out to be. They say the Gods have long left their physical forms, but what about you Bahamut? Can you feel them?”
The General then touches Bahamut’s long silky black hair. Curiosity took over his hands as he felt her hair’s quality and even smell.
“I can, Master. Albeit only in certain areas of worship. I can sense their immense divinity coursing through those praying to them. They are active, alive, living. But are merely on the sidelines with sticks if you will. Poking things that they want to move.”
“That’s so strange. I might not be able to wrap my head around it, but why can’t they just go here and do something?”
“I have an odd feeling that they do not want to do anything. The Gods I am speaking off have long lost their religions and are now merely dormant in the background. There are Gods that are born from the collective souls of all creatures that have sentience and believe in a thing hard enough for it to gain a self and soon, Godhood. But there are also the True Gods as you call them, Master.”
“Yeah. Ones born from the Primeval creation. Natural Gods or some sort right?”
“Indeed. This world of Threa, as you see. It has Natural and ones that are born out of belief. Like the God of the Holy See, I can sense him and his strength. I think he might be the one behind the Heroes next to Humanus.”
“Haaaaaah… why is it I always have to get stuck in the middle of great conflicts? I wanna go back to sitting in a comfy office chair and eating fast food every lunch. There’s no conflict between Natural Gods and those from belief right?”
“That, I do not fully know yet, Master. I’ve only interacted with a Mana Core once and it was against Augustus. I fear the Natural Gods of Fear, War, Death, Violence. True Gods that will never be dormant. Heir to concepts everything and everyone regardless of sentience has felt or see might be fighting against the beautiful concepts of Heaven, Paradise, and Salvation that is common amongst all sentient creatures but not the non-sentient ones.”
“Oh great. You make it sound like we’re in the middle of a war between Gods… or concepts something like that, Idunno. Ugh… doesn’t help that the True Gods are basically unkillable. To kill one would be to remove a concept that is a base to all living things right? Same with the Gods born out of belief. You can’t remove a concept that’s already been born. You can forget about it, but I guess there always exists a record of it somewhere, out there.”
“Exactly Master. Hence why they only go dormant. Or better yet, eaten by other Gods to gain more power. Like I have.”
“How many Gods did Mors Letum have under her anyways? She’s a True God that got defeated right? That might explain why the concept of respawn is here. Her death might’ve fucked with this worlds concept of death.” the General splashes some water on his face as he wipes it with both of his hands. “Maybe, but we cannot know for sure, Master. I am still a foreigner to this planet and its systems as so are you and everyone else from Tur.”
“I guess so… well. How was the Governor then?”
“The Governor… though… his smell is strange. I do not know where to put him, there is a certain chaos yet rigidity to how his scent works. Captain Aldrin has the same scent as you Master. But more dangerous and unhinged.”
“I see, then I won’t put him high up on my list then. For now, I wanna see how we can control the situation. The faster the military gets out of this city and things return to normal, the better. You say it's something with corruption right? I’ll need to put this in the bag as fast as I can. I wonder… What corruption is there? Will it be like in the Three Kingdoms? The Mana Core turning the skies red and these strange hellish veins growing on the city streets?”
“But Master, the people seem to have already gotten accustomed to the presence of the skeletons. Most are going about their day without a care to the fact that they are under occupation. The chaos must not be affecting the corruption as bad as you think. As long as the majority and their collective sense of danger is low. Then so will be the risk of the Mana Core corrupting.”
“Not occupation Bahamut, call it Martial Law. That would get you a lot of flak if you were to say that in front of the others… though technically. It is. At the end of the day, we have to prevent, if not. Absolutely make sure no more terrorist attacks happen. As that’s what happened to both of the Mana Cores that previously got corrupted. Before they went red, something got the people riled up, some mass shooting or a targeted attack. I think even our adversaries miscalculated in a rare turn. The people didn’t get riled up enough to cause chaos. Am I onto something Bahamut?”
“Yes! You are very near to knowing it, Master. Though the concepts I wanna explain might not be truly understandable by your mortal soul. I do think it's somewhere around that line of thought.”
The General then puts his hand on his forehead. Feeling how hot it is as he sighs once again and leans into Bahamut’s back.
“I do think you are better off being yourself, Master. Just like back then, it was just you and I and the Knights of Eldwood. Though I don’t mind having the vampires with you, I’m sure they can also see that you're thinking more than you usually do. It’s best to not think too much, Master.”
“I know, but this is a duty I’ve long been in. It’s nothing new, just that I now have an extra set of stars on my shoulders and I have to contact three other Generals with their own Army Corps and have them assembled. You know, if it weren’t from you, Elizabeth, and Alana. I think I would’ve lost it already. The batshit crazy things you encounter here are just on a whole other level. I never knew I’d give trains and dragons to Vampires and then head off into a city and prevent its falling.”
“And you are just a mortal human going through all of it. Master, the fact that you don’t feel erotic at all after seeing my naked body and having my large breasts as bare as can be for you to touch and feel just shows how much it's taken its toll on you. Master would’ve never let an opportunity like this pass. You have far too many things in your mind right now.”
“Like an open book. I hate how you three can see through me like that… but I do feel erotic Bahamut. Just that I kinda want to enjoy this moment with us just cuddling and talking. Sometimes, it's not always exchanging kisses and doing all sorts of sexy things. Sometimes… it's just two people being with each other.”
“Is that so? I have much more to learn, Master.”
Bahamut then grabs his hands and wraps it around her body.
“Will that calm your mind then?”
“Hm. Definitely better. Also, did you take my extra toothbrush?”
“Ehhhhh… how have you liked the food so far, Master?’
“Well well well, look at you changing subjects.”
“Eh-eh-ehhhh… I like Dragovh’s meat. Theirs is tender and has a lot of spices.”
“That’s because the Kingdom of James is rich as heck and has proper roads and you were there when we put our info in their Guild System. They know communication is key in large countries and they’ve mastered it with magic. Now about my extra toothbrush.”
The General places his head on Bahamut’s small shoulder as he hugs her even more tightly, pushing her to his body even more. He tilts his head, sighing even more as the man closes his tired eyes and the Dragon God just smiles, her pretty pale face resting on the side of his head and her long slender hand softly pushing the man's head to her skin.
Soon after the two’s long bath. They exit out and are met with the two vampires sitting down and waiting. “Oh, you're finally finished, My Lord. Bahamut, You didn’t do anything right?” with Elizabeth already having taken the leg of the sweetly roasted chicken with a tender brown color, perfected with the mash potatoes and lettuce on the large plate and with Alana’s satisfied grin.
“Sorry, me and Bahamut took our time.”
“No worries. Alana’s cooking though has gotten better with these modern amenities.”
“Really? Oh man, lemme see that Roasted Chicken then! Oh, where’s Ludwig though?”
“He has been called M'Lord. To play in the Eastern part of the city, there seems to be someone important arriving at the airport.”
“Oh, that might be the Idol or something. Let it be then, let us enjoy this meal together.”
The group then has a long dinner and after a while, goes to sleep. With the two vampires spending their night in their own personal rooms and the General, busy with piles of paperwork that was delivered to the hotel. Bahamut alone with herself eats away at the kitchen. Tasting everything from Peanut Butters, Cheese, Mayonnaise, to Cereals. She stands straight up, her human ears hearing something strange. Emptying out the box of food, the woman heads to the exit. Putting on her shoes and walking out to the elevator.
Entering, the bright city is completely engulfed with an extremely heavy rain, numbing out its numerous lights with a hail of water. Pushing the snow away and replacing it with a torrent of crystal clear water. The tall woman walks out the elevator, ignoring the players staring at her with intense gazes. Fully aware of who she is.
Without care, she walks into the torrential rain and immediately gets soaked to the brim with water. But even with all of the liquid hitting her gown, veil and crown. Nothing seems to get affected by it and she continues to walk in the dark of night without care and not a hint of water on her. The concrete sidewalk was extremely slippery thanks to the tantamount of water that’s already nearing flood levels. She stops at an intersection as a M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank rolls blazing past the empty road. A tarp on top of the turret as it ferries a bunch of soldiers to another part of the city, shaking the ground violently and splashing water over her entire body which she just ignores. Emptily staring into the straight path of the sidewalk that continues for miles.
Two blocks in front of her, a young teenage man in a black suit looks back. Feeling as if something is gazing at his very soul inside the curtain of rain behind him. He then shrugs it off and continues walking in the rainy night. Even with the looming feeling that bites into his very core that something ethereal and out of this world is staring at his essence. Breaking down his entire life like a microbe under a microscope. The man then starts running, going into the nearby alleyway.
He runs and runs, splashing water into his expensive slacks and shoes. Changing from one block to another, just to stop at a well lit bus station that’s currently out of service as a rain warning shows over the LED sign inside it. He stops under the shelter of the rectangular structure. Taking in the sudden rush of peace to rest. Soon after, he once again gets the peering feeling that something is prying into his soul and essence. Making him stand up once again, to peek out the bus station.
On a lone street lamp, a ghostly figure of a thin woman with a black metallic dragonic crown rises from a puddle of water, soon a veil and a gothic funeral gown. Though his body immediately gets an extra rush of adrenaline, he couldn’t move and just stared at her as she began to walk to the bus station. The rain continually got worse and worse, even the rays of the street lights became bogged by the water flowing from above and as soon as she appeared, she was right in front of the teenage man with messy white hair.
“Aren’t you thinking about me a bit too much?”
“G-Good Evening, but w-who’re you?”
“No one. But your telekinetic and telepathic powers are too annoying. Dial it down before you bother me again.”
“How did you find out? My noise should’ve been drowned out by the rain.”
“Look human, I’m not one to mingle with your kin but at least do not think so much of me that you're transmitting it into the spatial frequency. I need to hear the animals and feel the city.”
“Y-Your Bahamut!”
“Yes. Now, I hope you listen to my warning. Goodbye.”
“Wait!”
“Hm?”
“If I was to sacrifice a hundred people to you as tribute, what wish would I be able to get?”
“Have the Chosen Ones whacked your brain or something? I do not take sacrifices. I am Bahamut, the only souls I take are the ones that proudly die in battle or have offered their souls to me with consent. Normal souls are worthless to me and my power anyways. A hundred dead souls from mundane people do not have much. Only those of Heroes and fighters are even worth a tad bit of the trouble for me at this state.”
“Then what about a hundred thousand fighters? Because if you won’t take it, the chaos will and this city will soon be engulfed by it.”
“That should be more than enough. But Chaos is very powerful, it has hands everywhere while mine only reaches inside my own Temples.” Bahamut then walks past the man and then turns around and looks down right at his eyes. “But don’t you even think about it. I can sense your power, it is overwhelming up close and I can smell it for miles. Be afraid if I even get a grip that you used this for something nefarious. I will come at you with no mercy, do not disturb the balance of this world with your strength or you shall face me.” the woman's voice changed and was deep and alluding, making him tremble at his place. Water from the roof of the bus stop then drops at his forehead making him close his eyes for a second and already, the tall woman was gone.
Alana wakes up as the rain falls from the window of her plain looking modern room. The digital clock next to her said it was only 9:10PM. She then stretches a bit and then looks at herself in the mirror. Wearing only her pink panties with a small ribbon on the middle top of it. She turns to the left and then to the right. Her immensely curvy and youthful body paired with nicely shaped busts. Her long legs were covered by the desk and she could only see her modest thighs compared to that of the more mature and bountiful ones of Bahamut and Elizabeth.
The woman nodded and smiled at herself as she walked to her wardrobe. Taking her red gown and long gloves with a pair of stockings. She dons it and after a few minutes of checking the frills and adjusting its tightness. The woman then opens the desk drawer and looks at her accessories. She takes a pair of Red Rose earrings and puts it on. Her sharp ears now seemingly lit up by the bright red color of the ruby inside it.
Opening another drawer, she puts on her mascara and eyeliner. Finishing it with a light lip balm as thunder strikes inside the city behind her rooms’ windows. Having been all donned up, the woman checked the digital clock and it was already nearing 10. She goes outside and into the hallway where she sees the General awake. All alone at the dining table reading maps while doing paperwork at the same time. She silently walks up to the man and lightly puts her hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, Alana. What’re you up to?”
“I’ll be going around the city, M’Lord.”
“Ah, good. Becareful, the rain warning says it's only gonna get worse till One in the morning.”
“Of course, M’Lord.”
She gives him the light peck on the cheek and takes the umbrella near the door. With a light wave the woman returns to her room, taking the attention of the General. It made him stand up and follow her in his shorts and plain white shirt and the hotel flip flops. She walks around her bed and opens the window. “I’ll try to be back as early as I can, M’Lord.” she then hops out into the rainy day. The edge of her sharp heeled shoes on the tips of the ledge of the window frame as she opened the umbrella.
General Paul quickly ran to the window and closed it. Preventing the water from ruining the carpet of her room as she quickly disappeared from the window. “Hahhh… I’ll need to get a towel.” as the man sighed, she was already on the roof of the Grand Hotel. Dancing around the edge of the building like a ballerina. Swirling about the rain, making beautiful circles of water as if she was using magic. But all she was doing was using her perfected dance routine to manipulate the liquid piling all around her in an endless stream.
Having acclimated herself. The woman then starts running and reaching the ledge. She effortlessly jumps into the other roof, not losing a bit of her elegance as she continues to go and run around the cityscape and its rooftops without a care to the world. Down below, there were little people on the sidewalks and infrequent cars on the road as police barriers were set up on certain areas where the rain has made the water far too dangerously high for vehicles to cross and only players with certain mounts or magical powers can cross.
She soon reaches the buildings that’s on the opposite side of the road to the huge national park in the middle of Zavalda. Even with the hard rain falling down, her pointy ears would twitch at the sound of the railway and to the noisy military vehicles patrolling about. She then holds her umbrella tighter and makes a leap of faith down to the sidewalk below her. With a smile on her face, she lightly lands like a flower that fell from its bud. What little people that were present didn’t mind her presentable arrival as they passed her going about their days.
Having now landed. The woman looks around and sees that most of the shops were already closed. Taking the time, she walks around slowly. Crossing into the park where players wearing darker clothes were present. Some were practicing their weapons, others running around using their magic to jump higher and dash faster, the one that caught her attention was the ones making magic circles on the grass and putting a magic book on it. She watches them on the path as a bunch of edgy looking medieval players then chant something. Lighting up the magic circle and the thick book floating a few meters from the ground and then dropping.
One of them was visibly happy as he took it and danced around. She then continues on, deeper into the middle of the park where there was a small pond. There, players with strange four legged creatures that look like a platypus with the body of a cat can be seen playing with their companions. Letting them dip in the water as the powerful winds made the waves high and mighty, while others were training themselves in water magic. One of them with a Scepter and a book in both hands. Visibly trying his best to conjure a small water sprout. Not letting the creeping winds blow his concentration as the collar of his cloak was already up on his cheek.
Walking around the pond, she felt an oncoming object to her left and stopped it with her hand. The fireball quickly dissipates upon contact of her red gloves and the Elven player who did it visibly bowing and apologizing. She lets him be as she continues to walk through the park. Nearing the Western exit, she sees a bunch of players in White and Blue. Wearing cloaks with Knights in the same hue kneeling down on an Altar. “BLESS THIS ALTAR! MAY WE CHOSEN ONES COME BACK TO LIFE THROUGH THIS ICON OF THE TRUE GOD!” The Altar then lights up and the Knights then lift it from both sides and start to lunge it into the sidewalk where they had a van sitting next to a No Parking Sign.
The woman then exits the park and goes into the opposing streets. Peeking into it, a brightly lit shop with a circular sign “Zavalda Booksale 24/7”. Seeing it, the woman's eyes lit up as she first walks into one of the five lit up shops amongst fifty more that’re closed. Walking inside, she was instantly greeted by a polite but deep manly voice.
“Oh, a Vampire? How may I help you? I am Mister O’Neil. Owner and Operator of Zavalda Booksale.”
She looked around and could see the man was on the ceiling. He was an Orc player wearing a fine suit complete with shiny leather shoes. “I apologize for being on the ceiling. I was cleaning the chandeliers. Please, do take a gander at our selection.”
“Pleased to meet you Sir O’Neil. I am Lady Minuit. If I may query you. May I take the permission to open some books and do some reading?”
“Oh my. What a polite lady. I can already tell you aren’t like the normal Vampires I usually come across in this city. Please do, all of these books are second hand and without any plastic cover. If you may even wish, you can come here and read these books fully.”
“Thank you for your kindness Mister. I shall take this invitation and decipher as much as I can. I’d like to fully master the language of English before the chance disappears.”
“Worry not.” the Orcish man with his light green skin then instantly drops from the ceiling and with a gentlemanly stride. Walked to her and bowed. She bowed back and gave him a polite smile while he took out a pair of reading glasses from his vest. “Ahem. Most of these books are handcrafted. No magic connected to the Mana Core was used. So even if the city was to disappear, furniture, objects, and even vehicles not made with the Mana Core will stay. Including these books.”
“And who does the printing, if I may kindly ask?”
“Many. We have Breznick with their in-house methods using enchanted objects while we have the Regency having more akin to a late Twentieth century printing press just before the Industrial Revolution. But of course if it's magical Tomes of Insight or Tomes of Skills. The Magicians Association is the biggest one in producing that wonderful literature.”
“Ah, the Regency. I haven’t heard of that name for a while. I remember visiting their city of Sulpitius. It was quite a grand place, I was very happy to see such a well made settlement.”
“I’d like to visit Sulpitius myself. But I’ve been busy with not only my other life, but also this life. Their city is far too far away for me to go there right now. Back in Dark World. Every major town would have a teleporter. A Portal Gate as we call them. We also used it to transport goods from one place to another back then.”
“And so without those quick methods, who does the logistics?”
“Ah many. Dark World is not a Full Dive Game only limited to muscleheads who want to be a great Knight and save the world. It’s also home to Chefs, Merchants, Doctors and many other skill trees that aren’t given as much attention compared to the more mainstream ones.”
“If I may question you a bit more. What’s your role? M’Lord has said he is a Hybrid DPS Tank. And you?”
“Ah. I am a Magician. One that specializes in the art of enchanting. But to do that, one must be willing to read a lot of books and comprehend the sentences in them. I may say that your Lord is a bit of a musclehead too. Such a role requires a lot of health and a lot of swinging to survive long enough for your teammates to deal enough damage while giving damage yourself. How did this person get such a graceful and tasteful red swan such as yourself?”
“He surprisingly isn’t.”
“Oh my, what a rarity.”
“Though he needed to work on his eloquence at the start. After much teaching and training. I can say that he is more than up to the task of someone I’d marry. Albeit his humanity is a barrier. If he was one of my kin. I wouldn’t think twice in giving him my hand in marriage.”
“Ah… a human. That is a very common and inefficient duo here in Dark World too.” he repositions his reading glasses and takes a book to his left about a love story between a Vampiric man and a young woman. Its cover depicts a handsome and Godlike male with wide broad shoulders and an extremely chiseled jawline with cat eyes whose arms are covering the shoulder of a plain but good looking woman who doesn’t even reach the height of his shoulders. “As you can see, even our literature encourages such behavior.” he then hands it to Alana. Opening it, she quickly goes to the first page and her eyes quickly dim.
“Of course. Scrutinize them to your heart's content. We have a lot of second hand books. Most of the ones here are mostly reprints from Online Archives. Since many people back in my world cannot even afford many daily things. They come here to read and experience a long lost art in human interaction.”
Alana then puts the book she was given on the top shelf and wipes her hands on her corset and takes one that was on a bottom shelf named “The History of Pikes and How To Use Them.” She breezes through the first few pages and then moves on to another one that peaked her interest. The Orc player was visibly surprised with how fast she was reading them. His swept back shiny black hair had to be fixed as she zoomed past him. She then reaches the corner of the store and sees a book named “Gun Safety and Cleaning for Dummies” next to it were a bunch of books about Sun Tzu, The 48 Laws of Power, A Book of Five Rings.
Taking the Book of Five Rings, she looked around and the Orc immediately went over the counter and gave her a stool to sit on. Elegantly sitting down, the woman then started to read the book in her own leisure.
“May I brew you something?”
“Oh, of course.”
“Coffee? Tea?”
“Tea please.”
O’Neil then turns around and goes into the back. Having to lurch down a bit as his bulky build and height made it hard for him to properly get into human sized door and hallway frames. She silently reads the book as the doorbell rings and another person walks into the shop. “Welcome!” rings out from the back of the shop. “Neil! I need another book!” a youthful reply comes back from the front door. “Is that you again Harry?” O’Neil then comes out of the back room holding a plate with a small teacup that’s still smoking hot. “What book do you need now?”
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Alana was then handed her tea and she bowed her head as she placed the plate on her thigh and continued to read in silence.
“I need one for Claymores. Got any from the North? I need that sword style specifically.”
“Ahhhhh… where can I… oh, over there on the corner. Don’t disturb her alright?”
“Her?”
Alana turns around and sees a teenage human with blonde hair and magenta coloured eyes. The player’s iris seems to sparkle at the sight of the Vampire. “Woahhhh… she’s…” O’Neil then smacks the back of his head. “Get your pants under control. That’s a customer.” without even thinking. Harry walks next to Alana and the two’s faces met closely.
“Wow… You aren’t a player right? No player unless given two years can even conjure a face as naturally beautiful as yours… it's as if you were born to be loved. The teenage high school beauty you never got to meet but wish existed…”
She smiles and lowers her teacup. “Thank you for the compliment. I am Lady Minuit.”
“Ha-harry! I am Sergeant Knight Harry of Libertus’ Third Corps!”
“Pleased to meet you Harry. The book you’re looking for should be right there.”
Using her long slender finger, Alana points to the top shelf and an old medieval styled book there with the etching on its spine “Two-Handed Claymore Skills and Movesets”. The player takes it but the entire time, he couldn’t part his eyes from her. He then takes it to the counter and goes through his Nobleman attire.
“Aren’t you going to read it first?”
“Nah, nah. Dang… is she the real deal?”
“Mhm. As real as they get.”
“Wow… they're so ethereal aren’t they?”
“Doesn't that apply to all Vampires?’
“Dude, you might not get it since you're married and all with children. But she’s something else. No one in Dark World can replicate a face and body like that.”
“Haaaaah…” the Orc then removes his reading glasses and massages his eyebrows. “If you think that’s hot. You should check out the magazine for the Neo-Tokyo Cosplay Compendium. Someone who looks One to One to the ancient Vampire Queen was covered.”
“WHAT?” Alana’s ears also perk up upon hearing this. It made her stop turning the pages as O’Neil goes under the counter and grabs a magazine. “Check it.” Harry takes it and goes into the page with a bookmark on it and his eyes could almost pop out at the sight. “HOOO-LEEE!”
“That’s twenty gold by the way.”
“EEEE… Eh? OY This only costs One gold!”
“It’s one of its last kind. This issue was months ago.”
“H-How come I didn’t know this? Oh yeah, I was adventuring. Dammit! Look at that golden sparkly blonde hair! Aw, the cat eyes and those disproportionate yet sexy busts! Hot damn!”
“No one actually knows if she’s the Ancient Queen since we don’t really have much contact with the Natives and all but that’s one hundred and ten percent a Vampire from this planet.”
Alana breathes a light relief as she returns to her reading. Letting the two conversed as the rain poured outside.
“Yeah no shit. Damn. Even a Bishamonten Cosplay?”
“You should see the Kiss Shot one. Better yet, the Balalaika one. She nails all of them spot on without even trying.”
Turning to the next pages, Harry’s reaction just goes more and more exaggerated as his brain comprehends the beauty of the Ancient before his eyes. “Aw, I might actually change my tastes with this.”
“Oh.. is this it? Are you turning into the Holy side of MILFs?”
“Grrrrr… this is such a good argument for that case. But Lady Minuit there, she’s also a prime example of my side.”
“C’mon Harry. Ahahahaha, it doesn’t get better than that.”
“Idunno man. Like, she’s hot but I feel like she’d be the one in control. And Vampires who look that good are usually like that because they’ve killed enough people to perfect their beauty.”
“Look at you starting to use logic and sense. You seem like a normal person. If only you can activate that when talking to women.”
“Hey now. I’m just saying. The Vampires I’ve met here in Geraldia have all been Old Vampires. Ones that burn in the morning sun. But it says here she’s a native of Rose. That’s where the New Vampires are.”
“There’s two types?”
“Yeah. Since Libertus has been unable to create a proper governing structure. We are like a tiny vassal state to Gareth. We’ve been helping them clear out everything. Demons, Crypts, Keeps, to Orc Liars and a rare one. A Vampire Mansion.”
“And?”
“Well… they were hard to kill. Like, damn those ones didn’t want to die no matter what. We’d cut them up with our Holy blades and they'd just drink blood and their severed limbs would come back. So instead, this hard boiled Knight Commander from Gareth. Dude looks like he went through four World Wars and came back alive. Well he had this crazy plan on fighting till the Sun is up.”
“Wouldn’t their Mansion be Sun proof?”
“It was. With glass windows that's the rays.-”
“I mean, wouldn’t they just remove all the windows like the Vampire Hotel here in Zavalda?”
“They can’t bro. If a Garethian Patrol was to run into a strange Gothic Mansion without windows. Wouldn’t that instantly set off alarms? So instead, they act like normal people. Blending in. It’s ingenious really. I made fun of it back then, but with real Vampires now. Seeing how it all works inside is just insane.”
“So… you waited till the Sun was up?”
“Heck yea we did. We then dragged the two Vampire Nobles into the Sun and watched the both of them get fried into ashes.”
“Shhhh, we have a Vampire here.”
Alana then turns the stool around and closes the book she’s reading as she holds her teacup. The two then stood straight up and swallowed their saliva.
“No need to be afraid. As if it isn’t normal that Vampires would fight each other. I’ve fought more of my kin than any humans. Also, I’d like to buy this.”
“Ohhhh, Miyamoto Musashi. Nice taste Lady Minuit.”
“Hm. I like this wisdom. Japanese I believe? Same ones that rule over Neo-Tokyo?”
“Yep. I’ll bag it for you then. That’ll be three gold coins.”
“Do you have a bank contract of some sort, Sir O’Neil? I’d like to purchase this under the Minuit name instead.”
“Ahhhh… you know what, forget about it.”
“No no no, I’ll pay for it. I just got mine anyways.”
“Thank you, Lord Harry.”
“Ah, I’m not really a Knightened Noble… though there is a family from the East of Gareth who seems to want me to marry their daughter.” O’Neil suddenly smiles and violently shakes the man while laughing. “AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Look at ya’! Bagging a high born woman!”
“I LITERALLY CAN’T. SHE’S SIXTEEN!”
“Wait what…”
“Yeah. I don’t want to get caught up in some bullshit thing.”
O’Neil then brings Harry close to his face. “You're literally fourteen.”
“My character is aged twenty.”
“With the soul of a fourteen year old kid.”
Alana just butts in the conversation. “Excuse me, what seems to be the problem?”
“Ah nothing. Just old world rules and new world ones clashing.”
“I see. Well, do not be afraid if a Vampire who looks like a little girl were to ever come up to you.” Harry seemingly blows up upon hearing that piece of information. O’Neil then just silently bags the book. “They're usually the scariest ones. Bye-bye” Taking the umbrella, the woman then goes into the rainy sidewalk and continues down the block. She then stumbles upon the lone old style building in the entire area. With eight giant pillars in front of it, the woman walks up to the stairs. Sandbags were already placed on the base of the pillars and skeleton soldiers stood in silence. Guarding the entrance. As she was about to open the two large doors, the large mirror next to it with a polished frame came to life.
It presents a neatly dressed woman with a long ponytail with her hands together. Bowing in respect. “Welcome, humbling guest to the Museum of Ervtes. Please remove any weapons before entering the premises and no fighting or noise inside the establishment. Thank you for your cooperation.” It then disappears and the Vampire walks in just to be met with a large lobby with a widescreen TV on it. She’s then approached by a player wearing a neat museum staff suit.
“Good Evening ma’am. I am MobilePorta, if you wish. My name is Mango.”
“Interesting name. May I ask if there’s a lot of people inside?”
“There’s currently only about twenty guests. The Martial Law has installed a curfew so only certain people may be outside at night.”
“Thank you. Where do I start?”
The player then hands her a pamphlet which she unfolds. Showing the East Wing for Ervtes’ history of building Zavalda and the West one for its military background and Guild victories in world events. The central one is more for administration and support and war trophies from their leader. Seeing that there was no recommended place to start. She goes into the lobby where a video plays on the widescreen TV. “This is a replay from the very day Sir Ervtes found what will soon be, the village of Zavalda.”
Walking into a group of players, one with a convoy of large grizzly bears packed with cargo crates and wool on its back while also pulling carriages. A player wearing Crusader Knight armor with chainmail underneath waves his hand at the man talking to his colleagues in a small group circle.
“Ah! Are you the guys we paid to get us through this hoop?”
“Yessir! Names SirErvtes. You can call me Ervtes. This is my friends here, Ripper, Johstorm, and Highdip.”
“Welcome, welcome. Names ShitFaceMcGee, but you can call me Gee.”
“Alright. I know it’s just the first few months of the game but I never knew people would take those names.”
Ervtes opens his player menu and goes into his skill tree. The vast branches go on all sides and he takes a look at “Sword Master” and sees that he still has a long way to go. The stat shows he needs to kill at least one Wyvern with a Broad or Longsword and hunt down a thousand Goblins or Orcs. “This path is going to be full of dangers right?”
“Oh yeah.'' The merchant player wears light plate armor with leather underneath and opens his player menu and a pouch materializes right in front of him which he takes. “Here’s the first half of the payment.” Ervtes takes it and tosses it to Johnstorm who is wearing extremely bulky Crusader armor. Complete with neck guards, braces, lance slips and multi layered plate armor. The man was covered with steel from top to bottom. “Yeah, looks legit as fuck. Ripper.” he then tosses it to a player wearing your common Knight armor but without any logos or symbols. A generic gray Knight armor that you’d see in mid level enemies. “Uh huh… uh huh… It's good.”
“Alright. Highdip, get your AoE heals ready. We’re now about fifteen players including the Caravan guards and us.”
With a Wizards cap and robe. The player switches from a Staff to a Scepter. “Gotcha. I get two percent alright?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Alright! Everyone mount up!”
The Merchant Convoy then marches forward. With their lightly armed guards protecting the cargo and the Guild of Ervtes protecting their perimeter. With Ervtes leading the charge forward into the green forest. The scenic route they’re taking has a badly maintained dirt road that’s already been long overgrown by leaves and veins. Their armored horses took no heed to it and the Grizzly Bears didn’t pay no mind to them. The replay then skips a few hours and it shows Sir Ervtes on a crossroad. The patch of the land around them were open fields surrounded by trees. There, a lone wooden sign stood as snow lightly fell from the mountains behind them and the ocean waves crashing into the rocky shore just a few hundred meters hiding on the back of the treeline.
“Hold.”
With a speak of his word, the entire Merchant Convoy stops. The player on the lead Grizzly Bear, was wearing a special cap with holes for his dog ears and the man disembarks and sniffs the air. “Wolves!” The Guild of Ervtes quickly pulls to the front and a lone man appears. Ervtes quickly pulls up his player menu and sees that the person is a player named “GooblyDoobyDoo”. Wearing a weathered robe and a player character that looks like he's a hundred years old. Ervtes then spawns a Stat Book and places it up and points the spine to the player.
“Name: GooblyDoobyDoo
Class Tags: Mage, Necromancer, DPS.
Level: 100
Strength: F
Dexterity: E
Endurance: B
Intelligence: S
Wisdom: A
Charisma: D-
Magic: S+
Skills: Not Found”
He quickly closes the book and turns around. “RUN! RUN NOW!” The Merchant Convoy then turns around but is met with eight foot tall black Werewolves standing on their hind legs. Blocking their exit route. “Dammit! Ripper!”
“Give me a minute! This is a Psyop! The fucking Feds are after us! I told you we should’ve paid the Guild Tax!”
“Shut it with the deranged bullshit and give me a situation report!”
“I can’t believe it. A Level One Hundred… but it's only been a few months since the game's release. I’ve been playing daily and I only reached level thirty so far and I don’t even know how to swing a sword yet.”
“Some people are just built differently, High. Johstorm, prepare to take that thing's attention.”
“I don’t know man. For a funny looking guy with a funny name, he seems to be far too smart to just target me.”
“I know but you need to use that new spell as much as you can. Generate as much threat as you can and pull the Werewolves to you.”
“Can I even resist those claws? We nearly all died fighting one Direwolf in the mountains a week ago.”
“We have no choice. Ripper!”
“Yeah, that’s a good plan. But to add to that, since we have Grizzly Bears. They can be used to fight too. Have the Merchants use their precious mounts for combat or they’ll lose all there cargo here!”
“Gee! You heard the man!”
“Fuck! Do you know how much these Grizzly Bears cost my Company?!”
“It’s either that or you lose all your precious cargo! Remember! Your personal stuff might respawn, but mined and crafted things don’t and they stay in the area they were left!”
“Alright! Shit! Go through Yuisha my ass! This will be the last time I’m taking this shortcut! Derail! I need you to get the other guards onto the Bears and have their swords point forward!”
As the Merchants got ready. The lone Level 100 player walks out of the forest and lifts up his hands. Conjuring a massive ball around them. Highdip tightens his grip on his Scepter as the robed player then swings both of his hands into the skies and to the ground.
“What is he doing?! Highdip!”
“I don’t know! It’s only my second time seeing a player that can conjure magic without needing to speak it out!”
“Ripper?”
“The Caravans’ good and ready!”
“Alright, let’s go men!”
Johstorm goes into his inventory and spawns his massive two handed Warhammer. He lifted it up and the weapon shone a golden light. “COME TO ME! HEROIC PRESENCE!” the black furred Werewolves immediately looked at the bulky Knight. Running past the caravan and to him as the Grizzly Bears charged forward into the exit back into the forestline. “Nice plan. But I’ll need your cargo.” The dark robed player then teleports to the path of the Grizzly Bears. As the first Bear was about to swipe him with its claws. The strange player merely swipes his weathered staff and it cuts the Bears legs in an instant as the other part of the Caravan convoy passes him. “Good.”
“I can- I can’t believe it. Teleportation Magic and then Wind Magic that is potent?!”
“Highdip, focus! Heal Johs!”
“O-Oh right!”
“Ripper, with me now!”
“Sir!”
“It’s attention is taken. Johstorm! Do you need help?”
“No! I can do this!” The bulky player even with his weight was lodging around like a power armored man. Running around the Werewolves while smacking them with his hammer.
“Ervtes! I think we have to run! That guy is serious business! He hasn’t even used any specific Divine or Dark Magic!”
“No! I will not let us be forever stuck in the Beginner and Mid Level areas! If we want to grow! We have to face death over and over again!”
“I know but man! Ripper! Talk some sense into him!”
“Its the fucking CIA! They're after us!”
“Forget what I said!”
“GUYS! FINISH IT FAST! THERE CLAWS ARE MAKING MY REPAIR BILLS GO SKYHIGH BY EACH SLASH!”
“Got it!”
Ripper and Ervtes in their armored horse charges at the High Level player. The video replayed quickly fast forwards as they got absolutely destroyed by the robed man. Beheaded and killed instantly. “Well… that was quick after all that talk.” was all Alana could mutter and soon, they all respawned and returned to the site where the Grizzly Bear was dead and Gee rages on the dirt and the trees. Ervtes on the other hand looked around the patch of openness and stood on the crossroads with his battered men.
“I get it now! We’ll stay here!”
“What?! Are you crazy Ervtes?! This place is a High Level area. We’ll get nuked if we stay here!”
“No! I will not let that happen once again. These players… they know something we don’t. We must do our best to continually return here and patrol this area. Not only to help the Shine Guards but also to prevent ambushes like that from happening again.
He points at Gee raging on the spot where his Grizzly Bear was taken from. “GAAAAAAHHH! ALL THOSE ENCHANTED STONES! FUUUUCK!” Everyone of Ervtes then agrees and soon, the video fast forwards to them building a small outpost in the forest. But soon, as the months passed and players got more and more powerful. The crossroad got more and more populated and was soon visited by the Architectures and got paved with the frequency of players passing it increasing week by week.
With the protection of Ervtes, stalls were erected and soon, some players were walking to the ocean to fetch fish and sell at passing adventures. Not before long, the video shows a timeline of the first buildings being built with the help of Breznick. Who then built a port and after that, a village grew. The video then shows stats. With the first population being only at 50 and then continually growing over the months to a whopping 3,500 permanent settlers and 5,000 daily visitors. Ervtes was also shown getting more and more profit as they taxed the place and put into motion their own local government.
After a year, the village grew into the town and a large pop up shows the first gun was made and it cuts into another replay from the PoV of Ervtes once again. Now, he has discarded his Knight armor and is wearing a stylish Nobleman's attire. Ripper walks up to him and shows him an old vintage Revolver.
“Woah!”
“See! See! I fucking told yah! See!”
“Is it… real?”
“Hell yeah! I also got it enchanted to purify demons.”
“Oh man… they actually got guns in the game.”
“This is what I’m trying to say… what if… we started producing this?”
“Guns? But who would buy it though? Unless we can start making assault rifles. I think guns won’t really be any help.”
“N-no you aren’t seeing the bigger picture here. Guns can be the alternative. It has no requirements but at least a basic dip in Archery so that you can shoot with precision. But even without that, as long as you know where to point and pull the trigger. You have a weapon that doesn’t need much else than you yourself.”
“Ah… I can see it now… yes… but do you know anyone who knows how to build guns?”
“Aw, do I! The dudes at the Men of the Woods. They are the people we have to get close to.”
“Men of the Woods? You mean the Nomads from the East? What’re those players up to now?”
“Greatness my man. Greatness. They're even working on a combustion engine based on the specs of the Ford T Model but the engine block itself came from an enchanted stone. We might not even need steel or titanium.”
“Holy shit…”
The video then cuts and it returns to showing a timeline of the village growing even more. Alana, who has seen enough, stands up and opens her pamphlet. Walking to the East Wing first. There she sees miniature builds of their prototype huts. The square and basic shaped buildings were faithfully recreated and the Guilds who helped in logistics, procuring materials, and the Architecture Guilds they hired to build them were shown in a plaque below it. The Vampire peeks into the end of the row and could see it somehow grew into modern buildings and there, the plaque only got larger and larger as the buildings got more complex.
She soon sees the apex of their buildings. A glass house with reinforced Trialloy frames giving it a near indestructible status. On the plaque, it says
“Trialloy - Composites with the mix of the rare Adamantium Metal and Demon Stones that could only be found in underground places where ancient fairies once thrived and areas usually plagued by the Demon Portals. Usually used to mimic modern tank armor as by 2030. Most Tank armor has long passed the use of ERA and Composites and have moved onto what is called Future Armor. Using Carbon Nanotubes and Super Matrix of Composite and Metal. This metal, Trialloy with its vast enchantments has become something akin to it but far more durable and harder in tensile strength while maintaining an easy three piece material to be used albeit them being harder to obtain. Thus in the end, all tanks built by Zavalda and Men of the Woods all have and share the same quality of armor regardless of personal beliefs.
This metal is also used on foundations of bunkers and sheltered areas and most of all, to important buildings like the magnificent Culture Center above. Which is for the funny memories and further history of the Guild and its various accomplishments over the years.”
And on the smaller photos on the display stand shows a large circular object named the “Floating Stadium of Saint Rui” and on the middle is a huge underwater tunnel complex named “Atlanta But Underwater” and the last one is a massive metallic Cathedral made with designs that’re of extreme Brutal Gothic influence “Church of Power”. “When was the last time the Kingdom thought of undertaking such magnificent structures?” Alana then walks on to the other side of the East Wing were the miniature designs they had for settlements and outposts with dioramas showing the places getting assaulted by Wolves, Goblins, other Guilds and one, a Castle being burned by a Wyvern.
In one of the displays was a paved road and in a plaque on a stand it said “Liquid Restructuring Asphalt Road - A marvel with the use of Sand and Enchanted Stone, this road is mostly seen on the countryside roads. Made by a player named ChemHead of Zavalda.” and there was a sledgehammer for people to pick up and a bucket of water. Alana then looks at the head of it and it shows some instructions “Break a section of the road and pour water. Then press the button behind the plaque.” she smiles and smacks the front face of the hammer down on the road. Completely leaving a large hole. She then takes the bucket and pours water on it and presses the button. The road then slowly heals itself, coming back to its original form in a fast forward motion. “Is that… what magic is this?”
Alana places her hand on the faint circle on the hole she made and she could feel a strange sensation when she placed her hand within it. “A targeted Space Magic that accelerates time in a small area? Interesting.” The road then fully reheals back to its original form and the display next to them is a railway section with the parts laid out for people to see. Next to it is another one called “HSR 1 Railway Section to Neo Tokyo” with the various gauges used for all types of train sizes.
She then moves on to the West Wing where she is met with a cut out of a combustion and steam engine made in Stone at its entrance. The plaque below it shows its name. The “Mark 1 Combustor and Mark 1 Steamer built by TommyTim.” on the other side of the display was an old 4-door sedan for the 30s. But its body was made out of finnish wood and the engine made out of stone. The bronze plaque below it says “Replica of the 1930 Chevrolet AD Universal. This one is made with the help of TommyTim and FordTModel. Both enthusiasts and professionals, made this simple car out of the common enchanted wood found in Beginners’ Island and the engine made out rare Zarstan Ceramic Stone found in the Demon Continent.”
Taking in the machine and its complexity, she soon moves on to the next display which is a Microchip. She takes a gander at the small item on the stand and closely inspects it. The plaque underneath naming it the “Hoerni Mark 1”. The display then points at the wall behind it which is a timeline of the players of Dark World and how they’ve started to use the enchanted materials and common ones to remake human inventions from over the hundreds of years in rapid speed. Within the first months, Steam trains and cars were up and running and then the “Enthusiast Pop” happened, wherein thousands of Enthusiasts and likeminded people in niche things got together and used their passion to build modern human wonders that is taken for granted daily.
After another few months, the first wide body cars were built by a Mexican Guild named “Los Salondrin Guild” and then muscle cars and V8s were perfected by a Guild made by the player FordTModel named “Medieval Car Guys”. In 1 year's time, the timeline shows them inventing computers inside the game. Calling the “Computer-ception Era” One of the images shown on the large timeline on the wall is one of the inventors of the Computer in Dark World.
The player named “LegoMaster99” is shown in his lab coat and wizard robe holding up an old Screenshot of him a quad core Redstone Computer in Minecraft and on it is says “First Printed Photo in Dark World” and below it is a quote from the inventor player. “Everyday, we step closer to playing Dark World in Dark World. :)” she then continues to walk and in the next year, the “Space Guys” appears and started prototyping rockets using enchanted fuel and materials. Below the specific time of the timeline is a Saturn V with the golden plaque below it saying
“Replica of the Saturn V meant to be launched by the Space Guys. It blew up after reaching five thousand feet by a player. No one yet knows who it was but rumors say it was a spy from Breznick or Keyneth. This would be considered the first instance of the Purist versus Futurist Wars as named by the various Streamers who were soon participants of the 2nd largest virtual conflict recorded in human history. 1st one being the Absolutism Wars between Breznick and Libertus which lasted for an entire year long in the Beginner and Mid Level Continents of Rukik and Desbos.”
This rocket was built on the base of the Trialloy metalloid named Durablite. A metal alloy that is composed of a combination of enchanted titanium or hardened steel mixed with Kienium, Adamantium, Zarstan Enchanted Stone, and Demon Alloy. Blended and melted together with the use of Argent Method. Sadly, this was the first and last of its kind as war soon follows.” Alana’s head tilts at the last sentence and she looks up at the timeline once again and it cuts off there and a big plate was bolted on the wall saying “The First Purists Wars” and the showcase turns into military weaponry. The display she’s given in front was then a Musket and then leads to the NGSW X. On the timeline above it shows the rapid increase in military technology as Enthusiasts from the MilSim community flooded in after the call of the Guilds with modern technology for help.
After the first wars had started, the Men of the Woods, with the Knights of Eldwood being two very active Guilds in the Armaverse Community, sent out calls for help. Soon, people with actual background in Lockheed Martin, Boeing, UralVagonZavod, General Dynamics Land Systems or in the private military industry went into Dark World and revealed themselves to the two Guilds and started the prototyping of old generation modern military equipment. As it was discussed in the Niennia Convention which disallows the manufacturing of Nuclear weapons and any equipment made in and after World War Three. The Convention also includes a modified version of the Laws of War and the approval of the League of Modern Guilds Charter in 2037. Making the largest cooperation of Guilds with modern assets. With three major permanent seating members.”
Alana then looks up and her eyes widens at the sight of the conflicts that followed afterward. In the first months alone, there were ten major battles and pictures showing large armored spearheads to combined air, land, and sea assaults. She continued to walk forward and it was only one large battle after the other. Only followed by a few weeks of silence or smaller conflicts with inventions butted in to make things feel lighter as the photos show more and more brutality with the tanks in the start being merely M60 Pattons and T-62s and now, as she was in the middle. It was T-90Ms, M1A2 Abrams, and Leopards against massive Iron Knights wielding huge swords that can slice through the tanks as Valkyries with Greatbows raining golden thunder from the skies.
She reaches the end of the timeline which below it on a display stand is a T-72B3 made by Zavalda’s factory with removal ERA and Kontakt, removing the parts showing the intricate parts of the tracks and the suspension which Alana nudged the front downward and the tank rebalances itself. She looked up once again and there was no end in the conflict with the last recorded combat being January 1 2039 called the “New Year Conflict”. Turning around, there was a small railway set going through a mountainous range and going through the middle is a high speed train named the “Zavalda to Neo-Tokyo High Speed Rail Line finished in October 2038. The HSR uses a N700S Series Shinkansen made by the Kyoto Railu Guild, its parts made from Zavalda’s Train factories located in the corner East of the city.”
Walking back a bit, she encounters a diorama of the city’s main logistics hub. The 30 track siding with working lights and signals shows the complex city logistics and how it works as cargo goes in and goes out and the switching and assembling of kilometer long trains. Seeing that there was more about the Naval Industry of the city, but the digital clock on the Wing showed that it’s nearing 2 in the evening. The woman stretches and yawns. Walking back to the entrance and disappearing from plain sight.
In the bright morning day, banging could be heard at the apartment door and Bach opened it with his striped Pajamas.
“Can’t you see the doorbell?”
“I believe General Jackson is here?”
A man wearing a light blue police coat adorned with ribbons and medals is at the door, alongside him two SWAT officers in full combat gear.
“Y-Yes.”
Paul who has just been awakened and being dragged by Alana looks at the opened door and he waves at the well dressed man who arrived at their door at exactly six o’clock.
“General Jackson I presume?”
“Y-Yo.”
After a few minutes, the General got all dressed up and the two uniformed men filled the living room with their presence.
“I get it you're here to tell me that my Office is all set up?”
“Yes and I’d like to have a chat with you on the way to the station.”
“What is it? Just put it on a report, seeing how much things we have to do. I don’t have time for small chats.”
“Can’t do, I have to speak to you personally, General.”
“Alright, girls. Let’s move out.”
The party boarded an armored limousine that’s in the middle of a convoy full of Police MRAPs and Squad cars, with motorbikes leading the entire column through the busy streets. Stopping even military vehicles that’s on their daily patrol.
“What is it?”
Getting cozy inside the fancy Cadillac, Bahamut starts opening cabinets while Elizabeth swipes her hand and tells her to be proper.
“I’m sure you know why you're here.”
“I do, what does the police want from me then? StateSec will be doing what StateSec wants. I am merely an arbiter of the military. If you want to question someone, Chief. Ask the Agents. I’m just the clean up crew.”
“The units that attacked my Downtown Police Station and released a Bioweapon and headed straight to the main server room with straight precision and trained expertise. Are they any of your men?”
“What do you mean by this? May I remind you that you are not allowed to access information that is classified by the High Command.”
“Are they UN? Their UN aren’t they? I have video recordings from the CCTVs outside and those aren’t just some Terrorist goons as I am being told and what is being said by the media. Goons do not wear expensive Quad Nods and wields Next Generation Assault Rifles.”
“What makes you say that? Wasn't the entire attack what prompted us to come rushing here in the first place? Don’t tell me StateSec has been here already.”
“StateSec has always been sniffing around this place. Zavalda is rich, but its wealth makes it easy for those in power to be corrupt. Including me. But that’s beside the point.” The Chief in his well ironed uniform leans down. “What am I supposed to tell everyone, to my Officers and SWAT members? Are they ghosts? No one is buying the bullshit that there are terrorists, General. Many are saying this is a targeted attack against Zavalda by another Guild.”
“I am not the one to dictate that. I just follow what the suits say. As I said, don’t ask me. Ask StateSec. I am in as much of a bind as you are. I am only told what I am supposed to know.”
“Hah, of course. Then what if this entire city flips and everything is destroyed? Where will you get your tanks and bullets now?”
“Chief, I know things look not so good. But I’m actively trying to get a grasp of everything here. Do you have what I asked for? Or has the letter not been sent to you yet?”
“It’s already on your desk. I went through a lot of hoops to get this file to you, General. Next time, do not make letters to be sent to me in the middle of the night. I have working hours unlike you warlords. I hope your reputation perceives your worth.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to put a stop to this. Bioweapons and that Server room… huh. I never figured myself as one who does Counterterrorism but I guess this is now a military problem. Did they steal or modify anything in your systems?”
“We’re still checking as the attack only happened a few days ago but so far. Nothing was tampered. Information, modification, nothing happened. I have no idea what they wanted to do there, but for all we know. It might be a plant in our systems but the Computer Engineers we hired says there’s nothing… so far. I hope you get this shit done, General. People are angst up.”
“Oh please, I haven’t been involved in whatever political bullshit is happening here. I merely do what I am asked and so far, for what your magnificent industrious city has. It also has an opposite side to it.”
Arriving at the huge Police Station, it looked more of a fancy Victorian hotel than one meant for Law Enforcement. Even outside, ghostly banners of Ervtes flew with the logo of the Zavalda Police Department. Players wearing blue police uniforms of different humanoid species could be seen talking amongst each other alongside skeleton soldiers in gear. Patrolling the perimeter as the armored convoy rolls into the garage and a SWAT Officer opens the door for them. Letting the girls out first then the two men. The line of officers then led them to the elevators and to the top floor.
Even there, the decor and style of the tiling was screaming Victorian and everything was as classy as it gets, even the intricate shiny marble walls and the expensive pillars were nothing of sorts meant to be seen inside your usual Police Station. Extravagance was everywhere but also was the CCTVs and locked doors.
“Your Office will be there. Next to mine. So don’t go sending me letters late at night like what you pulled yesterday. Nuh uh. If I am sleeping, I am sleeping. You better feel lucky since I don’t get fancy pants Five Star Generals as guests every time.”
“Oh nice, well I’d like to… who’re those three sitting next to my door? Had the Colonels arrived early?”
“Dunno, they came in early this morning. One of them looks like he's been through a rough flight.”
“Ah, I see. These must be the Colonels then. Well, that was surprisingly fast. Is High Command finally getting its shit together, Chief?”
“Pfft. With how large and spread out we are? As if.”
“Guess so. I’ll just go and ring you then. Ladies, you can come into the office. Don’t say anything. Just watch.”
“Master, I want-”
“Later. I’ll get you something.”
“My Lord, I also have my inquiries to give to you.”
“Alright. One by one.”
He then stops in front of the three soldiers wearing their differing Berets.
“You three, up and inside.”
They made snap salutes and followed the General inside his personal office. The three men went ahead and bought one of the chairs alongside them after seeing that there were only two office chairs in front of his desk. He then goes and removes his jacket and hat. Comfy sitting down as he leaned his back and smiled at them warmly.
“So, I’m sure you three already know me. Two of you are from Eldwood so I hope our fighting can be organic and communication, clear, cut, and concise.”
“Sir yes sir.”
The one wearing a Beret with the fighter plane and desert camo was the first to raise his hand.
“Yes, Cresco. Long time no see.”
He would sway his office chair as the Colonel put down his hands.
“Sir, we currently do not have enough helicopters-”
“I already know. You, Men of the Woods guy.”
“Sir! Major Garland from the Thirteenth Engineering and Sustainment Brigade!”
“I can read Major. Tell me, what’s the status of the transmission towers?”
“Bad news, the train that was derailed was carrying vital pieces to it. Currently, since the nearby Airbase is out. We cannot deploy Super Galaxies to carry spare parts.”
“Then the airport it is. Make the proper concessions and have it delivered there instead. Also, you do have the trucks for it right?”
“One of my Transportation Companies should have the trucks for it sir.”
“Good. And you Henry?”
“Nothing sir. All skeletons are ready for combat and tasking.”
“Nice, then I want you to start littering more emplacements if you can around the Police station. It’s far too relaxed here, I want sandbags, TOWs and Mortars.”
“Sir yes sir.”
“Alright, chop chop folks. I want those helicopters up and running, it can change this to something far easier.”
The three officers saluted and exited out and Elizabeth quickly sat down with Alana as Bahamut started opening drawers and smelling plants.
“What?”
“I think there’s a problem that needs to be dealt with within your ranks.”
“No shit, what’s your plan?”
“May I be in control of the Diplomatic parts of this Operation?”
“No problem. I’m planning on making you three my Secretaries. For now, I suggest you start with the City Hall and start sniffing around there in your bat form. It can’t be that Bioweapons are smuggled into this place without raising alarms with how much red tape and bureaucracy everything has to pass to.”
“No problem, I shall get to it then.”
“M’Lord, What’s with the problem of logistics?”
“That Air Base that was bombed and destroyed was our largest hub of logistics. It’s where the cargo planes mostly take off and land as Zavalda is an Industrial City. A huge chunk of our production goes here and is sorted into either the railway or the airport and we can’t squeeze in deliveries to us since everyone and their mothers wants equipment sent to the frontlines..”
“Hm, and what civilian company do you use to move military equipment around then?”
“Uhm…” the General opens the drawers and starts looking for a file. He starts throwing them into his wooden desk till he comes across the file he is looking for. “Here we go, It’s a Logistics Company called Longway Transport. Looks like the UN has hired them since the beginning. Why?”
“Do they have ships? I know the Ports of Schon and Geraldia in and out. I may be able to help you out in getting proper shipping lines for faster and more rapid movement of equipment.”
“That would be heaven sent. We don’t own the Airport, the Guild of Ervtes has it under their name still and we do not have permission to land cargo planes there yet as the LoMG Charter restricts activity to military installments only. Civilian ones need the permission of the Guild and the owners. I hope Colonel Cresco can do something about it.”
“Hm, and you M’Lord?”
“I’ll first go with Elizabeth. I wanna sniff around myself, hence why I bought my civilian uniform. Those three stooges will take a while anyways. And you Bahamut.”
“Hm?”
“You’ll be my personal Secretary. You’ll be seated here and I want you to skim through anything that comes by and have it filed.”
“Ehhhhhhh…”
“This is very important Bahamut. I’m only one man, I cannot be in multiple places at once.”
“Haaaaaaa…. Yes Master… Oh! Since I’ll be doing this, can I wear a human outfit?”
“What do you mean? You are wearing one already.”
“A modern one like the one you wear, Master!”
“Which one? The uniform or the suit?”
“The suit!”
“You want to wear a suit? Bahamut, you do remember that we had to get that tailored and fit.”
“And I want one!”
“Uhm… haaaaaa… sure. I’ll send a request and have the city pay for it.”
“Nice!”
“Alright. Bahamut, Secretary Duty. Alana, Corporate side, Elizabeth, Political side. We’ll begin after lunch. So… where do you wanna eat?”
“Hmmm… M’Lord, why not something Oriental?”
“Chinese? Sure, let’s go. We might as well stop by a shop and have Bahamut’s suit made. ONLY ONE PAIR ALRIGHT?”
“Yes Master!”
“Good. Also, where is my suitcase?”
Alana points at the door where it was left and he takes it. The group then left the office, after donning his suit. Paul walked to the main street with his entourage of beautiful women, already he was getting stares and looks.
“Elizabeth, next time can you wear your civilian outfit like Alana here? We’ll soon be going deep into this.”
“At least I am not alone eheheheh, Bahamut here is also in a pretty gown like me.”
He then takes them to the bus stop. Looking at the route, he sees that Bus B goes through the middle and nods. After ten minutes, a bus arrives and it's the one they're looking for. The cramped city bus wasn’t much but the Vampires are out of place even there, as most of the players are Humans, Demons, and Elves. The traffic was bad but moving, the presence of military equipment didn’t help in easing the flow of vehicles through the three lane road and the light snow forced speed limits to be low.
“My Lord, can we just fly next time?”
“No. At least try to experience what my daily life was like and flying is forbidden in the main cities due to the many incidents back then of players being distracted and flying into windows and using it to peep into people’s apartment rooms. I think me and Bahamut were actually there when it was a thing.”
“Master, this man is getting too close to me.”
He peers over to Bahamut and could see a player in a suit sleeping while standing up. The momentum caused by the bus constantly stopping made him closer and closer to the Dragon’s right shoulder.
“Man, that’s some skill. Just let him be, he must’ve had a long night.”
“Errrrr… but it's already afternoon though.”
“M’Lord, are your hours on Earth good?”
“It… depends…”
They soon reach a bus station that’s located in the middle of the city. The rustle and bustle of modern life is once again around them and Paul couldn’t feel anymore at home. He breathes in and out the smell of the concrete jungle and starts walking in a direction which the three women follow. After walking for a few minutes, they reach a line of restaurants of varying styles from Arabic to European and American.
He continues walking. Looking for anything Asian and soon stumbles upon a Hong Kong style restaurant with a cozy Buddhist Temple decor. Going in, it was hot and the smell of noodles instantly attacked his nose and the man just smiled instinctively. The familiarity and the Asian decor took him back to Earth, if it weren’t from the different humanoid species present inside, he would’ve thought that he went home and was relaxing after a long day at work.
“Uhm… My Lord?”
“Oh uhm. Let’s take a seat then… ahhh…” seeing the first floor was absolutely full, he goes to the second floor where there’s some tables still empty. Looking at the choices, he takes the one that’s next to the large window that overlooks the intersection below and the snowy city street.
“Ahhhh… Bahamut. Next to me right now. I can see the drool coming out of your mouth.”
The two Vampires then sat in front, with the four people fitting the couch seats perfectly. Soon, a player arrived and gave them the menu. He is taken away by it, seeing that it's basically what he’d have back on Earth, even to the names and the recipes as close as it can be to your usual Chinatown restaurant.
“My Lord, I’d like to try this harlequin crab and… this platter with all types of meats.”
“Hmmm… M’Lord, I’ll have crab also and the stuffed fish.”
“Okay okay calm down. We’re using taxpayer money here.”
“Master! Fried chicken and Beef Ramen!”
“Ugh, have you listed all of that?”
The Waiter nods.
“Are there any sizes? These three have bottomless pits for stomachs.”
After ten long minutes of making sure all of the dishes were appropriate and the prices reasonable, he sent the man away while more people came as the clock turned to one.
“Master, what kind of suit will I have?”
“Yours? Uhm… I guess a three piece would look good on you with a pair of trousers that seams your body.”
Alana looks at the opposite side of the street and finds a Music Shop.
“M’Lord.”
“Say no more. But after this, we’ll have to go visit the Downtown Police station. Before we came here, the Chief had already sent two of his Detectives to investigate the terrorist attacks before the State took the helms. One of the papers on my desk notified me that they’ll be there today.”
“Master! Can we talk about food instead?”
“Ahahahaha, okay, okay. No work talk when we're eating… but the food is not here yet so hah-hah!”
“Masterrrr! It’s so boring. I wanna eat.”
“Okay, okay. Alana, will you be buying anything?”
“Ahhh… maybe M’Lord. If I do find something that truly fancies me.”
Elizabeth then looked outside and could see some of the players were riding brooms, even griffins and oversized birds.
“And those My Lord?”
“You need a license.”
“A license…?”
“Yep. I don’t know the full details since I ride horses but I think you require a certain amount of hours of flight time with a cop and an instructor.”
“Forget I asked, My Lord. Where’s our luncheon?”