Inside a dark room, two men sitting opposed to one another are leaning forward to a steel table. With a single lightbulb barely enough to illuminate the both of them. One sat leaning more forward, his larger and bigger ribbon rack in full display while the one opposing him, had a smaller one but had five stars on his shoulders too.
The silver five stars on his shoulders were no match from the golden ones the person opposing him had on his shoulders.
“How was the carnival of horror, General?”
“It’s… been a productive experience, Supreme General Maltese.”
“Just call me Maltese. The only thing I have that’s different from you is golden polish on my stars and badges.”
“Yes sir.”
“Sooo…” the man with the golden stars then reaches down to the leather briefcase next to him and opens it. “Captain Aldrin Benedict, former soldier of the Four Hundredth Two Joint Mechanized Brigade of the First Guards Republic Mechanized Company. Served three tours, from Myanmar to Syria then Turkey.”
“Yes sir.”
“When… the two of you fought. Has he told you anything important? Like who is their leader? Where are they based permanently? Jackson, we are upon a heavy turn and we cannot let them to overstep us at this pivotal moment.”
“No sir.”
“I see.” The two oak leafs on the cap of Maltese had more acorns on it compared to Jacksons and the Men of the Woods logo on it, the Eagle with the heavy machine guns seemed heavier than the entire polyester-wool cap he had on. He makes a long sigh and rests his back onto the seat. Hiding his chest completely in the darkness. “How does it feel to be in command of an entire Army, Jackson? I am sure it's a different experience from being a lowly Colonel.”
“Yes sir. It’s been a big learning curve, but I’ve been able to grow both as a leader and as a person.”
“Good. Do you know where I served and what side?”
“No sir.”
“I served alongside the Singapore Armed Forces. I’ve fought with your countrymen. Can say they are very kind. Good food too.”
“Thank you sir.”
“How was it? Winning? Did your parents gift you a new car? A lot? Did the community name a street after you?”
“No sir. Though the Mayor did give me a certificate, giving me a permanent discount on all local businesses.”
“Hah, That’s nice. When I finished my Doctorate, my Dad bought me a Rolls Royce. When I came back home, my Mom gifted me a Mercedes. I got two cars now.”
“You are very lucky sir.”
“Lucky.”
He then stands up and takes the paper and the pen from the steel table. His brown leather briefcase slid onto the top and he neatly and observantly put the paper in. Making sure not even a miniscule part of it gets crumpled.
“Haaaa.. Yet when I go back home. You’ve learned more than my entire family had in a century.”
“I… I do not know about that sir. The company I run might’ve not even sent me my shares since I am technically dead.”
“Now, now. That’s a bit too extreme. Have you lost hope, Jackson? We can’t have someone with so many stars on their shoulders losing hope on the cause.”
“I apologize sir. I am merely thinking about the reality of the situation back home. Dark World had a large majority of Asia’s youth playing it.”
“It's not that bad. Only the Global Server got teleported. The NA server is left untouched. There’s still a lot of kids to come by but they're all in the West. The poor schmucks using VPNs to play in Global must be regretting their decision now.”
He then takes his long black leather trench coat, the gold buttons on it shining the General’s eyes. He swiftly throws it over his shoulders and he goes to the wall. Clicking a switch and the full lights of the room come to life.
His pale skinned face, that of a young European lad with such well groomed hair in the style of a pomade seemingly had a strange aura to it. The teenager's gray eyes seem to penetrate even through the General’s stoic expression. His body was lanky with long fingers and arms and hands, in contrast to Jackson, who was more like a bodybuilder with a wide jawline and wider shoulders.
Going to his pocket, he takes out his black gloves and dons them. Tipping his caps’ black visor as he opens the door and leaves.
Jackson breathes a long sigh of relief. Standing up, he pats his thighs and wipes his shoulders then pumps his chest like a gorilla. He proceeds to lift his hands up like he was victorious and walks away to the left of the carpeted hallway outside. Heading to the Offices.
Walking into the Iron Mountains Administrative Area near the tip of the mountaintop, the offices doors were all closed and a single man with a cart was sliding closed envelopes into underneath the rooms with little to anyone there in the hotel styled bunker hallway, complete with expensive wallpapers and a carpet in the middle.
Arriving at a wooden entry, the plate on it has his name and rank there. “General of the Army Paul Jackson, Joint Military Operations and Tactics”. He opens it and is met with a dusty desk and a large enough space for two couches and a table and a huge frame on the wall with the map of Threa and all of the Airbases and Naval Ports all marked clearly for him to read and see. “Sir, Command has some stuff for you.”
Sliding his hand on the desk, the envelopes there were all stamped with either Classified and Top Secret while the one there that is just stamped with Urgent made him take it first and opening it, the General just sighs at it.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Storming out of his office, he starts walking fast to the elevator that just arrived, its doors swing open and he’s met with Bahamut who was inside it.
“Eh? Master?”
“Just wait in my room. Where’s the other two?”
“They're still in the room.”
“Alright, guard my office. I have somewhere to go right now.”
“Wait but Master, I wanted to go to the town nearby.”
“I mean, if you want. Go. I’m not stopping you.”
“Nice! Ahahahahah.”
“Just don’t steal or eat anything that's not yours, okay?”
“You don’t have to remind me everytime Master. I got this.”
“Okay. Just be back here by evening.”
Arriving at the Ground Floor of Iron Mountain, the two walk into the huge lobby full of men and women in Army, Air Force, and Navy uniforms from many differing guilds with their own takes on the presentable military dresses for pencil pushing work in the military. With your occasional player in a Noble outfit walking from the top floors to the underground. “I’ll see you tonight then.” he then makes a tight left turn as chatter fills his ears and takes another elevator to the deeper parts. On his way, every player he met would take their time to stop and salute him while others made way for the High Ranking Officer, like he was dividing the seas. Everyone was attentive to the man with the 5 Silver Stars on his shoulders.
Hundreds of military vehicles were parked there and General Paul pointed his finger at one of the soldiers just sitting down doing nothing. He immediately saluted the man. “Grab any open top vehicle and take me to Revergreen Testing Site.” with a quick and snappy yes sir. He goes to one of the UAZs and starts the vehicle. As the soldier was about to open the door for the head honcho, Jackson opened it for himself and boarded the passenger seat. “Get going.”
Driving out of the underground parking lot, the soldiers posted on the guard sheds saluted the man and so did everyone else outside. They soon drove for a good thirty minutes when they reached another military site that was fenced off inside a forest. The Soviet car took the road with ease, driving through the badly paved path meant for carriages without effort as it took a turn to enter the testing grounds.
The soldiers posted on the entrance just saluted and opened the gates to let him through. With his folder out, the man was near the last pages. “Take me to testing ground area one. Stop before you reach the main area itself.” following the signs, the driver takes him there and to his face was a smile to see the sight before him.
An M1A2 Sepv3 Abrams was full of blocks and players were setting up a crystal cannon while others had with them the explosive mana spears wielded by Elven players.
“Sir, permission to speak.”
“Speak.”
“What’re we doing here?”
“Well Corporal. Someone sent a mail to me about the Moon Armor Program not being what it seems. Seems like a certain Two Star General wants to get his paycheck and promotion early.”
“But sir, is it necessary for someone like you to be down here? Shouldn’t you be at the War Room sir, preparing for the inevitable?”
“Corporal, my armies will soon be rolling around in that armor. I’d rather not have something defective working on my tanks. I’ve fought the forces of Hell already, and Trialloy is paper thin. Our tanks are glass cannons in all but looks.”
General Jackson then disembarks the vehicle and takes the binoculars on the passenger compartment and looks at the testing site. Sirens blow in full volume and the players start testing it with their Magical Staff and the Elves using their inherit strength and buff with any weapon that has magic thrown the spears directly into the blocks and then the frontal plate. The two officers below, with the ranks of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel claps and smiles at the sight of the armor standing.
“Looks like it's all good sir.”
“No. Not on my watch.”
“Sir?”
“Take me down there.”
The officers below then turn around to see a UAZ driving into their area. One of them with his own pair of binoculars lifts it up to his eyes to watch the dust being kicked off by the small vehicle approaching them. Turning it to the two people onboard, his jaws dropped and he grabbed his friend by the collar. “ITS-ITS-ITS-ITS!” the Lt.Col then puts up his own binoculars and his reaction followed the Colonels. The two then started running around and ordering the soldiers as Jackson arrived at the site.
They ran to him, opening the door for the General as everyone else in the testing area was busy removing the blocks of ERA that were damaged and packing up the weapons they used onto the 5 Ton trucks.
“General Jackson sir. What brings you here? I’ve heard your practice sessions with Lady Minuit have been a big talk in the Canteens.”
“I came here to see the testing of the Moon Armor Program personally.”
“Sir, if I may.” Jackson looked at the Lt.Col with a deathly aura, making him back off.
“Stop everything and have everyone stand in formation.”
“Sir, we cannot touch the test tank or the location for the next two hours due to safety-”
“Fuck your safety. Bring everyone here and I don’t want that truck to leave or I’ll make sure only your asses will be in one to be present in Court as your heads will be rolling. Do not make me use my magic.”
The two COs swallowed their saliva as they ordered everyone to stop. Jackson then walks to the truck and violently pulls out the crates of explosive spears, making it drop open in the ground. He takes the shiny bronze throwing weapons and inspects it. “Hey Rogers, catch.” the Colonel panics as the General throws the spear at him and it explodes violently. The players also hit the deck upon the impact.
A few seconds later, with the dust settling off. All that was left was Colonel Rogers is fully intact and his uniform dirtied with a blackish color, his shiny ribbons and medals gone of its vibrant paint and grand, his peak cap on the dirt ground next to him.
“Some shitty ass spears you're using here.”
“S-Sir, I can explain.”
“Suck your explanation. Who's the NCO here? Walk to me and present yourself.”
One of the soldiers wearing an older BDU in Woodland walks up to him and salutes.
“Sergeant Dispate sir!”
“Call Headquarters and have them bring to me the captured Mana Spears the Beast and Demon people of Schon use and the ones the Demon Knight Army used in Zavalda.”
“Sir, yes sir!”
Two hours later, another truck arrived and on it was a more ancient box. One of the players hands the General the very same spears that are used against their armor to great effect in Schon. It was finely crafted and had a strangely faint rainbow shine to it as a red crystal was situated on the tip of its spear.
“This… this is a spear.”
“Sir, we need to meet the requirements of the test-”
“Shut…”
“...”
“Good boy. Elf, come here.”
The tall soldier takes the spear and the General walks to the front of the Abrams and points at its upper glacis.
“Have you boys seen the reports from the frontline?”
Both of them replied with a quick “Yes sir.”
“Then, you should know what these spears can do to armor and even low flying aircraft right?”
Once again and in unison, they replied with a quick yes sir.
“You know… one of the reports I read that completely took me off my seat was this retelling of a Sergeant seeing a Challenger Two’s turret a meter away from its hull.”
Confused, they both looked at one another and then to the General.
“Funny thing is… Unless you directly dropped a bomb on it. That won’t happen. I’ve fought the Abrams, Challengers, Leopards, and other T-Series tanks and the ones made in the West typically don’t have their turrets fly like mine. Do you know why?”
The Colonel with a smile on his face raises his hand. “Speak.”
“It’s because of the ammo stowage sir. The Abrams and the Leopards-”
“I’ll stop you right there.”
He then signals for the Elven player who then throws the spear and a terrifying thunderous explosion follows. Jackson then walks up to its composite layered armor of Trialloy and notices that there were already cracks.
“Another one, this time on top like how they do it.”
Even though his entire body was blackened by the weak spear, the Colonel haphazardly walks up to him.
“Sir, we need to meet testing requirements…”
“Your requirements are absurd and stupid. The more you talk, the more you put yourself in a spot. You will see the answer to my question now.”
As he shuts up, the two walk back to behind the sandbags and the Elf once again prepares to attack the test tank.
Even in combat boots, the Elf started running at its high speed. Upon entering a 10 meter range, the soldier whispered to himself and his boots glew a bright color and he jumps twice reaching thrice the height of the tank and in a fast and quick throw, lands a shot directly on top of the armor and the turret of the tank flies off a meter and removes itself from the hull that’s now a burning wreck. But the engine didn’t explode nor did the ammo.
On the engine compartment and on the front, steam was blowing off as a clear liquid started leaking from underneath the tank.
“It pains me to see it. Good thing only the Wolves and Horses uses these in large quantities in Schon. The ones the Demon Knight Army uses, you wouldn’t even need to have an angle.”
“But but but sir, you can see that the armor still worked. The turbine engine and the rack didn’t explode.”
“Is that so? As I am seeing white smoke coming from the front and rear. I’ve actually fought the Abrams MBT on Earth and they burn just like any tank. So what the fuck is this?”
He then hops over the sandbags to much of the CO’s dismay and walks to the front of the burning wreck. Squatting down, he sees the clear transparent liquid dripping from the crack in the armor and the steam blowing from the holes. With one finger, he takes a sample of it. Smelling it and then putting it on his skin. “This is water… I knew it… Two of you numbskulls! Come over here.”
“Sir.”
“Sir.”
“I can’t believe we have water powered turbine engine tanks.”
“Uhm, sir if I may explain.”
“No. No need. You have water magic right?”
“Rogers has sir.”
“Rogers, use water magic on that turret right now.”
He then opens his hand and screams “CREATE WATER!” and a huge pile of water falls into the wreck of a turret and Jackson walks up to it and has one of the soldiers crack the blowout panels. He then takes one of the shells and has an onsite engineer to open it up. Upon cutting the warhead off, the casing then craps out sand.
“Man, this is some pretty nice powder we were using. How many beaches did we remove for this? And also, how much is your paycheck with this project? Don’t lie to me. Five hundred thousand gold coins? That’s enough to buy you a large plot of land in Tur including a three storey wooden hunting lodge.”
“S-S-sir, If I can explain.”
“Lieutenant Colonel, you’ve been telling me that while your friend has been making nothing but excuses. Just tell me.”
“It's not that we are partnered with anyone sir. It’s just the Blacksmith Association and the Zavalda Defense Industry said that we’d get a… ten to twenty perceeee…”
“Perceee?”
“Perceeennntttt…. Ish…?”
“That’s pretty good. Wow. But since I am a Five Star General. I’ll have you guys ride these tanks the moment the Demons of Hell comes for all of us. Good?”
“Sir, I do not think that is necessary.”
“Oh that is very necessary. This is your project, have faith in it. You are such great patrons of the Virtual Reality Military Industry that you should ride these magnificent machines into battle with pride and prowess.”
“Sir, we’re benign you please.”
“Sergeant, take these two away. Corporal. Bring me back to base will you?”
After a few days of office work and making reports whilst helping move units around the world. General Paul yawns in his chair as someone knocks on his door.
“Come in.”
Peeking inside is an officer wearing a white shirt with a blue beret. The epaulets on his shoulders showing a griffin holding two leafs.
“Sir, General Ass blaster and Nimrod is requesting for you.”
“What? I already told them, just block the Dungeons and Labyrinths. That should stop the sudden appearance of Demons everywhere when the day comes.”
“Yes sir, but they're afraid of the reaction of the locals. As many of the people use those to earn money and sometimes even get building materials. We’d butt heads with the Adventurers Guild of the Natives if we do so sir.”
“Ahhhhh shit, here I was enjoying my relaxation. I’ll be there later.”
“Copy that sir.”
“Wait…”
As he was about to leave, the man turned his face to look at the General.
“Is that problem with the Holy See still up?”
“Which problem sir? We have multiple operations involving them, sir.”
“Nevermind. I’ll go to Intelligence later.”
“Yes sir and uh Senator Biisu is asking for you, sir.”
“I’m guessing this is about the hearing for the Moon Stone Armor Program?”
“You guessed correctly, sir.”
“Alright alright.”
The door closes and General Jackson stands up and stretches his arms. “Yeah… this ain’t for me.”
Inside an extremely hardened section of the bunker. A soldier standing guarding a thick vault door salutes and opens it for him. Walking inside, he breathes in. “ROOM! ATTENTION!” Everyone then stood up. Wearing combat uniforms and berets, the soldiers inside the place had folders on their desks and countless maps and charts alongside flatscreen TVs and computers. In the middle is a huge war table with all of their units and current ongoing operations are being shown. The room smelt of oldened leather and paper while the atmosphere was clogged by the trails of cigarettes the players had been smoking.
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“Back to duty.”
Everyone then proceeded to return to their seats. The 5 Star General observed the numerous clocks on the walls with two versions. The normal one he knows with numbers and the native one that has a disc spinning around to show the current part of the day. The lettering in bold below them in a steel plate ranges from “Woodstock, Neo Tokyo, Zavalda, Grandure, Laeyla, Ville De La Nuit, Elvennur.” while there were smaller ones for the Wood Elves and the Sultanate of Meridia.
He starts walking around the place, letting the soldiers be as they busily threw papers around and used magic to its full extent to not only let entire carts organize themselves and roll around without the need of a pusher. They were also using their mana to shift papers around while both of their hands were on the keyboard of a computer or on a chart. Everyone knew their place and it was working like a machine that had been fresh off the factory and running at the peak of its best form.
“Ahem, I was told to look for you?”
A player with deathly coloured skin shifts his office chair to face the officer.
“SIR! Second Lieutenant Count Nightfair! Intelligence Department! Vampire Count Rank!”
“I’d like to ask about the entire thing with Seiness. A good friend of mine was asking for help about that before I got sidelined with the whole Zavalda incident. I also need to move before the Organization gets a close-in on the fact that we have a certain Ancient Queen in the arsenal inside his Mountain Base.”
“Yes sir! Please follow me.”
He then takes the General around to the other side of the large open room to where there were stands erected for the various charts and maps used by the many armies under the UN. With a corpse pale hand and sharp ears accompanied by blood red eyes of a predator. The soldier points at a survey of Gareth named “Domestic Problems” with various notes on the wooden frame of it, many pointing out the boiling hatred of the Humans against the Elves, the Elves against the Humans and the extreme minority of the Beast and Demon Folk having hatred for each other and the Humans and Elves.
“Christ almighty, does everyone hate everyone here?”
“Well sir, most of the Humans here are actually from Dragovh. The Elves were the original inhabitants of Geraldia. It was only recently upon the destruction of the Curate Empire did Humanity manage to get a breather and spread.”
“Uh huh. And the Beast Folk?”
“They were brought here as slaves. Fun fact sir, the Beast and Demon Folk of Geraldia were all slaves. Mostly for the High and Dark Elves. The humans came after when they started their own version of the Age of Exploration. Though the Elves were already a few hundred years ahead of them.”
“Before that?”
“The Elves didn’t dare walk into Dragovh sir, due to the Dragons there.”
“I see. So why this Seiness thing woman?”
“Seiness sir is a Beast Folk, her blood is mostly human but it has a hint of Werewolf in it as expressed by her more animalistic features like the tail and ears.”
“Go on.”
The Count then points at their current location on the edge of Avaria’s borders. “Well sir, if you can look closely here and the chart we have. The Beast Folk has a majority in around the middle areas of Geraldia where there’s the mountain ranges. They’ve been butting heads with the Dwarfs for quite some time." He then traces it to Zavalda and then south of it, passing thirty smaller territories led by local Lords and Jarls till he hits the border of Gareth.
“By God… we’re planning on using the Beast Folk as cannon fodder?”
“Yes sir. The portal is near the territory of the High Elves, once known as the Curate Empire and renamed to Princeps Dydares in commemoration of their onced Grand Prince that died in the hands of a Man. So we plan on making sure the Holy See gets to Knight and train the Beast people. That’s an extra ten million soldiers for them.”
His hand then traces the location of a mountain top city named “Janishaire” in the Region of Hohe Spitze. With a river running around the bottom of the valleys and ranges.
“Which we will be using as cover while our people run for the Portal right?”
“Yes sir. All five hundred million. The Natives will be doing their own lifting, we won’t let the Gods to do as they wish and have us slow down the Demon Hordes.”
“In Geraldia, who's the majority?”
“Elves sir. Second to them are the Humans.”
“Really? Yet the Elves are contained to one third of the continent.”
“They breed really good sir. Their lifespan also helps a lot. We counted over two point five billion Elves, both Wood and High Elves.”
“Really? And the humans?”
“About a billion or more, sir.”
“Wow. We’re that behind.”
“Yes sir. The High Elves are also very selective with their breeding, so only the strongest and best genes get passed down for them, sir. Though monogamous, polygamy is practiced by their richest and most powerful, often having thirty or more children.”
“Sheesh. Good thing the End Times are coming huh? Last I remember the High Elves were planning something.”
“We actually have information on that, sir. The High Elves plan is not only to forward their Religion, but also to rebirth the Curate Empire. On some of the documents we… procured through espionage. We are sure that after the End Times, they plan on attacking a weakened humanity.”
“Wait, they aren’t that scared of the literal Hell that I just experienced?!”
“No sir. The High Elves are sure the Heroes will once again pull through. They're far more prepared than anyone here also. So even if the Heroes were to fail, they have multiple backup plans ready.”
“Geez. Should we help the humans here? At least give them a heads up?”
“That’s on you sir and the rest of high command. I am merely doing my job in Intelligence Gathering.”
“I guess. But aren’t they some devilish species? Far more devilish than the Demons themselves. At least when I was wounded, they didn’t hide their resentment towards me and acted like friends.”
The 2nd Lt. then takes a pen and circles the Kingdom of Gareth while making arrows coming from Schon, Dragovh, Angea, and Meridia.
“As you can see sir, almost all of the retreat avenues from all of the forces coming from the differing continents that we currently have forces in passes the area where the Beast Folk has the majority. The UN Council has made it a top priority now that we know the Vampires won’t attack or meddle with us to go and assure we get to go home in one piece.”
“I see, I see. Alright. Sign me up for it then.”
“Sir, this is only for the field operators.”
“No, sign me up. I wanna get out of here and go back to adventuring. Maltese also told me that Elizabeth shouldn’t hang around here for too long. The Organization might cook up something after their mobile base has been destroyed.”
“Yes sir. And the End Times sir?”
“When it comes, it comes. I already did all I can do. All that’s here is a punch of Chefs but little to no Cooks. I’ve been involved in the Moon Armor Program and that thing smells so bad it could give a rotten egg a run for its money.”
“Copy that then sir. I’ll notify operators on the ground in case you run across them.”
“Also, what info do we have on the Curate Empire?”
“Alot sir. As Geraldia used to be there entire Empire and some parts of Angea.”
“Interesting, do you know anyone we can talk to that might’ve been still alive when the Empire was active?”
“Phewww… my best bet would either be the Vampires or the Dragons sir.”
Jackson then observes the map closely. The cluster of Nations there has a big marker written over it “Failed State” while the map of Gareth shows the lane of the Dragon Couriers. With the Kingdom only having two cities that they’d go to. The rest being far away from one another and the roads from the smaller settlements leading to the larger ones.
The demographic also shows an almost Ninety-Eight Percent Holy See Religion, including the Elves. Whilst the remaining ones are for the Beast folk and the Dwarves. To his confusion, the Church of Humanus has a twenty percent on it.
“Huh, what’s that about?”
“Ah that. Seems that the old Humans here before Deus Vrax believed in the Man God as they call him. Humanus, sir. He was also the one that gave his blessings to a select few Humans and gave them great power to stand against the tyranny of the Curates.”
“And the Holy See? How much of a threat are they going to be?”
“Very big threat sir. We even have info that they might have their own secret underground hitsquad of sorts that acts as their own Intelligence Division too.”
“Some Dark Templars stuff?”
“Yes sir.”
Jackson puts his hands up his chin and nods. Smiling a bit as he walks out the room. The General returns to the quarters for the Officers.
His room was small but it was good enough to fit his entire party of four. With hangars taking up the remaining space for the clothing of the Vampires and Bahamut.
“Alright! We won’t be here for long!”
“Eh? We’re will we be going next, My Lord?”
“To Gareth!”
“M’Lord, that is the last place for Vampires to go to. The Knightly orders there are as religious as they come. The only place I could calmly sleep there would be the Minuit Building inside the Capitol.”
“Why? Can they detect your Vampirism? They have a pretty mixed population. I am sure they won’t mind a Vampire walking around.”
“They have methods, M’Lord. I’ve been there before and it's mostly for trading purposes. Though you are correct, I never did meet with the locals.”
“Oh yeah, they're one of your top buyers right?”
“Yes, M’Lord.”
“Do you have property there? To be specific, in the city of Janishaire. The one in the North, on the mountains.”
“Hmmmm…” Alana in her pajamas sitting on the large red queen size bed looked up to the ceiling, her long slender finger and nail touching her chin. “I do. Some buildings on the Port and I believe I have a branch building there for river access, M’Lord.”
“Is it in the border city of Janishaire? Like, inside it.”
“Yes, M’Lord. The only other branch that has such amenities is in Guerrehet. The Capital.”
“Hmmmm… the place we’re going to is the northern fortress city which means we’ll have to go through the mountain ranges of Daresh.”
“My Lord, I’ve been there many times and we should prepare for the Snow Rieklings that ambush people there. I’ve dealt with them many times before.”
He turns to face Elizabeth who was relaxing on the couch with a blanket over her chest and legs.
“Oh, I actually have a question for you.”
“Interesting, mayhaps this is about my past?”
“More so… do you know about the Curate Empire?”
Alana then looks at him with a long hard stare while Elizabeth just raises her arms over her eyes and sighs a bit.
“I do. The Vampire Kingdom was already far into its maturity when they fell.”
“Really? Then, do you know their beef with humanity? Except with the whole Goddess Forrus thing.”
“What shall I say about it? It's a tale as old as time, My Lord. A far superior species meets an inferior one. They enslave the inferior species and everyone goes on with their life.”
“I believe their the thing the Elves I’ve met has been saying as the Empire they were all onced under?”
“They were, My Lord. The Curate Empire once had dominion over the Wood, Snow, Sea, and Modern Elves.”
“What, there were two other Elven species?”
“Was, My Lord. The Human Knight named Beadot wiped them off the world in a span of a week.”
“JESUS. A week?! A Human Knight wiped out not one, but two species of Elves in a span of a week?”
“And toppled the Empire in three weeks.”
“Wow… I kinda understand why they hate humans.”
“I’d not be that kind to them, My Lord. I’ve visited their capital numerous times before with My King. The things they do to humans there on a daily basis… Now that I’ve been with you. I could vomit at the images I could memorize clearly.”
“Why? Might as well spill it. I am new to Geraldia and it seems like this place has history far more bloody than Dragovh.”
General Jackson grabs a pitcher and a glass of water and sits on the armchair adjacent to her couch as the door opens and Bahamut comes in. “Hey Master!” She could see his face was serious and she tilted her head and walked to the two.
“I remember… Back when we were recognized as a Nation state and the Vampires were invited to a Grand Feast in Elvennur, the servants there were all humans. Those who defy or make a mistake would be executed on sight or even killed in front of everyone for show and replaced soon after.”
“That's… not an economic way to keep servants.”
“Oh, My Lord. They had millions and millions of human servants. Killing one was but a trifle to them. It didn’t matter, there was always another human to take their place.”
“... … Continue.”
“We were then shown the Garden they built in commemoration of us, their new Allies. The Vampires. It was a Garden made out of the blood and gore of humans, with their intestines strewn about the trees and hedges as mere decorations and in the middle of it, was ten men and ten women. Naked and bare, beautiful, handsome, stiff, with tight bodies, and pure, they were offered to us as gifts.”
Jackson leans forward, his hands together and his eyes visibly fixated on the blonde woman before him with a mere white cloth covering her seamless body.
“They were so proud of themselves that they didn’t even notice that the Demon Generals from Vitas that came with us were as equally disgusted by the sight. They were arrogant and ignorant of others that they didn’t even bother to know that the Vampire Kingdom’s main practice was the control of our natural tendencies to avoid further problems with the other species.”
Elizabeth then rolls over to the other side of the bed. Hugging her pillows closely.
“One wouldn’t even know they are capable of such cruelty if you were to see their cities. Brighter than the Sun, their tall buildings, in complete harmony of nature while retaining a sense of beauty and architecture that the Dwarves would be jealous of. They even built preservation sites, left over before they switched to praying to the Outer Gods, in respect to Forrus in loving nature and helping the animals that were supposed to be naturally extinct.”
With a long sigh, the General drank an entire glass of water in one go.
“The Curates, now called by their Human name. Elf. Are but a part of history now, My Lord. The High Elf Empire is but a mere sad copy of what was once a vast Empire of technologically and magically superior creatures. But they have not seen their impending doom, making an enemy of all the species even with their power had their cities sacked, their people running to the Wood Elves and whatever Elven species that remained and assimilated with them. Their civilization, wiped out in a matter of weeks after leading for thousands of years.”
“Jesus… and the High Elf Empire has nothing to do with them right?”
“I believe not. At least I think so, My Lord. But I fear that their reaching the same point as the Curates, if they have started to remove even the mortal rights of servants, to use them as target practice or even toys for torture as they longer see humans or the other species as even living creatures, then they might be.”
“... How did it fall in a span of weeks? That seems insane to me.”
“I wasn’t there personally, I only received a letter from the new human Kingdom that was newly formed in Geraldia. Telling me that they, a nation of slaves, has risen up from their cruel captors and wishes to establish a new bond with us.” Elizabeth then turns her body to the left to face the General. The cloth on her body nearly fell off and revealed everything. “My King then sent me to this Kingdom and that was where I learned that the revolting slaves of the various species were led by one heroic man named Beadot, Gareth, and Avaria. They genocided and massacred the Curates in droves, going as far as removing the Chiocurate and Aquacuritus, Snow and Sea Elves.”
“Holy shit… are you sure those are the Heroes of Humanity here? I don’t think a Hero would be massacring entire species off the planet.”
“My Lord, if you were there and if you would’ve seen the things they did to your kin. You’d for sure call him a Hero yourself.”
“And yet, you tell me their cities were beautiful and preserved nature?”
“Hm. Yes, My Lord. Even I wondered if we, the Vampires, could build places like those. But after a talk with My King, I realized he was correct. Those buildings shine too brightly for us. Almost as if they want to harness not only the power of Magic, Technology, and the Gods, but also the Star above us.”
“And this Beadot person, have you met him?”
“No. He perished after Emperor Daresh sacrificed a hundred thousand human servant to the Cosmic Goddess of Death Mors Letum and the last time he was seen was against the dark woman in the Temple of Elvennur, her deathly gown and cowl seen by those still alive, taking the human Hero to the depths of the Cosmic aisles, never to be seen again. My Lord, this is the history of Geraldia, and the tensions that arise from everywhere.”
“But the Slaves… how did they not invade you afterwards?”
“None of them cared about the Human Cattle we kept after I told them we can supply the new Kingdoms with not only concrete, but also jewelry and wine. The new Lords that took over, now in the skin and flesh of Men, looked away from the Vampires' own cruelty as they needed us to forward their own innovation and the flourishing of their new societies. Such is the story of many civilizations, My Lord.”
“And the other species? How come none of them became as big as the humans? I looked at the maps and the only thing here that is on the same level of the humans are the surviving Elven Species. Humans even have a huge Knight Kingdom called Gareth and has ten fortress cities littered around its borders.”
“Differences, My Lord. When the enslaved species were finally freed from the shackles of the Curates, they naturally turned on each other. The human servants were more numerous as the Elves saw them as the closest to their kin and loved the pleasure both in bed and in entertainment Man could bring that they were naturally more numerous in numbers. In the end, the Beast Folk became a mere afterthought, without their own land and own Kingdom.”
General Jackson then deflates, with Bahamut walking around the couches and to the armchair where her Master lay. Taking in the information and the history of the soil that stood above him, the blood that was spilled, the cruelty and the hedonism of a civilization that has reached its very peak of its power.
“Master?”
“Wow… That actually explains the High Elves. But Elizabeth, what’s their Elven name?”
“Acurate or Acuritus in Elven language. They are the most numerous of all the species, they have the blood of all the other Elves and are considered to be the apex of the Elvenkind. Their ancestors all bred by extreme specific means and their genes selected carefully and painstakingly. I’d argue it’d make Bahamut jealous if she was to learn of the processes they took to make the perfect offspring.”
“I’m guessing the fall of the Empire is why the Dark Elves are now only seen in Schon?”
“That and the Daecuritus had been enamored by the power of the Outer Gods, and this said Gods had left most of their Temples and history in Schon. The continent untainted by the Known Gods. They’ve always been there and worked as an extension of the Curate Empire. They were also the ones that opened dialogues with us, the Vampires thousands of years ago by now.”
“At least now I know. I don’t wanna offend anyone and get ourselves in trouble. Unlike Dragovh, Geraldia seems to be the continent where all the problems are starting and ending.”
Jackson then stood up, taking the pitcher and glass of water with him. “After the hearing, We’ll be leaving for Gareth. I am in the process of getting my carriage transported here. So prepare to move once again.”
“M’Lord, I recommend preparing any magic stone that could emit heat and thick clothing. The North section of Gareth is particularly known for its endless winters as the mountain ranges trap the sneering cold within its territory. Even the Summers where the snow would melt, the temperatures would still be too cold for many.”
“I will. Everyone, rest now. I’ll take care of the last things here and we’ll go.”
The next day rolls in and in the morning, deep inside Iron Mountain. Intense fighting is occurring inside an armored room. With padding on the walls and flooring, a large LED board showed how many wins each side has and on the ground, Alana wore a sports bra and tight pair of black leggings. Her usual loose hair with tucked bangs is in the style of twin ponytails. She held her aluminum sword with such elegance that it would seem that her hands were handling fragile glassware.
Having only a sports bra and long yoga pants, her stomach can be seen. It’s tight and just perfect, having little to no body fat at all but all the right amount of muscles. Not too much but just enough for her navel to be pumped outward.
Opposing her is Jackson wearing light plate armor, a far cry from his bulky and gothic one. The holy knight set he wore is more akin to that of the ones you’d find on Earth. Practical and little to no ornaments and design except for the pauldrons and chestplate. Panting heavily as his chest visibly inflates and deflates from the beating he has taken. Though even with that, his arms and hands were fixed and controlled. His head staring into the Vampire’s golden eyes.
“M’Lord, you need to work more on your planning. You’re not used to being fast and agile, so it's better for you to start using a handful of moves first.”
“Hah… hah… hah… fuck. This is harder than I expected.”
On the sidelines, Elizabeth was wearing her own sports bra, and instead of long yoga pants, she wore shorts instead. Making her butt more pronounced just as her bra also did the same to her breast. Her exposed stomach also showed the seams going from the bottom of her ribcage that’d occasionally can be seen as she breathed slowly. Focusing on fixing Jackson’s tattered black cape.
Clashing could be heard as the two fight on. With her ignoring them completely, busy looking at a book and her hands and fingers carefully rethreading the cape.
After a while, the fighting stops and the Countess sat next to her and Jackson walking to them, his armor making clacks as the metal bends and hits one another.
“Bahamut. You're up.”
“What fighting style do you want me to use, Master?”
“Anything. Just give me practice with my reaction time. I held up good against Benedict but that was just thanks to my armor. I need to be faster.”
“Alright!”
She happily stands up and opens her hand. Materializing an old Iron Lamp.
“Bahamut… Not that!”
Waving it forward, a gaping maw opens underneath him and he quickly dodges the impending creature of pure darkness and cosmic horror that appeared out of it. The black snout of a creature with white teeth and long black aerials crept out of it and bit the air. It's eight cold blue eyes shining as it descends back into the Void.
Trembling, Jackson had his rear up as his hands held his face down. On the benches, the three women looked at him with gleeful eyes.
"My Lord, you better lower that buttocks of yours. I was unable to get into that last night as Bahamut was all over it. Ahahahahah!"
"Grrrrr... even though I SPECIFICALLY said I do not want butt stuff to be done to me! And Bahamut! What the fuck was that?!"
"What? Master, my saliva Detoxes and cleans. You shouldn't worry so much about it."
"No not that! Why did you just summon a creature like that?!”
“You said you wanted to practice reaction time, Master.”
“Hah?” He just facepalms and walks around the ring. “And I know your saliva has healing powers but as a Man, getting my rear done like that feels weird! I can never get used to it… and most of all my ass is still sore, you know! I swear Bahamut, if you do that again. You're better off just being with Elizabeth. At least she can handle you."
"Just relax, My Lord. Bahamut tends to spread her fingers when it's already inserted. So it's better to not panic as much, and when it's her tongue, it shouldn’t be a problem aside from its detoxification effect. Just do like what I do, My Lord. When she inserted her tongue into my buttocks, I just the wal-"
"Stop stop stop. Haaaaa..."
He stands up, looking down on himself and his plate armor. He then proceeds to facepalm. “Can you not go into such details, please? I’d like to focus on the whole practice thing going on right now.” He then walks to the sword rack and takes a gander at the selection of training swords he has access to.
"M'Lord, I am surprised no one has intruded with us yet."
"Yeah well... I think I may have built some sort of reputation."
He returns his sword neatly and walks towards them. Bahamut throws him a fresh towel. Opening his helmet's visor, the man was absolutely drenched in sweat. With the two Vampires seemingly blushing.
"Oh My, My Lord. If you keep smelling like that, we may have to go for another round."
"... We literally just spent the entire night doing it. Calm down and I have a hearing to attend to after this."
"Sad. Then the Countess, it seems that smelling our Lord’s sweat has also turned you on. Shall we? Dragon, wanna join too?"
"Your Majesty. Smelling our Lord..." Alana pushes her thighs together, inserting her hand in between it as she rubs it with her legs. "Such... such an odd feeling. But I must tend to the kitchen and learn from the Chef, Your Majesty. I simply cannot.”
"You must control that feeling Countess. Actions speak louder than words. Best not to show too much action, and dirty words work better anyways."
“I see. Thank you, your majesty.”
“Are you sure you can’t just move it? I have to return to our Quarters and continue repairing our Lord’s cape.”
“I sadly have to.”
“Dragon, what about you? Wanna tend to each other's desires?”
“Master smells good. But that won’t work on me. My noses filter everything. I am also called to the Research Department again. The strange Doctor there wants me to help in deciphering some Dragon text.”
“I do remember a kind man asking me to go to the Archeology Department to help with something too… sad. It seems that it's going to be another day of holding myself. Countess, be sure not to touch yourself when outside of our quarters. It’s very unbecoming of a Lady.”
“Of course, Your Majesty! I have perfect control over myself!” Alana’s eyes slid to the left and right, avoiding the Queen’s stare as she stood up and turned to the showers.
“After seeing what you did just now, I humbly doubt that.”
"You Bloodsuckers ever cease to amaze me. Is it the season for you two or something?"
"Oh please, Dragon. Out of me and the Countess, you are the most active.”
"Of course, Bloodsucker. You are Females also gunning it for Master. As if I am gonna let you get on top of me.”
“Awwww, I thought we all agreed to share him? Are you a bit jealous of my experience?”
“I am learning fast, Bloodsucker. Be warned, I will catch up to you. The more time we spend with each other in bed, the more I learn.”
“I look forward to it then.”
Finishing wiping the sweat off his face, neck, arms and pits. He dons the light armor once again. Rapier in hand as the Countess walks off to the showers.
"Elizabeth, you're up."
Closing his helmet's visor, Jackson walks back to the ring. His sword is ready to fight. Elizabeth stretches her hands and arms first and proceeds to kick the tip of the blade, making it fly upwards as she catches its handle with style.
"Be ready, My Lord!"
"Ready!"
She quickly lunges forward with her longsword, stabbing him as much as she could. Jackson, having known her style, constantly kept his chest moving, though many of the hits would land, some would hit an angled part of his side and slide the blade away from his body, giving him a chance to strike back at her.
Though Elizabeth didn’t care and merely kept going forward still he is cornered.
“Elizabeth, you have to dodge back you know?”
“I only do that if it's my arms or legs, My Lord. You are gunning it for my chest and neck. That won’t work on a Vampire.”
“The practice is supposed to be against Humans with great reflexes. Like Rogues, you know?”
“Ah, is that so? I didn’t hear it. I was too busy with your Cape, My Lord. The Captain really did a number on it.”
“Yeah. Though good to see you're good enough to repair it. Its threads nullify magic so it's a bit hard to flex and bend properly.”
He then strikes first, with Elizabeth this time completely dodging his attacks.
This made his life easier, immediately making space between them as his speed caught the Queen off guard. “Impressive, My Lord! Yes! Try to strike me! Break me!” She then would constantly try to get to his flanks, the Knight having to turn his sword sideways and make longer swipes.
With this, it gave Elizabeth the chance to strike him back. As with his longer strikes, it gave her the opportunity to detect an opening to the opposite side of the man. Appearing there, Jackson detected her a mere millisecond and dodged her blade. An inch from his chestplate.
Soon, the two started clashing sword to sword, with Alana finished showering and back in her red gown. Bahamut was still in the benches. Just eating some candies she found somewhere.
“May I?” The Dragon just lifted her hand to give some of the sweets to the Countess. Who absolutely loved its taste as the Queen and the General fought head to head.
With their swords locked together, the Queen lifted his visor and licked his cheeks of his sweat, making him blush and lose his cool. She immediately took this chance and hits him with the aluminum sword straight to the head lighty. “Done.”
Down on the ground, he just shrugs his head and reaches out his hand which Elizabeth takes and raises him back up.
“Good game. I did not expect that.”
“My Lord… you taste absolutely finer than the finest of wines.”
“NUH UH!” He immediately drops his sword and makes a run for it as the Queen with her running shoes goes after him. “NOOOOO! I HAVE A HEARING TO GO! BY THE PACT WE HAVE, I ORDER YOU TO NOT DESTROY THAT DOOR OR THE WALLS!” As Elizabeth is trying to break down the door to the Men's Showers without causing property damage, Bahamut looks up to Alana who's standing next to her.
She's biting her index finger, her vampiric fangs on display as her face is fully blushed, the candy in her mouth as still as a calm ocean tide. The Countess’ golden eyes stared at the Shower room, watching the Majesty attempt to break down the door. “That smell… I understand now what Her Majesty meant by "Man Smell.”
"Eesh. I should not join tonight if we're all gonna do it. Master really has it hard."
"Bahamut, I may have discovered something about myself within the recent days since our victory. The ecstasy of knowing I won against the Demons even for a moment has made me more brazen, so it seems. Yes."
"Brazen? Bloodsucker, are you turning into the other Bloodsucker? Master won’t be happy and neither will I. I can’t let my nature take over me as much now if even you are turning into-"
"I truly crave of Our Lord. I cannot help myself any longer! I must partake of him too!"
She then storms to the shower. Holding the door knob alongside Elizabeth who was confused by the gloved hand that joined her.
"Countess?!"
"M'Lord! I'll give you a quick one! Just insert it in me and shoot your liquid and I'll go!"
Elizabeth just shrugged and an Evil smirk popped up on her face.
"Me too My Lord! Drench my throat with it and violently ram your thing inside all my holes!"
On the other side, with a mere towel covering his privates, the Knight had both of his hands on each end of the door frame as his legs spread in full, trying to get as much traction as possible and stopping the two from getting inside.
"BAHAMUT! HEEEELLPPP!"
The Dragon just sighs and turns into her normal form. Breathing fire, the two Vampires just turned to their right at the impending doom of flames approached them with no escape. They were trapped right there and had no other way to go as Bahamut’s size covered the entire practice room.
Turned to ashes, Elizabeth who is now a pile of blood starts seeping under the heavy door and into the shower room where Jackson has already undressed and is covered with soap. Trying his fastest to clean himself up with the cold water.
On the liquid below him, he could see a reddish image of a pile of blood lifting up to the sky, defying gravity and changing into the shape of a curvy woman with big breasts and thick thighs.
With a frightened stare, he slowly turned his head to the door and his eyes sank at a fully formed Elizabeth, bare and unclothed.
She looked magnificent, untainted, pure, and angelic. As she takes one step forward, the door bursts open and it's Bahamut in her gothic funeral gown. Her entrance was so strong that it sent the door to crush the Queen completely.
But before she could heal herself, the Dragon just nonchalantly dragged her by the feet to the outside. “Take your time Master. I’ll deal with these two. I haven’t properly fought a Vampire in a few hundred years anyways.”
Now outside the showers with Alana even with her Magic, unable to nullify the strange bluish honeycomb iridescent wall that now covers the shower room. The two Vampires oppose her in the ring, the Dragon unsheathes her primordial sword.
"If you wanna have sex with Master. You'll have to go through me." She grips her sword tightly, putting one heel forward as the dangerous enemy prepares to fight the two head on.
Walking into the Courtroom at the upper levels of Iron Mountain, Jackson was panting and breathing heavily as he sat in the back. The Court already in session as a Colonel was testifying about the corruption of the program. “Yes, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel Rogers were all involved including the Two Star General from the Men of the Woods.”
Everyone brought their A-Game on as Maltese with the Guild Leaders were on their own special podium. Flanking both sides of the room were fake windows, showing the position of the Sun outside.
Jackson on the other hand stumbled around in the back with his briefcase held tightly under his armpits. He finds a spot where a Private gladly stepped away and gave him a place to sit. Rummaging through his papers, he takes the ones about the armor layout and the test results as the Judge hammered the stand. “Now, I am to call the respected and well known General Jackson of Eldwood. By the request of Colonel Mandaya…” the Judge looked at the Witness Box and he wasn’t there. “G-General Jackson?”
Rising from the back of the Court, he held his hand up with a bunch of papers. “I have evidence to show, Judge!” everyone grasped at his sudden entrance from seemingly out of nowhere. The two Colonels and the Two Star General with them both gulped at the sight of the official paper.
The entire day was spent mostly in the Courtroom, with a sudden interference two hours in as fighting was shaking the entire Mountain and some High Level Players were sent from the room down to the Practice Arena.
But it got so bad the final verdict had to be moved to the next day much to the General’s dismay. Still, even with the unfortunate circumstance, he took it as a chance to talk to the Bailiff and found out he was the one that sent him the Urgent File, leaking the scandal happening from within.
It was already at the dead of night did he manage to return, and the Practice Arena was closed off and under maintenance. He just stared and facepalmed at the sight. Going to the elevator, he selects the deepest part to the ones for the High ranking officers.
Tired and returning empty handed, he was slouching forward with an empty expression on his face as he lazily held his Briefcase. The man was so out of it he didn’t even care to fix his cap anymore nor the wrinkles on his uniform.
The sight of the door to his quarters sang a song of love to him, as he imagined his bed and him, sleeping peacefully on it and waking up the next day as lively as ever.
Reaching the door, he goes to his pocket and unlocks it.
Opening the door to his quarters. Jackson sees the bedsheets on the floor as a smell comes up to his nose, even from the peak he got, his already dim eyes went only lower. He then looked around the Hallway, even looking around a bit and he then fully opened the door.
Alana and Elizabeth's privates were still grinding on each other as the Blonde Vampire slept on Bahamut's plump buttocks. Her two fingers are still inserted in the Dragon's ass.
"Hm? Ah, My Lord. May you finally join us. Our bodies yearn for you."
"Aaaahhh..." Jackson peeks in further to see even the desk was wet. He looks down to his briefcase and sighs. “The Dragon tried and tried, she killed us over and over again, but when she knew we wouldn’t give up no matter what, she instead wanted to try battling us in bed… ahhhh little did she know, without you here, we both could focus on overwhelming her with our pleasures.” Though he was hard and nodded, his soul was forcefully pulling him away. Reminding him of the contents of his briefcase and what he was going to be doing tomorrow. “Ahhhh…. hmmm…”
"You should've been here, My Lord. We started off by kissing together and I focused on the Countess. Bahamut then proceeded to violate our holes ever so roughly... ugghhh such pleasure we both felt. The Countess' saliva and tongue almost overtook me as the Dragon spread my genitalia wide with her fingers. But how wrong was she to think this will be enough to satisfy us.”
As she rambled on with pure ecstasy on her face. The General just nodded and smiled. Slowly closing the door. "My Lord, only your company will fully satisfy us. Even a Dragon is unable to do…” the naked Queen sees the door closing on them. “Eh? Wait! My Lord! When are you gonna join-" fully closing it. He just breathes a long hard sigh. He looked at his shoulders with a dim face and proceeded to do a 180 turn.
Taking a few steps back, he then returns to the direction of the Elevator and stops at the intersection a few feet away.
Seeing the arrow to the Canteen, he goes there and lays down his briefcase on the cold steel table. There were only a few people, and most of them were also busying themselves with their own work. Having to finish papers and others plotting stuff on the map
Taking the documents he had been given, the man started working throughout the night. A lone soldier who has just finished his work goes to him and salutes.
“Ah no need for such things. What’re you up to, men?”
The soldier bearing the rank of Second Lieutenant had a hopeful face, he held on his hands a stack of papers. Though he was lanky and had very young features, way to young for someone with the rank he held, he seemed professional, standing tall and proud.
“Just curious sir. Never saw someone with that many stars on their shoulders stay here.”
“Have a seat. Just doing some work, the final hearing is tomorrow so I need to focus on this at the behest of my angels.”
“The Moon Armor Program sir?”
“Yup. It’s a mess. I know Maltese could see it too, the corruption isn’t in one area alone, it's a line that goes as far as the Guild's Contractors.”
“Oof. I guess heads will roll with this sir?”
“Definitely.”
The Corporal sees the gleaming five stars on his shoulders and nods.
“Sir, how hard was it?”
“Hm?”
“To earn those stars.”
“Why?”
“I… I play with my family in Dark World, sir. My wife, daughter and son. I was too young to join World War Three, so I instead wanted to show them I could be as heroic as the people back then.”
“Kid, you don’t need to show them anything. If a woman marries you, that means she already loves you enough. This uniform won’t change a thing.”
“I see… then sir, is the scandal that bad?”
“Errrrr… kinda.”
He sweeps his papers and he picks one about budgeting.
“This is a classic Military Industrial Complex. You see the line of bullshit that comes here? How many people are being paid for useless crap on a program that doesn’t even work?”
Looking at the paper he sees the entangled web of Contractors and Subcontractors and the involvement of a little over ten guilds, three of them being major ones.
“Geez, I can see why the spending would balloon, sir. But you're really going all out huh?”
“Of course. I saw what happens when this stuff actually gets implemented. You know the Main Battle Tanks the United Asian Alliance uses?”
“The T-One Hundred Series tanks sir?”
“Those ones. You know, it's meant to have a simpler electronics system that didn’t have the fancy real time ISTAR to us and surrounding units integration?”
He then starts to draw on the back of the paper the four screens he had back then on the Commander seat of the tank. He then marks the country of origin of each of the parts, being Malaysia and China.
“But the goons at the top brass thought they could get an extra buck on the modern Asian fighting tank. Homegrown and everything sourced in Asia. But they couldn’t keep their shitty hands clean. It took till the end of the war for the fucking thing to actually not be a menace.”
“Didn’t the real time ISTAR on your vehicles make a game changing leap, sir? It's because of that the Asian militaries were able to respond to all NATO assaults at such a fast pace.”
“Oh, it was a game changer… IF IT WORKED. The freaking thing is like an Apple Ipad, a little smudge on my gloves and it would be completely useless. Yes, it was amazing… when it worked. But most of the time, it was just giving me a radar on my surroundings. Pfft.”
Seeing the General’s angry expression and the tight grip he has on his pen, the Corporal scratches his cheek and tries to think.
“Well sir, in terms of family, how many kids do you have then, sir?”
“I don’t have any. Though I’ve always wanted to have a family of my own… maybe when I return. I’ll definitely shoot my shot with every woman I meet.”
The Corporal then stood up and made the General some coffee. Unbeknownst to him, shadows peered from the hallway and came into the canteen. Making not even a sound nor moving a molecule in the air.
“But sir, what about the Vampires with you? They’ve been the talk of the base.”
“They’ll survive. Elizabeth once told me our adventure isn’t even a hundredth of her lifetime.” The coffee maker starts whirring as it dispenses black coffee onto the plastic cup. He then takes a Mug for the General. “They perceive time way differently… so differently. Hearing there King talk about World War Two like it was just a small time thing. I just realized I am a mere speck to their life.”
Returning to their table, he gives his General a mug with a text “BEST F.N.G” over it. He gladly took it and the two enjoyed some peace and quiet.
“It’s amazing though isn’t it, sir? That such creatures could exist, like Turtles. To them, time is not even a concept they should truly look out for.”
“Yeah… sometimes it makes me sad actually. I know they love me very much, but since I am mortal. I’ll soon be gone in a flash for them.” he sips his coffee and goes back into his papers. Reading it closely as he squints his eyes onto them and yawns.
It prompted the other players who were also with him in the Canteen to also yawn on their own. Making a chain reaction.
“So sir, how many kids would you want then? I can tell you sir, with two kids, it's a blast.”
“Hmmm… how many kids would I want…? Man, I guess…”
Rising behind him was gleaming blonde hair, the Corporal notices this and he stops drinking from his plastic cup as her beauty instantly captivated him. Jackson, who saw his expression, had his hair stand up. He looked as if he just saw his High School crush in her prime once again.
Though his neck wanted to turn around he fought the urge. Instead, he made a sign of a cross and looked up to the ceiling. After doing so, he then looks down to the Corporal, with the blonde woman’s face nearing his nape.
"... …. She's… she’s right behind me isn't she?"
"My Lord, do you know how many kids I want?"
“Ahahahaaa… hahaha… ahhh.. Since you are a Vampire who lives forever… One?”
"TEN. Five to send to war, Five to teach to become Royals."
"Six. M’Lord. Though… eight would also be great if you have the energy."
"Well Master, since you are a Human after all. One or two will do."
He gulps his saliva, hearing Bahamut’s voice alongside Alana and Elizabeths. The Corporal just saw an electric shock run up from his toes to his head.
“B-Bahamut… why are you with them…? Aren’t you supposed to stop them…?”
“Uhhhh… I don’t know Master. My Human body is telling me I need to join them.”
"God help m-"
All the Corporal could see was the General being dragged back to the hallway by a bunch of attractive women barely wearing anything and his screams of help not being abided by anyone.
They all just stared as the man disappeared into the halls as they headed left, to the Officer’s quarters.