Waking up. Jackson looks out the window of the busy rural town. Most of the townsfolk were already walking about the muddy paths with bits of snow scattered about in collected areas as the morning star climbed up once again to give shine to the buildings and the forest around it. “M’Lord! Breakfast!” With a smile to himself, the man stands up and walks to the door. Opening it, the hallway was properly heated with lamps strewn about giving off steam.
Walking back down into the tavern, Alana and Elizabeth were both already on their table. Eating some oddly golden coloured bread. “Hm? What’s that?” he leans down on it and smells it. The aroma had a hint of roast and sweet to it, making him wake up fully as his brain went into full sentience. “It’s the specialty bread of Gareth, M’Lord.” The cylindrically shaped bread had margarine on it and upon tasting a small part, he got down on the seat and started eating more.
“Hm! This is great!” Seiness who was returning from the counter properly bows her head as she carries with her a plate of strips of pork and bread. “Ah, Lord Jackson.” he lifts his hand, with a mouth full of bread. “I see you’ve tasted the local bread. Amazing isn’t it? They’d even harden them and bring them along adventures. It'll last for months and can nourish you well.” he nods as the two Vampires finish up on their plate.
He then swallows the food and livens up as he counts them. “Uhhhh…” immediately, Alana answers him. “We do not know, M’Lord.”
Outside, near the outskirts of town. A Mage is kneeling down as in front of him is a pile of snow. With a Grimoire in one hand and his steel staff in another, he swirls it around, the orb on top of it lighting up and it creates a tiny badly shaped snow golem from the pile. “Ah hah!” The young man jumps in joy, his newly created friend also lifting its fingerless hands albeit with great weight as its Master celebrates. “Alright, so to get you to attack is…” in the sidelines, Bahamut had edged closer to the man.
As he buries his face on the white grimoire, the Dragon had already sneaked up behind him and is reading what he was. She nodded and looked at the pile of snow. Upon a bit of concentration, an extremely detailed and animated Wyvern was created. Though small, it had all the little things, even the scales though made out of snow seem to be molded after the real deal. It then flapped its wings, making the tiny snow golem lift its hands to protect itself. “Huh?” Getting its attention, the fur robed mage kneels down to inspect the intricately made snow dragon. “Since when can I do that?” his pointy hat then falls, showing his messy auburn hair.
Turning around, he gets spooked by Bahamut. The woman wearing a commoners ensemble was attractive, but her lack of sound nor presence was astonishing. “Woah! Who are you lady?!” she just takes the grimoire of his hand and continues reading it. “Hmmmm… very interesting.” He then tries to take it back, but the Dragon just effortlessly dodges his hands. After multiple tries, she trips him. Making him fall head first into the snow. The tiny golem became angry and started punching her skirt, doing nothing.
“I find it odd that magic around this world revolves more around imagination. No wonder some species have it better.”
“Just who are you, lady?!”
“Back in my world, it was more about Willpower. Imagination comes second.”
“Magic isn’t that one dimensional, you know?”
“I know. But the main point I am getting from this grimoire and the older fire one Master got was that your method of conjuring Mana into something tangible and physical is through sheer imagination, which is interesting.”
The snow dragon she made then climbs up her skirt and sits on her slender shoulders. “Tell me magic man.” He chuckles. “Magic man? What’re you? Some grandma?” icicles then form around Bahamut, all pointed at him. “What’s the tastiest thing around these parts?” he then points at the square in the middle of the town, where Jackson was. “Hah. I’ll taste him later.” The Mage then points his finger further at a stall behind the statue. “It’s some of the local delicacies there.”
Bahamut lifted up her nose and could smell the hot soup that was being made. “Ohhhh! I am now curious!” Her icicles drop into the snow and melt completely into liquid as she exits out of the small opening behind a patch of bushes and into the main town.
Jackson then turns to the left where the frozen mud road leads to the forest, and on the right, he notices the large statue, this time fully lit up by the morning dew. In the back, the two Vampires notice Bahamut walking past them and into a stall just behind the icon. Elizabeth just smiles and shrugs while Alana makes sure to keep an eye on the Dragon. The Countess just facepalms as she lets out a sigh. Seiness on the other hand couldn’t be bothered by it. As if she’s already used to the behavior of the creature wandering about in a Human form.
The Knight meanwhile was completely engulfed by the shine of the polished brass statue reflecting the rays of the Star and he could fully see what the monument was all about. It’s a young man wearing plate armor, wielding a longsword and a heater shield with a valiant sweeping cape as air brushes his hair and clothes fashionably. In Front of it is a small slit on the concrete floor. Curious, the man turned around and donned his suit of armor’s scary pointy gauntlets.
Unable to read the plate, he instead checks the slit on the concrete floor. Kneeling down, the man’s eyes glared. With his Longsword, he slowly slips it in and notices its blade is a perfect fit. “Huh.” and digging it deeper, the statue then shone even brighter. Making the people clap at its sight. The already radiant monument became even more livelier. Hearing a click, he made a few steps back to see it animated, the bronze was moving albeit slowly, with the cape waving with the wind as the young man smiled gleefully at the Morning Star. “My Lord.” Jackson jumps at the voice of the Queen popping out from behind him like a plume of smoke. “WO-AH! Oh, it’s just you Elizabeth.” he then turns back to the statue, seeing the young and handsome lad wielding a magnificent sword.
“Early in the touching and interacting random things today, aren’t we?” Elizabeth just rests her elbow on his shoulder as she looks up to the monument. One hand on her hip. “Yeah. I was just enamored by this thing. Pretty cool it animates like that. Can brass even move like that without being stressed?” he then turns to his sword that’s implanted on the ground.
“So, what’s with you and using your sword's precious mana on powering an idol?”
“Eh?!” he immediately rushes to his Longsword, holding is black pommel and pulling it out. Much to the dismay of the townsfolk. “PHEW. No way I’m gonna let this thing rust on me. This is the last of my legacy swords.”
“Hm. Please do think before you start inserting things on monuments of the ancient people like Sir Johan Tieu Bane. As much as he is an icon to Humanity, you should preserve the strength of your sword for what we are about to soon encounter.”
“What? Why?”
“He wields the sword that used to be there. Gram.”
“Uhhhh… how do you know that?”
“When was it? Ah, it was presented to me by my trusted Crimson Knights.” She then walks to the plaque on the monument and touches it. “I never knew I’d awake to the sight of the Sword of Man being handed to me. I later found it was Duke Francois Deux Seventeenth who captured that man and brought the Sword of Man to me as a gift.”
Jackson then looks to where Elizabeth was staring, the statue has stopped moving but its eyes seemingly looking down on them. “Did he… live after that?” she nods and smiles as she lets go of the plate. “He did. For a man only aged fifteen, he had an amazing skill of living through tumultuous scenarios. He even survived against my Assassins which is a feat in itself only a few Humans had achieved.”
“Fifteen? At that age, I was in Mandatory Civilian Military Training. I would’ve never imagined carrying the Sword of my species and battling Vampires with it.”
“Oh not only that, My Lord. He slain Duke Francois at the age of sixteen.” She then makes a long sigh. “And Deux was one who never let his ego or power get into his head. That’s why I had him in charge of Geraldia. The Elves and the Humans are a nuisance when they could agree on one thing.”
“Geez… So that’s why this place is named Gram huh… but why would he die here? Or did he just pass?”
“Reading the plaque, it said he lived a quiet life here and died at the age of ninety. Quite an achievement I must say.”
“He lived till ninety in these brutal and harsh conditions? Wow. I guess he truly is a Hero. I don’t see elders much in these towns or even in the cities. Only in those higher places where a person could be safe from the outside world.”
“Be sure to become old, My Lord. It’s better to wrinkle and die naturally than to live eternally and lose oneself. As much as many Men make it seem like dying in a war is acceptable and a good way to go, I’d rather be selfish and want to see you become a weakened man.”
“I will. But to think James now wields that sword. What does it do?”
“It’s a sword that can cut one's immortality. Sir Bane even killed a Demigod before coming for my Kingdom’s Nobility. A test of sorts if he could actually pull it off, My Lord. He was about…” she then sensually puts her finger on her chin whilst looking up. “I believe it got reported to me before he turned the age of Sixteen.”
“A Demigod. I think I’ve only heard one that could even remotely fit that description. The reports from the pilots that did the big fuck you formation over Zavalda when the fighting was at its thickest. They told me of a Demon Knight General of sorts riding a huge warhorse.”
“My Lord, when you see one of those. Run.” A chill runs through his spine. Hearing Elizabeth’s deep womanly voice in such a serious tone, devoid of any sexiness or trifle. “Do not waste your time trying to observe one, when you see such a sight, you must live. At all costs.”
“Y-yeah. I get that. I don’t think I’ll be able to handle one of those even with my armor and weapons. But I am getting stronger, if need be. I will stand my ground.”
“My Lord, what that was is a Demon Lord and a Demon General. Unlike the Demon Generals of Vitas, the ones from the world below us are ancient, primordial in its birth. No man unless one backed by five Gods could even muster the force to battle one head on and live to tell the tale.”
“And they’ll be appearing again right?”
“Yes, My Lord. They are always spotted in the times of the End. Lingering in the back of their formation of Legions that counts up to a hundred million demons and monsters. Only they could stand up and do any meaningful damage to the Chosen Heroes. A mere ancient woman like me, or a Dragon God could never stand up to one fully without sacrificing everything. Let alone two.” Jackson then nods as he could see the seriousness in the eyes of Elizabeth. Even Seiness was left with no words to say. “I can imagine it. To think you’d need the power of Five Gods to roll over one… You… uhhhh… seem to be very well versed in this. Did you do research on the Demon Legions?”
“I did. Before I burned down the Great Library, my scientists and professors were hard at work in planning for the next one. What’s the use of taking over the world when I’ll lose it all a few centuries later?” She scoffs and places both her hands on her hips. With the left hip pointing outward. “But in the end, we couldn’t find anything substantial. One End Time is different from the previous one as you know. They adapt, learn, and modernize just as much as we do.”
“Oh I get that. They learn fast, adapt too. What they learned from Zavalda, it will come back and bite us in the ass later on. I just know it. The fact that those Gunner skeletons only appeared in the first and second wave already shows their trying to copy us and find out about our tactics on a deeper level.”
“Since the Holy See has foretold of its impending appearance. My Lord, be sure to be ready to drop your ego and morals. When it happens, remind yourself that it's better to fight another day than die in a gory battle.”
“Hm. I just find it amazing though, that a Human can be so many great things if given the chance. A fifteen year old man killed a Vampire Duke and then a Demigod and came back to finish the job at the age of Sixteen. Tsk, can you imagine that?”
“I could. I was there when the letter was given to me by his wife. She was asking for a ceremonial burial. It never happened, after his death. Our grip on Geraldia came with it… and it's not like we could collect ashes blown in the wind.”
The rest of Dead Hand then comes to them. With Bahamut staring at the shiny statue as she had a wooden bowl of noodles on it. She was noisily sipping on it, making Alana to lightly slap her shoulder. “Bahamut.” The Dragon just slows down her sipping and looks up to the super shiny statue. “Awwww… that’s super shi-” Another light slap came from her back and a straight-laced “No.” followed afterwards.
With a dejected face, she just returns with a “Boooo…” going back to finishing her noodles as Alana sees the heavy atmosphere between the trio on the statue. “M’Lord, shall we buy something for breakfast?” he nods and turns around to the Priestess of the group. “Seiness, how are you feeling? Bahamut got herself some noodles there with soup.”
The Priestess wipes her eyes and yawns. Stretching her body, her tail almost popped out of her skirt. “Oh! I’d always wanted to try something new from the rural areas. Noodles is it? I am fine with that, Lord Jackson.” he then turns to Bahamut who had already emptied her bowl. “What would you like for breakfast? Another portion?” she just shrugs. “Meat.”
“My Lord, I agree wholefully with that suggestion. We are about to embark on a quest that might take a while. Protein is much needed. More so for Seiness here. She needs meat more than anyone.”
“Alright. Meat it is. I’d like to have some bread on the side though.”
Walking around the town, most of the shops were already open. One of them, selling freshly baked bread. With Alana’s money, they bought one for each and went back to walking. Most of the buildings had lost their color and many just opted to instead draw intricate lines that’d swirl on the ends, putting them on the corners of their walls. Though some still retained the old art of Knights and the Kingdom, they soon stumbled upon some meat and bought some before returning to the sky. With them riding on the back of the Dragon whilst eating their breakfast.
“Dang, this Gareth bread is really growing on me. Just what the hell is the wheat you use for these?” Seiness just giggles as she puts her hand up her mouth as she talks with her mouth full. “It’s a type of Wheat only found here, Lord Jackson. It is said it's the Snow Elves that actually made it the way it is and then the Empire perfected it.” he nods. “Hm. I wanna try those dried ones that could last for months or years. I think I can live with it even if it looks like that.”
The Countess uses some of the meat they have bought and boils it to nearly burnt level. She then cracks some eggs, and with a slice in the middle, making a morning sandwich which she happily does repeat. Making sure everyone is fully well fed. With Jackson just having to throw some of the meat into the front where Bahamut just opens her huge mouth and swallows it whole.
Soon after, they looked at the food and there was still too much left over. With Alana then having Jackson and Elizabeth to follow her style in cooking. Seiness herself being taught on how to do it. She was proficient at cooking, showing her experience and mastery of culinary arts that was born from the traditions of the Church. The respect for the bread, and the calm and adequate cutting of the meat down to the perfect portion, as if it was meant to be shared amongst many. She even coated a spare bread after grilling it with the egg to make more space for the bacon after learning a bit from the Countess while incorporating some saving techniques by only coating the best areas while leaving the rest for another bread.
Soon after, with his bread in hand, Jackson walks to the head. Bahamut diligently flying. He could see on the far horizon a humongous pack of white Oxen with their thick fur coats, riding fast, creating a huge snow cloud behind it as the rising Star was enveloping most of the land. The forest below them has become less thick, with the trees more spaced apart and many of them not having any leaves. Giving the Knight a perfect view of what was under the branches. “That poor woman. She was around here right?” Bahamut just gestures with her eyes, slowly blinking. “She was stuck for a few days having to survive against those things and Nosaps… but do you detect any?” The Dragon then swivels its head left and right and blinks slowly again. “I figured. Guess they’d only be detected when they want to.”
But then, the Wolves with their snow covered white fur come out of the holes on the ground and start rolling along the hairy oxens. His eyes open wide at the ambush. They awaited them in the open inside their trenches, and came out just about the center of the herd was over then. Came after were large roundly shaped birds with short beaks but large talons. This made the Oxens bunch up together, crushing some of the Wolves while the odd shaped bird started to pick off the smaller Ox. The children that were slower were taken up and impaled into the tip of the trees as other similarly shaped birds came up and started devouring them. The man just sighs and shrugs as he instead turns the other way.
He could visibly see the squirrels and smaller animals rising from their burrows, many going back upon seeing the shadow of the massive Dragon flying above them. In one of the branches, he notices something hanging from it. Though only having a few seconds to have a sight, he could make out a spear that was thrown at an animal popping out of its hole.
While just a few hundred meters in front of them was a convoy of wagons. Filled to the brim with Fur and Bones. The riders were sitting completely frozen still as the Black Dragon flew over them. He tried to wave, but it was no use from seeing the stiff bodies of the people down below on the snow covered road. But there were others who didn’t stay in the carriages and opted to throw themselves into the snow and into cover. He just smiled as the Dragon continued to fly over the vast forest, with rolling hills and the peaks of other mountains on the horizon, it was a perfect picturesque sight that only a few places on Earth could fully rival.
Though most of the color was either gray, white, and blue. It all seemingly mixed together well enough to make it a lovely day with only a few scattered clouds coming from afar whilst on some areas where he could see below the plateau the region stood on, most of the greenery had already returned and only their area was still coated in snow.
“Master, we’ll reach the last stop soon.”
“How many hours?”
“About three if the wind catches my back.”
“Alright. I might take another power nap. This is such a pretty day. Haaaaaah….” he stretches his arms and neatly places himself on top of Bahamut's head. “Heh. Kinda reminds me of our time together, Master. When it was only the two of us.”
“Yeah. But it's more fun isn’t it? Having more people to be with?”
“Ehhhh… I’m a bit conflicted.”
“Why? Aren’t Dragons also social animals?”
“We are, Master. But all of the other members are female. I feel kinda left out at times. But also, I do feel I could relax more since there are more people looking out for you now.”
“Ahahahaha, oh you. Don’t be jealous Bahamut.”
“I-I am not! Dragons don’t get jealous! We’re only starved of attention.”
“Seems like jealousy to me…” he then crosses his legs and places his hands behind his head. Yawning still. “But, I am happy you got to know other people and had spent genuine time with every each last one of them.” Slowly blinking her eyes, the Dragon also yawns. “Hm. I never thought I’d get along with Bloodsuckers. They’ve always been stranger than most.” Jackson then started to caress the top of her head with his hands. “And to think you’d get jealous.”
“No! I swear, Master!”
“It’s fine Bahamut. You know I’ll always be here. When you are in Human form, just remember that there are Human emotions that can lead to very bad things. Always know to control it and behave. As long as it's not destructive to the point that others are affected, just be you, always.”
“Grrrrr… I hate how much that works on me. Master, you truly have a way with the females. To think you were hiding such power after so long. I always thought you were forever going to be the loveless Human Master of mine.”
“WHA-WHAT?!”
“Ahahahahaha!”
“Remove that title from your head! We literally had sex already. I can’t believe you’d still remember that.”
“Oh, looks like I struck a nerve. Poor Master.”
“Man. Now I want to take a nap even harder. Tsk.”
“You shouldn’t over do this sleeping habit of yours, Master. Only sleep when you have to.”
“Well, I feel like I have to after getting my manhood bruised like that.”
“Heh. Master is such a pansy.”
“Bweh. You Dragons and your straightforward humor. No wonder you and Mars seem to get along just fine and then a second later, end up fighting and arguing like you two were enemies all along.”
“Mars is one thing. But Master is another.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wake me up when we’re there.”
As he walks back. His ears perk up at the sound of metal clanging. Jogging back to Bahamut’s head and stopping just above her eyes, the Dragon then lowers its head. Her snout that was in the way of his view was gone and he could see a band of Adventurers fiercely fighting white skinned Goblins as Nosaps supported them from behind. Firing off large numbers of spiked branches at them but the frontline held, with both physical and magical shields protecting them from the barrage while the two extra members held the flanks, protecting there backline from getting stricken. “Huh… that’s a well oiled group.”
One of the Nosaps were larger than the rest, and it would sprout branches and beans which would grow into smaller faster versions of itself while the beans would transform into horrific humanoid like creatures that’s screaming to the top of its voice. Like a mangled potato, these beans just mindlessly charge forward, trying to make the vanguard submit through just an ear blistering echo.
All the while, their Mages were inside the formation, three of them while seven frontline fighters were busy trickling down the numbers of their ambushers. Their path to the front is blocked by a carriage that has visibly been burned and the road back to the town is full of enemies. The Goblins having used nature, naturally avoided the Nosaps and let them do their thing while they focused on performing a hard flank, all the way through the back but one of their vanguards were there, blocking their attempt to slip in through the rear of the formation.
This made them not press on any longer, but instead to shoot from their dedicated archers. Having an aerial point of view, Jackson’s eyes lightened up on the sight before him. The tactics shown made him raise his hands on his finger. “Hmmmm… these Goblins are just like the ones we faced back then. Seems like they're smarter and stronger here.” Bahamut on the other hand flies into the clouds so as to not alert the battle below. But her head kept following the center of it and the large Dragon performed a long inhale.
“Master, should I?”
Popping out of the cloud and their shadow almost looming into the battle, the Knight starts to look around far into the rear of the Goblins. His eyes open wide as not only do they have their main assault force currently in combat, but the Goblin ambushers have Reserve Units with Goblin Mages in stand by. They even have cavalry support, same as the Goblin Riders they encountered in Dragovh but now are riding on armored Snow Wolves. “Can you spot their leader?” the Dragon sniffs around and then locks into a single direction. “M’Lord, over there.” Somewhere around there right.
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He turns around, shocked to hear Alana. The Vampire, pointing at something to their right. “Bahamut, at our three o clock, heading to four.” Turning its head a bit more, the Dragon quickly spotted a Hobgoblin wearing leather armor and was riding on top of an armored Alpha Snow Wolf. It was laughing and mocking the Adventurers as it ordered its reserves to go further around and only to press on if an opportunity shows. Only letting the frontline to relent onwards but not the reserves.
With one spit, a piercing fire arrow flew from high above and headshots the larger and bulkier Goblin. It plops to the ground as a crispy burnt corpse, the Alpha Wolf it was riding, now, only its armor remained as it was turned into ash completely. The sound was that of a crackle of lightning and thunder. The sudden and quick unknowing death of their leader quickly gains the attention of the goblins around it. Many turned to check there leader who was no longer with them as a giant shadow flew over them, making thee look above to see the Black Dragon flying high, entering the scattered clouds.
“Talk about a Drone strike, Jesus that was brutal even from here. Good thing you held back and didn’t use your more iconic Dragonbolt.”
“As you said, Master. No need for unwanted attention.”
Flying away from the battle, the Adventurers notice the Goblins start to return, leaving the Nosaps all alone, opening their flanks to be attacked by the emboldened vanguard. Striking them down and cutting their barks down to multiple pieces of wood.
Before they knew it, the battle was over and they could only look into the blue cloudy skies of the day as the visage of the Black Dragon disappears into the horizon without even a notice to them and the Goblins scattering back into the depths of the winter forest with their tails tucked behind their legs.
After ten long minutes of flight, they soon then reached the entrance. It was visible through the white snow coating its protruding roof of composite brass as it was surrounded by an empty camp with pots and a fireplace. It also had a small farm next to it and some tents that’s been long left unused. Marks remained on what was a Fortress with proper steel walls on the snow. But all was gone now, and what was left was the entrance it guarded so vehemently.
Landing, everyone immediately got to unpacking the things they bought. They made sure to stack them all next to the Dragon before setting up camp. With Bahamut wrapping her wings on top of it as the afternoon star was on the horizon. There were notices left on the wall, mostly warning people who weren’t adventurers about the potential dangers and the traps that could still be set.
Inside the tents, all of them were fully stocked with food and medicine. In the crates what was left over were some seeds and battered swords and shields and in the last ones were dried and cured meat. Though the smell left much to be desired, the food leftover could save a life if one were to stumble in a bad position at the wrong time and day. Aside from that, there wasn't much else. No walls nor even a fence, the crystal lamps left on sticks on the perimeter, the only thing showing the boundaries of the Elven Underground Complex.
Immediately, everyone got to work setting up their place. Thanks to the location already being a hotspot, civilization was littered everywhere and it only took them an hour before having finished setting up everything. A new tent, bedrolls, a working campfire, and the surrounding area fully cleaned of litter.
Soon after, Jackson and Elizabeth looked into the passage. With inscriptions on its walls and what are seemingly electrified lamps and ceiling lights on its stone walls and roof, still functional and fully capable of lighting up the pathway, the place looked both at theme and at not. With an exorbitant use of brass and composites that’s long been coated by dust, with shine unable to peer through. It was insanely well built, the Knight even nodding that some parts that didn’t need to be overbuilt were simply done for the sake of it.
Not an inch was left unturned by the Elves, every metal and concrete had a touch of complexity to it, pipes underneath, the crevices filled with insulating cotton and proper ventilation in case of emergencies. Even at its age, the walls still gave off heat, making the entrance a perfect spot to set up camp. With a square shaped tunnel and a long staircase going down, the man looks at the blonde woman. “This place is already scouted right?” She nods at him, crossing her arms.
“Yes, My Lord. Our job is just to go into the area and collect those scales.”
“Mhm… mhm… that makes this far quicker than I expected. We might’ve overstocked a bit for the trip.”
“Nonetheless, it's better to have an excess than be caught lacking when in need, My Lord.”
He then looks at the horizon and notices that evening is already coming. “Are we gonna do it now? The place is pretty well lit for what it is. Going in at night shouldn’t be a problem. They wake up early in the morning right?” Elizabeth shrugs. “I do not recommend that, My Lord. What if the moment we come out, there would be ambushers awaiting us in the treeline? It's better we let the night pass and when it's fully dark, that’s when we enter.” He nods and turns around.
Behind them, Alana and Seiness had restarted the fire. With a pan, the Countess dropped a cube of butter into it as she instructed the Wolf girl in seasoning the beef with salt and black pepper. The Priestess was very conservative with it, prompting the Vampire to make it rain on the five slices that’s prepared. She even made sure the sides were also coated while letting the girl do the rest. She then went into a basket and took some of the traditional bread they got and smeared it with the oil from the pan.
Bahamut on the other hand has curled up and slept soundly. Her large wings shielded her face from the Star that’s still in a good enough angle to bring light to her slumber. Her body hummed a low growl, the Dragon in a state of peace as it regained energy for its hefty high altitude flight.
After a while, the two had dropped thyme and crushed garlic into the pan. The smell was starting to awaken the beast and soon their dinner was ready and night had just exactly hit. Everyone quickly got into a circle. With Bahamut being the first to take her portion. All the party members of Dead Hand just let the Dragon in her Human form take her meat out as she didn’t even wait for the temperature of the newly cooked Steaks to lower and quickly ate it up.
“Seiness, when you enter anything that’s underground, do you know what’s some of the most important things to remember?”
Stopping from eating her steak, the girl then looks at Jackson and puts her finger up her chin. With her Priestess cap gone, he could see how her Wolf ears reacted. The left one up and the right one down.
“Ahhhh… not to use fire magic?”
“Correct. What else?”
“No Combustion Magic and any sort that could modify the air right, Lord Jackson?”
“Also correct. In terms of Staff, do you know what to avoid?”
“Not to take ones with bright Orbs, Lord Jackson?”
“Exactly. And yours right now, it's superbly bright.”
“B-But I don’t really know how to use swords.”
“Then we must learn how to make do. I personally do break these rules myself occasionally, more so due to Bahamut being gung ho. The Orb thing is not a problem. That also happens in Dark World, the tactic here is to not even give it any Mana till it's needed. It also acts as a surprise against our opponents, that a mage is present.”
She just smiles, both her wolf ears stiff and vertical and continues devouring her steak. “I see, Lord Jackson. But I am still not that used in covering my Mana. I am actually quite new to its concept.” the man nods as he returns his plate on the fire. “No worries, there’s another way.” He winks at her as he turns his chest around to pick up something from a bag.
“Mhm mhm, then what should I do?” She tries peeking, her tail fully stiffened alongside her ears. Jackson then reveals to her a black cloth, the same material used on his cape. “Can you cover it with cloth maybe? Just remove the cloth when it's time to fight.”
She nodded and stood up, taking it without question. “Okay Sir Jackson! I’ll get to it!”
“Do it later. Eat first. We’re eating an early dinner because we need to get this done. From what I’ve heard, Winter Centurions become fully awake by morning. We’d be underground so I only have my watch to keep us informed at the current time.” He then checks his wrist and sees that it's already 6:00 on a Thursday, with the Month in January. “We were supposed to go in early, but Eliza-Carmilla wanted to make sure we stayed longer just in case anyone were to try anything.” the Priestess nods as Alana tilts her head at the device on his wrist.
“M'Lord, has it also been changed to the current local time? Mind you, nights are always longer in Hohe Spitze, and in general, the Northern territories of Gareth.” He just smiles at her while lifting his metal watch.
“I… kinda eyeballed it. I looked at the disc clock on the Adventurer’s Guild lobby and I think it's somewhat correct.” He looks at his watch and then to the sunken Star, the Moon and its Orbit already present on the other side of the horizon. “Yeah… I think it's accurate. This is how five or six o clock would look like.”
“M’Lord, just be sure to be reminded of the time. Seiness, do you know anything about the Winter Centurions?”
“From what I remember Lady Minuit, they're pretty uncommon and from the books I’ve read, they were an attempt by the Curate Empire to preserve Endemic horses by changing them to become stronger.”
Jackson then puts down his plate. “Endemic horses?”
“Yes, Sir Jackson. The Curate Empire really loves Forrus and all of her creations, including all animals. They’d go through extreme lengths to preserve as many species as they could.”
“Ehhhhh… I wonder if the long ears ever found out that Forrus doesn’t care if a species dies or lives.”
Seiness then turns to Bahamut, who had completely emptied her plate.
“Species die, that’s how nature works. To preserve something that’s meant to die is a mere form of torture in the guise of kindess. They are no longer meant for the world, the world has outgrown them, they’ve grown weaker and in nature, that means death.” Jackson immediately hops next to the Dragon and pats her shoulders. “Woah now, Bahamut. Let’s calm down. Everything has the right to live, regardless if they are weak or not. C’mon, look at us Humans.”
“Master, that’s how you look at it as a Human. You are kind to everything, but to us Dragons. A creature that’s extinct is a creature that's lost the battle of the right to live. To them to be wiped out is a mere act of Nature. Don’t you think Master, if Nature truly cared, it would’ve wiped out your machines and cities already, right?”
“Doesn’t nature do that by natural disasters?”
“Pfft. Master, natural disasters always occur. No matter what state a world is in, one will always happen. Some stronger, some weaker.” He just tilts his head, trying to assemble what coherence the Dragon was trying to speak. “A-Alright. Continue.”
“Yes, your creation costs the soil, the trees that lived far before your generation even came to be. Yet nothing truly happens. Because Master, even those things you call concrete are a part of Nature. It's built from Nature and what comes out, is still something natural… And when it's time comes, it will simply return to Nature. Everything Ends Master in the soil below us.” He just nodded at her as she went about her tangent. “Even your machines, whatever they may be, they will also return to Nature. There is nothing abnormal about them, nor is anything abnormal about you Humans.” He then squints, lifting his hand above his mouth. “But Bahamut-”
She then cuts him off completely. “You are born from a God, there is nothing odd about you Humans. But to us of course, since we are different, there is oddness between. Master, Nature will never care what happens, be it the destruction of all trees and water as it will always return. A million years is nothing to the soil, that is a mere second. Something Humans will never be able to comprehend.” The Dragon then sets her plate into the campfire and takes his. “That is why Master, I applaud Humanity for trying to do what it can. It is a miniscule existence in a world that will never cater to it, so it made the world cater to it instead. Like what we Dragons do.” she then tilts her head, resting her chin on the plate, smiling at him beneath her veil.
“So Master, don’t be afraid. In the end, Humanity will never amount to anything to Nature. You can abuse it as much as we Dragons try, but it will never budge. After you're done, all will simply return to normal as if your species never even existed. Much like the ones the Elves of this planet try to preserve.” She then eats half the steak in one go, tearing it apart like a predator.
“B-B-But Goddess, what about us Werewolves? Would Forrus care if we were wiped out? There used to be more of us, Goddess. Wererats, Wereboars, Werebears, and even Tigers and Lions. But so many of them were killed off, never to return again. Would we all be remembered? We give our lives in protecting Forrus and all her creations much like the Elves.”
“No.” She said it with such a straight and calm demeanor the question seemed to be something childish to the Dragon. “Do you think Forrus would care if Dragons were wiped out? No. Life goes on. If we Dragons were to cease, that just means the world has become far stronger than we could hope to be. We deserve our end, we have failed.” she then eats the steak whole, Jackson left to wonder where she got that other one. “Don’t think too much about it, Wolf. The world doesn’t think about you, why think about the world?”
Jackson had stood up, looking around for his steak as Alana handed hers to him. The man smiled as his eyes lit up. Having meat to eat again. “She does have a point, Sir Jackson. But since you are a Human. Your species are always kind and protective to things that have nothing to do with them.”
“I don’t know. I’ve just seen so many deaths that I just don’t want anymore of it… haaah… but I also get the feeling it's only going to get worse from here. It's just odd…” he then lowers his plate and looks at the group with him. “When I was back in the war, I just felt the coldest embrace of reality, colder than when I graduated from College and was left to fend for myself in the real true world.” He then ate a piece of his steak. “It never got better. I thought finding a job and opening a company with my friends would make things easier, but it's never that easy. The caveat being a world war on the horizon. Just when things started to get easy for me.” he then sighs as he eats the wonderfully cooked meat prepared by the Countess.
Elizabeth just sways her hair as she warmfully smiles at him. “My Lord, just remind yourself that, yes, things will do indeed get worse. Mere triflings will seem like mountains but…” the Queen then placed her plate on top of the campfire, alongside the used ones. “Life must go on. I failed my King, my husband, and lover. He was far too perfect for me. Thus I told myself that this shall never happen again. I shall be with you till the end, I want to be a woman you can depend on. If I were to have given up by then, I would’ve never been able to meet you now, wouldn’t I?” He just smiles and shrugs his head. “That’s gotta be the most cliche thing I’ve heard to this day.” As much as he wiggled his head in disagreement, his smile didn’t leave his face. “Buuut… you are correct there.” he stands up, stretching his arms and hands. “You hear that Seiness? That’s how it is. One day, when you grow up into maturity, you’ll face the cold hard truth of living. I hope what we teach you will be able to help you.”
Seiness nods. “Of course, Lord Jackson. Every bit of thing you are saying, everyone even. I shall remember it.” He nods. “Guess so. Everyone, finish up. We’ll be going in exactly…” he looks at his watch and squints. “An… hour. That should be dark enough, right?” Elizabeth nods and Jackson then finishes his steak and walks towards the entrance. His hands on his hips.
Alana, who has let Seiness do the dishes, walks up behind the man.
“M’Lord.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I believe we aren’t prepared as much in the chance we’d get attacked or ambushed by other people, aren’t we?”
“Well. The Fortress is scouted for the most part, right? You two are also Vampires, so it should be easy for close quarter combat with you two here.”
“Yes, M’Lord. But some of the Quests on the board were specifically to continue the exploration of the place. We might meet other people here. We must do our best to be diplomatic if trouble ever comes.”
“Wait… that band of adventurers we passed by back there… could they be?”
“Hence why I’d like to remind you, M’Lord.”
“Hmmm… Well they looked pretty organized. If we can, we have to end this diplomatically as you said. They were pretty skilled and organized. If a battle were to ever start between us, it would get bloody.”
“Of course. I am not one to brutish in my methods, M’Lord. As a Noble Vampire, if things can be solved through words and looks, then so be it.” He makes a thumbs up and follows it with a “Hm.”
As the hour passes, the party enters the Fortress. Jackson was in his full Death Knight set flanked by the two Vampires while Bahamut was with Seiness in the back. To much of their surprise, the Fortress was well lit all throughout. It wasn’t only the entrance, the entire complex was still pretty much maintained and cared for. Though some areas have been left decrepit and are not far from an extremely well armored crypt. Most of the main pathways were in perfect shape, with steam even blowing off in some parts giving heat. The flight of stairs also wasn’t long, only lasting for a handful of minutes and they encountered an opened bulk door that’s more like the ones you’d see in a more modern bunker, but this one is powered purely by steam and not hydraulics.
On the walls were also paintings that’s been preserved through the years. Many of them depict Curate Generals in their adorning uniforms full of ribbons, braids, and epaulets. In complete posh and sitting with complete elegance to ones wearing more ancient ensembles. Including golden ab armor. In one of it, was a painting for an Elven General with a swirling mustache in an insanely adorned segmented plate armor.
With a great helm that’s flying the tail of a rare magical animal, he had a smile to his face as he looked at the plaque under it. Elizabeth then uses magic to make the air remove the dust on it. “It says Six Times Outnumbered, Six Times Braver. The Mighty Twentieth, My Lord.”
“There it is again, the Twentieth. Weren’t these the guys that took in Human Volunteer soldiers and got a hell of a ride?”
“Yes, My Lord. But the history of the Twentieth goes further back than those stories. They are considered to be the most elite Army Corps of the Elven Empire and Kingdom.”
“I see, and what happened here that they got so many stories about them?”
“You won’t believe it, My Lord. But it is said that long before, when the Humans first rebelled, the Twentieth stood against a force of Three Hundred and Fifty thousand Humans with only a force of Twenty Five Thousand.” She then points at the motto on the plaque. “Impressive, isn’t it, My Lord?”
Jackson nods as he continues to walk, checking the other portraits near the entrance tunnel. All of them were amazingly preserved, the ones depicting the Monarchy having encased in broken glass cases even.
They soon meet the large opened metal gate, with Jackson amazed by the insane thickness of it and the hydraulic arms that open and close it. It was unlike the one in the entrance that needed steam, this one was far more modern and brand new,
“Has Alana told you guys about it?”
“Ah yes, My Lord. That we might meet company, correct?”
“Mhm. Be sure to have an eye behind your back. We can’t be pushed deeper into this Fortress. Seeing how advanced it is, whatever awaits us in the lower floors that’s yet to be mapped out is not fun at all.”
“Pretty amazing they built something like this. Even I wasn't even allowed to enter their Fortresses when I was on visit, My Lord.”
“Huh? You visited the Curate Empire’s army?”
Walking past the massive bunker door. On both sides of the wall were control panels, with the glass that used to protect it long gone and cobwebs had taken over the buttons and gauges. Near the door of the one on the left was a hanging pot with a fireplace underneath it and some flimsy wooden chair.
“Yes, My Lord. The Curate Empire doesn’t waste a cent in making sure they remind everyone of their greatness. Including the Vampires. In the entrance alone, they gave it so much for something a handful will see.”
The Knight rolls over his eyes at the sight of chandeliers on the Fortress ceiling.
“Yeah… I keep seeing that over and over again with these people. They just can’t stop making sure everything and all is pretty. But, you Vampires also do it though. Your Castle alone was something like this but more scary and gothic at times.”
“My Lord, you should at least try to replicate some of these. Iron Mountain was very darb compared to this. We Vampires also do not overtly decorate our attics, but the Elves would.”
“I do agree with that. I can only imagine how they’d react to our ships. If their underground Fortress is this massive and decorated, it makes the stuff we made look like liminal space.” He then remembers seeing their big floating blimps, that even with their flying machines, everything had to be spotless and showy. “No, it makes ours look like it's the most boring and functional thing in existence.”
As they walk, the Death Knight then looks over to a grill. Removing the belts of his gauntlet. He opens his palm and is surprised that hot air was passing through it. With a finger up, he lights up the square shaped hole on the wall and sees that it's akin to a ventilation for air conditioning. “Huh.” Putting his gauntlet back on, the Party continues their trek to where they reach a circular pathway down.
While in front of them is a caged elevator hoisted by pulleys. “W-Woah, what’s this place for?” He looked down and most of the railings had fallen off, though the sticky concrete padding used were still there making the traverse safer. But it still took one wrong step for one to meet a gruesome demise. Alana on the other hand was with Elizabeth, both of them looking at a plate on the wall that has arrows pointing at different locations and a map of the Fortress, with each connecting door to the spiral having its own area. “Well… think about it like this, M’Lord. This is the main stairway, each of the bridges you see connecting to it goes to Departments you could say.”
“And our target?” Elizabeth takes the lead and points right below them. “It would be right there, My Lord.” He sighs as the man collects himself. He could see the glistening reflection of the scales way down below, there seems to be hundreds of them just littered about for anyone to take. Gripping the sack on his belt, he just takes the first steps into the way down.
Swallowing his courage, the man leads the party down the spiral. Carefully and methodically till Bahamut just transforms in her Dragon form and using her claws, they rode on her back as they went through thirty spins before reaching down below to where they are met with a huge open flat ground, though the walls had all disappeared but one and what replaced them were rubble and large fallen rocks. Infront was the last intact wall with a gaping crack in the middle. The art on it depicts a heroic cavalry charge of Elves, adorned with helmets that have the wings of the Roc.
The Dragon on the other hand started sniffing the ground. She also bit the scales and though was capable of cracking it, it took her some effort to do so. “Master, this place… those rubble.” She then crawled to the rubble to the left of them, the crackling sound as her large feet flattened the scales into the floor and with her sharp claw, removed one of the boulders. “Bahamut! That might collapse it!” She ignores him and she takes off the huge rock, the rubble didn’t move and instead what was revealed is a dark hole behind it. “Huh? What in the-” just as he was about to investigate it, the ground started to shake as the sound of hooves came from all directions.
Quickly turning back into her Human form, the Dragon stood infront of Seiness, her eyes in its killer mode as the two Vampires propped open their wings. Ready to take action. “M’Lord, directly in front.” Looking at the last intact wall, a half Horse half Elf humanoid came out of it, wearing armor and wielded a bronze sword, it was huge. “H-Holy crap…” He turns around and sees that everyone was already in their positions. “Okay! Bring it on you asshole! I’ll be needing your scales!” As if it heard him, the Centaur charged forward and he quickly used the blunt end of his sword to trip the horse as he nearly avoided its blade.
Alana quickly came in for the kill but it somehow could completely droop its upper body, making her miss her attack. But Elizabeth with her following attempt managed to crack the spine leading to its lower body, killing it. The Queen then removed the horse armor on it, revealing its glistening armored scales under it. “Jesus, that basically acts as another layer of protection.” The ground then rumbled once again and this time, the hooves were getting closer and closer.
“EVERYONE! PREPARE!” sounds of scales getting thrown emits from his behind as everyone got into their positions. With the two Vampires having their hands up and Seiness already chanting some spells under her lips.
As the ground violently rumbled. Dust fell from the sky as everyone steeled themselves and the rubble from behind was the first to burst open. Pouring out of it were numerous Centurions, led by one wearing armor and the rest, dependent on the thick scales they have. His eyes squint as he rushes past the two Vampires and into the backline, charging right ahead into the armored one kicking up scales along the way. “Way to go, Master! Go get it!” with the cheers of Bahamut, he lifts his Longsword up and swipes at its humanoid body.
All of the sudden, the wall with the large crack to it completely collapses as a larger Centurion appears. Wielding a Greataxe and a Greathelm with chainmail, its horsen body is covered with segmented plate armor. “My, now that is a Centaur!” Elizabeth quickly runs to it and squares up with the best as Seiness finishes her chant. A burst of white energy explodes and it turns the entire room’s atmosphere into one with a brighter and lighter feeling.
Jackson who was sweating suddenly felt calm, as if he was able to think more clearly now. Facing his opponent head on as Alana covered the Queen’s flanks as she went toe to toe against the Warlord Centaur.
The Countess with her swiftness took the chance to take out the Lesser Centaur creatures. Though having the upper body of an Elf, and the lower of a horse, they are incapable of speech but are more than able to fight and survive. Their glistening armored scales were formidable against her hands, prompting her to use her sword instead as she’d thrust it into their bodies, targeting the most important parts and would opt into cutting their legs to disable them completely.
Though the ones wielding weapons proved to be a problem, with a height advantage over her, she had to constantly dodge them whilst fighting the ones attacking her already and when one almost got her, she slices it in half and the blood bursting out turned into Blood Roses, emboldening the two Vampires even more while strengthening the rest of the party.
She’d then dance, as if the Roses turned the floor into a stage as more and more poured through the cracks. The rubble on the right opens and Centurions come from left and right alongside the stronger Centaurs. Though not to the level of the Warlord, this prompted Bahamut to get into action herself.
With Jackson now focused and able to fight multiple enemies head on, even using his fire magic to create walls to prevent them from spilling into the back, the Dragon picks up a Halbert from one of the Centaur’s Alana took out. Wielding the huge weapon, she spins it around and throws it horizontally to the left. Making it cut through multiple Centurions and a Centaur.
She then performs a high jump and catches its end, quickly flipping it into her hands once again as she throws it the other way, performing another multikill on the right flank. Seiness on the other hand switches to her offensive magic, holy lights of arrow would fire off from the Orb of her staff, hitting multiple targets at once as Jackson makes a thumbs up, killing the armored Centaur with a beheading.
Bahamut then expands the flames he has created, making it turn into a fiery wall of doom. Stopping the ones coming from the back into spilling into their back left and right flanks. Leaving only the front where Elizabeth was busy with the Warlord Centaur.
Even with its size, the creature was fast on its feet. Her hands were able to catch it but the armor of its skin made it a challenge to fully penetrate it. The blonde woman then started to look around as her nails kept getting parried by the Warlord’s Greataxe. She notices that Alana was focusing on their weaker legs, cutting them off and making them fall down as she’d finish them off with a quick slice on the throat. “Thoust make a good fight! But thine head is one step above!” She then performs a split, spreading her legs flat horizontally like a trained cheerleader and forms a fist with her hand.
The Warlord Centaur catches wind of this and jumps and to its shock was Jackson, who had been boosted by Seiness wind magic and was about to plunge his Long Sword into his Greathelm’s forehead.
It quickly learns it head on the left, avoiding his blade as Jackson then instead aims for the group behind him. His crash caused major injuries on the Centurions behind whilst Elizabeth had completely disappeared below it as it landed on its feet. It then quickly spun its Greataxe, parrying Alana’s hands.
The Countess had a smile to her as she was thrown aback and bows her head, Seiness’ Staff and its orb emitted a powerful light that blinded it for a mere second and the Warlord Centaur felt cold slender hands on its neck. “Dost end is here.” with a snap, the creature’s upper torso falls flat. But its hands and arms were still active.
Jackson, who was behind it, cuts its rear limbs as he is on the verge of getting overrun by the Centurions still pouring from the main crack.
Bahamut seeing the moment quickly changed into her Dragon form, though its size made it inconvenient, it was enough for her to flap her wings, creating some space between the Party and the overwhelming enemy numbers.
A pink was then heard and the Dragon looked up to the spiral where there were Centurions wielding Bows. She then breathed fire to the roof, causing them to retreat into the bridges and back into cover. Jackson, who was finally clear and able to breath, retreated back into the main party, regrouping with the rest.
Seiness also notices the ones in the rear started to jump through the fire. With them getting surrounded more and more.
“Jesus! Just what the fuck are these things made out of?!”
“M’Lord, I suggest we make a run for it and cut them down on the spiral!”
“Good idea! Bahamut!”
He looks up to the big Dragon firing off shots of its breath into the spiral. It stops as it sees the quickly changing situation below. Having to transform back into her Human form. The Dragon once again picks up the ancient Elven Halbert and starts throwing it to cut through large swathes of the Lesser Centaurs.
Suddenly, as it was about to land on the left flank rubble, another Centaur appeared. This one had the head of a bull and wielded dual Swordstaffs. It looks around at the tens of tens of corpses of its brethren as the floor becomes flooded with blood and the glistening scales of its species.
Bahamut who had already closed the range picks up the Halbert that was thrown off into the flanks of it. She had to now start using Bolts of lighting that’d appear above her, shooting at random enemies anywhere in the floor. This would sometimes help Alana and Elizabeth who were busy stemming the tide from the front and the left while also aiding Jackson who was busy in the rear.
Seiness on the other hand had lifted up her staff and pointed it at one of the struts of the bridges above them. She noticed the Archer Centaurs were about to return and fired pinpoint missiles of divine energy, making it crash into the upper right corner of the floor there.
As the battle went on, Jackson started becoming more and more slow, his pants becoming apparent as he took every chance of peace he’d get to catch his breath. “Hah… hah… just how much many of these fucks are there?!” Below him, there were more than enough scales for him to bring home. Heck, there was so much that it’d take him multiple runs to collect it all fully.
“M’Lord! Your back!” Alana quickly strikes down a Centaur that was about to trample on him as he raises his Python Revolver. Now tired, he starts to just shoot at them. Though limited to six shots, he had the help of his Longsword on his left hand to cut down those who got too close.
Meanwhile, Bahamut had gotten to the head of the newly arrived Commander Centaur. With its two Swordstaff, it was able to parry the Dragon in her Human form. But to its shock, this creature was unable to tire nor have its fixation and reflexes degrade over time. It constantly had its eyes on its head and legs. If it weren’t for its Lesser cousins protecting its flanks, it would’ve long fallen already.
Up above, long streaks of light fell from the spiral and into the top of his head. This made it quickly raise its Swordstaffs to protect itself but this made its chest open for the Dragon who quickly nibbled a section of it off with her huge oversized Halbert. It didn’t grunt nor scream, but instead returned into the rubble alongside its kin.
Seeing the large one retreat, the other Centaurs quickly run back to their holes as Jackson looks up and sees a bunch of Mages floating down to them. Soon, their Vanguards join and Jackson breathes a sigh of relief. He removes his helmet as the other party of Adventurers guarded the flanks.
Using shields, they quickly propped up barriers on the rubble holes and on the Vanguard party was a familiar face. The young redhair he met in the Adventurer’s Guild building.
“Huh? It's you!”
As he opens his hands and smiles, the young man quickly punches him in the cheeks and grabs him by the collar of his undershirt. “You bastard! Do you not know the code of the Adventurers?! Why are you here?! We already took this Quest!” Jackson on the other hand raises his hands and points it at the people behind him.
Elizabeth’s eyes were completely filled with murder, her hands completely horizontal, ready to behead the man while Alana’s grip was bearing on the back of his head, ready to pull his spine out from his body. “L-Look buddy, we aren’t here for that.” Jackson then quickly touches the floor that’s now flooded with the glistening Centaur scales they were supposed to collect. “W-We came for this! So-so don’t do this my man…” His eyes then rolled to the two women behind the young adventurer and his fists lightened up.