Driving out of the parking lot with Jackson on the driver's seat. He takes them out to the center of the commercial district. With the tall skyscrapers and the more luxurious cars around. He looked at the steel truss bridge that leads to Downtown, neatly painted and brightly lit with the sidewalks on the sides full of players doing Party Magics as those coming from the massive buildings would give them a coin or two.
As they were stopped at a huge intersection. Thousands of people cross the street in unison, blocking his view of the entrance to the bridge as his headlight wasn’t even able to puncture the sea of people. “My Lord, may we not just eat around here? I saw a few restaurants already.” Alana nodded and crossed her arms. “Yes, M’Lord. Why should we go far? The establishments here seem to be well more than meets our standards.”
He releases his right hand from the shifter and shrugs with his finger. “Why eat out at a place so near when we can go far? And I am planning to get some Italian. Authentic Italian.” he stops Bahamut’s tampering of the radio and mutes it. “The Men of the Woods has the highest player count of Italian and Italian blooded people in the community. So you know they’ll have some banger pastas. Me and Bahamut weren’t able to do it before since we avoid these modern cities.”
The Dragon crossed her arms and closed her eyes. “What? I’m not wrong.” she nods but then shrugs. “Master, the city you built though.” the man just sighs as he grips the wheel of the SUV.
“My Lord, we passed by multiple restaurants that had that on their front. Some, having Napoli on their signs.”
“No, no, no. If you want authentic dishes, you have to look out for it. That Chinese restaurant we went to. It didn’t look anything special right? It actually looked run down and rustic for the most part.”
“My Lord, it looked quite special.”
“Well, maybe for you. But for me, it was pretty much a standard place. It's the same with Italian. If you want to have the best one, you have to look for it.”
“And why should we take an automobile to the slums?”
“Automobile? What’s with the anachronistic word?”
“I feel like the word car is far too modern for my lexicon. I am not young anyways and the word feels complex enough.” He just shrugs his head as the lights turn green and he gently presses on the accelerator. “Downtown is also not the slums, Elizabeth. It's called a Low Income Neighborhood in the West, so we need to call it the same, alright.”
“Uh huh.” She then veers her attention to the car next to them. Though a sound of a slap took her attention as Bahamut was gonna shift through the radio once again, the woman noticed the player inside was talking to no one. As if he was chatting with himself as he kept his attention forward, occasionally looking at the center console of the car.
Alana, though who was on the right passenger side next to her, had her hand up on her chin, resting it on the door as her head rested on the window. The afternoon was slowly fading, and alongside it was the turning on of the lights inside the various buildings around them. The towering skyscrapers seemed endless in its pursuit to touch the space beyond the clouds as the crushing depth of the concrete world dawned on her.
The city took on an entirely different form once again as they finally got their turn and Jackson took them to Downtown where the contrast was stark and bumps on the road had begun to show and parked trailer trucks filled whatever open space was available, with closed vans hidden in every alleyway and corner. The rusty fences swayed with no weight as a breeze passed it, carrying with it the shingle of the Industrial belt of the city.
Many of the buildings there were of little to no light and graffiti filled most of the walls of the often left desolate structures as ragged and worn cars filled the sides of the road with broken glass occasionally seen and the gang of Dwarves or Elves patrolling their designated blocks. Often, to the detriment of anyone driving as it made the lane smaller than it already has to be with the danger of gang warfare looming on the common citizenry.
With dark alleyways flanking them and the occasional police car passing by. Jackson took them to a small part of Downtown called Roma Street. There, the architecture had changed to something you’d see in Europe with Christmas lights still up on the light poles and walls. Though the road and sidewalk was still of American design, the buildings weren’t as Alana started seeing normal people once again and most of them looked downtrodden and dirty.
There were crowds in some places, often a mix of those wearing suits, adventurers outfits and casual modern clothing and of course, those in fireproof uniforms with reflectors on their trousers and back. Here, Jackson had slowed down the SUV as he started screening around. The blare of the train horns in the distance could be heard as it echoed through the blocks.
“Master! Look! They have an all you can eat Pizza!” looking at it, the General saw the price and immediately shrugged. “Hah. With the size of the Pizza they offer for it, you can only have a few slices. With that price, you need to eat more than ten to make it even.”
Bahamut then turned her head to look at him and he still shrugged. “No. You’ll just bankrupt them if anything.” Infront, one of the sedans parked on the curb drives away, making space for him to parallel park into.
Though it took him a few tries as it's been quite long since he had driven to such an extent. The party promptly exited out of the vehicle where the crowds and lines of people were filling up the street pretty quickly as more cars started driving by. The windows reflecting the bright lights all around them, giving much life to the derelict streets of Downtown.
Looking at his wristwatch, the General nods and he starts walking around with his hands in his pocket. With his head up, he admires the sights more than before, equipped with a smile. He seemed like an entirely different person as he walked occasionally, leering his attention to the endless line of Italian restaurants and moving stalls selling garlic bread and snacks.
“Oh Master! Why not that one?” He looks at one of the stalls selling garlic bread with a bit of pene. With a nod, he buys them all a combo and they continue to walk down the sidewalk.
Bahamut looks back to Elizabeth as she swallows her food. “Bloodsucker, do you have any information about a Coven of Witches here?” The Queen placed her carton of food on one hand as she lifted her other hand up to her mouth, covering it as she swallowed her food. “I believe so. But that is an ancient thing since the Holy See came, Covens became less and less popular with the introduction of the Magicians Ranking and Title System with the cards.”
The Dragon then takes a bite off the garlic bread. “But what do they mostly do? Should we look out for them?" With a raised eyebrow and her hand still covering her mouth, the Queen answers back. “I do not think so. I’ve not seen nor felt anything off with the city. Covens usually leave a miasma due to their forbidden magic." This made Bahamut squint her eyes as she turned forward once again, gripping the Eldwood coat she’s wearing.
“You really like that great coat of mine don’t you?” finishing her carton of italian snack, she burns it into ash as she crosses her arms. “Yes, and you have four more of these, Master. You're wearing your spare right now.” he just smiles and lifts his hand up, placing it on top of her head. “I know. I just thought how cute it is that you really love my smell that much.” with a beaming positivity, the Dragon couldn’t help but blush a little, making the two Vampires lean into her. “Goodness, My Lord. She’s as red as an apple!”
Jackson though kept his hands inside his pocket and continued to stroll down the sidewalk. The players sneaking in looks to the Vampires and Bahamut herself, many unable to process to see her not wearing her veil and funeral gown as the General looked up to the yellow skies that were about to turn into the pretty night sky.
He could still remember it, the sight of Single stage to orbit airline planes going out into space and towards a contra rotating space station to ferry people to the Moon and Mars. His eyes veering off to the skyward abyss as he could still clearly remember the sight just a year ago when he was still on Earth, the sleek and lean designs of the white aircrafts, there ramjet kicking off as they escape into the boundless cosmos and to the Lunar spaceport.
But then the foreign Moon with its small friend orbiting around it snaps him out, the unusual and alien sight confusing his mind for a second as he looks down to the girls all talking and nagging at one another. “Pfft.” This made them turn to look at him with raised eyebrows as he stopped walking. “What? I just thought of something strange.” Seeing the sparkle in his eyes, Alana brushed up next to him and squinted at his face. “Did something remind you, M’Lord?”
“It’s nothing really.” He sighs as he looks up to the darkening sky. “I just remembered that I never really went to the Moon or Mars.” turning his head to her, he gave the teenage Vampire a light smirk. “I just love Earth so much that I couldn't even think of leaving it for a vacation on Mars.” This made the Countess smile at him as Bahamut pointed her finger at one of the restaurants. “Master, let’s eat there!”
He shrugs his head to the Dragon who was then constantly recommending Italian restaurants that were already full and people were forced to be on the waiting list. It got to the point that he was just ignoring her as every restaurant they’d pass and even the ones on the other side of the street was more than enough to satisfy her.
There was so much buzz that even upon circling the block, dodging trash along the way and discarded carton boxes, all of the restaurants were full and Jackson had to take them a bit deeper into the district. Crossing into another block as cars and people were everywhere, making the entire Downtown as one noisy place.
“I’m surprised, My Lord, that you never thought of going to another planet for vacation. Your adventurous spirit seems to merit that you’d do something like that.”
“Yeah, well, it takes two to three months to get there and I haven’t even seen a fraction of my own planet yet.” He turns his back and looks at the Queen as he keeps walking, though backwards and ignoring what’s behind him. “Before I go anywhere else, I’d like to see my planet first.”
“M’Lord, just what sort of technology does Humanity have to be able to leave your home planet and even start colonizing others?”
“War. That technology. Bwahahaha!” After his laugh, his chest deflated and a colder smile was on his face. “With satellites and the proliferation of AGI into military systems before the war, our leaders knew there was no way we’d ever conduct massive armored assaults or even gather armies or navies without everything being seen and transmitted.” he turns around once again, facing forward into the sea of players. “So both East and West started adding extra zeros to their space programmes. My side brought up everything the Russians could sell and improved, and made our own iterations.”
He once again looks up to the skies. “While I was down there, commanding people, up above, a Space War was ongoing. New fighters were made and developed for space, birthing the Aero Fighters. Sleek, futuristic, straight out of Sci-fi novel aircraft with actually rudimentary fighter jet characteristics inside. Most of them don’t even have guns.” he suddenly stops, reaching his hand out to space, the Moon and its satellite.
“After the war, major aircraft manufacturers that developed these systems turned to airline travel, since in the war, we were also using rockets to launch new satellites, reusable rockets became cheap and mass producible.” He lowers his gaze and turns to them. “It’s amazing isn’t it? What we can do when we set our minds to killing each other in the most efficient and cost saving way?”
The Queen crossed her arms and chuckled. “Though, My Lord, I do hope that one day, we the Vampires may expand outwards from Threa, it is our cradle but our eternal species shant stay in its cradle forever. Other planets need to know of our beauty.” Alana nods and looks up to the sky. “Maybe we could even colonize a planet just for Vampires, Your Majesty. One where we may never have to worry about the Elves or Humans.” Elizabeth shrugged her head, lifting one finger and wriggling it in refusion.
“We may never live without Humans, Countess. Though a time may come when their blood no longer strengthens and emboldens us, creating maybe something synthetic. The taste and flavor of a hot blood Human will never have a replacement for me.” with a seductive stare at Jackson, he licks her lips and smacks it. “There’s a beauty to the hunt, one that we must never forget for if we do, what are we than ancient flesh that never molds into something new? Stuck in a perpetual state of eternal perfection.” The General just gave a slight tip with his head and continued to walk down the street.
Being in an entirely new city block, Bahamut spots a tucked away restaurant between two thrift shops as a Pizza Parlor named Krispy Pizza has a small line to it. “Master!” Seeing the opportunity, he took the chance and they got in line quickly and before long, was already inside.
With the white tiles and steel chairs, tables, and utensils. The only thing fancy on the establishment was the porcelain plates and the knives. Even the ceiling lights were already far past their lifespan, and a small ringing from the electricity could be heard as people chatted with one another inside the business establishment.
Sitting down in a table meant for six, Elizabeth then picked up the Parmesan as if it was the dirtiest thing she had touched. Using only two fingers as it was slippery. Jackson took it with his hand, even though the glass is evidently badly cleaned with stains of grease still lingering on it and took some tissue, cleansing all of the condiments as a waiter came and handed them menus.
Jackson though, with the parmesan proceeds to open it and gives it a quick sniff. He nods and smiles. “Yup, this is good. Alright, what’s everyone’s orders?” He looks at the menu which is a shoddy laminated paper and though limited with the selection as most were already out, the main things he is looking for were still available.
Alana and Elizabeth were both looking around but the Waiter wasn’t doing much except bringing food to the tables. “Uhhh… Girls, look at the menu.”
“O-Oh, My Lord. Aren’t they gonna ask for our order?”
“No. We have to do it ourselves.”
“M’Lord, not that I am trying to displease your taste in the culinary establishments. But are you sure your stomach is safe for this place? We are immune to everything, but you M’Lord…”
“As sure as I can ever be, Alana. Now pick and Bahamut, you're getting the Alfredo chicken fettuccine combo.” Jackson quickly took his Menu and with his shoulder brushing side to side with the Dragon, he had this serious expression on him while the two Vampires just got on looking for their meal for the night. “Pepperoni… and hmmm… maybe a Napoli pizza too… oh Vodka sauce.”
Before long, everyone had decided their meals and it was two large pizzas, one that’s All Meat, another a Pepperoni classic, three Baked Zitis, a Napoli style Pizza and a Crunch Combo with Mojos and the alfredo chicken for the Dragon. With this written on his mind, the General stands up and goes to the counter.
Behind him, Alana just was observing the condiments. The exterior looked like they needed a good rinse as a greasy texture was still on it even after her Lord wiping it clean, making her grab the tissue once again to wipe her hands. The players around them all looked tired and busy, as if this was their life. Not even the beauty of the two Vampires could sway their eyes from the food they were eating.
Without a pint of life in their eyes, many often just ate and stood up, walking out with their heads down as they once again prepared for another day of working. Bahamut though was just excited on her seat. Smelling the oil and the cheese from the kitchen, she couldn’t be anymore happier.
As Jackson was just relaxed in his seat, hands at the back of his head as he watched the olden TV showing some videos by famed players as the waiter came in, bringing in some complimentary garlic bread which he quickly took part of before going back to the counter as Bahamut was already pouncing on it.
“Your Majesty, do you think our Lord leads a life like this on Earth?”
“I believe so, Countess. You did tell me our Lord is far different from who he was back then to now. I believe he used to enjoy the little things in life to pass the days away from working and toiling.” Alana looked around and no one was really interested in them, though some would look, their eyes would just be full of tiredness and not admiration nor love. Just sleepy expressions on their faces.
“I know we are using our magic to lessen the effects of our beauty, I find it odd how not one of them even glanced at us. I believe you also had this complaint did you not, Your Majesty?”
“Absolutely. I find it harrowing how the Men of this city seem to be… diluted, senseless and incapable of looking at the beautiful… though the structures they’ve built are as diluted as their eyes for what is captivating.” As the neon signs outside flicker, raindrops started falling lightly and the darkened road started to become wet, reflecting the Moon and its little companion.
Jackson comes back to their table bringing with him some of the plates which made Alana and Elizabeth both stand up. “My Lord, you should’ve told us to go and help you. You haven’t even slept yet.” The two quickly got around him and went to the counter to pick up the rest of their food. This gave him an odd feeling as their table soon filled up with the food they’ve ordered.
It was in complete contrast with most of the customers. Only buying one or two meals and many not even bothering with the Pizza itself.
Taking a slice of pepperoni, Elizabeth couldn’t believe how greasy it was and the fact that it was on the verge of falling apart as she took it from its plate. Though Jackson just grabs his with one hand and as it droops down, a big smile swipes over his face and Bahamut’s eyes sparkle as she takes some of the Mojos, dipping it in ranch sauce and then on her alfredo chicken and taking part of the course.
Alana though who had taken a miniscule bite of her Baked Ziti nodded. “My… this actually tastes good.” This gave Elizabeth the push to take a bite of the Pizza and her eyes widened at the meal. “Goodness, for its odd triangular look. The taste more than makes up for it.” Jackson just gave the two a glancing smile and thumbs up as he went back to ravaging their dinner.
Outside of the Pizza Parlor as rain pours down. The silhouette of the odd group of people, together at a table, seemed like the only light from the streets. As people went in and out of their daily lives with their hands tucked in their pockets and heads lowered from work, the Dead Hand party was laughing and smiling. Openly talking to one another with chins up and straight bodies.
Eating alone on his own at the corner booth, a WPD police officer wearing his dark blue trousers and light blue shirt full of the ornaments of a person of the law had his attention taken by the solemn laugh of a lady.
Turning his head, his eyes widened at the sight of the three beautiful women. On his face, his expression changed with a light smile as he went back to eating his Crunch Combo of Mojos and Chickens.
One of the players, with a hard hat and safety vest on the empty seat next to him noticed the Officer had a smile which made him look to his left and noticed them too. The blonde mature beauty of Elizabeth, the teenage crush that is Alana and Bahamut with her joyous yet mysterious aura. With a deflating sigh, he felt his shoulders relax as he rested his elbow on the table. His cheek softly touched his hardened hands.
Now, rather than hastily eating his meal to get off home. He instead was slowly picking up his fries one by one. Letting out stress from his nerves as if the sight of the Vampires calmed his soul to the point that he could leisurely bid his time, no longer in the chase of time for the pay.
In their seats, the girls were just having a fun time eating and munching down on their greasy food. With Bahamut having little to no tact at all and having to be scolded by Elizabeth. “Do you want more? I can still order.” Alana immediately raised her hand. “I’d like some Spaghetti, M’Lord! Oh and with the garlic bread!” Looking at the garlic bread basket that came in the order and the complimentary one. It was already empty with only crumbs left that Bahamut was also picking off slowly.
“Yes, My Lord. Do order another basket. Alana took everything.” This made her turn to the Queen and bowed as the blonde woman laughed out loud. “Ahahaha! Oh please, worry not. My Lord! Please, do order more! Bahamut, help him this time!”
After some time, they’ve slowed down eating. Though the rain outside hadn’t let up. Jackson’s back just rested on the chair, calmly hearing the dew of the nightly shower as he smiled. His face was strewn with the image of contentment, asking nothing more and nothing less than what was happening in front of him as the restaurant itself seemingly had better morale than when they came in.
The calm chatting with pointless reason with the cluttering sounds of people talking and the TV’s chaotic show that is a walkthrough of one of the most dangerous dungeons of Dark World, the clash of the cultures between Threan, Turian, and Earthling as they meet places where they both meet and interact and find the balance of the group. It seemed as if the man could die happy with life if it were to happen at the very moment. With no regrets nor plight.
Bahamut who was busy arguing with Elizabeth senses a deep calm from beside her. “You should know that in this world, Dragon… Hm?” The Queen then raised an eyebrow as she turned her attention to her Lord who was just silently eating garlic bread with a stupid grin on his face. “My Lord… what seems to be the problem? You are in an odd trance.”
He just shrugged his head and kept the grin on. “Nothing. Just keep going.” Alana then rested her head on her hand and smiled back at him. “M’Lord, you're awfully happy aren’t you? Enjoying the view?”
As she said this, the old ragged TV whose design is older than most of the players in the city switches to that of an old news Reel. One when the Asian Alliance has formally declared its Unified Army.
In a rousing speech, the Presidents and Monarchs of the ASEAN and BRICS+ countries all stood at a grand balcony, as a new army rose from the ashes of the economic collapse. Jackson’s ears twitched hearing an old and familiar voice. “Today, we will free Asia from the clutches of America and NATO, tomorrow, the world! Soldiers of the East, rise! Rise and march towards a future where it's no longer the West where the Sun sets and rises, but the East! Man your tanks! Fly your jets and sail your ships! A future for us waits on the horizon! Where we may no longer be economically and militarily reliant on America, Germany, Russia or whatever. A world where they will rely on us instead!”
The players all looked at the TV alongside Jackson, leaving Bahamut and the two Vampires in awe of the sudden change of mood. The eyes of their Lord were stiff, frozen solid as he watched the channel.
The camera then zooms out, showing a ten lane road where a gigantic army wearing exoskeletons underneath their Hexcam camouflage fatigues marched in perfect unison under the hot tropical sun. Supersonic bombs in the hundreds alongside 4th and 5th generation fighter jets flew in formation. With the old television screen, the already dry atmosphere got worsened by the quality of it. Making it seem like a lifeless and dull reel of the past long never to be sought out ever again.
“I can still remember that.” The trio turned to him as his eyes were fixated on the TV alongside everyone else. “It was a week later when we openly declared war against NATO and the United States.” He picks up the glass of soda and lightly sips from it. “Before that, it was all small proxies… but everyone could see it coming even inside my office, it became the usual conversation on breaks. Our preparations had gone on for far too long for us to just call it off.”
The old stock footage then switches to a variety of thirty second shots of the war. The massive naval battle in the Pacific along the Japanese and Korean oceans. Where the trails of missiles could be seen for hundreds of nautical miles and carcasses of dead destroyers littered the once peaceful coral reefs.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
With darkened skies as thousands of planes took to the clouds, firing air to air missiles at targets far beyond the eye could see and then to the Indian ocean, where the remaining armadas of Asia took to the US Naval base there and after a valiant resistance by the US Marines, taking with it two thirds of Mumbai from retaliatory strikes did the stock footage took to the war on the land.
In the wet jungles of Central and East Asia to the deserts that connect the continent to the Middle East. War ravaged every section of the planet once again, after nearly a hundred years since the last, another World War took to the soil of Earth, burning and crisping its beautiful lands once again with the machines of war.
The seemingly unending stock footage of absolute death and destruction did not stop as it switched to Space footage. The Sci-fi like Aerospace Fighters taking off from Earth with boosters which they jettison upon reaching the exosphere, switching into their rockets and destroying satellites whilst dodging long range missiles and oncoming enemy spacecrafts.
It was only then when Alana jumped up, walking towards the TV and pressed the next channel button did everyone’s gaze return to their food and suddenly, a chuckle came. “Pfft. That’s in the past anyways. Why does the Media play that old shit so much? Do they think that will rile us up for the End of the World?” the cop replied.
The construction worker nods. “Yeah, why should we listen to this horseshit? Thinking about the bloody past like it has any relation to this planet and its history. Tony! Make sure you change that TV whenever it blasts that warmongering crap!” The handsomely buff middle aged man in the counter, wearing a green shirt with the logo of Krispy Pizza and greasy oily hair with a strand of white tossed the pizza pie up and down as he spreaded on the marble counter.
“Sure, that stuff is getting tiring anyways. Does the Media even know most of us aren’t kids that don't have any bright and rose tinted views of that time?” Many of the players all nodded as they went back to smiling and enjoying their time at the place.
Jackson though just looked back to their table. “O-Oh, I’m sorry. It's just that… man. I did my best to avoid watching videos of the war. Even if it was a documentary or an analysis of the tactics.” His eyes were stiff as his eyebrows furrowed. “I didn’t even wear my dress uniform after leaving the army. Though there was that one time at a friend's request for his wedding, that was the only time.”
“Master, your heart.”
“My Lord, I can hear your breath from here.”
“S-S-Sorry. Some of those footage showed the Combined Army I was with… it just made me remember some things. Good and bad.” He then picks up some of the Mojos, dipping it in ranch as he ate fast. Bahamut, thinking fast on her feet, looked at Elizabeth. “You know, Bloodsucker. What were Witches doing in this part of the continent?”
She lifts her chin up as she seemingly had to swim through an oceans worth of perfectly clear memory as Alana came back to their table, with a concerned look on her face as she checked up on Jackson. “Ah, I believe it's due to the theory that the Moon, the beautiful Imminuo is a conduit of dark magic to the cosmos.” This made Bahamut tilt her head as it took Jackson’s attention.
“Geraldia’s upper section strangely gets more Moonlight than most of the planet. Many theories speak of an ancient Elves that once lived here were ones that worshipped the Moon alongside the Goddess of Nature.” Alana then flickered her fingers. “Ah, and this is also where the Dark Elves once thrived before being ran off to the continent of Schon, Your Majesty.”
“Tis’ the truth? I wasn’t alive when that information became known. Though that solidifies many of the theories I’ve heard as my Lords often came to me about this section of Geraldia, about the longer and better nights.” taking some of the remaining Mojos to the dismay of Bahamut, she wiggles it as it rests in her grip. “The space beyond the world is one full of darkness, and in darkness where the power of the cosmic Gods rests more powerful.”
Bahamut takes the menu and starts skimming through it again. “And what was this about the Moon being a conduit of dark magic, Bloodsucker. This piqued my interest and Master, I want to try out their roasted chicken next.” the General sighs. “Alright and I guess everyone wants to have the same?” the two Vampires nodded as he got up and walked back to the counter.
“Dark Magic is scarce, and rare not only due to it being outlawed and those who practice it often facing prison time or death, but also due to how hard it is to use.” One of the waiters comes back, taking their used plates away but this didn’t stop Elizabeth from speaking. “We Vampires used to practice it regularly and of course, scientific pursuits were also initiated by whatever groups of Vampires existed before my King’s Kingdom was birthed.”
She takes the glass of coke and does a small sip as she continues to look at Bahamut. “I, in my eternal hunger for power and the survival of the Kingdom also used it. I cannot realistically take over the world even if I took in as many Vampires and turned as many as I could. Hence why I turned to using Demons, forming contracts with them and deploying Undead forces. Necromancy is a shy away from full blown Dark Magic, some Kingdoms law it as such already but what I used as another version of it, Damned Necromancy.” her eyes seemingly had a glare of pride to it as her tone spoke higher and higher of herself.
“And in my pursuit of growing my army, I found research about the Moon, how it could be a dead Cosmic God’s resting place, one long before even life was created and was struck by the Known Gods to protect their hidden project in the far flung parts of the universe.” Her lanky arms then extend out to the condiments, taking a straw from the tissue box and putting it into her drink. “Though there wasn’t really truly much to it, what I did find though was that the Moon is oftentimes depicted as a part of this planet, though yet, Dark Magic, the truly ancient ones become stronger at night, we Vampires were like that too. Our curse is the birth of a once Cosmic God that turned and helped the Gods now worshipped. It was me and my King’s perfection that stopped this from happening, one born when the Cosmic God became the God of Emotion and turned to the light.”
She takes light sips from her coke, emptying it halfway through before stopping. “Though as I said, there’s nothing truly substantial about it since no records ever state that the Moon is a tomb, all records from the Elves say it's a formation of rocks created when this planet collided with another, when the Gods were still busy experimenting.” her expressions then relaxed as she began to smile once again. “And even if the Moon is a tomb, the Cosmic God that sleeps within it should be all but bones now. Unable to gain power like the bones of Bahamut right now, its corpse is basically being used as a transmitter into the outer cosmos.”
Jackson then suddenly returns with the waiter, bringing in the second round of their meals and as he was transferring everything to the table, he looks at the Queen whose smile was a bit off. “You know Elizabeth, since you can make entire armies fall in love with you, can’t we use that against the Armies of Vitas? We should just nuke those Towers and march in.”
“My Lord, the Goblin and Orcish Armies of Vitas know no love. What type of love they do possess, it's from their innate violence and the Dark Elves are keen magicians when it comes to modifying life. There’s a reason why the rest of the Elves agreed with Man and made them live in Schon instead of here.”
“Really? Man… though why is the Kingdom of Vitas so destroyed?” Alana who elegantly sat back down just grabbed a pizza and took a bite, lifting her hand up to her mouth as she swallowed gently. “It’s due to the first end times as you call it, M’Lord. The Calamity that predated civilized Man. When it was just the Elves and the Dragons… and the Gods themselves.”
This made him widen his eyes as he leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. “The Outer Gods and the Gods of Threa fought, with us winning. They damned the first Human country to know technology, cursing its soil to be forever ashen and rotted after it dared to fight those who created them. Now they live in a Kingdom where nothing may live nor thrive.”
“Then how are they able to raise an army though? The Goblins I’ve fought here are far more intelligent than the ones in Tur. They know tactics and are organized for a species that are commonly known to be dimwits with a bit of smarts regulated to boss units.”
“I think Her Majesty has an idea of the process as even I am not learned in this section.” The Queen just shrugged her shoulders. “Even I do not fully know how. From what I’ve gathered, the last of the Giants gather the darkened ore, their bastard Mages who are probably Dark Elves then use rituals to turn nothing into something. That something being this army.”
“Even then, to equip such a massive number of troops. You could use the best magic of this world but it wouldn’t still be enough. Last reports said the numbers had risen to a little over two million. With even Human factions joining this King.”
“I… I have no words nor advice for that, My Lord. I will need to see it for myself first, as if the talks are true and that the Mana Cores will be shut off, your plan of slowing them down may be an impossibility or nigh impossible.”
“Nonetheless, let’s finish up. I am going to cook up a plan with Bahamut for that.” As he takes his utensils, his hands ready to dig in his carbonara, he looks at each and every last one of them. “We’ll go back to the hotel and sleep. Elizabeth, be sure to not overdo it. Since I won’t be there to stop you. I’ll go and take you to the 8-Gon before we head back.”
Alana, who had already taken a bite, swallowed the food in her mouth first as she looked straight at him. “M’Lord, just what devious plan are you conjuring now?” he just had a light chuckle as he went back to eating. “M’Lord, their army, which is already far larger than what Army of the Damned has mustered up, will be divided amongst Generals. But this is not all, as Demonic forces will be with them this time, this number if anything, is a lie to the truest extent of their forces.”
He then looked up to her as he was busy digging down on his pasta. “Alana, the best defense is offense. Sir Trenthaus told me that the mountain near their floating capital was sacred, to the point they fought the Dwarves for hundreds of years just to preserve it once again…” he then drinks some coke as he burps. “He also told me that the original Elves, these powerful Angelic entities sent down by the Goddess herself to protect her creations, rested where their Capital Region is now.”
Elizabeth’s eyes immediately lit up as she looked at him with a seductive smile. “Bahamut knows how to raise the dead without needing any Evil magic done.” The Queen rested her fork down and stared at him so intently and he looked at her. “My Lord, if what I am thinking is right, I could kiss and lay with you right now.” with a laugh, he goes back to eating his food. “Come on now! Let’s eat! Lot’s of things need to be done!”
Doing as they were told, the party ate and finished up with Jackson driving Elizabeth to the 8-Gon, giving her a spare Level 1 Keycard as the remaining part of the party returned to the hotel where they rested for the night.
Walking into the park that surrounds the perimeter of the 8-Gon, twelve darkened horses ridden by cloaked assassins walk out of the bushes. “My Knives, a time of discussion is upon us, One, be sure to make it concise and quick, for we are sent to clean up a problem that’s been plaguing this city.” the assassin in the center of the group nods as she heads in.
The soldiers guarding the front door just sees the lone blonde woman. Lifting up her keycard, they stepped aside as she inserted it into the reader at the glass door. With a ping and the sound of the locks letting go, she heads in and to the elevator where she once again, the buttons for the top floors lighting up.
With the halls being empty, with not a soul to be heard or seen, the pretty woman seemed ghostly in her appearance and walked as she approached the door for one of the 5 Star Generals in Woodstock.
Inside, her assassins were already present. Kneeling with one leg, heads down, she does a curtsy as the leader approaches her. “Your Highness, shall we begin?” walking towards the still messy map of the city on the board planted on the wall, she smiles and the cloaked woman points at the Cathedral of the True God at the center. “We’ve found odd traces of magic here.” She then moves it to the outskirts, in an abandoned town that’s labeled to be preserved for self propelled artillery positions. “Though it's negligible, the town has had activity pertaining to the Governor. It has an underground section that’s used to ferry drugs into the city. The people living there are also… odd in their behaviours.”
Elizabeth though points at the valley that surrounds the city. “Do you have any information about Hunters? Mercenaries capable of hunting down Werewolves and Vampires?” the Assassin nods, pointing at a small opening in the forest. “There is, Your Highness. There’s a Guild here that specializes in such, though from what little scouting we did. I believe Lady Vol has mentioned that they're currently mired in problems with space and needing a bigger place.”
Putting her nail on the outskirt, where there was a label made for the 2 Guilds duking it out, the Black Knife turns to the one on the cave first. “The Wolves, your Highness are named Lycaon’s Pack, led by a Werewolf who can turn at will named Duranq. They reside at the cave and valley wall which was formerly owned by the Vampires they are now attacking.” The Assassin then points her finger at the refugee camp once again. “The people have spoken of the war, it seems that the Maidens of Bathory once owned the cave but got driven out. Now, without their old palace of stay, they opted to wage this war to retake it.”
The Queen then moves her finger to the right and the Assassin gladly complies. “They call themselves the Maidens of Bathory, Your Highness. Their fortress is not as grand as shown in the map, it's a small square that’s divided into four quadrants. The Werewolves base is far more convoluted and complex compared to it, though the large number of their Vampires walking in and out of the center tent is oddly confusing.” This made Elizabeth cross her arms as the assassin looked at her.
“The amount of people staying and going from it does not make sense with the volume and scale of the tent. I believe there’s magic there, Your Highness. But the forcefield barrier that surrounds it prevents Lady Eleanor from making a concrete assessment of its true form.” She then takes a step back and lowers her head as Elizabeth calmly walks to the main desk of Jackson, her fingers sliding on top of the crystal clear wooden texture. “And their leader?”
As she sips through the paperwork that’s been neatly stacked, the assassin steps forward, nearer to her. “We haven’t gotten any information on her strength and power, but the refugees said her name is Harnah, Lady Harnah. A high level Vampire capable of walking out under phorus light. Much like our kind.” As the Queen checks on the paper, she notices one that’s meant for available units, with one of them being Trevor’s Ranger units, and one was ready for deployment as the rest were all being moved to Schon.
As she inspected it, the woman had a Devilish grin on her face. “Heh. Clem, you did mention that they're using an underground tunnel to move illegal peripherals, correct?” the Assassin nods. “What do you think of the method they're using to move it through? Teleportation?” The Queen walks back to the map on the board, taking the red pen and circling the two checkpoints that lead South of them and puts her hands on her hips.
“From our research of the people that came from another world, Your Highness. Teleportation is extremely hard to do due to the requirement of using Elven tree birches. The more ancient, the more they can teleport items made of rarer metals and chemicals.” Elizabeth, with a smile on her face follows the long straight road that leads to the Great Plains in the center of the continent. “And, Clem. It's been outlawed to use these birches. They're saving it all up for the day the Calamity comes, so that they’d have more than enough when it's time to move everyone to that Fortress of theirs.”
“Ah, Yes, Your Highness. The olden Portal Ring used by the Great Elves. Have the High Elves succeeded in activating it? We weren’t able to do our duty and destroy it and I must apologize.” She shrugged her head as she walked back to the desk and sat on the leather chair of Jackson. Breathing in the air. “Nay and I will not punish you for not accomplishing such a simple task. You’ve all done enough and have served me well. I may never be able to repay your loyalty and service to me.”
They all bowed as their leader kneeled. “Your Highness, your kindness truly astounds us. We do not deserve such forgiveness from our tardy performance. Unable to be with you in Schon for the decisive battles. The Elves were… far more formidable than we expected.” Elizabeth’s voice then replies, calm and collected. “Lift up your heads and look at me. I order you, as your Queen and Majesty.”
Looking up, Elizabeth had a grin to her as she crossed her arms. “Do not put me at such a high pedestal. I am no longer adhering to any Royal constitution, nor do I possess a Nation or even a single Lord. I am but a vagrant from an old Era, still on the loose as she’s far too strong and beautiful to die.” She proceeds to stand up, both her hands on top of the table. “I will not force you to follow me till the end this time, as I made you all to be the perfect weapons not on my behalf but on the behalf of the Kingdom, in my twisted way.”
Laying the paper back on the table, the Queen lifts her hand up elegantly, as if to touch the skies that’s covered by layers upon layers of steel and concrete. “But, if my theory is correct, and that they are using those checkpoints to smuggle illicit chemicals to the city, we will once again be at odds with those who share similarities with us. I’ve destroyed your reputation forever, not even a Minuit looks at you with respect, do you wish to continue to follow me?”
There was an odd silence as no one even reacted, all of them ready to serve her as always. “We’re here for you, Your Highness. No matter what, we will serve you for serving you, is serving the old Kingdom, the one we are familiar with.” with this reply, she points her finger at Clem. “Then, am I correct with my hunch?” she nods and the Queen grins. “Magnificent.” She circles the area where the Hunters Association was and the outermost checkpoint that’s sitting inside the valley formation and then the forest of Karnal and the caves of Bloodwright on the Valley wall. “I should change out of this casual ensemble. Clementine, prepare me a magazine. I wish to wear something akin to that of the Dragon.” She then opens her hand as one of the assassins hands her her smartphone and she begins texting immediately.
It was the next day, upon returning the 8-Gon was Jackson bombarded with an incessant request for him to visit military projects for approval to even politicians wanting to go and have an interview or chat with him. He had to quickly gesture for the guards to come and save him and his party.
With a bunch of soldiers guarding him and the two girls, they all get back to his office where he immediately hands Elizabeth the maps and documents, one of them being a bond paper that’s basically allowing the Queen to use the Eldwood’s Ranger Regiment for her pleasure. “Go do your thing, make this quick and fast. Have fun with my Rangers, Trevor put a lot of effort in making and training and leveling them up.”
Excusing himself from the litter of assassins casually loitering inside his big office. He grabs some of the newly arrived papers and lifts them up, Alana instinctively taking the last one and reading through it as Jackson starts giving out orders. “Have them spray the roads where the tracked vehicles usually pass by. The piled up pallets on the ports are to be recycled by private companies and Guilds and the water problem will be given to the Association of Hydro Mages. Contact City hall and grant them some stuff.”
Seeing him in full throttle made the three girls get extra motivated and promptly set off. “Bahamut, I’ll send you down to the third floor on the Construction Wing. Tell them what you need and want. Don’t let off, they’ll have to approve anything you demand since it's you. Reviving super powered Elves from the era of the Gods shouldn’t be a problem if you have enough followers, right?” she nods and immediately heads out as Jackson sat on his chair.
It was after four grueling hours of work did Jackson get some sort of respite with a moment of silence in his break time. With Alana just silently pouring him some tea as he rested his back on the leather chair.
“Alana, we won’t make it, won’t we?”
“I think we will do, M’Lord.”
“Really? Seeing all of this, everything hangs by the thread and I don't think it's capable of surviving the stress of an actual war against the Demons. I also can’t be at two places at once, Bahamut might need to make the trek back to the Elven Empire all alone.”
“M’Lord, I might not be that versed in your world, but I’ve long enough to know that victory could come in all forms. You mustn’t trust the statistics and numbers as much, as there’s individuals that could make the difference. There’s many people for us to meet and greet, I believe things have just not fallen in place just yet.”
“Hm. Yeah, you're right. The arrival of the last Heroes is coming fast.” As he was about to drink his tea and eat his lunch, a knock came to the door. He gestured for the Countess to open it and who was on the other side was an officer. “General, sir! I’d like to apologize for disturbing you since you weren’t answering your phone and you told us not to call you by your personal smartphone.” He then looks at the telephone on his desk and takes the cord.
Following it to the socket, he realizes it was not connected. “O-Oh, I forgot about that. Oops.” He then sat on the edge of the wooden desk, sipping tea. “The Joint Chiefs of Staff would like to have you, someone with combat experience, to be present in an interview for upcoming recruits for the Field General rank and position.”
“Field General? Lieutenant, you are aware most soldiers who served have never seen a General up close, right? And I stand by my former position. Only people with actual combat experience should be given that rank.”
“That’s the thing sir… we’ve ran out of candidates with former military experience.”
“...” With a brief moment of silence, Jackson proceeds to slowly bury his face in his hands. Giggling under it the Countess just massaged his shoulders. “Alanaaa… I feel like I wanna go home and sleep.”
Walking down the second floor hallway, Jackson had a stoic and deadpan expression to himself as everyone who passed him saluted and stood aside.
Reaching the room, it was a small office cordoned off on the side with a view of the street below. With the flags of the UN and the Men of the Woods, the General could see the two other high ranking officers already present and a Senator who was on his own special seat.
“Ah, Jackson. Good to see you here.”
“Senator Matteo. Good to see you, sir. May I ask where the State Secretary is? I’ve not seen nor heard of him anywhere.”
“Please sit down with General Lorenzo and Federico. The Secretary of the State is unbelievably busy right now with the Elven Empire thing. He will show his face when he has to.” He lowered his head, averting his gaze at the Senator and sat on the right most side of the long table. Next to him was 3 Star General Lorenzo M. and the one on the leftmost was a 2 Star General Federico C.
As he settles and opens the folder in front of him, he immediately starts skimming through the applicants, with most of them bearing the rank of Colonel. The man then looks into their combat record. With only a handful being sent to Schon and having toured once or twice.
He was only on the third one when they bought the first guy in. Having no time to mentally prepare himself.
The player being an unimpressive regulated look, he was in an ironed out green dress complete with newly polished ribbons and medals.
“Sooo… Colonel Hamz. Care to tell us why you would like to sign up for the Field Commander role?”
“Yes sir, General Frederico. I believe this is a great starter for my career in actual combat. I’d like to further challenge myself and become a better leader.”
“I see… and you wish to do this through leading men into battle?”
“Yes sir. I’ve passed all my exams and training programs with flying colors. I’d like to push things even further, achieve excellence if I could.” Jackson then raises his hand. “Colonel, if you don’t mind me asking. What’s the thing you should do when you encounter an ambush?”
“I’d first assess the situation and if feasible, either retreat or push through the ambush.”
“And let’s say these ambushers couldn’t be pushed through and your exit is blocked since by God's karma, you fought competent people.”
“Then I’d fight sir, pave a way through the attack.”
“With?”
“With my men.”
“Alright. Let’s say you do try that. But then your ambushers noticed this and they tightened the noose around you, they were skilled, so they used cover and proper squad tactics. What do you do?”
“I’d still keep fighting sir.”
“Have you ever thought of maybe consolidating your forces and calling for an airstrike? Extreme danger, close artillery or even having the guns on your vehicles turn to them? Imagination, Colonel. Imagination. If you gave me an outlandish answer like using magic, I might’ve taken you more seriously.”
The two other Generals and the Senator then looked at Jackson who wiped his face with his hands. “Errr… Colonel. Thank you for your time. We’ll call you with the results.” Lorenzo’s eyes then peel to Jackson who was writing down average on everything. “Call in the next.”
This time, the player was an Elf. Jackson, who was keen on the written summaries and career objectives, was already fast on track while the two other Generals greeted her with a smile. “Colonel Gars. Welcome, I get it that you wanted to do this to finally become combat proven?”
“Yes sir, General Fredrico. I’d like to experience combat first hand. I had completed my time in the academy and training. I also have some real life experience in military tactics due to my country having mandatory conscription.”
“Ahem.” The two Generals then immediately rolled their eyes and the Senator just had a gulp as Jackson had already raised his pen. “Let’s say you encounter an enemy division over the ridge sitting inside a town. As a Colonel, you are commanding a large number of men that’s more than capable of standing toe to toe against it. Now, let’s say you outgun them too with an air force and artillery backing you, what will you do? A Field Commander leads by example, you will be there too with your men.”
“Well, sir. I’d first send Scouts and determine their strength and size.”
“You already know that though. What I’m asking is do you know what’s the next step? Will you rely on the respawn ability or what?”
“I’d attack sir.”
“And the town? Any regard for basic ROE?”
“Since there's combatants in the town, I’d just tell my men to respect basic ROE.”
“And I’d have the air force to fly a drone around or even have one of my Mages to use Animal Control to have a constant eye view.” Jackson then starts nodding. “Then, I’d have artillery to fire smokes to cover our approach.” He then raises his hand and shrugs his head.
“Colonel Gars, smokes work both ways. You can’t see too you know? Unless you were to use tank smoke which thermals can ignore. Artillery smoke is different. It has phosphorus in it and it will block thermals. But alright, let’s continue following the book like the last guy. Continue.”
“Ahem, Colonel Gars. Forgive General Jackson. He is one of our only combat proven Five Star Generals. Just try to listen to his advice.”
“It's not advice. Its survival tips for him and the people under him. We may respawn, but who says that our enemies haven't figured out how to stop or prevent that from happening?” Jackson then stands up, putting his hands in his pockets as he leaned on the plastered wall. “When in war, you throw the book out of the window. All it gives you is a foundation to work upon since the dynamics constantly change when you lead something bigger than a squad or platoon.” He then takes the bottle of water on his part of the table and opens it.
“With my example, I would’ve instead scattered my men on multiple axes and then had the tanks use their smokes. Expect casualties but you can’t help it in war. Push towards the town, have the IFVs unload infantry and start going house to house as you pummel them from the sides and above.” drinking the water, he immediately empties the bottle to its half as he sighs.
“That’s why all Field Commanders start with a squad in combat. You then slowly work yourself up to a CO position. Don’t be like me who got into the shit after Officer Academy because I have a shiny degree on my room’s wall at my parents house.” grunting, he returns the bottle of water on his side of the table, hands still in his pockets as he sighed.
“Look. I’m not trying to discourage you. But even when we can respawn. We still get the trauma of dying. So it's best not to rely on full frontal charges for the morale of our men. Second, you need imagination. More of it. You had me there, but give me more outlandish ideas. Continue.” he then returns back to his seat, lazily hanging his arm over the back as the Elf didn’t even flinch. “Well sir, if you were to let me continue. My plan was just to fake out and come from the open flanks on the sides using the tank smoke." This made Jackson smile and grin, for the first time, putting a 4.5 on the paper. “Heh. This is actually fun.”
Looking at the clock above the door, his eyes squinted at it as it continued to tick. “I wonder what Elizabeth is up to. I hope she’s doing well with the Rangers.” his eyes then peeled back to the Elf, giving him quite a good impression as his plan on the spot catered to most of Jackosn’s criterias.
Riding through the highway in an armored limousine. The Vampire Queen sat in the middle of the seat. The twelve Assassins all elegantly watched her as she read through the maps and documents in which she then distributed them. Leaving her hands open in the process.
Without having to say anything, her Black Assassins already knew what to do. Opening the small cabinets and picking up a wine glass and the bottle. One of them proceeds to slowly pour her a shot as she crosses her legs.
“My Lord has given me his order. We must swiftly and fastly remove this from our sight as their little charade has been hampering logistics and the economy of the city. I want half to go to the Werewolves and another to the Vampires. The Hunters will take on the Werewolves while I take on Lady Harnah.” Looking right above her were the controls for the sunroof. Clicking the forward button, the roof opens up and with a turn of the knob, the glass then flips upward.
“Lady Victoria, be as fast as the northern winds and strike them with the thunder of a thousand curses. Lady Clementine, I expect you to work well with me today.” She merely nods as they all disappear from her sight. This prompted her to close the sunroof as they passed by a checkpoint inside a concrete armored tunnel leading to the outskirts of the city.
After a quick check, the armored limo continued forward where the asphalt road which quickly turned into dirt and tents started to pop out and various paths zigzagged into the dense bushes.
All sorts of players were present, majority of them wearing fantasy medieval gear as they strolled along there day. Ignoring the black out limousine as soldiers from the UN patrolling the massive camp started to converge around it.
A military truck with its heavy off road tires tearing up a huge plume of dust soon joined it. Front and back, the limo was guarded as if the person inside was the President’s daughter.
The players it would pass were turning their heads at the special convoy that’s peeking through the bushes as they went on their merry way.
Consisting of the many Guilds, from the small four man parties to the larger fifty to a hundred ones. The forest was packed with people, with tents sitting in between the numerous tall trees.
Horses would then go silent as the blacked out limo passed it, an eerie presence was dropped into the area wherever it may go and as it soon stopped. With a lone dirt road leading to an opening in the forest that goes right up to the exterior valley wall is a sign in English. “The Hunters Association”
A suited person then exits out the front passenger side of the Limo and proceeds to walk to the back, opening the door where a lady in a lavish red blouse and black pencil skirt walks out. In metallic black heels, the soil didn’t matter to her as she carried her purse nonchalantly. Letting her golden blonde hair flow through the bushes as her oversized coat flowed like a valiant cape. “Do send the soldiers first.”
With a non caring gesture, the large transport trucks opened their tailgates and players poured into the path going to the Association and Elizabeth followed closely behind, letting the fully armed and geared men take the lead.