His eyes open wide at the sight as he uncloaks the assassin that came through the ventilation duct. Wearing a full set of tiger stripe combat fatigues with a kevlar vest, even with a spare pistol on its chest and a combat knife. The dead demon with his bald head that had six horns on it lay lifeless as the General took the grenades on its belt and vest.
He also opened the ammo pouches and took a hold of its MP5. “This is super bad news, Alana. Not good.” he kicks the dead body as he turns up to the tight duct. “How the hell did he even fit through there in full gear?” Alana though grabs one of the grenades he got and removes the pin, making the General immediately roll into cover.
The door finally bursts open as the soldiers kick the last standing section out of the way and with trained tactics, they check the corners first before approaching the furniture.
Approaching a turned over sofa, the soldier peeks over it just to get a dagger to his throat. They quickly turned their attention to the young Vampire, using there dead comrades body as cover, the two kevlar plates on the front and back stopping most of the bullets as she pushes it into them and with the brief distraction, Jackson pops out of cover, popping shots with his MP5 and with an unblinking eye, he quickly dispatches three of them with headshots, forcing the survivors of the squad to return to the hallway. Taking the M4A1 and slinging the submachine gun to his back, he put the Glock up on the face of the dead soldier.
He swiftly empties five rounds as Alana threw the grenade into the hallway, one of them running inside the room with its gun and she dodging the muzzle of its rifle puts a quick and painless death to the demon that was gunning for her.
It wasn’t even a minute and their office was now filled with corpses. The faces of the soldiers that went in were dissolving and started to reveal the true demonic forms underneath. “Heh, so outside of their fancy armor. They're just as easy to kill.” taking more magazines, Jackson overfills his pockets with as much as he could before the duo approached the door frame.
Gunfire and small explosions rock the side of the building as Jackson quickly looks out and notices an empty hallway. With most of the squad dead, their corpses pushed up to the walls of the building hall.
Rushing out with his pistol drawn out and Alana following closely behind as heavy footsteps approached them, the General stops behind a wooden bench as a hail of bullets come out of the hallway. The Countess hugged closely behind him as he pointed behind them where a thick arch of the building was located with enough space for a person. “Ready?”
With a nod, Jackson switches to his assault rifle and pops out of cover and starts returning fire as Alana jogged towards the soldiers with automatic rifles.
To much of her surprise, their eyes were able to follow her, but the limits of their physical body made it hard for their arms to follow though their reflexes are immensely sharp enough to foresee her incoming at them with the dagger. Dodging a mere inch from getting their necks sliced open as two of them were brought down by Jackson who now has proper cover.
Having to shift and divide their attention, Alana managed to work on one while Jackson did finish the last soldier. “Alana, do you-” as he was about to walk towards her, she crossed her arms and dashed towards him. “M’Lord! There’s ten more coming!” He quickly reached out his hand and dragged her behind him as more of the soldiers popped out of the hallway. Both of them were forced to hide behind the arch.
“Fast, agile, immaculate reflexes, and…” with the soldiers now looking around that’s within the size of an entire squad complete with light machine gunners and combat medics, they were trained properly, knowing there corners as they slowly inched there way to the arch of the hallway that leads to the Military Transport Department which has mostly gone silent.
Jackson ejects the magazine on his M4 and looks at the handful of bullets. He swiftly unloads it, setting it down gently and loads another mag. “You know Alana, we were the generation that did it right.” The Countess just had a chuckle as she looked at him. He wasn’t shaking nor trembling, with his finger on the trigger and the rifle on his hands steady, her grin only widened. “My generation had the lowest amount of drinking, drugs, partying, and whoring. It was so bad the world’s fertility rate dropped to critical levels and no one was fucking as everyone was working like good kids…” he peeks slightly to the hallway and sighs.
Slowly pulling on the charging handle, he catches the bullet and shrugs his head as he looks outside the window and the bright spinning colors of red, white, and blue were flooding the main street. “Yet, somehow we ended up starting a World War that’s worse than the last two. I sometimes wonder why things still went wrong. Was living in a safer world making us more bloodthirsty?” He then turns to Alana, her bright yellow size just staring at him with a serious intent. “M’Lord, you really complain a lot about Humanity, don’t you?”
“Yeah? Well, look at what they did not foresee.” The fullsize squad had begun to kick down doors, opening fire violently with not a care to the world if there was someone or not. She shrugs and grins. “I’d rather practice with you in bed, M’Lord.” This made him blink multiple times and smile. “Uh huh… you Vampires are really weird, you know?” her eyes then darted to the hallway as a squad leader began to get close to them, his rifle up and finger on the trigger.
Jackson though just had a mighty smile on his face seeing the underbarrel grenade launcher on it and Alana looking at him had a devious expression. “M’Lord?” looking at her, the two exchanged a mutual stare. “Make it quick, I need that gun.” she nodded. “As you wish, M’Lord.” and as the squad leader reached the arch of the hallway, at the very moment he was about to turn the muzzle of his rifle to the right to there office, the Countess performed a quick slice as Jackson grabbed his assault rifle and swiftly turned it around.
“SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!” With a single pull of a trigger, the 40mm grenade flies into the squad, to his surprise, their bodies were sturdy with the kevlar and helmet slowing down most of the shrapnel, it mostly ragdolled their bodies before the entire squad got up as Alana sliced one of their throats open and Jackson dragged the corpse of the squad leader back to his office and to his surprise, Alana returns to him as a blizzard of lead flies to there door frame.
“Alright, alright. They're a bit stronger than I thought.” He loads in another high explosive dual purpose grenade into the underbarrel as Alana took the assassin's dagger and kept it at her other hand. “M’Lord, I believe it would be better if we were to take the window. I hear more coming.” he shrugs his head as he throws some magazines in place for more 40mm grenades. “No, we’ll stay. Cops are already outside, Alana. We can squeeze them. In an ambush, you don’t run. You push through it.” rearmed and ready, he looked at the Countess’ eyes and she gave him a nod of agreement.
He jumps into prone and uses the body of the soldier that died right on the doorway and starts popping controlled bursts. This made soldiers run into the doors and arches, breaking them up as he cut down three of them in quick succession, though unable to get to the machine gunner who was protected and covered by a door frame. “M’Lord, do excuse me.” She then sprints out of cover as the porcelain hallway plant begins to grow Bloodroses which then exuded a red smoke.
It revealed the Demonic faces of the soldiers, the Eldritch abominations hiding behind body armor and combat helmets as one by one, they could hear throats being slit as the silhouette of a dancer raced towards the machine gunner.
None of them spoke as the survivors began to shoot one or two rounds at random directions, though half of their squad was done, they still could lay down a large volume of rounds with their automatic weapons.
The silhouette of the slim lady seemed to disappear and reappear at random, places she couldn’t have reached had bodies dropped one by one and Jackson, seeing the muzzle flash of the machine gun as the bullet whisp into the smoke kills the last of the soldier with a direct shot into the head and with a whip of her hand, the area cleared of debris as they continue on through the hallway leaving only a trail of bullet holes and the odd liquid blood of the assailants has drips from there lifeless bodies.
Reaching the end of their wing, Jackson looks out with the scope on his rifle, seeing that most of the lower floors were swarming with them, some already having firefights with squads coming from the city itself, a cannon is fired and the building rocks as he looks to the street to see a main battle tank had arrived and was using its main gun on the building.
It then faces its hull forward towards it and slowly advances forward with squads right behind it and on top of the engine bay, firing at the higher floors as a rocket launcher was fired, the perfect shot hits the tracks of the tank, stopping it right on top of the grass. Jackson tried to look out of the window but the amount of bullets flinging from all possible directions made it impossible. “Alright, let’s get to the other wings. The boys down there need help.”
Slowly, gunfire started emitting from the other wings and lower floors as blasts of magic exploded through the walls and concrete prompting the two to start jogging. Directly in front of them, an audible fight between automatic guns could be heard as they turned the side and saw the golden plume of players disappearing and on the other side of it were two squads worth shooting at soldiers donning the same uniform and equipment as the ones that were just killed. He only shrugs as he and Alana take cover once again as silence dawns on the wing.
Looking further down the hallway of the Military Transport Department’s other side, there was no one left to shoot as they begin to recheck the rooms while Jackson and Alana look for a chance to strike. Scanning through the hallway, they spot a lone player who was there holding his rifle who had peed his pants and was unquickably shaking in his place. The General picked up a small piece of concrete and threw it at him.
The player reacted violently before looking properly, with a pair of trembling hands, rifle pointed at him. Seeing the well dressed General whose uniform was now coated in white powder, it widened his eyes as his finger was still on the trigger. As if it's glued to it as Jackson looked at the hallway.
He rushes to the other side and hugs the wall with Alana right behind him and goes into the corridor where the player was. With long locks, the man is a mess as he tries to muster a salute, but his right finger is stuck on the trigger.
Looking at his kit, the General takes the flashbang from his prim and proper vest and rolls it into the hallway and gives the remaining two to Alana. “You know what this is. Kill.” She nods and proceeds to hide behind the column as the bang happens and the Vampire races out into the hall. Blood splatter tainting the ornate marble floor and white wall and windows as sporadic gunshots followed.
“What has happened? Is Higher Command safe?”
“T-Th-th-they went for the Underground section but Senator Giovanni sniffed them out and some sort of fight was happening there, sir. He was last spotted in his full armor. Th-the State Secretary is coming to the 8-Gon.”
“That’s Level Two Hundred for you. Did you know how they sniffed them?”
“N-No sir. But some of us on the surface started noticing the odd influx of reinforcements. The halls suddenly became filled with soldiers.”
Outside, helicopters began to surround the building as the sounds of tens of tracked vehicles rumbled through the park perimeter of the 8-Gon and heat seeking missiles were fired from the windows as explosions followed suit on the streets.
Falling debris hit the thick concrete building and some, into the civilian buildings on the opposite side, starting fires and breaking sections of buildings. Now, even the firefighters had to get into action alongside the paramedics, starting off an entire chain that turned the eyes of the city into the block.
“You did better than others since you’ve lived this long. Can you stand up?” The soldier just shakes his head profusely as the third bang is heard. “Look, I am going to need all the help I could get. Those players are gonna respawn soon so fighting will break out again.” He shrugs his head. “What?”
“S-Sir, what are they? Their reflexes and strength don’t look like normal low level soldiers to me. They-they even destroyed the Altars in the initial start of the fighting.” Hearing this made Jackson’s eyes open wide, unable to grasp what was just said but he quickly regains himself and refreshes his expression. “Demons in disguise. A very far cut above the types of you but you have to man up and face them. Look at me, I am Level Two Hundred but I am not wearing my armor, I am just another player like you. Fighting for what we both believe in.”
“Demons?! Sir, the skies hasn’t changed like they said.”
“No. I get a feeling someone rattled us out. We have a very rotten system, no better than the one on Earth. Where are you from?”
“I am from Cogna One, sir.”
“Where is that? Europe?”
“Mars, sir.” This made Jackson tilt his head and blink his eyes multiple times as a smile came to his face. “Oh, how is life there? You guys have been building factories day and night to make it hotter.” The player begrudgingly nods. “Y-Yes sir. It’s been quite well. Some say this year was supposed to be when we could go out and breathe for a few hours in a day.”
“Have you ever been to Earth bef-” An explosion occurs and Alana is sent flying backwards and lands on her feet as she quickly dodges back to their corridor as flying blades of blue flame cut through her former position. “M’Lord, I believe we have a problem.” Patting the soldier on his shoulder, the General peeks the hallway to see a Demon in full silvery plate armor.
“Kashta’ bemin bo du. I’ve heard of your kind. New Vampire. Eternal in their youth and immaculate in their beauty and able to walk under the Cosmic Light. You’ve done well to my Assassin Parties and Squadrons but you mustn’t get in our way anymore doll.”
The deep muscular tone was far but Jackson could hear the heavy sabatons of the plated thing getting closer and closer. The plate armor itself made no audible sound, not a rattle or even the movement of the joints could be heard as the General took the frag grenade from the soldier’s belt and threw it at the hallway.
It promptly got thrown back, making Alana stand up and kick it out of the window as it explodes a few meters from them, sending shattered glass inwards as the General shields her with his body and as things settled down, he peeks the hallway to see the plated Demon Knight, the helmet he bore having holes for his horns as shards illuminated his chestpiece. Bearing the sigil of the eldritch unknown that sent him.
“A Human who is still fighting. I've heard alot about your kind from my Master. So far, I have not been impressed but…” The helmet then suddenly darted at the exact location where Jackson was hiding at. “He did say you are easy to kill when taken by surprise. But when cornered, you will fight like a worthy Xiexin."
Looking at the frightened soldier, Jackson takes his Scar-H and pulls the bolt back a bit to see it's not even been fired once as he fills his jacket’s inner pockets with extra 20 round magazines. “Take this and call for backup to the Department of Arms and Materials. Say it's General Jackson.” patting him once again, he looks at Alana and with a mere eye contact, she smiles and he pops out of cover and starts shooting as she raced on the edge of the hallway, the cracked windows reflecting the afternoon sun made her pale skin gleam like an angel as the Demon had to look from the General and then the Vampire.
With his reaction slowed by the gunfire, Alana had already closed the distance with her dagger ready to go for his neck as a sword materialized out of thin air. Bullets flung upon contact from his plate armor as his attention was taken by the quick Vampire who parried his blade, though the shock from the contact made the bloodsucker fly a few meters back as Jackson shot his helmet multiple times.
He then walks out of cover, swiftly pressing the mag release button and putting on a new one without even having to think. The regimented stare at his eyes spoke of a different time of a different man who was in a difficult position. The robotic composure he held was unnerving as he continued firing bursts of shots at the Demon who giggled at the sight. “I’m going to have fun with you Xiexin. A worthy sacrifice.” Locking his attention at the General, the player stands up and continued shooting as it started to jog.
Jackson quickly dodges his blade as it tears a perfect cut into the floor, wall and ceiling. “Gotcha’.” the plated Demon’s eyes wandered up.
Alana had gotten above him as the Demon was busy with Jackson, with the combat knife she took from the assassin, she threw it right into his helmets’ slits causing it to walkback a few meters before pulling it out.
With the opening, Jackson rushes into him, pinning the huge person down as Alana lands on his neck. “M’Lord!” The General quickly unholsters his Glock just as it stands up, the weight of the player unable to even slow him down but he didn’t well up, instead, putting both his hands into the waist of the man and grunting as he lifts him up and throws him down into the floor.
Confused with the odd strength of the player, Jackson throws his Glock into the air which Alana catches with her slim arms and with both hands on the grip and her pretty fingers on the trigger. She points it straight at the hole the knife made and unloads the pistol straight into his head.
The Countess stands up, looking at the corpse of the Demon Knight as Jackson dusts off his hands. “Alright. Martian boy, get out of cover and take your gun.” Loud thuds, the same one as the Demon Knight made alongside the sounds of combat boots rushing towards them, ringing out from both East and West.
Alana turns around, but she keeps quiet knowing Jackson’s face. As he returned to the corridor, he began to look around and then went to his knees, going through the corpses of the soldiers where he had taken their grenades. “Alana, new plan. We’ll retreat into the corridor. The doors might all be busted but we should still be able to do something.”
As the pile of explosives began to reach into a mound, the fighting and gunfire from the outside suddenly stopped. He looked back at Alana who was slowly walking towards the window, her head looking up to the skies.
An ear clutching harrowing screech is then heard from the skies making everyone, inside or outside to look upwards, even Jackson who removed his visor cap upon the sight.
A jet black dragon the size of a jumbo jet was flying straight at them. Riding on top of it was a handsome blonde human in shiny plate armor, with a heroic blue cape. “How DARE you fight Master without ME or my approval?!”
The Demons who were coming from both sides quickly shifted their attention to the incoming creature. Lifting their swords up as a red gleam struck them one by one.
Precise quick bolts of red lightning are fired at them from a kilometer away. It didn’t have that long of a travel time as it struck the armored Underworlders and soldiers, it kept going and going till all that was left was a smoldering sword and guns. What came after was an explosion that left a gaping hole near Jackson and Alana.
Slowly walking towards the hole on the 8-Gon’s side, he looks to the sky, eyes blinking multiple times as Bahamut quickly spreads her wings full, slowing down and the Grand Prince jumping from the amazing height and landing on his feet down below on the perimeter park. Though there was no hard crash or explosion and teenager simply landed without disturbing even the worms on the leaves of the garden.
Soldiers quickly run out the main doors as he passes through smoldering tanks. “Are you… oh. Demons.” He put his helmet on as they quickly fired their rifles and anti tank launchers at the Grand Prince, but none of it was doing anything as he kept walking forward. Not even the explosions from the underbarrel M203 grenade launchers was able to make him stop as the giant shadow casted by Bahamut disappeared and the skies turned orange.
Demon Knights in the packs came out pushing through the soldiers and the Prince with an elegant use of the blade dodges multiple swords coming right at him as he sliced them back without notice and with a single use of light magic, the soldiers on the main door were sent flying into the building.
Jackson’s eyes water at the sight of the Godly woman floating above the streets. The foreign Sun just above her head as her gown was blown sideways by the wind and the black empyrean dragon then felt a massive disturbance of the space around the 8-Gon.
Her head started scanning around the ground as she could feel a tremble in actual and nonexistent space. Though no one except her and the Grand Prince could feel it, cracks had begun to appear within time space itself and she couldn’t even begin to notice where it began.
Time then slowed down, just in time before space itself broke and the Dragon spread her wings in full, the power of the Dragon God took into effect as the cracking stopped and a miniature red sky appeared over the entrance, right on top of James.
A single eye opened, the golden shimmer of the woman’s eye shot through the redness like a holy smite as the soldiers began to erratically move their limbs, disfiguring itselves and revealing their true form. Her aura bought color back to the damning red that coated the Grand Prince.
James recoils a bit at their disgusting look, pores seeping through rotten skin as the sound of bones shattering and pivoting beyond their ability, eyeless holes and brown teeth smile at him as they aim their rifles once again just as Bahamut whose arms were open wide, slowly closes and her hands touch, fingers intertwined as she closed her eyes.
Red lightning came from the heavens and spiked the ones outside and on the windows as reinforcements from the port arrived to help the Grand Prince. His aura suddenly became boosted by color, the red of the cosmic world unable to drape through his soul's natural purity and beauty as he walked towards the two doors of the 8-Gon with hundreds of soldiers hastily exiting from their infantry fighting vehicles at the street. “James… I have found the portal. Prepare yourself.”
The perimeter around the iris of Bahamut’s golden eyes showed the space and the stars as a gaping portal opened on the front door and on the other side, James could visibly see another world. One where the field was full of weapons embedded on the ground, as wandering translucent souls carried materials to somewhere and to his shock, a small staging area with one Demon in blackened plate armor is standing below. Gesturing for him.
With an odd hand movements, as if to signal for his attention, the Grand Prince quickly turned around and shot a wave of wind magic at the soldiers who were about to jump in as the ground around the front door completely collapsed and he was sucked into the other world with Bahamut following suit as her Godly presence blesses the otherworld.
Falling from a great height, Bahamut had her head forward as she looked around, the endless grassy plains with weapons numbering in the millions puncturing the soil. “Ehhhh… last I was here, all I saw was brimstone and fire.”
James though did not reply, his eyes locked at the Demon below as he had his sword up as he looked straight down at the enemy. The wandering souls ignored them as they continued onwards into the empty horizon and the skies weren’t existent in the world. But instead, a ceiling made up of castles. Probably in the millions and billions as they spanned far beyond even the Dragon Gods' perception.
Bahamut herself couldn’t even detect a proper end in the world, the rules were all messed up and her entire senses were shot beyond hope as all directions were ringing danger. Though she never felt more freer than before, as if she was in the Void once again and she could spread her wings in full without any damage to the world’s rules or balance and already, she began to prepare things upon the feeling of bigger trouble approaching.
The Demon with its hands then performed another odd gesture as it ended in a clap of both of its hands and a black ooze started popping out of the ground which James quickly started dodging as one by one, they exploded sending black spikes that were scratching his divine armor as Bahamut began to collect flesh that was coming out of the ground. Pulling tattered skin out from under the grassy layer and an infinite amount of flesh was amalgamating behind the Dragon.
The flesh giant then began to erratically shake as the cannons of battleships, autocannons of infantry fighting vehicles to even vulcan miniguns started to come out of its hands, a halo made out of small arms and a pair of wings made up of the stealth fighter jets upper wing surface materializes. The logos there weren’t the ones used by the players, it was the ones used by the USAF, VKS, PLAAF, FAF, IAF, and many other air forces of Earth.
The Demon just looked up to the horrifyingly magnificent towering figure and shrugged its head. “So a God is even summoned by the Inner Gods. The reports bore fruitful truth for once. I am ecstatic to be under the visage of such a figure. But before I may have you audience with the Cosmic Truth, I must deal with this sparkly Human before me.” As it unsheathes its odd serrated longsword with a lavishly labeled handle, the Demon felt something in its chest was gone.
Looking up, Bahamut had her hand reached out and floating on top of it was one of its hearts. Still beating in full even though it wasn’t connected to anything anymore but even then, blood is still being pumped out in a near infinite quantity. “Goddess, patience. But this might even out the battle.” The Dragon God just merely looked at it as if it was an ant not even worth a single stare. “I see, you wish to test the Chosen One of the Humans.” The voice of the Demon was disheartening, full of pride and ego, it spoke with such a grand tone that it looks down back at the Grand Prince as if he were nothing but a mere peasant in rags using a hay fork.
But James didn’t let it bother him, with both hands on his holy sword, the young man was eager for its attack. His vigor and liveliness outpaces that of even a holy angel as he smiled even with the land he found himself in. Where no hope lay, and the dead toil away with no sweet release in sight. The lady in black just floated as more and more flesh accumulated behind it, its golden eyes shining far away as it looked down on the Demon Knight.
“What’re you waiting for?” The young and elegantly soft voice of the Prince made the Demon chuckle, its body tight plate armor with spikes on the pauldron and thighs. “Very well. It would be grand to have your head presented in the Mansion of Elder Crula.”
Back on the surface, Jackson stood right above the front door, scratching his head as he stood up looking at a bunch of players who were all equally confused by the gaping cosmic portal right in front of the doors to one of their most important military infrastructures. “Do we have any mages who are good at astrology on call? Or maybe teleportation magic?” looking around with his hands on his hips, the mages present were all mostly healers and necromancers.
In the end, no one really replied as firefighters put out fires and paramedics rushed inside tents with healing potions right on the street which became blocked with emergency vehicles. His eyes squinted a bit before shrugging his head at the messy sight. “And you mean to tell me the Heroes have to all meet here tomorrow?” He points his finger at one of the players with a radio backpack. “Try calling Higher Command, I need to know what happened to Iron Mountain. Were the rumors true and a fighter jet attacked it?” with a salute, the player removes his backpack and gets on the radio. “All of you, help around.”
With the order given, he was left with Alana who was sitting on one of the benches elegantly, looking at the Demonic Dagger she stole from one of them. Jackson sits down next to her, looking at the portal. “I hope Bahamut’s okay.” She stops inspecting the blade and turns her head to him with a smile. “Don’t worry, M’Lord. I am sure her and the Prince are doing fine. You must care for yourself more. Are you sure you're not wounded or even hurt?”
In the tent of the Vampire Guild, Elizabeth walks through the near endless corridors as she lets her nose do all of the leading. Sniffing the air, she could make out even the most minute details on the atmosphere and on a hallway that had an odd shape to it that the Queen instantly noticed one of the many doors were left slightly open.
While in the main lobby, the skeleton rangers had deployed sticks of C4 into the floor as a bunch of well dressed men and women came out of the second floor hallways. “Hmph. High level skeletons with guns. Can you believe this Oliver?” The deathly pale teenager swipes his cape, disappearing and reappearing next to the combat engineer who jumps out of the way. “Oh, they're pretty well trained for bones with body armor.”
The skeleton disappears into a plume of smoke as the Vampires prepare to remove the explosives. Kneeling down, the female in a combat leather jacket got busy in removing the fuses as a dagger is driven through her back and an all out attack is commenced by the Eldwoodian Rangers. With fire and fury, the skeletons were in constant movement, teleporting over and over again as they shot short bursts just to not be there when the claws had reached them.
Fighting against the cream of the crop of the Eldwood’s Undead Army, the skeletons didn’t slouch at the engagement, as gunshots rang the many halls of the manor. The Vampire players had been caught off guard by them, having to stop removing the charges and fight the special forces. Some of them, having to start using their own swords and guns to try to reach the Rangers before disappearing.
Opening the door, she finds it to be more ancient than the rest of tent, with a dark cobblestone staircase that’s lit up by enchanted lamps, Elizabeth in her slacks and shirt walks down with her eyes making out very nudge in the stairs or walls and to her surprise, she reaches the end of it without anything violent.
With no lights, she could perfectly make out an atrium that's full of shelves below, and on the walkways around it were many metal doors locked by chains and in one of them was one of her Knives, slouching down and closely observing the ceiling where magic circles were painted and upon the shaking of an explosion, the Black Knife peeks out behind a railing as the sigils on top activated and rings and beams of blood all went into one direction.
Though Elizabeth could not detect nor feel anything, just the smell of finely fresh blood and many herbs and potions. With hand signals, the Knife points at the large atrium where in the center, the lights suddenly turn on in the form of floating orbs of flames and in a vat of blood was Victoria Harnah, rising from it and with a portal opened behind her. The thick red liquid painted her nude body full.
An explosion rings out from the portal and it instantly closes as she turns her attention to it. Confused, Elizabeth stands up from above, leaning over the cobblestone railing and pointing a finger at her. “What hath thou done?” the player ignores the Queen as she knelt down into the pool of blood below her and takes out a pair of latex pants with metallic high heels for shoes, her top was that of a Gothic Huntress with harnesses for potions and blood vials as the golden circlet on her red hair shone a light that could blind a normal person.
She didn’t put it on, instead putting her head up to look at Elizabeth who was behind her on a higher floor. Her pretty red eyes are devoid of emotion as she looks into the emerald ones of the blonde woman.
"How does it feel to be regulated to a mere doll to be ordered around? A once magnificent and legendary Vampire Queen reduced to a mere toy by the Government. I know of your stories, who you truly are. It was my Guild that helped uncover the truth about you and that tomb of yours."
"Ah, so the ruckus at the Port last year, you were involved in? Pfft. What a way to tarnish such a fine coffin. Touched by bloodsucking hoodlums with no remorse.” She crossed her arms as she looked around at the atrium, apart from the pentagram in the center that began sucking in the blood and the big glass tubes holding blood alongside shelves full of weapons.
The staircase on the end of the room had a large painting of the player, elegantly wearing a frilly gothic crimson gown. “You think I work under the Government? Ahahahahah. Do not be a tool. I am devoted to only one entity and that is My Lord. Every order he gives, I shall execute with the utmost care and loyalty. I bow to no organization as they do not hold dominion over my soul."
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"Pfft. You're even worse than I thought. How did you raise a Kingdom of Vampires in this world? I get it, having pretty privilege did a lot of the heavy lifting?" Hearing this made Elizabeth’s eyes squint for a second before she crossed her arms, her eyes staring down from above as she looked at Hannah as if she was worthless than the ants squirming between the cobblestone.
"My beauty was not the same when I became a Vampire. I can now control it and since then, I dared not use it…” She sighs and begins to look at the end of the second floor balcony where the staircase down to the atrium was. “I did not build that Kingdom alone. A Man with a Vision is a Man with a Future. My Lord and my previous King both had enough vision to fill the planet ten times over. I do not know who to thank, I often feel such men are wasted on my vain."
Elizabeth then walks slowly, her hand skimming the stone railing as she approaches the staircase.
“... For beauty to save the world, the world must first see beauty… and it's in the hearts of men that the world has such a sight.” As they turned leftward and down the stairs, her Black Knifes sneaking around even more. “Have you not seen it? The Human in you, does it not see the beauty? Has the Vampires power ruled over your true self? Replacing it fully?” Behind her, the large painting of Harnah in her crimson gown, all dignified and ladylike.
“All I remember from my Humanity was the tragedy of mortal life. There was little beauty to what I saw as a person. Just the endless greed of men and the wanton death it brought upon the innocent. My hometown was wiped out… I lived alone in that rubble, moved to the capital and found success from being just as ruthless as them.”
She then spreads her arms, the large glass tubes of blood cracking and fully breaking as it swirls at her command and slowly, she lowers her hands down, pointing directly below her and an explosion of wind, she is donning her latex pants and huntress armor. “Maybe a perfect Vampire like you wouldn’t even notice… do you even know what it feels to be useless?”
The blood then melts with the weapons stored in the shelves, turning it into blackened chains with tips of spears and swords that then face towards Elizabeth who had positioned herself for combat. “You speak as if I am the Vampire of the stories. I shall tell you one thing, I cannot even help myself to knitting. It took me so long to even properly do it that I even surprised myself that I could do it.” she sways her hair, as is if she just blurted out something that powered her ego to the skies.
The long chains lunges itself forward at the Queen, like snakes fangs of blades, they follow her relentlessly through the atrium till she stopped and grabbed the two chains, with a bit of force from her hands, completely breaks them but ten more popped out from the crimson hair of Harnah as she pointed her finger at Elizabeth, firing continuous bursts of electric bolts. “I can’t even help myself to eat peasant food. Even in my situation, if it weren’t from the kindness of My Lord, I would’ve been forced to lower my pride and as a Lady, that is akin to losing my femininity.”
The relentless assault of the chains and bolts of magic made her use her teleportation, popping in and out to crack the chains till she reached Harnah who dodges her fist and quickly retaliates with a palm push into the stomach.
Landing on her feet, the Queen smiles as she nods with blood spilling out of her mouth. “Hm. You did well.” She spits bits of flesh out as she looks towards the player. “Now, let’s end this.” disappearing and reappearing behind her, Elizabeth calmly places her hand on Harnah’s shoulder. “For a camp so big, all I encountered were undead and a handful of Vampires… and undead do not need to use tents filled with cots. Those sigils on the ceiling, sending blood. Whose is it?”
She then disappears and appears right in front of the player. “I hope you did not do what I am thinking you did.” Harnah though just strikes her back, the two’s claws, eyes of red against gold in close combat. Though the player’s claws were able to damage Elizabeth quite a bit, her healing was far outpacing the amount of limbs and flesh she could take off while hers was slower and only getting worst
The Queen then suddenly retreats. “For you to fight me without being prepared beyond belief, unlike your former leader… just what have you done? Where are the rest of your flock?” This time back to the staircase as the ceiling explodes. The huge slab of cobblestone and concrete falling right down to the circle.
But before it could make contact with the floor, Elizabeth intercepts it with her fist, destroying it into a plume of dust as the Rangers rappelled down and the Queen with a flick of her finger clears the area of any debris and below her, a portal of blood was just about to close till one of the skeletons knelt and touched the magic circle, preventing it from disappearing. “Hmph. She couldn’t defeat me here so now she runs away.”
One of her Black Knives then came to her from the second floor balcony. Elegantly jumping and landing in a kneeling position. “Your Majesty. I must speak of a report.” the two heeled shoes then face the cloaked woman. “The enemy’s subjects aren’t anywhere here. We’ve scoured all of the halls, rooms, and corridors. Any trace of documentation of where they may be has also been taken. We believe…”
Looking at the Portal, the Queen’s eyes squinted and walked right into it. Prompting the Rangers to quickly leave their post, standing up one by one and hopping in with her. The Black Knife though looks up and jumps back to the main lobby where the entire place has been trashed with spent bullet casings and discarded one shot launchers.
“As the Asian Coalition Army crosses the Riva, it is official that Istanbul is surrounded from all sides.”
“You know what I don’t get?”
“What is it, Retired General?”
“Even after their invasion force gets nuked in Italy, how are they still able to continue? NATO forces in Bulgaria are absolutely spent. There’s nothing stopping them from linking up with their friends in Serbia.”
“General, sir. If I may speak freely. As an analyst, I believe their invasion of Italy was just a ruse meant to throw off NATO’s effort in Turkey.”
“What? Are you insane? Who is willing to throw the lives of a hundred thousand well equipped Brigades into a slaughter? The Units they sent into Europe itself were all at a hundred percent combat readiness and strength.”
“It’s Asians we’re talking about. Their culture and tradition is completely different from ours. They aren’t stupid, they know for NATO to split its forces, they will need a convincing attempt at mainland Europe. Turkey’s close proximity to Europe has slowed their army to a grind, and for societies who are built on giving results, they are willing to give even their own child for a victory. All for the community.”
“I still don’t get it. These were extremely fresh troops placed in Africa-” Waking up, Elizabeth looks around and finds herself in a concrete room, her head resting on her arm as she wears a typical office lady’s outfit with white lab coat and stethoscope around her neck.
Her long golden hair is now tied to one braid with a black ribbon on the end. Looking around, the flatscreen TV on the top right corner was playing live news of World War 3 as a potential end could be seen on the horizon with breaking news of the opening of talks between East and West that had been rumored to have begun.
Finding herself alone, the steel chair she sat on made a screeching sound as she stood up. Apart from a broom and some lockers with a bulletin board for the nurses and doctors in charge of night duty and the rooms they were assigned to, the rest of it was filled up with missing persons papers.
Walking out of the room, she is immediately met with a busy hallway. Gurneys were everywhere, making just enough of a room in the middle for a single person to walk on. Looking at the people on them, they were mostly soldiers. Still in there fatigues with limbs amputated or their faces maimed. Though even at the situation the hospital was in, there was no hint of blood on the tiles or walls.
At the intersection behind her, a nurse came from the left and approached her. “Doc, we need help with Room One Ten, a patient is in critical condition and we don’t have anymore-” before she could finish, another nurse came, carrying a clipboard. “Doc, there’s an urgent matter with our supplies of nitrile gloves.” Before more could come, Elizabeth began to walk backward and then started jogging.
She immediately found it hard, with the high heels she wore becoming more of a nuisance as her balance was extremely off. Looking down, her height wasn’t the same and then, her hands went to her ears. Touching its edges, there was no point, it's a normal groove.
With widened eyes, she moved her tongue to her teeth, the four fangs that once sat inside had reverted to normal human ones. “Doc! We need help here!” She then ignores the plea of the nurse as she begins to aimlessly roam throughout the hospital.
Most of the inner halls were filled with gurneys with IV stands next to them while the ones with a window were filled with chairs for wounded soldiers that had their bodies mostly intact. As it was in the darkness of the evening, most of them were peacefully asleep. The colors of their uniform and the race they came from didn’t matter as they closed their eyes in a foreign land. Far from their native homes, damaged and injured.
Outside, there were flames beyond the mountains but a relatively calm forest surrounded the hospital and inside the gates were all sorts of emergency vehicles, fire, police, SWAT, and paramedics were randomly parked in whatever space was possible as people in uniforms of many sorts were busy performing their duties as more ambulances dropped wounded soldiers that’re pushed to the emergency wing.
Looking at the hallway turning left, she sees the figure of a woman with long crimson hair. With her hands in her lab coat pockets. The Queen immediately started walking towards her as she disappeared into the corner.
A siren then rang, waking up the soldiers as an explosion shakes the entire building. This made Elizabeth lose her standing as her eyes opened wide at the blazing sounds of rotors in the horizon.
Staring at the window, three Blackhawks with a Chinook complete with armed Little Birds and a Kiowa flew over the hospital at a low altitude. Shaking walls and ceilings.
The Blackhawks hovered over the hospital roof, inserting in Skeletal Rangers as streaks of pure blackness went down ahead of them. The people waking up unable to verify what they're seeing. With this, Elizabeth ditches her heels. Choosing to go with her socks and running to the corner just to find more hallways.
Searching through the ward, there was no sign of the red haired lady. Just panicking nurses and wounded soldiers as the sound of shattering glass made people scream and the sound of heavy boots landing on the tiles.
Even with the ruckus occurring at the floor, she kept her attention on the task at hand. Skimming through every room and corner she could. The blonde woman kept her pace, not slowing down even when nurses would irk her about something with intruders coming in.
And upon reaching the hall to the staircase, she finds the red haired doctor. With one hand in the pocket and another on a clipboard, she looks straight at Elizabeth and gives her a dastardly smile and walks back to the corridor as a skeleton Ranger with its Scar-H’s flashlight turns the corner and blinds Elizabeth.
The skeleton stopped at its tracks alongside its Squadmates. “Well? Did you not see her? Make haste!” With a nod, the squad turns the same corridor as Harnah did as Elizabeth slips both her hands into the lab coat pockets and follows closely behind them.
One by one, the Squad detaches two undead. Three of two skeletons would be busy entering rooms while the last two would be guarding the hallway. The blonde just watched in silence as she looked at their surroundings. “Tsk, what annoying magic. She’s wasting precious time with this tirade.” the Squad leader with her points at the very back of the hospital as one of the patients exits their room.
This made Elizabeth hide behind the Squad leader as it pointed its gun at it, the skeleton with it gesturing for the wounded person to get inside but rather than following the order, he instead lifted his hand and was instantly dropped.
More explosions follow as it seems to have gotten closer, with gunfire becoming more and more frequent. Elizabeth put her hand on the shoulder of the Squad leader who instantly turned around as the rest of his mates followed behind and they went down to the second floor where the path to the hallway is blocked by a gate and standing far beyond on the other side was Harnah.
She once again disappears into the corridors as the Squad Leader backs up and lets its rifleman, who had a Mossberg strapped to its back deploy the shotgun. The huge slug destroys the locks and hinges, followed by a hard kick, it brings down the metal bars without a sweat and they rush towards where she was just to find out that there was a lone room there.
Quickly stacking up on it, they bust down the door and inside was an empty room. The spotlight of the Blackhawk pierce through the window as the sound of its rotor shakes the windows and more gunfire is heard. “Tsk. What a truly annoying tirade. Let’s deal with the fighting first. Move you useless pile of bones!” she puts her hands on her hips, with a now small angry expression, she clicks her mouth as they turn around. “I’ll have her head and I’ll rip her open and gore her infront of her last living colleagues for wasting so much of my time.”
Turning around, they walked back to the staircase with the Blackhawk trailing them. Keeping watch through the many glass windows of the hospital. Its spotlight would dart at something from occasion but would mostly concentrate at the area ahead of them as the shooting got louder and louder.
Nearing the innermost courtyard, she could see a nice view of it and the battle happening.
On it was some sort of a Vampire, one that’s bulky and heavy, with malformed bat wings and graying skin. It looked more like an Ogre than one of her kind but it was more than capable, with the varying calibers unable to pierce its skin. “Tell the helicopters to clean this up. I do not care for this institution. Get rid of this disgusting vile creation from my vision.”
Hovering from the front of the hospital, an AH-6 Little Bird armed with two miniguns and hydra rocket pods unleashes its wrath on the pinned bloodsucking creature just for Harnah to appear from the canteen and with a flick of her finger, sets it alight.
The 7.62mm bullets from the miniguns were now getting absorbed. Its bat wings then started to grow to the point it was able to take off and hover in place.
This prompted the Little Bird to fire its unguided rockets at it. Two direct hits and as the dust settles, the creature was merely perturbed by the attempt. Elizabeth though had sent a squad of skeletons to capture Harnah who disappears into the first floor as she watches the fight on the stands. The shrapnel and debris being flung about not disturbing her at all.
With none of their weapons being effective against the creature, she looks at her hands and tries to use even the most basic of magic and nothing happens to her dismay. “Even my magic when I was a Human isn’t working?” Her long and pretty well trimmed eyebrows then frown as an explosion occurs right on top of her, the malformed batlike Vampire eating up an entire unguided missile.
Her lab coat swayed like a cape alongside her braided hair as she scanned around for anything to use and a red glimmer coming from the well polished tile caught her eye.
Looking around the hallway, she notices the red cylinders attached to the wall. With a sparkle in her eyes, she takes it and runs to the other ward where there were still skeleton Rangers firing their weapons at the brutish vampire. Her golden hair, undimmed by the shade of night shows the well kit out bones the extinguisher. “Bring it down.”
The Squad Leader looks at one of its riflemen with a disposable launcher. They head down to the courtyard and with a pat on the helmet, the high explosive dual purpose missile flies into the gray bloodsucking monster, turning its attention down to them.
With a violent crash, the Rangers immediately opened fire as heavy thuds were heard in the dust cloud. Coming out of it, the burning brute shrugs off their shots as it gets closer and closer and corners them by the door.
It then suddenly opens and a beautiful blonde woman throws a fire extinguisher at it and the Marksman of the squad hits it just when it reaches the height of its head and foam is blasted everywhere. But this didn’t stop Elizabeth, who had a smile on her face as she rushed to the corner where a hose for the garden. Turning it on, the woman gleefully sprays the creature with the cold water.
A huge smoke of steam then followed and the Squad Leader opened fire with its M4 assault rifle and for the first time, they heard flesh tearing though it was closing and pushing the bullet out. This prompted the squads that were still on the second floor to lay down everything they got as she gave the hose to one of the skeletons and walked into the first floor’s canteen. Ignoring the firefight as she sees the door to the hallway that goes to the main lobby was left open.
Peeking at it, the portion of the Rangers were there, pointing their weapon at something.
Arriving at the reception area, with the woman behind the desk cowering for her life. The red haired doctor stood confidently as she was surrounded by the skeletons. “These are Eldwood’s huh? We’ve run into their Legions before. Can’t say I’m not impressed. Their gear alone is tailored for odd jobs like these. Your Master gave them to you?” walking from behind the Squad Leader, Elizabeth crossed her arms and gave Harnah a smile.
“Of course, My Lord is a very fine human who cherishes service and loyalty. It is only adequate for any Lord to give their most trusted adjutant their best Knights and heralds.” She then walks towards one of the skeletons, seductively laying her chin on its shoulders. Her eyes staring at Harnah. “You did a good job provoking me to be bought here. But I am not stupid.”
Her fingers then slowly tracks down the skeletons waist and slips into the pistol holster of the Ranger. Pressing the unlock button, she takes the M9 Beretta and points it at her. “This is a fine jest, turning me into a Human so that I may not take advantage of my overwhelming strength against thee. But even then, thou is alone. Surrender now, I still have to deal with the Wolves and the Hunters.”
“This is so out of style for you, sparing your enemies and such. The Blood Queen not seeking any out blood and anything short of a painful show of death.”
“You may have only gotten the misworded version of my achievements, but I am not one to brute force my way into conflicts. That is a Man’s way. I much prefer turning those into loyal subjects through diplomacy and espionage. It's a far better option than a costly open war.” her eyebrows though frowns. “Though be not be fooled by my ways, I can just as easily do something brutish which I am trying to contain. You have no idea how much I want to gore you right here in front of these people.”
“Diplomacy and espionage? Against my tiny guild of Vampires?”
“You, your Guild no longer exists and those Wolves had caused enough of a problem that it needed a direct approach. My Lord is not one to shy away from violent means to small conflicts. His history has told him enough about taking chances. Though the hope in him told me to solve this peacefully which I am upholding to my fullest extent.” she walks in front of the skeletons, pistol up. “Do not push me any further. My Lord wants you to answer for your crimes and you will.”
“Pfft.” She then turns around as Elizabeth notices a glint in the horizon. The Ranger Squad Leader immediately grabbed her and threw the woman behind the counter as an explosion rocked the entire front parking lot. An F-16 from the USAF flying a mile away at a thousand feet had dropped a Paveway at the hospital. Targeting the Asian military vehicles parked at the front yard.
The pilot suddenly gets painted as an R-77M is fired at it from 20 kilometers away and FABs with glide kits were dropped, targeting the rear of the hospital where NATO vehicles were piled up in a makeshift motorpool.
Even the Ranger’s helicopters weren’t safe from the active radar homing missile of the Su-35 Super Flankers. Firing off all of their flares as their cockpits warn the deathly pilots of their impending doom.
She then wakes up and finds herself in a cosmic room. Back in her vampire self, standing in front of her was Harnah in her own gothic gown with her back facing her. “I know I won’t win this fight. So, I shall instead alleviate the demands I will be given. What will I face?”
“That is for the court to decide. My Lord was just ordered to stop and bring you and Duranq in.”
“Is that so? Very well. Vampires of Tur aren’t ones to join together in big families. We’re merely doing this for survival.”
“Have you truly lost the Humanity within you? Like those who chose the race of the Demons?”
“I do not feel a shred of my former self anymore. I only feel the ancient hatred of Tur’s Vampires against the Elves and Werewolves. I do not even feel respect for Vampires lower than me.” She then turns around, showing her blank and stoic pretty face. “I am merely speaking to you now for your influence encompasses even my soul. I felt nothing sacrificing my long-time friends to open the portals and send in infiltrators to the city just as they did not feel anything with my decision.” joining her hands to look even more elegant, she further straightens her back and shoulders as she faces the Queen.
“But I believe the former Human me would be very much against what I am doing. She was a Doctor after all.” Elizabeth then suddenly closes the distance and grabs her by the neck, raising her up as her feet leave the nonexistent floor. “Good. For I am very tired of this charade. You will accept whatever is given to you by the court and if by the grace of chance that you are given a cell, be sure to be a good bird and stay.”
She didn’t reply, keeping her blank expression as Elizabeth tightened her grip. “Do not defy me and my order. Tomorrow is a very important day and My Lord cannot afford any more of these games. Dare me and the gore of your body will be the last thing you’ll witness.”
In Front of the 8-Gon, Jackson wipes his forehead as he and Alana look at the mess that has happened. Some of the floors were burning as shards of glass glisten within the combed grass and thrown furniture litter the walkways and paths whilst entire concrete walls are now riddled with bullet holes.
Looking down on the portal, the player mage wielding his magic staff while still in his combat attire has the crystal gem on top of it light up and a floating image is revealed to them, the Generals and Politicians just had their eyes widened at the Godless sight upon them.
The State Secretary of the Men of the Woods just had a stoic face as he flicked his finger, blinding lower level players. “We’ve seen enough. Have those grunts who stared at it be taken to the hospital, General Meyer.” Jackson though just had his hands to his side as Alana gently rested her hand on his shoulder.
“M’Lord.”
“Ah, yeah. Wow. I often forget just what kind of creature she is sometimes. I’ll talk to the Secretary of the State. I think it's time to announce Martial Law if the Underworld is prepared to that extent already… and I think those two just lessened our time to a few days.”
Within the endless realm of the Underworld, a great army arises from the spiked cities, their arches that connects to aqueducts that leads to nowhere, perturbing the ground whose soil is made up of billions upon billions of corpses, the green grass growing on top bleeding rotten blood as thousands fall by the minute with the Grand Prince, a swipe of his sword sending holy blades and shards of lightning outward to the millions of Undead marching upon the incomplete visage of Bahamut.
It was firing an endless stream of rockets, the thermobaric warheads causing untold numbers to die in droves as the machine guns on its hands fired nonstop, the two were doing so much damage to the underworld that the Demons watching from afar couldn’t even follow what was happening and behind them, was the same Demon Knight with the body tight plate armor. Wounded to the grave, a dagger is driven into its heart as it finally dies.
The Arsenal Flesh, made up of Humanities most cutting edge and deviant weaponry took name with a rustic M82 Barrett 50 that’s been up-sized to a degree that it may seem to dwarf a skyscraper. The muzzle brake alone casts a giant shadow on the battlefield below as Bahamut’s human form opens an eye. “The Archbishop of Sin has found me, Goldie.”
Grand Prince James just shrugs his head. “Don’t worry, Goddess. It’s not after you in the end, they're after me. If I may ask, can you kill it or atleast wound it severely?” He didn’t even need to speak up, even though Bahamut’s body was floating a hundred and fifty meters above him, she nodded with a smirk. “The stronger they are, the more I yearn for the kill.”
The fleshy amalgamation of modern and industrial era weapons pulls the trigger, popping the countless of corpses underneath the soil as its overpressures the army nearby, blood bursts upward to the endless fortress of a sky the Underworld has, completely changing the shade to a crimson as the bullet, its shape, that of a stake instantly breaks the sound barrier, the shockwave following it sending even the fifty foot tall balls of intestines with large predatory mouths down to there wrinkly feets as it follows the curve of the world.
Within seconds, it travels distances unbeknownst to man as it sets its sight on a Tower that reaches the armored sky, with bones shaped into a double helix surrounding it and 5 Dimensional Cubes in physical form distorting the reality a few kilometers around it. Sat inside, a corpse opens its lifeless eyes as it removes the sword that’s embedded in its heart. Stopping the bleeding.
Blood, that’s color and thickness is fresh and new rises from the corpse soil below and engulfs the bullet. Though it manages to slow it down, the strength and hunger of Bahamut far exceeds anything it expected as it bursts through the otherside of the Blood Wall and into the Tower.
A flood of images then came to the visions of Bahamut and the Grand Prince, both of them unable to stem the tide of the deaths of the living, every baby killed in the womb, to every weeping soldier’s last cry in a barren forest as there Underworld dimmed and a section of the sky opens, lowering from it is a heart shaped machination with spiked chains in a constant spin around it, forming the heart’s defensive perimeter.
Raising her gun, the Dragon immediately makes the incomplete visage to shoot at it and then another flood of images came to the two. This time, of a hurricane striking a town and killing thousands of Humans and Animals, wiping it off the map. “Tsk! To do something that disgusting! James! We are leaving.” She lowers herself down, reaching her hand out to the Prince who grabs her hand.
Floating up with the Hero latched onto her, she then makes her form to point the rifle upward and with a single shot, the darkness of the cosmos spills out of the armored sky as tendrils with the forms of lanky and ghostly arms fall down.
The Demon Legions quickly shift their attention towards the Unknown coming down as her incomplete form demolishes itself in a massive atomic explosion. The Demon Knights standing far away shrug as she leaves but the hole left invites creatures of eldritch horror into the Underworld.
“BAHAMUT! OH GOD! YOUR ALRIGHT!” Opening his eyes, the Grand Prince sees Jackson hugging the Dragon with all his might. Lifting her off the ground as Bahamut just accepted her Master’s embrace without an inkling of defense and even licking his cheeks even though she’s in her human form now.
Alana and Elizabeth then both followed, crushing the Dragon in their embrace as an Elf reached his arm out. “Sir Sigured.” the Prince takes it as he sighs and reaches his arm out to the sun. “What happened, Sir Sigured? I was with Mistress Elizadeath before I could come and help.”
“I believe Bahamut has bought this world a few more days. They were ready to strike but she and I caused much damage to their endless forces and their world.”
“E-Eh?”
“Sir Benthal, tomorrow, the Grand Prince of the Elven Empire will arrive. Can you face him?”
“O-Of course!” The young Elf stiffened up as his eyes flared with courage. “Good, our trip to Schon wasn’t in vain then. You’ve grown to this much already, I am sure your village will celebrate this when you return home.”
All the while, Jackson wouldn’t let go of Bahamut. “What was that?! Why would you do something so reckless?! Couldn’t you feel how worried sick I was?!” the Dragon’s taken aback by the frank and straight manner her Master was speaking to her. “I… I am sorry, Master.” she merely lowers her head as the General just hugs her again. “I saw a snippet of what you were doing. Their world… it made no sense, none of their armies or how they looked made sense… and that form… what was that?!”
“Well… It’s good to know your Mental Resistance is high enough to not be struck with Madness, Master. That was an incomplete form that I am building.”
“Why was it using things from Earth? Is it due to me?”
“I believe so, Master. A part of your soul is in mine and mine is also in yours as our contract states… and I kinda have an angry ball of weapons locked up in the Void.”
“I… I see, nonetheless, don’t ever do something that reckless again. I’ll have you write me a report later, alright? For now, let’s get you some meat. Alana, can you fill in for me a bit? Elizabeth, talk to me on the way too. I saw the Hunters Association bring both of the ring leaders in.”
The Countess immediately bows and smiles. “Of course, M’Lord. Please do take a grand care of Bahamut. That was a valiant fight she did.” he nods as the General looks at Elizabeth. “ Good job to you too, Elizabeth. You brought them both in alive.” The Queen just showed him a calming smile as she bowed. “Your orders are my life, My Lord. Now, may I take a request to buy my Black Knives some new ensembles?”
He just shrugged his head and opened his wallet. “Are you really going to doll up a bunch of Super Vampire Assassins?” she nods without reserve. “And maybe show them some of the latest weaponry available today.” which made Jackson hand his ID over to her. “We’ll meet back at the hotel, alright? Don’t take long, both of you.” as he took Bahamut with him, he first stopped by the Grand Prince who was as usual, holding a positive smile on his face.
“James, you did a good job there.” The Prince lowered his head.”Of course! Lord Jackson, I cannot thank you enough for bringing Bahamut. Her help was beyond anyone’s repayment… though it was odd seeing her have so little expression.” the player just shrugs his head. “Dragons never expressed themselves with their faces until a few centuries ago.”
He pats the blonde Prince’s shoulders. “Dragons express themselves through their bodies. Only recently did they grow muscles on their eyes and mouths to communicate to us Humans better.” He looks at Bahamut’s face and rubs his forehead on her which makes the Dragon blush. “See? They still communicate through it though.” the Prince just laughs at the girly expression on the Dragon. “Of course, thank you, Lord Jackson. Please, have a good day.”
Continuing their walk to the gate and into the street where they got into a secret service SUV. The road was still full of emergency vehicles as the wet road from all of the firefighting that occurred reflected the towering concrete buildings around them.
“How are you Bahamut?”
“Master? I am fine. What do you mean?”
“The things I saw there… even though it was only for a few seconds… just what kind of world was that?!”
“It’s one that’s trying to recreate Threa through trial and error. The Gods haven't even appeared yet but I think me and him did enough damage to delay them. I even destroyed their sky, those monsters should buy us even more time.”
“Delay? You meant it was supposed to happen today?!” Jackson only swallowed his saliva as Bahamut nodded. “This thing they did, Master. Going after the heads of state and important buildings, I believe they learned this from Earthlings.”
This made him put his hand up his chin, rubbing it slowly. “Was this some sort of a modern style Special Forces insertion? But how?”
“This has been done before, Master?”
“Yeah… the first days of World War Three was between Spy Agencies and Special Forces Units.” Jackson lifted his fingers up his forehead, massaging it slowly. “I wonder what happened at Iron Mountain… But Bahamut, you…” he looked at her, as calm and beautiful as ever while he himself had his eyes full wide open, his uniform all ruined from all the dust and debris. “Master, you are overthinking again, you need to calm down.”
The ribbon rack on his chest has lost its color as both his hands gripped the wheel tightly. “I… I guess so. I was so worried.” a hand then rests on top of his head and slowly stroked his well ironed hair. “It’s going to be fine, Master.” She then uses an unknown spell on him, calming his nerves. “Ahhhh, your magic never fails.”
Though Bahamut just had a smile on her face. “The magic of my touch? I am not doing anything but touch you, Master.” he squints his eyes at her before letting out a small giggle. “A touch of a woman is magical, you know?” This made Bahamut laugh as she looked around at the mess that happened, 8-Gon is damaged in many places and the street outside of it is blocked with the amount of vehicles parked around it. “What now, Master?”
“Since you guys bought us some time, things need to be done now. The calculations are once again off… but for now… let’s head back home and rest.”
The suspension of the SUV starts racking as in front, on the main street that heads to the bridge to Downtown. A huge convoy of military vehicles had arrived. Taking up the space on the main intersection as the skeletons began to unload main battle tanks and helicopters.
As if out of nowhere at all, an invasion has begun while the citizens of the city were given pamphlets and fliers which many already knew what to do. Opting out of their modern outfits and returning to their Fantasy Medieval clothing while those in far too low levels were given whatever weapon the UN had laying around.
Mages then began to use their magic to lay groundwork for sandbags and force fields, focusing mostly on intersections and Guild Government buildings. Everyone got to work as roads became full of traffic and those who didn’t want to be involved had started to move through their wagons and find provincial buses out of the city.
Helicopters surround the city as players with their large Mounts have taken to helping the military. The officers on the ground had to not only be busy with the skeletons but also the Militia that had formed from the locals. Silence is nowhere to be found as Jackson’s ears get invaded by the Emergency Alert System.
“We apologize for the interruption to this broadcast. We will return to our normal programming as soon as possible. Please stand by for the emergency message.” He turns up the volume as he lowers the windows and could see even the soldiers and the generals with the politicians who had gone through the ordeal were standing by the Mobile Command Center listening in the radar. “This is an Emergency Broadcast By the Office of the United Nations.”
After a few more pings, the voice of an actual person comes on. “At Two o'clock, Geraldian Standard Time. An attack was carried out by the Demonic and Player Forces on Iron Mountain, 8-Gon, Schon Central Military Command Khe Sanh, Dragovh Joint Command Center, and the First Naval Armada’s Flagship.” Jackson’s eyes widen as he lowers his head and closely listens in while Bahamut just rested her cheeks on her hands as Alana and Elizabeth began to run towards their vehicle. “The weapons used by Knighted Demons were capable of removing the soul of a person, permanently killing a player. To this moment, the death of Chairman Tony Wallalonga has been confirmed alongside General Wu Tae-Wong while ten other high-ranking members of the UN staff are still MIA.”
After a few more seconds of silence, the speaker continued. “A flight of three Mitsubishi F-2 Multirole Fighter Jets under the Terrorist Group named Ugly Ducklings was also involved, dropping six Mana Nuclear bombs…” Jackson hears the reactions of the players, almost everyone sighing and grasping in disbelief. “Which was stopped by Supreme General Maltese who donned his Ancient Elven Armor with wings. Throwing the six nukes out of pattern and into the surroundings. As of today, Mana Radiation has seeped back to average and Cesium and Lead has stopped being produced.”
All of the sudden, there was only silence again. Even the sounds of the rotors of the helicopters above them not making a sound as Alana opened the drivers door and leaned in to listen while Elizabeth sat in the rear passenger seat, leaning in between the center console to check on her Lord.
“The UN Council, with the three hundred and eighty-two guilds, with its members spanning on all of the major continents, is to be prepared in case of a massive, global scale invasion. Follow local authorities, do what you’ve been trained to do, and perform the tasks needed to shore up defenses.” Without even knowing it, Jackson has raised his hand up to his chest, his breath slowing.
Chills made him shiver as the broadcast continued. “The General Secretary will soon be on to make a speech on the UN’s bunker. We are alerting the Kingdoms of Geraldia, and Dragovh, to the Sultanates of Meridia, and the Elven Empire. Please stay calm, to those who do not plan to participate in the upcoming hostilities, the Guilds will be providing buses and aircraft to transport you to the Portal Fortress. If Teleporters are active in your area please line up in an orderly manner and keep your baggage tags.”
Even with the aircon of the SUV in full blast, sweat falls on his slacks. Jackson’s face is planted on the 12 inch screen, his attention given to the radio. “To those with Teleportation magic, please teleport a kilometer away from the Fortress and line up in an orderly manner for entrance. That is all for now, please stay calm and prepare.” And then, the radio returns to playing its normal program. “Wow, that's something. Well folks, while you get going, we’re playing Dream Sweet In Sea Major, Miracle Musical!”
Screams were then heard as the honking began to cover every space in the city. “Looks like we’ll be working overtime today.” unbuckling the seatbelt, Jackson sighs as he walks back to the 8-Gon, his shadow seemingly heavier than ever before as his shoulders buckled at the sight of the players. The emotions they showed were a mixture of confused, scared, relentless, but there were those who were showing virtue and courage in the spite of things and the image of the Grand Prince and the Wood Elf Hero going out of there way to remove debris and help those in need bought a sense of duty to everyone equally.
“Since the last of the Heroes will be arriving tomorrow, we’ll have them arrive at the front of the 8-Gon. The main street is large enough to house their troops anyways." As he walks into the main reception room, the Secretary of the State is there and he immediately points to the General, making him walk towards the man in the suit. “Sir, yes sir.”
“I’ve heard lots of things about you, Jackson. Your fucking off from your position in logistics.”
“Sir?”
“I’ll need someone of your caliber in the main office. I am upgrading you to the Supreme General of the Joint Forces. Your Legions have been transported to Schon right? Well, with how things are, you will be given command of all of them.”
“S… Sir.”
“Do you have anything to say to this promotion, General?”
“N-No, sir.”
“Good. Move your shit up to the top floors.”
“Uhm, sir. Permission to speak freely.”
“Spit it out then, don’t waste my time.”
“Does that mean I am now in combat mode? I am only supposed to go to Schon if it's show time.”
“General Maltese has recommended to me about your capabilities and your allies. This will be one of your final acts of a promise, he said and wishes that you will accomplish it. So yes, you are now in combat mode.”
Putting his hands behind his back, the girls notice it was in a fist as Jackson looks up to the bullet riddled ceiling. He then felt his hands unwind as Alana, Bahamut, and Elizabeth held his hands. Looking at them, their untainted beauty, unmatched by any Humans, yet for the moment. Their warm smiles were far more warming than the physical attributes they lavishly show off. “Yes sir, I’ll get to work immediately.”
“I’ll leave it to you then.” With the answer, the State Secretary of the Men of the Woods just unbuttons his collar and unwinds his necktie and turns around to the lower ranking Generals. “Where the hell is my direct contact to the President?! I need to know if we’re having to use emergency powers here!”
Swallowing his saliva, Jackson walks towards the still functioning elevator with the three women holding his arms. What followed afterwards was a busy night of setting up the city’s defenses. Though many of the areas have already been put up to a level of fortifications, the vast majority of the city is still left with much nothing less than a sandbag or two on a police station or clinic.
But with all three of them together, the final pieces were now put into place, and with the forces of Jackson all in Schon, all he awaited were the transfer papers as he did what he could to aid the city within the final days of his service there. Preparing for the unification of the Heroes and the start of the end.