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Army of the Damned
VOLUME 7 Prologue

VOLUME 7 Prologue

“And if you said this life ain't good enough.”

A Pilot in a jet black flight suit and helmet makes a small cross, opening his player menu and goes to the personal chat box. His head weaving as he grooves to the song of Santana - Smooth being played on the speakers of the locker room.

>It’s confirmed. The Scientists will say if we stay here any longer, the player menu will disappear as our souls get used to this foreign world. Making it impossible for anyone to return, I’ll give you the classified intel’s files later sir.

>Alright, We’ve made the deal with Havannah. Execute Operation Jade Green, defect now from the UN, drop the Spec Ops soldiers near the Vampire Kingdom and meet us at Pons Terra. We have Oil Rigs and an Island there where you can store the MC-130J Commandos.

>Roger that sir.

“I would give my world to lift you up.”

He then takes a chart of Schon and looks at a Men of the Woods E-3 Sentry AWACS flying in its middle while one of its F-22A with six F-18 Super Hornets owned by the Knights of Treehearts has a flight plan to the Three Rivers Fortress City.

>AWACS, 1x F-22A, 6x F/A-18SH. AWACS 50 Clicks back, F-22 providing radar. AWACS is also supported by F-35s with SEAD. Possibly a shit ton of HARMs.

>Copy. We’ll be setting up an S-550 Victor system with the Hera Radar system. That AWACS will be history with the Lightnings. For the formation that’s going to be in a crash course with you guys, we have a Veteran of the Third World War, who flew an F-22. He’ll be using a Felon and will be committing to a BVR engagement.

>That’s pretty ballsy sir. But possible, we have very few satellites and most of them cheaply made as they’re supposed to expire next year.

>Good, then prepare your flight plan and submit it to us. The Mach Loop you’ll be performing should be below 500 Feet as you’ll be deploying them near the Vampire Kingdom. The airbase they have there is small but has strong radar.

>Copy.

“I could change my life to better suit your mood.”

A few days later, the snow has calmed down and a Special Ops soldier is inside his barracks. All geared up with his M4 SOPMOD II next to him as he takes a silver mask from a box given to him. Listening to music as he walks to one of the Operators.

“Have you told the others?”

“Yes sir, the entire Special Operations Group is ready. We’ll follow you through the entire thing.”

“You're all good men, we deserve better than the life we have back at home. Though I don’t agree with the alliance with those crazed Vamps. We’ll make do. C’mon, let's be a part of history, one last time.”

“Because you're so smooth, And it's just like the ocean under the moon.”

He turns off the music and puts on his Advanced Combat Helmet with quad nods attached. Exiting out of the concrete building and into the open tarmac where skeletons with players are cleaning the runway and taxiways of snow. A black Humvee arrives and he is delivered to the cargo area where four MC-130J Commando with Ground Power Units are ready and prepared for take off. Inside the ATC of the Airbase, the Controllers notice the jet black Special Operations aircraft seemingly ready to spool up.

“Hey Henry, does the Five Hundred and Sixtieth Special Operations Air Group have any filed takeoffs today?”

“Huh? No. Well, its not like they ever file those, High Command gave them the green pass to do fuck all. They only bother when there’s an exercise.”

“Well, we might have to divert landings again.”

“Eh? Take Offs are still denied, the snowstorm is not far enough.”

“They have actual Veteran Pilots from the Third World War, wouldn’t surprise me they’d be ballsy enough to do something like that.”

“Fucking hell man, they can’t just do as is.”

“Clandestine Operations my guy, and it seems that they have everyone on deck for this one. Look at how many they are, that’s like two hundred super decked out spec ops soldiers in black. I wonder whose the poor fuck they’ll off.”

Boarding the MC-130J, four planes taxis into the runway. Fully stopped with brakes on, they poured everything into the throttle.

“Starstriker to Khe Sanh, Flight of four Commandos, we’ll be taking off IFR to Three-Zero feet then its transponders off.”

“Copy Starstriker. Snowstorm is still there, good luck to you.”

“Roger Khe Sanh. Good bye.”

The four planes then take off, flying straight into the dangerous clouds in the horizon. Inside the ATC Tower, a High Ranking Officer barges in through the door.

“STOP THOSE FOUR PLANES!”

“Eh?!”

“STOP THEM! THEY HAVE NO OPERATION!”

A kilometer from the Airbase, they turn off their transponders and radar. Diving steep and into the valleys and mountain crevices of Schon. The Pilots of the four planes flew them without a sweat, not once breaking the 500 feet max ceiling given to them. Just like a flowing wave of the ocean, the four planes didn’t break their formation, following the leader while the heads of the pilots bobbed to the turns and swings.

In an Island situated in the Ocean of Pons Terra, located in between Geraldia and Angea. A snow hidden bunkered hangar opens its doors. Revealing an Su-57 Felon in a jet black camo, with no signifiers or markers.

“Reaper to Base Three, spooling up engines.”

“Copy Reaper, remember, you only have one shot at this. Your objective is to shoot down that Raptor and the Super Hornets with it. Jettison your drop tanks over Lord Loch’s Ocean and prepare for Beyond Visual Range Engagement.”

“Don’t worry, this isn’t my first rodeo.”

The Pilot was so chill and relaxed with his voice on the radio, not even stuttering with the open canopy of the 5th Generation jet as the temperatures of the island fell below negative ten. The Technicians remove the GPU cable and Reaper starts up the 3D Thrust Vectoring Engines of the Felon.

“Just like old times.”

“Heh, yea. Surprised that I’m in the Felon this time.”

“The Asians gave you a good match though. Good thing we didn’t sell Raptors to the South American Federation. That would’ve been a disaster.”

“The thing with Russians is that they’ll sell their gear to anyone willing to pay and knowing Asians and their warrior culture, it didn’t surprise me that it was a match made in Heaven.”

“Well, now you're the one in the Opfor aircraft and you’ll be shooting down the very plane you were an Ace in. Remember, he didn’t choose you for this Operation just because you're one of the only Pilots in the world with a Merge kill. You know the Raptor inside out, take it down and let the Commando’s pass through Yeketov Valley without getting shot down.”

“Jesus James, you still nag me even though we’re in another world. Don’t worry, I won’t fuck this up. Never had anyways. Heh.”

“Geez, it's a miracle how you're still alive.”

Closing the canopy, Reaper is tugged to the runway. It passes through more Su-57s and then F-22s and F-35s all in jet black camouflage with the only signifier being a two digit number on its rear tail.

“Reaper to Base, I’m green for take off.”

“Good copy, you are cleared for take off, weather is shit as usual. Max ceiling is three hundred feet. Keep her low and avoid being detected at all costs.”

“Reaper copies all.”

With a thumbs up, the man takes off with the end of the runway being the vast wide ocean of Threa. Even with the massive waves due to the abhorrent weather conditions, Reaper flew the Felon like a leaf, defying gravity and performing spins and inverted barrel rolls. Keeping the aircraft as near to the water as possible.

“Okay Reaper, keep her as low as possible. The Men of the Woods and the Knights of Eldwood have grounded all of their Sentries due to weather conditions but Arleigh Burke Class and Sovremenny class destroyers litter Pons Terra, guarding Galleons from getting raided by Druisvikings.”

“Copy Base.”

Soon, the extremely skilled fighter Pilot jettisons his tanks and detaches the pylons.

“Reaper to Base, making last contact. Now within Operational Range.”

“Good Hunting Reaper, bring those Bandits down.”

Without even slowing down as he reaches the continent of Schon, Reaper flies straight in between a valley. Alerting some Beastmen Merchants who were about to get executed by Thieves. Giving the Caravan guards the needed distraction to fight back.

Two hundred kilometers away, a rigid 8X8 BAZ-69096 loaded with S-550 rocket launchers stops at an open patch of forest. With the radars deployed, an E-3 Sentry AWACS flying not ten kilometers from them gets its alarm going insane.

“SIR! WE GOT PAINT! POSSIBLY A SAM!”

“HUH?! We’re the only modern guild here, how the fuck?!”

“THIS IS URANUS TO SHADOW! REQUESTING SEAD OPERATION! UPLINK UPDATED!”

A flight of two F-35s hear the cry of the AWACS as they get updated with the exact location of the S-550s. But as quickly as the black camouflage launchers were deployed, did it fire its missile.

“WE GOT LAUNCHES! THREE FIVE FIFTY MISSILES!”

“WHAT?! THAT’S ONLY BEEN MADE IN TWENTY THIRTY!”

Hearing the commotion as the AWACS operators panic, Shadow goes into afterburner but they themselves were locked on by the brand new radars from 2031.

“Fuck, Uranus! We’re also getting painted! They’re using the latest age tech! Who’re these people!”

“Cop-”

The two F-35s could only hear the hypersonic missiles strike the E-3 Sentry way above the clouds and its carcass falls down on the peaceful and snowy wonderland of Schon. “Well shit.” The F-35s then got a lock, firing AGM HARMs at the S-550 Victors.

“FOX! DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!”

“WE CAN’T GET CLEAN! WE’RE FUCKED!”

Diving as hard as they could, the ear blasting sound of the S-550 missiles hit the two F-35s, instantly turning them into a million pieces as more hypersonic missiles were fired. Intercepting the HARMs they fired.

“Projector to Hammerhead, All Three Splashed, Four HARMs intercepted. Mission Accomplished.”

“Roger Hammerhead, teleport magic out of there now before they send more.”

One hundred kilometers away, a flight of one F-22A with Six F/A-18 Super Hornets are alarmed by the disappearance of the AWACS.

“Uhhhhh… what the hell was that?”

“Uranus got shot down. No contact at all.”

“A pack of Wyverns maybe?”

“No, it's flying at an altitude of thirty five thousand feet. How?”

“I thought you guys were supposed to be better. Don't the Pilots of the Men of the Woods get more flight time than anyone else? Heck even we, Knights of Treeheart are only given an hour or so weekly.”

“Shush, something’s not right.”

On the F-22As radar, the Pilot tilts his head as a pop up of what is seemingly 4 MC-130J Commandos appeared on his dash.

“What the hell?”

The blips would pop in and out, indicating how extremely and brutally low they were.

“Uhhh, Lionheart, are you seeing this shit?”

“Woah, are they… trailing the valley that low?”

“THIS IS SIX! I GOT PAINTED!”

“HUH?”

Suddenly the Pilot of the F-22A also gets painted and Lock On warnings blare in its cockpit as it automatically fires flares.

“IT'S FROM BEHIND US! TURN AROUND!”

“And it's just like the ocean under the moon..”

Rising from another valley South of them, the Reaper’s Su-57 Felon fires an R-37 Vympel Hypersonic Air to Air missile. Not even giving the F-22A a chance to react as the rocket hits Mach 6 and turns it into a pile of ash. He then fires another two more, intercepting two F/A-18s. Without a heartbeat, the man wastes five of the F/A-18 Super Hornets.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

With one last missile, he fires it. The remaining Super Hornet decided to keep diving and just before the hypersonic missile could hit him, he afterburners through the valley.

“Ah, being itchy aren’t we?”

Reaper then follows ahead. Trailing the valley to shoot down its last Bandit.

“LIONHEART TO ANYONE IN THIS FREQUENCY! I THINK- I THINK THERE’S A FELON AFTER US!”

A raspy and deteriorated reply came. With visible sounds of the engine of a C-130.

“Copy Lionheart. I suggest you exfil out of there if you don’t want to die like your friends. I heard it's not nice to respawn in Schon due to how barren and dangerous it is.”

“Huh? Who is this?”

“Let’s just say, I am just another Pilot.”

“Why are you doing this? We just wanna go home!”

“There isn’t a home for anyone to return to. The longer we stay here, the more our souls get used to it. Making it nearly impossible for us to go back.”

“Wait… are you from that Group? That rumored group to be going against us? Are you all insane! Are you gonna trap five hundred million players in this foreign world forever?!”

“Let the old world die my friend. Maybe World War Three didn’t end in nuclear annihilation, but for me, it ended when I couldn't even get a job nor a way to support myself. I’m a dead man who's spending his remaining life in a Full Dive game.”

The surviving Super Hornet then suddenly gets buzzed as four MC-130J Commandos in a tight column formation flies above and below him, dodging his fighter jet.

“C’mon man! Don’t do this! I wanna go back home!”

“Sonny, when someone like me, who shot down invading Asian and South American fighter jets over Europe and Mexico is left as a Pensioneer in a decrepit house just like many other Veterans, what future awaits you?”

“I don’t know! I don’t care! I just wanna live!”

“Sorry bud, times out.”

The radio goes silent as a violent lightning strikes behind him, and like a spawn of Satan, summoned to end his life, the the jet black and gray Felon flies over a mountain and straight into his six.

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/829944365266763846/988700572708397076/20220621145459_1.jpg]

Pushing the airframe to its limit, the Super Hornet pilot dives, swerves, and even flies through the crevice of two mountains. “He's just toying with me at this point! He should’ve gotten a gun solution on me ages ago!” He then fires an AGM into the side of a rocky mountain. Making boulders and snow fall into the Felon. But the fighter plane effortlessly dodges them.

“Fuck! Him with that Thrust Vectoring bullshit!”

He then pulls up, reaching the top of the valley and then diving into its other side. Nearly chipping the top of the tall trees. The two fighter jets zoom through the valley and even surprise a Rogue encampment. The Werewolves and Hybrids took cover as the fighter jets screeched past their camp.

Inside Reaper's cockpit, the heads on display had a gun solution on the Super Hornet the entire time and only needed him to squeeze the trigger. With a press, the Super Hornet is torn into pieces. “Gotta get this baby refitted to carry more rockets.” He then pulls up, gaining altitude and returning to the MC-130J Commandos who were nearing its drop point. Leveling his wings as the Commandos fly above their max ceiling, opening their rear doors.

“Skies clear.”

“Thanks Reaper. I’ve only heard of you back then, good to see those rumors weren’t unwarranted.”

“Heh, it seems that I made a name for myself.”

“Being one of the only Pilots to shoot down Flankers and an Indian Felon, you sure are flying that thing as if it was made for you alone.”

“Ruskies know one thing, the skies are the limit. I feel like a UFO in this thing.”

“Yea, nearly shat my pants when the Hornet blew past us. Good to see the players of the Men of the Woods are using those things nicely.”

“It’s actually owned by the Knights of Treeheart, the Raptor was the one owned and flown by the Men of the Woods.”

“Ah. Well, they’re getting their flight times worth with crazy stunts like that.”

“They're getting there. Though their pilot skills aren't like those who came from the Air Force like us.”

“Yea, well, after this we’ll perform a midair refuel. Keep close to us as we fly back to Pons Terra. Don’t want that baby falling into the sea.”

“Copy Starstriker.”

Reaper then shakes his wings and performs a barrel roll and inverts itself over the lead Commando as it drops packaged ammo and the Spec Ops soldiers. The Felon then performs a Purchaev Cobra, and then a Falling Leaf while firing off flares, giving the parachuting soldiers a sight in the snowy foreign world.

“Show off.”

“Hey, he’s pretty good for someone meant to fly the Raptor.”

“Eh, he started with the Super Hornet like everyone else. Just that he showed his skills and was fast tracked to become a Raptor pilot with his skills.”

“Look at him flying that thing, what the hell were the Russians thinking when they sold these things to India, Indonesia and the Philippines?”

“Don’t ask me. I’m just happy World War Three didn’t end with nukes, though I’m jobless and am wasting my life in a Full Dive Fantasy game and now, using my skills once again as a former Air Force pilot to transport spec ops soldiers in a foreign world, I think we can live a better life here.”

The lead MC-130J then does a 180 degree turn, heading back to the direction of the ocean. Dropping once again below 500 feet, hiding its signature.

“What? Don’t look at me like that. I flip burgers at a Fast Food Restaurant unlike most of you.”

“That literally isn’t any better. Yea, you got a job. But don’t you think you’d be in an Airline or something? No.”

“Well, yea. The economy has been fucked for so long now… with so many people gone. Is there even a world that those people can return to?”

“Yea, so that’s why we’re defecting. We have to save them, even if they go back. What if things got so unstable everyone finally lost their shit and nuked Earth to Kingdom come? Man, their way fixed on going home. They need to think.”

“Hey Starstriker, I’d have a philosophical conversation later, there’s a bridge directly North of you.”

“Oh, copy that Reaper.

The lead Commando then performs a Knife edge, flying in between the supports of the dilapidated stone bridge. The rattle created by the powerful engines of the 4 Commando’s made some parts of the large bridge collapse.

“Starstriker to Silverhead, good luck.”

“Thank you Starstriker and Reaper, we’ll take the reins now. Magnificent flying as always.”

“Aw, you compliment me too much. Be sure to give me a Five star rating! Bwahahaha!”

The Spec Ops soldiers then walked through the day and night, soon after resting for a day in the snow. Right after, they continued their trek and could see the wall of the Vampire Kingdoms border. The lead operator then holds his fist up.

“Sniper. East, times one with a large rifle.”

Before he could tell his men to scatter, the man was already in front of him. Wearing a midnight blue business suit, the handsome well made man could impress any lady with a single stare.

“For a human, that was surprising.”

“Next time, don’t stick out your rifle’s scope when the Sun is out. I learned that when I had to fight the United Asian Forces.”

“So your group is entirely made up of Veterans from the Third World War?”

“Yes, and we’re all going to make sure the old world dies.”

“Hmph, interesting. Well, I got the information. Its Countess Alana le Minuit of Manor Chaîne de Montagnes of House Minuit. She is harboring the Vampire Queen. One of the groups we sent to ambush and capture her got decimated, but one survived and instead chose to stay and check out her Manor. Someone with the exact same look of the Ancient Vampire Queen is there.”

“Okay, tell your friends that the Sarcophagus is currently in the capital of Woodstock. The Men of the Woods main Guild base and city, inside the Port on an Expeditionary Freighter.”

The man then hands him a classified document from his vest. Wrapped in paper.

“Thank you. Havannah will send a team to check it out and take photos.”

“And what if the Vampire Queens corpse is there?”

“We’re Vampires, we’ll just steal the entire thing and take it out of there.”

“You people are insane. That Port is guarded by Arleigh Burke Class destroyers and a shit ton of Patriot Missile systems.”

“Says the mortal man planning on fighting a few million or so players wanting to go home so that our old world may die, unless it already hasn't. Though I share your sentiment about not wanting to go back home.”

“Look, just tell Miss Havannah okay?”

“Right.”

Inside the Minuit Manor, The Doctor once again visits the General after a few days. This time, sporting a shirt and a blue necktie with a Medical Lab Coat, on his left hand a Doctor’s bag. Alana who was still in her nightwear opens the door extremely early in the morning.

“Ah Doctor, you’ve arrived. I’m surprised you’d be willing to come here even with the snow.”

“It’s no worries, the Gaz Tigers I was transported with were meant for the Siberian Winter. Stuff like this should be a Sunday drive for it.”

“Hm. Please come in, M’Lord is upstairs in his personal room.”

Alana then starts guiding the man through the entrance and lobby of her Manor. Even early in the Morning, Butlers and Maids were already out and about. Preparing Breakfast and cleaning. Some are readying the Baths for the new members of the house.

“Alright. So, how's taking care of a human so far?”

“Pretty good. The Queen and Bahamut have been very busy keeping him clean and well taken care of. Though not to say that I don’t help myself, I’d occasionally cook food for him.”

“Oh surprising. You can cook?”

“It’s a skill I picked up in the months I was traveling with him. He had nothing to eat but meat and whatever random thing he’d come by. Geez, how did he and Bahamut live like this?”

“You’d be surprised with what one man can live by.”

“Though you look very professional in that outfit of yours.”

“Oh really? Thanks. I had to travel back and forth through the Capital cities of the Guilds. Woodstock particularly.”

“Hm, you seem to be very well known in your profession as a Physician.”

“I’m actually a PhD holder, Doctor of Medicine and also an MD holder for Hematology. PhD, is from Stanford while the MD I got from Manhattan Institute. Free of charge.”

“Oh my, very splendid indeed. But to see a Commoner holding such titles. Impressive world you live in.”

“Even then, with the economy in shambles, my degrees didn’t really mean much though I planned to keep working till I die. My old bones didn’t really stand much after World War Three and spent most of my time in Full Dive, wasting away.”

“Just how old are you, Doctor, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“Geez, Seventy Eight? My avatar might make it seem as if I’m a young twenty something. But in reality, I’m a wrinkled old man.”

“That actually lifts my faith in you even more, knowing you have a long history in your profession.”

“Yea, right now. I’m just juggling around the Capital cities. There’s been some sort of an Outbreak of natives getting Mana sickness. I suspect it's the Mana Core draining them of life energy. Mana is life itself right? Well, that means it's connected to the red blood cells of a creature. I intend to look deeper into this.”

Arriving at Paul’s room. They’re stopped as a line of five Maids and Bahamut are waiting outside.

“Ugh, as expected the Queen is hogging him all to herself. So Doctor, may I ask what those Mana Cores are? Ever since I saw one, I couldn’t help but think of it every now and then.”

“Well, the Mana Cores are Guild items, their deployable base builders as it can spawn, create, and materialize an infinite amount of basically any building material you could imagine. Usually done through touching it and opening a pop up menu, now it's done through a computer since it shockingly disappeared.”

“It disappeared?”

“Hm, it's been a long thought theory that the longer we stay here, the more our souls become accustomed to it. Soon, we think even the player menu will disappear. Though it's like it's much of a help anymore since its inventory is gone.”

“And these Mana Cores, are they hard to obtain?”

“Very, the Guild Quest in attaining one requires at least a hundred or so well equipped and high leveled players who know their roles. The Dungeon it's looted from may take a week or so… but knowing the boredom of my generation, some have done it with ten people though of course, using the cheesiest builds known to man.”

“Interesting, and what happens when it blows?”

“Then the entire thing goes back to Mana in the air. That’s why it's always underground or hidden away, as if it's destroyed. Everything that was constructed with it will also go with it. So that means our army, our vehicles and technology, all poofed right before our eyes and we’re sent back a hundred years back to the Medieval age.”

Not wanting to wait anymore, Bahamut kicks down the expensive door. Making Alana drop her jaw. “Okay Blondie. You have had enough time with him.” Bahamut sees that the Queen had long finished shaving his chin and was just staring at the man. She soon drags her outside with the bucket and razor and lets the Maids in with the Doctor and Alana.

After a while, the Doctor collects all the information he needs and ends with a smile.

“Hm, good job girls. His vitals are good and he should be up in… maybe a week or so. Though don’t quote me on that. Hahahahha, stuff might change and he might spazz out of nowhere and he’ll be in this state for a year. But let’s not hope that’ll happen.”

“Mhm, so My Lord will be up and good in after a while?”

“More so your majesty. Also, Bahamut, I’m surprised you’ve stuck this long to a human man. Knowing your lore and power when the Seven Pillars aren’t holding you down.”

“Hm…? What? I’ve shared four years of my time with that man. Of course I would. I’ve seen him naked more than the Queen, and scared to happy and afraid. Of course I’ll be with him.”

“EHHHH? You’ve seen him naked more than I have?!”

The Queen looks absolutely shocked at the information. Holding her hand up her mouth, covering her teeth and fangs while Bahamut grins underneath her veil. With a demeaning stare and mighty posture.

“Of course, I was a small Dragon. He wasn’t afraid to show me everything. Though I guess it changes now since I am in this form…”

“But-but-but… even then… Gods I’ve been bested in my own game… how can I call myself the Ancient Queen of Vampires with such a mortifying record with a man… a human man no less!”

The Doctor then coughs.

“Alright ladies, that’s enough. Geez, I’m surprised he doesn’t need a therapist or a Neurologist with you all. To think that this is your personalities… Now, I’m not saying you should change but when he wakes up, be sure to behave alright? The best way for a human to recover is to be in a good mood. Make him happy and do not stress him alright? Most of all you, Goddess Bahamut of the Void and you, Queen Elizabeth of Rose.”

“EH?” “EH?” The two tall and mature women couldn’t believe the mortal Outworlder had the gall to call them out.

“Bahamut, I know more about since she was a Global and Event boss. You have a thing for shiny stuff and eating random things as apparent in your boss areas where you have piles of gold and the walls full of giant teeth marks. Do not trouble him with stealing things alright? And you Queen Elizabeth, as much as I respect your immense elegance and stature of wealth and power, you're also a headache with your inability to control your brazen personality and openness with your beauty. Keep that in mind for both of you when he wakes up.”

“But Doctor…”

“Yes Bahamut.”

“How long after he wakes up can I go back to eating things and biting at shiny stuff?”

“You bite them too…? J-just refrain till he is all good okay?”

Checking around to see if the room was well insulated enough and has facilities for a human under care, the Doctor notices the General’s Greatsword on display. Tilting his head as he observes the well maintained blade. Alana who was with him the entire time to entertain his questions about her Manor tilts her head.

“Hm? What is it, Doctor?”

“Ah no, I’m just looking at this sword. I’m a Holy DPS Swordmaster so this stuff is right up my alley.”

The Queen then joins in, while Bahamut in the back is already starting to wander around the room and the balcony.

“Hmm? What’s with My Lord's blade that has caught thou’s attention? Aside from the oddly decorated grip, the blade is very dangerous. Its material is something I’ve never seen before, Dark Steel has called it.”

“Hm, expected of a late game DPS Death Knight build. Since they're Neutral, nor good or evil, he took the most powerful materials the game has to offer and boosted its damage multiplier with that sweet set of Gothic Devil armor he has on that stand in the hallway while not getting any negation from having to to wield a sword made from Dark Steel with a Holy enchantment in it.”

“Holy? With such an evil and devilish looking set of swords he has?”

“Well yea, since this stuff should be glowing dark aura all the time, but since it's not. There’s a conflict happening and it's to his choosing which part of the sword he wishes to give more strength to. Interestingly too, this sword is meant to fight larger beasts. It has an Anti Regeneration Enchantment. You see that blueish glow coming out of it?”

“Yes, does this mean it could damage even Vampires?”

“Yep, you two better watch out when he swings this thing around. That blueish glow doesn’t come off normally, that means this thing's loaded with enchantments and Anti Regeneration is its shtick. Jesus, Bahamut was he fighting Vampires or Werewolves? Aside from his more modern and comfy grip that’s so out of place. You can see how long he has been wielding this weapon.”

Bahamut then stops right behind them and puts her long slender finger up her chin, trying to remember something.

“If I remember correctly, that sword four years ago didn’t look like that. It was Silver and had a very holy look to it and it only broke when we fought a Vampire who used her hands to break it. He… was fuming for the next few days, constantly muttering about farming and grinding.”

“Ah, yea, the blade must’ve been damaged many times already and when the Vampire player used maybe Break? Decompose? And it finally broke, he replaced it one drenched in Anti Regeneration and Anti Demon. Yea, he was pretty angry when he made this. Also, the Victorian decor on the grip is better suited on the more holy weapons since they are way more elegant. I can see where he was going with this originally. A Death Knight wielding a Holy Sword, what a sight that would’ve been.”

“And Master stopped using it when he got the Sword of King Paimon. To think that man was still alive in the Underworld.”

“Of course, it is a way better sword and compliments the Death Knight Build better since it collects Souls. Heh, he has a good build though. It’s more Generalist aligned but with his Knight sets strength enhancement, he should be able to swing this thing around like it's nothing and just keep tapping the enemy’s ass till it folds.”

Queen Elizabeth then stands straight up. With a smile on her face and her arms crossed below her breasts.

“A Sword is a Knight's pride, his armor, his soul and honor. My now passed husband, even when he no longer needed his armor, still took care of it, and his blade. Such is a man's pride, they’ll take it to the grave. Though such basics are expected of a Knight, I can’t help but feel proud of My Lord.”

“A Knight? The General? Ahhh… technically, he is a Knight. So, hmmm… pretty crazy if General Paul becomes a Vampire Knight albeit being a human.”

“I’m willing to do it, he is nearly reaching that point for me. Where I must reward him with such a title, he had done nothing but help me and the Countess with Bahamut. I owe the man so much already.”

“Well, don’t sweat it. Just between you and me, but I think the General is not gonna go through with the United Nations plan.”

“What plan? Oh you mean where they’ll use me to hold the country hostage?”

“Yep, since I found it odd how they only sent me and not a team. They want to keep this as low as possible, my guess is that they know King Harold is not planning on keeping whatever promise the two sides had and wants you to become the leader once again.”

“We shall see, but whatever My Lord chooses, I shall be with him till the end. No matter the consequences.”

“Keep this up, and he might not do it at all. Seeing how much such dangerous and far more powerful creatures care for a lowly mortal. I’m sure he’ll find another way, regardless if it means his rank and name being erased. His bond with you three is far greater than any Nation or Species.”

The Doctor then picks up his bag and bows.

“Alright ladies, I’ll see myself out. I have other matters to attend to, I’ll try visiting again next week.”

Bahamut then nonchalantly picks up Hellraiser, while Elizabeth slaps her hand to put it down.

“Hey! I was touching it!”

“Haven’t you been with him for years now? Why touch it now? That’s a Knights weapon. One must be respectful when touching it.”

“Because I was a small dragon, now that I’m my human form, I’d like to touch the Master's sword!”

“S-such vulgar usage of a word for a woman wearing a grown and a pretty gown!”

“Wha-what?! No! That’s only you, you lusty Queen! People call me ancient and unable to read the room, but look at you!”

“What’re you even trying to pertain with those mixtures of words?”

“I don’t know, now let me inspect this weapon!”

The two then start staring each other down as he walks out of the room with Alana in tow and turns around, putting his hand at her shoulder with eyes full of pity, as if he was talking to a single mom taking care of multiple rowdy children in their rebellious phase.

“I feel so sorry for you.”

“Do not worry Doctor, if I can control multiple families and the economy of my Domains, these two will be a walk in the park.”

Little did the Doctor know, Alana was putting up her best political face. Telling an absolute lie as naturally as she breathed.

“Alright, well. I’ll be off then. Continue doing what you're doing, and hey, I read the number one cause of death for Vampires is boredom. I think even Queen Elizabeth was a victim of that, I suppose this will keep her busy and not give you trouble. Bahamut though…”

“You don’t have to worry, Doctor. As I said, I have this under my control. Bahamut most of all, as much as she is a Dragon God, she’s pretty easy to read and her mind is surprisingly simple and straightforward.”

“That is how a God is… well those I’m supposed to believe in. Just start panicking when she starts making Mana. Now that’s a world end scenario.”

“Hm, take good care of yourself Doctor Raymound.”

“No problem Countess.”

The Doctor bows and goes downstairs, after taking a break from the nonstop six hour drive, he goes back to the Gaz Tiger and to the airfield. Alana on the other hand sees that the two have called down and were both observing the sword together.

“Hey now, the Doctor said not to touch it as it affects the regeneration of even Vampires.”

“We know Countess, but I am very curious about its strange scent. I can smell so many different things from it.”

“Bloodsucker, I think it's because Master has killed so many things with it. You're digging way too much into this.”

“Eh? Really? Oh well.”

And just like that, the Queen puts her hands up and stretches. Leaving the room with a bored expression.

“Maid! Hand me some Wine immediately! No blood!”

Her deep womanly voice with such a powerful commanding tone could be heard inside the room while Bahamut gently puts the sword back at the wall display.

“Also Bahamut, what did the Doctor mean that you could end the world if you create Mana?”

“Oh simple, Mana is everything. It cannot be destroyed nor created, but if one was to create Mana, it would release such a massive amount of energy that it would destroy a planet with little to no effort.”

“Wow, so that’s what happens huh? No one in Threa has ever thought of such a conclusion. I do wish it’ll never happen. This is a big world and it frightens me with the idea of someone doing that in some Dungeon or Keep, far from our eyes.”

“Eh, even for me. It’ll take a significant amount of my energy as I’ll have to create it in a sphere above this, and then bring it here through a portal. That could take me a thousand years at least, and I for one am too sleepy.”

Bahamut then scoots over to her Master’s side. Removing her crown, revealing her pretty pale face and straight bangs that cover her eyebrows. She then throws her heels to the ground and immediately starts snoring as if she was still a dragon. Alana on the other hand puts her hands on her hips, looking up with a smile.

“Okay! Let’s do this!”