“Is General Jackson still within-”
“Negative sir, he already left.”
“Get General Ripper then, we have a problem. A patrol said they saw sparks coming out of Train Forty Six. If that thing derails, the route to Zavalda will be cut off for the next few weeks and we can’t have that with the war ramping up recently.”
“Copy sir, I’ll notify Castle One. He should be on the pathway of the train.”
“Roger that, if there’s anything happening. Notify me immediately. I’ll send a Strike Package if it's the Terrorists. We can’t have this. Not now.”
A player guarding a switch was looking at his watch, scoffs and turns back to his magazine. The page is about the Fibonacci Sequence and the examples shown are known Human forms of Dragon Goddess’ and comparing them to player made Vampire Avatars. He nods in approval of their finely shaped rears being shown to have the perfect curve. “I do say to myself, I am more of a Dragon man but dang, the Vampires do give them a run for their money.” while behind him, skeletons in the back are busy realigning some rails on a siding. One of them walked to their UAZ and picked up a wooden sleeper. “Daaanngg… Bahamut huh.” he turns the magazine on its side and it unrolls the page into a full body figure photo of Bahamut and the Golden Ratio applied to her thighs, breasts, and butt. Just as he was about to take a further look, he jumps as his radio comes to life.
“Castle One, Castle One, Do you read me? What’re you doing there? Has a train passed you yet?” he jumps at the sound of his commander and looks around and taps his feet as the tracks right in front of him slowly rattle and coming out of a bend far in the distance was a freight train. “Uhhhh… one seems to be coming to me now, Command.'' As he says this, three speeding SD90MACs and one SD40 zooms past him. The tall boxcars behind the locomotives create a huge billow as it curves the bend at high speed, soon flatcars carrying steel bars and components for radars and communications followed by tank cars carrying fuel.
Running to the Humvee, he checks the Speed Radar inside it and it clocks the freight locomotive going at 89MPH as it bolts through the switch and a giant slash follows, cutting down trees and causing birds to climb high above just to hit the red scales of a giant ancient dragon following the freight consist. Though the huge dragon was long, the two kilometer long train out lengths it by a hundred meters.
“S-Sir… Train Forty Five is under attack… H-holy shit… it’s also speeding…”
“Copy Corporal, who's the assailant now? The Elves? Orcs? Raider group? That train cannot be destroyed!”
On top of a 60ft Boxcar was the beautiful Sword Saint with blonde hair with a vampire woman and a human Knight in glistening white armor fighting armed Black Ops soldiers with guns. The Soldiers to his surprise were putting up a fight and keeping their distance at all cost while not taking any risk at fighting them head on and instead using their magic to keep their toes up. Though the lowly Corporal only had a few seconds to take in the sight, the combat between the two sides was enough to leave him speechless even though bullets were landing near him.
“It’s Graine sir. Elizadeath, the Streamer!”
“The Sword Saint!? How?!”
“And one of the missing Special Operations Air Assault Regiments.”
“Huh? That’s i-impossible. C-copy! We’ll be sending everything. Get on your vehicle and follow that damn train!”
“SIR YES SIR!”
The player looks back at his Humvee and sees that it's been sliced in half by a flying blade of air. Looking around, he steals the UAZ meant for railway maintenance behind an electric box, leaving the mindless skeletons all by themselves as they watch their vehicle drive away into the distance. The Corporal follows the train through a rugged dirt path all the while, on top of the 60ft Boxcar.
The Sword Saint is getting annoyed by the Special Operations soldiers constantly using teleportation and shock magic to escape her clutches. The elegant woman moved with careful calculation as hail of bullets from suppressed HKs and SCARs flew inches from hitting her as her blade swirled through the atmosphere and nearly cut one of the Operators in half. Hopping from a flatcar, a handsome Elven Prince fires an arrow and it tracks into one of the soldiers like a heat seeking missile.
Though he dodges it, the arrow soon makes a 180 degree turn and hits him through the heart as the Elven Prince fires more and more, making the soldiers hide in between the cars. Protecting themselves from the arrows as it embeds itself into the metal skin of the boxcars. All of the sudden, a black mercuric goop appears from behind the Sword Saint, and a man wearing an M50 gas mask in the darkest coloured ACUs appears. He was covered from head to toe and wielded a jet black M4 SOPMOD II.
“I’m surprised that it took a Streamer to find out our plans. Are the Gods now looking at us for causing chaos?”
“Why’re you doing this?! Can you imagine what damage your plan will cause?! I knew something was up when the first Mana Core corrupted without reason!”
“The city of Zavalda has made its choice. It doesn’t want to go back, and to do that. We must expel an army without declaring war on it. We don’t need everyone to be in it, only certain people in good enough places.”
“Tsk! That doesn’t excuse anything! Why had the Gods brought me here then? You said it yourself. Even you yourself are shocked I found out about your plans. Who else but the Gods has led me here.”
“The Gods don’t care what we do, we aren’t doing anything except rise a bit of chaos here and there. Or are you using their blessings to prevent us from doing what the people of Zavalda wish? You’ve already done your part. Your next big appearance should be in a month or two when the hordes of the Underworld walk amongst the living once again. Are the Gods that impatient with the foreigners they invited into their world? That we aren’t dancing to their tune like the dogs of the UN and you?”
“Even then! I also wish to go home! The least I could do is assure these people who have nothing to do with this a safe and peaceful time in this beautiful world!”
“Heh. You’ve already done your part, Sword Saint. The stars have been aligned and I can already see what the Gods are planning with you and that General, Jackson. It isn’t a mistake that you awakened the Ancient Vampire Queen. I knew there was something wrong with that report. With how badly they scoffed at your reasons for wanting to destroy the United Nations. The Gods fooled you, used you. Why are you trying so hard? Leave us be and let us do our own thing.”
“Do you even imagine the chaos that you will bring upon an early start to the End Times the people of this land are so much scared of?”
“Hmph. Even then. I have a message to send. No matter who dies or who gets crushed by my boots. I will finish this.”
Hearing the man talk, Elizabeth lowers her sword as the train exits the forest and into the side of a snowy mountain. The magnificent and divine section of the tracks could make one see the greenery far away in the distant lands as a Giant chases a herd of Cattle to even the birds flying high above the skies with nothing but their naked eye.
“The Gods plan to use that woman, including Bahamut. Am I not correct? They have a plan laid out from the start and they will make sure it happens. Again, I suggest you leave and prepare for the Hordes of the Underworld. Players will one day be forced to rise up as the UNs futile army falls apart and since we’re more powerful than the average person in Threa. The Gods basically conjured an extra army of over a billion to die for this world.”
“And? What’s your point?”
“And we’re all being used. YOUR a mere pawn in a grand game between two worlds! I wonder, what will you do when the Gods no longer favor you?”
“Then I shall continue to fight on forward. No matter what’s in front of me, as long as there’s a path. I know me and the rest of humanity will follow through and survive!”
She lunges at him as Prince Anthony with his bow fires a special arrow at the Dark Operator. The man lowers his helmet Quad Nods and disappears right before her eyes and appears once again behind her wielding a Combat Knife. Though her neck guard stopped it, before she could react and fight back. The player was already gone. A few cars behind, Samantha is using her vampiric powers and was also teleporting to intercept the Black Ops soldiers. “Damned Mortals! You and these futile weapons aren’t enough to stop a Lady of the Louis Household! The Lords of House Charlmagnes will have you all beheaded!”
And on top of tank cars, two Knights. One with a Silver armor and another one with a Crimson red one with a tower shield and a helmet with the design of a crown is surrounded from both sides by Black Ops soldiers. The players know they’re guns won’t do anything but still open fire, the two Knights didn’t even flinch as a mixture of 5.56 and 7.62mm bullets hit them and all of the sudden, the lead tank car gets decoupled. Hitting on top of the Coupler is a Dwarf with red hair and beard wearing an iron Viking helmet.
“Oy laddie! Hoof! That’s a bitta of rattle!”
Trapped, the Black Ops soldiers try to teleport out but their magic doesn't work as they slowly burn. Wearing fire retardant ACUs, they instead chose to charge forward only to get sliced by the two hulking Knights. In the lead locomotive, the Engineers are messing with the wipers. “Haaaaa… we need to bring this thing back to the shop. Wipers being stupid again. How’s the breaks?”
“We should still be able to stop it. Independent Brakes still work.”
“This train is two kilometers long. Wanna stop it here on a climb?”
“I don’t know, I swear I heard suppressed fire. Should we stop? What if the train gets stolen?”
“Anything from Base?”
“Last they said was to keep the train coming to the city. But I heard shots though.”
“Well, let’s be good soldiers and follow orders.”
A kilometer back from the lead locomotive, Elizadeath and the Dark Operator once again face one another. Her gleaming holy golden sword and the black sidearm of the covered soldier.
“It all came into place for us too, Sword Saint. After Havannah’s little rampage. We showed the masses how stupid the leading Government is, how these people are merely kids in suits. These kids won’t save anyone but themselves, and the common people are to pay for it. Right now they’re doing their best to avoid showing the true war to the people. All they say is the victories and heroic Sieges. Not the haphazard Logistics and Unjust peace that exists right now that runs rampant on any Empire that runs the show. The people of Threa doesn’t deserve to have our problems. None of them do.”
“Then do it the other way! You're also dragging the common people in this. You're no different from the people you want to destroy.”
“Destroy? No. I want them to awaken and see that war isn’t the solution to this. Millions of Natives have already died to this show of force they’re running. This show disgusts me to my very core. The people of Schon are hapless as bombs, tanks, and gunships run amok their once peaceful villages and towns. Will you let it end with more bloodshed? Already, we have killed more Natives than the Ancient Vampire Queen.”
“There are other ways to be done. This isn't how it should be. If you're so smart, why not try to get into the Government? Use your connections to change things the right way. The peace we have right now, even though it's built on the deaths of millions, is loved and lived through by billions! Stop this insanity before the Gods are forced to be more open with their divinity.”
“Oh please. I won’t have to do anything really. So far, all I’ve done is used chess pieces to move things, nudge one and another. The United Nations is built on pillars, pillars made out of cotton. All it takes is one small gust of wind and it’ll all fall apart upon its own hubris. Just war? Is there really a Just War as they, the people in the top say? You call me insane yet you literally woke up an Ancient danger that made the Vampires reputation unrepairable even thousands of years later. The Gods must be crazy.”
The Operator then blocks an attack from behind, his Combat Knife stopping a glistening Dagger and shrugging off the cloaked person who tried to attack him from behind. He then turns around and kicks the attacker, prompting the tall person to dodge his leg and its hood lowers itself from the sudden movement. Revealing a tanned Elven woman with short hair.
“Also. I think you’ll be needed.”
The Sword Saint Elizadeath suddenly gets another vision and this time, a massive inhuman war between all that is living and all that is dead as a city is in complete ruins. The red skies and the unending screams of pain and war as planes fly over the skies dropping bombs after bombs and shells pitifully stemming the tide of Demonic Hordes wearing Leather to Knight armors, on horseback or on wings as Giants and Wyverns rain upon the lowly.
“Just in time.”
“Dammit! Mind my words. You’re no better than the rest. Worse, you're a traitor to us and everyone.”
“Then so be it. To see… to see the tendrils of our world's wars, and bureaucracy destroying and bringing our geopolitical problems into this foreign world has to end now. Before we change this planet and influence it to follow in our footsteps. I believe we have a duty to show them all of our unjust wars and how if they replicate the power we hold, the technological prowess we have. They’ll end up miserable and dead.”
In the front locomotive, the Engineers tried to make a stand but the Black Ops soldiers were perfect in their aim and the two lowly players were unable to do anything but send one call for help which the nearest High Command, General Ripper, gets inside the Airbase. A UAZ drives up to the front locomotive and the driver disembarks from it just as an M136 HEDP disposable rocket launcher was fired onto it.
Being an Elf, the player was able to flex his body in all sorts of ways and jumped one of the Operators and threw him off the rails of the front locomotive. But he merely teleports behind the Corporal and the two get into a scuffle. Being a human, the low ranking soldier manages to overpower him and uses the chance to strike him with his sidearm but the vest of the Operator stops it from even pushing him back. But before the human could fight back, the Elf with his combat knife pushes it into his head as another Operator exits the cab.
Sensing the other, he pins the Black Ops into the wall of the train's engine compartment and fires his sidearm. The Operator teleports away from getting hit, making his bullet punch through the engineers door and hit the plastic explosive set by the enemy.
An explosion then occurs on the lead locomotive and the train's speed starts getting into an area that is more than enough to make it wiggle violently as its magnetic bogies are unable to keep it upright and on a bend, the train finally gets pushed to its max limit and tilts to its right. The two and half kilometer long freight consist piles up on the bottom of the mountain side track. The weight from the rear launching the cars on top of each and Augustus, with his wings out, rescues their party members. Gently landing them in the bushes as a massive mound of mashing metal and steel with the grinding of solid materials hitting each other creates an unprecedented mess and soon, the tank cars derail and explosions start.
Far away, a Strike Package could see the pile up as the seemingly endless row of rolling stock launched themselves into the forest. Crushing large stones and even animals trying to make a run for it. The tankers then came into view and hit one of the double stacked well cars carrying military containers and a sonicwave rattled the helicopters followed by a powerful boom that shook five kilometers worth of trees and alerted even the Goblins hiding in their caves. Even a roaming Orcish Raiding Party nearby panics and runs back to their Crypt after the sonic wave passes them and soon, the ear blistering sound of the explosion.
“General Ripper… sir. Report from Train Fourty Six.”
“Huh?!”
Jackson could feel the change of the air, as the temperate rainforest was replaced with a snow filled one, its divine trees of impossible proportions looking mystical upon the snowflakes slowly falling to the white ground. With large branches the size of the choppers twisting and weaving through the nooks and crannies of the region.
In full awe of the beauty of the massive forest. Seemingly feeling like an Ant to the size of the trees that crowded the region. Looking out the window, he could see the huge gigantic monolithic piece of primordial wood towering far in the distance. Its leaves and branches are clearly large enough to cast a shadow on a portion of the land.
Disturbing the quiet chirping birds were the mechanical sounds of turbine engines and rotors, flying just above the trees as it headed to the FoB in the thick of it all.
Down below, Paul’s eyes were glistening at the wonderful sight. A sight he’ll only have a once in a lifetime chance to enamore at the moment and Bahamut who was sniffing the air constantly for anything interesting.
“M’Lord, just a reminder. Causing a war is and has to be the least of our options, the Wood Elves as much as they are like this. They contribute to a lot of the world's economy, including rare animal blood that helps make rare dye. Do not listen to that fool named Ripper.”
“Don’t worry, I actually came here to make sure that’s avoided. I know how important the Wood Elves are to your economies, Elizabeth herself told me her gown is made from a rare snail from this place. It’s better to talk it out, I don’t want needless bloodshed and the fangs of the wolves on High Command statied with blood of people not even from our world. Just that as you can see, not everyone from Earth is keen on peace. Including me. But, just like many others. I always try my best to make peace.”
“Good. You’ve learned a lot M’Lord. The Wood Elves may be stubborn, but their stubborness made them survive against the High Elves and even the Knights of Gareth and Avaria. I don’t even think Queen Elizabeth was able to fully capitulate them.”
“Oy! I totally did! Just that they were so stupidly hard to crack that I had to retreat my Legions from time to time. But I totally did! Just with more extreme means that I shant not name!”
“Really? But your majesty, it is said in the history books that you only managed to capture their lands for five months till it went down into an all out revolt.”
“Stubborn doesn’t even begin to describe the amount of problems they gave me. The amount of headaches the five Houses I put to keep them under control was not worth the trouble in the long run. But, I took as many snails as I could and made a lot of money from it.”
Suddenly, the door gunner opens fire. The M134 miniguns of the Pave Low and the Blackhawks with it started peppering the ground.
“What the, Kreimhild actual. What was that?!”
“I don’t know sir, the skeletons are just like their AI selves. They’ll basically open fire on anything hostile to us without even making noise or alerting us.”
“What’s down there then?!”
The General looked down on the ramp and could see sharp long eared Elves trailing them from the large branches of the trees. Hopping from one branch to another and keeping pace at the formation of choppers. The skeletons were giving it their all with the mounted guns but their speed and reaction was too much. Some of the Delta skeletons had to take charge with their SCAR-Hs and M4A1 SOPMODs, popping rounds hitting some of the Elves directly, branches and leaves would get into their line of sight and the Elves quickly adapted to the guns, timing there hops when branches would cover them.
“Bahamut! Elizabeth!”
Bahamut jumps out of the Pave Low and transforms into her Dragon form and Elizabeth opens her bat wings, engaging them while the General takes Alana to the front.
“I want you to go block them, exit out from here and jump them before they could-”
An explosion rocks the heavy helicopter as the Elves down below fired special arrows at the choppers. The arrows nearly hit the skin of the flying machine, and large branches crash down into the soil below. He looked at the explosions and his eyes widened at it. The boom was more than enough to bring them down with one shot, but Bahamut and Elizabeth prevented them from aiming properly and kept them at their toes as their friends fell one by one from the hands of a Dragon and a Vampire.
The two together made it for a killer combo, as if a gush of wind made out of pure death and bloodlust was passing through without mercy nor consideration for your soul and life. Nothing was safe from their hands as the two decimated the Elves and their beautiful spotless bodies. Grounding them up with their sharp claws and attacks, Elizabeth not even using her sword and was merely smiling at the gore she’s creating.
A few miles away, the FoB was being besieged. Tracers flying in all directions as wreckage of disabled military vehicles lay in the muddy road and on the helipad south of the base, a bunch of players are using the Miniguns on the Blackhawks to spray lead onto the thick bark of the huge trees around them. On the Command Tent, the Colonel is trying to get into any Net to call in for air support as the echo of bullets could be heard even through the frequency to anyone who was there to listen in to his voice that’s nearly gone from screaming so much.
“Is anyone capable of giving us any sort of fucking help!? Napalm the perimeter if you can! We’re getting overwhelmed here!”
The skeleton soldiers were able to hold to line, but since they’re only rudimentary with how they function. Smarter Elves are able to exploit their weakness and the fragility of their entire body. Shooting arrows and balls of magic into their legs and faces where the bulletproof vest and helmet cannot block anything. Elven mages hundreds above the branches sing a spell as Wind Magic to throw them into the HESCO barriers and walls. Their skeleton bodies would immediately fall apart though ones with legs and arms attached to their torso were still shooting back even without a head and half of their limbs.
“COME ON! Did we send everything to that far away continent?! We need help here! The Respawn Tent has already been hit once! If the Altar gets destroyed, we’re all going to wake up in a fuckall place in the middle of god knows where!”
A violent whoosh rattles his tent, and soon after. Painful cries of Elves followed as bodies plopped into the muddy soil below while others could be heard cracking, their corpses meeting the frozen soil. Whirls of helicopters soon followed, raining down bullets from above as Alana dropped right in front of his tent with her sword out. “Keep your head down. The General cometh.” She then sprints away and jumps to the top of a light pole and on one heel, fights two Elves equipped with short swords and wooden bows. Though they managed to dodge her first strikes, she’d just increase her speed to the point where they’re unable to catch up and get killed.
She then spreads her arms, blooming roses on certain areas in the forest. Giving her a full sense of the area and materializing her sword. The long black haired woman suddenly disappears and once again, more bodies plop to the ground as the chopper with her lands on an empty helipad and starts unloading the Delta skeleton soldiers inside it. Reinforcing the besieged base. On the radio as the Colonel tries to follow Alana and her insane speed, dashing from one branch to another and occasionally opening her wings to zoom past arrows and magical attacks.
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“Colonel, we’re currently unable to give you any support. Train Forty Five just derailed and all resources are being put to recovering the materials inside it.”
“WHAT?! That’s the same train that has the antenna parts, what do you mean it derailed? Is the entire thing destroyed?!”
“We’re still looking into it. But this is a two kilometer long train piled up on Switch Two-Ninety. We’re unable to send you anything as all aircrafts are sent to guard its perimeter.”
“Damn it! Do you know what’s at stake here?! Dammit to Hell!”
Colonel Harden then breathed in as a silent breeze blew over the heavily damaged FoB. They hear a faint sound far away. Gaining the player's attention as General Paul being princess carried by Bahamut as she softly lands in front of him. “YELLLOW COLONEL!” A blonde vampiric woman then continues into the forest as a Pave Low with multiple Blackhawks arrive at the base, bringing cohesion back to the players down below.
“S-Sir!”
“Colonel Harden. I want you to talk with my boy when he is here. He's still in the Pave Low, so find him later. Right now I want to know. How long have the Elves been doing this?”
“Ever since we came here sir. Even inside the territory of the biggest Elven Clan, we’re still being harassed.”
“I see, so it's that bad huh. Well, I’ll put a nail to the coffin and solve this.”
The mindless skeletons turned to the corpses of Elves, one by one. They started hauling them into piles at the base. Collecting their weapons and whatever enchanted thing they had. Including clothes and personal effects. Even wooden toys that had been given much care were taken by the undead soldiers and dropped into a tent for collection.
“This is actually their first time sir. To attack the base directly, they’ve always preferred to attack the convoys and patrols outside the perimeter. It must be something with your arrival.”
“Ahhh… smart. They tried to cut the neck of the snake before it got to them. But they got far too lazy and did it too late. No wonder their attack was so haphazard. If they actually planned this more carefully, they would’ve easily overwhelmed everybody here.”
A soldier then rushes to the two officers saluting. “General Jackson! General Ripper would like to talk to you on the Long wave sir.”
“Ripper? What’s he on about now? I just left the base a few hours ago.”
“It’s a derailment sir.”
“DERAILMENT!?”
He runs back to the tent and picks up the radio with a puffing General Ripper on the other side. The General could feel the heavy presence of the high ranking officer on the other side. Even though they’re both of the same rank, the man was on a whole other ball game as he could hear him fuming through the frequency.
“General Jackson.”
“Yes Ripper, I heard a derailment occurred?”
“I think the entire lower rank are spies. No, the middle rank is also spies. NO! EVERYONE IS A SPY!”
“H-Huh? What nonsense are you spouting Ripper!?”
“That train… that’s a very special train that’s carrying important radio equipment and fuel alongside MOABs. They’ve practically crippled our means of repairing and maintaining radar and antennas in this region and hampered flight plans for the next few weeks…”
“Then just get planes or trucks to do it.”
“It’ll take weeks for trucks to reach this place… With the conditions of the paths and roads, almost all cargo planes are sent to Schon to wage in our winning war. We do not have any other options but the railway that’s now heavily damaged… The tank cars exploded, an entire section of it is a few hundred meters down into the forest. I’m trying to get magicians but even then, we’d have to clear two kilometers of fallen train.”
“I’ll go figure something out. I’m sure there’s some spare aircraft we can use to transport the needed parts. What about replacements? How long would that take?”
“... A few weeks or so.”
“Well shit. This is by aircraft right?”
“Do you believe in our cause General Jackson?”
“H-Huh… What do you mean by that Ripper? Of course I do. I might not agree with everything, but you guys have the means. As long as there’s that, I’ll do as I am commanded.”
“What’re the things you disagree with General Jackson?”
“Ripper, are you implying on something?”
“Could you be one of them?!”
“I’m not. Calm down Ripper.”
“That’s it! Something is up here, from the messy orders to the logistics getting crippled. This isn’t normal Jackson! How are you so calm about this?! Do you know how many people I know in the Arms Industry of Tur? I can make things happen and not happen! You better speak!”
“Ripper. I’ll return there soon, DO NOT do anything stupid. I’m warning you, if you dare do anything brash. I’ll personally gut you.”
“Pfft. If you're the first to reach me.”
The transmission is cut and Colonel Harden stares blankly at the situation.
“We’ll deal with him later. For now, I wanna see what I can do with the Elves. We’re all tied up here and Logistics… ALANA!”
Appearing out of nowhere, the Countess elegantly bows.
“I might need your help later with the Logistics. Do you still remember what you did with the Eldwood’s routes?”
“Yes M’Lord.”
“Good, we’ll deal with that later. I’ll need your expertise in the terrain and transporting things in bulk with vehicles. Railway got damaged, we can’t bring anything in bulk. For now, where is Bahamut and Elizabeth?”
The General goes out of the tent with Alana and Captain Kristiansen stops a few meters away inside a Humvee. He immediately steps out of the passenger seat and salutes.
“Sir! We have your vehicle here.”
“Eh? A Humvee?”
“Yes sir. We also have the uparmored ones.”
“Geez, anything else? Can you find something like… I’d literally take a UAZ or an Iveco over that.”
“Sorry sir, the M-ATV in this FoB have all been disabled by the Elves.”
“Even we don’t take these pieces of shit that were left over by enemy forces! Ugh.”
“Is it really that bad sir? Well, the seat is a bit uhhhh… rudimentary but it's not that bad.”
“Rudimentary?! The seat is literally some padding used on a patio put over METAL. I took one out for a ride since it was captured pretty intact and going over Fifty-Five miles per hour with it is a DEATHRIDE.”
“Then the helicopters sir?”
“No. There’s literally no fuel to keep them up in the air for what we’re about to do.”
The General facepalms and just leaves a tired expression on his face. “Just line them up near the exit. I’ll hop on after collecting the two women.”
“SIR YES SIR!”
“OH! And only four Humvees?”
“The remaining Humvees had their lights left on for the night and had no battery left, sir. The skeletons are currently trying to find a specialized harness for it.”
“Alrighty. Keep at it then… my head is spinning already.”
He then walks to the otherside of the FoB, moving away from the Command area and to the Barracks where Elizabeth and Bahamut are scaring some captured Elves. Intimidating them and getting no reaction at all.
“Tsk. Even after so many years. Your kin still won’t get afraid by my visage. Cometh unto me all who dareth to besmirch the Eternal Crimson Crown. Thou’s ancestors hasn’t learneth but one lesson.”
Bahamut on the other hand is merely emptying their pockets of the food they bought, even attacking their food bag and munching on the fruits inside it while Elizabeth constantly walked back and forth the kneeled Elves. Staring down at them with disdainful eyes, as if she was looking at an annoying black smudge on a clear and clean window. The General who just walked in gets in front of her.
“Alright two of you, enough of that. Let’s see if we can do this through diplomacy, shall we?”
“Are you sure, My Lord? These insolent brutes would rather be animalistic with their tendencies. Even through the generations, these mongrel cretins dare attack me? Hmph, they're no different from their bloodline. Daringly enough to attack the carriage of the Queen of the Vampires.”
“That’s not why we’re here. We have to try to at least meet at the middle grounds, if we negotiate with them and not force them to agree to our rules and needs, we might actually have a long lasting peace in the region.”
“Hence why I tried so hard to just eliminate all of them back then. My Lord, can you really achieve that? Just use a concoction of your modern weaponry and wipe them off the face of Threa and be done with it. They believe in Nature, then we shall abide by the rule of Nature, the Prey dies and the Predator thrives.”
“Elizabeth, if a Predator has no more prey to kill, then the Predator dies alongside its food. Let’s not try to redo what was already done and once again, end up with long term effects that might end up doing worse for everyone down the line? We have to be a bit more understanding… for now.”
“As you wish, My Lord. Bahamut?”
“Hmmmm…” She then sniffs the female Elf. Her face shows she’s found something of particular interest with her scent as the Dragon eats an unusually large purple apple.
“What is it? Got anything interesting?”
“Later Master. We might be able to use this scent for something.”
“Okay then. I’ll keep that in mind, let’s all board up. We’ll leave them for Harden to talk to.”
Behind the four lead Humvees are five MTVRs loaded with skeletons; the convoy exits the battered FoB. Heading North, though some areas had snow piled up, most of the paths were clear and the mud, frozen solid. An hour in the drive, Elizabeth, Alana, and Bahamut chose to sit outside the Humvee, the three heeled shoes of the women blocking the view of the lead vehicle.
But the Captain and the General weren't complaining, seeing their beautiful long slender legs and Elizabeth with her crossed leg, with one heel hanging as she played with it from the long and uninteresting drive to the nearest sightings of Elves was enough to entertain the two men inside the vehicle in the duration of the long and bumpy ride.
“Cap, we’re almost twenty kilometers from the FoB now.”
“Should be around here sir, the Colonel specifically pointed out that within this area, has an abundance of clean ponds that the roaming Elf parties use to bathe and drink from. They should be friendly as they came from the main clan that operates around here.”
“Haaa… okay. Stop over there, disembark and start a patrol. Guns down, we’re not here to fight.”
“Yes sir. To all units, a hundred meters front, stop on the side, disembark and keep it tight. We’ll be roaming the forest.”
The two get spooked by Bahamut’s pale hands. Tapping the armored window with her nail. General Paul hops outside and looks at the Dragon who is sniffing the air.
“I can smell them, Master. Northeast.”
Elizabeth and Alana then smell the air and find nothing.They shrug and the two women follow her with the entire company of skeleton Delta Force Rangers. The Captain and Colonel were guarded closely by the high level undead units as Bahamut went around the trees and bushes. Even making them go around a large tree multiple times. Though nobody questioned it, the Dragon was trained on following the smell. Not giving care to her surroundings as she continually followed an invisible path.
None of the women's gowns were getting caught up with the branches and leaves. As if the cloth of their outfits were so finely made that even objects would nearly glide on top of it. The forest looked endearing and eerie as the giant trees felt like they were looking down on the humanoids walking upon their territory. The small ant-like creatures waltzing into the land of giants.
The leaves and bushes spoke of nothing, nature of the land was quiet and silent as the two players were enjoying it. Breathing in the clean and untainted air, the atmosphere in its most rawest form. Soon, they entered a section of the forest where snow covered them as the cold winter air hit the company of soldiers through oversized leaves that had no trees to protect them from the climate.
Even the animals had gone silent, leaving nothing but a certain silence wherever they walked. Bahamut jogged along the rugged woodland like she owned the land with a hand on her hip, she’d make sudden left and right turns. Dancing through the forest like she owned the place and knew every bit of it. Bringing everyone through the cold hard area of the region with little to no cover.
The two players all had their eyes up, down, left, and right. Their paranoia was soon overtaking them with the endearing silence overwhelming their senses while the General just looked at Bahamut’s back and followed her wherever she went. Elizabeth then smells something, her head pointing upward towards the heavens as she’s taken away by the certain fragrance.
“Bahamut’s right.”
“Eh? Your majesty, you can smell it too?”
After a few more hundred meters forward, Alana also smelled it and her eyes widened. “There’s a lot of them… Ten maybe? I can also smell food. M’Lord, I think this is a party of sorts.”
“Hm. I agree with the Countess, My Lord. The smell also has poison in it. One can say that this is a hunting party out and about. Though I smelled twelve. Dragon, what’s your count?”
“Twelve.” She sniffs the air even more. “Eight females and four males. They're near a clear pond and… a patch of clearing.”
Paul then raises his hand in the form of a fist. A squad of skeleton soldiers surrounds him, protecting his 360. “Squad Alpha, move forward. Meet them face to face. Captain, take Bravo with you and flank them. Charlie and the rest, keep a two hundred meter distance and wait for the call or disturbance.” the General then points his finger forward, signaling the skeletons to action.
Being undead, the skeletons replied through their actions with Alpha moving forward and Bravo Squad tailing the Captain. Charlie and the rest of the Platoon spread out and slowly moved forward. Like a well practiced routine, the skeletons moved with every approach in a tactica; way. Keeping watch of each other's back and their guns checking all possible directions for enemy contact. None of them broke contact with each other and kept their weapons trained on uncovered directions, constantly swaying the barrels of their assault rifles into random directions that’s not being looked at.
“Bahamut, Elizabeth, and Alana. On me. Delta Force squad, watch our back.”
The Delta Force skeletons surround the group as he lets Bahamut lead them. Like a blooming flower, the soldiers space out and surround the area with proficiency, ducking low and trying their best to not make a sound. Soon, they all hear water and the sound of splashing. Walking through the bushes, the General is met with a bunch of naked Elves. Strutting around like it was not a problem for them, nor was the temperature.
His eyes were taken away by the pure beauty of their women, he could see no taint with them even though the ones in the back are partaking in actions that he should see as sacred. They had no shame, nor conservation with how they look as they already knew that they were beautiful in all of the senses.
“Master, I do not know their language.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take the lead. Just… just don’t do anything rash. I’m looking at you Elizabeth.”
“Of course, My Lord. I am willing to give these brutes another chance to live.”
He then rims around the pond, taking the attention of the bathing Elves who left their weapons and clothes littering around. One of the males, an attractive tall seven foot man with long ponytailed hair then approaches him, bare naked and letting everything to be seen by the world. From his pecs to his private parts, even though the General and vampires were all clothed with their undead soldiers geared from head to toe, his eyes showed no shame.
“Hello human. Why’re you here?”
“Yes, I’d like to ask passage to your city and talk to your Elders.”
“Hm? Didn’t the last negotiations fail? I heard the Khuhari Clan has declared war on you.”
“From what I read, it didn’t fail but instead reached no new grounds. In replacement of the Colonel. I, Five Star General Paul Jackson, have come to personally talk and negotiate so that we could avoid a blooming war.”
“Only one clan has declared war so far, I don’t suppose you're willing to forgive them for their actions. Knowing how you retaliate with these weapons that could strike us from afar.”
“No matter, no retaliation will occur. I’ve strictly ordered the Colonel to keep us in a defensive posture. I’ve also ordered him to keep the patrols limited to our surrounding area.”
“I see. So the Invaders have called someone with some wisdom in ye’ soul. Please come.”
“Uhm… aren’t you gonna wear anything?”
“Hahahahah, why be ashamed of our bodies, human? In the end, we’ve come here to relax and be happy. Not let the burden of our tasks to diminish our morale.”
“Is that why there’s literally some of you having sex right there?”
“Human culture is such a fascinating thing. Please, don’t be afraid.”
“Like… dude. Your magnum dong is really hanging like that…”
“And? It won’t bite your women. I swear.”
“N-no. Not like that-” The General facepalms, his face already making an expression of sadness mixed with a regretful eye. “This is going to be a stressful day.”
“I told you, My Lord.”
“I know, I know. Ugh. Alright, everyone. Out of the woodworks, we’ve been caught anyway. No use in hiding it.”
As the undead soldiers stand up from the bushes. The immaculate and tall man leads them to the patch of land where there was a tight opening between two giant trees. There, the Elves were pleasuring and lusting over each other but everyone walked around as if it was nothing to be seen as unusual even though they were doing it on open tents and some, right where the path was.
“Forgive us, this might seem unusual for you humans. But we’re in our relaxation period before we continue our hunt.”
“Hunt?”
“Yes, Winter seems to have lasted longer than expected… it's better to prepare ahead before the time comes.”
“Hm. Though this land hasn’t gotten as much…” The General's attention was taken by a beautiful blonde Elf with a bountiful chest. “As much… wow…” Elizabeth punches the top of his head lightly. Prompting his brain to reset and get into the conversation again.
“Hahahahaha, you humans are always a fun time to be around with. If you want to copulate with any of them. Feel free to do so, have no shame in your body and its functions. Please, invite your women as well. I’ve heard a lot about a vampire's ability in bed.”
“As much as I respect the hippie talk. I’m a Monogamous-” the General then thinks about it a bit, rubbing his chin. “Well, Monogamous-ish person. I guess circumstances would say otherwise though.”
“BWAHAHAHAHA! Ah, humans. You should tell your civilization to not exclaim itself with all the answers in the world. Learn to live with few, take only what is needed and be content with little. It is fine to have a lot, but one must be given the same amount of wisdom if you wish to take so much.”
“I lived my whole life in excess. I’d rather not live with little, thank you.”
“Hm. Interesting though, you have a Southern Accent but your use of our dialect is perfect. I’m sure you could bridge a path that’s been long since seen many tumultuous times. You Outlanders have always been outgoing.”
“I hope, I only came here as the circumstance showed it to be… and the safety index said it was harmless.”
“You humans and your systems. Over here please.”
“Also, do you know what Gurranq means?”
“Gurranq? You know of our tongue and you do not know what that means?”
“I mean…a High Elf called me that… so…”
“Pfft. I apologize for our Cousins. I think it's better for you to not know what that means.”
“E-eh? Hoy, tell me! My brain is now overthinking with what it could mean!”
Paul couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful Elves all walking around without shame. Taking his mind off seconds after not being given an answer, he is then led to a large closed tent. Inside was another Elven man wearing a necklace while naked, he was doing it with four other women but met the General with a smile as he walked in.
“Oh shit. Is it a bad time?!”
“Oh please! Come! I know for humans this must be weird but please! Be open and come here.”
“I’m not gonna remove my clothes though.”
“Hahahaha, of course. Please. Come closer to the sheets. It must be something important if a human is allowed to walk to our camp.”
He turns around. “Alana, take care of these two. I’m going in.” the Dragon was just covering her nose while Elizabeth was staring at them with such a blood-curdling aura. Even the single male that tried to get close to her was instead given a traumatic experience as she looked straight into his soul and crushed whatever hopes he had now and in the future. “Like that…”
“Of course, M’Lord. I’ll keep an eye out for them.”
“Wish me luck.”
The other Elven man leaves them be as the General orders the skeletons to stay outside with the three women. Jackson on the Indian sits as near as he could. Inches away from the moaning Elf who's on all fours and getting a good time.
“U-Uhm.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Yeah, about negotiations… is this really necessary?” As he was forming his words, one of the Elven girls stands up and overwhelms the black haired Elven woman. Paul looked away as he could clearly see the rear of the woman. “Negotiations… uhm. I’d like to get passage into your city. The Colonel told me only vetoed people may enter with the express desire of a ranked Elf… uhm… like wow… you people are something else.”
“Yes, that is me. I’m a HeadHunter and leader of this party. I could get you in, but could you wait for a while as we’ve only collected a few boars for our trip.”
“U-uhm. It’s fine and all but can we be allowed to maybe set up camp on the road?”
“You could, but that could take a while for us to meet once again.”
“I have no idea how you’re able to speak with a straight voice when you're doing this but I guess…” he scratches the back of his head. “We’ll set up camp a hundred meters away then. Exactly what time will you head out?”
“In a few hours. Also, my name is Oslom the Wolf Warrior. I got my name from killing a Patriarch and Matriarch Great Wolf from the plains of Gareth. Pleased to meet you.”
“General Paul Jackson of the Knights of Eldwood. I command the Eastern Forces… uhm…” he swallows his saliva as the man's charisma was just overtaking him. “I am a Death Knight… if that’s anything to go by. Didn’t really achieve much but I’ve done my fair share of fighting.”
“Please, do not be afraid to show more of yourself. I can sense it in you, you take great pride in alluring those women outside the tent.”
“W-Well… I would say THAT much. I am happy, but also kinda… stressed? Like, it has its ups and downs.”
“Ahahahaha, you humans are truly a show worth watching. No wonder a Cousin of us, the Wood Elves has called you a Gurranq. But please, be not afraid to show your true self. In times like this, we were letting off stress. It's better to release all of your problems so that you may fight with absolute precision.”
“That’s… that’s actually good advice. I’ll give you that one. But can you not put this girls moaning face up mine?”
“I apologize, I thought it’d be better this way as I know penetration is seen as something different for you humans.”
“Actually, yeah don’t. I just realized that now… well. Imma go instead.”
“Already? I thought you’d have more questions.”
“You're a really great guy, big charisma and all but… I really can’t take this.”
“I’ve not offended you in any way have I?”
“No… No, of course not. Please… uhhh… have fun with the banging. I’ll see myself out.”
He then storms out. Completely flushed and beet red, he covered his face but his ears were more than enough to tell the three women what he saw inside. They just smiled at each other and giggled at the sight of the General. Soon, on the radio, he orders everyone to rally up and set up a tent for the night. They soon set up a small camp and on a portable chair, the General is counting sheep in his head. Trying to quell his intense lust after experiencing something like that.
“Two Hundred Forty One Sheep-”
“Master, why not just do it like them?”
“Wh-what? No Bahamut. Argh, it's not that easy alright. We humans don’t do that, only a few with potentially loose screws would do something like that… Or those with weird fetishes. And so far, I don’t have any of those except a few loose screws.”
“But Master, I can feel your urge.”
“Got any magic for that?”
“Nope.”
“ELIZABETH!”
“What? Don’t look at me, My Lord. If you want, we could do it here in the forest.”
“Ah damn, CAPTAIN!”
“SIR!”
“Go and check if they’re moving out. I need to do something with this, what was inside that tent?!”
“Sir yes sir!”
“W-wait. How come you aren’t aroused from that?”
“I uhhhhh… bushes sir.”
“You son of a bitch!” After a bit of thinking, the man nods to himself. “Actually, good idea.”
The General stands up and heads to the nearest bush. Leaving the women alone as the Captain with two squads moves out and the General takes his personal Delta Force to guard him as he does his own business. Entering the bushes, he is spooked by a goblin made out of stone. “What the… huh?” Taking a closer inspection to it, the statue had far too much intricate design to be merely decoration. He drags it out of the frozen mud and the man is shocked as a shortsword comes out with it. Unlike all the other goblins he's seen before, wearing only Loincloths or makeshift Leather armor. This one is full steel armor with a belt loaded with grenades and potions.
He stands up and starts tapping on the ground. His boots hit something and he orders the skeletons to pull it out. This time, it's the same well equipped Goblin but with a spear tipped with explosive gems. He soon starts unearthing more and more of them and all of them didn’t lack in weaponry and armor. Some even have their helmets intact.
“Haaaaaa… humans. I don’t get why our Lord just wouldn’t do it with us. We have tents here. All three of us could satiate his carnal desire in a matter of minutes.” Elizabeth with a dejected face puts his chin down on her palm as her arm rested on top of her crossed legs. Swinging her loose heel as she waited for her Lord to return.
“Oy bloodsucker. What do you think?”
“Of what?”
“Of the Elves.”
“Our Lord can definitely do something. Whenever he puts his mind into it, he gets results. This matter is no different, he is set in making peace with the Wood Elves. He’ll definately do it.”
“I see, and you?”
“Yes?”
“What do you think?”
“It's our Lord Bahamut. I have no question he’ll do it. Though I would also like to visit the Capitol. The Wood Elves are just like their High Elven brothers. They depend a lot on magical stones and are also an exporter of it next to rare animals. But they bring it through limited numbers to respect the forest. Maybe I can broker a deal just for the Kingdom.”
“Hm. The Elves as usual haven’t changed. That’s the only thing I respect about them. Be not afraid Bahamut, they won’t hurt our precious Lord. They’d be stupid to do so anyways.”
“Bloodsucker, why do you hate them so much? Alana doesn’t seem to mind them as much compared to you.”
“It’s merely the problems they gave me. Not once did any of them give me any respect when I had them under my Empire. They’d even go out of their way to attack my carriage whenever I visit their territory and that was after I told them I’d exterminate an entire tribe and clan for each attempt to defy me.”
“And you did?”
“I did. I could oddly remember it was seventy tribes that had been completely wiped out by my Crimson Legion. Four larger clans, I had their trees torched and their men killed. The women and children were sold to the Houses.”
“You were really brutal weren’t you?”
“I wasn’t always like that. I am usually like this… but the humans with the dragons rose up against me and soon, everything I’ve worked for was undone in a matter of years. The once great Thousand Houses stood for every inch, but the Hero Saint was far too much for even our eternal bodies.”
“The more I think about humans, the more I am seemingly lost. I still don’t even know why Master wouldn’t just get on with us if he has such lust. We’re more than willing to accommodate him.”
“Humans are gonna be human. I’m just happy even after experiencing our bodies, our Lord still reserves himself. That’s very noble of him… I think? Or is our Lord just more incline to do it when we're in a room?”
“That’s our Lord for you. He really has something to hold himself from seeing that.”
“Hm, I never did see them do it even when I conquered there lands back then. I’m impressed with how passionate they are with each other. You won’t find a love that is pure and innocent anywhere else. The High Elves have long left this barbaric practice for something akin to the Holy See’s strict Monogamy.”
“Master sure has an exciting time ahead of him.”
“Bwahahaha! That’s our Lord and beloved! I await what shenanigans he’ll get himself into!”
Having nothing to do. The Dragon lady stands up and starts to walk around the camp. Captain Kristiansen is busy setting up his own tent and letting her walk around freely without supervision. Before long, the woman finds a crate full of M67 Frag Grenades. Without even reading the crate, she curiously takes one and sniffs it. “Hmmmmm…” she then starts hammering it into the metal pole. Seeing that it's not cracking, she pulls the pin and starts inspecting it more closely. Hearing that something was being hammered, it took the attention of the Captain. “OH! MISS BAHAMUT! NO!”
He runs to her and takes the grenade out of her hands. “Oy! Give that back to me, Chosen One! Or I’ll have your soul for dinner!” He then puts the pin back and returns it to the crate. Without even making a word, Alana appears out of nowhere. Her hands creeped on the Dragon’s shoulders. “I apologize. I take my eyes away for her in a second and she’s gone. I’ll be sure to take extra care.” and just like that, Bahamut is back in the circle of chairs.
“Booo! I wanna do something.”
“Just wait Bahamut. The Elf has spoken. They’ll be here for a while.”
“I wanna eat. Is there anything to eat?”
“There should be some rations.”
“I want meat though.”
Elizabeth then sighs. “Dragon, if you want to eat meat. You’ll have to catch one. Most of the fruits here are poisoned. The nearer you are to the Mega tree, the more potent the fruits are.”
“... You did that, didn't you?”
“How else was I going to cripple the Elves?”
The bushes then move and a tall naked Elf with a green necklace enters the camp unannounced. Behind him were the skeletons pointing their guns up to his head. Already, Bahamut was up and staring at his immaculate pecs. Poking it with her nail. “Ohhh! That’s super strong!” The handsome sharp eared man just smiles at her as Alana drags her back to her seat.
“What is it?”
“Is the General not here? I’d like to discuss something further.”
“Our Lord isn’t here. It’s only me, the Countess and the Dragon.”
“Ah, that’s very unfortunate. May I take a seat and wait here?”
“At least wear something. Our Lord will react once again if he sees you.”
“I believe it's better to let him see the true nature of us Elves. Though this is foreign to him, and against his morals. I’d be better for him to understand.”
“Ahhhhh… well. My Lord will definitely pass this. He is far more accepting than you foresee.”
“Ahahahah, I do not question that Vampire. Seeing the entourage of women he has brought with him. I do not even question what is a fact… and it seems that the Dragon is curious of my body.”
“What? No. Masters chest is way better! At least it has some softness to it. When I sleep, I like it when my bed is soft, unlike yours that’s as hard as a rock!”
“And yet I could feel the snaring stares of you three. I’ve never met a Vampire before but the stories seem to be true. Even I am unable to hold myself from lusting at your bodies even though its covered in such expensive gowns.”
“Oy… do not cross a line Elf. We might be like this, but we will never betray our Lord.”
“I mean no harm. Please, I’m still new to foreigners myself. This is pretty exciting for me.”
“Oh!” Bahamut then trudges her chair forward a bit. “How come you speak such a strange Dragonian?”
“It’s the language of the Gods. The Dragons merely translated it to spoken words. Its one of the two languages we speak. It’s also good to know that its the Common. I never knew I’d have the blessing to speak to a Dragon in human form.”
“I see… very interesting. Yes, then how come Ripper told us that its been hard to communicate with you?”
“I do not know. Only our Elders converse with people outside of the forest. I’ve never even seen a skeleton with such gear before.”
“Ehhhhh…” She then pushes her chair back to its place and just rests her head on her knuckles. Elizabeth then crosses her arms.
“I suppose you do not carry any aire to Vampires? None of your people would react harshly to us?”
“More than that, I believe we’d be more curious. In the stories told us, only the Vampires could outrank us in beauty. I believe that is true seeing such a pretty golden woman right before me. Not only is your body bountiful, but it's also thin and respectful. Yet, you carry the aura of an Evil hungry beast, a predator and a killer. More than anything, I feel like we’ll be questioning the true purpose of your kin.”
“I see. Good, then. The Countess here might have to roam around a bit.”
“Ah, the younger one. How may I call you?”
“Lady Minuit will do. I run a business and I’d like to inquire about some things.”
“Hm. If the Elders allow you, I’ll be more than happy to have you talk to my Father. He is in charge of the Merchant Trails used by the people of Avaria and Gareth.”
“What do they buy? Do you sell it in large quantities? What’s the duration of every carriage? Do you accept ships?”
“Ahahahaha, let us not get ahead of ourselves. I'd like to speak to the General first.”