EPISODE 69: BATTLE OF STARGLOW VALLEY 3
— Edryan Queendom, Year: 7291, Season Color Fading.
The Wildlands hold dead civilizations, magical zones, magi-humans who refuse to be a part of the greater whole, and more. They hold much of the unoccupied land of Edryan, as all populations live within a relative closeness to the regional capital city or large populous towns. Of course, excluding the Consus, who are a House that has kept their nomad customs to this day and lead their people in that manner.
It’s estimated the population of the magi who live amongst the Wildlands is upwards of two million or so. Granted that number is minor compared to the estimated population of Edryan which slightly exceeds fifty million, however, unique bloodlines and more are kept hidden in these clans.
How do I solve this problem? How do I complete my vision of Edryan? This is difficult. I hold all the history of Earth’s civilizations. I know of methods that work and do not. Those in the Wildlands could be considered natives and I would be the colonizer coming to break their tradition. Is it right? No, but I cannot fail. No , I will not allow myself to fail. I no longer recognize the Lawrence Brown in me. I think that seed has dwindled and who I once was has truly faded. Madris guides me now .
...
...I’m still not going to church!
— Excerpt from the private journal of Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani
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Lawruthian smiled, his eyes glanced at the ground underneath him. Assured of his safety, the young prince turned his attention toward the Imperius Army and his eight Imperius Knights.
Garo Drumian flew through the air and gently manipulated the space around the army. He’d managed to form a similar chain to the Vanguard Golems who were assisting in securing the living soldiers of his army.
The dimensional anchors that were secured in the ground were still lit with a gentle light yet the spell that completely removed the law of gravity from the battlefield made these runic objects useless.
The young prince removed his helmet as he stood there. A large owl silently gazed around on his shoulder. Minerva’s eyes never stopped roaming as the owl absorbed all the information it could.
Lawruthian’s eyes then flickered to the battlefield and the trouble the West Gate Army found themselves under. The vanguard of his mother forces were a few hundred meters in the air, and the Convocation forces began to fire upon them. Next to him was Alexandria and now Ameri as his Oni general rejoined their small party. She’d been scattered as she failed to reach the ground and was the first rescued by Garo. He’d promptly teleported to Lawruthian and Alexandria and returned them to a safe range by Lawruthian’s Vanguard Golems.
“Will she lose,” Lawruthian’s question came off indifferent, but once his gaze locked onto the dying West Gate Army, it hadn’t left.
“We’ve been blindsided by a mythical grade spell,” Ameri began. Her voice was on edge, but she continued anyway.
“I’m certain she can recover,” Alexandria stated.
“That Garo-“ Ameri scoffed at the words of Alexandria and changed her sentence. “Have you ever been under the effects of a mythical grade spell? I have… and I am lucky to still be here. The beast tribes of the plains are constantly warring against one another under the provocation of the Theocracy and tossing mythical-grade spells like candy…”
DUUM-DUUM.
“They are not something you can easily recover from,” she finished as she rubbed her left thigh.
“That is the Vanguard General,” Alexandria countered. “Have faith, you should know of her achievements on the battlefield just as any other of Edryan’s top commanders.”
“Silence,” Lawruthian simply said.
“Hmph,” Ameri snorted.
Lawruthian’s eyes finally left the battlefield and turned to her.
“ Silence .”
Red-gold eyes stared past Ameri’s helmet and into the eyes of the Oni herself. She felt a cold sensation in her mind and her body straightened. Ameri simply saluted in response to Lawruthian’s words. Her actions caused her to float in one direction but the group was vastly secured to the ground through the use of earth manipulation magic.
Lawruthian nodded in return and his eyes turned back to the battlefield.
“Your telescope,” Lawruthian held his hand out to Alexandria, who promptly tapped through one of her rings. A moment later, she handed over the compact device.
Lawruthian extended it and his gaze returned to the battlefield. He slowly pivoted the telescope as if he were searching for something.
“When, I return home, regardless of what, this communication issue will be solved. If we held short-wave radios so much of this could have been prevented or at least negated to a degree. Flags are not enough to communicate a message.”
He sighed as he continued his survey. “I have a solution for our movement problem. This is something basic physics can fix…,” he spoke.
The woman looked at him strangely but listened all the same. Once he finished their eyes shined with excitement and Lawruthian returned to survey the battlefield.
While this went on the Imperius Army began to anchor themselves to the ground in a multitude of manners. General Alexandria began to issue commands to her men, as General Ameri did the same. They understood that under the effects of the mythical-grade spell, there wouldn’t be much they could do currently, however, forming ranks and preparing their men kept both parties in a calmer state of mind.
Alexandria’s mind whirled as she formulated a plan, but she sighed in frustration. Most of the soldiers only just received their class and became Imperius Soldiers. That wasn’t her concern, however, her concern was the level difference. They shouldn’t be here, not yet, as they were severely under-leveled compared to their enemies.
‘ What we need is strength however as we lack that, then I must ensure we win in other methods. Think Alexandria think! The world is watching. Father, Mother, they’re watching !’
Ameri did much of the same for her forces. They were stationed slightly away from the main force of the Imperius Army, as they’d need room to build into a charge. Lawruthian believed he held a solution to their movement problem and they waited for the army to finish gathering before anything was shown. The young woman clenched her fist as she glanced at the battlefield.
She felt like she understood the most what the Vanguard General was going through. After all, they were much in the same position. Both were under the liege of the remaining Edryanis, and both were not in high favor. Ameri wouldn’t change her ways, that was not how the Oni were.
‘ I’ll be damned before I turn over a new leaf. If the Vanguard General can achieve such strength and prestige, then so can I .”
After several minutes of silence from their liege, the two women glanced at each other. Ameri gestured to Alexandria, and the younger woman rolled her eyes before hesitantly moving forward as she carefully manipulated the earth around her.
Once she was close enough Alexandria finally asked, “What are you looking for?”
“Thraag – Dimension Shaper.”
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Kei Lance and the two thousand reserve members of the West Gate Calvary pushed themselves upwards with tremendous force. They felt the disconnect as they left their mounts and their attributes lowered by a degree. Together, they launched from their mounts and headed directly for the forces that fired upon his wife. Kei’s teeth clenched and the anger in his eyes could not be hidden. Fortunately, his group was able to launch themselves from their mounts in a straight shot. If not, they’d be just as stranded as his wife. Kei originally attempted to use his movement ability. Most movement abilities would include a sort of flight once certain levels were reached. If you didn’t have it by the third main class advancement, then the fourth at level 75 is nearly guaranteed.
He activated his bloodline ability and his group flew even faster. They’d managed to lock themselves in the tight formation. One that was close enough for his commanding abilities to take hold, although his Intent was not as strong as his wife's, Kei Lance was still the third most capable lieutenant in the West Gate Army.
DUUM-DUUM.
“Here cometh glory,” he whispered as a quick prayer. His eyes locked on to the figure of his Laura and his eyes widened. It was already too late, in her hand was a red crystallized seed. Greed colored the eyes of all who saw it. A Touch was an object all high-levelers dearly sought. A Touch was the first interaction most pursuing divinity would receive.
' General Laura is not going to forgive you for leaving the prince .’
The voice of one of his vice captains echoed in his mind. Kei chose to come to his wife’s aid, forgoing his closeness to the prince. Kei, like all other commanders, received the opportunity to (Inspect) His Highness Lawruthian’s Hero Golems. The palpitation he felt when facing a calamity was fresh on his mind.
'That boy is a monster,’ Kei thought as they flew. He dismissed all other thoughts as the word of his wife resounded throughout the battlefield.
“( Domain Expansion: Rage ),” her voice spoke softly. Lacking anger or any emotion that could be considered close to it. In fact, she sounded pleasant and like she was having a great day.
That was how Kei knew this situation was dangerous. Laura Lance never sounded pleasant. Cordial at times, but the woman was hard-boiled to her core and Kei knew it.
The inky blackness of the Convocation’s sky bled red as a new domain introduced itself into the region. Laura’s men, who previously floated nearly aimlessly, suddenly activated their movement skills and formed ranks as their commander’s domain skill superseded itself as the highest law around Laura.
“Shit, we’re all gonna go berserk,” Kei sighed and prepared himself for impact. Hopefully, the prince would be alright as the West Gate Army lost themselves to rage.
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Lawruthian sighed, he turned to his generals and his eyes held a strange confidence that caused the women to straighten. Surrounding them protectively, were the Imperius Knights, who were on full alert as they scanned every avenue around Lawruthian. The eight men and women led by Tobi were highly disappointed they lost Lawruthian from his earlier charge to Alexandria. Now, they hovered closer and scanned up and down the area, looking for threats.
“What’s the plan?”
They were attached to the ground by two stone-like handles their feet could slip into, created from a simple earth manipulation spell. They inserted their feet into these handles and were able to twist their bodies in certain directions only once they used mana to turn the hardened handles. Around them were the three-
“( Domain Expansion: Rage ).”
A pleasant voice spoke. No matter where, no matter what, if they were in Starglow Valley, this voice was heard by them.
Heads immediately snapped back to the battlefield and breaths were caught at the stunning scene displayed before them. At the moment Laura’s voice was spread throughout Starglow Valley, every eye turned toward it.
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Like an arrow shot from a bow, the two thousand members of the West Gate Army flew from their mounts with startling speed. At the same moment, the voice of Laura Lance spread over the Imperius Army. Then when all eyes were on the battlefield in the height of the distraction, Thraag Volkensha – Dimension Shaper struck.
“(Warp Blade),” the voice came from above.
Lawruthian barely understood what occurred as his Hero Golem Nubia burst from the ground and a spell activated to protect him. Minerva shrieked a warning, but it was far too late.
It was the surprised jerk of Eniola that alerted him as she watched the sky. In the near-instant Thraag emerged from his teleportation, he struck. The attack was nearly invisible, and easily covered twenty meters in width. Its only signs were the warping of light from the stars of the valley. Otherwise, the attack would be impossible to spot without light being bent.
Ameri was the first to react, her high attributes enabled her to move faster than all others, her eyes widened, and her figure flashed to tackle Lawruthian away from the attack. Alexandria was next as she attempted to do the same. Time slowed to a crawl as all parties attempted to reach their liege. Atlas and Tobi began to cast protective skills, and Aurelia and others amongst the knights tossed themselves toward Thraag and the attack. The knights attempted to use their physical bodies to block the blow.
Only Lawruthian seemed unworried, as his expression remained indifferent to what was to come.
Nubia burst from the ground before him in a display of dirt and stone. A powerful skill activated as the golem defended her master. The ground underneath Lawruthian began to churn and shift as if to swallow him whole.
(Aegis Guard: Defensive Stance).
(Aegis Guard)
Function 1:
Defensive Stance
Enhance Base Defense between 200% — 1000%.
Function 2:
Elemental Resistance
Reduce all elemental attacks damage by 50%
Function 3:
Shield Bash
When activated, bash into your opponent’s, successful hits activate one instance of {Stun}.
Cost:
150 MP activation. 50 MP per 50%. Additional Functions are 25% of the base cost.
Immediately, Lawruthian was pulled into the protective enclosure of a warded base as Nubia passed him. Runes colored the floor, ceiling, and walls in a blue-gold hue, and the young prince ended up sitting comfortably in the lab of his Hero Golem Hector. The golem anchored him to its body through its earth manipulation.
Lawruthian’s eyes flickered to Nubia’s Life Pints. He’d been commanding his golems in wait to strike in what could hopefully be a decisive moment. He hadn’t expected Thraag to act so swiftly and decisively. His hand moved to Minerva as he gently petted the bird.
“I told you we’d be alright.”
An angry chirp was the only response.
Nubia Blackwater
HP: 10800/10800 (+3240)
MP: 10200/10200 (+2910)
Lawruthian hadn’t expected a single one of his heroic skills to boost Nubia to this degree. ( Golem Commander ) was one of the first skills the prince achieved through skill crystals. He never expected its first-class evolution to evolve its Life Points this much.
( Golem Commander )
Description:
Under your command, no golem shall falter. No magic will break them. No swords shall shatter them.
Function:
+100 Base Attack/Defense to golems under your direct command. 30% increase effect for buffs. +30% HP/MP.
Cost:
200 MP.
The skill doubled its effects since he first received it, and when activated on his Hero Golem’s it became a major boost. Lawruthian’s eyes shined, and he prepared his mind for what was to come. Unfortunately Nubia completely allocated most of his Intent for the skill to work. He hadn’t been able to recast it on a second Hero Golem.
A hundred and fifty mana points drained from Nubia as it activated its defenses. Attached to her waist was molded earth that Hector controlled. This halted Nubia’s movement and prevented her from shooting into the sky. The golem’s shield seemed to supersede the people around Lawruthian as it completely blocked the blow from ending the lives of his knights. At the same moment, Nubia retaliated with an attack of her own, her spear shot forward and seemed to pierce through space and towards its targets vitals. Thraag’s eyes widened and in a blink, he was gone as the [Dimension Shaper] simply disappeared.
Golem Corps: Nubia Blackwater has blocked 2680 damage.
Lawruthian swallowed… hard . He hadn’t expected Thraag to immediately go for a decisive, a killing blow. His eyes hardened as he stared at that number. The shock breaking the effect his skills held on him for a moment. His defense and Health Points wouldn’t hold a candle to such an attack.
“Your Highness,” a voice called hesitantly from outside the growing compound that held him. That voice snapped Lawruthian back to his senses and he commanded the HG underneath him.
“Hector, open the door.”
The golem responded accordingly, and the wall behind Lawruthian shifted as an opening appeared. The Imperius Knights were the first to rush in. the members who jumped toward Thraag recovered and returned to the group. The knights once again took up defensive positions around the room, but their expressions were dark. None of them stood a chance against the [Dimension Shaper].
‘ We can help you! ’
‘ Devout yourself, and we will give you the power to take this world. ’
‘ Leave, ’ Lawruthian simply said as these wayward voices made their whispers into his ears. He hadn’t even bothered to wonder what or where they came from as he focused on a much more threatening problem.
“We have incoming. A bit over five thousand mixed coalition troops are making their way here,” Alexandria immediately began as she gazed around the room.
The space was large, and Alexandria could immediately tell it’d been designed as a command center. There were spaces for mages to cast scrying spells and room for guards to take up positions. These guard spaces were immediately filed by her cousins and the Oni, who counted themselves amongst the Imperius Knights.
“They coming through a short range portal and will be upon us in less than three minutes,” Alexandria continued. Her eyes gazed around and a slight smile showed through her helm.
“Will Hector have enough time to finish the construction,” the General asked as she began barking out orders to the knights.
“I don’t care what you’re feeling like right now, do not let a single bug into this room without the orders of His Highness Lawruthian. If it moves, kill it ,” Alexandria stated to Tobi and the rest.
“He should take only five more minutes.”
“Good,” Alexandria stated. “I’ll prepare the troops.”
“As will I,” Ameri said.
Together, they quickly made their way outside the command center. Lawruthian was left with his thoughts and Minerva.
Thraag snarled, a deep menacing sound that forced the mental apparitions back. The old mage fist was clenched, and he stared at the notification in surprise and wonder.
[Golem Corp: Nubia Blackwater – ★★★★★ ]
Base Atk: 2250 (+663)
Base Def: 1050 (+363)
HP: 10800/10800 (+3240)
MP: 10200/10200 (+ 2610)
HP^3 Regen: 111/Hour
MP^3 Regen: 105/Hour
Power: 7,500
Mind: 3,400
Vitality: 3,600
Self: 3,500
Description:
Born through the combined efforts of many and through the research led by Margret Musa, Lawruthian Edryani, and others. Nubia has taken shape.
“How in the nine Underneaths did this whelp manage to get his hands on a calamity? Truly a favored son of Goddess Madris.”
He stood in the folds of space, reading the description. Thraag wore traditional battle-mage robes which held a metal plate over their chest and vitals, whereas the rest acted as a traditional robe. The moment Thraag calculated the total of attribute points, he’d immediately retreated. Not even he could face a calamity leveled creature alone. Judging from its mana levels and his, Thraag would find himself quickly exhausted in his attempts to slay Lawruthian.
Immediately, Thraag teleported once again. He stepped from the folds of space and into the commanding space of the collation of schools who volunteered help. Most were subsidiary academies that were connected to the Convocation through resources and protection. Others, the foolish, truly believed they could force a change upon the crown. They were fools, as was the prince.
Thraag knew of the mythical item the young prince constantly wore. He’d paid the Syndicate a handsome amount to obtain all the information they kept on the whelp. What he received was startling. Thraag expected his Hero Golems. The first three were thoroughly analyzed and their attributes and limitations were well known.
DUUM-DUUM.
The latest iteration to their line-up caught Thraag by surprise. The lithe golem could have slain him if Thraag hadn’t chosen to safely strike from a distance. Its base attack easily put it in the range of his skill boosted attacks.
“The prince remains unprotected. Naught but his middling army are present,” Thraag announced his presence to the collation leaders with these words.
“I will create a gate to limit the distance between you.”
Many of the mages jumped in fright, and Thraag held in his disgust. He’d need them as a distraction to attempt an attack once again on the prince. Once he figured out the limitations of his necklace, he’d be able to capture if not kill the whelp. Killing was a last option for Thraag, but one he was not as hesitant about. Such a blow to the Edryani may be enough to cause their downfall. There were only two members of the house, no less caused by their own actions.
“It is time Edryan opens its eyes to a change. The Edryani have ruled long enough.”