COI C103
The caves that lead to Isekai City. The train had done is worth as they did theirs from its reserves. The excess mana on that city had shown great flaws for the monsters’ growth. Elyrion, the Mylnoie, who had to take this situation on his hand to help them a bit, and now in ruins. The King’s scouts are with them, feeling the relief that their city saved from the siege. They are also happy to see the people who saved them in east coast. Under the banner picture of a man with halo behind. They could not say anything but whispers their name
“Benedictus”
The outskirts had shown a massive crater but not reach further the remains happening to the north east. By taken away the dust that stops it from growing, the bomb didn’t able to destroy it as it shields itself with the stolen city barrier. The Enders look at the tree still standing and infesting through the roads. The sun is setting as they are waiting for the leaders to show up. Nonetheless, Agathean and Mountaiwall leaders come before them. Elyrion said to them
“Were they able to fend off the demonic magic?”
The goblin leader shakes his head and can’t hold his mouth going loud “They are depending on us. They seem not focusing on shamanism for a bit. Prosperity is their main focus from what I see”
The dwarf leader however speaks highly on them “Runes though, they are improving quite a bit, now with their infrastructure to deliver the resources. I will be seeing their shipments come and go”
“There is no need for that expectation, once the fifth moon cycle returns, they will face more challenges from the sea”
The elf leader comes to him, Elyrion casts his elven magic and wipe off the illusion of the elf leader. The actual elf leader was here with Elyrion’s side. She left after the party at Stranding Island. The demon is revealed as she is looks less undignified
“The demons played and took the advantages. From the beginning, siphoning through the excess mana inside the city, and now you see that tree over there becoming its domain”
The demon elf points out the outskirt as it already making nests out of it. The Enders look at it as if history already repeat itself.
They whispered around with their guild mistress standing after them. “The same underground caverns fell to the abyss. The east mountain is clearly the root of it all”
“Then the Enders guilds will finally rally to it as the defense inside is waning”
“Magic is still frugal here. We should wait for the fourth moon cycle. This attack was meant for them as the creatures are returning to their ecosystem. Alga’s light is gone and the Jigeram is here is slowly entering the region. But time is different to us from Enders Bridge”
“Back then we were coordinate with their Ehan’Se, the Ehan’Ra holding them off to figure out how to deal with it as it took hostage their invaluable animals”
The district leaders appeared before through teleportation. The scouts summoned them as they received the reply. Five leaders appeared before them, recognizable faces to see them again. Elyrion who was with them before to secure the Foundation and now they are here looking as if they feel doubts why they are still here. The elf recognized only three of them; respectable, doubted, and mentioned. The advisor smiles with relief
“I’m so glad you came to help us, especially to you Enders to bring the train here”
The guild mistress assumed the train that was controlled by her rival. The essence of energy in a shockwave as the bomb created a new wasteland.
Her subordinates said to her “Lady Constantine, Other guilds are already leaving. They are focusing back to the original quest with the elves. You are the only one here now”
She pondered herself “The huntsmen had deliberately sent the scouts to us. I don’t know how they found out about my plot but this is going to be my opportunity for now. Azin, my only subject, remember my pleas and be on your way”
“So sudden my lady?!”
“Take this opportunity as the city is healing, and figure out what they mention about the train . . .”
Then Lady Constantine calmly speaks with a strict tone “. . .Follow my orders and learn from them, may the lord be with you”
“And also, be with you”
Lady Constantine confronts the district leaders “We received words from your scouts to send help. The elf already mentioned that warning long ago. As much we admit that you have difficulty handling them, but our judgement is beyond superstitious now that demons are able to take advantage from your novice upbringings”
King humbly responds “We have so much to learn especially about mana control”
Lady Constantine responds that statement “East Coast had already portrayed as an example, but none of you experienced the severe power of controlling as a whole. I expect your people never experienced to use exorcism”
Manager Kubo keep in mind with that, and with her honest expression she asks them “How many are we need to learn to fight against it”
The Benedictus gives her a book “None, but dare to have it will be your gift and curse. Learn well when you witness those wraiths, you’ve seen their souls trapped but the race is there. Your mana is belonged to the demon and the price is always on display when you fight. Dared to have none, they will find you eventually”
Elyrion understands the philosophy, but they already won’t let it go. He heard among the adventurers who won’t be stop using until they leave this world.
Large mass of the population can’t hide in this region, hundreds of thousands of people living in this world were able to fend off the harsh nature that gives them hardship. Critters frolicking to the city as pests, sickness and diseases scattered around forcing their magic to raise their resistance than naturally immune, and the Horsin people will eventually take advantage of the destruction. The demons had showed them the worse of it all, the irony is the race of humans were the most affected. Elyrion remembers there are more, but they are belonged to their allies . . . Equally worse.
He still wonders why they have to continue to live this world. The Elven gods had their chance to bring their creation back home, it be the goblins, the dwarves, or the humans if shared their original world. It was the obvious answer back where he is inside the undergrown. This world is a cesspool to ascend, where the obelisk hid away on this world will someday open the gate to reconnect the lost worlds. Just one pieced world connecting to another, nothing changed after the disconnection. Unless something happened eternally.
The advisor said to them “Thanks for helping us to end the siege. What’s your reason for this audience now? We are here and we need to clean the mess happened here. After this incident, we want to have a proper conversation regarding this situation”
The demon elf slightly twitches her face as she heard the Lady Hivites in response in her head. It was a bit painful for her, able to hold through her argued thoughts, and she kept to the side as there is nothing to discuss but for Elyrion and the Enders leader.
Elyrion said to them “For introduction; I am Elyrion and this lady is Aysienna Constantine. My promise since this morning that we have to stop. I would never guess your city barrier was leeched off as those abominations were nurtured so well. The outskirt you walk pass by is prudent of its effort”
They look further beyond as the tree at the northeast still growing well, Elyrion understands that hybrid feed on electricity. It somehow stretches further closer to the city. He continues
“As for that forest overtaken your roads, I hope you understand it won’t grow anymore as it needs lightning”
Lady Constantine interrupts the elf “There’s no need for trivial conversation, we too need to head back and continue the quest to the undergrown. By the way, I need to give them some warnings about the bomb”
Old man Ban nodded to her worries as he too question of its effects. A strange bomb like that caused the whole place into a barren wasteland but has no effect through the city barrier, it makes him question more about the cause and effects between magic. Manager Kubo heard it too from the foreman in the station, as they begin to introduce themselves.
“Welcome and thanks for the help. I am Manager Kubo, Old man Ban, Bokushi Hidari, Lion King, and finally there’s . . . Mayor’s Advisor”
A slight paused made her feel uncomfortable as he never mentioned her about his name. Lady Constantine ignore the bizarre names as there are titles . . . but, she understands it as roles instead of superiority. She bows slightly while they bow down their heads.
“Nice to meet you all. Now about the incident, do you know what will happen next when the bomb fell?”
Manager Kubo responds “I heard from my foreman, he mentioned about to use the resources delivered to make project to deal with its recovery. There was no time for explanation as they hurried the train back to continue the transporting the goods”
Lady Constantine’s eyes grew impatient as she already figures that they know she is going to come here for help. But that’s not what she is after, she stands firm and explained to them briefly.
“I’ll make it short. The bomb didn’t destroy the dusts nor the cloud . . .”
“What?!”
“. . . Please so kind to let me finish, ahem. It will definitely return and you people need to absorb its magic and destroy it while it recovers”
Old man Ban can’t understand what she meant. Magic logic or whatever she says makes him rather let them do the work even how crucial her statements. His old age put him not understand clearly regarding on fantasy. He said,
“A threat that didn’t go away. What are we supposed to do?”
She answers “You have time, but not long enough to let the fourth moon cycle to finally deal with it. Demonic magic persists as it controls the cloud immensely. Keep a close watch on your city that was overrun by the horde. Either you find the way to fully erase it or delay it from recovering until the Jigeram’s light at full”
Manager Kubo grips her device to hear she said they will return. The Taiyou Industries had been overrun. The cloud clearly had done so much as the entire tree almost overgrown the facilities. The massive industrial complex is now in the verge to be unprotected. She replies
“Excuse me, I’ll be having call with my groups. I’m sorry Ms. Constantine, but I need to keep in mind through your words”
As she is about to leave, Lady Constantine said to her “Prioritized first on the Jigerarium, if you still don’t understand it. It’s the dust in its purest element, it’s the key to kill all life. Tell your people to use it as their last option, no living had ever exposed it, neither will you”
Manager Kubo bows to her and take her leave. Old man Ban took a deep breathe to hear about recommending something dangerous, but he has nothing to be able useful as his district are mostly neighborhoods. He bows down to her with relieving thanks
“If there is nothing else you could say more. I’ll take my leave. I trust them to be able to handle it”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
He raises his head with a smile while she returns the favor with her lady like bow. The other district leaders were with the elf as they have something important to tell him.
Three district leaders; who is facing Elyrion as the discussion wasn’t over. They pulled him to them as the conversation about the city. The cult leader can’t pull himself through the patience he did to hear his people still murmuring through the incident. The advisor is glad enough it was over, but time is the essence where the industries are needed to build the project against the cloud. King listens to them as the next phase needed to be followed. The dangers are more difficult to understand.
Elyrion speaks “. . . I have been taken your time as the situation goes on. I won’t be or anyone else on this matter as the two moon cycles will be difficult for everyone. I’ll be sending the message to my Ehan’Ra when the time I finished my quest”
The advisor is glad that he is finally coordinating. The citizens who are residing only in Agatheus City, they couldn’t contact much to Lady Hivites and more so the hostility in Mountaiwall. This discovery of the infestation made them hard to reach out until the operator was able to have someone from Ender Bridge to help them.
The advisor responds “This time, we won’t be surprised with the resources are now supplying our city. You won’t be hearing us for help as this day goes on. I hope the meeting with them will be arrived before another attack. See you at the invitation”
He left as King and Hidari stay and look at the elf. Old reunion starts to feel amongst each other. Hidari looks at the elf as their grudge to one another is hidden behind their heads. For King, he couldn’t say anything. Him seeing the elf since his travel to bring the Foundation to the city, those two talks smack to each other to finally getting home. Now, there is nothing else to say.
King left, leaving Elyrion and Hidari seeing each other alone. Hidari said to him “If we have left this world, we wouldn’t be facing this mess”
“You think it will be that easy to live with people that don’t wish to live among us”
“I for one don’t want to live this world too, even brought those nuisances away from your objectives”
“I can’t believe even my gods could see your service to be of use”
“Removed that monster from my city, even if we found a way to leave this world and let the others trapped here. At least I removed some hindrance in this region”
Hidari left as he is the only one left standing. Other district leaders and leaders from the Island are going back into the city. Elyrion say his farewell to him
“It’s nice to see you again too . . . Ruined”
He stands there watching Hidari leave, as Lady Constantine walks next to him whereas those two show their familiarity quite mysterious. She said
“Ruined?”
“That’s all you needed to know, Lady Constantine. My adventures with some of them had becoming foul. I can’t interfere their mistakes”
“I won’t dare to pry your duty, Mylnoie. I have one and he will be doing the interference for me”
The city was sieged and successfully defended with no casualties. The failsafe is becoming their mind set of their reckless behaviors. Because of that, they were pushed away from the shock after shock. The personnel had analyzed the problem and see why many weren’t that taken the defense seriously, as so they thought. That’s how it grows and that’s why it caused so much damage. Taiyou Industries is rebuilding with runes, while the Mihayara district is being rebuild using magic. Two different methods as everyone are working together to fix it.
The stadium is becoming the base hub for the adventurers. As the reserves who are not participating the defense are assigned there to fend off the remains of the monsters’ horde. The sea serpent flies through the sky gathering with clean water. Starts raining down where the monsters turned to dust, reappeared again as whole. The serpent dives down and kills it with one swoop of its poisonous water magic. The monster’s flesh melt and burns as the poison turned its flesh to dried up carcasses. From one of many, the city’s overrun areas had taken over.
Thousands of homeless people are relocating somewhere else. Now forced to live through the magic doors in a small studio apartment. It casts through magic with everyone’s help. It is located at the Mihayara city center, the same place where the rally point is. A pillar of light emits to the sky as large amount of magic needed to keep the realm intact. Residences and commercial businesses from north Mihayara district were all there. Making the illusion that imitates their lost streets, it is protected with poles forming magic circles.
As the news spread for the glorious victory, but the main topic the news wanted to share is the devastation happening in their city. “. . . After the siege, the city barrier now will be the protective border as the outside is becoming a wasteland, the ruins at Mihayara district and Taiyou Industries are still inhabited with monsters. The bomb erased the mana around there as rumors said to be slowly returning within a month or so. Monsters are rematerializing. Luckily, people are willing to take them out once inside of the city is sorted out. Unfortunately, people who are exposed from the explosion won’t be able to help as the problems hinder their strengths . . .”
Altair and the other adventurers walking through the barren ruins. As if they are walking a post-apocalyptic scenery with sandstorms formed by dusts, the color of light blue and some crystallized remains. Gordon and Altair can’t use their mana properly as the exposure still mark them 100%.
“I can’t believe it won’t come off, I’m glad it doesn’t affect us physically, but no magic is worse than I have imagined”
“Yeah, but breathing it will put us unconscious. I doubt we recover soon without magic”
The goblin rings the bell as they passing through “To all people who are being blown by the bomb, immediately go to the stadium. There is something you need to be careful” Ring*
The residences already left from South Shore Bay as they hurriedly check their districts. They use their magic to teleport to their homes and see what happened. Their happy faces grew as their districts are safe. A new barrier being reformed as they see fall of North sections of Mihayara district and almost entirety of Taiyou Industries. Across the distance through the empty highways, many check the condition of the metro train. They see only two stations are out of commissioned.
Andui and her friends check the school to see anything wrong. Other teachers and student come and check to see what happened to the simulation room. One person who was left behind inside the school was Alche, it’s been two days now and finally get out from the sphere. Reya comes closer to him and said,
“So, from what that Quill said. Does it really protect you from the threats?”
“I set the controls into safe mode. I say it is viable but . . . cough* . . . the strange side effects on my mana start occurring for some reason”
“Let’s hope that the sphere can also sheltered us if we can’t made it”
“Agreed”
Fuku adventurers made back to their district. Both mix and filled their heads with envy or hatred to their doubles. Now that the social media starts working again as promised to hide their identity. Cdown was excused from the duty due to his behavior, he takes his time take advantage during the siege. Able to watch over the fight and the cloud acting differently once it reached this district. Cdown sends his thoughts to the cult leader
“. . . It’s true, something stops the cloud and move directly to Taiyou Industries for some reason . . . Yeah . . . I don’t know about that . . . But . . . Alright, I should save her first before something odd will happen here”
Cdown goes up to the tallest building and see across the crater and barren wasteland made by the bomb. He sees the train levitate and going through the crater as it is transporting the goods. Never seen such weaponize train to even fly like that. The cult leader spoke to him worriedly as of why this district wasn’t attack. There is so much potential if the cloud made it here. Even though he was scared if it did reach here and the woman he is trying to protect, but the demon though is controlling it. He made him wonder why it didn’t attack here.
In Taiyou district, the workers send home as the Dexter guild stay and fix the place up. Codices and Mechanics are here to not let the equipment fell into the remnants of monsters lurking around. Equipping the weaponries from the workers as they push forward and see the conditions among the facilities. All their steps into dust or breaks like glass as they travel through the destruction of Taiyou Industries, not one burned to the crisp or destroyed for some reason.
Archscientist takes her step to see the foreign city in ruins, held her energy weapons as they carried scraps. The burning remains through Alga’s light and fuel to burn through the wall of flames. The bomb didn’t disperse it as it only focus on life, and fuel has no life yet Alga’s light treated it as life. Such strange interaction still wonders them greatly. One of the codices found something
“A huge block is near the door. Get the glass cutter and see what lies inside”
Every report matches one of them, blocks of shards or crystal blocking inside the facilities.
They broke through and every one of them found rather familiar. The archscientist hears her comms “Vandalized machines, definitely old allies of the false one”
“Clear, erase it before it reaches the mainframe or any processor units that makes them having artificial intelligence”
“Affirmative, sending the data to both the guild and to the city . . .”
“Stop the action for sending data to Isekai City, this is an authoritative action”
“Noted, Lady Coheld will be reviewing your action once she takes notice first hand”
The archscientist shakes her head as the operator heard their conversation.
“What data? Are you guys sending something for us?”
“If you think that is important, then yes, for the safety of your city”
“I don’t want to ask questions, but why can’t you give us the data”
“Demonic magic, I assume your computers can able to secure against demon magic like a hacking virus. I for one don’t understand why the demons are able took over technologies like as if electricity is like magic”
“Then would you please send a report to us a clean safe data”
She has microchips wired on her gadgets “Then remind me to give it to you, or maybe give me your device and make it easier for the both of us”
The operator gives her his device. A flat card looking thing but its electronic device is as smooth as she touches it. No magic and had to do it manually, she gives it back to him and said to him
“I’m too new for this device. Let’s have a chat instead while you record”
“I thought you would be easier for us to make a report in my device”
“I recommend recording, because I’m going to show you something”
They get inside one of the factories as the operator saw the equipment being jangled up. His face turned pale as he sees something being merge with. A frozen monster trying to combine with their equipment.
“I can’t fathom enough to let you see this, but I too will be sharing your grief. Archscience won’t allow such abomination being controlled without certain experience to operate it”
“What in the hell is going on here?”
“I for one will easily say; I’m glad we made it before it turns into this. Demons have no shame to vilified such creation into their own. No good makers who can only take than make”
The mechanics remove the monster and the equipment altogether as it the signs of dent and forging happened as it destroys the framework and only left with its functioning components.
They cheer to themselves as the revelation to recover such machine. “ARCHSCIENCE CONQUERS ALL!”
The operator is kind of glad to see them going to fix it, he records every detail is happening here as more long hours looking after to the next factories as everything turns for the worse. The cheers repeat again and again as the afternoon quickly turn to the night. As the Enders keep working while the repeating coming of the train is sending the materials.
In Stranding Island, everyone is taking their time resting. They have no interest of rebuilding their city back as the men are all exposed from the bomb explosion. Pretending it to be dangerous and the side effects will occur when the time come. Ironno takes his time talking among them the reality of the bomb.
“. . . It’s just mana disruption, it was the dust was the prior use to eradicate those monsters. All of you know that they are just familiars or puppets of the demon. Just pretend that the dust caused the eradication”
They play along with the story, but other citizens are with them also join along the lie. Others thought will burden the others to continue that mindset, the citizens understand why. The complaints among the goblins said it better in a funny way.
“Humiskis, acting like one of those demon puppets. You died?! Oh well you can return back to the city, again, and again . . . Oh no the city is overrun. Well, at least my house is right over there. Me? No let my body drag along when that huge beast leap me to the ground”
The other goblin laughs at him “Yeah those two feet tall things are threats to all of us small boyz. Oh, wait there’s that ghost you all afraid. Boyz! Let us introduce ourselves, and now we become sidekicks”
The goblin laughs at their own misery, there are no exceptions for the Horsin for carefully fighting the monsters. Wounds among the goblins are saved by their spirits, the dwarves are able to fend off as their equipment erased most of their runes, and finally the humans are restoring their limbs. The humans were the only exceptions not fully recover during battle, that’s why the citizens are here to continue to check on them.
The goblin continues “. . . Humiskis like you are able to survive having losing your life and all, while the citizens using their cheats. However, we got loots while they disappeared, ehehe”
The citizens watch them pick up the loots left from the monsters and the wraiths, all sealed in their mana batteries given by the city. It was their only request item when they join the defense. Sealed away fragments of its mana, the look of its filth under those floating brown red clouds. They hear it speaks as the goblins laugh at its whispering voice. They collect it firmly as their bags are full with it, not going to let one person to bring it to the city.
Ironno grabs one and look at the contamination of the mana battery. Whispering voice can’t be understood, he glares at it to see its reacting. It did and the cloud mist of an animal skull appeared then faded to a human skull, then goblin, then finally a dwarf. He scuffs it off as it is trying to scare him. Ironno takes it and brings it to Haw. Haw is with the citizens taken oaths, it strange or them to act like Agatheans. The goblins are stepping back to see them act that way, reminding themselves a certain demon. Haw checks his device as he is being manipulated by magic, this new device made with magic, neutral mana, and it was being controlled.
Ironno stops and let this moment plays out. The citizens all gathered here as they were told to do. Curious among them like goblins’ spirits, and they recite what they have willing to do since the start, they said
“Our duty was to help the befallen men during the battle. Horrendous sight of their wounds, bleeding and guts spilled. We never seen such brutal figures even though they drink their potions, forbidden to use inside our city. And now, we witness something we shouldn’t not come here. Lady Hivites will bring her judgement on us . . .”
Ironno could not believe what he hears. Someone taps their backs, and it was Rusic. Haw tries to step in then being pushed back from unknown magic. All three of them stumbled and let themselves continue to watch until they saw someone joining those citizens. It was the demon elf, who they saw during the final duel, the rumble. The demon uses her magic to make an illusion, takes Haw’s form with no devilish expression, she shows them warnings, and she won’t let them respond after what she said.
“I place my magic with illusion of doubts. Dare not ask who you think it was, and I won’t give you any reason to say in this. Hear them say the name they are trying to recite, if not, you will be the example even your Masters won’t stop me”
The demon elf continues their citations. The three froze and give no sensation of release, they have to watch or listen to them while they hid and paused for this moment to end. Rusic sees the illusion as if she is kept shapeshifting into something else.
“That demon, I thought it was off when I see a rebellion spy bastard is here. You?”
Ironno replies “A guildmember that I have no trust in. How about you Haw?”
Haw stays silent a bit, can’t remember who but the face he remembers was sealed. ‘Doubt’, that’s the illusion he sees and can’t describe. He can see the random illusion she is forming into, but those two said something what they hated. Haw’s hatred, there something goes in his mind.
“I have, but I can’t say”
Rusic raises his eyes and Ironno explains it to him “Haw is something, you know what it means. Don’t push him”
“Aye, that response reminds me with those ghost stories. People becoming dead men . . .”