“Why I don’t have eyes?” Chump complained while pointing to the screen, annoyed by the display.
“I don’t think that’s the part that should worry you, Master,” Zippy commented with a worried tone. With a stern expression, Oberon agreed with the telepathic being for a moment.
Chump extended his hand, looking like he adjusted something out of the screen, but no matter how much he tried to focus his Remenant on the individuals through the screen, it didn’t budget. It looked like his powers didn’t work through electronics.
The squad under Ephiron quickly put themselves in a diagonal line on one side, looking with their full attention and focus on what orders the princess had. These people were composed of soldiers of the same height, exactly three and a half meters, (or ~11,5 feet tall). Each had light blue skin, some had gills or other fish characteristics, and others had an arm or part of their body covered in ice, or entirely made of water. But all shared their platinum armor, made by unknown scales like the princess, but with draconian water scales. The decorations were mostly in the number of false gills and fins the armor had. They were awaiting orders.
Meanwhile, the squad under Gunnhildr, and herself, didn’t bother with such fancy maneuvers and just gathered on the side more casually. Neither under Gunnhildr’s orders waited in a military position, heck, some of them didn’t stand up, sitting down and even one laid down nonchalantly. Unlike Ephiron’s people, they held their weapons, fists, or bits of magic around to show their powerlessness and to flex on them mockingly, trying to taunt them while the princess explained, paying half attention to her. Their uniform didn’t have an ounce of consistency between them. Each one wore more casual clothes but all of them had the skin of a dangerous beast the hunt down. Some had a chimera as seen before, others a rocky beast, and even some had a tiny fire-breathing volcanic bear.
It was like seeing two different worlds facing each other, paying their respective focus and loyalty to the royalty in front of them.
The princess continued giggling at this display. “I must thank once again the first squad division of the Noylc’s Kingdom Marine for collaborating with the empire in the transformation of this terrain. Ephiron’s warriors are elite people, trained in various harsh environments, as well as experts in close, range, and navy combat without exception. I would usually have my maids and my loyal subject around here to begin the project. But as you may know, we have a dangerous subject in the city, waiting for us. He…Well, he is the lowest scum a hyuman can be, already killing two of my men, and unlike other humans, he must be brought to justice. We need as well somebody to keep watch on every moment of our prisoners. Their souls should be extracted accordingly to the rules dictated by the council.” Her voice filled with inspiration and motivation, as she spoke to the two squads she was in charge of.
“Oh my god, I didn’t do shit, okay?!” Chump groaned while taking notes half of his attention on the speech the princess gave. Making his blood boil at how her tone depicted him as a horrible villain. Zippy patted his leg, trying to calm him down and sighing off.
Oberon didn’t say anything.
The princess continued. “I know some of you are still recovering from your wounds, that’s why we will start by “melting” the “Valentia city” in three days. It should be enough for your wounds and your Remenant to recover from the war zones. We will begin from the north to the south. But before that, we will have to block every, single, possible exist by foot.”
Gunnhildr interrupted, poking her ear while munching some cooked bunny meat she didn’t finish eating “But what do you mean melting? I mean I can melt a couple of buildings, but I have to be close and stuff…”
The princess nodded and half bowed, the creepy smile turning towards a more shy smile while she captivated the bodybuilder’s attention. “Oh no no, not exactly melting, but we will take this great zone and heat up, until the point that it feels like a volcanic inferno inside. Then by reaction and the rat he is, he will try to get out of the city, but, seeing every way blocked by a giant ice wall, but not the sea, Ephiron and his squad will catch them, due to them being faster in any sea. Any questions my legionnaires?~”
Ephiron bowed as he raised his hand in doubt. “While the plan sounds solid on paper Princess Masha, I am afraid that a contradiction happens in the whole formula.”
Gunnhildr cocked her head towards him and cross her arms, then burp, then spoked. “I think me and mah bois can walk through some hot air, punk.” Gunnhildr men and women laughed or showed a smug face. This attitude irritated a bit the soldiers under Ephiron.
Ephiron shook his head, not changing a bit his attitude or tone. “I do not mean that, miss Gunnhildr. I mean that for over an hour, the prisoners will be left alone. And the ice imprisonment will be weaker due to my usage of powers during the period that the giant ice barrier is up. They might be able to escape.”
Gunnhildr rolled her eyes, looking at him with impatience and irritation. “You think, you even think even if they, somehow, broke a thick ass ice barrier they would get out of a magma circle? With what? Sticks and stones? And they don’t speak our language, never less understand what we are doing. Just let them famine the day before that and I am sure they will stay calm and quiet inside there.” She stepped forward and pressed one of her giant fingers against one of the horns of Ephiron. “Think Ephiron, think!”
But the demonic-looking giant man didn’t seem bothered even with that display of power and disrespect and turned directly to Masha. “It is your call, in the end, Princess Masha.”
Everyone turned to Masha, as she looked at the map again and back to her men. “But this city isn’t big, right? I saw some of the buildings coming here of these “hyumans” and they seem to be small compared to us.”
Gunnhildr cackled at that information before turning and tilting her head towards the princess. “Oh princess, you are new here, but let me tell ya. What they lack by power, they compensate by numbers. Before we began our invasion, they outnumbered us a hundred to one. Luckily, we reduced their numbers by….I don’t know…probably two-thirds now. So, sixty-five to one.”
The princess didn’t seem bothered by that information, extending her wings and retrieving them by a natural reaction, a way of stretching a bit. “We only lost a couple thousand people since everything started. What is your point Captain Nhildr?”
Ephiron quickly interjected in his stern. “The city is as big as old Maestra. The old capital. That’s why this maneuver can be really risky, as well as why they ONLY gave you the city and surroundings. It is enough territory for your new city project.”
Masha stood quiet, thinking as she cooled her hair with a bit of magic and increased the ice magic thanks to her wings, a way to refresh herself in these pensive moments. Then took a manuscript and began to scratch and rewrite parts of the plan. “I thought the city was as big as Tahir port back in Caler coast…Alright. You still can cover the zone I marked in ice, right?” Ephiron nodded. “The plan will continue, but instead of heating the whole city, instead of making the job of Nido, we will divide the city into zones then. It seems this city hosted various canals where rivers are.”
Gunnhildr interjected this time. “Were. That’s vestiges of a river that were used as green parks. Now abandoned and overgrown. Too much green in my taste. Blegh.”
The princess clicked her fingers to keep her attention. She stood firmly, taking a moment to push aside her nervous nerves and stress. This might be due to her relatively young appearance in comparison with others in that scene “Gunnhildr is right. It is improbable that in this hour something happens. Very well: Gunnhildr squad. Divide the city with heat storms, and register each zone manually. Ephiron squad, create the ice barrier and stay alert in the port and beach zones. Take high positions and wait for new orders. If anyone sees a human, you capture it. Reunite forces in three days. I will provide air assistance and fly above the city to help you, as well as coordinate this inspection. Those are my orders.”
Everyone else answered with their distinctive attitude on this operation with affirmation. “Yes!” for Ephiron and his squad. “Alright/Sure/Okay” for Gunnhildr and her squad.
“Dismissed, take rest. Will stay on guard tonight.” Masha declared as she began to take her papers and began to write down some stuff. Everyone else took the dismissal and began to get down to bed or do their respective duties. It was Ephiron’s squad’s turn to do the chores as, some began to hang out or even observe the circle of magma, or whatever each soldier did at that moment.
——————————————
After seeing all that, Chump breathed out in pure relief. He considered that even if their plan, while not perfect, could have been enough to make him fall into any of their layers and be among the people captured. He grabbed the bunny and patted him a couple of times. “You are indeed a rabbit, you are a lucky rabbit. Man, I am so sorry for this morning.”
Zippy smiled and crossed his little arms, feeling proud. “Well, now you owe me your life two times now!~”
“I did save you once, but fair,” Chump observed, doing a satisfied face and giggling seeing the bunny. “Anyway, this information is absolute gold. We can plan around this a plan.”
“I don’t see the complications here, hyuman.“ Oberon commented as he pointed “They clearly stated that you have three days before they activate the plan. You have more than enough time to leave. I can guide you to a safer place this very night if you make an effort and be on your way. We can maintain contact-“ But Chump interrupted him with a smug smile.
“That won’t be necessary, my new partner. Because we have enough time to prepare the rescue of these people.” Chump stated as he began to observe the characteristics of both ice jail and magma “wall” around the camp and make notes.
“WHAT?!” Zippy and Oberon yelled at the same time, Oberon’s voice breaking down and showing other colors before going back to its monotonous self. One of Oberon’s drones and Zippy looked at each other in that shared feeling and looked back at the human.
“Are we gonna be heroes?” Zippy jumped excited and nibbled one of the wood tables, trying to contain himself.
“No, and I am not planning to include you in this operation.” Chump stated as he kept doing algebra.
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“Why????” Zippy complained as he began to lightly kick Chump’s side in anger and frustration.
“Hyuman, that is a dangerous endeavor, I thought you wanted this contract to last longer than a single night.”
“Because it is dangerous,” Chump stated stopping Zippy with a hand and placing the bunny between Oberon’s floating body and him. “But not impossible. And, if everything goes well, they won’t even know what hit them.”
“Explain yourself, mister Chump.” Oberon’s body descended a bit outside to be head to head to him. Zippy tilted his head curious to see his master’s confidence glow up this late at night.
“Ephiron himself said it. The camp will be left alone for one hour, and they plan to leave the humans famished. At that hour we need to get in, break the jail, and get out with everyone. However, it is impossible for us humans to directly combat that magma.” Oberon’s eyes squinted, looking disappointingly at him but the human continued. “But, we can slow down its effect and give us just enough time to get everyone out. That’s why I am doing math and seeing what we need!”
“Playing hero won’t get you far Chump,” Oberon stated. “If you cannot combat these powers directly, this security measure, how you plan to get dozens of your kind out of there even…What do you think that will occur?”
“Well, with human technology. And the contract stated I must tell you so I will. There is a way to cool rapidly anything. Indeed, it doesn’t reach the levels to cool off magma, but if we cool down enough and use the bridge, as well as lower the levels of the magma by some space, we can have enough time to make everyone pass and leave the place in time. I will give you the details later, but for your information, we will use what is called “Liquid Nitrogen.” Chump smiled, feeling inspired by this whole ordeal.
“But Master, how are you planning to liberate those people so fast?” Zippy asked with curiosity.
“I am not gonna complicate myself in that regard, I will explode one side of the ice cage and free them. A bit of C4 will be enough! If not, just fireworks.~ They are still explosives.” Chump expressed with a smile as he began to draw the chemical formula and composition, as a reminder for himself.”
“I am allowed to harm you for your safety. This plan is too risky for a hyuman. You should abandon this futile attempt of being a hero.” Oberon stated but Chump shook his head and slapped the contract a couple of times.
“You can’t stop us from moving around, neither stop our journey or our right to freedom of movement. It is in our contract! Just harm us in the case of deemed necessity. Aka, just when I am about to be harmed, but while the plan is going on and everyone is out, nothing bad will happen~” Chump mocked Oberon, this one feeling bit more pissed off.
“I will not assist you in this madness. We have a contract of exchange of information, not this hero situation. Breaking the contract may result in dire consequences, remember?”
“When I said I plan to break the contract?” Chump shrugged “I have my agenda, Oberon. You can not stop me from having a free will. And without your help, my chances of survival will diminish. I will most likely to fail! But you assist me while learning about our technology, we might have more than a couple of conversations together. Don’t ya think?~”
“Are you trying to manipulate me? Mister Chump, that is lower than many people I saw in my kingdom.” As Oberon’s magic resonance began to spike up, his chest formed fey lines to both arms
“Did I, at any moment, lie or hide information from you? I am totally willing to teach you everything, with theoretical and practical examples, of everything and anything I can teach you. But there is no time limit either. Can be now, can be next week, can be before I die, can it?” As Chump’s veins began to pop out and ground his teeth in a smile.
Oberon stood silent, before looking at the screen and back at the human. His robotic voice sighed in disbelief, feeling that he shouldn’t be outwitted by a biological being. “Mister Chump. I hate you. I want to wipe that face of yours against the floor, and show how inferior that brain can be.”
“We agree on one thing then. I hate myself as well. So, what do you say, pal, will you help us? No contracts or tricks here, just an honest proposition while I teach you.” Chump extended his marked hand towards the giant machine, offering a simple and firm handshake. His smile was of a dominant smug prick.
Oberon stood with murderous eyes towards the human, opening one of his hands to quickly check out the thousands of registered human documents, not legible to his eyes. Once he contemplated all the options, he extended the arm that his synthetic hand held the mark of the “Promise” and shook the hand of the human. But before Chump said another word, he quickly moved towards him and barely centimeters (or less than two inches) off his face and answered. “I will not risk myself being seen helping you. If you get captured, I will not assist you of your freedom either and will make sure to extract every piece of information you have until you, sadly, bitter, end. Once you are in our world, of course.”
Chump shook again his hand and stepped back, raising his arms “Sure thing bud. You can help me set it up and move a couple of machines around. So you have first-hand experience with what happens as well!”
The tension between both beings could be felt and even cut with a hot knife. Both stared at each other, trying to predict the movement or action that the other would say. The android feared what the human could pull off. He considered himself lucky enough to form a contract and he couldn’t see his aura. Any chaotic option was on the table right now. For Chump was the fact that he could laser any of them at any moment breaking the honor he held up and the contract he formed. The machine felt impatient, lacking perspective and meditation. Neither of them dared to make a move or do anything that would ensure neither of them would try anything else.
United by fate and stupidity of both sides, natural enemies in this conflict with mutual interests.
It was Zippy who intervened, asking his human. “Master…If the city may be invaded at any moment, where will be living in the meantime? You need to work on stuff with Oberon right?… Where?”
Chump stood quiet for a moment before turning and closing the espionage communication.
“I have a tiny idea! Let’s explore the south industrial zones a bit~” Chump said with an enthusiastic smile.
“Oh my goddess…” Oberon expressed, slowly realizing what he got himself involved.
Zippy giggled as he mounted on the back of the human, in that special carriage he constructed that morning, as the three of them descended the church to explore the surroundings or the “L’Albufera”.
———————————
[23:49]
Masha returned to her headquarters. Inside the tent, anyone could notice that she didn't even unpack her things, her bags and packs barely touched. The only thing open were her documents, and dozens of manuscripts and plans on what to do with the terrain. She sat down in the made-up chair, which barely resembled a poor made-up throne she checked out everything she had to do until she slowed down to see a letter from his father, the emperor:
“From your father.
The negotiations with the plant people are getting rough. You will not receive your Terra-former for a month at least. Make sure that everything is prepared before that.
Remember that in twenty days, the 3rd millennium anniversary of our world will be celebrated. The celebration of the start of the war falls on the same day. We will attack the major east in celebration and take half of the hyuman world in our hands. I will be busy, you won’t receive more help than the leftover soldiers who got injured. Your other brothers and sisters are busy as well.
Do not annoy them. Do not let the other kingdoms know our plans. Do not disappoint me. You know the consequences of failing me.”
Masha put the letter aside, as she hid her grim expression, shrinking her wings as she tried to hide the letter away. Her dominant aura slipped away in an instant, like blowing off a candle. She scratched her left arm with her other claw, with enough force to make it bled. She got absorbed with horrible thoughts of those dire consequences, as she was on the brink of tears. And then, Gunnhildr yelled from the outside.
“Princess Masha. Ephiron wants to talk with ya and I bring news. Can we come in?” The bodybuilder sounded a bit annoyed, groaning, “I hate these formalities, what a waste of time…”
“Wait outside!” Masha ordered from inside. Strangely both stood silent outside, looking at each other. Ephiron felt confused about why the sudden yell, but strangely, Gunnhildr understood the situation, making a more serious face and stopping him from keeping forward, waiting patiently for Masha to say something, uncharacteristic of the magmatic woman to be like that.
It passed a couple of minutes before Masha ordered more calmly, “Come inside. Do not touch anything, I am still putting some order here.” Both entered, seeing that Masha took a seat on the throne and covered herself in her wings. Once everyone stood quiet and still, she continued. “Speak.”
Ephiron let her companion speak first. He stepped aside as he observed and noticed a tiny constant sound of a liquid dropping. Clang….Clang….Clang…
“I have some bad news, Princess Masha,” Gunnhildr informed, her natural and dominant energy feeling amiss upon saying this. “Your brother will arrive tomorrow, with the excuse of “Checking on her little sister.”
Masha took the news with patience, before shaking her head, tired of the situation “Just. Great. Which brother is, I swear if it’s Ga’reth I will-“
“It’s… Aldric, Princess. Aldric D’Ravon, the mad Prince, second to the throne.”
Upon hearing that, Masha began to cold sweat, her breathing slowly gaining speed as her arms shook uncontrollably. Gunnhildr looked aside, letting her a moment, but Ephiron interrupted the silence. “Princess, are you okay? Why a family visit bothers you so much?”
Gunnhildr was about to yell when Masha raised her hand, stopping whatever the bodybuilder was about to do. “It’s nothing Captain Ephiron. Each one with their private matters. “ She answered sternly “Is that all, Nihldr?” Gunnhildr nodded.
Thanks to the angle he was, Ephiron could see that just beside the throne, where her arm was resting, a tiny trail of blood rained down, corresponding to that never-stopping “Clang” sound. Ephiron stood silent to that detail as he waited for Masha to give him permission to speak, which she did with an upward wave. “I would like to reconsider how we treat our prisoners.”
“The transport will be next week, by that time we need a way to restrain them to the port in the south and move them down to “Africa” for their transport,” Masha stated while looking at a document to make sure
“I do not refer to that Princess Masha. I…I know we need to put them on the edge of the prisoners for our goals, but… killing or extracting part of the families or the people to make them morally ill inside…I don’t think will benefit us much in the long run.”
Masha cleared her head with a bit of water magic, being the water cool as hell, before even saying something. “Only the three of us here know why, Captain Ephiron. This is the Harvest War for a reason. We need as many souls as we can, and there are only two ways that souls are useful to us. Completely devoid of will, or filled with will to the highest. Anything in the middle will only bring us trouble.”
“We have at least four families captured, one of them lost their child. Today.” Gunnhildr looked on the other side, admitting she got carried on the chase with a hidden expression. “If we only give them empty souls, it won’t be enough. We can reinforce some of them by showing them that they are still alive, their souls are still inside those capsules. I know communication between species has been impossible, but simple gestures could…Improve the situation.”
The princess contemplated the idea in pure silence, making both wait as well as opening a bit of her tent with her wings, seeing the humans in the ice cage before closing it up and sealing it with ice.
“Our mission is to capture and transport those people.” Masha asserted. “Whatever you do with the captives in the meantime, is not of my concern. Of course, as long as they are alive.” The princess clarified. “Can be fed, can be with hunger. Can be with hope, or unwilling, the choice in that matter is yours…as well as the responsibility will be upon you as well, Captain.”
“Thank you, Princess Masha. I will remember this act of kindness in the future.” Ephiron expressed as he completely bowed to her. In that feint moment, Ephiron pointed towards the princess, his arms hidden by her view thanks to the exaggerated posture and the table. A strange swirl of blue air floated just below the ground and slowly got inside the blood system of the princess, who was now.
And Gunnhildr caught on that. She seemed to recognize the spell and looked at the front, seemingly ignoring that event. Once both were dismissed by the princess and outside, walking back to their headquarters beside each other, Gunnhildr commented. “I saw you using one of your chilling skills on her.” She said it with a thinking tone
Ephiron barely had time to react, “I-“
“I don’t care what you do, as long as you help my princess, Ephiron. Like she said, you do you, and I do I.” Gunnhildr hit his arm with her elbow as they continued walking, enjoying the peaceful night.
Felicity Control and Felicity Creation has been activated ?????????????” has been activated. Remenant depleted by 50.000 points Remenant capacity: 89.018/5.000.000 “Princess Masha Felicity has been increased by two levels Fear has been depleted by one level