Entertainment Sector
Secret Genaco Compound.
12:33 a.m. 24 th June 1092.
“Hey! Slow down!” Taiga jokingly protested as Saeko excitedly dragged him through the amusement park. As fate would have it, the park was mostly empty, so the duo had the whole place to themselves.
Saeko, however, like an excited puppy, pulled Taiga to multiple attractions. Taiga jumped out of his skin numerous times in the haunted house. They stormed the arcade and shut down the firing range, clearing the top prizes with ease. They toured the park’s multiple attractions with unrestrained fervor until Taiga nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
“H-Hold on!” Taiga heavily panted when they stepped out of the killer roller coaster ride, ‘Cheating Death.’ The young man brought his hand to his nose and then revealed a bitter smile when he saw a patch of blood.
Saeko noticed the blood. Her lips curled in a guilty smile. “I think that’s enough for today. We should rest.”
A couple of minutes later, Taiga sat on his bed while Saeko carefully cleaned the blood around his nose. Saeko frowned as she inspected Taiga’s room out of the corner of her eyes. The room was empty. There wasn’t a single piece of furniture aside from the bed and Full-Dive. It looked like the room of someone who expected to leave at any moment.
“You’re good at this.” Taiga chuckled as he observed Saeko’s cutely furrowed brows.
“Well, I had to.” Saeko sighed. “Most kids who played with me ended up with broken noses or cuts.” Revealing a wry smile, she added, “I was much stronger than my mates.” She then looked at Taiga with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s been hard finding someone who could match with me. I got over-excited and carried away.”
“Nah, it’s fine.” Taiga waved away her apology with a smile. “This is the most fun I’ve had in years.” He wound his right arm as he lamented, “Guess my body isn’t yet used to this much high-octane fun for this long.”
Saeko placed the final cotton bud in a bowl and then released Taiga, who had stopped bleeding. She then set the bowl on the floor and looked into the young man’s eyes. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask. Now, that you’ve had time to cool down and think.” She bit her lips in hesitation but then summoned up her courage and asked, “Are you certain you don’t see me as a fre— mm! ”
Taiga sealed Saeko’s lips with a firm kiss.
Fireworks exploded in Saeko’s mind. The young woman’s eyes snapped wide in shock, and she instinctively jumped back. Or, well, she attempted to. Taiga clasped his arm around her waist before she could and then pulled her close. Saeko half-heartedly squirmed a few times before she then cursed, ‘Fuck it! ’ and surrendered herself to Taiga’s lips.
Taiga, however, suddenly pulled away at that moment. This resulted in a hilarious situation as Saeko puckered her lips to the air. “PUHA!” An unnatural sound rose from Taiga’s stomach and then burst out through his mouth before he could control it.
“You!” Saeko’s eyes reddened, and the young man’s eyes watered with tears as she pounced on him and delivered a rain of punishing blows. Saeko’s cheeks were blazing hot. Unable to contain her embarrassment, she took out her anger of the laughing asshole beneath her. How could he make fun of a maiden like this!?
Du!
Suddenly, Taiga grabbed Saeko’s hands. His grin settled to a gentle smile as he warmly looked into her eyes. “You are not a freak. And, even if the world considers you a freak, then you will be my freak . We can be two little freakazoids together. What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” Saeko freed her hands. She pushed Taiga, so his back hit the bed. She bent over him, allowing her beautiful, golden hair to fall like curtains around the young man’s head. Her lips curled in a sly smirk as she looked into Taiga’s eyes. The wildness in those yellow-gold eyes was intoxicating. Like a dangerous drug. “Are you capable of handling this freak?”
Taiga’s lips spread into a wide, wolfish grin. He then said, as he wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her in, “Challenge accepted.”
A memorable battle for the ages commenced. Taiga and Saeko fought with full force, throwing everything they had at each other! Both parties reveled in the gloriousness of finally being able to let loose. They had both had a few battles in their time, but they were always forced to hold back in fear of obliterating the others.
Not this time, though. This time, both Taiga and Saeko let themselves get drunk on the battle. They fought on and off, non-stop, until the sunset. Only when they were utterly spent, without any fight left in them, did they finally call a truce.
Saeko curled up on Taiga’s chest and slowly fell asleep, feeling secure in another person’s presence for the first time in her life.
Taiga smiled as he looked down at the sleeping Saeko. He felt something off and then looked toward the balcony.
Taiga’s eyes widened.
Henri stood there with a smile on her face. She looked at Taiga and then Saeko. Her smile brightened as she then looked back at Taiga. She raised her hand and gently waved.
Taiga’s eyes watered. For the first time in his life, he could feel that weight on his chest finally loosening. He wiped his eyes and then, with a bittersweet smile, returned the wave with one of his own. ‘Mm... Goodbye, Henri. I’ll never forget you.’
Henri smiled and then slowly disappeared, finally releasing Taiga from two decades worth of self-blame and hatred.
‘Urk.’ A massive flood of relief and release overwhelmed Taiga. The young man’s eyes once again watered as he looked at Saeko. ‘I’m happy.’ Taiga was happy. No, he was more than happy. ‘I never want to leave.’ Taiga did not want this to end. He never wanted to lose someone because he waited too long. “Heh. Hey, Goldilocks. Looks like I’m in love with you.” Taiga grinned as Saeko snuggled in closer. “Hear that, my Prince? I love y— Urk!.”
Taiga frowned and clutched his head as a sharp pain assaulted his brain. He gritted his teeth and breathed slowly while he waited for the pain to subside. Fortunately, the pain seized a few minutes later. Taiga let out a breath and then wiped the massive pool of sweat on his face.
Strangely, he felt a thicker liquid.
Taiga revealed a bitter smile as he examined the thick pool of blood on his palm. “I should have known.” Luckily, the buds Saeko used were right by the bed. So, he was able to adjust and pick up a few without waking Saeko up. He plugged his nostrils and then carefully cleaned the drops that had fallen on his chest.
When he was done, Taiga once again looked at Saeko. His voice held deep sorrow and longing as he said through tears as if begging, “...I don’t want to leave.”
Oni Hill
3:41 p.m. 1 0 th Zelyr 1092.
8 Days to World’s End.
A black crow flew over the clouds and then gently landed on Queen Alia’s shoulder, who sat by the small lake with her eyes closed.
Upon landing, a deep baritone voice escaped the crow’s mouth. “We have arrived, My Queen. We await you at the base of Oni Hill.”
“Understood.” Queen Alia opened her eyes. She looked to the side, at Cathek, who was silently staring at the glass throne. Despite knowing him for her whole life, Alia could not pinpoint precisely how Cathek felt towards Razznik. Sometimes, he spoke with intense hatred: other times, pure admiration. And then, there were moments like these where he almost seemed to worship The Destroyer. “Uncle?”
Cathek looked away from the throne to the young queen. “Mm. I will join you. But, you can go down on your own from now on.” He looked at the robed figures. “Oni Hill acknowledges those who reach the summit. It will no longer attack you.” With those words, he sent a stream of cold ice to wrap around Queen Alia and her entourage.
When done, Cathek jumped off the mountain with eleven ‘icicles’ around him.
Gugugugu!
Queen Alia trembled. The mountain shook as if irritated by the flies at its side. However, it then calmed down just as quickly, stunning the daeben queen. Cathek regarded Alia with a relaxed smile. “I told you. You have already been acknowledged. Next time, you can climb on your own.”
Queen Alia nodded. She opened her mouth to say something, but then her expression turned grave once they broke through the ashy clouds. Thousands of torches shone through the darkness, denoting the massive army that had gathered below.
“A Queen needs her stage.” Cathek chuckled as he flicked a tiny ice cube through his fingers. BOOM! The cube rapidly expanded until it formed a giant thirty- meter tall platform and then crashed into the ground, sending terrible shockwaves in every direction.
The army below trembled, and many lost their footing from the colossal force. Well, most did. An interesting assortment of fifteen men and women stood at the head of the army. The aura these individuals gave off was vastly different from the rest of the army.
Extreme power oozed off these people. Each one of them had fought for years, bathing in blood and sweat. These had turned them into monsters that could withstand the cube’s force without so much as a blink.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
Cathek, Queen Alia, and the rest softly landed on the cube one after another. Cathek observed the army belo w and had to admit that t his was most likely the single largest force on the continent. Over 200,000 men and women, their numbers stretching out far and wide.
Queen Alia thought of the rest of her army still stationed on the Holy Land. Her lips curled in a beautiful smile. It had taken a decade of hiding and scheming, but the Chaos Order was finally ready to step onto the light, stronger than ever and fuelled by a powerful ambition. The young queen recalled her mother’s back. The previous queen had sacrificed her life to give Alia a chance at life.
‘Watch me, mother.’ Queen Alia’s smile turned sinister as she walked to the edge of the cube. ‘I will surpass you .’ She turned to Cathek. “Uncle. Please?”
“Of course.” Cathek smiled and then softly tapped the cube’s surface. Gugugugu! The cube softly trembled as the exterior began to slide out, forming a set of stairs that descended to the ground, just in front of the army.
“Thank you, Uncle.” Queen Alia stretched her hand out and then ordered. “Come Forward, Primates!”
The fifteen individuals, who were revealed to be Primates, stepped forward and then climbed up the stairs. Du! The Primates stopped five steps below Queen Alia, knelt, and then loudly greeted, “My Queen!”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Alia’s gaze traveled over the fifteen Primates. Each of these men and women had their own reasons for joining the Chaos Order. She glanced at an immaculately dressed daeben male. Some were groomed into the role. Her gaze then traveled to a seven-foot-tall bear-like Nordic man. Others joined to further their own goals.
Whatever their reasons for joining, they had become the Chaos Orders’ sharpest spears used to hunt down any dissenters and enemies. They also helped further the Order’s cause in their assigned territories. Alia’s gaze narrowed as she looked at the empty space on either side of the fifteen.
It was unfortunate.
The Order had lost five Primates, three of which were directly linked to Kashi and the Hopeful Maggots. Queen Alia clenched her fists as she thought about the daeben that thwarted their plans over and over again. She had never met this man, but she was filled with sadistic glee at the thought of finally punishing him.
‘Not Yet.’ Queen Alia calmed herself and then pushed the thoughts of that daeben to the back of her mind. She then looked at the Primates and said, “Oni Hill has eight floors. You will split up and look after each floor. Your mission will be to disrupt the enemy and try your best to stop them from climbing. You do not need to win or even kill them. Just delay them long enough.” Her gaze grew strong. “Remember, be prepared to risk your lives...” She paused and then added with a seductive smile, “but do not die. If you die, it’s all over. If you cannot win, escape. It is enough as long as you have tried your best.”
‘If you are not the strongest, be the smartest. If you are not the smartest, be the quickest. If you still cannot win, cheat!” Cathek smiled. It seemed Queen Alia had taken Razznik’s teachings to heart. That’s right. Running away was a kind of strength too. As the Summoned would put it: Run away, grind some more, then return and curb - stomp the opponent !
Queen Alia cast her eyes over the rest of the army. “Your task is simple. You will prevent the enemy’s army from flooding Oni Hill. Hold them back for as long as you can. Do not worry. We will be battling alongside you.” The queen paused and then added, “Do not forget. When you hear the signal, you must initiate a full-scale retreat.”
At this point, one of the robed figures stepped forward. It removed a scroll with strange gemstones embedded in it from its robes and then handed it to the queen.
Queen Alia gratefully accepted the scroll and then held it up. “A scroll that facilitates your escape will be handed out to each of you shortly. Rip it up when you hear the signal.” The queen paused, wondering if she forgot anything. When she was confident, she didn’t, Queen Alia waved her hand. “Everyone to your positions! We must be prepared for the incoming storm.”
“My Queen!”
Queen Alia was about to leave, but the shout prompted her to stop. She looked at the source. Myra Locktree. She knew this woman by name and reputation. She was one of the more promising Primates. Considering Myra’s quiet nature, she would not call upon the queen, except for something significant. With all these thoughts in mind, Queen Alia motioned for Myra. “Speak.”
Myra swallowed, suppressing her nervousness. “My Queen. I have a candidate for the position of Primate.”
The other fourteen stared at the wisben in shock. It had to be known that it took more than strength to qualify for the position of Primate. Primates had to be unique individuals—people with specific skill sets that were very difficult to find.
Myra was saying she found someone like that? At this late stage?
Queen Alia’s brows rose in interest. “Oh? Who is this person?”
Myra looked toward the base of the stairs. “Bok. Come up here.”
Tap! Tap!
Everyone’s attention turned to the lithe figure that walked out from the crowd. Bok, garbed in naught but a pair of shorts, pauldrons, and armor covering his upper thighs, weathered the curious gazes as he calmly made his way to the base of the stairs.
‘So high.’ Bok swallowed hard. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he looked up to the Primates. That was where he needed to be. He needed at least that much power if he wanted to change the dire fate of goblins.
Bok strengthened his resolve and then took the first step. DUN! He nearly choked under the pressure that suddenly assaulted him. He could tell that this was some sort of test. He would not be allowed to present himself if he could not even make it up these stairs.
Bok gritted his teeth and then took the next step, and then the next. The pressure increased with each step, at a point almost forcing Bok to double over as he climbed. Many times, the goblin wanted to give up. But, each time, he would recall the dead bodies he hid under. He would remember that Summoned warrior’s disdainful eyes as he destroyed his tribe. Each time, he would dig his fingernails into his palms and then forcibly carry on.
“Bok. Stop.”
Suddenly, a voice forced the goblin out of his near-trance like state. Bok looked up to see Myra two steps ahead of him. The wisben wore a proud smile as she observed the pale goblin. Primates needed more than just strength and uniqueness. A Primate needed a few loose screws in their heads. They had to be willing to challenge an unfair world, no matter how terrible the odds may be. One could not change the world without that kind of mentality.
Myra nodded but then ordered with a stern glare, “What are you waiting for? Greet Her Highness!”
Bok panicked. He swiftly looked at the daeben woman at the top of the stairs. Brrrr! The goblin shivered upon making eye contact with the daeben queen. He felt like an insignificant bug beneath the heel of a great shoe. He had never felt this type of suffocating feeling. Not even when he looked at that damned warrior.
Bam! Bok obeyed his instincts. He knelt and greeted with a humble tone. “It is Bok’s honor to finally meet the Great Queen.” Evidently, the goblin’s intelligence had grown. But he still could not shake the habit of referring to himself in the third person.
“Mm.” Queen Alia’s eyes shone with a red light as she activated one of her secret skills. [Talent Reader] allowed Queen Alia to judge the potential of a person before her. Queen Alia’s ability exposed a person’s current strength, as well as how much room was left for improvement.
“Oh?” Queen Alia blinked in shock. The goblin was emitting golden light. This was just a level below the highest grade she knew, Platinum. This goblin was shining gold. This meant he, at the very least, had what it took to be a Primate. She seductively smiled, pleased with the find. She looked at Myra. “How long did he last?”
Myra scratched her cheek and then confessed with an embarrassed smirk, “Ten days, two hours, thirty minutes, and four seconds.”
A collective gasp rang out. The Primates looked at the goblin with shock in their eyes. They then turned to look at the cloaked figures behind Queen Alia. Precisely, they were looking at a single man. That figure took off his robe, revealing a hulking, Nordic man who looked to stand around 8-feet tall. The man, whose gray beard suggested he was in his fifties, had dozens of bells strapped along his arms, chest, and legs.
Strangely, though, the bells made no sound as he walked forward.
Queen Alia smiled as she looked at the man. “What’s the matter, Bellmaster Rene? Are you annoyed that your record has finally been cracked?”
“The future belongs to the young.” Bellmaster Rene observed Bok with a pair of curious eyes. “But, I didn’t expect a goblin to break my record.” Rene recalled the excruciating pain he endured in the reformation pool. There was no way the pool suddenly got faulty. So, that could only mean... “You are a resilient one.” Rene praised the goblin. “But, resilience is not enough to become a Primate. What can you add to the Chaos Order.”
Bok trembled. This man’s voice was loud yet rung low at the same time, like the churnings of a church bell. It shook the goblin to his core. Bok hesitated. He looked at Myra, who smiled and then nodded, assuring him of her trust. Bok thought about it. There was no reason for Myra to trick him. If she brought him here, then she believed his newfound ability to be of use to the Chaos Order.
“Bok’s Blood.” Bok swallowed hard and then fixed Rene with a determined gaze. He held out his bleeding hand. “Bok’s blood can increase the intelligence of lower species.” He glanced at Myra once more and then continued. “Dark men run tests. Proved that goblins and kobolds experienced increased intelligence.”
“Oh?” Queen Alia stared at Bok with renewed interest. “Is this true, Myra?”
“Yes, my Queen.” Myra had been shocked herself. As per standard procedure, the daeben ran tests on Bok’s blood when he emerged from the pool. The aim was to help Bok quickly find what area he should specialize in and determine if there was any uniqueness in his blood. Through the unbeatable power of science, the daeben found that Bok’s blood increased the intelligence of goblins and kobolds. Further tests were scheduled post-war to see just how far-reaching the effects were.
Queen Alia’s lips curled in a happy smile. “How much increase are we talking?”
“The test subjects achieved the mental maturity of an early teenage child,” Myra reported with a wide smile. “The only caveat is that they become loyal to Bok.”
“Not bad.” Rene scratched his chin. “At that age, they can listen to orders and understand the importance of coexistence.” He looked at Queen Alia. “I’m all for it. There are only profits and no downsides if we can recruit the scattered lower species.” That’s right... kobolds, goblins, and many more like them were like rats. Numerous, but scattered, making it hard to catch them or form a coherent army. However, with Bok, these scattered forces could be pulled together to create a terrifying force!
Of course, there was the risk that Bok would betray the Chaos Order after gaining a strong army. However, the Order was not worried about that. Betrayal and loyalty were both beautiful aspects of Chaotic Nature. The Order would deal with whoever betrayed them, just as they would serve the loyal members’ interests. That was the simple rule by which the O rder operated.
Queen Alia smiled and then extended her hand outward. “Step forward, Bok.”
Bok swallowed. He steeled his nerves and then began ascending the stairs. He passed by the Primates and then stopped when he was one rung below the q ueen. The goblin bowed his head, not daring to look at neither the q ueen nor Rene.
‘Ho... He’s better up close.’ Queen Alia could feel the pulsing mana flowing through the goblin’s veins. Bok had not quite reached the required level, but his potential was practically as high as it got. Pleased by his body, the young queen placed her hand on Bok’s shoulder. “As a Primate, you will be tasked with furthering the Chaos Order’s ideals on the continent. You will receive from other Primates should you need it, and you too must assist if asked. Otherwise, you are free to do as you wish. Do you agree with these terms?”
Bok fervently nodded. A desperate shout roared from his heart, “I accept, my Queen! Please, instruct me!”
Queen Alia grinned. “Then, Bok. From this moment onwards, you cease to be a common goblin. Your task shall be to find and rescue the lower species from their ignorance. Bring them into the arms of Chaos, and build a kingdom that they might reside in.” Queen Alia’s eyes glowed as she proclaimed. “Rise! Goblin King, Bok!”
Bok’s blood boiled with fervor and excitement. He could see it! He saw himself stood on a platform overlooking a horde of monsters as far as the eyes could see. A magnificent crown rested on his head, and he held a relaxed smile as he watched the monsters peacefully going about their day.
BOOM!
A menacing aura exploded from Bok’s body. The shockwaves could be felt for several miles. Bok’s eyes glowed with a sinister light as he slowly raised his head. Eventually, he made eye-contact with Queen Alia. This time, however, he did not cower. His conviction to produce that reality did not let him cower.
Even though Queen Alia’s pressure weighed down on his bones. Even though looking into her eyes, felt like peering into Hell’s Chambers. Bok would not hide in fear! No longer!
“Good! This is how a Primate should be!” Surprisingly, Queen Alia was not offended by Bok’s newfound confidence. Instead, she was pleased. “You need at least this much arrogance if you plan on transforming the world.”
Bok’s heartbeat quickened. He gazed upon Queen Alia’s dangerous smile and just knew.
This woman will win.
No matter what life threw their way, she would win! Bok, at this moment, decided. He would do his utmost to make this woman’s desires come true. Because, if hers came true, then, no doubt, she would help him get his.
Bok recalled the daebens’ salute. He placed his palm on his chest and then bowed to Queen Alia. “Bok swears that Bok will do Bok’s best to make Queen’s dreams a reality.”
Queen Alia grinned and patted Bok’s shoulders. It was surprising. Her eyes held neither disdain nor pride. It was like she saw Bok, a goblin, as an equal worthy of standing before her. “Do not worry about my dreams. Focus on building your kingdom. Make your own dreams a reality. That is how you shall help me.”
Bok’s heart burned with pride and joy. Ah, yes. If it was this woman. If it was her, then there could exist a world where his kind was not looked down upon. Clenching his fists, the Goblin King made a silent vow. ‘Just wait. I will carve our place in this world.’
Queen Alia noticed Bok’s clenched fist. Mm. She liked the look in his eyes. This was a goblin who was ready to tread on a field of corpses to ensure his dream became a reality. That was good enough for now. “Alright.” Now that this business was taken care of, it was time to move on to the next.
Queen Alia looked at the Primates. “You can begin climbing Oni Hill. There are sixteen of you and eight floors. So, that’s two per floor. How you split yourselves is up to you.” She paused and then added. “Be careful. Each and every one of you is precious to me. You are not permitted to die without my say so. Understood?”
“ AH!”
Cathek watched with a thin smile. Queen Alia was the Chaos Order’s true strength and pillar. The reason the Order could grow to its current height was because of her policies in accepting all species regardless of race or gender. Also, she promoted loyalty and camaraderie, rather than strife and competition.
These policies created an organization as loose as sand, yet, somehow, tightly bound together in the container that was Queen Alia’s ambition.
Cathek had to admit. He was proud. That little teenager who ran from her mother’s death had grown into a mighty and wise woman. A part of him really wanted to see how far she would go.
Also, he was curious.
Who would win?
Cathek’s Champion, or his brother’s Champion?
The kafu’s furs bristled in slight anticipation.