Manusya walked towards where the military demonstration was going to be, in an open field some distance from Prana. Along the way, the citizens of Prana who had not received their new standardized housing walked alongside him, some thanked him and tried to strike up conversations with Manusya. Of course, the moment they had gotten too close, the squad of soldiers who were assigned to be Manusya's bodyguards and escorts pushed them aside, despite Manusya's reluctance. Manusya continued his journey until they reached an open field, where a great number of wooden seats were prepared to accommodate spectators. Manusya did not take the grandiose seat prepared for him but instead walked towards General Ahmi.
Ahmi was wearing the new military standardized flexible metallic suit created by the nano printers. The suits were grey and silver, with tribal engravings designed by the Osmanians. They were so light and flexible that they were practically skintight, as soldiers almost felt like they were naked in the wind. Yet, the suit also offered ample protection, including being resistant to punctures and stabbings from swords. The Osmanian soldiers also wore metallic face protection and tribal camouflage.
The new Osmanian army numbered several thousand thanks to the unification of the Osma alliance and all its villages. In times of emergency or war, even more, conscripts could join the army, although all the soldiers that were present here have chosen the defence of their homeland as their primary occupation and career. After training in the Chrono VR for months, perhaps even years in a virtual space, these soldiers were hardened with training and even battle experience, as Manusya had them run numerous battle simulations.
"Is everything ready?" Manusya said as he approached Ahmi.
Ahmi performed the new Osmanian military salute to Manusya, with a fist, he grabbed the heart on his chest to represent an undying dedication to the Osma nation.
"I greet the Supreme Commander," Ahmi said. In a military setting, all the soldiers referred to Manusya as the Supreme Commander, not the Aksha. "I have just arrived here as well from the meeting, commander, but it seems everyone is ready". Ahmi said.
Manusya looked around at all the soldiers who were waiting in rest positions with both hands behind their backs. Although much fewer in number, Manusya also spotted some female warriors who were hunters in their villages and have chosen to be soldiers as well. Many of the more conservative Elders had opposed this, but Manusya told them that anyone could serve in the army if they so choose.
"And the prisoners?" Manusya asked with a wary face.
General Ahmi nodded as he smiled. "They will be here soon, some soldiers are escorting them."
"Excellent, then begin the demonstration," Manusya said and performed the salute as well. Manusya returned to his seat.
The crowd murmured to each other in excitement. They were already in awe of how brave and valiant their soldiers looked, but they also wanted to see the result of their long training in that other realm the Aksha controlled. Manusya noted these reactions.
This is partly why I wanted to hold this demonstration today, to boost morale and so people have faith in the security of our nation from the Hydarians. He thought.
The soldiers were not carrying simple bows and stone daggers that they wielded in the fortress attack. Manusya had regretted not arming them further back then, he had lost thirty men because of that. Manusya could not yet introduce things like space-age weaponry, but he could introduce classical weaponry from the early 20th century on Earth, outdated guns that existed only in history textbooks. To be exact, he took inspiration in blending some iconic infantry weapons from World War II, such as the Lee-Enfield and the Mannlicher M1895. Each soldier also carried a handgun on their hip. The nano printers had easily created these long obsolete bolt-action rifles and handguns. These weapons were not the strongest, but it was a good starting point for the new Osma army, and he would slowly introduce stronger weaponry as the nation developed or when the need arises.
But Manusya had learned that enemy soldiers with the power to wield aether, or magus who were capable of large-scale destruction magic could not simply be defeated with simple weaponries or even bullets. He had experienced this first-hand with his fight against Esteban q'Saul in the fortress attack, although even he was a relatively average aether weaver, Manusya had learned. There could be far stronger enemies out there. Thus, Manusya had also created specialized squads of soldiers who were aether-sensitive like Ahmi and they wielded Vibro-Swords, swords that were electrically charged to vibrate so fast that they were capable of cutting through most things, including a large boulder.
With this, I hope there will never be any casualties again. Manusya thought as he grimaced. He sighed, knowing the improbability of his thought.
Some soldiers aimed their rifles at the sky and fired, that was the signal that the military demonstration was about to begin.
The open field had been transformed to be a sort of training area, with obstacle courses, wooden blocks, target dummies and so on littering the field. The soldiers split up into various groups that would demonstrate several things to the audience. Some soldiers demonstrated their acrobatics as they climbed and jumped through the obstacle course with ease, like a monkey gliding through the forest. Some soldiers demonstrated their strength by lifting boulders or chopping wood with their bare handss. Others fought with each other in CQC hand-to-hand sparring matches. Some soldiers demonstrated the power of the rifle by shooting at the target dummies skillfully. All these soldiers had honed their skills both in VR and real life. They experienced real combat in nigh-realistic simulations, and they trained their bodies in real life to catch up with their mental progress. Manusya still spotted some imperfections in their execution, they were not fully there yet. Or rather, their real-life bodies had not yet caught up with their VR training, but Manusya could tell that these soldiers were going to be fearsome one day.
The people cheered on the soldiers excitedly. Many of the normal citizens had also experienced mandatory basic military training just in case they needed to be conscripted. But they were still amazed and in shock at how lacking they compared to real soldiers who had chosen to undergo the full military training and lifestyle.
"They're incredible! These are our protectors!" A woman said from the crowd.
"The Hydarians will run as soon as they see this!" Another person said.
Well, about that. Manusya thought as he heard that.
As if on cue, more soldiers arrived on the field, but they were not alone. With them were fully-armed Hydarian soldiers; the prisoners of war. All of them were not restrained, but none dared to try to escape with the Osma soldiers pointing guns at them.
"I-it's the Hydarians!" The crowd screamed in fear.
"Why are they here? Did the soldiers capture them? Are more of them coming!?" Someone said panicking.
"My people!" general Ahmi said to everyone. "Calm down! they are the prisoners that we had kept since the fortress attack. Unlike their brethren, these people were too weak to escape with them! But by the endless kindness of the Aksha, he had chosen to keep them as prisoners instead of executing them."
The people talked amongst themselves, worrying about the prisoners. The prisoners of war were kept in the former Hydarian fortress, jailed in the cell they had built themselves. For the past four months, they demanded to be returned to their home or the Osmanian savages would receive the full wrath of King Noctimus. Some of them were also nobles who tried to bribe the soldiers with their family's wealth.
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They are prisoners of war. Thus they have some political uses for now. Manusya thought. But this is Ahmi's idea....
General Ahmi suggested that they used the prisoners and gave them their full armour to demonstrate the new strength of the Osma army. Manusya did not know if it was a good idea, or if it was even humane, but he reluctantly agreed under the condition that they would not be killed and they would be fed properly for some weeks before the battle so they were capable of demonstrating their full strength.
"These savages want to make a show out of us!" One Hydarian said. Manusya understood him as he had fully learned the language.
"They're also fools to give us our weapons and armor." Another said.
"I say if they want us to be their entertainment, let's give them some entertainment. My knights of Hydaria! Let's massacre all these savages and make our escape to our homeland." A Hydarian knight said as he raised his sword.
"But those weapons they had....they demonstrated it to us. Are we sure?" A Hydarian muttered as he stared at the guns being pointed at him.
"Fool! It must be some form of magical trickery. The black powder weapons are not even advanced enough to shoot repeatedly like that, do you think these savages could develop such weapons? Cease such unnecessary thoughts. Focus on our battle." A Hydarian muttered.
Black powder weapons...Manusya pondered in his mind as he heard them. Of course, judging by the Hydarian civilization, things like cannons and simple flintlocks were probably already invented as well. I suppose that is something to take note of later.
The skirmish was about to begin. On one side of the field were Hydarian knights and on the other, Osmanian soldiers with rifles were pointing their guns at the Hydarians behind sandbags that were placed as cover. Some of the Weaver Soldiers with Vibro-Swords were also standing by. General Ahmi was near them giving orders.
"Those cowardly savages hide behind walls!" A Hydarian shouted. "Let's charge!"
The Hydarians raised their swords and they all charged together at the same time. General Ahmi raised his hand and pointed at the Hydarians. "Fire at will." He said.
The Osma soldiers fired their rifles consecutively. The Hydarian metal withstood some bullets but with enough firepower, they were penetrated by the new Osma weapons. The soldiers were ordered to not injure them fatally nor kill them, as any injury could be healed by Manusya. But the soldiers also took that as a challenge, and they shot the Hydarians in the most painful of places without killing them. Many of the Hydarians fell to the ground and collapsed in agony.
The crowd cheered and jeered at the Hydarians. At this point, the Hydarians stopped in their tracks.
"W-what is this!?" A Hydarian knight said in fear and confusion.
"Run!" A Hydarian shouted and started running. Many were starting to follow as well.
On the other side of the field, General Ahmi gave orders. "Aetherweaver squads, subjugate them," he ordered.
The aether weaver soldiers charged forward at incredible speed towards the fleeing Hydarians. Their running speed was as fast as a cheetah, and their light skintight suit aided their aerodynamic autonomy.
"They caught up to us! Defend!" The Hydarians noticed they were being chased and turned around to defend.
A battle ensured. The aetherweaver soldiers used their Vibro-Swords to cut through the Hydarian swords and armour. Their movements were minimal and efficient in their combat economy, each fraction of muscle movement utilized to defeat their opponents without a single hint of flair or bravado, something that was in contrast with the Hydarians' flashier and more traditional swordsmanship. The fleeing Hydarians did not stand a chance. The crowd cheered in support of their brave soldiers. They were pleased to see that the Hydarians did not even stand a chance to put a single scratch on their soldiers. Unbeatable, that was how they felt about the new Osma soldiers.
Manusya reacted differently. Seeing the soldiers clashing swords with the Hydarians triggered something in him. The sounds of cheering around him became quieter and quieter. His pupil dilated and his breathing became ragged. In a flash, Manusya was transported back to the fortress on fire, that courtyard where he descended to battle with the Hydarians. A man loomed in the shadow in front of the burning fortress. A man he had only encountered once but would never forget, the first human that Manusya had ever killed.
He saw Esteban in front of him, the formidable Hydarian knight who killed the Ohm hunters who were protecting him. But something was terrifyingly wrong. Esteban's forehead had a hole in it, the bullet which Manusya fired at him. He was also no longer wearing his helmet, and his short brown hair and goatee were visible. Esteban wore a devious smile. His demeanour in combat was arrogant and self-serving, it was a look that fitted him. And yet, Manusya felt something unholy from him, something malevolent beyond what a human could exude.
"Well, well. If it's not my murderer." Esteban said in his mocking voice.
Manusya's eyes turned wide. He looked around him but could only see the fortress. There was also no one else there but him and Esteban. He turned his eyes at the Hydarian knight.
"This is all an illusion..." Manusya said quietly.
"Of fucking course it is!" Esteban replied. "But that doesn't matter, does it? Have you forgotten? Has your little peaceful life building that savage nation made you forget what you did?"
The Hydarian knight stretched his arm open and from the ground, headless corpses of Ohm hunters who died in combat greeted him. Manusya recoiled in shock and fear, his face distraught.
"I must snap out of this!" Manusya said as he fell to the ground.
"Trying to run away?" Esteban approached Manusya. "Do you think this is all because you killed some people, your men, or even ol' Esteban here?" He dramatically pointed at himself.
"W-what do you mean?" Manusya said as he stared up at Esteban. He inched backwards slowly to gain distance.
"Oh, you arrogant fiend. Imagine what you did. This little battle amounts to nothing to the billions you have killed and will kill in the future." The Hydarian knight replied.
"What?" Manusya replied confused.
"Our history built on bloodshed, suffering, enslavement and genocide was the result of your cute little dream for us, don't you remember?" He replied.
My decision... Manusya thought. It's my decision to not impart the old human knowledge to the new inhabitants of the planet so they could make their own identity and history.
Manusya covered his mouth with his hand. Was that so wrong?
Esteban crouched down to face Manusya who was on his buttocks on the ground. "Oh, little Manu. You think developing those primitive people and uniting the new humans will just absolve everything?"
"Manu?" Manusya's pupils widened as if he had heard something he did not expect.
Suddenly, something interrupted both of them. The skies above them cracked. Sounds of hammers hitting something accompanied more cracks appearing in the sky.
The shadow Esteban looked up. "Oh, I suppose our time is up." He looked at Manusya and smiled. "But the next time we meet won't be here. See you soon."
Manusya did not have time to react to that statement as he was pulled into consciousness again. Sounds of cheers dominated his hearing again, he saw the open field where the Osma soldiers celebrated their victory over the Hydarians. Manusya felt something touching his shoulder. He turned to look to see a hand touching him, it was a soft hand which glowed with a brilliant white light. He followed the trail of the hand to find its origin. It was Mata, the druid leader who now held the Seat of Aether at the Convocation.
"Mata?" Manusya muttered. He noticed her standing next to his seat and performing some sort of magic on him. "W-what are you doing?"
"Helping you," Mata said. Unexpectedly, she moved forward and hugged Manusya.
"W-what?" Manusya exclaimed as he did not know how to react to a person suddenly embracing him like that.
"You are suffering. I felt it. I pulled you out of that place." Mata said as she let go of his body.
Did she pull me out of there? Manusya thought. He began pondering what he just saw. Occasionally, during the past three months, Manusya has had several nightmares regarding some of the fallen soldiers he could not save. Erectus had diagnosed him with some form of post-traumatic stress disorder but advised that it was still relatively manageable. But this was the first time something that extreme and intense had happened to him.
I...don't know what to do. But I know that I must refocus my attention on the things that matter now. Manusya thought and looked at Mata.
"Thank you," Manusya said. "Can we talk somewhere? I need to ask you several things as well." He had remembered that he was going to find Mata to ask her about how he knew of him before they met, and to see if she knew what happened to Sapien.
Mata smiled. "Of course, Aksha." She began walking ahead of him. "Follow me."
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ART
Osma Army Combat Suit:
[https://i.imgur.com/H2j5rb4.png]
Esteban q'Saul (Deceased, Bullet Wound on Forehead):
[https://i.imgur.com/sxpBwpa.png]