Hidden in dark corners and rooms of the castle was Inero-ie slowly making his way through the shadows, sometimes jumping, sometimes retracing his path back to take another path, whenever it may be required until he eventually found his target. Not literally. He was still far away, enough distance was there that he would be undetected even if it was unlikely.
Most of his Threads were gathered in a massive hall filled with many potent auras but one among them was distinct, something more, something greater than the rest. Unlike the rest, it was like he was facing the sea of the Underdark and though it outwardly looked calm and gentle, the terrible power was not something he could face off against, at least not directly, at least not in normal circumstances. The gentle sea of power could change at any instance, willing up terrible tsunamis that would reduce him to nothing before he could even think of anything. But that was if he faced off against it head-on, which he would not.
He remained hidden, still far away, observing, listening, and learning about each and everything that was occurring in the room.
Other than the target, there were other still powerful auras, much more elusive, not as concrete as the sea but much more boundless in opportunities. They, too were only a fraction compared to the remaining auras which were completely intangible, completely boundless.
“How is the situation down there?” his target, the one containing devastating power of the sea asked.
“According to the latest updates the intruders have been killed off and infighting has started as we had predicted.”
“Did our men get any information on how the intruders got in? And what of the Vissble? Make sure to keep a lookout for him. That man will not have given up everything here for no reason.”
“As by your order, our men were keeping a lookout for him but even though there was no direct sighting, considering that Noyb family forces have a considerable advantage against the other four, I assume it is Lord Vissbl’s doing.”
“And the intruders?”
“Unknown but with how quickly they got killed, I assume they have been finished by Lord Vissbl.”
“Inform me of any significant update.”
“Yes, lord.”
The bombardment restarted and everyone once again focused on the situation outside. The massive Qi of the castle was manipulated under the guidance of his target, that massive Qi molded and transformed with utter ease, reinforcing the barrier, and allowing it to be unaffected by the constant bombardment, all the while others in the room furiously worked on something else, what it was he could not see.
***
Inero-ie kept observing and the time passed, the bombardment kept going nonstop except for the small breaks that would occasionally. He watched it all, fully in control, his mental landscape a vast white space with nothing in it. The emotions kept trying to burst forth but he would not allow that, and with him actively focusing on the seal, the emotions and memories found no escape.
As he observesd all things, it was like a stranger observing another stranger, like they were not responsible or all that had happened to him. But to him that did not matter for they were really stranger as he knew no one. Not when he had no memories.
***
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“My lord, everything is ready.”
“Good, wait for my orders.”
“Yes.”
The massive control room that had been buzzing with intensity suddenly calmed down as most of the people who had previously been busy now slumped on their chairs, some even slid down against the walls, devoid of any power, thoroughly exhausted. It became quiet and only a few remained that kept working but even they slowed down as they had finally finished the preparations.
“Start the next phase.”
The barrier outside took another hit but rippled spherical barrier and suddenly a spherical blast spread out, without any sign it blasted apart everything, including the few that were operating all the equipment. Everything it passed through crumbled, reduced to ash. It was all quiet and whether it was the forest or the ground, everything was reduced to dust.
***
The moment the ripples had started spreading on the barrier, men uniformed in Noyb family clothing appeared, quickly rushing head first, and even though they were just a few inches away from crashing, they did not stop, rather they somehow appeared inside.
They kept running while the blast reduced everything its path to dust, breaking into smaller groups each heading in different directions. They moved clearly aware of their objectives and how they would be carried out. They were fast as the clock was ticking.
***
“Sir, Team 9 has successfully infiltrated the barrier successfully.”
“Good,” Harlev repulsed while watching the data feed that updated many many times in the blink of an eye, reporting each and every event that was ongoing. Just like the infiltration had occurred for all four castles.
Just like he had given Team 9 to this subordinate, others had also been given their separate teams, their separate objectives. It was their first time fighting inside the settlement at such a scale, in such a bold manner but he decided to trust in their capabilities. That did not reduce his worries as he obsessively kept track of each action that was being taken, each change that was occurring.
“Make sure they are ready to evacuate once the order is issued.”
“Yes sir.” Many different voices spoke up in reply this time.
They had an inkling of how these families were going to fight, and what they had prepared and that could not be allowed. That would cause too much destruction on this level, possibly requiring all of the soil to be changed, a massive loss, massive enough that it would stand out despite how quickly and cleanly they had performed until now.
They had to fight each other, one against another, not remain hidden in their castles and making this place unusable.
“Have them evacuate.”
“Sent, sir.”
“All teams evacuated, sir.” A while later he was informed.
“Detonate.”
“Detonated, sir.”
A moment after that blinding light overwhelmed the darkness that had enveloped the Layer and soon after came the sound. In many different corners of the Layer, his men stood, silent. They should have been happy seeing this scene but they were not. They were long passed the point that they would feel anything. They just needed to get this done and finally rest. Though it was still far away.
***
It was as sudden as it was unexpected. At one moment they were surprised at finding the barrier had been infiltrated and the next moment the ground beneath their feet quaked, cracked, spread, and they felt the pull of gravity. Screams, but even they were snuffed out the next moment as blasts occurred, rupturing their ears, and breaking their bones as the force somehow kept bouncing inside the barrier, the one thing that was supposed to keep them safe, the one thing that was making them all the more miserable as the sound kept reverbrating inside, echoing and returning to havoc more destruction.
His ear bleeding, his eyes bleeding, his skin was torn but that did not matter. It was nothing. His focus was still on the target, as the sea of Qi charmed, and the terrible power that had been hidden surfaced.
He focused, uncaring of the graving pulling him down fast because the light was fading away even faster and the moment it died down and the darkness returned, he jumped.