The attack on Westwood proved to me that even the best defences can fail if your enemy is determined enough. The news about the attack on Westwood spread across Arcadia like fire causing outrage and anger. The Navy, which was tasked with the preemptive attack on Vestargo's forces, attacked the western shore of the bay with unprecedented ferocity. The last-moment addition of a Sabre-class destroyer was Janet's emotional response to the attack on Westwood. The huge trees of the Ancient Forest fell and burned under the merciless fire of the Arcadian Royal Fleet. There was chaos and panic among the enemy monsters but they were powerless to stop the onslaught. HMS Claymore fired every single missile she carried and fired her main cannons in an override to the point that one of the barrels melted and failed. The bit of minor damage was repaired before the fleet returned to Crystal Forest for rearming. The expedition fleet returned without any losses and with the news that Vestargo's forces were utterly annihilated. But, no matter how many of them we killed, it couldn't bring back our dead friends and family members.
The attack on Westwood was repelled. I wouldn't dare say that the casualties were minimal but it was a sad truth. During the attack on the Dungeon City, there were over a quarter of a million people in it - Westwood's regular citizens and the refugees. That day, we lost two hundred people and among them were Lilly, Iris, and Vernon. The promise of the Archangel gave us hope but couldn't stop our tears and patch the bleeding holes in our hearts. Rose was crying over the white caskets that held Lilly and Iris for their last voyage and I was grateful for Leonard, who was there for her. I lost two people who were like daughters to me and I regretted that I never told them. Despite my strength, I was powerless to save them. Avalon was silent the day we chose for the funeral. It was a closed and very personal ceremony where we took their coffins and brought them to the Royal Mausoleum. We said our farewells which were often interrupted by tears and sobs. My daughters will rest in the chamber next to Amber's parents. Their graves will always be covered with the flowers they loved so much and shared their names with. A sea of candles was burning near their graves as we left the Mausoleum. A part of my soul, also, never left that crypt...
Once we buried our daughters, Freya took the body of Vernon and brought it to the City Under the Mountain, Thalgurum, which meant Hammerdeep. Vernon was going to rest under the mountains he loved so much, memorialized within the halls of the Dwarven City. Vernon was held in great esteem among the Dwarves and was considered one of the Dwarven Lords. Like the death of Lilly and Iris sparked the ire of Avalon, the death of Vernon moved the Dwarves. The mood changed across Arcadia. Many people were saved by those three during the war, which led to the rise of Arcadia, and the people were angry and sad. Churches and cathedrals across Arcadia were lit ablaze with candles left by people. Pictures of those three, along with pictures of other victims of the attack, started showing up spontaneously. But the candles and pictures weren't the only symbols of respect Arcadians paid to the fallen. After that attack, thousands of people wanted to join the Navy and the Guardsmen Corps. Now...
Now the entirety of Arcadia truly went to war...
•••
Galahad's core burned with sadness and loss he couldn't comprehend. Lilly and Iris were important to him and he was grateful to his Lord for allowing him to attend their funeral. They were his sisters and his family. It was their presence that helped to shape his personality when he was just a Skeleton Lord. They helped him to fully awaken and now they were gone. There was a pain in the place where he always felt joy and Galahad envied the Mortals and others who could shed tears for the dead. He couldn't express his pain and loss in that way but, thanks to his Lord, he knew another way to do it. Galahad and other Scions gathered materials - for them, it was simple whereas others would find they were priceless. With the help of Lance, Galahad brought Nightmare Hornet's and Avalon's Bees' wax. Crawline produced a special thread that Morrigan spun into a string. Arani and Thor found lily and iris flowers and brought them to Aurora who mixed everything. Sebastian and Sentinel brought some special, colourful sand, made of various precious materials. Jasper and Gavain, under the guidance of Stella, created stained glass holders in the shapes of flowers and, finally, they all assembled candles for their sisters. They would keep them ablaze until their sisters’ return.
But now... Now, Galahad was furious. He felt a wrath like never before and the blue flame that filled his skeletal form was burning like the heart of a forge. He returned to the front line and he was baffled by the fact that Vestargo had stopped all his attacks. Perhaps he had lost all available troops and, simply, couldn't wage war against Arcadia. However, now Vestargo wanted to talk. The Emperor accepted the meeting because it was convenient for his plans and Galahad was waiting in the middle of the newly barren land that was once a verdant forest. Galahad wanted the weather to reflect his emotions but, unfortunately, the day was sunny and clear. Yet another reminder that the world didn't care. Behind him were the most elite three thousand soldiers of the First Legion and a Company of Praetorians. They were standing silently but full of the combined wrath of their Commander and their Lord. From the mangled and charred treeline emerged a small procession of insect monsters. Without a doubt, some of them were the same Hornet monsters that killed Lilly and Iris. Galahad slowly clenched his fist on the hilt of his sword. He had received his orders and was going to obey.
"Greetings, inferior beings-" A large Mantis Scion began with disdain but Galahad unleashed his Death Aura that instantly killed the regrowing vegetation in the vicinity. The Mantis flinched in horror, stepped back, but continued with a slightly trembling voice and more carefully. "My Lord gave you time to consider his strength and you should be aware that nothing can save you. Because of your audacity, he had to destroy one of his subjects who foolishly allowed her Scion to be captured. Nonetheless, he acknowledges your power. Trying to capture any more Scions will be foolish-"
"I don't remember permitting you to speak, insect," Galahad spoke calmly but his voice was so cold it could freeze the hell itself. His Intimidation Aura caused the rest of Vestargo's monsters to step away in panic but the Mantis' presence saved them from fleeing. "You have violated the rules of war."
"I do not abide by the rules of inferiors." It wasn't Mantis' voice anymore. It was a cold and cruel voice belonging to the belligerent and old being.
"But from now on you will." Galahad took out a book and raised it towards the Mantis. "You will obey the laws written in this book."
"Or else?" The voice cackled in the cruel suggestion of laughter. "I'm Vestargo of the Forest! I'm..."
The Mantis fell silent when dozens of smoke trails crossed above their heads. The earth shook as devastating explosions tore through the air setting the distant Ancient Forest on fire. With satisfaction, Galahad observed the utter shock and disbelief in the arrogant eyes of Vestargo's envoy or even, possibly, Vestargo himself. Lord Theon's forces had been prepared to attack today and the Expedition Fleet was at the ready. When the First and Third Fleets arrived, twenty ships of the Royal Navy were deployed in a way so they could target as wide an area of the Ancient Forest as possible. The firepower put to the task was overwhelming and included two Dreadnoughts and five Frigates. The moment Galahad decided it was enough, the entire fleet unleashed a full salvo. The flights of the most devastating missiles impacted randomly selected targets within their tremendous range, setting hundreds if not thousands of square kilometres of the Ancient Forest ablaze.
"I said that you will obey the rules of war, you pest." The golden letters ominously reflected the distant fires that consumed the forest. The book was titled 'The Geneva Conventions, complete edition'.
"How dare you to-"
"Wrong answer." Galahad coldly interrupted him. Another volley of missiles boomed across the skies as they sped deeper into the woods and exploded in the distance. "Will you obey?"
Mantis looked with fury at Galahad but another bug, a Spider, took the book and started reading.
"Will you obey?" Galahad asked, watching in satisfaction as the Ancient Forest burned in the distance.
"I..." Vestargo hesitated. "What if won't?"
"Then, Geneva Conventions will be replaced with Geneva Suggestions but I think those will be more like a Geneva Checklist." Galahad declared. "Your forest will burn to the ground and there will be nothing you can do to stop my Lord. We will come for you wielding weapons that spit fire and will cover your domain in toxic gases that will poison the ground itself. No rock will stay unturned in our wake and no hideout will be safe. Nothing and no one who recognises your rules will survive."
"That's madness!" Vestargo was terrified. "Do you think that I can believe you?! No one is capable of such destruction!"
"I encourage you to believe in your fairy tales, Vestargo the clown. However, that's just the beginning of vengeance and retaliation that my Lord has prepared for you." Galahad shook his head in denial. "Will you obey?"
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"Stop insulting me!"
"This is your last warning. Answer my question." Galahad was calm but, inside, he wanted to kill that Mantis.
"Will you stop using these destructive spells?" Vestargo asked but instantly regretted it.
"Wrong answer." Yet another salvo of missiles cut the air and spread the inferno that was consuming the Ancient Forest.
"I will obey!" Vestargo finally shouted. His voice was full of hatred and fury.
"Good." Galahad nodded and slowly turned away.
"Wait! Will you stop using the spells to burn my forest?"
Galahad looked back. "Don't expect us to stop using incendiary weapons. If you refrain from attacking and killing civilians, my Lord will stop burning your forest at such an unimaginable scale."
"But fighting with his armies is allowed?! Or did he expect me to surrender?" Vestargo was furious. He had lost any semblance of a calculating and cold deity.
"What kind of madness has consumed your little, bug mind to believe that we want you to surrender?" Galahad looked at the envoy with disgust. "I came here to only teach you about the rules of war."
"I expected that you would order me to surrender after this display of power."
"Surrender?" Galahad's voice betrayed his shock and disbelief. "Then surrender. Here and now."
"Never."
"You stall for time." Galahad shook his head. "I can sense your minions digging under us hoping to what? Capture me?"
As soon as Galahad finished speaking, the ground nearby exploded. The bugs tried to swarm the Arcadian forces but the effect wasn't what they expected. Triarii formed an impenetrable wall and the Praetorians tossed grenades at Vestargo's forces. Shrapnel and napalm closed some of the bug tunnels and burned alive hundreds of bugs that tried to ambush them. Praetorians, then, threw inside the remaining tunnels larger grenades that released a toxin from Lord Theon's world, one that he said would kill small insects and was as deadly for the big ones as for the mosquitoes. Nothing would leave the tunnels alive as long as the deadly mist remained there. However, the tunnels weren't the only vector of attack because giant Hornets flew at them from the forest, followed by giant Mantises, who ran towards the Arcadian forces.
"You had one chance, a last chance if that sounds familiar, but my Lord offers a last chance only once, Vestargo the fool." Galahad flashed with blue flames that adorned his armour and created a long cape behind his back. His eyes were glowing menacingly. "Surrender now and you will be judged but you will live. However, personally... I don't want you to surrender, Vestargo. I want to crack your core with my own hands and watch you wither and slowly die."
"I will make your Lord pay for every tree of my forest you have destroyed!" Vestargo screamed.
"Thank you for choosing death..." Galahad smiled and turned around. "Remember the rules of war, insect."
The Mantis snapped back and looked dizzy as if the recoil was so immense that it could barely survive. However, only a few moments later it looked sharply at Galahad and brandished its blades. The Arcadian forces were properly entrenched and they had barely suffered any casualties while they had killed dozens, if not hundreds, of enemy monsters. But they were surrounded by an overwhelming force that grew with each moment. The bugs had minimal chances against the Legionnaires but their superior numbers were slowly covering the gap. The Legionnaires were dying but Galahad noticed that the bugs tried to capture them.
"If you think you can capture a single one of us you are wrong." Pillars of holy light and more mundane explosions erupted from under the bug piles when the captured Legionnaires triggered self-destruct runes within their armours.
"You won't run away..." The Mantis couldn't overwhelm Galahad despite being slightly stronger.
Galahad blocked the desperate cut with his sword and chuckled unamused. "Do we look like we want to run?"
Galahad laughed and unleashed his Death Aura at full force instantly killing every living being whose power was lower than half of his own. Hundreds of bugs died at once and the Mantis suddenly found itself alone facing the Death Lord. Galahad wasn't holding back as he usually did while fighting Mortals. Now was the best time to unleash his wrath. His sword was ablaze with blue flames that greedily consumed all life they touched. His opponent couldn't find a worse match- Vestargo's minions had unbelievable regeneration rates thanks to their life affinity but the Legions of Arcadia were undead. While the Skeleton warriors of Avalon tried their best to preserve the lives of innocents, their affinity was death.
"What's wrong? Are you going to run?" Galahad mocked the Mantis but wasn't chasing it as it disengaged and retreated. He knew that the Vestargo's minions were trying to split their defensive formation.
One of Galahad's tasks was to gauge the enemy's capabilities and he wasn't impressed. The enemy was, individually, so weak that it was laughable and their coordination was nonexistent. The only thing that worked to the enemy's advantage was the numbers. Galahad heard a low buzzing noise from the treeline and his smile flashed with flames. The exploding bugs were flying low and while the reports from Westwood indicated they seemed fast for Mortals, they were slow for him and his soldiers. The Triarii began to shoot down the bugs with ease and, seeing the growing frustration of the Mantis, the enemy wasn't holding back. Vestargo's forces were relentless and, while they died by the hundreds, it seemed they could afford such losses. Galahad wasn't concerned with such trivialities. After all the time he had to conceal his power, now he could unleash it and, by the Lord, it was so refreshing. It was as if he finally could flex his bones and fully straighten himself without worries.
"What's wrong? Are you tired already?" Galahad chuckled and took a moment to focus on his detachment.
From the initial three thousand one hundred soldiers, and himself, he had lost only one thousand while they had killed nearly eight thousand bugs.
"The swarm is endless!" Mantis yelled, but its breath was short.
The area within sight was teeming with bugs of various sizes: from a house cat to large Mantises who were slightly taller than a Legionnaire. For a moment, Galahad considered if he should break their encirclement but, ultimately, decided against it. The amount of bugs was so high that he would take huge losses and give Vestargo some hope of defeating Emperor Theon. Instead, he ordered the remnant to use up all their grenades and scuttle anything that could even be remotely useful for their enemies.
"Nothing is endless..." Galahad laughed but then he sighed. "Like the fun I had killing all of you today."
Finally, the quivers of Triarii were emptied and the explosive bugs started hitting the ground or the encircled Legionnaires.
"Now we will capture you, Death Lord!" The Mantis hissed.
"I don't think so." Galahad sheathed his sword and stepped back. His spot was immediately filled by a Praetorian. "You better save the book I gave you. If your master breaks even a single point, we will unleash hell upon your sorry asses."
"My Master won't forgive you..."
"Likewise!" Galahad put his hands together and focused on the trigger runes that were connected to the explosive materials hidden in the bodies of his skeleton soldiers and himself.
He was proud of the idea, his idea to be precise. When the Cataclysmit, an explosive material ten times more powerful than C4 exploded, as expected, he felt nothing. Each one of his soldiers hid ten kilograms inside their armour and there were still nearly two thousand of them, surrounded by approximately ten thousand bugs. The only thing he was worried about was the fact that he would have to wait nearly a week to learn the results if Lord Theon couldn't speed up the respawn process. Galahad hoped that Janet was recording this because he wanted to see the full movie...
•••
"Damn..." Janet observed the explosion from a safe distance and shook her head. "Did you get it? Because, if you failed to record this, you are going to explain it to Galahad."
"Everything is on the memory crystal, Ma'am!" The sensor officer shook his head in disbelief. "It's comparable to Empress Irene's Armageddon spell... He got everything in a kilometre radius and gravely wounded most of the things in the next half of a kilometre."
"I expected nothing less, to be honest, from the explosives from Lord Theon's world." Janet shrugged and looked at the map showing all ships of the Fleet begin to withdraw towards their secondary targets. "HMS Warrior, what's your status?"
"We are slowed but it's nothing serious, Ma'am. I think we hit a nest or something because the fuckers took it personally. No suiciders, only hornets." Captain Mark Ulman reported calmly. "Our CIWS and retractable point defences are sufficient for the task. However, those bugs are... different."
"What do you mean they are different?"
"They seemed to be treated by the World's Words like people, not monsters. They also didn’t attack us mindlessly but tried to actually employ some tactics."
"That's interesting, indeed, but changes nothing. I redirected Gladius and Longsword to aid you, Mark."
"Thank you, Ma'am. But we still can deploy CB-90 and our Mages. The bugs, at least not in this quantity, are not a threat."
"You need destroyers anyway. I think the Special Forces might be dispatched as well." Janet shrugged. "Eliminate all the bugs chasing you and focus on your task, Captain. The reports from Navell are very disturbing."