General Abdullah
Michael’s plan he had sent via note was simple, yet complicated. I called the Captains for a last minute meeting. I had considered letting them know one by one, but it was better to just have a single meeting right before everything kicked off.
“There is a change of plans that Emperor Michael has decided on to lure out the Astrologer and other hostile forces. I can confirm this was sent by him, but he wanted to have the changes as last minute as possible to avoid anyone finding out.”
“You suspect there is a spy?” one Captain asked.
“No. But one of our enemies has the ability to spy anywhere and at a great distance. The Avatar you have all been briefed on. It is suspected she is working with the Protector and the Astrologer to lure Emperor Michael or Supreme Governor Clarissa out into the open to kill them. Emperor Michael wants to create a situation to lure any hostile forces out and kill them with a trap, with himself as bait.” I could see people shift uneasily at this, but no one objected.
The truth was, his combat abilities were legend. He had killed the Divine Empress in combat. While I was sure there was more to the story, it didn’t change the fact that she was dead and he was alive. Facing her had been a nightmare. Fast, unkillable, and unrelenting. The few deeks she was in the field we had more casualties than the rest of the war combined just from her alone.
That was how dangerous she was. Emperor Michael had talked about combat level and we were all combat level 3 or low combat level 4, while she had been combat level 6 maybe even 7. I couldn’t even imagine the sheer gap in power. Well, I could, but very few people saw the Divine Empress and lived to talk about it.
If Emperor Michael was planning to use himself as bait to lure out the terrorists, then that was his decision, and our job was to support him as best as we possibly could.
“The first beam team will split attack, Michael, the Protector, and the corpse he is bringing which is likely a bomb or something else in disguise. He plans to take some damage from the attack to appear vulnerable with the hope of drawing someone out.”
There were grim looks at this, along with a few nods. We each knew that without someone powerful able to fight other powerful people, it would be a bloodbath. Either with a power struggle or someone like the Divine Empress. That was why, while we might not agree with how the government was set up, there was no other viable option. We needed Emperor Michael just as he needed us.
“Beam team two and three, will standby in reserve under my command. Once beam team one retreats from the plaza, they are to lose their disguises and act as support. Our reserve forces will be at the Imperial Palace and shift while the two closet teams move in pursuit, but everyone must call a halt, once your positions are changed while we continue with the main plan that has been outlined.”
Captain Francis
I glanced up at Emperor Michael as he scanned the crowd. My team and I would be right in the thick of it. My respect for him want up another notch. I had known he had some sort of plan, but to use himself as bait to draw out the terrorists was one of the most impressive things I had ever heard.
He wasn’t some politician hiding behind others. That was why I was okay putting my life on the line since he was doing the same. He represented stability along with Clarissa in this awful place. After all the fighting against the Dragon Empire, peace was to fragile to let some idiot take it away.
I had seen the horrors of the Dragon Empire myself. It truly was evil, and it wasn’t just propaganda. The entire nation was built on suffering and depravity. I couldn’t allow the Purgatory Empire to fall into such a state.
I gripped the hilt of my sword while also scanning the crowd. The Protector arrived, corpse inside a crate in a cart. I was close enough to see Michael stiffen up as they approached and looked closely at them. I couldn’t spot anything wrong.
As the civilians and recent arrivals collected to fill out the numbers waited and were excited, I could feel the tension increase even more. I noted the soldiers moving into position on top of the buildings at the far end of the plaza and didn’t react.
Energy began to gather. I had some stat points in Sense. I felt it was a smart purchase when the Forbidden City had been taken. Any edge I got would only help me survive. Michael dodged to the side a bit late, and was burnt. The rear area behind his throne was cleared of any person, so the explosions didn’t hit anyone.
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Other beam attacks hit the Protector and the corpse which died instantly. Completely burnt away under the attacks. Everyone began to panic and the soldiers on crowd control acted, ushering people away to be screened multiple times and checked. While it was unlikely any infiltrators would be found, no one was going to escape this trap.
That was when two explosions went off. Body parts and limbs went flying from the crowd and the panic reached a new height. I had been hoping nothing would happen, but these were desperate people. I had picked up enough talking with Michael and Clarissa to know that time was on our side, while our enemies had to act. Hence their increasingly desperate attacks.
One man was heavily wounded and being helped my a woman. Some soldiers were triaging the wounded, while everyone was being checked for possible bombs. They wouldn’t find anything, but it was worth an attempt.
“Zin bin!” A shout went out across the plaza. Emperor Michael collapsed on the table and rolled off. I almost acted, but knew I should hold off, as my team looked at me.
“Hold!” I shouted to make sure no one moved in to assist him. I hoped I hadn’t made a mistake.
High Priestess
I watched the events unfold in the plaza. The Astrologer was surprisingly competent. That beam attack on Emperor Michael was something I hadn’t expected. He really had gone all out in manipulating people. I frowned a bit since I had missed that development.
What was even worse, was that, I could no longer help the man kill Michael. The Almighty System knew he had done something which he should not have. It was very close to acting, but he hadn’t crossed its bottom line.
Foolishness! Playing with something that should be left alone. He had weakened the protections put in place and an intervention by the Almighty System while possible would kill everyone, which would defeat the purpose of an intervention.
Already it was stirring. It had been put into forced hibernation before. But now it was ready and able to counter the Almighty System unless it broke the fragile bubble keeping everyone alive. I knew the Astrologer was reckless, but he had reached a new height.
“There you are,” I muttered to myself. He had tricked even me by creating a homunculus pretending to be himself. The Astrologer might be more dangerous than Michael, which was frustrating and my hope was they would kill each other off. Time to engage the first step of my plan.
I had made some last moment changes, but the main trust of it was still the same. Mohammad Hamidur Rahman, my trusted warrior was with me high above the city. “First wave,” I commanded. Six people left off the airship and the hybridization process activated, transforming them into level 5 hybrids. I just needed to cause enough chaos to entice the Astrologer to act, and then have Mohammad Hamidur Rahman strike him down once he killed Michael or vice versa.
A simple plan, but an effective one. Pit two enemies against each other and be ready to move in as the third party. I had bought enough time, but it would not last. I needed to be in control of the Systemic Lands to prevent everyone from dying. I couldn’t tell people while, but without my guidance we were all headed towards certain death.
The Astrologer’s machinations were but the first prelude to a far more terrible conflict. If humanity was to survive, then we must be united under my wisdom. I would give up my life if it was necessary, but every betrayal, every plot, was for this eventual purpose, to save lives.
The Divine Empress had proven that it was impossible to trust anyone else. Only I had the sight and knowledge to guide humanities development. While I might not be able to act directly, I could impose enough of my status to assist in the creation of level 5 hybrids by suppressing the monsters they were combining with.
A research project that I had stolen quite a bit of knowledge to make happen and twisting the energy just the right way to allow the transformation to happen successfully. The participants had been willing soldiers, martyring themselves for the greater cause. For only individuals with enough stats and determination could survive the process.
It was better a few people die now, so that everyone might live. I could not cry, but my heart hurt from what I had to do to seize control. The Protector had been a necessary sacrifice to entice the Astrologer and set things in motion. Another piece removed from the board. Soon the rest would be swept clear in the upcoming conflict.
Michael’s trap, while brave, was foolish and easily seen through. He would die today and the combined power of the Astrologer and myself, he would not be able to escape alive. I had considered fighting him on top of the tower, but I was not ready to face him. And I managed to get several crystals that were quite useful for today. I had been ready to face a weakened Astrologer. But now I was ready and my loyal followers knew what they had to do to ensure my victory.
Shante
We were all bunkered up in the dormitory slash school. It was clear another attack was about to happen. After living so long in the wilderness is was nice to finally be back. The kids were playing with blocks, while me and the other mothers watched them.
“What do you think?” one of the newer mothers asked me. For some reason these woman looked up towards me.
“We just have to believe, that everything will be okay. And watch the children,” I replied. She nodded nervously and I gave her a pat on the back. That was when explosions sounded out, from outside the building in the plaza, and there was a tremor. Everyone stopped talking and one of the babies started to cry.
We all went to our kids, sat on the floor, and kept them close. I led everyone in a song. We had made it this far. Monsters, divine empresses, the loss of the city, we would keep going no matter what and have faith.
Michael began to fidget and complain a bit in my arms, but I was sure his namesake would pull through. I kept us going song, after song.