Due to the urgency of what I was about to do, I spoke to the entire empire in guild chat.

Greetings everyone. The mission I am about to embark on has nothing to do with the empire or your freedom from oppression. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t have anything to do with anyone from your world.

I took a deep breath, wondering what was going on in the heads of the many different races gathered in the City Under the Mountain. Thousands of eyes watched in silence as I continued.

This is something I have to do. I am sorry if that makes me a bad leader. I have spent every waking minute during these past weeks awakening as many of you as I can and making Meltopia as strong as possible. I am confident you are now strong enough to defend yourselves even if I don’t make it back.

The crowd below began whispering to one another while I searched for the words I needed to make my request. It might have been possible to use mana to persuade them but I didn’t want anyone to do anything that wasn’t of their own free will.

I am looking for volunteers. It will be a risky mission where we may be forced to attack this world’s capital. That isn’t the plan right now but it could come to that. That would make anyone who joins an enemy of Dabia.

They were quiet again, looking up at me with serious faces.

Again, this is just a request. None of you will be forced to come. I just need around…

I was cut off as thunderous cheers shook the underground chamber. Nearly every hand shot up as thousands of voices spoke at once.

I’ll go!

You can count on me!

Please take me with you.

You don’t have to go alone.

We will fight!

Screw Dabia.

Yeah, they never liked us anyway.

They treat us like slaves!

Long live the emperor!

Guild chat was bombarded with requests to join me so I had to tune it out temporarily. Esha walked up behind me when I finally gathered my wits. “You do intend to take me with you, right?”

I shook my head sadly. “No. I do not. You will lead this place in my absence. Meltopia needs someone strong in charge in case Raverly or someone else attacks.”

“I will defend this place with my life,” Esha assured me, pounding her fist to her chest.

The troll’s words made me think about Stefanie. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

We exchanged a look that spoke a thousand words before Esha turned on her heel and strode away.

When I made the request I only expected a handful of people to volunteer.

Kalli said nothing but I could feel her excitement that we were about to be reunited. To be honest with myself, I desperately needed to be close to her as well.

When you said you arrived, I thought you meant you had arrived at the capital.

I felt a twinge of guilt from Kalli as she explained. We made the stop at Hellquist village to get some info about the contract. It’s on the way. The capital is only another two weeks journey from here. Joe thinks we need reinforcements before we confront them.

Thoughts of Kalli’s hometown came to mind. I truly wanted to be there to support her when she confronted them. Even with the contract sold, I had a few choice words for that lady.

Give me some time to get the army ready.

Without meaning to, I was stretching my mana pool. I sat there, staring at the menu as my core slowly replenished my supply.

7/65,000

2107/65,000

4207/65,000

My attention was diverted as the next group got into formation. I sat in a chair that was provided for me, struggling to catch my breath.

There should be some kind of world editor skill that allows me to move troops like this.

Kalli giggled. You should check. There are a lot of settings you never use.

I did that before I said it.

Once my mana capped out, I forced myself to my feet and announced, “Everyone, get ready. Remember, teleporting might make you feel sick.”

The trolls and goblins in the group stiffened as my mana began to flow over them, folding inward onto itself. Moments later, they were gone, another gift sent through the void to my girlfriend.

Kalli informed me as soon as they arrived. Another success. Give me time to make room for the next batch.

That’s fine. I need to get my mana back anyway.

Sitting back down, I calculated how many warps it was going to take me to send the volunteers over to Kalli. Due to making the spell more efficient and growing my mana pool, I increased the number of people I could teleport at once to fifty. With roughly three thousand awakened combat class people, it was going to take me around sixty trips.

I tried to relax between waves but every time I drained my mana I grew more fatigued. By the time we got to the final wave, I was ready to drop.

I yawned and stretched, telling Esha, “This is the last wave. I will be going with this group.”

Esha nodded and began ordering people into position. I was distracted by my mana gauge when I felt a tug on my sleeve. Looking up, I saw the prophet Crypian who looked nervous. He let go of my sleeve and asked, “Do you mind if I accompany you when you depart?”

The request caught me off guard. I look at him hesitantly and replied, “I don’t know. Do you realize we are only taking soldiers on this mission? It could be dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Crypian flashed a smile and said, “Thank you for that but as the cause of all of this, I believe I need to be present to see this prophecy through to the end. I also have a strange feeling that my skillset may end up being of use to you. Please let me go.”

Still feeling numb from the death of Stefanie, I sighed and conceded.

“Very well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As the prophet walked over to the lines of soldiers, I noticed a familiar goblin standing at the front of the ranks. She flailed her arms about to get my attention and shouted, “Master Melvin! Boombrix is eager to accompany you on your glorious adventure. This one will make great boom-boom in your honor.”

Not knowing what else to do, I gave her a thumbs up. The final group consisted of around thirty people. There were mostly ogres and trolls to go along with the goblins standing at the front but I noticed another human standing next to Crypian.

Walking over to the man, I extended a hand. “You’re Guinny’s dad.”

He smiled, taking my hand in a viselike grip. “You remembered. I’m honored.”

I grinned back at him. “Your family is hard to forget. Your daughter was quite passionate.”

Guinny’s dad laughed and replied, “Stubborn is more like it. She is the reason I’m going with you. I want to know where they took the villagers from Hudholm.”

Looking down at my hand that the old man refused to return to me, I realized that I hadn’t given much thought to the other people from Hudholm that had been displaced by the invasion of Old Wrotor.

I shook the man’s hand and promised, “We will find out what happened to all of the villagers that day. I promise.”

Finally letting me go, he said, “Good. I’ll hold you to that.”

I was tackled to the ground in a blur of red hair almost immediately after arriving in the forest. Something wet splashed on my face and I looked up to see tears streaming down Kalli’s face.

She whimpered and spoke out loud. “Don’t leave me like that again.”

I smiled, my own eyes starting to water. “We saw each other every night in our dreams.”

“It’s not the same.” She countered, leaning closer to kiss me on the cheek.

I flashed her a mischievous grin, wrapping my arms around her. “Well, you got me. What are you going to do with me?”

Finally realizing that we had an audience, Kalli sat up and announced, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Switching over to mate chat, a sly grin appeared on her face. Maybe later. If we can get some privacy.

Putting all of the recent tragedy out of my mind for once, I matched her grin.

I can’t wait!

Dusting herself off, Kalli pulled herself to her feet and offered me her hand. Together we made our way through the forest to where the Mecharriage sat, still a good distance from the town.

I recognized Kalli’s hometown from our dreams and turned to see a conflicted expression on her face. Her mind was a maelstrom of emotions.

Are you okay with confronting them? I will do it alone if you need me to.

She shook her head vigorously. No. I have to do this. There are a few things I want to tell them.

I nodded, embracing her resolve.

I understand. Just tell me what you need me to do.

Kalli smiled and beamed at me, a smile that I knew was reserved just for me. Thank you, Mel.

I was so wrapped up in my conversation that I didn’t see Joe and Run until they were standing right next to us. Joe nodded, his expression indifferent. “Hi, Melvin. Show us this black armor everyone’s been talking about.”

Rundell quickly spoke up, saying, “Sorry, Mel. He’s been on edge like this since Wendy was taken. What he means is, we heard about the armor and would like to see it if possible.”

Joe blanched at his friend for a moment before turning and nodding. “Sure, let’s go with that.”

Kalli looked back and forth between us. Mel, you don’t have to show them if you don’t want to.

It’s okay, Kalli. I don’t have anything to hide.

I pulled up my shirt, revealing the jet-black vest that clung to my skin. “This is it. I don’t know how to activate it. The best I can tell is that it only becomes active when my life is in danger. This last time was the first time it took over though. I could feel it manipulating my body to do what it wanted. It also covered every inch of my body.”

Without warning, Joe produced a metallic club in his hand and brought it down on my shoulder. Sharp pain erupted from the point of impact and I felt my knees buckle. As I collapsed to the ground, I felt a ball of rage that was my girlfriend next to me before I watched her ignite and punch Joe in the face.

The dark-skinned boy staggered back before falling on his butt. Kalli moved to follow through with another blow when Rundell grabbed her by the arms to hold her back.

“Nope,” I said, grabbing Run’s foot and lacing it with electrical mana, sending a jolt to his core.

He twitched and dropped to the ground, releasing Kalli. I stopped her with a thought before she had a chance to release any more frustration on Joe.

Give him a break. I’m fine. He’s just frustrated. I’d probably be the same if you were taken.

The fire coming from her body slowly died with Kalli’s rage and she knelt beside me, rubbing my shoulder. That hurt me too, you know.

I know.

Joe sat up and stared at my vest for a moment before asking me in a cold tone. “Are you dangerous?”

Looking down at my vest, I replied, “Only to my enemies.”

He looked at me skeptically and asked, “Why didn’t it protect you?”

I shrugged and explained. “It probably knew that you weren’t going to kill me.”

Joe climbed to his feet and asked, “Is that thing alive? What you mean it ‘knew’?”

Leaning back, I let Kalli use the injury on my shoulder to practice pushing her mana into me. “The only times the armor has done anything was when someone was actively trying to kill me or when I was about to take serious damage. The first couple of times it just defended against attacks. Please don’t try to kill me to test my armor.”

Seeming to realize what he had done to me, Joe took a step back. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Rundell stood up next to him, having recovered from his temporary paralysis. “Good, because I don’t like having to get between you guys.”

“Sorry,” Joe muttered before turning and walking away.

Once Joe was out of earshot, Rundell turned to me. “That sucked, by the way. I was just trying to help.”

I shrugged at him. “Sorry. Nobody puts their hands on Kalli.”

Kalli blushed and he leveled me with a hard stare for a couple of seconds before shrugging. “Fair enough.”

Then Rundell walked off after Joe, leaving the two of us alone. Kalli looked me in the eyes and asked, What now? Should we go into the village by ourselves?

I thought about it and shook my head.

Whatever we do should probably be planned as a group. Let’s wait for them to calm down and then make a decision.

Kalli blinked and gave me a look that I suspected she thought was innocent. Whatever shall we do in the meantime?

All I could do was grin.

You did say there was something you wanted to do in private.