Chapter 72: Empire's Claim

News Around The World

Major Diseases Predicted To Be Wiped Out Worldwide Within Five Years

Canada To Take In At Least 100000 Xothican Refugees

BREAKTHROUGH: Scientists Managed To Recreate Mythril In The Lab

UN Sets Up Human Culture And Tech Introduction Program For Xothicans

UN Publicly Announces Committee For Magic

VVVVVV

Nari, Royal Capital, Eikoryu Empire

Visk, a young Naga man, walked into the hot springs area of the Royal Family's castle. His skin was bright orange in colour and had golden eyes. His orange hair was tied behind his head into a pony tail. He was dressed in ornate clothing made from red silk. The open hot spring room had wooden floors and the sun lit up the area. Each hot spring was carved into the ground and lined with black marble. Large smooth gray stones surrounded each pool.

Upon entering the area, Visk was immediately assaulted by the horrific aftermath of one of the Prince's dalliances. Several slave women laid on the ground, unconscious, but with lifeless eyes. They had already been used and thrown away by the Prince.

Visk sighed and cautiously stepped around the slaves and walked towards the main hot spring pool where the nude Prince sat. Prince Uraki was in the middle of enjoying his goblet of wine while two of his slaves, an Elf and a Leporine Beastkin, held his sides in embrace. Visk got down on one knee and placed his right fist over his heart. He made sure to provide the two slave girls some level of decency by averting his gaze from them.

"His Majesty has requested your presence at the main hall, my liege," Visk announced.

Uraki loudly groaned and quickly stood up. He looked his two slaves and yelled, "Don't just sit there! Get me my towel and dry me!"

Visk quietly groaned as he averted his gaze away from the Prince's naked body. The two slaves got up in a panic and ran towards a cabinet that stood against the wall. They yanked out a large towel and ran back to the Prince.

The Prince raised his hands and allowed the slaves to dry his body. As soon as they finished, they allowed the Prince to grab the towel. He tied it around his waist. The two slaves bowed on their knees and remained silent.

"You may stand," Uraki granted permission. "Tell me, Visk. What does my honourable father want?"

"He didn't say," Visk replied as he got up to his feet. "He only told me he wished to speak to you as soon as possible."

Uraki sighed and rolled his eyes. "Very well. I will grace him with my presence."

Uraki walked out of the hot spring area and left Visk and the slaves behind.

Visk looked back at the two conscious slaves and then to the three unconscious ones.

"Get dressed and see what you can do for them," he told the two slaves before he left.

After waiting for ten minutes for his son to arrive, Emperor Calvous Eikoryu saw his son stroll in. Uraki walked down the main hall's carpet and stopped about several meters in front of his father. The Emperor was dressed in tight-fitting golden clothing with jewels imbedded in them. The crown over his head was made from mithril and gold. Several prongs in the front had star sapphires at the tips. Star sapphires are dark navy blue gems with specks of white in it that resembles stars. Two parts of the crown curved upwards to the center from the left and right side into a single spike. At the very top of this spike was a rainbow diamond. This rare diamond continuously changed colours.

Four guards stood at each side of the Emperor's throne along with two at the entrance to the main hall. The throne the Emperor sat on was as equally opulent as the Emperor's wear. The throne was made from pure mithril. It was worth the equivalent of a small country's annual budget. Every time Uraki saw his father or his throne, he only felt resentment over being unable to sit there himself.

"I am here, honourable father," Uraki said as he got on one knee.

"Thank you for coming, my son. I wished to express my congratulations for your battle against the Zokot kingdom. We retained our territory and they suffered great losses."

"All thanks to my great strategies, of course," the Prince bragged. "Send in wave after wave of cheap slaves with minimum equipment, those Yellow King lackeys became too tired to fight our real warriors."

"Tell me. What level are you after the battle?"

Uraki widely grinned. "I am pleased to inform you that I am level 56."

"Excellent. Now congratulating you on your victory isn't the only reason I called you here. You have been gone for a while. The world has changed in the last two weeks."

"What do you mean?"

"That purple storm that plagued our world for the past month has transformed it. The landscape all around is different. I've already sent our explorers, but it will take years to check or rework our maps. But that's not the only problem. Our spies in Skysign have discovered a new race. They are called Humans."

"Humans?"

"Yes. And according to the reports, they look almost exactly like Elves except they are taller and have rounded ears. They also reported that they use never before seen magi-tech. Might even been more advance than the Demons. However..."

"Yes?"

"According to the same spies, it seems the Humans haven't had access to the SYSTEM before. Most of Humanity should be extremely low level."

"If we strike now, we can devastate them."

"It is what we plan to do as soon as our army recovers. Still we must keep an eye on them until then."

"Oh, this reminds me. We should make preparations for my wedding, father."

"You finally decided on someone? Who is the woman?"

"A woman by the name of Reia Zyer in Skysign. Her beauty is unmatched of any Naga woman I have ever seen."

"A commoner? Were there no noble family with a daughter you fancy?"

Uraki scoffed. "None with her looks. I've been sure of this decision for a year now. She will be my first wife."

"Hmph. Very well. The other nobles won't be happy, but a simply gift of slaves will keep them quiet. Maybe some Humans. Will you at least take on their daughters as your other wives?"

"That goes without saying. I just want the first woman I marry to be her. I've already sent some soldiers to go pick her up."

VVVVVV

Skysign

Tom and the girls exited the estate office after a short meeting with the house seller. It was mid morning and they had sold their Skysign home and signed Tala up for the upcoming Magic Tournament. Outside of the office, crowds of people were gathered on both sides of the street to watch the large snow plowers move through the covered streets. Mounds of snow rolled in front of their plow blades. Humans with escorts, used smaller push snow blowers to clear the walkways in front of stores.

It was a surreal sight for the people of Skysign to see dozens of people from a race they have not heard of before yesterday. Children played in the plowed streets left behind the machines and went into snowball fights. Tom's group caught a few of the snowballs. While the children were joyful at the sight of the snow, the parents and other adults showed a different story. Their faces showed the anxiety over the situation brought. It has never snowed in Skysign. For them, the coldest it ever got was a slightly chilly night. This snow means that the crops on the outskirts of the city were now ruined. Starvation is now a threat.

This situation was predicted by Tom and his companions before the merger and was brought to the attention of the UN. Surplus crops was made a priority to give as relief to Xothicans affected by the winter weather. At the same time, they needed to avoid crashing the farming economy by giving away too much free food. One quarter of food relief would go to the civilian population, the other three quarters would be given to the farming community so they can sell it. After a couple weeks, it is hoped that, by then, trade routes can be established so the Xothicans can buy their food from Humanity until they are capable of growing again.

"Surprisingly easy to sell a house here," Tom said. "So much more trouble in a Human city."

"With that out of the way, we can finally start taking quests at the Guild," Reia said. "I'm so excited!"

"Hey, what's that in front of the Guild?" Vivian muttered.

Eight Naga men dressed in full plate armour stood in front of the Guild Hall.

"Oh, shit, it's the Eikoryu Empire," Reia said. "They're here for me."

"Then they save us the time to send a message," Amber said. "We tell them Reia is taken and they can fuck off."

"A little more polite than that," Tom reminded her. "We don't want to start another war."

The Eikoryu guards saw Tom's group's approach and stiffened their stance.

"That's her!" one of them called out. "One of you go into the Guild and get the Captain. We found Reia Zyer."

One of the soldiers ran into the Guild while the others approached Tom's group. Tom's group quickly Identified their stats and saw that they were all around level 15.

"Reia Zyer," one of the soldiers declared. "At the request of Prince Uraki Eikryo, next in line to the Eikoryu Empire, you are to come with us and be wed to him."

"I'm not going anywhere," Reia said back.

"It's not your choice to make. The Prince wants what the Prince wants."

"It is here choice to make," Sylmae argued. "Reia is staying with us."

"What is going on here?!" an authoritative voice yelled out.

Another Eikoryu soldier caught up with her subordinates. Her armour appeared to made from Orichalcum instead of the steel like her subordinates. Her level was 22.

"Captain, Reia Zyer is refusing to come with us," one of the soldiers replied.

"Are you all children or soldiers? It's just one civilian. Just grab her so we can get out of this frozen hellhole."

One of the soldiers grabbed Reia's arm but, as an instinctual reaction, Reia twirled her arm out of the female soldier's grasp and shoved the soldier onto her ass.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" the Captain yelled. "She's a civilian!"

"We're actually Rank One Adventurers," Tom chimed in. "And Specialists in the United Nations Defense Force."

"Taur shit!" the Captain spat. "The last time the Prince was here, Zyer was only level one and I highly doubt she reached rank one Adventurer within a month. Identify-"

In an instance, Tom's group saw her eyes widen in fear. All of Reia's information was laid bare to the Captain.

"Th-That's not possible..."

The other soldiers muttered "Identify" as well to be met with the same horrific realization. Her Identify skill must have been near what Tom's was at in order for her to see their stats.

"Level forty?!"

"Yeah, they're real," Vivian said as she puffed her chest out.

"Let me lay out the situation for you, Captain," Tom said with a hint of venom when he used her rank. "Reia and her family are under the protection of Humanity and the United Nations Defense Force. Under my protection. Any action taken by your Empire against her will be seen as an attack on Humanity and the UNDF. Tell your Prince to back off and find someone else."

"He's bluffing," one of the soldiers said. "There's no way that they are this strong within a month."

The Captain took a breath and then replied, "you're right and we are not returning empty handed." She eyed Tom and then Reia. "What is your relation to her?"

"He's my lover," Reia quickly interjected.

The Captain's eyes widen in fury.

"If he has sullied you, the Prince will want blood!"

"Oh, yeah he sullied me. Sullied me real good."

"Can you two not use the word sully?" Tom pleaded. "It's really gross."

The Captain pulled out her sword. Her subordinates followed suit.

"You think this is a joke?!" the Captain roared. "The Prince would demand your death."

"We tried," Amber sighed.

"No killing," Tom quickly ordered.

Amber and Reia rushed in at such a speed, that several soldiers were knock to the ground before they could defend. Vivian slammed her hammer into the ground next to several other soldiers and sent them flying. Amber nonchalantly produced a vine from her hand and tripped the last of the soldiers with it.

The Captain swung her sword towards Tom, but he caught it. He then slammed his foot into her right knee. The impact forced the leg to bend in the other direction. The Captain quickly collapsed and screamed out in pain. She looked up and saw a sword put to her throat. Tala had her hands aimed at the soldiers with Fireballs gathered within them.

"I'd prefer we don't stretch this fight out longer than necessary," Tom declared to the Captain. "The Prince isn't getting Reia. Also, another message to send to your Emperor. If we find out that your Empire kidnaps or uses Humans for slavery, it will be war. Take your people and go."

Seeing that they were outmatched from the brief exchange, the soldiers pushed themselves up to their feet and went over to their Captain. They picked her up and carried her away.

Tom's group looked around and saw some city guards staring at them.

"Yeah, don't you all help all at once," Tom muttered under his breath.

"This is going to be a problem," Sylmae sighed.

"It seems our day has been ruined," Reia said. "Fuck."

"We're going to have to meet with Commander Steele, aren't we?" Amber asked aloud.

"We're going to have to meet with Commander fucking Steele," Tom said. "I'm sorry girls. I was really looking forward to going on our first Guild quest."

"It's alright," Vivian sighed. "At least we got Tala signed up for the tournament next week."

"At least," Tala concurred.

"We'll try again tomorrow," Tom declared as he teleported everyone out of Skysign.

VVVVVV

Zokot Kingdom Territory

The trees of the jungle forest blocked the light of the moon and stars from lighting the area. The only light available was from the torches that the slaver gang held. The ten Demons escorted two carts that were pulled by longmas. One cart was covered and carried the slavers' supplies. The other cart carried a large cage with eight captives inside: three Naga, an Elf, a Dwarf, a wolf and rabbit Beastkin, and a Human man. They all looked downtrodden. Their clothes were dirty and torn in places. A couple of them had cuts and bruises that the slavers refused to treat out of malice.

"Ah! Damn it!" one of the slavers cursed as he slapped the back of his neck. "These bugs are infuriating!"

The other slavers were also frustrated from the swarms of bugs that plagued their space. The captives, on the other hand, sat undisturbed.

"You!" another slaver grunted. "Human! What are these things?!"

"Mosquitoes," he replied.

The Human was the last surviving member of a diplomatic team sent to a Xothican town near a Texan city. One diplomat was sent with an escort of eight US army soldiers. When they were in the middle of a meeting with the mayor of the town, the town became under attack by thirty slavers. The US soldiers put up a tough fight and even killed a majority of the slavers, but the soldiers became overwhelmed.

Corporal Baker would have continued to fight using guerrilla tactics, but the slavers took hostages and threatened to kill them if he didn't reveal himself. Baker surrendered himself to prevent the death of civilians. After he was tied up, the slavers killed one of the hostages anyway to prove a point.

"A curse upon your people! We're going to make sure you're sold to the dirtiest, most dangerous mine. Maybe hand you over to the coliseum."

One of the slavers was examining the M4 Super 90 shotgun that he took from Baker. The slaver held out the shotgun and made flicking motions with it.

"Err. How does this work?" He turned to the Human soldier. "How does this work? I saw you Humans using them. Tell me how it works!"

"You people don't have crossbows?"

"What in the abyss is a crossbow? Is that like a bow?"

The comment caught the soldier off guard. He forced himself not to smile. "You need to prime it," Baker replied in irritation. "It was spent in the fight. So you need to charge it with Mana."

"Prime it?"

"Hold it vertically against your chest."

The slaver held the shotgun against his chest with the barrel pointing upwards.

"Now you just need to push down on the trigger."

"Trigger?"

"The small curvy metal piece inside that loop by the handle."

Baker leaned forward in anticipation. The slaver pushed down on the trigger and the shotgun fired and his head exploded. Bloody chunks went all over but mostly splattered on two of his fellow slavers.

"Ha, ha, ha!" Baker cried out. "Holy shit! I can't believe he did that."

"Pull him out of the cage and beat him half to death!" the leader ordered his remaining minions.

As soon as the slavers opened the cage, the soldier burst out with his fists primed.

"Come on, you fuckers!" Baker roared. "I'll take you all on."

Baker threw a punch at one slaver causing him to stumble back a few steps. Another slaver got behind Baker and grabbed him in a Nelson lock. Another slaver approached him and punched him in the stomach. The force of the punch made Baker cried out in pain.

"Is that all you got?" he wheezed. "My little sister punches me harder than that."

The previous slaver ran at him and did a stomp kick in the same place where the previous punch landed. The air in Baker's lungs escaped him and his legs lost their strength. The slaver released him to allow him to fall to the ground.

Baker weakly extended his middle fingers on both hands. The slavers went to work kicking the soldier on the ground. The other captives watched in horror at the scene that played before them.

"You stupid Human!" one of the slavers yelled. "Your kind will submit to- to..."

The slaver started to cough. The cough increased in frequency and severity until the other slavers took noticed and stopped kicking the soldier.

"Maxi, you okay?" one of them asked.

Maxi started foaming at the mouth and then collapsed to the ground. His eyes rolled back and his yellow foamy saliva oozed down his cheeks. He stopped any movement.

"Wh-What?" one of the slavers muttered. "He's dead."

"Do I have your attention now?" an unknown voice asked them. The voice was modulated through some magical method to disguise the person.

The slavers looked in the direction of the voice and saw a figure that stood a short distance away. The person wore a black overcoat that draped down near the ankles, nearly covering the person's black boots. Black gloves covered their hands. and in those hands rested a half a meter long rod. A bird-like mask covered their face. The mask had two ruby-colour glass circles to allow the person to see through

"A plague doctor?" the US soldier muttered.

"It's the Liberator!" one of the slavers yelled.

The slavers were visibly shaken as they all have heard the tales of the Liberator. Many have died by their hands and has been a thorn in the Zokot Kingdom's side for years.

Noticing that his men were fearful of the individual he roared, "Bring yourselves together, you bunch of weak children! It's just one guy. We outnumber him! Don't forget the bounty!"

The reminder of the sizable bounty brought some sense back to the slavers and, in front of them, they saw a huge payday.

"It was a mistake to show up here, Liberator," the leader announced. "Don't you usually rely on ambush tactics? It's out of character for you to announce yourself."

"Who said I didn't ambush you?" the Liberator replied back. The Liberator spun their rod through their fingers back and forth. "The insects are pretty bad, aren't they? And it seems odd that they didn't bother your captives."

The Liberator waved their rod like a conductor. All the mosquitoes in the area gathered around the rod into a ball.

"N-No..."

"I infused these Earth insects with poison. They get a meal of blood, while the poison in their system enters your veins. It's undetectable and requires my command to activate."

The mosquitoes dispersed from the ball and flew off in different directions. Liberator walked towards the slavers and every step they took, a slaver started hacking and foam came out of their mouths. Each of the slavers collapsed seconds after their symptoms appeared. All but the slaver leader were slumped on the ground dead.

"You're lucky, mister leader," Liberator said. "I'm in a foul mood tonight so I want to relieve the anger within me. You get a chance to live. Defeat me and you can leave."

"That was a mistake on your part!" the slaver leader growled. A two meter long battle axe appeared in his hands.

The leader charged towards Liberator with his axe raised up high. The Liberator calmly walked towards him. Liberator spun their rod and swung it as the slaver's axe came down towards them. Liberator redirected the axe strike to the side. They then smacked the guy in the head with the rod.

"Slow and pathetic," Liberator declared.

"I'll fucking kill you!" the leader roared as he twisted his battle axe and horizontally swung.

Liberator bent backwards to dodge the attack and planted their hands on the ground to keep themselves from lying on their back. As the axe harmlessly passed over them, Liberator pushed themselves up and launched their left palm at the slaver's neck. A needle extended from their wrist and impaled into the man's neck.

The slaver dropped his axe and placed their right hand against their neck. Black veins bulged through the skin around the stab wound. The veins spread outwards. Soon these black veins crawled up his face and appeared in his eyes.

"You slavers do nothing but prey on the weak and innocent. You spread from place to place and bring nothing but misery and decay with you. You are nothing but a disease."

'Say the line,' Baker pleaded in his mind as he watched. 'Come on, say the line.'

"And I'm the cure."

The slaver collapsed to the ground dead. Liberator walked over to the soldier and offered him a hand to get him to his feet.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Baker grabbed Liberator's hand and was pulled up to his feet. "I had bigger beat downs in boot camp. Who are you?"

"It's the Liberator!" one of the captives said.

"That's what many call me. I free slaves and kill slavers. As you can imagine, there are many in the Zokot Kingdom." Liberator picked up the axe and handed it to the soldier. "There's a small city just south of here. About thirty minutes away. There's a portal there so you can get back to wherever you came from. Use the slavers' belongings to assist you."

Just as the Liberator turned to leave, Baker called out, "wait! The UNDF would like to speak with you."

"The United Nations Defense Force?"

"You've heard of them?"

"I have..."

"The UNDF could use an ally like you. We have an embassy set up in Skysign."

The Liberator thought on his offer and then replied, "I will take you up on your offer, but not yet. There is still a couple of things I must do. Once they are done, I will visit them. Are you well enough to reach the city?"

"Yeah, I'll escort everyone back to their homes then report in. I'll let the UNDF know to expect you."

"Thank you."

"What is your real name by the way?"

Liberator chuckled. "Once I'm done with what I plan to do, everyone will know."