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Chapter 406: Haven Declares

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“Siva…”

Ren, with the same item he used back then in the Battle City during Akhenaton’s descent, he could see from his angle the unmistakable black smoke skin curse within Siva’s broken helmet.

One reason he didn’t say a word at his demotion is because one, Siva really did compensated him for his troubles; and two, it’s because in the end, he’s also a human being who sympathized with his dire circumstances.

Although he had nothing to prove it, he could feel that he wasn’t someone who would lie about his own brother’s circumstances.

In fact, he was there when Siva broke into a crazy sprint without sleep as soon as he heard the news about the attack in Alexandria.

He was also there when he cursed at the people who tried to stop him. He was also there when he even made Marshal D’Catch turn coats using only his sense of chivalry as an anchor to define himself as a man of honor.

Lastly, Ren was also there when he saw Siva explode into a fit of burning rage at Kladis when he saw his own woman being used as a hostage right in front of him.

He knew that Siva was only around 19 years old.

And he also knew that Siva is Rex Kingsley, son of the creators of Terroa, who died in an accident.

Right after the incident in The North, he did his own research and discovered something amiss. It was clearly reported that the Kingsley Doctors died in the accident and it was also known worldwide that the two had a teenager son.

But for some reason, everything regarding “Rex Kingsley” after the accident had vanished.

Social media accounts, news reports, background stories… nothing.

This only solidified Ren’s own conjunctions….. that Rex Kingsley is in a deep shithole —a shithole that could take away his and his brother’s lives.

It stinks of humans’ greed and evilness, and Rex and his brother were clearly victims of someone’s pursuit for their own personal goals.

As such, and as much as it pains him personally, he can’t find it to himself to resent Siva in every mess he had landed himself into after their parting.

He understood that in this world, there was nothing he could rely on to save him and his brother’s lives aside from he, himself.

“All I could do now is to just live life as normal.”

It was also a fact that everything is beyond him so he could only wish Siva good luck.

“Whether it’s him or me, or someone else that will get their hands on this sphere will be up to their own efforts.” Ren also understood this fact.

He was still under a mission.

“All units, listen up! Remember that it will not matter whether you die or not, just do your best to acquire our target! The HQ will reward you depending on the amount of your efforts so do your best!”

Right after the order was given, the simultaneous reply was heard on their Comms Line.

But not only them, change had also erupted on the Demons’ side as the demons concentrated their numbers and started to converge on two locations.

The first was The Box.

The second was towards Siva’s direction.

Like bees attacking the invader of their nest, these Mobile Suits and Jet Planes began to fly at speeds they were capable of, and never waited their leader to give a command as they swarmed for the kill.

Everyone watching this could also feel the tension as they ignore everybody else and only focused their attention to these two.

The Red Dragon Flag didn’t dare to teleport away since the item can’t be stored to their inventory so they could only use the other type of T-Device that could send a group of people.

But they get the chance to.

“Fire!”

The Haven Dust Company had lost all restraints as a resounding command rung in the battlefield along with the roaring of cannons and the howls of men that lost their lives.

“Madness!”

“Murderers!”

“It’s a breach of Code of War!”

Voices of condemnation erupted as their Flagship Kannada fired their cannons on everything that was around their package.

“THIS—IS—WAR!!!”

The Haven Dust Commander roared with contempt and derision as the cannons continued to fire and shatter the forces of the Red Dragon Flag.

All hell broke loose… one warship after another; all bearing the Red Dragon Flag, jumped into space in a formation. Four red colored warships appeared in the skies of the North Quadrant of Jeremiah.

It should be remembered that the “Hyperdrive” function that enables a warship to do a [Hyperjump] is a very expensive technology that needed not only permits but also money to purchase from the Terran-Human Alliance Council.

And yet now, four warships simultaneously jumped into the airspace of Jeremiah, disregarding all kinds of pretenses and ignoring all warnings of the city’s laws… all for the sake of squaring this slaughter.

“You will not get away with this!”

But it wasn’t only the Red Dragon Flag that got the damage in their numbers.

The allied forces had also received casualties and some of them were actual members of the factions in Jeremiah.

“Destroy the impudent fools!”

A noble from the southeastern region ordered and with it were thee legions of gold-armoured knights with wings made of bright feathery lights that left after images of feathers, that flew into the skies to the central region of Jeremiah.

Not only them, but another knight order came to fly and bring down the impertinent ones —an order of knights wearing liquid-deep green armour that had distinctive fish-like fins on their left shoulders and helmets as part of their uniform.

“The Cypher Corps!”

“It’s Duke Latvian’s forces. They’re second only to the Bright Light Sword Faction in power and force!”

“He’s renowned to get angry easily at the slightest bit of disrespect to him... the Haven Dust Company really pulled his beard this time.”

“It’s not only them! The Red Dragon Flag had also invaded the airspace in the North Quadrant… that’s his territory!”

Many people started to murmur and forgot how to move their feet to evacuate. For them, if Jeremiah is destroyed, it was useless to prolong suffering so it was better to watch the show as it played on.

“This is not our peak power.”

BOOM!!

The Haven Dust Commander had a crazy smile on his face as a VERY large warship cast its shadow in the southern quadrant of the city.

Dull, edgy grey, and shaped like an ice-cream cone with Eos Thruster Engines, it was just like Miranda; a detachable fleet-flagship comprised of warships as its separable parts.

It was over 1.2 kilometers large, possibly even the largest in existence. Just looking at it could frighten just about anyone and even the Council of Elders who’s watching this scene could clearly feel that it was a frightening machine for slaughter.

Clearly Haven Dust Company —this organization built by Immortals— never came as contingents to the cause of all Terrans.

They came here driven by greed.

But then again, the Council of Elders are old folks whose blood was tested by time.

They are old but not weak. And their bones were definitely made of tofu or wriggling noodles.

The Council Head had a gloomy look on his face as he sent a command, “Prep the Jeremiah for launch and gather the Knights of The Wall.”

A sinister command.

When The Wall of Jeremiah ‘gathers’ it was always for the good of Jeremiah. As the Council of Elders see it, Haven Dust Company and Red Dragon Flag fighting above their air space was offensive.

“They think that just because we bowed our heads to them because of the Circle of Magi, they have the right to forget who we are.”

“Show them our fangs.”

“Crush the infidels.”

“The Council of Jeremiah is the strongest.”

The Council Head nodded at their fanning, “Even if His Highness has come back to take control of the helm, it doesn’t change the fact that we are still the back bones of this country.”

—Hummmmm~!!

A droning sound that echoes in the ears like the buzzing of bee’s wings. Within the central area of the large castle opened a dedicated private hangar.

In it was a silvery white majestic battleship 500m in total size. It floats there like a beast, sleeping, with the chains—the fuel lines—connected to it looking like its very shackles themselves.

Black cannons that looked like spikes erected from its fore to the back, its shape was like a sphynx that had its head bowing, sleeping; its arms stretched towards the front as if it was worshipping; and its back legs ready for a jump towards its prey, except it doesn’t have any legs or whatnot but side wings!

As it rest there looking like an awkward beast, it is indeed just like a dormant monster with all its fierce blood and capabilities sealed as it rested.

The droning sound came from the engine core that drives this monster of a machine and it spread from its belly towards the nearby area, drowning all the sounds of the wars above.

Kladis looked down and wore an ugly frowning face because right now, as he saw those warships emerge one after another, his pride over his own creation —Battleship Rewloola— were thrown into the sewers as if they were nothing but a big joke.

It was most especially so when he looked at that monstrous behemoth bearing the flag of the Haven Dust Company.

From where he was, he could see the name of that flagship and it, as well, caused him to scowl even further.

—Dust Aegerion—

It was the name of a Titan Boss Mob in a famous video of a Pioneer Guild during the pioneering era of RPG: Terroa.

Aegerion was said to be a Hecatonchires —a name given to a sinner of any of the ancient Gods of the Terrans. But according to the Mission Log of the pioneer expedition team, their mission never said anything about any Gods, only an ancient monster that’s always been in that location.

It was a classic adventure video and it was a well-liked documentary in the game world.

Until now, that video continued to garner endless amounts of views because of one simple reason.

It was because it showed just how vast and how so very small are the players’ size when viewed in the big picture of things in the world of Terroa.

Aegerion was found by the pioneering team during an expedition for new Walled Cities and although they only saw its head, the difficulty of the fight that broke out was something to remember for.

Because it was only until recently did its record as the “biggest boss mob ever seen”. And the one to break this record was Gyoolu, the Colossal Demon that appeared in Alexandria.

That’s why it was a famous video and those who’d seen it will never forget how the pioneer team had escaped eradication.

It was the reason why “Aegerion” is famous name.

“How presumptuous!”

Kladis was robbed all his prestige and glory when he was hoodwinked by Siva right in front of the eyes of the world.

Not only did he lose his beloved floating castle, but he also lost his two beloved treasures, the thought to be the only pair of its kind, the two Rewloola Battleships!

Remembering it only made his anger burn hotter and he looked up towards that platform with a gaze squirming like molten lava.

“Prepare to deploy.”

These ‘angels’ aren’t just eye-catching and a sight for the dried trees, but they’re also his best swords and shields in the army.

[Kladis… what are you doing here?]

It was a call from Gats.

“I’m already done with the mission.” Kladis hissed in reply. He was still respectful of his chief.

Gats’ reply came a little bit later, [If you’re going to do it, make sure you win. I’ve just received an email regarding our new recruits that got wiped out by him just as they tested his mettle. This is a cog on my plan and I am in a bad mood so don’t mess with it. You got it?]

Kladis gritted his teeth and nodded at the man, “I got it.”

[Make it quick.]

The call dropped.

Kladis stood up from his make-shift throne and put on his best armor… the same armor that protected him from Siva’s BlackTech back then.

The luster was keen even in the light of day as the navy-blue coloured Falcon Armor he wore looked like that of an imposing general.

When the women saw him like this, even those that ‘came’ earlier felt like they were revitalized and an unknown amount of energy surged within them. It was quite a sight to see that the women, regardless of whether they’re players or NPCs, all geared up for battle as they wielded different weapons and waited for Kladis to give the command.

“It’s not long now…” Kladis’ command was based on one thing right now.

As the swarm of bees converged on a single spot, he knew that there will be a chance for them to pull their arrows and ambush Siva at the moment that he was the most vulnerable.

If he, out of a hundred chance, managed to live on after this fight and even after their ambush, then he will be personally attack and he will show Siva just how frightening is his swordsmanship.

“We wait…” he told them, or perhaps he convinced himself as he waited patiently for the right chance to strike.

“What’s that?” a lovely woman’s voice rung.

Kladis turned to her and followed her vision to see some sort of hovering object with moving ‘eyes’ on four directions floated past their group a hundred or so meters away.

That object continued to hike up as one of its four ‘eyes’ seemed to pass through their direction and then proceeded to climb up as if they didn’t matter.

For some odd reason, looking at that ‘thing’ as it vanished into thin air like a bubble, Kladis felt some sort of urge to shoot it down as it reminded him of Siva. It’s as if that passing glance were Siva’s eyes and he treated Kladis’ existence as something not worthy of a second glance, much less a prolonged scrutiny.

And, again, recalling the fact that Siva had robbed him a good gun and a good sword, his anger once again seethed on his chest as he panted heavily, trying to calm himself down through an exercise.

To help him relax, he repeated his mantra, “We will wait… we will wait…”

*****

Siva’s red cape, tattered and torn, still fluttered like a real cloth through the playful wind of freedom. It should be remembered that nothing on his armour was made of cloth and that all of them were made of both Black Ironwood and Glandanium Alloys.

The air was still hot from the residue of that large explosion but when comparing that to the hot air inside the mothership, this air is a lot cooler, even as cool as the cold winds of the freezing lands in the northern continent of Tiara.

Baal looked up and his anger couldn’t be put into words as his eyes blazed with his fury, his chest in turmoil as his shoulders heaved up and down.

He roared to ease a few load off his chest but Siva only laughed at him as he found him amusing.

“And here comes your cavalry…” Siva said and the army of Mobile Suits lined up behind Baal with their Plasma Coils aimed right at him.

Just one glance was enough to know that there are at least around a few thousands of them.

Baal found this reassuring. Forget about personally killing Siva right now, just being able to bring him down was already enough.

“Now that I am not being pressed by your ship’s hot humid air, maybe we can fight to our own best conditions now… right?”

Best conditions? Baal wanted to spat if only he can.

—you fucking disabled my magic for the next hour and you ask for fairness?

Siva was the same from back then until now. He is the same annoying bastard that’s always been the biggest question mark between the Gods and the Devil Gods.

He had the unbridled disposition of a Devil God but he also had the dignity and presence of a God.

“You destroyed my ship! You killed my sons! So I will make sure that you will follow them in hell!”

With a declaration of his hatred, Baal roared and pointed a finger at Siva, “Kill him!!”

The Mobile Suits didn’t linger a second more as an array of them numbering in the hundreds charged forth with reckless abandon.

No defenses involved their charge as they purely just wanted to bring Siva down along with them.

Over 300 charged forth while 200 remained in the back and saturated his location with plasma busts bombardment.

Siva roared as well, “I will kill all of you!”

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

A loud sonorous battle cry came out of his throat as Siva spread his arms wide as if showing what’s inside his (imaginary) coat —releasing his own horde of blades that flew in all directions and dealt with all the rushing Mobile Suits.

Normally, it would take players and NPCs a hefty amount of Mana aside from great timing to cast a spell to deal with a single Mobile Suit.

It’s only because of their Barrier Magic that players and NPCs could deal the demons a death ration of 1:3-5 in favor of the Allied Defense Force.

But Siva was different.

He knew their weaknesses and Cortana’s Absolute Domain had a wide range that could deal with every potential enemy even before they could enter their firing range to target Siva.

With an imaginary loud explosion, the very fabrics of space around Siva rippled like disturbed water in a tranquil underground lake, and over 500 blades, the ones remaining, flew on each of their targets, three to one.

It only took a moment before half of those Mobile Suits fell down from the sky around Siva with Siva himself brandishing his War God Axe to the barrier of imperial zealots right in front of him.

The suicidal Mobile Suit in front of him reacted a bit slower and its pilot cockpit got crushed as Siva smashed the alien within it.

Siva slipped past through the unit and intending to rush at Baal but he saw him being tended for by a few Mobile Suit units while a horde of them built up a line of defense to protect their liege.

He saw Baal being treated… he was trying to cure the ‘connection’ Siva severed.

Siva felt the urgency and besides panic, he also felt a sense of joy.

This was the feeling he lost back then.

“Hahahahahahahahaha!!!”

More suicidal units came to physically crush him as those holding their Plasma Coils fired with abandon not minding the fact that they were hitting their own allies with every volley.

The priority was to destroy Siva.

A 3m+ metallic alien fist came crushing at Siva but he met the punch with a punch of his own —a fist formed of BMA materialized and he crushed the unit’s arm in exchange for taking two steps back.

But that unit and every unit that didn’t make it in the time of opening were all disabled by the blades and were withdrawn to his inventory.

Siva spat out a vial of Blue Potion and with fast and agile movements dodged a Plasma Bursts a hair’s breath away for hitting him thanks to Cortana, while his mind went to over-hyper-drive, combining battle instincts and his experience to slowly make his way towards Baal who was in the middle of operation.

The aliens were using a wave tactic to deal with a single man… and comparing their sizes to the little Siva, it should have been an overkill and yet, none of them thought otherwise.

CRAAAASH!!!

Siva’s axe crushed another pilot inside his cockpit and he kicked and flipped, dodging the spear-like Plasma Coil that pierced the former’s unit to deal a deadly blow at Siva.

Following this friendly fire was a Plasma Burst from the weapon but Siva couldn’t dodge so he pulled up the half-way repaired broken shield and blocked the Plasma Burst.

He was pushed back and it was an opening!

Swarms of suicidal Mobile Suits went to pin him on a large ball of Mobile Suit units and it only took not more than a few seconds before an entire ball of it was made.

All at the same time, those Mobile Suits’ bodies lit up in a simultaneous self-destruction. They intend to bring Siva with them on the journey to hell.

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