Chapter 192: The Fracture of Grendel Six Part Two
🕑 Added 2025-08-04 11:00:05 +0000 UTCTrapped In Another World With No Magic
Chapter 192: The Fracture of Grendel Six Part Two
Xyreko appears in front of Daniel when he finally manages to get a break from nobles of the various regions approaching him. Right now, Sundenelle and Ryuogriar are handling discussions about the uniting wedding between the Fievegal and the Empire, while Hekate, Reignleif, Geirahoel, Aramellianna, and Yanidere are handling trade discussions with various nobles from all over the continent. Wenlianna is babysitting the Princesses with Treia, Doephluev, and Kera’tai, and Gwenesphia and Veiranoei are speaking with Grand Premier Kalegrynten and a couple of noble families from Mattarglos about the monster hunt. Rikuto and the Fievegal came to a signed agreement after several hours of discussions, negotiations on smaller details, and a review of terms by both sides. Afterwards, it is a sort of free-form mingling, though Rikuto is mainly speaking with Senn, who is still in disguise as Yuna.
“Xyreko?” asks Daniel.
She bows, replying, “Apologies for appearing suddenly, your Grace, but it’s urgent.”
“Never a problem, even if it’s not, Xyreko. What is it?”
She whispers so that only Daniel can hear, “Grendel Six has fallen under attack.”
Daniel recoils away from her, whispering, “How bad?”
“I’m afraid… It’s quite serious, your Grace. Feno’xion’s remote body and the shuttle were destroyed. Grendel Six is stranded, and we’ve lost contact without our link through the shuttle.”
Damn it, thinks Daniel to himself. “Kernuules?”
“Yes.”
“How long ago?”
“Minutes. I came as soon as Feno’xion recovered his consciousness and reported to me.”
“Any chance they’re still alive?”
“Meaning absolute respect when I say this, your Grace; they’re goblins. I would be more surprised if they were wiped out completely. Feno’xion reported they were fighting when the shuttle was destroyed.”
Daniel clenches his fists. His mind is filled with curse words at the moment, but he needs to focus. I just signed a treaty saying I won’t use nuclear weapons ever again. I can’t risk pissing off Rikuto before we have the artifact. So, what else can I do?
Daniel’s mind races. He asks, “Who do we have that we can deploy in a hurry?”
“Ucahote has already dispatched three shuttles with a mix of Stalvaltan Guards who volunteered and members of the First and Third Regiments that had rotated out of occupying the Grand Duchy. However, even if they can fend off Kernuules for a time…”
“... Even Neith was unable to kill it,” finishes Daniel, prompting the Caretaker to nod.
What will it take to kill this thing? thinks Daniel. Grendel’s last report was that they were digging up a ritual site that everyone suspects is how Kernuules forms itself. Can we destroy it? But, then, they reported several locations. I don’t have enough explosives. Think Daniel. Think!
The mechanic does everything he can to think of something. He has all the power in the world at his finger tips, but magic won’t cut it. As much as he trusts Neith and Hekate, their strength isn’t useful. So, he has to go back to Earth. He has to pull something out of his memories that they can do here on Zenkon. But, there isn’t time. Kernuules is already slaughtering his allies as he stands around thinking.
Come on. What else? A MOAB? It wouldn’t negate magic, so Rikuto won’t know, but should have the destruction needed to take out even something like Kernuules, right? But, I don’t know what all went into a MOAB.
“With your permission, your Grace, I can have the recovery team begin firebombing the forest. I can ask the dragons at the Citadel to assist. There is also a single tamed drake that the dattakoriens brought, if they won’t help.”
Forest… That’s right. It’s a natural location. I don’t want to destroy everything there, but what else can I do? I don’t have the resources or time to make new bombs. Lasers? No, I don’t know exactly how to make the diodes.
“Daniel?” asks Xyreko softly, since he still hasn’t given an answer.
He closes his eyes. Firebombing may be their only choice, but given what they described, it won’t actually stop Kernuules. If anything, he can regenerate the forest himself, even if they leave nothing behind but ashes.
If only I could drop a fricking asteroid on it and…
Daniel halts his train of thought, snapping his eyes open. He looks at Xyreko, who teleported to him. “Xyreko, do you remember the spell Hekate used to take us to Ryukana that one time?”
“Yes, of course. Though I won’t have enough mana if your intention is to plead to the Divine Realm in person.”
“No. How about between two points on Zenkon?”
She cocks her head. “It’s less efficient than the teleportation I normally use, or the area teleportation Hekate uses for groups, but I should have plenty.”
“It can be sustained, right?”
“Yes…?” replies Xyreko, unsure why Daniel is asking these questions instead of granting her permission.
“Good. I’ll be at the Citadel in a few minutes. Choose an unused room in the interior and remove all of the air, not just the breathable components. I’ll explain once we’re there.”
“What about…?”
“This will solve Kernuules, I promise! Just do it, and I’ll explain.” Daniel is already heading towards Doephluev and Hekate with a brisk pace.
Xyreko bows. “As you wish, Daniel.” She disappears in a flash of light to carry out his instructions, even if she doesn’t understand them yet.
Daniel gently places his hand on Doephluev’s shoulder as Hekate explains, “... have been reestablishing territories destroyed in the west, so our production will continue to grow. As for our luxury goods, naturally, we won’t be divulging their origins to external parties. We’re happy to include them in the trade market, though.”
“Doephluev, can you ask everyone to gather around me? We need to talk briefly.”
She cups her cheek, being flirtatious. “Oh!? Darling, of course I will. Anything for you.”
Hekate’s ears also perked up when she heard Daniel speak, and she looks at the mechanic.
“Please excuse me, everyone. I need to borrow my beloved Consorts for a brief while.”
The nobles speaking to the group agree without issue, and Aramellianna jokes, “Does that include me, your Grace?”
He scoffs, though his mind is still racing with seriousness. “As one of my top advisors, yes, please. Sorry for the trouble. Future Grand Duchess, I leave your attendance to you.”
Yanidere blushes a little, and she replies, “Oh! Yes, on my way.”
Yanidere signals to her younger sisters, who are staying together with Stalvaltan Guards protecting them as they mingle. Everyone gathers together with Daniel, and he asks, “Wenlianna, would you mind giving us some privacy?”
“Of course!” The brunette receives a magic device from her personal guard, and she activates it. The device prevents eavesdropping on conversations in its immediate area, and Neith casts a special barrier that amplifies the effect.
Daniel says, “Grendel Six has been attacked by Kernuules, and the situation is dire. I intend to return to the Citadel to provide assistance with them. Neith, I’ll need you to fly me as fast as possible to the engagement zone from there.”
“As you-...”
“My Liege,” cuts in Magnir, who nods the moment he has everyone’s attention. “Forgive me, but allow me. If flight speed is the only thing you need, Sir Neith is more suitable to protecting the Empresses as a group than I am.”
Neith nods in agreement, saying sincerely, “Sir Magnir is right, your Grace.”
“What does it matter?” asks Geirahoel. “We’re going, too.”
“About that,” starts Daniel, which earns him a small army’s worth of glares. He puts his hands up to disarm them. “Please, hear me out. I won’t be on the ground, and as long as Magnir can avoid Kernuules’s ranged attacks, Kernuules won’t be able to withstand what I’m about to do. I guarantee it.”
This shifts the irritation to shock.
Kera’tai whispers urgently, “Daniel! You JUST got done agreeing not to do that.”
“If we only need to burn the forest down, we can handle it with ease,” adds Gold, who joined the group.
“I’m not using what you think,” replies Daniel. “But, it will be similar, yet undetectable.”
This surprises the ones who know, while everyone else hopes someone will fill in.
“Void artillery?” asks Wenlianna, knowing enough to know that they have the magic artisan that created it in their employ.
“No. Even if I wanted to build one, there isn’t enough time. I’m asking you all to trust me and Magnir, and… cover for my doppelganger.”
“You want us to continue meeting with foreign nobles?” asks Reignleif, realizing what he’s saying first.
“Yes. For two reasons. The first is that we can’t risk anyone figuring out that I’m gone, if we can help it. And, second, I need your wisdom in the continued negotiations. I’ll be wearing my equipment, so Hekate and Xyreko can bring anyone I need, but I need to move quickly right now.” Daniel takes a knee himself, and he’s reminded of some of his own injuries. “Please, grant me permission for this.”
“You’re going after another monster, and you want to go with less support than any of the others?” asks Gwenesphia. “That’s just foolish.”
Senn, still appearing as Yuna, replies as she enters the sphere of silence, “Actually, Daniel and Magnir or Roeta are the best choices…”
When everyone looks at her, the elven sage adds, “I asked Doephluev to relay the conversation via telepathy. Thank you.”
Doephluev smiles. “But, why is my Beloved and either of the dragon knights preferable?”
“Lack of mana…” blurts out Treia. She blushes when a few people look at her.
Yuna smiles and nods. “Indeed. The goblins and their equipment have very minimal magic presences; no more than wildlife in the forest, with the exception of the magic crystals, but their signature is still minimal, even as much mana as magic crystals can house. If Magnir burns through his mana flying to the area, Kernuules won’t detect him from range, meaning you’ll be able to ambush it.”
“Then, can’t we go with him?” asks Veiranoei, the gatonine knight and most recent Empress Consort, though in position only, as she doesn’t have an intimate relationship with Daniel.
“You can, but will you be useful on this mission?” asks the elf. “Pardon my rudeness, but whatever Daniel is planning, fewer people to potentially fall off of Magnir will be preferable, particularly since he can recover them more quickly.”
“What about the Citadel?” asks Hekate. “How do you plan to get back to the Citadel, Hmmmm?” She emphasizes her ‘hmmmm?’ with a somewhat devious and implicating smirk. Roeta offers, “Well, the teleporter pack worked quite well on the soldiers we captured.”
Hekate’s ears twitch as she’s caught off guard. It hasn’t been formally presented to Daniel, but they had no reason not to test it over and over again by sending the prisoners to the Citadel and the pack teleported back.
It was a joint effort by Hekate, Doephluev, Wenlianna, Reignleif, and Geirahoel, along with some help from Ahok, to create something that can help Daniel escape danger.
“I hope it goes without saying, Mukori,” starts Reignleif. “You will be wearing it when you go on this mission. Your safety is the highest priority.”
“Must you go, Mukori?” asks Ryuogriar. “Let Magnir go alone. Or, use wing golems instead.”
“I need to see the result and adjust,” replies Daniel. “I trust the all three Einherjars with my safety, but Magnir is right, that he’s likely the most balanced choice.”
Roeta jokes, “If I go with you, I might end up pregnant.”
Daniel scoffs, but he tries to keep the tone relatively serious. “I want to save Grendel Six if I can, and… as always…”
Ryuogriar sighs in disgust. “Hekate, the woodland territory is yours. Doephluev, as the current Sovereign,...” The platinum dragon crosses her arms, looking away. “The two of you should decide. Mukori is only speaking to us instead of sneaking off because he promised.”
Daniel nods, still kneeling. He wants to save Grendel Six, but he also needs their permission.
“Don’t we get a say?” asks Kera’tai. “I’d rather delegate as well.”
Ryuogriar’s expression softens. “Mukori asked us to accompany him in defeating the Devourer. His judgment isn’t always good, but… None of us understood what he was able to do until he did it. If he wants us to hold back…” She looks at Daniel, finishing her thought softly. “It’s because we would get in the way this time, rather than help.”
Daniel looks to the side, unable to deny. As Yuna said, the fewer the better this time, since the most important thing is delivering the payload.
And, the method of delivery is very different from the atom bombs.
“Will Magnir be strong enough?” asks Geirahoel. “This place is meaningless to me, so I would rather help you if I can.”
“Magnir will be enough, Mukori,” replies Daniel. “And, as always, I’d rather keep all of you safe, but also, I know I can rely on my cavalry. Ryuogriar is right. As before, I want to minimize who knows what I’m about to do, including… my ‘shadow’.”
There is a grim quiet that falls over them.
Hekate teleports away, reappearing a few moments later with her void bag. She digs inside to find something, and she approaches Daniel. “Take this, then. It’s… It’s not finished, but it… It will keep you safe.”
Daniel looks at it. It’s a simple necklace with a black crystal. He can see a faint blue glow inside, and it looks like there’s distinct lines slowly orbiting inside like a slow-motion snow globe or a microscopic galaxy.
“If you take this off, I’ll never, ever, ever let you do anything alone ever again.”
Daniel smiles, allowing her to put it on him. “I’ll only take it off to bathe in the Citadel.”
“If you forget to put it back on, consider the rule violated, Daniel.” The young feldrok points at him after she finishes putting it on. “I’m trusting you, because Se-... Uh, Yuna said so, and you promised to stay out of harm’s way. Magnir, if Daniel says to get closer, you ignore him.”
“I concur with Hekate,” adds Doephluev. “At the first sign of trouble, evacuate Daniel at all costs, or I’ll kill you myself.”
Magnir bows. “You have my word, your Grace, your Greatness. If possible, I will atone in life if I fail or perish, if you will grant me another chance.”
“Don’t die so we don’t have to worry about it,” retorts Geirahoel. “Onii-chan, give Magnir your armor.”
“Of course, your Grace,” replies the grey dragon. He hands over a void bag to the blue dragon, who accepts it gratefully.
Ryuogriar steps close, grabbing Daniel by the collar and pulling him to his feet to face her. “You made a promise, Mukori, and you asked us this time. If you do not wish to endanger us, you will operate with far greater care than your last excursion.”
“We’ll handle everything here,” adds Wenlianna brightly.
Aramellianna adds, “I must insist against this course of action, but I also agree whatever method you are about to use should remain a secret… given what we just went through.”
“I’m going to be trying something that hadn’t actually been done on Earth,” replies Daniel. “But, I have confidence it’ll work. Still, I will need to rely on Nemaisol to protect me from that one’s gaze,” whispers Daniel.
Treia adds sternly, “If you are out of contact for more than one day, we’re coming to look for you.”
“I’m counting on it. Thank you. Now, then, I need to hurry-mmf!” Ryuogriar seizes the initiative, pulling Daniel by his collar once more, but this time straight into a kiss. Daniel is quickly piled on and has to give out a series of kisses lest he won’t be allowed to leave. Those who aren’t his mistresses laugh at him, but before he’s able to leave after Reignleif goes ‘last’ out of the group, Yuna approaches. She whispers, “We need to keep up with appearances, so just go along with this, Daniel.” She kisses him tenderly, and afterwards, Daniel whispers, “If you try to tell me the next step is to get you in the motherly way, I’m going to call B.S. on you.”
The elf snickers. “This will be sufficient. Good luck, Daniel.”
Gwenesphia takes his arm, saying playfully, “Looks like it’s ‘my turn’, heeheehee! We’ll be right back!” She winks at the others, and they nod in agreement.
Of course, ever the mischief-maker she is, Gold takes his other arm. “Me too, nya!”
Treia groans, “Oooohhhhhh! Lady Gold, don’t make me…”
The blonde dragon cackles as she walks with Daniel and Gwenesphia, exiting the room. Once they’re outside, followed by Magnir as their guard, Daniel remarks, “Thanks for the cover, ladies.”
“My pleasure,” replies the gatonine, hugging Daniel’s arm to her chest. “Though, the rumors that you’re a degenerate aren’t going to die down with this.”
Gold snickers. “Two women at once. How scandalous, Harbinger. Oh! Or, should I call you your new nickname?”
“What?” ask both Daniel and Gwenesphia. Quickly, Daniel realizes the implication, saying, “No wait, nevermind.”
“No! Tell us, Lady Gold! What is it?”
The dragon grins, and Daniel knows he has already lost. Undoubtedly, it has to do with his entrance the day prior, when he snuffed out magic. Some of the aristocrats departed from the Summit due to certain revelations made when their mana-powered disguises or secrets were revealed.
“I overheard a lot of the servants and guards gossiping. They’re calling you ‘the Silencer of Magic’ now.”
“Bury me in a hole…” groans Daniel.
Both women laugh at him, and Magnir offers, “I think it’s endearing, my Liege. And well-earned.”
“Yes, but you don’t know what edge lord culture is, Magnir. Of course titles like this sound good until you see them in an anime.”
The four arrive at the bus where Vaergraes and Aoloan are still resting. Gold teases, “What does it matter? Wear a ‘trench coat’, eye patch, and useless chains all you want. You’re the Harbinger of Calamity. The Silencer of Magic! Apostle of Despair!” The mischievous and brazen dragon proclaims Daniel’s various titles with growing gusto, teasing him while also somewhat praising him.
“Yeah, yeah. Look after everyone while we’re gone, alright?”
Following ‘Yuna’s’ lead, Gold pulls Daniel close and kisses him as well, before giggling and dashing first into the bus.
“I guess this means I’ll have even less time now…” replies Gwenesphia with a mix of humor and sarcastic disappointment.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just a troll,” replies Daniel, helping Gwenesphia up into the bus. She pets his cheek as she steps up, replying dryly, “Easy for you to say when being kissed by so many beautiful women.”
Daniel playfully pinches the end of her tail as the feline woman is just about to get out of reach, and she yelps, blushing as she dashes inside and glares at him. Daniel follows with a grin, with Magnir entering last to close the door.
“This is an interesting combination of people,” replies Vaergraes as she reads a book. Daniel looks down when he sees her. The Uhl’tall woman is missing her left arm at her shoulder. Even though Vaergraes was curse-marked on her left palm, the extent of the curse had already reached into Aoloan’s body. The former demon queen used a spell to literally exchange injuries with the succubus after Daniel finished his gruesome task. Aoloan’s soul was too weak to endure both the injury and the curse’s effects, so Vaergraes didn’t hesitate, nor did she warn anyone of her plan.
Because of the spread of the curse, healing magic hasn’t worked, and Vaergraes used most of her mana for the exchange, which saved Aoloan’s life.
“We’re serving as cover for the Harbinger,” replies Gold as she flops gracelessly into a seat and puts her feet up to lounge.
“Y-Yes,” replies Gwenesphia softly. Seeing Vaergraes in her current condition is shocking for her, too, since everyone knows what happened, but no one wants to discuss it.
Daniel approaches and kneels. “I don’t have a lot of time, but… Are you doing alright, Vae?”
The Uhl’tall smiles and pets his cheek. “Yes, my dear sweet Daniel. I would’ve liked to have been present for peace to be born between the east and the west, but frankly, I’m content with relaxing like this.” She looks at her shoulder where it ends, adding softly, “And, I believe the curse’s effects will yield. Time makes healing such an injury more difficult, but I don’t regret the choice I made.” She then looks to the back of the bus, where a curtain is hanging to keep the back section dark. She whispers, “She’s alive, and… I have to atone for never suspecting Thymeria…”
“It wasn’t your fault,” replies Gwenesphia. “No one should have to suspect their sibling.”
The Uhl’tall looks sad for a moment. “I have memories of our childhood, but… there is… noise… I don’t know when she changed, but I’m starting to see… it was a long time ago.”
“She’s secure and safe in the Citadel. We’ll question her very soon. But, right now, I have to go to the aid of Grendel Six.”
She smiles. “My conquering hero, hmm? Well, then…” She sits forward to lean towards him, using her right hand to brush a lock of her violet-hued silver hair back from her face. “You did promise to spoil me, Danny.”
Gwenesphia twitches her ears and tail, similar to Hekate when the feldrok teen is surprised. “D-Danny?” Asks the gatonine.
The mechanic smiles, and he lifts himself up on his knees, gently kissing Vaergraes. “I’ll be back very soon.”
“Bring me a souvenir, Danny,” replies the Archpriestess teasingly. Gold snickers at the repeat use of Daniel’s nickname. On Earth, his friends regularly called him ‘Dan’ or ‘Danny’, though he never went out of his way to introduce himself as such simply because he’s perfectly content with his name, and it’s not that long.
“D-Da-Danny?” repeats Gwenesphia bashfully, as if she just heard someone else’s intimate secret.
Daniel clears his throat, standing up. “Is she awake?”
There’s a pause, and Vaergraes replies, “Doesn’t seem so.”
Daniel nods, but he heads to the back anyways, peeking in on Aoloan. She’s still asleep. Instead of her full left arm, she’s only missing her right hand; a perfect exchange by Vaergraes.
The human feels the need, or rather, a sincere desire to, so he steps just inside to kneel beside the sleeping succubus. He kisses her forehead, saying softly, “Wake up soon, Aoloan. How else am I going to apologize?”
He’s not sure, but her expression seems a little softer. He can tell she’s not awake, though he’s not sure how. It’s more like she went from having a slightly unpleasant dream to a pleasant one.
When he emerges, Gwenesphia repeats in the same bewildered tone, “Danny?”
The American laughs lightly. “If it’s alright with the dragons, you can call me ‘Mukori’ as far as I’m concerned. Danny’s just a nickname friends and family sometimes called me on Earth.”
Daniel passes Gwenesphia and finds the teleporter pack where Hekate’s void bag is. “Alright, Magnir. Let’s find out how well this thing works.”
“Quite well, actually, your Grace,” replies the dragon. “As long as we’re both touching the pack itself, it can transport us. Wenlianna mentioned something about there being a limit on weight or something, but I regret that I don’t know the specifics.”
“That’s fine. If it already worked with you and an armored human, it should work fine with me.”
Daniel looks back at the three women in the seating area of the bus. “Ladies… Wish me luck.”
“If you die, I’ll find a way to resurrect you so I can kill you, Harbinger,” retorts Gold without a hint of hesitation.
“Good luck,” add Gwenesphia and Vaergraes gently.
Hearing the archpriestess’s tender tone is a little painful for Daniel, but she’s alive and not cursed, so he’ll be able to make it up to her.
He nods and pulls the ripcord on the teleporter while Magnir keeps his hand on top. A magic circle appears at their feet, and for a moment, Daniel is reminded of that fateful day that brought him to his strange new home.
When the light around them fades, Daniel and Magnir arrive in the transfer station, an isolated building outside of the barrier of the Citadel to prevent another Brosjak situation.
“Did you actually fool around with Gwen, Daniel?” asks a youthful voice that startles Daniel into exclaiming, “Jesus fu-! Hekate!?”
Geirahoel is standing beside her with her arms crossed, as well as the other two Dragon Empresses. “You didn’t think we’d be stupid enough to leave this to you and someone stupid enough to only have one egg before being this reckless, did you?”
Magnir is caught off guard, and he makes a somewhat dumbfounded grunt of surprise before lowering his head in deference. She was a little cruel about it, but she’s not entirely wrong. And, while the titles of the Fievegal hold very little ‘weight’ in the sense that most Empires would, she still outranks Magnir in positional authority, even if he is allowed to speak his mind most of the time.
“My stupid brother is dumb enough to play along with this farce, but if we aren’t watching closely, Mukori will be especially ignorant.” The young orange dragon pokes Daniel’s chest somewhat aggressively. “So, We. Will. Be. Coming. With. You. No exceptions, Mukori.”
Reignleif and Ryuogriar nod in agreement, while Ryuogriar wears her signature arrogant smirk.
“What about…?”
“Doephluev will handle the rest of the Summit,” replies Ryuogriar. “Golems are standing in our place, but Doephluev’s illusion magic is far more talented, and easy for her to control.”
Daniel stares at the platinum dragon, and she asks, “Wh-What?”
“You literally just had a massive fight with her, and you trust Doephluev to operate your stand-in without making you look like a fool?”
Ryuogriar frowns as this sinks in. The other three women are silent, since they have nothing to say in counter. The eldest of the three dragons deliberates rather nervously, realizing it’s worse than she thought, since no one reassured her, not even Magnir.
“I…” The First Dragon Empress tries to resist, but she can’t put it out of her mind for more than a few seconds. “I have to go. Reina, Geira, Hekate, I leave Mukori to you. If he tries to trick you or escape, capture him and bring him to me.” She starts to leave, and she halts. “Sweet Geira, please resist the urge to set him on fire for now.”
“I wouldn’t!” snaps the orange dragon, though Daniel doesn’t feel particularly reassured by that. He doubts she actually would, but Geirahoel very much is the one who gave him an ignityal kiss and then threatened to give him one last one with a pilot flame lit. If anything, he suspects she’d either run away or lock him in a prison cell for the rest of his life.
Hekate puts her hands on her hips, nodding in agreement. “Mm-hmm! You don’t have to show us your new weapon, Daniel, but you aren’t getting away from us so easily because you make a good argument.”
“And, I’ll be watching you, Mukori,” warns Ryuogriar as she stands on the teleportation circle. Xyreko can send them back pretty easily using Brosjak’s method, as well as simply sending any of them to the airship, from which the dragon can pretty easily fly back to the Summit. “I’ll allow Gold to kill you once or twice once we can reliably revive you.” She vanishes in a teleport, leaving her juniors with Daniel and Magnir.
Daniel sighs. He knows he can’t argue, so he needs to just focus on the mission. “Fine, you three, go get changed for possible battle.
“Haha!” laughs Hekate proudly as she says. “Watch and be amazed!” She quietly chants a spell as she casts magic with her hands, forming visible circles with unfamiliar characters and glyphs that Daniel would describe as holograms, even though he knows they’re made of mana. She flings her hands out, and in a flash of light, the Feldrok Empress is stark naked.
No one says anything, and Daniel and Magnir avert their gazes, as do the guards on watch in the transfer station. Hekate’s cheeks turn pink, and she slowly brings her big poofy tail in front of herself. She whines, “Doephluev… I’m going to strangle her…”
Daniel clears his throat, saying, “Xyreko will guide you to my location when you’re ready. It’ll take a few minutes to get set up, but once it is, our job is to get to the location while the weapon primes. I have to have Nemaisol drawn to inform everyone though.”
“If you need someone to carry it, I don’t mind,” offers Reignleif.
“That really won’t be necessary this time. Magnir only needs to carry me. If the three of you wouldn’t mind acting as our wingman, that would probably actually be perfect.”
“Wingman?” asks the blue dragon, while Hekate bashfully sneaks away to cross the barrier threshold and teleport to her room. She’s too embarrassed to focus anyways. Whatever spell Doephluev taught her was obviously another prank.
That idiot is going to get herself killed one of these days, thinks the mechanic to himself.
He returns his attention to the question Reignleif just asked. “Yes. On Earth, it was common for our combat aircraft to fly in pairs to help fend off enemies in the sky. If you guys follow us at range, you’ll be able to join us quickly.”
“If I may, your Graces, Grendel Six is still in battle as we speak,” mentions Magnir.
“Right. We won’t have much more time to talk. Follow Magnir in the air in whatever combination you want, and if we fall under direct attack and need help, you have permission to scorch everything around and including Kernuules. Just… try to minimize collateral if you can.”
Both Dragon Empresses nod. “We’ll join you quickly as well, then,” replies Geirahoel. Reignleif adds in warning, “Don’t try to sneak off, Mukori. I absolutely will not be the merciful Mukori you know.”
“Got it, I won’t. Don’t mess around, either.”
They nod, and Xyreko remotely teleports them to their respective destinations.
The golem caretaker is waiting for Daniel at the room she instructed him to go to, and she bows politely.
“Our rescue forces have engaged Kernuules and are searching for survivors, but as before, Kernuules is adapting to our equipment. He has begun detonating anti-magic bombs in mid-air, and he’s even capable of escaping anti-magic bullets somehow by seemingly teleporting through the ground. I wish I could simultaneously murder and imprison whoever created the spells that power the creature.”
“Thanks for the rundown. If we catch wind of him, you’ll have first dibs on him, assuming Kernuules is someone’s creation.”
“Given the ritual sites, isn’t that a given?” asks Xyreko.
“Maybe, but if he’s learning, Kernuules may actually be a sentient being who created his own ‘respawn circles’,” replies Daniel. “Now then…” Daniel frees Nemaisol from the locking ring, which unleashes the contained goddess’s ability to negate magic. She can technically do it at any time, but she and Daniel have agreed to avoid doing so in an effort to make their enemies believe it requires the sword to be free.
“You’re good to talk, Daniel, but I can’t normally detect that thing’s gaze, so I think it’s been doing it to make you afraid.”
Daniel nods. “Thank you, Kaeralegier. I would guess you’re right, since I doubt it’s that interested in what I’m doing most of the time.”
“Well, whatever you’re about to do will probably be of interest. Is it a death ray? It’s a death ray, isn’t it?”
“I don’t have time for that. But, I can drop something from really high up.” He looks at Xyreko. “Did you remove the air as requested?”
“Yes. The room is sealed, and I’ve removed everything, but you won’t be able to enter. The insects that were lingering… I won’t allow you to enter.”
“I know. The room’s under vacuum now. I’d boil alive. The perfect conditions for what we’re about to do.”
“Well!? Don’t keep us hanging!” exclaims Hekate as she pounces onto his back. “You know you can trust me, so I want to know what your next god-killer is.”
Ryukana appears along with the three dragon Empresses. With the exception of the violet-haired goddess, they’re all in their battle-ready attire.
“I am curious as well, Daniel, if that’s alright. I hope you aren’t planning on destroying the world.”
Daniel laughs. “Not in the least, my Lady. We’re going green with weapons of mass destruction.”
He accepts a notepad and pencil from the Caretaker, and everyone crowds in to watch what he draws.
“{Ooooo. ‘Rods from God’, huh? Oh-ho-ho! How very dastardly of you, Daniel.}” Kaeralegier’s voice is playful as she somehow observes Daniel’s drawing.
How do you know so much about hypothetical weapons?
“{I’ve told you how I became a sword, didn’t I?}”
Fair enough.
Daniel explains, “Xyreko, I need you to sustain these portals until we call on them. I have an improvement to make for the lurker on me, so what she’ll see from my perspective is only the easy version.”
He then draws arrows and a simple cylinder between the two rings representing the portals.
He then finally states with a cautious smirk, “Let me tell you how we’re going to cheat at kinetic bombardment.”
***
Comments
Silas Kriegsende
Daniel might reconsider calling it 'kinetic' after we all see what happens... I'm thinking more like... "Kin-HOLYMOTHEROFGOD-etic bombardbment..." Doesn't quite have the same ring, though... xD
Silas Kriegsende
I am excited for everyone to see the result. Heeheheeheeheee! xD I'm not a master physicist, but I think I did a pretty fair job ;D They are cheating with magic after all xD
patreonpatreonpatreon
Oh yeah, now we're thinking with portals
MageFeanor
Man, I love me some kinetic bombardment!
